Cell Seeding Device With Flow Channels For Nerve Network Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell seeding methods face challenges in efficiently and accurately seeding cells in a large number of cell arrangement areas, leading to cell death due to prolonged seeding times and difficulties in forming intercellular networks, especially when using pipettes, inkjet printers, and microchannels.
Innovation Solution
A cell seeding and culturing device featuring a cell culturing substrate with projections and a flow channel substrate with tapered through holes, allowing cells to pass through and settle in specific arrangement areas, with a spacer member to control the gap between substrates and prevent cell movement, enabling efficient and accurate cell seeding and network formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual seeding methods using pipettes or micro-injectors are used, then cell seeding can be performed, but seeding efficiency is poor and accuracy in minute cell arrangement areas is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical seeding operations with a flow-based system where cells are transported through microchannels and deposited automatically at prescribed locations, eliminating the need for manual pipetting while improving both efficiency and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluid flow through microchannels to transport and deposit cells automatically, using hydraulic principles to control cell movement and positioning without manual intervention, thereby enhancing seeding efficiency and accuracy
2Measurement precision
If pipette patch-clamp method is used for measuring electrical changes, then individual cells can be measured, but high-throughput screening by multi-point measurement cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement system into multiple parallel measurement points, each capable of independently measuring electrical properties of cells at different locations, enabling simultaneous multi-point measurement and high-throughput screening while maintaining individual cell measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-point pipette measurement to multi-point planar measurement, adding spatial dimensionality to the measurement process and enabling parallel measurement at multiple locations simultaneously, thereby achieving high throughput without sacrificing measurement accuracy
3Productivity
If cells are seeded in a large number of cell arrangement areas manually, then cell network construction can be attempted, but cell death occurs due to prolonged seeding times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous cell seeding through automated flow-based deposition, allowing cells to be delivered continuously to multiple arrangement areas without interruption or manual handling delays, thereby reducing total seeding time and improving cell viability while maintaining high seeding speed
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a device for seeding cells in a plurality of cell arrangement areas in a simple manner and a short period of time. A seeding and culturing device (1) for cells capable of forming a nerve network, the device comprising a cell-culturing substrate (2) having a plurality of cell arrangement areas (8) enclosed by a plurality of projecting parts, and a flow channel substrate (3) arranged on the cell-cultivating substrate (2) and having a plurality of through-holes (14), wherein the through-holes (14) are configured so as to provide flow channels in which the upper surface side of the substrate is an entrance (15) and the lower surface side of the substrate is an exit, and the exit (16) of the flow channels is positioned above any of the cell arrangement areas.