Box-Shaped Cell Separation Apparatus for Bioreactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cell separation apparatuses in bioreactors face issues such as excessive shear force from centrifugal pumps, non-linear pressurization from diaphragm pumps, and the expense and complexity of hollow fiber columns, which can damage sensitive cells and compromise process stability.
Innovation Solution
A cell separation apparatus with a box-shaped design incorporating a liquid buffer device, filter device, and power device that uses a syringe pump or air cylinder to generate gentle gas pressure for fluid flow, minimizing shear force and pressure fluctuations, and featuring integrated microchannels and a filter membrane for efficient cell separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a centrifugal pump is used to pump the mixture of cells and culture fluid, then the pumping function is achieved, but excessive shear force is generated causing cell damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the centrifugal pump (mechanical system generating high shear force) with a syringe pump that generates gentle, linear pressure increase. This substitution eliminates excessive shear force while maintaining the pumping function, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving pumping and preventing cell damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure generation parameter from non-linear (centrifugal pump) to linear (syringe pump), ensuring gentle and controlled pressure increase that prevents cell damage while maintaining effective fluid transport. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing the pressure profile.
2Stress or pressure
If a diaphragm pump is used to pump the mixture of cells and culture fluid, then the pumping function is achieved, but non-linear pressurization causes large pressure fluctuation affecting process stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressurization parameter from non-linear (diaphragm pump) to linear (syringe pump), ensuring stable and predictable pressure increase. This eliminates large pressure fluctuations and maintains process stability, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving pumping and ensuring process stability.
3Volume of stationary object
If a hollow fiber column is used for cell separation, then the separation function is achieved, but the apparatus becomes expensive and too large for small disposable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from the complex hollow fiber column and implements it using a simple filter membrane within a compact chamber. This extraction eliminates the need for large, expensive hollow fiber columns while maintaining effective cell separation, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving separation and reducing size/cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable filter membrane and simple chamber structure that can be manufactured at low cost, replacing the expensive and large hollow fiber column. This disposable approach enables small-scale, cost-effective cell separation devices, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving separation and reducing manufacturing cost.
4Ease of operation
If a hollow fiber column is used for cell separation, then the separation function is achieved, but multiple pipe connections are required making assembly and disassembly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separation chamber and filter membrane into a single integrated unit with minimal external connections, eliminating the need for multiple pipe connections required by hollow fiber columns. This integration simplifies assembly and disassembly operations, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving separation and reducing assembly complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus reduces cell damage, stabilizes the separation process, and lowers costs by eliminating the need for expensive hollow fiber columns and simplifying assembly, while maintaining high filtration efficiency with a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
use fiber pores of the hollow fiber column to separate cells and the culture fluid
Implementation Method 2
uses a syringe pump or air cylinder to generate gentle gas pressure for fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a cell separation apparatus for a bioreactor. The cell separation apparatus may be disposed outside the bioreactor and in fluid connection with the bioreactor, the cell separation apparatus may be in a shape of a box body, the cell separation apparatus may include a liquid buffer device including a first liquid cavity disposed in the box body; a filter device including a filter channel and a filter membrane disposed in the box body, the filter membrane may be disposed above the filter channel; and a first liquid channel may be configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the first liquid cavity and the filter channel. A power system for filtering and microfluidic channels are integrated in the cell separation apparatus that is of a box shape, thereby reducing the volume and production cost thereof.