Cell Separation Apparatus with Gentle Gas-Driven Pumping
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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 affect cell viability and stability.
Innovation Solution
A cell separation apparatus with a box-shaped design incorporating a liquid buffer device, filter device, and power device using a syringe pump or air cylinder to generate gentle gas-driven pressure, reducing shear force and complexity, and utilizing microchannels and a filter membrane for efficient separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a centrifugal pump is used to pump the mixture of cells and culture fluid, then pumping power is provided, but excessive shear force is generated causing cell damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the centrifugal pump's mechanical rotation-based pumping mechanism with a peristaltic pump's progressive cavity compression mechanism. This substitution eliminates the high-speed rotation and impeller that generate excessive shear forces, while still providing adequate pumping power through gentle progressive compression of the flexible tube.
Solution Approach 2:
The peristaltic pump uses pneumatic actuation through a diaphragm and air pressure to drive the pumping action. The air pressure compresses the diaphragm, which in turn compresses the flexible tube in a progressive manner, creating a gentle pumping action that avoids high shear forces while maintaining effective fluid transport.
2Power
If a diaphragm pump is used to pump the mixture of cells and culture fluid, then pumping power is provided, but non-linear pressurization causes pressure fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump employs periodic rolling compression of the flexible tube through rotating rollers, creating a continuous sequence of gentle compression and release cycles. This periodic action produces smooth, linear pressurization compared to the sudden diaphragm compression, reducing pressure fluctuations while maintaining effective pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump uses a flexible tube that dynamically deforms under roller compression, allowing the system to adapt the compression force and duration. This dynamic flexibility enables smoother pressure transitions compared to rigid diaphragm systems, improving pressure stability during cell separation operations.
3Reliability
If a hollow fiber column is used for cell separation, then separation function is provided, but the apparatus becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable filter unit with a flat filter membrane instead of expensive, large-scale hollow fiber columns. The filter membrane is a single-use component that provides reliable cell separation without requiring complex assembly or cleaning, reducing both cost and apparatus size while maintaining separation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential separation function from the complex hollow fiber column structure and implements it through a simple flat filter membrane. This extraction removes unnecessary complexity and size while preserving the core cell separation capability, making the system more suitable for small-scale applications.
4Reliability
If a hollow fiber column is used for cell separation, then separation function is provided, but multiple pipe connections are required making assembly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filter membrane, support structure, and connection interfaces into a single integrated disposable filter unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate pipe connections and complex assembly procedures, while maintaining reliable cell separation function through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter unit is pre-assembled with all necessary connections and support structures integrated before use. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for complex on-site assembly and multiple pipe connections, allowing for quick installation and operation while ensuring reliable separation function.
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 effectively separates cells from culture fluids with reduced cell damage, improved stability, and lower costs compared to traditional systems, while minimizing the need for large hollow fiber columns and complex pipeline connections.
Implementation Method 1
use fiber pores of the hollow fiber column to separate cells and the culture fluid
Implementation Method 2
a power device using a syringe pump or air cylinder to generate gentle gas-driven pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a technology of efficiently collecting abnormal state data important in a safety function or automatic driving. A collection system includes a passenger sensor unit configured to sense the passenger; and a determination acquisition unit configured to acquire abnormality data from data related to a vehicle and not to the passenger based on sensor information which is data acquired by the passenger sensor unit. The determination acquisition unit determines a danger based on an action taken by a person who senses the danger or changing biological information, and acquires data acquired by the sensor for a time in which the danger is determined and a time with a predetermined length continuing before or after the time as the abnormality data.