Optical Cell Culture Evaluation System for Regenerative Medicine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for growing multilayered stem or cornea cell sheets in regenerative medicine are laborious, time-consuming, and costly due to the need for mechanical removal and stacking of cell sheets, which can lead to tears if prematurely harvested, requiring repeated growth processes.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a housing with a light source, collimator, linear stage, and photodetector, controlled by a computing unit, to non-invasively determine the thickness, maturity, and transparency of biological cell cultures, allowing for direct harvesting and transplantation based on measured parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell sheets are grown longer to achieve sufficient physical integrity for mechanical removal, then the strength and reliability of cell sheets improve, but the duration of action and productivity deteriorate due to extended cultivation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical removal methods with optical measurement techniques. A light source and photodetector system measures cell sheet thickness and properties through non-contact optical means, eliminating the need for mechanical harvesting that requires extended growth for structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell sheets are evaluated in situ within the bioreactor system without requiring removal. The optical measurement system allows the cell sheets to remain in their cultivation environment while being assessed, eliminating the mechanical handling process.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical removal and stacking of cell sheets is performed manually, then the ease of operation deteriorates due to laborious processes, but the device complexity remains manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic evaluation of cell sheets through integrated optical sensors and control systems. The bioreactor automatically measures thickness and properties of cell sheets without requiring manual intervention for harvesting and stacking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical measurement system provides real-time feedback on cell sheet properties, enabling automated control of the harvesting process. The system continuously monitors cell sheet formation and triggers harvesting at optimal points without manual inspection.
3Productivity
If cell sheets are harvested prematurely to increase productivity, then the productivity improves, but the strength and reliability deteriorate due to insufficient physical integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical measurement to assess cell sheet maturity and readiness for harvesting, replacing mechanical strength assessment. This allows determination of optimal harvest timing based on optical properties rather than waiting for mechanical integrity, enabling earlier harvesting without compromising quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback on cell sheet properties through optical measurements, enabling real-time determination of optimal harvesting points. This feedback mechanism allows precise control of harvest timing to maximize productivity while maintaining quality standards.
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
Enables efficient monitoring and harvesting of multilayered cell sheets, reducing the need for repeated growth processes and improving the accuracy of cell sheet transplantation by determining optimal harvesting time and cell count non-invasively.
Implementation Method 1
a light source to generate light
Implementation Method 2
a collimator to collimate the light generated by the light source
Implementation Method 3
a photodetector to receive the collimated light through the cell culture dish and the biological cell culture
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an apparatus for evaluating biological cell cultures. The apparatus comprises a housing and a controller coupled to the housing over a data bus. The housing comprises a light source to generate light, a collimator to collimate the light generated by the light source, a linear stage to actuate a cell culture dish including a biological cell culture in orthogonal directions, and a photodetector to receive the collimated light through the cell culture dish and the biological cell culture. The controller is configured to provide instructions to operate the light source, the linear stage, and the photodetector over the data bus.