Cell Sodding Apparatus Sustained Low Pressure Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for adhering cells to permeable scaffold materials in tissue engineering are lengthy, unsuitable for the operating room environment, and do not maintain cohesive non-thrombogenic surfaces, limiting the clinical applicability of vascular grafts.
Innovation Solution
Applying a sustained low pressure gradient across a permeable scaffold material using a cell perfusion system for 1 minute to 24 hours, with pressures ranging from 10 to 60 mmHg, to promote rapid and uniform cell adhesion and maturation, reducing stress and unnecessary activation of cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transient high pressure gradients are used to deposit cells onto porous graft scaffold, then cells are captured in the matrix by sieving action, but the process is lengthy and does not produce sufficiently cohesive non-thrombogenic surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressure parameter from transient high pressure (5 PSI or 259 mm Hg) to sustained low pressure (10-60 mmHg) applied continuously for extended periods (1 minute to 24 hours). This parameter transformation enables cells to gradually adhere and form cohesive surfaces while maintaining graft patency, resolving the contradiction between deposition speed and surface quality.
2Reliability
If additional cell maturation time in vitro is provided, then non-thrombogenic surfaces are improved, but the process becomes too lengthy for operating room environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies continuous sustained low pressure gradients over extended periods to maintain and enhance cell maturation in vitro. This continuous action allows cells to develop cohesive non-thrombogenic surfaces with improved reliability while the process can be performed in the operating room, reducing the time loss compared to traditional batch processing methods.
3Manufacturing precision
If sustained low pressure gradient is applied across permeable scaffold material, then rapid and uniform cell adhesion is achieved, but requires extended application time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies low pressure (10-60 mmHg) that is insufficient to rapidly force cells through the scaffold, but excessive enough to maintain continuous cell-scaffold contact over time. This partial action, sustained for extended periods, achieves uniform cell adhesion without the need for high-pressure transient methods, balancing precision with reasonable time requirements.
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
This method enables rapid cellular adhesion and maturation on substrate materials, enhancing the patency of vascular grafts and providing a sterile, easy-to-use, and cost-effective solution for preparing tissue implants suitable for clinical applications.
Implementation Method 1
applying a sustained pressure gradient across a permeable material using media containing cells to be deposited on the material
Implementation Method 2
applying a sustained pressure gradient across a permeable material
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue engineering methods and biochamber apparatus are provided for making tissue grafts for implantation into a patient. The methods include applying a sustained low magnitude pressure gradient transmurally across a permeable scaffold material using a media containing cells, preferably microvascular epithelial cells, to be deposited on the scaffold for the production of tissue grafts, preferably vascular grafts, to promote accelerated adhesion and maturation of cells on the scaffold material. Biochambers for preparing tubular tissue grafts are provided which contain connectors for holding a graft substrate, proximal and distal tubing for connection to an optional perfusion system, and structure for switching between transmural flow of a cell suspension across the graft substrate and translumenal flow through the lumen of the graft.