Cell Transfer Apparatus Suction Tip for Multi-Cell Tact Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell transfer apparatuses require multiple reciprocating movements between the source and destination containers, resulting in a longer tact time when transferring multiple cells.
Innovation Solution
A cell transfer apparatus equipped with a head having a suction tip that can suction and discharge cells, a movement mechanism for horizontal and up-and-down movement, a cell recognition unit with a camera for position recognition, and a control unit to manage the transfer operation based on position recognition, allowing for the suction of a set quantity of cells and their simultaneous discharge into the same location in the destination container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple reciprocating movements of the head are performed to transfer multiple cells, then multiple cells can be transferred to the destination container, but the tact time becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple cell transfer operations into a single continuous movement by enabling the suction tip to sequentially suction multiple cells from the source container and discharge them into the destination container without returning to the source container between transfers. This combines what would otherwise be separate reciprocating movements into one efficient operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction tip performs preliminary actions by sequentially suctioning multiple target cells from the source container before moving to the destination container. This allows all necessary cells to be collected in advance during a single traversal, eliminating the need for multiple round trips.
2Quantity of substance
If a suction tip with a special shape having a cell trap part is used to hold multiple cells, then multiple cells can be held in one suction operation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a simple, conventional suction tip structure that relies on dynamic control of suction and discharge forces rather than a complex static structure. The suction tip's simplicity is compensated by the control mechanism that sequences multiple suction operations and coordinates the single movement to the destination container.
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 solution significantly reduces the tact time required for cell transfer by allowing the suction and discharge of multiple cells in a single operation, thereby improving the efficiency of the cell transfer process.
Implementation Method 1
a head to which a suction tip configured to suction and discharge the cells is attached, the head including a generating mechanism that generates suction force and discharge force in a distal end opening of the suction tip
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A cell transfer apparatus transfers cells scattered in a first container to a second container. The cell transfer apparatus includes a head to which a suction tip that can generate suction force and discharge force in a distal end opening is attached, a movement mechanism for the head, a camera that captures images of the first container, a cell recognition unit that performs position recognition of the cells based on the images, and a control unit that controls the head and the movement mechanism to perform a transfer operation of the cells based on a result of the position recognition. The control unit gradually suctions the set quantity of target cells that is set to two or more in advance into the suction tip from among the cells scattered in the first container, causes the head to move to the second container, and then discharges the set quantity of the target cells that are suctioned into the suction tip to the same location in the second container.