Clean Work Area Air Curtain for Cross-Contamination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clean work devices for regenerative medicine require frequent decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization when switching between different cell cultures, leading to inefficient operations and potential cross-contamination risks.

Innovation Solution

A clean work device with a work area surrounded by a downflow air curtain and a moving unit that automatically cleans the placement surface between uses, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and minimizing aerosol and airborne droplet leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cells of different persons are handled in the same work area, then productivity is improved by avoiding repeated cleaning operations, but cross-contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidcross-contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The work area is divided into multiple isolated compartments or zones within the same cleanroom environment. Each compartment can handle different cell types independently, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining overall productivity. The airflow system is segmented to provide independent laminar flow control for each zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary barrier system is introduced between different cell handling zones, including physical partitions and controlled airflow boundaries. This intermediary structure allows simultaneous handling of different cell types while preventing aerosol and droplet cross-contamination between zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization are performed frequently when switching cells, then cross-contamination risk is reduced, but operational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cleaning actions continuously in the background during cell culture operations. The airflow system continuously removes aerosols and droplets, and surfaces are pre-treated with antimicrobial coatings, so that extensive decontamination is not needed when switching between cell types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning and decontamination processes are made continuous rather than periodic. The laminar airflow continuously removes contaminants, and the system maintains constant sterile conditions through continuous operation, eliminating the need for interruptive cleaning cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If aerosol and airborne droplets are expelled to the surrounding area during cell culture, then work area pressure is maintained, but surrounding area contamination increases requiring additional cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework area pressure stabilityVSAvoidsurrounding area contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary airflow barrier is introduced between the work area and surrounding area. This intermediary laminar flow acts as a protective shield that prevents aerosols and droplets from escaping while maintaining the required pressure differential. The barrier airflow captures contaminants before they can reach the surrounding environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust airflow that would normally carry contaminants outward is converted into a beneficial protective barrier. The exhaust stream is directed to create a downward or outward laminar flow that actively pushes contaminants away from the surrounding area, turning a potential harm into a protective mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution significantly reduces the frequency of decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization operations while maintaining a clean environment, minimizing cross-contamination risks and maintaining cleanliness within the work area and surrounding areas.

Implementation Method 1

a downflow air curtain being provided at least at the inlet and the outlet, the downflow air curtain blowing out of an air outlet port and being sucked by an air suction port that faces the air outlet port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow:

Data Source

PatentUS10072861B2Clean work device

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 JAPAN TISSUE ENG

AI summary

A work area is disposed in a conveyance path for cells and has an inlet and an outlet, with a downflow air curtain provided at least at the inlet and the outlet. A conveyor repeatedly performs an operation that moves a placement surface having a culture vessel thereon from the inlet side into the area, moves the placement surface from the outlet side to the outside of the area, and, subsequently, moves back the placement surface to the inlet side. The cleaning device cleans the placement surface during the period from when the conveyor in the work area moves the placement surface to the outside of the area until the conveyor moves back the placement surface to the inlet side of the area.