Co-culture Apparatus with Dual Flow Paths for Oxygenated Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques face difficulties in evaluating culture media in both anaerobic and aerobic environments simultaneously, as they often expose aerobic culture media to anaerobic conditions, affecting the viability of cells cultured on membranes.

Innovation Solution

A co-culture apparatus and system that includes airtight containers and conduits to maintain aerobic and anaerobic environments separately, using a membrane with distinct flow paths for each medium, ensuring cells on the membrane receive oxygen from the aerobic medium while being cultured in an anaerobic chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single culture medium is used in an anaerobic chamber, then the anaerobic environment is maintained, but the aerobic cells cannot receive sufficient oxygen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanaerobic environment maintenanceVSAvoidoxygen deprivation to aerobic cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the culture system into two separate flow paths: a first flow path for aerobic culture medium and a second flow path for anaerobic culture medium. This segmentation allows each path to maintain its required oxygen concentration independently while both flowing through the same culture device, resolving the contradiction between maintaining anaerobic environment and supplying oxygen to aerobic cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different oxygen concentrations to different regions (flow paths) of the culture system. The first flow path receives aerobic culture medium with higher dissolved oxygen concentration, while the second flow path receives anaerobic culture medium with lower dissolved oxygen concentration. This local differentiation allows both aerobic and anaerobic cells to thrive in their respective zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If separate culture systems are used for aerobic and anaerobic media, then oxygen requirements are met, but simultaneous evaluation of both media becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen supply to aerobic cellsVSAvoiddifficulty in simultaneous evaluation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the aerobic and anaerobic culture systems into a single integrated culture device with multiple flow paths. Both aerobic and anaerobic culture mediums flow through the same device simultaneously, allowing direct comparison and evaluation of their effects on different cell types without requiring separate culture systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The culture device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both aerobic and anaerobic culture conditions within a single system. The membrane structure supports both types of cells on opposite surfaces, and the flow path system can simultaneously deliver both aerobic and anaerobic media, enabling the device to perform multiple culture functions concurrently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If culture medium flows through a membrane with cells, then cell culture is enabled, but oxygen concentration control becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell culture capabilityVSAvoidoxygen concentration control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the dimensional aspect of the membrane by culturing cells on both the first main surface and the second main surface opposite to it. This allows the system to accommodate both aerobic and anaerobic cells in different spatial zones, with each zone receiving appropriately oxygenated culture medium through dedicated flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 the simultaneous evaluation of culture media in both environments over time, maintaining cell viability by supplying oxygen to cells cultured on the membrane, even when the anaerobic medium has low dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Implementation Method 1

a membrane having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface for culturing cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS12195709B2Co-culture apparatus, co-culture system, and co-culture method

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

A co-culture apparatus includes: a first airtight container; a co-culture device disposed outside of the first airtight container; a first culture medium source disposed in the first airtight container and storing a first culture medium; a second culture medium source storing a second culture medium having a lower dissolved oxygen concentration than that of the first culture medium; and a first conduit connected to the co-culture device and the first culture medium source. The co-culture device includes: a membrane having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface for culturing cells; a first flow path partially defined by the first main surface and disposed such that the first culture medium flows therethrough; and a second flow path partially defined by the second main surface and disposed such that the second culture medium flows therethrough. The first flow path has an inlet connected to the first conduit.