Common Isolator for Continuous Cell Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing cell treatment systems, if a fault occurs in one cultivation vessel, the entire process must be discontinued, leading to waste of partially cultivated cells.
Innovation Solution
A cell treatment system with at least two isolators performing different treatments, along with a common isolator capable of performing both treatments, allowing the system to continue the series of cell treatments even if one isolator fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a series of cell treatments is handled in a distributed manner by multiple cultivation vessels, then different treatments can be performed in parallel, but if a fault occurs in any one vessel, the entire process must be discontinued causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common isolator that can perform multiple different treatments (first treatment, second treatment, and other treatments) that would otherwise require separate specialized isolators. This multi-functional design allows the system to continue operations even when specialized isolators fail, as the common isolator can take over their functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational state of isolators based on fault conditions. When a specialized isolator fails, the system transitions from using only specialized isolators to utilizing the common isolator for the required treatments, thereby maintaining process continuity through parameter changes in system configuration and operation mode.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized isolators are used for specific treatments, then treatment precision and sterility are improved, but system complexity increases and fault tolerance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into specialized isolators for specific treatments and a common isolator for multiple treatments. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while the common isolator provides a safety net, reducing overall system complexity by avoiding the need for complete redundancy of all specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The common isolator serves as a pre-prepared backup resource that can cushion against failures of specialized isolators. By having this backup capacity available beforehand, the system can absorb shocks from component failures without complete process interruption, effectively managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If redundant isolators are added for fault tolerance, then reliability improves, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common isolator is designed to perform multiple treatment functions (first treatment, second treatment, and other treatments) that would otherwise require separate specialized isolators. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of isolators needed while maintaining fault tolerance, thereby reducing space requirements compared to having complete redundant systems for each specialized isolator.
Data Source
AI summary
To continue a series of cell treatments even in a case where a treatment has become impossible in any isolator, a cell treatment system is provided with at least two isolators that perform different treatments, such that a sequential series of cell treatments is performed in each of the isolators. The cell treatment system is provided with a first isolator that performs a first treatment, a second isolator that performs a second treatment different from the first treatment, and a common isolator capable of performing the first treatment and the second treatment.