Multi-compartment Cell Culture Container with Gas-permeable Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell and tissue culture containers face challenges in maintaining separate cultures of surrogate tissues and neo-cartilage during 3D static culture, leading to potential damage, inefficient use of space, and difficulties in manipulation and transfer, which hinders the validation and verification processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of culture containers with multiple compartments in fluid communication, allowing for simultaneous culture of surrogate tissues and neo-cartilage under the same conditions while maintaining physical separation, with features such as gas-permeable membranes, large openings for easy access, and adjustable configurations to optimize space and minimize damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple tissues are cultured in the same container without separation, then space efficiency is improved, but tissue adherence and cross-contamination occur causing damage to implantable tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments using partition walls with pores or openings. These partitions allow fluid communication between compartments while physically restricting the movement of tissues and scaffolds, enabling multiple tissues to be cultured together without direct contact or adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediary structures between different tissue cultures. They provide a physical barrier that prevents tissue adherence while allowing nutrient and fluid exchange through pores or openings, thus maintaining tissue integrity while enabling shared culture environment.
2Device complexity
If narrow opening flask-type containers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult manipulation and transfer of tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with multiple compartments separated by partition walls. Each compartment can be independently accessed through openings in the partition walls, allowing easy manipulation and transfer of tissues within compartments while maintaining an overall simple flask-type structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed as thin structures with pores or openings that allow easy access to compartments. This enables simple manipulation of tissues through the partition openings while maintaining the integrity of the container structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If 3D static culture is performed with buoyant tissues, then manufacturing precision is improved for tissue growth, but position stability deteriorates due to varying buoyancy during growth
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into compartments with partition walls that restrict tissue movement. This segmentation confines buoyant tissues within specific compartments, preventing them from floating to the surface or moving between compartments while maintaining stable culture conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different compartments can have different local characteristics such as varying pore sizes or opening configurations in partition walls, tailored to the specific buoyancy and size requirements of different tissue types being cultured.
4Reliability
If surrogate tissues and neo-cartilage are cultured separately in different containers, then tissue adherence is prevented, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficient use of incubator space
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tissue cultures that would traditionally require separate containers are merged into a single container with multiple compartments. The partition walls enable fluid communication between compartments, allowing surrogate tissues and neo-cartilage to be cultured together in the same culture medium while maintaining physical separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single container is segmented into multiple compartments using partition walls with pores or openings. This segmentation allows multiple tissues to be cultured simultaneously in one container, improving incubator space utilization while preventing tissue adherence through the partition barriers.
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
These containers enable efficient and sterile culturing of tissues, allowing for effective validation and verification without damaging the implantable tissue, while maximizing incubator space and reducing the risk of tissue adherence and buoyancy-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
sealing lids with gas permeable membranes to allow for gas exchange between the interior and exterior environments of the container while maintaining a sterile internal environment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to containers for cell and tissue culturing with multiple compartments in fluid communication with each other to provide a common culture environment in each of the compartments while maintaining physical separation of cells and tissue therein. The invention further relates to culture containers providing a sterile culture environment with detachably coupleable lids and open access to each compartment within a container.