Culture Container Thickness Adjustment for Cell Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell culturing methods face challenges in maintaining optimal cell proliferation efficiency due to issues with cell separation, aggregation, and accurate cell density measurement, particularly for cells that thrive in aggregates, and existing methods often require disassembly of the culture system or suffer from inaccurate density calculations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that apply external forces to control cell aggregate formation and disintegration, and adjust the thickness of the culture container to facilitate accurate cell counting without disassembly, using an agitating member to manage cell aggregation and a thickness adjusting mechanism to optimize cell observation and measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cells are cultured in a stationary culture container, then cell handling simplicity is improved, but oxygen and nutrient supply to cells deteriorates as aggregates grow larger
Solution Approach 1:
The culture container is designed with a movable bottom that can be pressed to change the container's internal volume and culture medium depth. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to transition from a stationary state to an actively controlled state, enabling periodic agitation of cell aggregates without requiring complete system disassembly or complex external agitation mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If the culture container is disassembled for cell counting, then measurement accuracy is improved, but culture system complexity and time loss are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary function for cell counting by pressing the movable bottom to concentrate cell aggregates at the bottom surface of the culture container. This allows direct observation and counting of cells through the transparent container bottom without removing cells or disassembling the culture system, separating the counting function from the culturing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent bottom of the culture container serves as an optical window that copies the cell aggregate structure for external observation. By making the bottom surface transparent and pressable, the system creates an accessible interface for monitoring cell density while maintaining the integrity of the closed culture environment.
3Productivity
If cell aggregates are allowed to grow large, then cell proliferation efficiency is improved for aggregate-dependent cells, but oxygen and nutrient deficiency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable bottom is pressed periodically to agitate cell aggregates, creating a rhythmic cycle of aggregation and partial dispersion. This periodic action prevents complete nutrient depletion in large aggregates while maintaining the aggregate structure needed for cell proliferation, balancing between the benefits of aggregation and the risks of nutrient deficiency.
4Quantity of substance
If intense agitation is applied to disperse cells, then oxygen and nutrient distribution is improved, but cell damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing action is applied locally at the bottom surface of the culture container rather than throughout the entire culture medium. This localized agitation gently disturbs cell aggregates at the bottom without creating intense turbulence throughout the medium, providing sufficient oxygen and nutrient redistribution while minimizing mechanical stress on cells.
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 approach enhances cell proliferation efficiency by maintaining appropriate aggregate sizes and enables precise cell counting across various densities without disrupting the culture system, improving the accuracy of cell density calculations.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting a thickness of at least a part of the container; An adjusting member 51 adjusts at least a part of the container 11 including a measurement target region to a predetermined thickness
Implementation Method 2
The agitating member 14 applies an external force onto the culture container 11 to agitate a culture solution disposed in the culture container 11
Implementation Method 3
agitate the culture solution to equalize the subject matters in the culture solution
Data Source
AI summary
A method for counting counted targets disposed in a liquid enclosed in a container, includes adjusting a thickness of at least a part of the container; setting at least a part of the adjusted part as a measurement target region; and counting a number of counted targets in the measurement target region.