Deformable Reservoir Microfluidic Pumping for Microgravity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Control over microfluidics is challenging, particularly in environments beyond terrestrial conditions, such as in space, where maintaining a stable and controlled fluid environment is difficult, especially in zero gravity or microgravity settings.

Innovation Solution

A microfluidic cell culture system assembly that includes flexible reservoirs within a container, connected to a pump and a working fluid reservoir, allowing for controlled fluid movement and recirculation without mixing between the working fluid and cell culture media, using valves and pressure sensors to manage fluid flow and prevent clogging, and incorporating a cooling system to maintain optimal temperatures for cell culture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional microfluidic control methods are used, then fluid flow can be maintained on terrestrial conditions, but control becomes difficult in microgravity environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to microgravityVSAvoidcontrol difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical pumping systems with a deformable reservoir system that uses elastic deformation to drive fluid flow. The deformable portion of the reservoir expands and contracts to create pressure differentials, eliminating the need for complex mechanical pumps that are difficult to operate in microgravity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the inherent elastic properties of the deformable reservoir material to automatically regulate fluid flow. The reservoir self-regulates pressure and flow rates through its deformation characteristics without requiring external control mechanisms, making it inherently adaptable to microgravity conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If flexible reservoirs are used to enable deformable control, then fluid movement can be controlled in microgravity, but ensuring no mixing between working fluid and culture media becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid control capabilityVSAvoidfluid separation integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the fluid system into distinct compartments: the deformable reservoir containing the working fluid, the microfluidic device containing the culture media, and connecting conduits. This segmentation ensures that while the reservoir deforms to control flow, the culture media remains isolated in its own chamber, preventing mixing between the two fluids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary fluid connection system consisting of valves and controlled conduits between the deformable reservoir and the microfluidic device. These intermediaries allow controlled transfer of fluid while maintaining separation between the working fluid in the reservoir and the culture media in the device, ensuring reliability of fluid separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If microfluidic devices are used for cell culture, then a physiologically relevant environment can be created, but control over fluid movement in zero gravity is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell culture environment stabilityVSAvoidmicrogravity adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces gravity-dependent fluid control mechanisms with elastic deformation-based control. The deformable reservoir uses material elasticity to generate and regulate fluid flow, creating a gravity-independent control mechanism that maintains stable cell culture environments in microgravity while preserving the physiological relevance of microfluidic cell culture systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution provides consistent and controlled fluid movement and recirculation in microgravity environments, ensuring the stability and longevity of cell cultures by preventing fluid mixing and maintaining optimal temperatures, thus enhancing research capabilities in space and terrestrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

said reservoirs i) in fluidic communication (e.g. via conduits) with c) one or more fluidic devices... ii) comprising a least one deformable portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

incorporating a cooling system to maintain optimal temperatures for cell culture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11999932B2Microfluidic control

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 EMULATE INC

AI summary

The present invention is related to the field of fluidic devices, and in particular, microfluidic cell culture systems. The present invention provides pumping, recirculation and sampling for a microfluidic device or devices. The present invention provides solutions to the control of microfluidics for both terrestrial and space applications, including the control over the movement of fluids in zero gravity or microgravity.