Drying Suppression Device for Cell Culture Evaporation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Well plates with limited liquid compartments for evaporation control lead to water evaporation issues during long-term cell culture, causing concentration fluctuations and variations in cell culture results due to the dense integration and smaller solution volumes.
Innovation Solution
A drying suppression device with a main body housing a well plate, an openable/closable lid, a holder section, a liquid storage tank, and a support section that keeps the holder away from the tank's bottom surface, allowing communication between the tank's inner space and the outside space to manage evaporation effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compartment for holding liquid is formed in the remaining region of the well plate, then evaporation control is achieved, but the amount of liquid that can be stored is limited to a small amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar compartment arrangement to a three-dimensional liquid storage tank structure. The liquid storage tank is positioned below the well plate holder section, utilizing the vertical dimension to store significantly larger volumes of liquid while maintaining evaporation control through the lid-closed environment.
2Productivity
If the well plate is densely integrated with smaller solution volumes, then space efficiency is improved, but water evaporation causes noticeable adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid storage tank as an intermediary system that provides a humid environment around the well plate. The tank stores bulk liquid that evaporates to maintain humidity levels, preventing direct water loss from the small culture volumes in the densely integrated well plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the environmental parameters around the well plate by introducing a controlled humid atmosphere through the liquid storage tank. This modifies the evaporation dynamics, allowing small culture volumes to be maintained without significant water loss during long-term culture.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the holder section is placed directly on the inner bottom surface of the liquid storage tank, then structural stability is improved, but the volume of liquid that can be stored is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support function from the liquid storage space. The holder section is supported by support sections that are separate from the liquid storage tank's bottom surface, creating distinct functional zones: one for structural support and another for liquid storage, thereby maximizing both stability and liquid volume.
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
The device effectively suppresses water evaporation from the well plate medium, maintaining consistent culture conditions and preventing variations in cell culture results by storing a larger volume of liquid and maintaining humidity around the well plate.
Implementation Method 1
water evaporates from the culture solution when the cells are cultured for a long period of time
Data Source
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AI summary
A drying suppression device including: a main body housing a well plate; and an openable/closable lid provided on the main body, the main body including: a holder section that holds the well plate; a liquid storage tank that stores liquid; and a support section that supports the holder while keeping the holder section away from an inner bottom surface of the liquid storage tank, wherein, with the lid being closed, an inner space surrounded by the liquid storage tank and the lid communicate with an outside space.