Elastomeric Cell Exclusion Inserts for Homogeneous Zoning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture kits for creating cell-exclusion zones in multi-well plates are cumbersome, require specific tools for handling, and often result in non-homogeneous scratches, leading to inconsistent experimental conditions and potential cell damage.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a multi-well culture plate with elastically deformable inserts that can be easily positioned and removed without tools, ensuring uniform cell-exclusion zones by using flexible materials and constraint means for precise coupling and centring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical implements or electric currents are used to create scratches in cell layers, then cell-exclusion zones can be defined, but cell damage occurs and harmful agents are released
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable inserts that are discarded after a single use. These inserts create cell-exclusion zones without damaging cells, eliminating the need for repeated use and sterilization. The disposable nature ensures consistent performance without the cell damage associated with reusable mechanical implements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical scratching methods with a physical barrier approach using inserts. Instead of mechanically damaging cells to create exclusion zones, the inserts provide a temporary physical barrier that prevents cell attachment and growth in specific areas, thereby substituting mechanical damage with a non-invasive method.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical implements are used to create scratches, then cell-exclusion zones are defined, but scratches are non-homogeneous in shape, size, and position
Solution Approach 1:
The inserts are pre-formed with precise geometric shapes and dimensions before being introduced to the cell culture. This preliminary preparation ensures that the cell-exclusion zones created are homogeneous in shape, size, and position, eliminating the variability associated with manual scratching methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserts are made transparent or translucent, allowing visual verification of their position and the resulting cell-exclusion zones. This optical property enables operators to confirm homogeneous zone creation without additional measurement tools, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If known devices are inserted into multi-well plates, then cell-exclusion zones are created, but the devices are difficult to handle and position
Solution Approach 1:
The inserts are designed to be universally compatible with standard multi-well plate formats (e.g., 6-well, 12-well, 24-well plates). This universality simplifies handling and positioning, as the same insert design can be used across different plate types without requiring specialized tools or techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserts act as intermediary elements between the culture medium and the cell layer. They are introduced into the well along with the culture medium, allowing them to self-position at the air-liquid interface. This intermediary role eliminates the need for complex positioning mechanisms and simplifies handling.
4Manufacturing precision
If devices are inserted and extracted from multi-well plates, then cell-exclusion zones are created, but significant preparation time is required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple inserts can be pre-positioned in a single multi-well plate during plate manufacturing or preparation. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for individual insertion of each insert, significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining precise exclusion zone definition in all wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple inserts into a single integrated component or arranges them in a fixed configuration within the plate. This merging approach allows simultaneous handling and insertion of multiple inserts, reducing the total time required for setup while maintaining the precision of each individual exclusion zone.
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
Facilitates efficient, tool-free setup of uniform cell-exclusion zones, reducing preparation time and minimizing cell damage, while allowing for precise measurement of cell migration and proliferation.
Implementation Method 1
The baseplate and/or the reliefs are made at least in part of an elastomeric material, in such a way that at least the baseplate is elastically deformable, at least during extraction from the culture plate
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric material allows compression of the baseplate to enable insertion of exclusion reliefs into culture wells
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A device (20) for creating cell-exclusion zones comprises a baseplate (21) having a first major face from which a plurality of exclusion reliefs (22) project, each exclusion relief (22) having at least one distal end (23) configured for contact with a bottom (11b) of a respective well (11) of a multi-well cell-culture plate (10). The baseplate (21) and the plurality of exclusion reliefs (22) are defined at least in part by an elastic or flexible material in such a way that at least the baseplate (21) is elastically deformable at least during removal thereof from a multi-well cell-culture plate (10), the elastic or flexible material preferably being an elastomer.