Electroporation Device with Dual-Opening Cleaning Cycle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electroporation techniques require resetting conditions when switching between different containers, leading to decreased efficiency in substance introduction when treating varying amounts of cell suspension, as optimal voltage and time settings depend on container volume and electrode distance.

Innovation Solution

A substance introduction device with multiple units connected in series, featuring an accommodation container with dual openings for filling and discharging cell suspension and cleaning solutions, along with filtering and cell counting units to maintain efficiency across different treatment volumes without changing electroporation conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If electroporation is repeatedly executed in the same container, then the total amount of cell suspension to be treated can be increased, but the substance introduction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal amount of cell suspension treatedVSAvoidsubstance introduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a cleaning solution circulation system that continuously cleans the container interior and electrodes between electroporation cycles. The cleaning solution is pumped through the container and electrodes, removing cell residues that would otherwise accumulate and reduce efficiency. This allows repeated use of the same container while maintaining high substance introduction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a continuous cleaning cycle that operates between electroporation treatments. The cleaning solution is continuously circulated through the container and electrodes, ensuring that harmful accumulations are constantly removed. This continuous maintenance action enables repeated electroporation cycles without efficiency loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If electroporation execution conditions are reset for different containers, then the optimum conditions can be maintained, but the operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectroporation execution condition optimizationVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal cleaning system that works with the same container for multiple electroporation cycles. The cleaning solution circulation system is integrated into the existing container and electrode structure, allowing the same hardware to be reused without requiring different containers for each treatment. This eliminates the need to reset conditions for different containers while maintaining optimal execution parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If the container volume is enlarged to treat more cell suspension, then the total amount treated increases, but the electroporation execution conditions must be changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of cell suspension treatedVSAvoidelectroporation execution condition adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of enlarging the container, the patent uses a cleaning solution circulation system to maintain optimal conditions in the same container volume. The cleaning solution removes cell residues that would otherwise require larger container volumes to accommodate, allowing the same container to be used for treating larger total amounts of cell suspension across multiple cycles without changing electroporation execution conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Enables efficient and repeated electroporation in the same container without enlarging the container, maintaining high substance introduction efficiency by using the device's configuration to manage cell residues and cleaning solutions effectively, thus improving the overall usefulness of the technique.

Implementation Method 1

an optimum electroporation execution condition, such as a voltage value of a voltage to be applied or time for the application

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

a liquid delivery unit configured to deliver a liquid to the accommodation container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20230272329A1Substance introduction device and substance introduction method

Publication Date: 2023.08.31 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A substance introduction device introduces a substance into a cell by electroporation, and includes at least one substance introduction unit including an accommodation container that accommodates a cell suspension containing the cell and the substance and a pair of electrodes that applies a voltage to the cell suspension accommodated in the accommodation container; and a liquid delivery unit that delivers a liquid to the accommodation container. The accommodation container has a first and a second openings, and the liquid delivery unit fills the accommodation container with the cell suspension before voltage application through the first opening and to discharge the cell suspension after the voltage application from the accommodation container through the second opening, and to fill the accommodation container with a cleaning solution through the second opening and to discharge the cleaning solution from the accommodation container through the first opening.