Enclosed Cell Culture System Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cell culture methods are labor-intensive and prone to errors, requiring manual operation and resulting in prolonged preparation times for CAR-T cell immunotherapy, which limits the efficiency and scalability of cell production.

Innovation Solution

A fully enclosed cell culture system that includes an incubator, bioreactor, gas flow assembly, liquid flow assembly, temperature adjustment assembly, and a central controller, which automates the cell culture process through perfusion, gas control, and temperature regulation, reducing manual intervention and optimizing cell growth conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cell culture operations are used, then operators can directly control the culture process, but the preparation time is prolonged and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell culture preparation speedVSAvoidCAR-T cell preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service cell culture operations through the central controller that automatically regulates temperature, gas flow, and liquid flow parameters without continuous manual intervention, significantly reducing preparation time and labor requirements while maintaining culture quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual operations are performed, then flexibility in adjusting culture conditions is maintained, but the risk of human error increases and consistency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveculture operation accuracyVSAvoidmanual operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor temperature, gas concentrations (O2, CO2), and liquid flow rates, providing real-time feedback to the central controller which automatically adjusts parameters to maintain optimal culture conditions, eliminating human error and ensuring consistent results

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical operations are replaced by an automated control system that uses electronic sensors, motors, and control algorithms to regulate culture conditions, improving reliability while reducing operational complexity through centralized automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional cell culture systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the ability to control simulated environment parameters is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment control capabilityVSAvoidculture system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The culture system integrates multiple functions into a single platform: temperature control through heating/cooling assemblies, gas management through flow assemblies with sensors, liquid management through flow assemblies with filtration, all coordinated by a central controller, enabling comprehensive environment control without proportionally increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system enables efficient and automated cell culture, reducing the risk of human error, shortening preparation times, and improving cell yield and quality, thereby facilitating the industrialization of cell-based therapies like CAR-T cell immunotherapy.

Implementation Method 1

The gas flow assembly is connected with the incubator, to adjust concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the incubator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The liquid flow assembly is connected with the bioreactor, to adjust a liquid flow in the bioreactor, filter the metabolite

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The temperature adjustment assembly is configured to adjust the temperature in the incubator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12297415B2Fully enclosed cell culture system

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 HUADAO (SHANGHAI) BIOPHARMA CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a fully enclosed cell culture system, including at least an incubator, a bioreactor, a gas flow assembly, a liquid flow assembly, a temperature adjustment assembly, and a central controller. The system realizes a thermostatic incubation environment. Cells are incubated by perfusion, and a fully enclosed integrated process from cell activation, infection and amplification to finished product harvesting is achieved. By axially stirring the cells and an incubation liquid in a tank body, a radial shear force is reduced, which effectively protects the cells and improves the cell yield. In the system of the present disclosure, gases are separately introduced, ensuring that the content of each gas component is stable in the incubation process. The cell incubation is not directly affected by changes of outside gases in the cell incubation process, which improves culture efficiency.