Exothermic Warmer for Cell Dissociation Without Incubator Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cell grafting protocols require expensive and ecologically impactful electronic heating units for maintaining optimal temperatures during cell dissociation, making them inaccessible to practitioners without incubator facilities, particularly for treating skin diseases like vitiligo.

Innovation Solution

The use of exothermic warmers, such as sodium acetate-based heat packs, to maintain enzymatic solutions at optimal temperatures for cell dissociation, combined with an insulating support to enhance heat retention and transfer, allowing for efficient cell dissociation without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If electronic heating units with batteries are used to maintain optimal temperature during cell dissociation, then temperature control is improved, but device cost and ecological impact increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, complex electronic heating units with disposable chemical warmers that provide sufficient heat for the required duration. These warmers are inexpensive, single-use devices that eliminate the need for costly electronic equipment while maintaining adequate temperature control for cell dissociation protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical/electronic heating system with a chemical heating system. Instead of using electronic components, batteries, and control circuits, the invention employs chemical reactions within warmers to generate heat, thereby replacing the complex electronic system with a simpler chemical-based solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If electronic heating units with batteries are used to maintain optimal temperature during cell dissociation, then temperature control is improved, but ecological impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidecological impact

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic heating units with disposable chemical warmers that have no batteries or electronic components. These warmers are environmentally friendly, single-use devices that eliminate electronic waste and battery disposal issues, thereby reducing ecological impact while providing sufficient temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the electronic heating system with a chemical heating system that has no moving parts, batteries, or electronic components. This replacement eliminates the ecological harm associated with electronic waste and battery disposal, making the process more environmentally sustainable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Temperature

If incubators are used for cell dissociation, then temperature stability is improved, but accessibility to practitioners decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive incubators with inexpensive chemical warmers that can be used by any practitioner regardless of laboratory infrastructure. These disposable warmers provide adequate temperature stability for cell dissociation without requiring the investment in or access to expensive incubator equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the complex incubator system with simple chemical warmers that require no electricity, control systems, or sophisticated infrastructure. This makes the temperature control solution accessible to practitioners in any setting, from well-equipped laboratories to resource-limited environments.

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 a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method to maintain temperatures between 30 and 40°C for extended periods, enabling efficient cell dissociation and cell suspension preparation for skin treatments, including vitiligo, while reducing equipment costs and ecological impact.

Implementation Method 1

The use of exothermic warmers, such as sodium acetate-based heat packs, to maintain enzymatic solutions at optimal temperatures for cell dissociation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExothermic process: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 2

combined with an insulating support to enhance heat retention and transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS11312938B2Warmer for promoting a biological reaction

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 IBSA PHARMA SAS

AI summary

The present invention relates to the use of warmers, or autonomous heat packs, for heating and maintaining a solution at a suitable temperature, for the period of time required to accomplish a chemical, biochemical or biological reaction, in particular in molecular biology or cell biology applications. Biology kits containing warmers are also part of this invention.