Flexible Cell Stimulation via Vacuum Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell stimulation methods, such as indirect ultrasound and complex mechanical stimulation devices, face limitations in quantifying and applying mechanical stimuli uniformly to cells, which hinders research into cellular responses and industrial scalability.
Innovation Solution
A cell stimulation apparatus using a pressure controller to apply vacuum pressure to a flexible material-based container bottom, allowing independent control of pressure in each cell containment groove, enabling precise mechanical stimulation and efficient cell culture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If indirect ultrasound stimulation is used to stimulate cells, then cell stimulation can be achieved, but the stimulation intensity cannot be quantified and varies depending on cell culture medium composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect ultrasound stimulation with direct mechanical stress application through a flexible container bottom. The flexible material directly transmits mechanical stress to cells, enabling precise control and quantification of stimulation intensity through pressure parameters, eliminating the variability introduced by cell culture medium composition in ultrasound methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stimulation parameter from indirect acoustic energy to direct mechanical stress with controllable magnitude. By applying vacuum pressure to deform the flexible container bottom, the stimulation intensity can be precisely controlled and quantified through pressure values, ensuring consistent and reproducible results
2Adaptability or versatility
If a micro-needle device using MEMS is used to apply direct mechanical stimulation, then direct mechanical stimulation can be applied, but only sting stimulation is applied limiting the types of mechanical stimuli
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible container bottom serves multiple functions: it enables stretching stimulation through vacuum pressure application, can provide compression through pressure application, and maintains cell containment. This single flexible structure replaces the need for complex micro-needle MEMS devices while providing versatile mechanical stimulation types
3Adaptability or versatility
If a device with motor, pump, and scaffolds is used to apply various mechanical stimuli, then multiple mechanical stimuli can be applied, but the device is complex and has inefficient spatial property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of mechanical stimulation from complex motor-pump-scaffold systems and implements it through a simple flexible container bottom connected to a vacuum pump. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining the capability to apply various mechanical stimuli through pressure control
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible container bottom acts as a thin film that directly transmits mechanical stress to cells. This flexible structure replaces rigid motors, pumps, and scaffolds, achieving multiple mechanical stimulation types through simple pressure application while dramatically reducing device complexity and improving spatial efficiency
4Quantity of substance
If a complex device with multiple components is used for cell stimulation, then various mechanical stimuli can be applied, but it can only be applied to a small number of cells reducing industrial applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible container bottom can be divided into multiple independent regions or containers, each capable of receiving vacuum pressure for cell stimulation. This segmentation allows parallel processing of large numbers of cells while maintaining simple device architecture, enabling industrial-scale cell culture and stimulation
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 apparatus promotes cell growth and differentiation by applying controlled mechanical stress, enhancing protein expression and facilitating mass cell culture with improved spatial efficiency and reduced mechanical wear.
Implementation Method 1
a pump that applies vacuum pressure to the cell containment part
Implementation Method 2
a bottom of the at least one cell containment groove is made of a flexible material
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a cell stimulation apparatus. In particular, a cell stimulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cell containment part in which at least one cell containment groove containing cells is formed; and a pressure control part that supports the cell containment part and transforms the at least one cell containment groove by applying pressure to the cell containment part, wherein a bottom of the at least one cell containment groove is made of a flexible material.