Fluid Diffuser and Separator for Scalable Cell Sheet Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional apparatuses for cell culture are not designed to support the growth of continuous cell sheets on a practical scale suitable for consumption, particularly for meat production, and are limited in their ability to recover cells and the products they secrete.
Innovation Solution
The development of apparatuses and systems that include enclosed substrates with fluid diffusers and separators to promote uniform fluid flow and facilitate the growth, adhesion, and separation of cell sheets, allowing for the production of a meat product by culturing cells on substrates and separating them in a continuous sheet using controlled fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional apparatuses for cell culture are used, then cells and secreted products can be recovered, but the apparatuses cannot support the growth of continuous cell sheets on a practical scale suitable for consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into multiple substrates arranged in parallel, each substrate serving as an independent unit for cell sheet growth. This segmentation allows scaling up the total production capacity while maintaining the ability to recover cells and products from each substrate unit, resolving the contradiction between practical scale growth and recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transitions from conventional two-dimensional cell culture surfaces to a three-dimensional configuration with multiple stacked substrates. This dimensional change enables practical scale growth by increasing the total growth surface area while maintaining fluid flow paths for product recovery, thus improving productivity without losing recovery capability.
2Productivity
If fluid flow is increased to improve cell growth, then productivity increases, but uniform fluid distribution becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid distribution system is segmented into multiple inlets distributed across different locations. This segmentation allows high total flow rates while maintaining uniform distribution by directing fluid to multiple separate zones, preventing flow concentration in any single area and ensuring consistent cell growth conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Each substrate receives fluid flow tailored to its specific local requirements through individually controlled inlets. This local quality approach ensures that high productivity is achieved through optimized local flow rates while maintaining overall uniformity across all substrates, resolving the contradiction between flow rate and distribution uniformity.
3Productivity
If substrates are arranged in parallel to increase growth surface area, then productivity increases, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrates are designed as universal, interchangeable units with standardized fluid inlet and outlet connections. This universality allows the apparatus to scale by simply adding more identical substrate units without increasing operational complexity, as each substrate functions independently with the same fluid flow characteristics and recovery mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple substrates are nested or stacked in a compact arrangement, allowing high growth surface area within a limited apparatus volume. This nesting approach increases productivity by maximizing space utilization while keeping the overall apparatus structure organized and manageable, reducing the perceived complexity despite the increased number of components.
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
These systems enable the scalable growth and separation of cell sheets, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods by allowing for efficient cell growth and product recovery, thereby facilitating the production of a meat product with improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid diffuser may be configured to enable a substantially uniform or laminar flow across a surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
the separator may comprise one or more fluid nozzles configured to direct the fluid towards the substrate at a predetermined angle
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatuses described herein relate to preparation of a meat product. Apparatuses, systems comprising the apparatuses, and methods of making and use the systems and apparatuses are described herein. These are useful for controlling one or more of growth on and separation of a meat product from an enclosed substrate. The apparatuses and systems are configured to receive fluid and grow the meat product and/or separate the meat product from the substrate in a scalable manner.