Fluidic Cell Culture Channel Coordination for Uniform Cell States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture systems using fluidic devices, such as microfluidic devices, lack the capability to adjust the culture environment of multiple devices in an integrated manner, necessitating a system that can control liquid feeding, sensing, and adjust culture environments while considering the state of cells in each device.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture system with a plurality of channels, each containing a fluidic device, a liquid feeding unit, a detection unit, and a controller, along with a measurement and integrated controller to adjust the culture environment such that the absolute difference in cell states across channels is within a threshold, utilizing a learned model to ensure uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluidic devices are used for cell culture applications, then the capability to perform various applications (drug discovery, toxicity evaluation, organ-on-a-chip) is improved, but the ability to adjust the culture environment of each device in an integrated manner deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluidic devices into a single integrated cell culture system where the culture environment can be adjusted in a unified manner. The system integrates multiple culture chambers, liquid feeding units, and detection units into one coordinated platform, allowing simultaneous control of culture conditions across all devices through a single system controller rather than requiring separate control for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cell culture system that can perform multiple applications (drug discovery, toxicity evaluation, organ-on-a-chip studies) through a single integrated platform. The system is designed with standardized interfaces and unified control mechanisms that allow different fluidic devices to be operated together, providing multi-functional capability while maintaining ease of operation through integrated environment adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a system controls liquid feeding and detection for multiple fluidic devices, then the functionality for cell culture is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cell culture system into modular functional units including separate liquid feeding units, detection units, and culture chambers for each fluidic device. Each module can be independently designed and controlled, but they are coordinated through a centralized controller that manages the overall system. This segmentation allows for enhanced functionality while organizing complexity into manageable, standardized components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the culture environment of each fluidic device is adjusted independently, then the flexibility for specific applications is improved, but the uniformity of cell states across devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where detection units monitor the culture environment and cell states across all fluidic devices, and this information is fed back to the integrated controller. The controller uses this feedback to automatically adjust and coordinate culture conditions, ensuring that cell states remain uniform across devices while still allowing application-specific adjustments when needed. The feedback loop maintains stability by detecting and correcting deviations from desired culture conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell culture system includes: a plurality of cell culture channels each of which includes a fluidic device in which cells are cultured, a pump which makes a liquid flow into the fluidic device, a detection unit which detects a state of the cells that are cultured, and a controller which controls the pump and the detection unit; a measurement unit that measures culture environment of the cells which are cultured in the plurality of cell culture channels; and an information processing apparatus that adjusts the culture environment such that an absolute value of a difference between evaluation values for the states of the cells that are cultured in the plurality of cell culture channels is a threshold value or less, on the basis of the state of the cells detected by the detection unit and the culture environment of the cells measured by the measurement unit.