Automated Fluidic Disc for Cell Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for isolating specific cells from blood or bone marrow are inefficient and unreliable, posing challenges for regenerative medicine and fetal gene diagnosis, particularly in ensuring the quality and safety of immune cells, T-cells, and fetal nucleated red blood cells.

Innovation Solution

An automated system utilizing a fluidic disc mounted on a centrifuge rotor, which manipulates cells through centrifugal forces and fluid channeling, enables the reliable isolation of immune cells, T-cells, and fetal nucleated red blood cells by separating blood components based on density and size, using computer-controlled actuators and sensors to manage the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cell isolation methods are used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but reliability and consistency of cell isolation quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell isolation qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses automated feedback control where sensors detect cell concentration and composition in real-time, and the control system automatically adjusts centrifugal force and fluid flow parameters to maintain optimal isolation conditions without continuous manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated control system that uses sensors, computers, and algorithms to control centrifugal separation and fluid manipulation, ensuring consistent and reliable cell isolation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated processing is implemented, then productivity and consistency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell isolation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluidic disc integrates multiple functions including sample loading, centrifugal separation, cell concentration, and harvest into a single rotating component, allowing automated processing while reducing the number of separate devices needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system nests the fluidic disc within the centrifuge rotor, with the disc containing multiple chambers and channels that perform sequential processing steps, enabling complex automated operations within a compact structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Speed

If centrifugal force is increased to separate cells faster, then separation speed improves, but cell damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation speedVSAvoidcell damage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts centrifugal force parameters during different stages of processing, using lower speeds for initial separation and higher speeds for final concentration, optimizing both speed and cell integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors monitor cell separation progress in real-time and provide feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts centrifugal force to achieve optimal separation while preventing excessive force that could damage cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If fluid manipulation is used to concentrate cells, then cell concentration efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell concentration efficiencyVSAvoidfluid control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pneumatic actuators and fluid pressure control to manipulate cell-containing fluids through channels and chambers in the rotating disc, enabling automated cell concentration without complex mechanical manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 system allows for precise and safe isolation of targeted cells for patient treatment and fetal gene diagnosis, reducing the risk of miscarriage and ensuring high-quality cell samples for medical applications.

Implementation Method 1

The fluidic disc is mounted to a spinning rotor and it is used to manipulate cells by channeling fluids while subjected to centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

separating blood components based on density and size

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity gradient separation: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11738288B2Automated system and method to isolate specific cells from blood or bone marrow

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 CHAMMAS JACQUES

AI summary

The present invention provides an automated system and method to isolate nucleated blood cells from whole blood or bone marrow. A disc mounted to a centrifuge system with spinning rotor is used to manipulate cells by channeling fluids while subjected to high gravitational field. The disc embodies at least two axisymmetric processing stations connected by a circular channel. Each station contains multiple chambers connected by fluidic channels to controllably transfer fluids. First stage separation allows for the isolation of the buffy coat layer while the second stage separation utilizes gradient density fluids to isolate the targeted nucleated cells from the buffy coat layer in the spinning disc.