Fluidic Synthesizer and Addressing System for Organ-on-Chip Perfusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current organ-on-chip devices face challenges in creating functional and realistic multi-organ networks, struggling to recapitulate complex physiological responses and interactions at the systemic level due to the need for different growth media compositions for various organs and limitations in throughput, particularly in drug candidate screening processes.
Innovation Solution
A microphysiological platform with a fluidic synthesizer and addressing system that mixes and routes customized fluid solutions to multiple microphysiological devices, enabling automated and efficient delivery of specific tissue microenvironments and facilitating the simulation of complex biological interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different growth media compositions are used for various organs, then the physiological realism of each organ is improved, but the complexity of the system increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fluid delivery function into separate modular units (fluidic synthesizer, addressing system, perfusion modules) that can independently handle different media compositions for different organs, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining physiological realism
Solution Approach 2:
The fluidic synthesizer and addressing system serve multiple functions: they can create different media compositions, route them to various organs, and maintain perfusion across multiple organ units simultaneously, reducing the need for separate specialized systems for each organ
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual fluid delivery methods are used, then flexibility in media composition is improved, but productivity and throughput decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic synthesizer automatically creates the required media compositions by mixing base components, and the addressing system autonomously routes fluids to appropriate organs, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining composition flexibility and enabling high-throughput operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables rapid changes in fluid composition parameters (concentrations, flow rates, timing) through automated control, allowing flexible media formulations to be delivered at high speeds suitable for drug screening throughput
3Productivity
If automated fluid delivery systems are implemented, then productivity and throughput are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system is divided into distinct functional modules (fluidic synthesizer, addressing system, perfusion modules) that can be independently controlled and maintained, reducing the operational complexity despite high throughput capability
Solution Approach 2:
The addressing system acts as an intermediary that simplifies the control architecture by providing a standardized interface between the fluidic synthesizer and multiple organ modules, reducing overall system complexity while enabling automated high-throughput operation
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
Enhances the throughput and efficiency of organ-on-chip models by allowing for the precise transmission of signaling molecules between organs and the use of tailored growth media, supporting the long-term maintenance and differentiation of multiple organ units simultaneously, thereby improving the simulation of physiological responses.
Implementation Method 1
The fluidic synthesizer creates an output solution by mixing first input fluid solution received from the first fluid input and second input fluid solution received from the second fluid input
Implementation Method 2
The fluid addressing system conveys output solution from the fluid addressing system fluid input to a selected one, or both, of the first fluid output and the second fluid output
Implementation Method 3
Each of the first microphysiological device and the second microphysiological device culture biological tissue and perfuse the biological tissue with the output solution
Data Source
AI summary
A microphysiological platform described herein includes a fluidic synthesizer with a first fluid input selectively coupleable to a source of a first input fluid solution and a second fluid input selectively coupleable to a source of a second input fluid solution. The fluidic synthesizer further includes a fluid output. The microphysiological platform further includes a fluid addressing system with a fluid input fluidically coupled to the fluidic synthesizer fluid output. The fluid addressing system further includes a first fluid output and a second fluid output. The microphysiological platform further includes a first microphysiological device with a fluid input fluidically coupled to the first fluid output of the fluid addressing system and a second microphysiological device with a fluid input fluidically coupled to the second fluid output of the fluid addressing system.