Frustoconical Cell Growth Chamber with Gravity-Driven Media Reservoir
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell expansion systems face challenges in achieving high density non-adherent cell growth, as the availability of cell growth media significantly influences cell expansion and density, with current technologies not efficiently providing the necessary environment for optimal growth.
Innovation Solution
A closed cell expansion system comprising a cell growth chamber with a specialized frustoconical shape, a mass transfer device, and a fluid circulation loop, where gravitational forces cause cells to settle in a media-rich reservoir, and a semi-permeable membrane allows for nutrient and oxygen exchange, maintaining cells in suspension and promoting high density growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large volume of cell growth media is provided to promote increased cell growth, then cell density and growth are improved, but the complexity of the system and difficulty of media management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cell growth chamber into multiple compartments separated by semi-permeable membranes, allowing independent control of media volume in each section while maintaining overall system functionality. This segmentation enables optimized media distribution without requiring a single large complex volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where smaller cell growth chambers are positioned within a larger outer chamber, with media flowing from the outer chamber through semi-permeable membranes into the inner chambers. This nesting allows efficient use of media volume while maintaining manageable system complexity through hierarchical organization.
2Productivity
If cells are maintained in suspension to enable non-adherent growth, then cell expansion is improved, but the stability of cell distribution and media homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic media circulation patterns where media flows continuously through the chambers, preventing static settling while maintaining suspension. The semi-permeable membranes allow dynamic exchange of media and cells, ensuring stable cell distribution through controlled movement rather than static containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluid dynamics and pressure gradients to maintain cell suspension and media homogeneity. By controlling media flow rates and pressure differentials across the semi-permeable membranes, the system keeps cells evenly distributed in suspension without requiring mechanical agitation, thus maintaining stability while enabling expansion.
3Productivity
If a specialized frustoconical chamber shape is used to utilize gravity for media-rich reservoir creation, then cell growth efficiency is improved, but the difficulty of manufacturing and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chamber geometry parameters, specifically using a frustoconical shape with specific angle ranges and dimensional ratios, to optimize gravity-driven media distribution. By carefully selecting geometric parameters within defined ranges, the system achieves improved cell growth efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through standardized forming processes.
4Productivity
If semi-permeable membranes are used for nutrient and oxygen exchange, then media exchange efficiency is improved, but the loss of cells through the membrane and manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs semi-permeable membranes with specifically controlled pore sizes and porous structures that allow selective passage of nutrients, gases, and waste products while blocking cells. The porous material properties are optimized to maximize exchange efficiency while minimizing cell leakage, achieving high productivity with minimal cell loss.
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 efficiently promotes high density non-adherent cell growth by maintaining cells in a media-rich environment, allowing for optimal nutrient and waste exchange, and accommodating different cell types and sizes through the cumulative features of the chamber, mass transfer device, and fluid circulation loop.
Implementation Method 1
By vertically positioning the cell growth chamber, gravitational forces cause cells to accumulate in the lower portion of the cell growth chamber
Implementation Method 2
The circulating media is replenished by nutrients and oxygen diffusing through the extracapillary space into the intracapillary space
Implementation Method 3
Waste in the circulating media may also be diffused from the media into the extracapillary space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for promoting the expansion of high density non-adherent cells through the use of a cell growth chamber, a mass transfer device, and a fluid circulation loop. Improved cell growth is achieved in the cell growth chamber by using a chamber having a particular orientation and shape, e.g., conical, to create a media-rich reservoir for growing cells. By placing the chamber in a vertical position, the force of media flow along the chamber walls is substantially equal and opposite to the gravitational force on the cells. The interaction of these forces maintains the non-adherent cells in suspension. The use of the cell growth chamber in conjunction with the mass transfer device and fluid circulation loop(s) creates efficiencies by relying on the cumulative and combined features of the devices.