Interconnected Cell Culture Chambers for Alternating Medium and Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture systems, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, lack a comprehensive configuration of multiple cell culture devices and methods for controlling them effectively, which hinders efficient cell culture and the production of cultured meat and culture supernatant.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture system comprising a plurality of interconnected cell culture devices where the liquid level of the culture medium is controlled to alternately immerse and expose cells to the medium, utilizing pumps and controllers to manage the liquid levels and circulation, enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single cell culture device is used with intermittent exposure to culture medium, then cells can be exposed to oxygen and medium alternately, but the culture efficiency is low and requires frequent manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cell culture process into multiple independent chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that can operate simultaneously. Each chamber can be independently controlled to expose cells to culture medium or oxygen at different times, allowing continuous culture operations without manual intervention for medium changes.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple cell culture devices are combined into a single integrated system with shared control mechanisms. The system merges the functions of multiple chambers into one coordinated unit that automatically manages liquid levels and exposure timing across all chambers, eliminating the need for frequent manual medium changes while maintaining high culture efficiency.
2Productivity
If multiple cell culture devices are connected in parallel, then culture capacity increases, but the system complexity and control difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple chambers through a single integrated controller. The same control mechanism can regulate liquid levels, pumping, and exposure timing across all chambers simultaneously, increasing culture capacity without proportionally increasing control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation across multiple chambers with automated liquid level control and pumping mechanisms. Culture medium circulates continuously through the system, and chambers operate in a coordinated sequence that ensures continuous productive action without requiring complex intermittent control of each individual chamber.
3Productivity
If cells are constantly immersed in culture medium, then nutrient supply is continuous, but oxygen availability is limited and culture efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic alternation between immersion in culture medium and exposure to oxygen-rich environment. Chambers are cyclically switched between wet and dry states, providing cells with periodic access to both nutrients from the medium and oxygen from the air, thereby improving overall cell growth rate compared to constant immersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid level in each chamber is dynamically controlled to change over time, transitioning between high (immersion) and low (exposure) states. This dynamic adjustment of liquid level allows the system to optimize the balance between nutrient supply and oxygen availability, enhancing cell culture efficiency compared to static immersion conditions.
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
The system significantly improves cell culture efficiency, reduces the need for frequent medium changes, and produces high-quality cultured meat and supernatant while maintaining a cost-effective and simple design.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing pumps and controllers to manage the liquid levels and circulation
Data Source
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AI summary
A new cell culture system capable of improving the efficiency in cell culture is provided. A cell culture system (S1) comprises a plurality of cell culture devices (100, 200, 300) which are connected such that a culture medium (50) moves through each of the cell culture devices, and the liquid level of the culture medium stored in each of the cell culture devices is controlled such that cells in at least one of the cell culture devices are in a first state in which the cells are immersed in the culture medium, while cells in the remaining cell culture devices are in a second state in which the cells are not immersed in the culture medium.