Kirigami Grippers for Flexible Container Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidic mixing systems face challenges such as limited parallelization and throughput, high shear stresses induced by rigid actuators, and the need for costly and bulky equipment with large footprints.
Innovation Solution
The use of one or more grippers to deform a flexible container, inducing fluid flow and mixing within the container, while allowing for a smaller footprint, parallel operation, and reduced shear stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If rigid actuators are used to mix fluid, then mixing power is improved, but shear stress on biological materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible containers made of elastomeric materials that can be cyclically deformed by grippers. This flexible container approach replaces rigid mixing actuators, allowing the container walls to flex and generate gentle fluid flow patterns that mix effectively without imposing high shear stresses on sensitive biological materials.
2Power
If conventional fluid mixers are used, then mixing capability is improved, but device footprint and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing system is segmented into discrete functional components: support structures, flexible containers, and gripper actuators. This modular segmentation allows for compact integration and reduced overall device footprint while maintaining effective mixing capability through the coordinated action of these simplified components.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper actuators are designed to interface directly with the flexible container from the outside, with the container nested within the gripper's gripping area. This nested configuration eliminates the need for large external mixing chambers and reduces the device footprint significantly.
3Ease of operation
If manual mixing processes are used, then simplicity is maintained, but throughput and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated cyclic deformation of the flexible container through programmable gripper actuators. The container itself serves as the mixing vessel and responds autonomously to the deformation cycles, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity and enabling high-throughput automated processing.
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 described mixing systems achieve efficient and gentle fluid mixing with lower shear stresses, enabling improved viability of biological materials and a more compact, cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more grippers are configured to deform the flexible container to induce flow of the fluid within the flexible container
Implementation Method 2
deform the flexible container to induce flow of the fluid within the flexible container
Data Source
AI summary
Kirigami mixing systems and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a mixing system includes one or more grippers configured to deform a portion of a flexible container containing fluid when undergoing axial deformation. The grippers may include features including slots, hinges, and spines to aid in the transition of the grippers between a closed and retracted configuration when the one or more grippers are deformed. The compression of the container subsequently result in fluid flow within the container which may mix or agitate the fluid. In some embodiments, the described grippers may be formed integrally with the flexible containers. In some embodiments, the mixing system may include a plurality of grippers arranged around the flexible container.