Lid-Mounted Medium Container in an In Vitro Plant Reactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reactor systems for in vitro plant culture face challenges such as difficulty in medium change, space utilization, and accessibility issues during cutting and harvesting due to liquid medium contact and separate receptacles.
Innovation Solution
A reactor system with a receptacle, lid, and a culture medium container attached to the lid for easy access, allowing gas and medium exchange through conduits, enabling convenient handling and reduced volume usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid culture medium remains in contact with the receptacle during culture, then uniform distribution of nutrients is achieved, but it becomes difficult to change the medium and handle the reactor for accessing plant material
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the receptacle into two separate parts: a first receptacle for growing plant material and a second receptacle for storing liquid culture medium. This segmentation allows the medium to be changed independently without disturbing the plant material, while still enabling uniform nutrient distribution through periodic pumping of the medium from the second to the first receptacle.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector acts as an intermediary element between the two receptacles, allowing the liquid culture medium to be pumped from the second receptacle through the connector to the first receptacle. This intermediary mechanism enables controlled medium transfer without direct contact between the medium and the plant material container, facilitating easy medium changes while maintaining nutrient distribution.
2Ease of operation
If a separate second receptacle is used for storing liquid culture medium, then medium changing is facilitated, but the system takes up more space and becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The second receptacle for storing liquid culture medium is positioned underneath the first receptacle for growing plant material, creating a nested arrangement. This vertical stacking configuration allows both receptacles to occupy the same horizontal footprint, reducing the overall space required in the in vitro culture chamber while maintaining the functionality of separate medium storage and plant material cultivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement by stacking the second receptacle underneath the first receptacle. This dimensional change from two-dimensional to three-dimensional space utilization reduces the area occupied on the culture chamber surface while maintaining separate functional zones for medium storage and plant material growth.
3Ease of operation
If the first receptacle is stacked over the second receptacle with an inclined bottom, then drainage of liquid culture medium is facilitated, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is merged with the existing connector structure between the two receptacles. The inclined bottom of the first receptacle directs the liquid culture medium toward the connector, which serves dual purposes: as the medium transfer pathway from the second receptacle and as the drainage outlet. This merging of functions simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for separate drainage mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
It comprises a receptacle for the culture of plant material, a cap for closing an opening to said receptacle, and means for allowing the entry and/or exit of gas from said receptacle, and is characterized in that it comprises a container for receiving a liquid culture medium inside the receptacle, and support means for supporting the plant material on said reception container, wherein said container is attached to the lid of the receptacle in a position suitable for use, said lid including at least one medium inlet and/or exit conduit that connects with the container to be able to fill and/or empty said container through said conduit.