Liquid Feeder with Gas Injection for Cell Culture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid feeding methods using pumps in cell culture systems face issues such as liquid clogging, inaccurate liquid dispensation, and variable pump flow rates due to changes in tube length, leading to inconsistent liquid levels and reduced accuracy in target liquid delivery.
Innovation Solution
A liquid feeder system incorporating a pump, gas introduction unit, and liquid level detection mechanism, which controls liquid flow to maintain accurate dispensation by managing liquid levels and avoiding tube clogging, using a solenoid valve and liquid level sensors to ensure precise liquid feeding without maintaining liquid in the pipeline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid is maintained in the pipeline connected to the target container, then the pump can continuously feed liquid, but the liquid becomes clogged in the pipeline when the pump is stopped and the culture medium dries in the tube
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by introducing gas into the pipeline before stopping the pump to prevent liquid from remaining in the tube. This advance measure ensures that when the pump stops, there is no liquid left to dry and clog the pipeline, thus maintaining reliability while enabling continuous feeding during operation.
2Extent of automation
If a mechanized dispenser is used for liquid dispensation, then the liquid amount can be determined and transferred automatically, but the apparatus increases in size and requires sterile environment placement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the liquid determination and transfer function from a complex mechanized dispenser and implements it using a simpler pump-based system. By using a pump to feed liquid through a tube with gas introduction capability, the system achieves automatic dispensation without requiring a large mechanized dispenser, thus reducing apparatus size while maintaining automation.
3Extent of automation
If the pump flow rate is used to calculate liquid feeding amount, then the dispensation can be automated, but the pump flow rate varies due to tube length changes leading to inaccurate liquid delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies feedback by introducing gas into the pipeline and using liquid level detection to monitor and control the liquid feeding process. This feedback mechanism compensates for pump flow rate variations caused by tube length changes, ensuring accurate liquid delivery by adjusting the feeding based on actual liquid level observations rather than relying solely on predetermined pump flow rates.
4Productivity
If gas is introduced into the pipeline to move liquid, then the liquid can be discharged from the tube, but the space in the pipeline connected to the liquid bottle is filled with culture medium that stays there
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by alternatively carrying out the suction of liquid and feeding of gas. This periodic operation allows the liquid to be moved and discharged efficiently while the gas pushes it through the pipeline, preventing culture medium from staying in the pipeline connected to the liquid bottle, thus reducing substance loss while maintaining high discharge speed.
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 achieves high accuracy and consistency in delivering target liquid amounts, reducing the impact of liquid level changes and pump flow rate variations, thereby improving reproducibility and reducing biological contamination risks in cell culture processes.
Implementation Method 1
a gas introduce unit which introduces gas into the liquid feeding pipe
Implementation Method 2
a liquid level detection unit which detects an advancing liquid level of the liquid to be fed in the liquid feeding pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
The liquid feeder includes a liquid feeding pipe having a liquid introduce port and a liquid discharge port, a housing container which holds liquid to be introduced from the liquid introduce port, a liquid feed mechanism which feeds the liquid in the liquid feeding pipe to the liquid discharge port, a gas introduce unit which introduces gas into the liquid feeding pipe, and a liquid level detection unit which detects an advancing liquid level of the liquid to be fed in the liquid feeding pipe. The gas introduce unit is connected to a branch part provided in the liquid feeding pipe on the upstream side of the liquid feed mechanism. The liquid level detection unit is provided on the downstream side of the branch part.