Liquid Reservoir Gas Control for Fast Dissolved Oxygen Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for controlling oxygen concentration in cell cultures, such as those used in microfluidic cell cultures, face challenges in independently managing the flow rate and dissolved gas concentration, leading to long equilibration times and inability to create gradient concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a liquid reservoir with a gas inlet and outlet, connected to admission and emission lines with control valves, allowing for independent control of gas composition and flow rate, enabling rapid adjustment of dissolved gas concentrations in the liquid medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard pressure controllers with two valving systems are used to control gas injection and rejection, then gas composition can be controlled, but response times are long when changing gas composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gas control system into separate admission and emission lines, each with its own control valve. This segmentation allows independent control of gas injection and rejection, enabling faster response times when changing gas composition compared to systems using a single valving mechanism for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control by allowing both admission and emission valves to operate simultaneously and independently. This dynamic operation enables rapid adjustment of gas composition by coordinating gas injection and rejection, significantly reducing response times compared to static or sequential control systems.
2Productivity
If pressure is changed to accommodate flow rate in pressure-based controllers, then liquid flow rate can be controlled, but dissolved gas concentration cannot be controlled independently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates flow rate control and dissolved gas concentration control into independent control pathways. Flow rate is controlled through pressure adjustment affecting liquid flow, while dissolved gas concentration is controlled independently through the admission line's gas injection, allowing both parameters to be adjusted without interfering with each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the admission line as an intermediary mechanism that directly controls dissolved gas concentration by injecting gas into the liquid reservoir. This intermediary system decouples gas concentration control from pressure-based flow rate control, enabling independent adjustment of both parameters.
3Productivity
If syringe pumps are used to generate flow of medium, then flow rate can be controlled, but dissolved gas concentration in the fluid cannot be controlled once the syringe has been filled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid reservoir with admission line as an intermediary system between the syringe pump and the microfluidic device. This intermediary allows continuous adjustment of dissolved gas concentration by injecting gas into the liquid reservoir, decoupling gas concentration control from the syringe pump's flow generation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the system into flow generation (syringe pump), gas concentration control (admission line with control valve), and distribution (liquid reservoir) functions. This segmentation allows the syringe pump to maintain flow rate control while the admission line independently controls dissolved gas concentration.
4Productivity
If peristaltic pumps are used to generate flow, then flow can be produced, but pulsations are induced making them poorly adapted to many applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical peristaltic pumping action with a pressure-based flow generation system using a syringe pump. This substitution eliminates the pulsations inherent in peristaltic pumps while maintaining controlled flow generation, providing stable and continuous flow to the microfluidic device.
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
Enables precise control of both flow rate and dissolved gas concentration in cell cultures, reducing equilibration times and allowing for the creation of gradient concentrations, thereby improving the simulation of in vivo conditions.
Implementation Method 1
admission line configured to introduce a gaseous medium into said liquid reservoir
Implementation Method 2
emission line configured to withdraw said gaseous medium from said liquid reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (2) for providing a liquid medium with a controlled flow rate and with a controlled concentration of a dissolved gas, the device (2) comprising: —a liquid reservoir (4) provided with: —at least one gas inlet (7); —at least one gas outlet (8); and—at least one liquid outlet (9); —an admission line (5) configured to provide a gaseous medium into the liquid reservoir (4), the admission line (5) being connected to the at least one gas inlet (7) and comprising at least one control valve (12); and an emission line (6) configured to withdraw the gaseous medium from the liquid reservoir (4), the emission line (6) being connected to the at least one gas outlet (8) and comprising at least one control valve (15). The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising said device, and to a method for providing a liquid medium with a controlled flow rate and with a controlled concentration in a dissolved gas.