Liquid Supply Interface for Cell Culture Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cell culture systems face high costs and low yields due to specialized bioreactors and disposable containers, which are either expensive to maintain or limited in capacity, and lack automation for industrial-scale use.

Innovation Solution

A liquid supply interface with multiple connection formations and valve configurations allows for the efficient transfer and cleaning of nutrient media between cell culture containers and a shared nutrient medium reservoir, preventing cross-contamination and enabling flexible use of multiple containers with a single reservoir, while maintaining hygiene through contactless valve operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If specialized bioreactors with integrated heating and stirring mechanisms are used, then cell cultivation capability is improved, but device complexity and procurement costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell cultivation capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the cell cultivation function into separate components: a simple cell culture container for holding cells, a separate bioreactor unit with heating and stirring mechanisms, and a nutrient medium reservoir. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bioreactor unit is designed as a universal device that can cultivate multiple different cell cultures through a single interface, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bioreactors. The nutrient medium reservoir serves multiple functions including nutrient supply, waste removal, and cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If disposable cell culture containers are used, then procurement costs are reduced, but usable volume is limited to less than 1 L and automation is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocurement costVSAvoidusable volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical operations with automated robotic arms that perform filling, emptying, and cleaning of cell culture containers. This substitution enables industrial-scale automation while using cost-effective disposable containers with larger capacities exceeding 1 L.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If a single nutrient medium reservoir is shared among multiple cell culture containers, then costs per unit of cell material are reduced, but cross-contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecosts per unit of cell materialVSAvoidcross-contamination prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary cleaning fluid reservoir and cleaning mechanism between the nutrient medium reservoir and cell culture containers. This intermediary cleaning system flushes the interface and flow paths with cleaning fluid after each container is processed, preventing cross-contamination while enabling shared reservoir usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism operates continuously between container processing cycles, automatically flushing the interface and flow paths with cleaning fluid. This continuous cleaning action ensures no cross-contamination occurs while maintaining the efficiency of shared reservoir usage across multiple containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bioreactors are maintained for different cell cultures, then cell cultivation versatility is improved, but maintenance costs and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell cultivation versatilityVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bioreactor unit is designed as a universal platform with a single interface that can accommodate and cultivate multiple different cell cultures. The nutrient medium reservoir and cleaning mechanism serve all cell culture containers, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated bioreactors and significantly reducing maintenance time and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10995313B2Cell culturing system for cultivating adherent cells and liquid supply interface comprising a cell culture container

Publication Date: 2021.05.04 HAMILTON BONADUZ AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a liquid supply interface for a cell culture system for supplying cell cultures found in different cell culture containers with a nutrient medium, wherein the liquid supply interface comprises: a housing defining a flow area; a first connection formation for the liquid-transferring connection of a first fluid line to the housing; a second connection formation formed separately from the first for the liquid-transferring connection of a second fluid line to the housing; a third connection formation formed separately from the first two for the liquid-transferring connection of the housing to a third fluid line; a coupling formation formed separately from the connection formations, which is formed for the producible and detachable liquid-transferring coupling contact according to the operation, with a corresponding counter-coupling formation of a cell culture container.