Magnetically-quiet incubator chamber with separated control unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available incubators generate spatially differentiated magnetic environments due to static and pulsed magnetic fields, which can interfere with cell cultures and hinder reproducible results in microbiology applications.

Innovation Solution

The design of an incubator system with a magnetically-quiet incubator chamber, featuring non-magnetic chamber walls and a control unit separated from the incubator unit, utilizing passive and active magnetic field shielding to minimize magnetic field variations within the incubator chamber to no more than 100, 50, or 10 nT during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If commercially available incubators use static and pulsed magnetic fields for operation, then the incubator can maintain temperature and humidity control, but spatially differentiated magnetic environments are created that interfere with cell cultures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidmagnetic field interference

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is physically separated from the incubator unit, extracting the source of magnetic field interference (electronic components) from the incubator chamber environment while maintaining temperature and humidity control functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A duct coupling is introduced as an intermediary component to transfer controlled air flow between the separated control unit and incubator unit, enabling temperature and humidity control without direct magnetic field coupling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the control unit is physically separated from the incubator unit, then magnetic field interference is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional duct coupling and shielding requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field variationVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The incubator system is divided into distinct functional modules (incubator unit and control unit) that can be independently designed and assembled, with the segmentation enabling magnetic field isolation while maintaining overall system functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The incubator chamber is nested within magnetic field shielding structures, and the control unit is nested within its own shielding, creating concentric protective layers that reduce magnetic field interference without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If non-magnetic materials are used for chamber walls, then magnetic field shielding is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field shieldingVSAvoidchamber wall fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The chamber walls are constructed from composite materials that combine non-magnetic properties with structural integrity and thermal insulation requirements, achieving magnetic shielding without sacrificing manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The material selection focuses on changing the magnetic permeability parameter while maintaining other critical properties (strength, insulation), allowing standard manufacturing processes to be used with non-magnetic materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration reduces magnetic field interference, creating a stable environment for cell cultures, enabling reproducible results and facilitating experiments without differentiated static and pulsed electromagnetic fields, applicable to various incubator types and applications.

Implementation Method 1

chamber walls formed of a non-magnetic material; the chamber walls of the incubator chamber provide passive magnetic field shielding for the incubator chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPassive magnetic field shielding: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

magnetic field shielding includes active magnetic field shielding for generating a magnetic field that counteracts a magnetic field generated by operation of the portion of the electronic components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectActive magnetic field shielding: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS20220195373A1Incubator with a magnetically-quiet incubator chamber and methods of making and using

Publication Date: 2022.06.23 NEARFIELD ATOMICS INC

AI summary

An incubator system includes an incubator unit including incubator chamber defined by chamber walls formed of a non-magnetic material; a control unit physically separated from the incubator unit and including operational controls for operation of the incubator system; and at least one duct coupling the incubator unit to the control unit, wherein the incubator system is configured so that the incubator chamber experiences a magnetic field variation of no more than 100 nT arising from the incubator system during incubation operation of the incubation system.