Metallic Porous Membrane for Cell Aggregate Classification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for classifying cell aggregates using filters, such as nylon meshes, result in a low collection rate due to low dimension accuracy, leading to variations in medicine efficacy data and inefficiencies in producing tissue of desired sizes for medicine research and regenerative medicine.
Innovation Solution
A metallic porous membrane with a membrane section having a first principal surface for capturing cell aggregates and a second principal surface with through-holes, allowing for increased collection efficiency by capturing cell aggregates based on size, with through-hole dimensions designed to ensure accurate capture and fluid passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a filter is used to classify cell aggregates, then cell aggregates can be separated by size, but the collection rate is low due to low dimension accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a metallic porous membrane with precisely controlled pore sizes to replace conventional filters. The porous structure enables accurate size-based separation of cell aggregates while maintaining high collection rates, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the filtering material by using metallic porous membranes with specific pore diameter ranges (e.g., 50-200 μm) tailored to different cell aggregate sizes. This parameter optimization ensures both high dimension accuracy for classification and high collection rates for productivity.
2Reliability
If conventional filters are used, then classification can be performed, but variations in medicine efficacy data occur due to low collection rate
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic porous membrane provides consistent and reliable size-based classification, eliminating variations in medicine efficacy data. The uniform pore structure ensures that cell aggregates are classified accurately by size, improving the reliability of subsequent medical research while maintaining high collection rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of metallic porous membranes represents a composite material solution that combines the advantages of porosity for filtration with the mechanical strength and chemical stability of metals, ensuring both reliable classification and high collection rates for consistent medical research outcomes.
3Productivity
If filters with larger pore sizes are used to increase collection rate, then more cell aggregates are captured, but dimension accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pore size parameter of the metallic porous membrane to achieve the best balance between collection rate and dimension accuracy. By selecting appropriate pore diameter ranges based on the target cell aggregate sizes, the system achieves high collection rates without sacrificing classification precision.
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 metallic porous membrane enhances the collection rate and dimension accuracy of cell aggregates, reducing variations in medicine efficacy data and improving the efficiency of producing uniform tissue sizes for research and regenerative medicine applications.
Implementation Method 1
classifying the cell aggregates, by passing a liquid containing the cell aggregates through the metallic porous membrane and capturing the cell aggregates on the metallic porous membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A classifying device that classifies aggregates and includes: a plurality of metallic porous membranes respectively including: a membrane section including a first principal surface, a second principal surface, and a plurality of through-holes. Among each of the plurality of metallic porous membranes, the through-holes have mutually different dimensions, and some of the plurality of through-holes in at least a first of the plurality of metallic porous membranes are configured to have different dimensions sufficient to release pressure applied to the first of the plurality of metallic porous membranes without degrading classification accuracy of the first of the plurality of metallic porous membranes. The plurality of metallic porous membranes are arranged in series from an upstream side of a flow path through which a liquid containing the aggregates flows in a descending order of the different dimensions of the through-holes of the plurality of metallic porous membranes.