Open-Top Microfluidic Cell Culture Wells With Adjustable Flow Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microfluidic cell culture devices face limitations in throughput, compatibility with liquid handling and imaging systems, and inflexible fluid flow control, making them unsuitable for diverse cell-based assays.

Innovation Solution

A cell culture apparatus with interchangeable open-top wells and flow restrictors that allow for variable flow rates and flexible fluid connections, enabling high-throughput microfluidic cell culture and simulation of different cellular environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional cell culture vessels (dishes, flasks) are used, then cell culture conditions can be established, but the vessels consume significant amounts of reagents and culture media, making it difficult to control and alter cell culture conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumption of reagents and culture mediaVSAvoidease of control and alteration of cell culture conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the cell culture function into multiple discrete micro-chambers (e.g., 96-well plate format), allowing independent control of each chamber. This segmentation enables precise control of reagent consumption in each well while maintaining overall system versatility for different cell culture applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses micro-scale replicas of cell culture environments (micro-chambers) that replicate the essential functions of conventional vessels but at a much smaller scale. These micro-chambers consume minimal reagents while maintaining controlled conditions through standardized microfluidic interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of substance

If microfluidic cell culture devices are used, then continuous nutrient supply and waste removal are achieved with low fluid consumption, but the devices have low throughput and are incompatible with available liquid handling and imaging systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid consumptionVSAvoidthroughput of cell culture experiments

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The micro-chambers are designed with standardized interfaces and dimensions that make them compatible with existing liquid handling systems (e.g., multi-channel pipettes) and imaging systems (e.g., microplate readers, confocal microscopes). This universality enables high-throughput experimentation by allowing automated processing of multiple chambers simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If microfluidic cell culture devices are used, then controlled in vitro conditions are provided, but fluid flow control is limited to one method and not flexible enough to adapt to different resource settings and different cell-based assays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol of in vitro conditionsVSAvoidflexibility of fluid flow control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates adjustable flow control mechanisms (e.g., flow restrictors, valves) that allow dynamic modification of fluid flow rates in each micro-chamber. This enables adaptation to different cell types, assay requirements, and resource settings while maintaining reliable controlled conditions through programmable flow management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 apparatus facilitates high-throughput cell culture with controlled fluid flow rates, enhancing compatibility with liquid handling and imaging systems, and allowing for the simulation of various cellular interactions.

Implementation Method 1

The second open-top well is configured to receive a flow restrictor to at least partially block the fluid connection through the second open-top well

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow restriction:

Data Source

PatentUS20250354099A1Cell culture apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 FINNADVANCE OY

AI summary

Disclosed is a cell culture apparatus and a method. The apparatus comprises one or more cell culture modules. The one or more cell culture modules comprise a first culture medium reservoir. a second culture medium reservoir, a first open-top well configured for cell cultivation. a second open-top well and a microfluidic channel configured to provide a fluid connection from the first culture medium reservoir to the second culture medium reservoir through the first open-top well and the second open-top well. The second open-top well is configured to receive a flow restrictor to at least partially block the fluid connection through the second open-top well.