Modular Cell Culture Device with Detachable Plug Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in vitro culture devices for cancer cells are complex and costly to produce, and can only simulate one stage of cancer metastasis, requiring multiple devices for comprehensive research, thereby increasing production and labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular cell culture device with a main body and detachable plug element featuring a porous membrane, allowing for the simulation of multiple stages of cancer metastasis by reusing the main body and replacing only the plug element, which includes a cell culture chamber and porous membrane, facilitating static or dynamic cell culture and co-culture experiments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional in vitro culture devices are used, then the device structure is complete and functional, but the production process is complicated and production costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a main body and a detachable plug element. The main body contains the fluid chamber and slot, while the plug element contains the cell culture chamber and porous membrane. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing of components, simplifying the production process while maintaining complete device functionality when assembled.
2Reliability
If conventional in vitro culture devices are used, then the device can simulate one specific stage of cancer metastasis, but multiple devices are needed to simulate different stages, increasing production and labor costs
Solution Approach 1:
The main body is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different plug elements for various cancer metastasis stages. Each plug element is specifically designed for a particular stage (migration, intravasation, circulating, extravasation, or growth), but all interface with the same main body structure, allowing one main body to serve multiple experimental purposes.
3Reliability
If conventional in vitro culture devices are used, then the device structure is fixed, but the operation steps are complicated and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a detachable plug element that can be easily inserted into and removed from the main body's slot. This dynamic design allows researchers to quickly change experimental configurations by swapping plug elements without complex assembly or disassembly procedures, simplifying operations while maintaining structural integrity during experiments.
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 solution simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enables the simulation of multiple stages of cancer metastasis, enhancing research efficiency by allowing for the reuse of the main body and easy replacement of plug elements, while maintaining experimental accuracy through detachable and observable components.
Implementation Method 1
The first porous membrane is disposed at one side of the first cell culture chamber... the open space and the fluid chamber are separated by the first porous membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A cell culture device includes a main body and a plug element. The main body includes a slot, an open groove and a fluid chamber. The open groove is connected with one side of the slot. The fluid chamber is disposed inside the main body and connected with another side of the slot. The plug element includes a first cell culture chamber and a first porous membrane. The first porous membrane is disposed at one side of the first cell culture chamber. The plug element is detachably plugged into the slot. When the plug element is plugged into the slot, the first cell culture chamber is communicated with the open groove to form an open space, and the open space and the fluid chamber are separated by the first porous membrane.