Modular Cell Culture Vessel With Interlocking Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high cell density cell culture vessels, such as bioreactors, face challenges in modular manufacturing and dimensional flexibility, leading to complexity and limited variability in construction.

Innovation Solution

A modular cell culturing apparatus with interlocking container portions forming a tortuous path for fluid flow, including a central tube with retainers and a base portion for an agitator, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without adhesives or mechanical fasteners, and a hinged cap for sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed bed for cell growth is used in high cell density cell culture vessels, then cell culture productivity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell culture productivityVSAvoidvessel construction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vessel is divided into modular components including a removable container with first and second portions that can be assembled and disassembled. The fixed bed is separated as a distinct component that can be independently installed and removed, allowing for simplified manufacturing and easier maintenance while maintaining high cell density culture capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed bed is nested within the removable container, which itself is positioned within the housing. This nested arrangement allows the complex fixed bed structure to be protected and contained within a simpler removable framework, reducing overall device complexity while preserving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If modular assembly is implemented for vessel manufacturing, then ease of manufacture and assembly are improved, but sealing reliability and leakage prevention worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodular assembly easeVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing arrangement is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second portions of the container. This dedicated sealing element ensures reliable fluid containment at the modular joints, preventing leakage while maintaining the ease of assembly and disassembly benefits of modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing arrangement creates a tortuous path for fluid flow, replacing complex mechanical sealing systems with a more reliable fluid dynamics-based sealing mechanism that prevents leakage through path complexity rather than mechanical force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If fixed bed retainers are integrated into the container structure, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed bed retention stabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainers are merged with the container structure, specifically integrated into the first and second portions. This combining of retention functionality with the container walls provides stable fixed bed retention while avoiding the complexity of separate retention mechanisms, as the container structure itself performs the retention function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If variable dimensional design is implemented, then adaptability and flexibility are improved, but manufacturing precision and assembly accuracy worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional flexibilityVSAvoidassembly accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The modular container portions are designed with universal interlocking features that can accommodate various dimensional configurations. The same basic module design can be assembled in different arrangements to create vessels of varying dimensions, maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized interfaces while achieving dimensional flexibility through combinatorial assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables flexible and efficient assembly of bioreactors with reduced leakage and damage risks, maintaining homogeneity of cell growth while allowing for variable dimensions and easy maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

The first and second portions may further include a sealing arrangement forming a tortuous path for fluid flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTortuous path:

Data Source

PatentUS20230272323A1Cell culturing vessel and related methods

Publication Date: 2023.08.31 UNIVERCELLS SA

AI summary

A cell culturing container including a fixed bed is provided for forming a bioreactor (100). In one version, a container in the form of a tubular body is formed by first and second interlocking portions (115a, 115b). The container forms a compartment for receiving the fixed bed (122) for culturing cells, which container may be removably inserted into an inner compartment of the bioreactor so as form an outer chamber for circulating fluid to or from the fixed bed. The container may also include a removable base (130) for receiving an agitator (118) for agitating and thus circulating the fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.