MRI-Compatible Bioreactor Segmentation for Non-Invasive Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioreactors are not MRI-compatible, leading to sample contamination and inconsistent growth conditions when samples are removed for imaging, as they cannot be returned to incubators without disrupting the culture.
Innovation Solution
A MRI-compatible bioreactor system with a tissue-imaging chamber and a support chamber separated by a permeable support, equipped with fiber optic sensors and fluidics for maintaining culture media conditions, allowing non-invasive imaging without disturbing the culture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If samples are removed from incubators for MRI imaging, then imaging can be performed, but sample contamination and inconsistent growth conditions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor is divided into two separate chambers: a tissue-imaging chamber that can be inserted into the MRI imager and a support chamber that remains outside the imager. The permeable support structure allows fluid communication between chambers while enabling independent positioning. This segmentation allows the imaging chamber to be imaged without removing the entire culture system, maintaining culture consistency while enabling measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
A permeable support structure acts as an intermediary between the tissue-imaging chamber and the support chamber. This intermediary allows nutrient and waste exchange through diffusion while providing structural support and enabling the imaging chamber to be selectively positioned within or outside the MRI imager field-of-view, resolving the conflict between imaging access and culture maintenance.
2Measurement precision
If samples are removed from incubators for imaging, then imaging can be performed, but samples are wasted due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bioreactor into an imaging chamber and a support chamber, only the imaging chamber needs to be inserted into the MRI imager. The support chamber with the main culture volume remains outside in the incubator environment, preventing contamination of the bulk culture while enabling imaging of the tissue sample in the imaging chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue sample is prepared and placed in the imaging chamber beforehand, which is then inserted into the MRI imager for imaging. This preliminary positioning allows the sample to be imaged without removing it from the controlled culture environment, preventing the sample loss that would occur with traditional removal-and-imaging approaches.
3Measurement precision
If the entire bioreactor is placed inside the MRI imager, then imaging is possible, but maintaining culture conditions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor is segmented into an imaging chamber and a support chamber, allowing the imaging chamber to be positioned within the MRI imager's field-of-view while the support chamber remains outside. This spatial segmentation enables the imaging chamber to experience the MRI environment temporarily for imaging, while the support chamber maintains stable incubator conditions for culture support.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically positions the imaging chamber within or outside the MRI imager field-of-view as needed, while the support chamber remains stationary outside the imager. This dynamic arrangement allows imaging to be performed when needed without requiring the entire system to be inside the imager, maintaining temperature stability through the support chamber's external positioning.
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
Enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of biological samples during MRI imaging without compromising the culture environment, maintaining consistent physiological conditions and allowing for repeated imaging without sample removal.
Implementation Method 1
The tissue-imaging chamber and the support chamber are separated by a permeable support that allows for fluid communication between the chambers
Implementation Method 2
At least the tissue-imaging chamber of the bioreactor component is configured to be received within a magnetic resonance (MR) imager and includes at least one fiber optic sensor
Implementation Method 3
The support chamber generally includes a heating element and fluidics capable of fluidly communicating with at least one reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes a MRI-compatible bioreactor that allows a biological sample to be imaged in culture without disrupting or compromising the culture.