Nested Cell Culture Dish for Intercellular Communication Studies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell culture dishes lack the capability to simultaneously culture multiple cell types in physically separated yet proximal environments, preventing the study of intercellular communication and influence between different cultures.

Innovation Solution

A multi-chambered cell culture dish design featuring concentric or eccentric compartments of varying heights made from transparent materials, allowing for the co-culturing of separate cell types while maintaining physical isolation and enabling observation of signal transduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple cell cultures are grown in separate dishes, then physical isolation is achieved, but intercellular communication cannot be studied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical isolation of culturesVSAvoidcapability to study intercellular communication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-chambered petri dish where smaller culture chambers are nested within a larger containing structure. Each chamber physically isolates different cell cultures while all chambers remain within the same dish, enabling both separation and proximity for studying intercellular communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single large culture dish is used, then intercellular communication can be observed, but physical separation of different cell types is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to study intercellular communicationVSAvoidphysical isolation of cultures

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single culture dish into multiple separate chambers using internal walls or partitions. This segmentation allows different cell types to be physically isolated in distinct compartments while remaining within the same dish, enabling controlled studies of intercellular communication through defined interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If transparent materials are used for all chambers, then observation is improved, but temperature stability during imaging may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobservation capabilityVSAvoidtemperature stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows different chambers to have different wall transparency properties based on their specific imaging and temperature requirements. Some chambers can use transparent materials for optimal observation, while others can use materials with better thermal insulation properties, enabling localized optimization of both observation and temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10138451B2Cell culture dish supporting simultaneously juxtaposed and separated cultures

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 REID CHRISTOPHER B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel culturing apparatus (assembly) which can be termed a cell culture dish. More particularly, the present invention is a “combined cell culture dish” or “dish-in-dish” apparatus comprising at least one smaller cell culture dish fixedly positioned within a larger cell culture dish, and the number of such fixated cell culture dishes can include a multiple number of fixated cell culture dishes within one another, either concentric or eccentric, in any number of geometric shapes, and without limitation to the number of petri dishes included. An alternate embodiment of this invention can include a plurality of cell culture dishes juxtaposed side-by-side having common interior well walls, and the well walls may or may not be different in height depending on the application.