Optical Cell Transfer Control for Low-Medium Bioreactor Packing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture systems face inefficiencies in the cell packing step, where cells remaining in pipes are not optimally transferred to bioreactors, leading to suboptimal culture processing and increased culture medium consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cell transfer method and apparatus that utilize optical sensors to monitor the physical quantity of cells in multiple pipes connected to a bioreactor, adjusting the supply of culture medium to achieve equal threshold values in each pipe, thereby optimizing the cell transfer process and reducing medium consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cell transfer is performed by supplying culture medium to transfer cells from pipe to bioreactor, then cell transfer efficiency is improved, but culture medium consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical sensors to continuously monitor the physical quantity of cells in the pipe during the transfer process. The system uses this feedback information to determine the precise moment when cell transfer is complete, allowing the supply of culture medium to be stopped at the optimal timing. This feedback mechanism prevents both incomplete transfer and excessive medium consumption, achieving high transfer efficiency while minimizing medium waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or time-based control methods with optical sensing technology. By using optical sensors to detect cell concentration and monitor the transfer process in real-time, the system achieves more precise control over the transfer timing, thereby improving efficiency and reducing medium consumption compared to conventional mechanical or timer-based approaches.
2Device complexity
If cell transfer is performed using traditional methods without real-time monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but cell transfer precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical sensors that provide real-time feedback on cell concentration in the pipe. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically determine when transfer is complete and stop the supply of culture medium at the precise moment, significantly improving transfer precision. The feedback mechanism allows for accurate control without requiring complex mechanical adjustment systems.
3Ease of operation
If culture medium is supplied for a fixed time period, then operation simplicity is improved, but cell transfer completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed-time operation with feedback-based control. Optical sensors continuously monitor cell concentration and provide real-time information about transfer progress. The system automatically determines when transfer is complete based on the physical quantity measurements, ensuring complete cell transfer while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making rather than complex manual control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical or time-based operation with optical sensing and automated control. By using optical sensors to detect cell concentration and automatically controlling the supply timing, the system achieves reliable and complete cell transfer without requiring complex mechanical adjustment or manual monitoring, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
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 method optimizes the cell transfer process by ensuring cells are efficiently moved to the bioreactor while minimizing culture medium usage, thus enhancing the efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the physical quantity may be at least one of an amount of transmitted light transmitted through the culture medium and an amount of scattered light scattered by the culture medium
Implementation Method 2
the physical quantity may be at least one of an amount of transmitted light transmitted through the culture medium and an amount of scattered light scattered by the culture medium
Data Source
AI summary
A cell transfer method includes supplying a culture medium to a bioreactor using a pipe in communication with the bioreactor, where cells remain in the pipe (first circulation flow path) to transfer cells remaining in the pipe to the bioreactor; acquiring a predetermined physical quantity related to the supply of the culture medium to the bioreactor; and stopping the supply of the culture medium to the bioreactor when the physical quantity reaches a predetermined threshold value.