Sample Vessel Partition Walls for Automated 3D Culture Medium Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for medium exchange in 3D cell cultures, such as 3D cell cultures, are cumbersome and risk damaging the samples due to manual handling, and existing automated systems are not suitable for free-floating samples or cultures in Matrigel, leading to inefficiencies and incompatibilities.
Innovation Solution
A sample vessel with a cavity and a sample space separated by lateral walls with apertures, allowing controlled medium exchange without direct contact, and integrated with a transparent bottom for optical detection and monitoring, enabling automated and safe medium changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual medium exchange is performed in 3D cell cultures, then sample damage can be avoided, but the process becomes elaborate and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sample vessel is divided into a sample space for cultivating the sample and a medium space for holding the culture medium, separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows independent access to the medium space via medium access openings while protecting the sample space during automated medium exchange operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the sample space and medium space, with medium access openings that allow medium delivery without direct contact with the sample. This intermediary enables automated medium exchange while maintaining sample protection.
2Productivity
If automated medium exchange systems are used for 2D cell cultures, then efficiency is improved, but they cannot be directly applied to free-floating 3D samples
Solution Approach 1:
The sample vessel design with partition walls and multiple medium access openings creates a universal structure that accommodates both adherent 2D cell cultures and free-floating 3D samples. The system can handle various sample types and cultivation methods through a single standardized platform.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the vessel into sample and medium spaces with controlled access points, the system achieves universality across different sample types. The partitioned structure allows automated medium exchange to work effectively for both 2D and 3D cultures without requiring separate specialized systems.
3Measurement precision
If Matrigel drops are used to localize samples, then sample positioning is improved, but the Matrigel drop occupies large portion of the vessel and may be damaged by pipette tips
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall creates a dedicated sample space that isolates the Matrigel drop containing the sample from the medium access areas. This segmentation allows the Matrigel drop to be localized and protected from direct contact with pipette tips while maintaining its positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall serves as an intermediary protective barrier between the medium delivery system and the Matrigel drop. Medium access openings allow medium exchange while the partition wall prevents direct contact between pipette tips and the fragile Matrigel drop, reducing damage risk.
4Reliability
If the entire medium is replaced to supply nutrients and remove metabolites, then sample quality is maintained, but the complexity of operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is segmented into sample and medium spaces with controlled access points, enabling automated medium exchange systems to replace entire medium volumes efficiently. This segmentation simplifies the automation process by providing dedicated pathways for medium delivery and removal without complex manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall with medium access openings acts as an intermediary that enables automated medium exchange. This structure allows robots or automated systems to deliver and remove medium through standardized openings, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the ability to replace entire medium volumes for sample quality maintenance.
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 provides a safe and efficient method for automated medium exchange in 3D cell cultures, protecting samples from damage and allowing optical detection, while supporting long-term cultivation and chemical communication between samples.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one lateral wall has apertures via which a medium present in the cavity can communicate with the sample space
Implementation Method 2
the bottom is transmissive (transparent) for wavelengths of at least one wavelength range of visible and/or infrared light, such that illumination of the sample space and/or detection of detection radiation coming out of the sample space through the bottom of the cavity is made possible
Data Source
AI summary
A sample vessel is for cultivating biological samples and includes a cavity for accommodating a medium; at least one access opening for delivering the medium into the cavity; and a sample space, disposed within the cavity, for accommodating a sample. The sample space being separated from a remaining space of the cavity by at least one lateral wall having apertures via which the medium in the cavity can communicate with the sample space. The at least one lateral wall stands on a bottom of the sample space; and the bottom is transmissive for wavelengths of at least one wavelength range of visible light, such that illumination of the sample space and/or detection of detection radiation coming out of the sample space through the bottom of the cavity is made possible. An apparatus is for operating the sample vessel and to a microscope.