Sterile Microfluidic Cartridge for Aerosol-Free Cell Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell sorting instruments are not suitable for GMP production due to non-sterile fluid-wetted components and aerosol generation, posing safety risks for operators and patients.
Innovation Solution
A consumable cartridge with a microfluidic chip and enclosed fluidic paths within a sterile cartridge, which can be mounted in an instrument for high-throughput sorting of cells with optical analysis and electronic control, ensuring sterility and preventing cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cell sorting instruments are used, then cell sorting can be performed, but the fluid-wetted components are not easily sterilised and aerosols are produced which harm operators
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a reusable instrument and a disposable consumable cartridge containing the microfluidic chip. The cartridge is pre-sterilized and sealed, separating the sterile fluidic path from the non-sterile instrument components. This segmentation allows the fluid-wetted components to be easily disposed of after single use, eliminating sterilization difficulties and aerosol generation risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic chip is implemented as a disposable consumable cartridge that is pre-sterilized and used once then discarded. This eliminates the need for repeated sterilization of fluid-wetted components and prevents aerosol contamination of the instrument, as the cartridge is replaced after each use rather than being cleaned and re-sterilized.
2Productivity
If conventional sorting instruments are used, then particle sorting can be performed, but cross-contamination between fluid samples and instruments occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the instrument from the fluidic path using a disposable cartridge. The microfluidic chip with all fluid-wetted components is contained within the sealed cartridge, creating a physical barrier that prevents cross-contamination between different samples while maintaining high sorting throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The consumable cartridge is designed for single-use only, ensuring that each sample is processed in a completely sterile environment. After use, the entire cartridge is discarded, eliminating any risk of cross-contamination to the instrument or subsequent samples, while the reusable instrument maintains high productivity.
3Productivity
If microfluidic particle sorting technology is implemented, then high-throughput sorting with high viability, yield and purity can be achieved, but the system requires an enclosed sterile environment
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip, fluidic pathways, and sterile barrier are merged into a single integrated consumable cartridge assembly. This consolidation provides the enclosed sterile environment required for high-throughput sorting while simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing the complexity of maintaining separate sterile containment systems.
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 high-throughput sorting of cells with high viability, yield, and purity in a short time, while ensuring sterility and safety by containing fluid samples within a sealed cartridge, preventing exposure to operators and patients.
Implementation Method 1
a microfluidic chip comprising: an input channel in fluidic connection with the inlet; and a particle sorter junction in fluidic connection with the input channel
Implementation Method 2
at least one enclosed fluidic path is provided in the consumable cartridge between the inlet and the first and second outlets
Data Source
AI summary
A consumable cartridge for a particle sorter system, the consumable cartridge comprising: an inlet for receiving a particle-containing fluid; a microfluidic chip comprising: an input channel in fluidic connection with the inlet; and a particle sorter junction in fluidic connection with the input channel and comprising an output positive channel and an output negative channel; and first and second outlets in fluidic connection with the output positive channel and the output negative channel respectively, for discharging the fluid from the consumable cartridge, such that at least one enclosed fluidic path is provided in the consumable cartridge between the inlet and the first and second outlets.