Compact Heating Culture Device for Thermotactic Cell Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture devices fail to provide a stable and accurate environment with a vertical temperature gradient, which is necessary for sorting and selecting healthy cells with flagella that can autonomously move in response to temperature differences, often requiring large volumes and causing damage to cells due to centrifugal forces or insufficient cell collection.
Innovation Solution
A heating culture device with a vertical temperature difference is designed, using a film to partition the device into upper and lower chambers, controlled by a system of sensors and fans to maintain a stable temperature gradient, allowing cells to move autonomously and efficiently sort healthy cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a horizontal temperature gradient is used to drive cell movement, then cells can be sorted, but the device volume becomes large and cell collection efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal temperature gradient to vertical temperature gradient, changing the spatial dimension of temperature application. The heating plate is positioned at the bottom of the culture chamber to create upward heat conduction, while cooling elements are positioned at the top, establishing a vertical thermal field that drives cells upward through thermotaxis, thereby improving collection efficiency within a compact volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functional components into a nested structure where the heating plate, culture chamber, and cooling elements are vertically stacked. The culture chamber is positioned above the heating plate and below the cooling elements, creating a compact integrated system that achieves effective cell sorting without requiring large device volume
2Productivity
If centrifugal force is used to separate cells, then sorting can be achieved, but cell damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugal force system with a thermal field system. Instead of using high-speed rotation to separate cells by density, the invention uses a vertical temperature gradient to induce thermotactic movement of cells, eliminating centrifugal forces that cause mechanical stress and damage to cell structures including DNA
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from mechanical (centrifugal force) to thermal (temperature gradient). By controlling temperature parameters - heating from below and cooling from above - the system creates a vertical thermal field that selectively activates thermotaxis in healthy cells, enabling sorting without mechanical damage
3Quantity of substance
If operation time is extended to improve sorting, then more cells can be collected, but cell damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vertical temperature gradient to create strong thermotactic驱动力 that rapidly directs cell movement upward. This vertical configuration provides more direct and efficient thermal stimulation compared to horizontal arrangements, accelerating the sorting process and reducing operation time while maintaining high cell viability and collection quantity
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 device effectively sorts healthy cells with intact DNA by creating a vertical temperature gradient, reducing device volume, and improving cell collection efficiency compared to horizontal gradient methods.
Implementation Method 1
a heating module including a heat spreader, an upper electric heating plate and a heat insulating plate, the heat spreader having a front side and a back side, the upper electric heating plate and the heat insulating plate respectively installed on the back side of the heat spreader
Implementation Method 2
the living cells having the characteristic of autonomous activity to move in response to the environment with a vertical temperature gradient in a thermotactic manner
Implementation Method 3
an outer bottom surface of the chip carrier box having a plurality of cooling ribs, and a gap formed between any two adjacent cooling ribs; and a case assembly, installed at the bottom of the support frame, and having at least one first air vent and at least one second air vent disposed on two opposite sides of the case assembly respectively
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed are a heating culture device used to provide an environment with a vertical temperature difference and a method of using the heating culture device. The heating culture device is provided for accommodating and heating a cell separation device which carries living cells having flagella and capable of moving autonomously and has a film for passing through the living cells and partitioning the cell separating device into upper and lower chambers. The heating culture device includes a carrying assembly, a chip carrier box, a case assembly and a control assembly. When a cover of the heating culture device is covered during operation, the control assembly can control driving state of an upper electric heating plate at the cover according to the temperature of a heat spreader set on the cover; and control a fan at the bottom according to the temperature at the bottom of the chip carrier box.