Vertical Temperature Gradient Cell Culture for Thermotactic Sorting
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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 inefficient sorting methods.
Innovation Solution
A heating culture device with a specialized design that creates a vertical temperature difference using a film to partition an upper and lower chamber, incorporating a heating module, temperature sensors, and a control assembly to maintain a stable temperature gradient, allowing cells to move autonomously towards the higher temperature chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a horizontal temperature gradient system is used to drive cell movement, then cells can be sorted based on thermotaxis, but the device volume becomes large and requires separation of low-temperature and high-temperature tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal temperature gradient system to a vertical temperature gradient system. By establishing the temperature gradient in the vertical dimension rather than horizontal, the device achieves the same cell sorting function through thermotaxis while significantly reducing device volume and eliminating the need for separate low- and high-temperature tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates both low-temperature and high-temperature zones within a single tank structure, allowing simultaneous operation of temperature gradient maintenance and cell sorting functions. This merging of previously separate components (low-temperature tank and high-temperature tank) into one unified device reduces overall volume and simplifies the system.
2Quantity of substance
If a horizontal microfluidic channel chip is used to concentrate cells, then cell sorting can be achieved, but the operation time is long and cell capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical microfluidic channel system with a thermal field-based system. Instead of using complex microfluidic channels to physically guide and concentrate cells, the invention uses a vertical temperature gradient to drive cell movement through thermotaxis, achieving faster cell concentration and sorting with higher capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by establishing a controlled vertical temperature gradient (e.g., 37°C at the top, 33°C at the bottom) to optimize cell movement speed and sorting efficiency. This parameter optimization enables faster operation times and higher cell throughput compared to conventional microfluidic approaches.
3Reliability
If centrifugal force is used for cell sorting, then cells can be separated by density, but living cells suffer damage from long operation time and centrifugal force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugal force system with a thermal field system. Instead of subjecting cells to high-speed rotation and centrifugal forces that can damage cell structures, the invention uses a gentle vertical temperature gradient to guide cell movement through thermotaxis, preserving cell integrity while achieving efficient sorting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the natural thermotactic behavior of living cells (their inherent response to temperature differences) as a beneficial mechanism for sorting. By converting this biological characteristic into a sorting mechanism, the system achieves cell separation without the harmful effects of centrifugal force, maintaining cell viability and integrity.
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 and selects healthy cells with intact DNA by utilizing thermotaxis, providing a sufficient quantity of high-quality cells without damaging them, and reducing the device's volume compared to horizontal gradient systems.
Implementation Method 1
a heating module (102), installed into the accommodating hole (1011), and the heating module (102) includes a heat spreader (1021), an upper electric heating plate (1022) and a heat insulating plate (1023)
Implementation Method 2
a fan (133), installed on an outer bottom surface of the chip carrier box (11) and disposed inside the case assembly (12)
Implementation Method 3
a control assembly (13), including: a first temperature sensor (131), installed on a side of the heat spreader (1021) for detecting and obtaining a first measured temperature
Implementation Method 4
the control processor (134) adjusts the driving state of the upper electric heating plate (1022) according to the temperature difference between the first measured temperature and the first target temperature
Data Source
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.