TWI788849B - Reactor module and biomechanical testing system with the reactor module - Google Patents

Abstract

A biomechanical test system includes a reactor module and a supply unit. The reactor module includes a lower cavity surrounding a bottom space, an upper cavity, an upper cover, and a culture carrier. The lower cavity, the upper cavity, and the upper cover cooperate to define an accommodating space above the bottom space for the culture carrier to be set. The culture carrier defines a culture tank and has a film layer between the bottom space and the culture tank. The supply unit can send gas or liquid under the membrane layer of the reactor module to make the membrane layer protrude upwards, or can send gas or culture liquid above the membrane layer of the reactor module to make the membrane layer protrude upward. The film layer is depressed downwards, thereby simulating the swelling and contraction of the film in the biological environment, and has high accuracy.

Description

Reactor module and biomechanical test system with the reactor module

The invention relates to a biomechanical measurement module and a test system with the module, in particular to a reactor module with a thin film and a test system with the reactor module.

With the advancement of detection and simulation technology, people's understanding of living organisms or the human body continues to expand, resulting in the remarkable development of biotechnology. However, there are still many biological environments that are not easy to simulate. As a result, simulations can only be performed through experimental animals. However, to calculate the various reactions of cells in these biological environments, it is necessary to sacrifice a large number of experimental animal lives to achieve a certain degree of accuracy. This is a problem that urgently needs to be improved for experimenters with insufficient equipment.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a reactor module capable of simulating convex or concave film.

Thus, the reactor module of the present invention includes a lower chamber surrounding and defining a bottom space, an upper chamber detachably fixed on the top of the lower chamber, and an upper cover arranged on the top of the upper chamber, and a training vehicle. The bottom space has an opening facing upward. The upper cover, the upper cavity, and the lower cavity cooperate to define an accommodating space above the bottom space. The culture carrier is detachably accommodated in the accommodating space, and defines a surrounding space. The culture tank, the culture carrier includes a film layer located under the culture tank and covering the opening of the bottom space.

The object of the present invention is to provide a biomechanical test system with the reactor module.

Therefore, the biomechanical testing system of the present invention includes a reactor module as mentioned above, and a supply unit. The culture carrier is used to contain culture fluid. The supply unit can send gas or liquid to the bottom space of the reactor module to make the film layer bulge upwards, or can send gas or culture liquid to the culture tank of the reactor module to make The film layer is recessed downward.

The effect of the present invention is that: the culture tank of the reactor module can be used to cultivate cells, when the supply unit sends gas or liquid to the bottom space, the film layer can be raised upward through pressure, and when the supply unit When the culture solution is sent to the culture tank, the film layer can be depressed downward through pressure, thereby simulating the swelling and contraction of the film in the biological environment, and observing the response of the cells or their influence on it, which is the basis for subsequent animal experiments Make more precise preparations with a high degree of precision.

Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, similar elements are denoted by the same numerals.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , a first embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention includes a reactor module 1 , a supply unit 2 , and an exchange unit 3 . Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4, the reactor module 1 includes a lower cavity 11, an upper cavity 12 detachably fixed on the top of the lower cavity 11, a detachably fixed upper cavity 12 The top of the upper cavity 12 and the upper cover 14 that cooperates with the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 12 to form an accommodating space 13, a detachably accommodated culture carrier 15 in the accommodating space 13, And four positioning pins 16 whose two ends are inserted in the upper cavity 12 and the lower cavity 11 respectively.

The lower chamber 11 has a body portion 112 surrounding a bottom space 111 , and a top wall portion 113 protruding upward from a top outer edge of the body portion 112 . The bottom space 111 is located below the accommodating space 13 and has an opening 114 facing upward. The main body portion 112 has an annular groove 115 depressed downward from the top surface and surrounding the opening 114 of the bottom space 111 , and the annular groove 115 is surrounded by the top wall portion 113 at the same time. The upper cavity 12 is fixed on the main body 112 through the positioning pins 16 and screws (not shown) passing through the upper and lower sides. It should be noted that, the body portion 112 can also form a plurality of overflow grooves 116 arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction and located inside the annular groove 115 as shown in FIG. 2 . The overflow grooves 116 communicate with the annular groove 115 and the bottom space 111 . When the liquid will flow from the annular groove 115 through the overflow grooves 116 and then into the bottom space 111, the overflow grooves 116 can allow the liquid to enter the bottom space 111 by way of overflowing downwards, thereby preventing the liquid from being caused by It directly enters the bottom space 111 to generate turbulent flow.

The culture carrier 15 has a disc-shaped film layer 151 that blocks the opening 114 of the bottom space 111, a bottom ring wall 152 that is connected to the film layer 151 and surrounds the film layer 151, and a bottom ring wall 152 that protrudes from the bottom ring. The inner edge of the wall 152 and cooperates with the film layer 151 to define an inner ring wall 154 of the culture tank 153 above the film layer 151, and one is spaced apart from the inner ring wall 154 and protrudes from the bottom ring wall 152. Peripheral wall 155 of the outer edge. The peripheral wall 155 and the bottom ring wall 152 are limited between the main body 112 of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 12 along the height direction. The inner ring wall 154 partially protrudes into the upper cavity 12 and is surrounded by the upper cavity 12 , and the opening of the culture tank 153 faces upwards and faces the upper cover 14 . The peripheral wall 155 is surrounded by the top wall portion 113 . In this first embodiment, the thin film layer 151 can be made of silicon rubber, and is integrally formed with other parts of the culture carrier 15 (also made of silicon rubber), and the thin film layer 151 can also be made of biomedical materials. When installing, it needs to be installed with a limit ring piece 17 as shown in Figure 2. The limit ring piece 17 is also made of silicone rubber, and is attached to the bottom surface of the bottom ring wall 152, and is in contact with the bottom ring wall 152. The thin film layer 151 is fixed by clamping. The outer diameter of the limiting ring piece 17 is larger than the film layer 151 , so that the limiting ring piece 17 can be attached to the bottom ring wall 152 to ensure the bonding strength between the two.

Referring again to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , the supply unit 2 includes an air pressure source 21 connected to the lower cavity 11 through a silicone hose to communicate with the bottom space 111 . The lower cavity 11 is also provided with a solenoid valve A for pressure relief. The exchange unit 3 includes a liquid storage tank 31 that holds the culture liquid and communicates with the culture tank 153 through the upper cover 14, a gas supply source 32 that can provide exchange gases such as carbon dioxide to the liquid storage tank 31, and two that drive the culture liquid The pump 33 circulates between the liquid storage tank 31 and the culture tank 153 .

The operation steps of this first embodiment are: control the air pressure source 21 through a programmable air pressure controller, make the gas enter the bottom space 111 through the lower cavity 11, and push upward through the gas pressure to be located above the bottom space 111 During this period, the gas supply source 32 controls the supply of carbon dioxide in the culture solution in the liquid storage tank 31 through the solenoid valve B, and regularly exchanges the storage tank 31 through the pump 33. The culture solution in the liquid tank 31 and the culture tank 153 . After the simulation is finished, the solenoid valve A of the lower cavity 11 can be opened to release the pressure. In addition, the air pressure source 21 can also be controlled to input gas in a pulsed manner, so that the film layer 151 can expand intermittently.

Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, Fig. 5 is a second embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention, this second embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment, the difference is that the air pressure source 21 is not directly The bottom space 111 is connected, and the supply unit 2 further includes a buffer tank 22 connected to the air pressure source 21 and the bottom space 111 . The buffer tank 22 does not necessarily have to hold a culture solution, but can also be other suitable liquids. When the air pressure source 21 inputs gas to the buffer tank 22, the air pressure will force the liquid in the buffer tank 22 into the internal space, and push up the film layer 151 after filling the internal space, causing the film layer 151 It protrudes upwards. Compared with the first embodiment pushing the film layer 151 by air pressure, the second embodiment pushes the film layer 151 hydraulically, which provides another option for biological environment simulation, and can improve the versatility. In addition, the buffer tank 22 can be provided with a solenoid valve C, through which the pressure can be released, allowing the culture solution to return to the buffer tank 22 along the original pipeline, and the film layer 151 can be restored to its original state, ready to be carried out again. Simulate or stop the simulation.

Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, Fig. 6 is a third embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention, this third embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment, the difference is that the buffer tank 22 is no longer Connected to the bottom space 111 , but connected to the liquid storage tank 31 and the culture tank 153 , the supply unit 2 does not have the air pressure source 21 , but additionally has an air intake source 23 connected to the buffer tank 22 . The air source 23 can input gas into the buffer tank 22 , so that the culture solution in the buffer tank 22 is pressurized and enters the culture tank 153 , so that the film layer 151 is depressed downward by hydraulic pressure. In addition, the buffer tank 22 can also be provided with a solenoid valve C, through which the pressure can be released, allowing the culture solution to return to the buffer tank 22 along the original pipeline, and the film layer 151 can be restored to its original state, so as to prepare for another To perform or stop the simulation, the third embodiment provides another configuration mode, and another action of pressing the film layer 151 can be simulated to increase the breadth of the simulation.

Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 7, Fig. 7 is a fourth embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention, this fourth embodiment is roughly similar to the third embodiment, the difference is that the supply unit 2 has a connection The air pressure source 21 of the bottom space 111, so this fourth embodiment can pass through the air pressure source 21 like the first embodiment to make the film layer 151 protrude upwards, and also can pass through the air pressure source 21 like the third embodiment. The air intake source 23 sends gas into the buffer tank 22, so that the culture solution in the buffer tank 22 is input into the culture tank 153, thereby generating a downward thrust on the film layer 151, causing the film layer 151 to sag downward. . It should be noted that the air pressure source 21 and the air intake source 23 are not opened at the same time, so the film layer 151 will not receive the upward thrust of the gas and the downward pressure of the culture solution at the same time, but the film layer 151 will be convex first. After the thin film layer 151 returns to its original shape, another action is performed, so that the thin film layer 151 can repeat the action of raising and lowering to produce a more advanced bioenvironment simulation effect.

Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 8, and Fig. 9, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are a fifth embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention. This fifth embodiment is generally similar to the first embodiment, except that : The supply unit 2 also includes an independent negative pressure source 24 communicating with the bottom space 111, which can be connected with the air pressure source 21 to a solenoid valve D, and switched through the solenoid valve D. The independent negative pressure source 24 can draw out the gas (as configured in FIG. 8 ) or liquid (as configured in FIG. 9 ) in the bottom space 111, so that the film layer 151 can quickly reset after swelling, or even sag downwards. Cooperating with the air pressure source 21 that can make the film layer 151 bulge can shorten the time between bulge and depression, so that the film layer 151 can have a faster response speed and different actions for testing, increasing the versatility . Of course, the independent negative pressure source 24 can also be connected to the culture tank 153 as shown in Figure 9, and be used to extract the liquid culture solution or gas in the culture tank 153, so that the film layer 151 can be quickly reset after being sunken, even It bulges upward.

Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 10, and Fig. 11, it should be added that, besides the aspect of Fig. 2, the upper cover 14 can also be selected from the aspects of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, and the upper cover 14 includes a cover body 141 , two connecting post parts 142 protruding from the cover part 141 toward the culture carrier 15 , and a blocking piece part 143 connecting the connecting post parts 142 . The baffle part 143 is located in the culture tank 153, when the air pressure source 21 (see Figure 1) directly sends gas into the culture tank 153 as described in the first embodiment, or when the air intake source 23 (See Figure 6) When the culture solution is sent into the culture tank 153 as described in the third embodiment, the baffle 143 can block gas or culture solution, so as to evenly disperse the pressure in the culture tank 153 to avoid pressure Excessive concentration affects detection.

Referring to Figure 12 and Figure 13, in addition to the aforementioned aspects, the upper cover 14 can also choose the aspects of Figure 12 and Figure 13, that is, the upper cover 14 includes a cover portion 141, and a The guide column portion 144 protrudes toward the culture carrier 15 and has a scroll-shaped cross section. The guide column part 144 is plugged into the culture tank 153. When the culture solution is sent into the culture tank 153, it will flow along the spiral structure of the guide column part 144, thereby generating fluid shear force. Applying fluid to the culture tank 153 and performing related simulations can improve the general applicability of the present invention. It should be noted that the guide column part 144 can also be an independent component without being connected to the cover body part 141, that is, the guide column part 144, which is an optional component, can be directly placed into the culture chamber as required. In the slot 153, in order to achieve the aforementioned effects, the guide column portion 144 is limited to being integrated with the cover body portion 141 or as a part of the upper cover 14.

In summary, the culture tank 153 of the culture carrier 15 can be used for culturing cells, and the film layer 151 under the culture tank 153 can be raised or depressed by air pressure or hydraulic pressure, so that the culture tank 153 can be observed The changes of the cells in these conditions, and the present invention has multiple implementations to simulate different actions, and has high versatility and accuracy, so the purpose of the present invention can indeed be achieved.

But what is described above is only an embodiment of the present invention, and should not limit the scope of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the patent scope of the present invention and the content of the patent specification are still within the scope of the present invention. Within the scope covered by the patent of the present invention.

1········ Reactor Module 11······ Lower Chamber 111····· Bottom space 112····· Main body 113····· top wall 114····· opening 115····· Ring groove 116····· Overflow tank 12······ Upper Chamber 13······ Accommodating space 14······ Cover 141····· cover body 142····· Connecting column 143····· Bracket 144····· guide column 15······ culture vehicle 151····· film layer 152····· bottom ring wall 153····· culture tank 154····· Inner ring wall 155····· peripheral wall 16······ Positioning pin 17······ Limit ring 2········· Supply Unit 21······ Air pressure source 22······ buffer tank 23······ Intake source 24······ Independent Negative Pressure Source 3········· Exchange Unit 31······ Reservoir 32······ Air supply source 33······ pump A······· Solenoid valve B······· Solenoid valve C······· Solenoid valve D······· Solenoid valve

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the implementation manner with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a biomechanical testing system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a reactor module of the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a side view sectional view illustrating the side view sectional appearance of the reactor module; Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one of the cultivating carriers of the reactor module; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention; 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams illustrating a fifth embodiment of the biomechanical testing system of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating another alternative form of a top cover; Figure 11 is a side view, used to assist in explaining the upper cover of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating yet another alternative aspect of a top cover; and FIG. 13 is a side view for assisting in explaining the upper cover of FIG. 12 .

1········ Reactor Module 11······ Lower Chamber 111····· Bottom space 112····· Main body 113····· top wall 114····· opening 115····· Ring groove 116····· Overflow tank 12······ Upper Chamber 13······ Accommodating space 14······ Cover 15······ culture vehicle 151····· film layer 152····· bottom ring wall 153····· culture tank 154····· Inner ring wall 155····· peripheral wall 16······ Positioning pin 17······ Limit ring

Claims (16)

A reactor module comprising: The lower cavity defines a bottom space around it, and the bottom space has an opening facing upward; an upper cavity, detachably fixed on the top of the lower cavity; An upper cover is arranged on the top of the upper cavity, and the upper cover, the upper cavity, and the lower cavity cooperate to define an accommodating space above the bottom space; and A culture carrier is detachably accommodated in the accommodating space. The culture carrier surrounds and defines a culture tank, and includes a film layer located below the culture tank and blocking the opening of the bottom space. The reactor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the culture carrier further includes a bottom ring wall connected to the film layer and surrounding the film layer, a ring wall protruding from the inner edge of the bottom ring wall and connected to the film layer cooperate to define the inner ring wall of the culture tank, and a peripheral wall protruding from the outer edge of the bottom ring wall at a distance from the inner ring wall, the peripheral wall and the bottom ring wall are limited in the height direction by the Between the lower cavity and the upper cavity, the inner ring wall protrudes into the upper cavity and is surrounded by the upper cavity. The reactor module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower cavity includes a body part surrounding the bottom space, and a top wall part protruding upward from the top of the body part, and the bottom of the culture carrier The ring wall and the peripheral wall are located between the upper cavity and the main body along the height direction, and the peripheral wall is surrounded by the top wall. The reactor module as claimed in item 3, wherein the main body of the lower cavity has an annular groove that is depressed downward from the top surface and surrounds the opening of the bottom space, and the annular groove is located on the bottom ring of the culture carrier below the wall. The reactor module according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of positioning pins inserted upwards into the upper cavity and downwards inserted into the lower cavity. The reactor module according to claim 4, wherein the main body of the lower cavity forms a plurality of overflow grooves arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction and located inside the annular groove, and communicating with the bottom space and the annular groove. The reactor module as described in claim 2, further comprising a limiting ring piece arranged on the bottom surface of the bottom ring wall, the limiting ring piece and the bottom ring wall are made of the same material, and the two cooperate to The film layer is sandwiched between the two. The reactor module as claimed in item 1, the upper cover includes a cover body, a plurality of connecting column parts connected to the cover body and protruding toward the culture carrier, and a baffle connecting the connecting column parts part, the baffle part is located in the culture tank. According to the reactor module described in claim 1, the upper cover includes a cover body, and a guide column part protruding from the cover body towards the culture carrier and having a scroll-shaped cross section, the guide column part located in the tank. A biomechanical testing system comprising: A reactor module as described in claim 1, the culture carrier is used to contain the culture solution; and A supply unit can send gas or liquid to the bottom space of the reactor module to make the film layer bulge upward, or can send gas or culture liquid to the culture tank of the reactor module to The film layer is recessed downward. The biomechanical testing system according to claim 10, wherein the supply unit includes a gas pressure source connected to the reactor module, and the gas pressure source can input gas into the bottom space to make the film layer protrude upward. The biomechanical testing system according to claim 10, wherein the supply unit includes a buffer tank containing liquid and connected to the reactor module, and an air source connected to the buffer tank, the air source can be used for the Gas is input into the buffer tank, and the liquid in the buffer tank enters the bottom space of the reactor module through air pressure, so that the film layer protrudes upward. The biomechanical testing system as described in claim 11 or 12, further comprising an exchange unit, the exchange unit includes a liquid storage tank containing the culture liquid and connected to the culture tank of the reactor module, a A gas supply source for exchanging gas and at least one pump for driving the culture solution to circulate between the liquid storage tank and the culture tank are provided. The biomechanical testing system as claimed in item 10 or 11, wherein the supply unit includes a buffer tank containing culture fluid and connected to the reactor module, and an air source connected to the buffer tank, the air source Gas can be input to the buffer tank, and the culture solution in the buffer tank enters the culture tank of the reactor module through the air pressure, so that the film layer is depressed downward. The biomechanical testing system according to claim 14, further comprising an exchange unit, the exchange unit includes a liquid storage tank containing culture fluid and connected to the buffer tank, and a gas supply source that can provide exchange gas to the liquid storage tank , and at least one pump that drives the culture solution to circulate between the storage tank and the buffer tank. The biomechanical testing system according to claim 10, wherein the supply unit includes an independent negative pressure source connected to the reactor module, and the independent negative pressure source can use the gas, liquid, or The culture fluid was withdrawn.

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