Study on cell culture processing system to improve task efficiency (Efficiency improvement of the injecting task using a robot in a media change process)

Abstract

In the field of regenerative medicine, cell processing is currently done manually. The process is labor intensive and expensive, and its efficiency must be improved. Automatic cell culture apparatuses equipped with a vertical articulated robot have been proposed recently. However, automating all tasks of cell processing complicates the system constitution. The present study aims to develop a simple and rational cell processing system by combining the tasks performed by a robot with those performed by a human. Herein, we first analyze each task in the cell processing operation, verify whether a task can be efficiently performed by a robot and automated equipment, and decide the combination of the tasks. In a previous paper, we improved the efficiency of the task of discarding spent culture media in a flask by using a robot arm in the media change process. In the present paper, by focusing on the media change process, we examine the efficiency improvement of the task of injecting culture media by using a robot. We propose the configuration of an inspiration/injection port and an algorithm to estimate the start time of injection end motion from the flow rate and conduct a verification experiment. Our results show that a robot can perform the injecting task more efficiently than a human. Moreover, the risk of dripping can be reduced by using a robot.

Improvement of Injection Accuracy in the Media Changing Process for Cell Processing

“…11 show the evaluation experiment results. According to our previous study [19], the standard deviation (3σ) when the operator performed the injecting task was 1.5 g, and the standard deviation (3σ) when the robot performed the injecting task using the conventional injection algorithm without correction was 1.18 g. On the other hand, both Algorithms A and B showed a better standard deviation (3σ) than the conventional injection algorithm without correction for all target volumes. Therefore, both algorithms can be used, and which one depends on the situation.…”

“…The method for improving the e ciency of the injecting task is shown in the previous study [19]. Figure 1 shows the injecting task performed by a robot in this study.…”

“…In the previous study [19], a slope from 40 to 60 g was adopted, considering that the injection volume was…”

“…This study aims to develop a simple and rational cell processing system through the combination of the tasks performed by a robot and those performed by a human. In a previous study, we proposed improving the e ciency of discarding and injecting tasks using a robot in a media changing process [18,19]. Such tasks have a high risk of liquid dripping and rely on the operator's experience.…”