Product Adoption Case No. 6 [JAXA] Automatic Solution Exchange Device

Takasago Electric Industry's portable medium exchange system supports biological experiments in the ISS "Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module.

The portable medium exchange system has been redesigned for space use and is scheduled to be used in experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2021. This device is planned to be used for the exchange of solutions such as media and reagents in cell culture experiments conducted in the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the ISS. [Challenges and Solutions] Until now, the solution exchange in cell culture experiments on "Kibo" was done manually by astronauts, which took up valuable time for routine work involving the exchange of solutions for numerous samples. Therefore, we aimed to automate the solution exchange to reduce the burden on astronauts as much as possible and to improve work efficiency. In preparation for use on the ISS, the flow path was changed to a closed system to prevent liquid floating and sample contamination in microgravity. Additionally, we made design changes to achieve further miniaturization and lightweight construction while ensuring vibration resistance during launch. From the perspective of fluid control technology, our company automates various processes in cell culture. Applications such as perfusion, subculturing, differentiation induction, and live cell imaging are possible. Furthermore, we have the know-how to redesign these for space specifications. If you have any needs, please feel free to contact us.

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