# US 2025/0145931 A1 · Cell treatment apparatus, cell treatment method and cell treatment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0145931 A1 - Document ID: US20250145931A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/888,149 - Filed: 2024-09-17 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-10-06 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha; Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha; Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Takaaki KAWANO; Shota UCHINO; Tetsuya SAKAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250145931A1 ## CPC - C12M 23/42: {Integrated assemblies, e.g. cassettes or cartridges} - C12M 37/00: {Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00)} - C12M 23/40: {Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563)} - C12M 23/44: {Multiple separable units; Modules} - C12M 33/04: {by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles (pipettes in general B01L3/02)} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a cell treatment apparatus includes a conveyance mechanism, a liquid feed control unit and a connection control unit. The conveyance mechanism is capable of moving a cartridge including a plurality of connection ports. The liquid feed control unit is connected to at least one of the plurality of connection ports and is configured to control feed of a liquid in the cartridge. The connection control unit is configured to move at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge if connecting the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cell treatment apparatus comprising: a conveyance mechanism capable of moving a cartridge including a plurality of connection ports; a liquid feed control unit connected to at least one of the plurality of connection ports and configured to control feed of a liquid in the cartridge; and a connection control unit configured to move at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge if connecting the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more valve opening/closing units each configured to open/close a plurality of valves arranged in the cartridge to switch a flow channel of the liquid arranged in the cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid feed control unit includes a liquid feeding pad that is a portion connected to one of the connection ports and is movable, and the liquid feed control unit moves at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge such that one or more target valves necessary for switching of the flow channel among the plurality of valves face the valve opening/closing units in accordance with a connecting point where the liquid feeding pad is connected to one of the connection ports. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the valve opening/closing units are stationarily arranged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a minimum interval between the connection ports is an integer multiple of a minimum interval between the valves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a maximum moving distance of the liquid feeding pad is shorter than a maximum array length of the plurality of connection ports arranged in the cartridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid feed control unit executes the liquid feed by suction and pressure feed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the valve opening/closing units are two-dimensionally arrayed in a matrix. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The cell treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of liquid feeding pads is smaller than the number of the plurality of connection ports. ### Claim 10 A cell treatment method used in a cell treatment apparatus including a conveyance mechanism capable of moving a cartridge including a plurality of connection ports, and a liquid feed control unit connected to at least one of the plurality of connection ports and configured to control feed of a liquid in the cartridge, the method comprising moving at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge if connecting the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cell treatment method according to claim 10, further comprising opening and closing a plurality of valves arranged in the cartridge by using one or more valve opening/closing units to switch a flow channel of the liquid arranged in the cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cell treatment method according to claim 11, wherein the moving at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge moves such that one or more target valves necessary for switching of the flow channel among the plurality of valves face the valve opening/closing units in accordance with a connecting point where a liquid feeding pad is connected to one of the connection ports, the liquid feeding pad being a portion connected to one of the connection ports and being movable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cell treatment method according to claim 12, wherein the valve opening/closing units are stationarily arranged. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The cell treatment method according to claim 11, wherein a minimum interval between the connection ports is an integer multiple of a minimum interval between the valves. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The cell treatment method according to claim 12, wherein a maximum moving distance of the liquid feeding pad is shorter than a maximum array length of the plurality of connection ports arranged in the cartridge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The cell treatment method according to claim 10, further comprising executing the liquid feed by suction and pressure feed. ### Claim 17 A cell treatment system comprising: a cartridge including a plurality of connection ports arranged in line along a longitudinal direction; a conveyance mechanism capable of moving the cartridge; a liquid feed control unit connected to at least one of the plurality of connection ports and configured to control feed of a liquid in the cartridge; and a connection control unit configured to move at least one of the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge if connecting the liquid feed control unit and the cartridge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cell treatment system according to claim 17, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of valves configured to switch a flow channel of the liquid arranged in the cartridge, and if the cartridge is divided into a grid, the plurality of valves are arranged on the flow channel at positions corresponding to intersections of the grid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The cell treatment system according to claim 17, further comprising a manifold including pipes as many as the number of the plurality of connection ports, whose one-end sides are connected to the plurality of connection ports, respectively, and whose other end sides are integrally arranged, wherein the liquid feed control unit includes a liquid feeding pad that is a portion connected to at least one of the other ends of the pipes and is movable.