Re: [DIYbio] Re: Interested in Automated Cell Culturing?

To place a smart device in a flask (which doesn't rely on a battery) would likely use wireless power which has recently come into production silicon:

 http://www.google.com/search?q=ti+wireless+power

The designs use RF beam forming to transmit energy and data thru the air (without wires) or thru short distances of water.  RF energy behaves differently in water however so it is more difficult.  The neat thing is that the RF does include both a power phase and a data phase so the target device can be remotely powered.    Motors use a significant amount of current so not sure it would be possible to self propel using this. (Not sure why it would be necessary since magnetic stir bars work fine.)   A well designed circuit though could run sensors on the wireless power (i.e. not arduino, hah).

## Jonathan Cline  ## jcline@ieee.org  ## Mobile: +1-805-617-0223  ########################    

Could you explain the physics of that in a bit more detail?

- JP

kl. 23:57:10 UTC+2 lørdag 6. juli 2013 skrev Cathal Garvey (Phone) følgende:

Along same lines I've often wondered about a microwave-powered stirbar. As in, magnetic strip/plate under flask, magic bar in flask absorbs microwaves and self-propels. Would be great for keeping temperature even in drinks, let alone flasks of broth..

jarlemag <jarle...@gmail.com> wrote:

Great link! Regarding "Beer machine", there is this: http://linux.slashdot.org/story/13/05/16/1727256/linux-is-an-obvious-choice-for-automating-the-beer-brewing-process-video

- JP

kl. 18:00:25 UTC+2 lørdag 6. juli 2013 skrev Jonathan Cline følgende:

See the Dunham Lab Chemostat manual for the ultimate bio machine.
   http://www.google.com/search?q=dunham+lab+chemostat

I've suggested building a continuous flow culturing system for the local biohacker lab though have mostly received "what for?" so far since the experiments planned are one-offs not continuous or evolution.   Also search back in the archives for the controller board I proposed which I called "the sensomatic".    These aren't exactly "desktop culturing machine" though they are the start.

BTW there are a couple low cost desktop culturing machines already sold mass market for $50-$200 range, maybe we can list them all?
 
 - bread maker.. = yeast

 - yogurt maker..  = yeast

 - diy beer kit = yeast  ; though I haven't seen a "machine" just a manual kit which requires a lot of human labor so far. Does a "beer machine" exist?

 - aquarium automated dosing setups = algae ; though again not a complete machine as needed here, could add specific sensors and pumps.

Also I think it'd be fun/interesting to take a cheap/discarded bread maker and replace the control panel to add more bio culturing functionality.  At a minimum they would make great tabletop incubators for single-flask operations - replace the mixer bar with a magnetic stir bar.

The ultimate in automated culturing would be a tiny wireless sensor module which could be dropped into a flask, which is also autoclavable, and reports OD, pH, temperature, and CO2 or other gas.  It's a big engineering challenge on multiple fronts.


## Jonathan Cline
## jcl...@ieee.org
## Mobile: +1-805-617-0223
########################


On Wednesday, July 3, 2013 9:11:19 PM UTC-7, Nathaniel Chen wrote:

I have always wondered if a desktop cell culturing machine would be feasible or useful for DIY biologists. I think it would be interesting to simplify some aspects of a wet lab into a black box sort of device. 

Has anyone else considered this / would anyone have a use for such a device?