Device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for reading multiple cerebrospinal fluid droplets equipped with a micro-drip mechanism and a reading mechanism with a movement mechanism for moving along the X- and Y-axes by mean of worm gears, rails and motors. The device for reading multiple cerebrospinal fluid droplets of the present invention uses optical fibre and a light source to read the microdroplet that is placed on microscope slides located on a base. The device for reading multiple cerebrospinal fluid droplets of the present invention has a moisture-retaining structure configured to maintain moisture inside the device and prevent the microdroplets placed on the slides (3) from evaporating.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR READING CEREBROSPINAL FLUID MICRODROPLETS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to the technical field of biomedicine, medical technology, medical diagnostics, analysis of biological fluids and biomedical sensors, and more specifically to devices for detecting, measuring and analyzing small quantities of cerebrospinal fluid, since it provides a device for reading microdroplets of cerebrospinal fluid which is intended to read microdroplets of cerebrospinal fluid on glass slides. This reading is performed when the droplet is placed on the glass of the slide, maintaining the temperature and humidity necessary to prevent it from drying out. With this device, the loss of information is avoided when reading the sample obtained.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In biological experiments, it is often necessary to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from rats. CSF is a clear bodily fluid that fills the subarachnoid space between the skull and the cerebral cortex in the brain; specifically, it is found within the meninges. Between the arachnoid and pia mater is a pure physiological saline solution containing microglia cells, which primarily serves as a mechanical cushion for the cerebral cortex. If the central nervous system is affected, CSF detection becomes an important auxiliary method. Currently, CSF collection is increasingly common in experiments, and it is very difficult to collect. Collection points are imprecise and easily contaminated, leading to sampling failures and wasted samples.One of the main difficulties encountered when performing the analysis is that a humid and optimal environment is required so that the microdroplets do not evaporate before being analyzed, thus avoiding the loss of microdroplets due to evaporation.

[0006] A prior art search was conducted for devices for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets, revealing the existence of devices developed to facilitate cerebrospinal fluid analysis, such as the Chinese utility model registration document number CN214484721 (U) published on October 26, 2021, entitled "FIXATION DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS COLLECTION OF RAT CEREBROSPINAL FLUID." This device comprises a bottom plate, an adjustment and fixing mechanism, and an elastic fixing mechanism. The elastic fixing mechanism is arranged on the underside of the cover plate, and its lower end is fixedly connected to the sliding block.The fixation device for continuously collecting the rat's cerebrospinal fluid is convenient for fixing the rat's body and four limbs, and is suitable for fixing rats with different body types.

[0007] Another device is disclosed in Chinese patent application number CN114904066 (A), published on April 21, 2022, entitled "RATS CEREBROSPINAL FLUID MEASURING AND COLLECTION DEVICE WITH INJECTION AND PRESSURE MEASUREMENT FUNCTIONS." This device describes a rat cerebrospinal fluid measuring and collection device with injection and pressure measurement functions. The rat cerebrospinal fluid measuring and collection device with injection and pressure measurement functions includes a glass tube and tubing. This device facilitates drug injection, cerebrospinal fluid collection, cerebrospinal fluid pressure measurement, and observation of cerebrospinal fluid flow, the relationship between flow rate and intracranial pressure, and the simulation and investigation of the effect of ventricular drainage surgery.

[0008] As can be seen, there are devices that facilitate the collection of cerebrospinal fluid for subsequent analysis, but none solve the problem of maintaining optimal conditions for the sample to be analyzed. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a device that improves the performance and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid samples, optimizing the placement and analysis process and preventing the loss of microdroplets through evaporation.

[0009] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a device for reading microdroplets of cerebrospinal fluid, which solves the aforementioned problems.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for reading microdroplets, comprising a rectangular base, a microdroplet dispensing mechanism, and a reading mechanism with a movement mechanism along the "X" and "Y" axes by means of worm gears, rails, and motors. The device also utilizes fiber optics and a light source for reading the droplet, and includes microscope slides and a water container to maintain ambient humidity.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] The characteristic details of this novel device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets are clearly shown in the following description and accompanying figures, as well as an illustration thereof, using the same reference symbols to indicate the parts shown. However, these figures are shown by way of example and should not be considered limiting to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets.

[0015] Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the parts of the device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets.

[0016] Figure 3 shows a bottom perspective view showing details of the reading mechanism of the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplet reading device.

[0017] Figure 4 shows a top perspective view illustrating details of the microdroplet dispensing mechanism of the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplet reading device. Figures 5 and 6 show detailed perspective views of the microdroplet dispenser of the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplet reading device.

[0018] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the lower base of the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplet reading device.

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, the parts that make up the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplet reading device of the present invention are listed below:

[0021] I. Base

[0022] 2. Circular support

[0023] 3. Object holder

[0024] 4. Vertical support

[0025] 5. Structure

[0026] 6. Thermoelectric device

[0027] 7. Slot

[0028] 8. Projections

[0029] 9. Light source

[0030] 10. First worm gear with rail

[0031] II. Rectangular block

[0032] 12. Rectangular block with motor

[0033] 13. Support

[0034] 14. Second worm gear with rail

[0035] 15. Third worm gear with rail

[0036] 16. Engine

[0037] 17. Fourth worm gear with rail

[0038] 18. Motor 19. Second rail

[0039] 20. Cylindrical support

[0040] 21. Fiber optics

[0041] 22. Lower base

[0042] 23. Control Module

[0043] 24. Rechargeable battery

[0044] 25. Output connector

[0045] 26. Loading Port

[0046] 27. Block

[0047] 28. Rectangular block

[0048] 29. First rail

[0049] 30. Microdrop dispenser

[0050] 31. Circular connector

[0051] 32. Dispenser

[0052] With reference to the figures, the device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets consists of a base (1), preferably rectangular, a microdrop mechanism, and a reading mechanism. The rectangular base (1) has a plurality of perforations (33), preferably circular, distributed across its upper surface from the center to a smooth margin around the base (1). Each perforation (33) is separated from the others by a defined space. Within the center of each perforation (33) is a thin support (2) that holds a slide (3) of the same shape as the perforations (33). The microdroplet to be analyzed is placed on the slide (3). Each support (2) is of the same shape as the perforations (33).

[0053] Next to each of the perforations (33) is a light source (9), preferably an LED. This light source (9) illuminates the slide (3) from the side for reading the microdroplet to be analyzed. The base (1) is made of an opaque material, which is important because it eliminates the problem of light reaching any other slide located in the perforations (33).

[0054] At each corner of the rectangular base (1) there is a vertical support (4) that protrudes from both the top and bottom of the base (1). The vertical bars (4) support the microdrip mechanism at the top and the reading mechanism at the bottom. On the underside of the rectangular base (1), between each pair of vertical supports (4), there is a thermoelectric device (6), as shown in Figure 3, to maintain the appropriate temperature in the cerebrospinal fluid microdrip reading device that is the subject of this invention. The thermoelectric devices (6) can be Peltier plates, micro heat pumps, advanced thermoelectric modules (TECs), dual thermoelectric USB devices, or a combination thereof.

[0055] Between each thermoelectric device (6) and each vertical support (4) there is at least one groove (7), preferably rectangular, which serves as a guide for placing the rectangular base (1) on projections (8) located on the inner upper periphery of a structure (5) and projecting towards its center. The projections (8) are distributed on the structure (5) coinciding in number and position with the grooves (7), allowing a firm assembly of the base (1) with the structure (5). Both the projections (8) and the grooves (7) have the same shape, and the structure (5) matches the shape of the base (1).

[0056] As can be seen in figure 2, the structure (5) is sealed and has the shape of a hollow rectangular box, so that the walls of this are around the rectangular base (1) which is placed in the hollow part in the center of the structure (5) leaving the base (1) at the level of the same.

[0057] The structure (5) has a configuration to contain a liquid, such as water, whose purpose is to maintain humidity in the device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets, the subject of the present invention, to prevent the microdroplets placed on the slides (3) from evaporating.

[0058] The micro-drip mechanism is held at the top of the vertical supports (4), as shown in Figure 4. The micro-drip mechanism consists of an X, Y movement mechanism where the movement on the Y axis is carried out by means of a first worm gear with rail (10) placed on one side of the base (1) and the vertical supports (4). Both are joined by a rectangular block (11) at one end and a rectangular block with motor (12) at the other end for the movement of the worm gear with rail (10).On the worm gear with rail (10) there is a support (13) of the X-axis movement mechanism, this support (13) serves as a connection for a second worm gear with rail (14) attached at its other end to a rectangular block (28) which has a circular perforation that allows the second worm gear with rail (14) to slide on a first rail (29) which is attached to the vertical supports (4) opposite the first worm gear with rail (10).

[0059] With reference to figures 5 and 6, on the second worm gear with rail (14) is a rectangular support with a microdrip dispenser (30). On its rear face is a circular connector (31) for attaching a hose (not shown) that will feed the microdrip mechanism. On the front face of the rectangular support with a microdrip dispenser (30) is an irregularly shaped dispenser (32) equipped with a small hose for placing microdrops onto the circular slides (3).

[0060] At the bottom of the base (1) as can be seen in figure 3, attached to the lower faces of the vertical supports (4) is the reading mechanism consisting of an X, Y movement mechanism, which consists of a third worm gear with rail (15), placed on one of the sides of the base of the base (1), at the upper joint there is a motor (16) that gives movement to the worm gear with rail (15) on which there is a block (27) that holds a fourth worm gear with rail (17); at the opposite end of these is located the joint and the motor (18) of the fourth worm gear with rail (17), said joint has a circular perforation inside which a second rail (19) is placed which is held on two vertical supports (4) of the base (1). This rail (19) helps to maintain the stability of the fourth worm gear (17) when it moves through the third worm gear (15) and its rail.On the fourth worm screw (17) there is a rectangular block with a cylindrical support (20) to hold an optical fiber (21) which performs the analysis of the microdroplet on the slide (3) with the help of the light source (9). It is important that to perform the analysis, the light source (9) and the optical fiber (21) are required to be at 90 degrees to each other.

[0061] Within the structure (5) below the reading mechanism is a lower base (22) in which there is a control module (23) and a rechargeable battery (24) for the operation of the components of the device for reading microdroplets of cerebrospinal fluid that is the subject of the present invention; on one side of the lower base (22) there is an output connector (25) for transferring the data recorded by the optical fiber (21) and a charging port (26) for powering and recharging the rechargeable battery (24), the face of the structure (5) that coincides with the output connector (25) and the charging port (26), has access slots (not illustrated) that allow access to said components.

[0062] The control module (23) is configured to control the motors of the X, Y movement mechanisms, as well as the control of the dispenser (32), the light source (9), and the fiber optic data transmission (21).

[0063] The control module (23) has a wireless communication unit (not illustrated) that allows the information obtained from the reading of cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets to be sent remotely and in real time to a smart device, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone; the wireless communication unit (not illustrated) can be via Bluetooth, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) or UWB (Ultra-Wideband).

[0064] In view of the foregoing, it is reiterated that the scope of the present invention shall not be limited by the specific embodiments described, and it shall be understood that variations may be made in several respects. Such variations shall not be considered a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications may be obvious to a person skilled in the art and shall be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for reading cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets, characterized in that it comprises: a base (1) provided with a plurality of perforations (33) distributed throughout its upper face from the central part to a smooth margin around the base (1); within the central part of each perforation (33) there is a thin support (2) which holds a slide (3); to one side of each of the perforations (33) there is a light source (9) which illuminates the slide (3) from the side; a vertical support (4) is located at each corner of the base (1) protruding from both the top and bottom of the base (1); A thermoelectric device (6) is located on the underside of the base (1) between each pair of vertical supports (4), to maintain the appropriate temperature in the device;at least one slot (7) is located between each thermoelectric device (6) and each vertical support (4), said slot (7) is a guide for placing the base (1) on projections (8), located on the inner upper periphery of a structure (5) and projected towards the center of the same; a micro-drip mechanism is held on the top of the vertical supports (4), and is made up of an X, Y movement mechanism, as well as a rectangular support with a micro-drip dispenser (30); A reading mechanism is placed at the bottom of the base (1) attached to the lower faces of the vertical supports (4), and is made up of an X, Y movement mechanism, as well as a rectangular block with a cylindrical support (20) to hold an optical fiber (21) which performs the analysis of the microdroplet on the slide (3) with the help of the light source (9); within the structure (5) below the mechanism; The reading area includes a lower base (22) containing a control module (23) and a rechargeable battery (24) for the operation of the device components.

2. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the base (1) is preferably rectangular.

3. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the perforations (33) are preferably circular.

4. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: each perforation (33) is separated from the others by a certain space.

5. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the slide holder (3) has the same shape as the perforations (33).

6. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: each support (2) is of the same shape as the perforations (33).

7. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the microdrop to be analyzed is placed on each of the circular slides (3).

8. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the light source (9) is preferably an LED.

9. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the base (1) is made of a material opaque to prevent the illumination of the circular slides (3) from being only on one of them.

10. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the thermoelectric devices (6) are Peltier plates, micro heat pumps, advanced thermoelectric modules (TECs), dual thermoelectric USB devices, or a combination thereof.

11. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the slots (7) are preferably rectangular.

12. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the projections (8) are distributed in the structure (5) coinciding in number and position with the grooves (7), which allows a firm assembly of the base (1) with the structure (5).

13. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the projections ( 8 ) and grooves (7 ) have the same shape.

14. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the structure (5) coincides in shape with the base (1).

15. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the vertical bars (4) are configured to support the micro-drip system at the top and the reading system at the bottom.

16. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the structure (5) is sealed and it has the shape of a hollow rectangular box, so that the walls of this are around the rectangular base (1) which is placed in the hollow part in the center of the structure (5) leaving the base (1) at the same level.

17. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the structure (5) has a configuration to contain a liquid to maintain humidity in the device and prevent the microdroplets placed on the slides (3) from evaporating.

18. The device according to claim 17, further characterized in that: the liquid is water.

19. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the X, Y movement mechanism of the micro-drip mechanism, the Y movement is formed by a first worm gear with rail (10) placed on one side of the base (1) and the vertical supports (4), both of which are joined by a rectangular block (11) at one end and a rectangular block with motor (12) at the other end for the movement of the worm gear with rail (10); On the worm gear with rail (10) is the support (13) of the X-axis movement mechanism, this support (13) is the connection for a second worm gear with rail (14) attached at its other end to a rectangular block (28) which has a circular perforation that allows the second worm gear with rail (14) to slide on a first rail (29) which is attached to the vertical supports (4) opposite the first worm gear with rail (10).

20. The device according to claim 19, further characterized in that: on the second screw without At the end with rail ( 14 ) is the rectangular support with a micro-drip dispenser ( 30 ).

21. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: on the rear face of the rectangular support with a micro-drip dispenser (30), there is a circular connector (31) for attaching a hose to feed the micro-drip mechanism; and, on its front face, there is a dispenser (32) provided with a small hose for placing micro-drops on the circular slides (3).

22. The device according to claim 21, further characterized in that: the dispenser (32) has an irregular shape.

23. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the X, Y movement mechanism of the reading mechanism is formed by a third worm gear with rail (15), placed on one side of the base (1), at the upper joint there is a motor (16) that gives movement to the worm gear with rail (15) on which there is a block (27) that supports a fourth worm gear with rail (17); At the opposite end of these is located the joint and the motor (18) of the fourth worm gear with rail (17), said joint has a circular perforation inside which a second rail (19) is placed which is held on two vertical supports (4) of the base (1), said rail (19) maintains the stability of the fourth worm gear (17) when it moves through the third worm gear (15) and its rail.

24. The device according to claim 23, further characterized in that: on the fourth screw without end ( 17 ) the rectangular block with cylindrical support (20) is placed .

25. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the light source (9) and the optical fiber (21) are at 90 degrees to each other.

26. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: on one side of the lower base (22) there is an output connector (25) for transferring the data recorded by the optical fiber (21) and a charging port (26) for powering and recharging the rechargeable battery (24).

27. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the face of the structure (5) that coincides with the output connector (25) and the charging port (26), has access slots that allow access to said components.

28. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the control module (23) is configured to control the motors of the X, Y movement mechanisms, as well as the control of the dispenser (32), the light source (9), and the optical fiber data transmission (21).

29. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the control module (23) has a wireless communication unit (not illustrated) that remotely and in real time sends the information obtained by reading the cerebrospinal fluid microdroplets to a smart device.

30. The device according to claim 29, further characterized in that: the wireless communication unit is by means of Bluetooth, WiFi or UWB.

31. The device according to claim 29, further characterized in that: the smart device is a computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

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