3D Animation of Biological Pathways

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biological and chemical pathways are complex and difficult to interpret, failing to accurately convey information about molecular interactions, spatial relationships, and temporal processes, which hinders scientists' understanding of these processes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that translates pathway information into a three-dimensional animation, allowing users to interact and customize the animation to visually depict molecular interactions and events in biological or chemical processes, using graphical representations and sequence information to show the interactions over time and space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional two-dimensional pathway diagrams are used to represent biological and chemical processes, then the information can be displayed in a simple format, but the accuracy in conveying molecular interactions, spatial relationships, and temporal processes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accuracyVSAvoidvisualization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional static diagrams to three-dimensional dynamic visualizations, adding spatial and temporal dimensions to pathway representations. This allows molecules to be depicted with proper spatial relationships and interactions to occur over time, significantly improving the accuracy of molecular interaction conveyance while managing complexity through automated generation methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If detailed molecular interaction information is included in pathway representations, then the scientific accuracy improves, but the interpretability and ease of understanding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescientific accuracyVSAvoidinterpretability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs color coding to represent different molecular types, interaction types, and pathway components. This visual encoding system allows detailed molecular information to be conveyed through intuitive color distinctions rather than text-heavy labels, maintaining scientific accuracy while improving interpretability for users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic animations to show molecular interactions unfolding over time, with movements and transformations visually representing biochemical processes. This dynamic representation makes complex interaction sequences more interpretable compared to static detailed diagrams, while preserving scientific accuracy through faithful representation of temporal processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If static diagrams are used to represent biological pathways, then the simplicity of presentation is maintained, but the ability to convey temporal processes and dynamic interactions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepresentation simplicityVSAvoidtemporal process information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic animation cycles to represent repeating biochemical processes such as catalytic cycles and metabolic pathways. These periodic visualizations show molecules undergoing transformations in sequence, with the animation looping to represent continuous biological processes, thereby conveying temporal dynamics while maintaining presentation simplicity through standardized animation patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9317951B2Assisted conversion of biological and chemical pathway information to three-dimensional animations
Publication Date: 2016.04.19 AUTODESK INC
  • US9317951B2 patent drawing
  • US9317951B2 patent drawing
  • US9317951B2 patent drawing

AI summary

This specification relates to computer animations, and more particularly to computer animations of biological and chemical pathways in which information defining the molecular assets, interactions and sequence of events involved in the pathway is combined with graphical information to generate a three-dimensional animation of the pathway.