Integrated Analysis Apparatus for Multiplex Staining Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multiplex staining methods require transferring microplates between different commercially-available devices for fluorescent staining, imaging, and destaining, leading to misalignment issues and increased processing time, which reduces the actual photography range and analysis accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An integrated analysis apparatus that includes a housing unit, a staining dispenser unit, an image acquisition unit, and a washer unit, allowing these processes to be performed within a single apparatus without transferring the microplate, with a control unit adjusting positions to maintain alignment and optimize each process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If microplates are transferred between different commercially-available devices for fluorescent staining, imaging, and destaining, then each process can be performed using dedicated devices, but misalignment occurs and position stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated devices (fluorescent staining device, imaging device, destaining device) into a single integrated analysis apparatus. The housing unit is fixed within this integrated system, allowing all processes to be performed without transferring the microplate between devices, thereby maintaining position stability while preserving process specialization through dedicated functional modules within the integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated analysis apparatus performs multiple functions (fluorescent staining, imaging, and destaining) within a single device. The housing unit serves as a universal platform that can be positioned for different operations without physical transfer, achieving multi-functionality while maintaining consistent positioning throughout all processes
2Ease of manufacture
If microplates are transferred between devices for each process cycle, then dedicated devices can be used, but processing time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the fluorescent staining device, imaging device, and destaining device into a single integrated analysis apparatus, the system eliminates the time-consuming transfer steps between devices. The housing unit remains in place throughout the entire cycle, allowing continuous processing and significantly improving experiment throughput while maintaining dedicated functional capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated apparatus enables continuous processing cycles without interruption for transferring microplates between devices. The housing unit can remain in the same position for staining, imaging, and destaining operations, eliminating idle transfer time and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the multiplex staining process
3Ease of manufacture
If microplates are transferred between devices, then dedicated devices can be used, but the actual photography range decreases due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated analysis apparatus combines all processing functions in one system with a fixed housing unit. This eliminates positioning errors that occur during transfer between devices, ensuring that the entire field of view captured during imaging remains consistent and maximizing the actual photography range for accurate cell tracking across multiple cycles
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach maximizes the photography range, minimizes process time variation, and improves analysis accuracy by maintaining consistent microplate positioning, reducing waste and costs, and enhancing experiment throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a staining dispenser unit configured to fluorescently stain the biological sample housed in the housing unit
Data Source
AI summary
An analysis apparatus (1) includes a housing unit (10) that houses a biological sample (S), a staining dispenser unit (20) that fluorescently stains the biological sample (S), an image acquisition unit (30) that acquires an image of the biological sample (S), a washer unit (40) that destains the biological sample (S), a drive unit (50), and a control unit (90) that analyzes the image and controls the drive unit (50). The control unit (90) performs adjustments so that the staining dispenser unit (20) and the housing unit (10) satisfy a first position condition, performs adjustments so that the image acquisition unit (30) and the housing unit (10) satisfy a second position condition, and performs adjustments so that the washer unit (40) and the housing unit (10) satisfy a third position condition. The analysis apparatus (1) maximizes the actual photography range of information related to the biological sample. The analysis apparatus (1) can also minimize variation in the time required for processes and can achieve high-quality analysis.