Automated Fluorochrome Panel Selection by Expression and Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies used in flow cytometry analysis complicates panel design, making it difficult to find optimal dye combinations due to fluorescence leakage and spectral overlap, especially with multiple colors.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that automatically generates a combination list of phosphors based on expression levels, brightness categories, and correlation information, using a processing unit to optimize panel design by selecting and evaluating phosphor combinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies is increased to enhance analysis capability, then the analysis versatility is improved, but the panel design complexity increases due to fluorescence leakage and spectral overlap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis capabilityVSAvoidpanel design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying phosphor combinations based on expression level categories and brightness categories. The processing unit evaluates multiple phosphor combinations by changing parameters such as correlation coefficients and stain indices to identify optimal configurations that minimize spectral overlap while maintaining high analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing correlation information between multiple phosphors before actual panel design. The system pre-evaluates various phosphor combinations and stores optimal pairings, allowing rapid panel design without real-time complex calculations, thus reducing design complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual panel design is performed to optimize fluorochrome combinations, then the measurement precision can be improved, but the time consumption and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis accuracyVSAvoidpanel design time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the processing unit to automatically evaluate and select optimal phosphor combinations without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously calculates correlation coefficients, evaluates stain indices, and generates combination lists based on input biomolecule data, significantly reducing both time consumption and user burden while maintaining high analysis accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of panel design with an automated information processing system. The processing unit uses computational algorithms to evaluate phosphor combinations, substituting human expertise and manual calculation with automated computational analysis, thereby reducing time while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated phosphor selection is performed using correlation information, then the panel design efficiency is improved, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel design efficiencyVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating correlation information between all phosphor pairs and storing these results for reuse. This preliminary computation phase separates the complex calculation burden from the actual panel design process, allowing efficient automated selection without repeating complex calculations, thus improving productivity while managing calculation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces another dimension by organizing phosphor selection through multiple classification categories (expression level categories, brightness categories) in addition to correlation coefficients. This multi-dimensional approach structures the complex calculation space, making automated evaluation more systematic and efficient while managing computational complexity through organized classification.

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

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

Facilitates efficient and accurate multicolor analysis by reducing user burden and improving analysis accuracy through automated panel design, even with a large number of fluorochromes.

Implementation Method 1

the intensity and/or pattern of fluorescence generated from the fluorochrome excited by irradiating each particle of the particle population with laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP4187247B1Information-processing device, information-processing system, and program
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4187247B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4187247B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4187247B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A main object of the present technology is to provide a technique for automatically proposing a better combination of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies. The present technology provides an information processing apparatus including a processing unit that generates a combination list of phosphors with respect to biomolecules on the basis of expression level categories in which a plurality of biomolecules to be used for analysis of a sample is classified on the basis of expression levels in the sample, brightness categories in which a plurality of phosphors usable for the analysis of the sample is classified on the basis of brightness, and correlation information between the plurality of phosphors, in which the processing unit selects the phosphors to be allocated to the biomolecules in the combination list from phosphors belonging to a brightness category associated with an expression level category to which the biomolecules belong.