Cell Image Aging Analysis Using Pseudopodia Length

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for analyzing cell aging, such as those based on miRNA extraction from cultivation solution, are complicated and time-consuming, leading to inefficient analysis of cell aging.

Innovation Solution

A cell image analysis system and method that acquires cell images, identifies cell areas, and determines aging indices based on the length of pseudopodia within the images, eliminating the need for miRNA extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If miRNA extraction from cultivation solution is used to analyze cell aging, then analysis accuracy can be achieved, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell aging analysis accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and utilizes pseudopodia as a specific morphological feature from cell images to indicate aging degree, separating this key indicator from the complex miRNA extraction process. By focusing on pseudopodia length measurement, the method extracts essential aging information while eliminating complicated biochemical processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the biochemical miRNA extraction system with an image processing system. Instead of using laboratory equipment for miRNA extraction and analysis, the patent uses digital image acquisition and processing to measure pseudopodia length, substituting complex wet-lab procedures with simpler optical measurement.

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

2Measurement precision

If miRNA extraction from cultivation solution is used to analyze cell aging, then analysis accuracy can be achieved, but time required for analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell aging analysis accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by capturing cell images that directly show pseudopodia morphology, allowing aging assessment to be conducted without waiting for time-consuming miRNA extraction and analysis procedures. The image acquisition provides immediate visual information about cell aging state through pseudopodia length measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If image processing based on pseudopodia length is used, then analysis simplicity and speed are improved, but measurement precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis speedVSAvoidcell aging analysis accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs image processing technology as an optical measurement system to quantify pseudopodia length. By using digital image analysis, the method achieves precise measurement of pseudopodia dimensions while maintaining rapid processing speed, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and analysis speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Data Source

PatentEP4397746B1Cell image analysis system, cell image analysis device, and cell image analysis method
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SHIMADZU CORP
  • EP4397746B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4397746B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4397746B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cell image analysis system (200) according to this invention includes a cell image acquirer (11) configured to acquire a cell image (30) including cells (90); a cell area acquirer (12) configured to acquire cell areas (91) from the cell image; a pseudopodium area acquirer (13) configured to acquire areas (92) of pseudopodia (90b) that are elongated areas in the cell areas of the cell image; and an aging index information acquirer (14) configured to acquire aging index information (24) that indicates a degree of aging of the cells based lengths of pseudopodia.