Cell Evaluation Device Using Luminescent Capture for Precise Secretion Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell evaluation systems face challenges in accurately and precisely evaluating cells and their secretory substances, particularly in environments where multiple cells coexist, making it difficult to identify which cell secretes a specific substance and analyze interactions between different cell types.
Innovation Solution
A cell evaluation device comprising a first capturing unit for secretory substances and an image acquisition unit that acquires images of cells and luminescent substances, with a CMOS image sensor and antibodies or aptamers to positionally identify and quantify secretory substances, allowing for precise analysis of cell interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a CMOS biosensor system is used for cell evaluation, then the system can provide integrated detection capabilities, but it cannot accurately and precisely evaluate cells and secretory substances in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a CMOS sensor unit for imaging, a capturing unit with antibodies/aptamers for specific substance capture, and a luminescent substance layer for signal generation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function, achieving high measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection capabilities into a single integrated device: cell imaging, secretory substance detection, and spatial correlation analysis are merged into one system. The CMOS sensor integrates both visual observation and luminescence detection, enabling simultaneous acquisition of cellular morphology and secretory activity data with precise positional mapping.
2Productivity
If multiple cells are evaluated simultaneously, then productivity increases, but it becomes difficult to identify which cell secretes a specific substance
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides spatial feedback by mapping the positions of captured secretory substances back to their source cells. The image acquisition unit records cell positions, and the analysis unit correlates substance capture locations with cell positions, creating a feedback loop that maintains cell-substance correspondence information even when evaluating multiple cells simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes luminescence (a form of light emission) as a visual indicator to distinguish secretory substances from cells. The luminescent substance bonded to captured secretory substances emits light that can be detected and mapped to specific cell positions, enabling visual differentiation and identification of which cells are secreting which substances in multi-cell evaluations.
3Measurement precision
If antibodies or aptamers are used to capture secretory substances, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a luminescent substance as an intermediary between the capturing unit (antibodies/aptamers) and the detection system (CMOS sensor). The luminescent substance bonds to the captured secretory substances and converts the biochemical capture event into an optical signal that can be easily detected and localized by the image acquisition unit, simplifying the overall detection mechanism while maintaining high precision.
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
Enables accurate and precise evaluation of cells and their secretory substances, even in coexistence, allowing for the identification of cell types and their secretory activities, and understanding interactions such as between cancer cells and immune cells.
Implementation Method 1
the image acquisition unit can acquire an image obtained by imaging chemiluminescence emitted by a reaction of the luminescent substance that is an enzyme with a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a cell evaluation device capable of evaluating cells and a secretory substance emitted from the cells accurately and precisely. Provided is a cell evaluation device including a first capturing unit that captures a secretory substance secreted by cells, and an image acquisition unit that acquires an image obtained by imaging observation light of the cells and light emitted from a luminescent substance bonded to the secretory substance, in which the image acquisition unit and the first capturing unit are disposed in this order, and the image acquisition unit acquires position information for the cells and the secretory substance.