Cell Inspection Device Concentration and Staining Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell inspection methods require multiple steps and locations for cell collection and analysis, leading to inefficiencies and increased re-inspection rates, as they lack a streamlined process for concentrating, staining, and observing cells on-site.
Innovation Solution
A cell inspection device and method that involves injecting a cell suspension into a chamber formed by an outer cylinder and slide, using an inner cylinder with a filter to concentrate cells, staining them, and observing them with a light source and observation unit, allowing for on-site concentration, staining, and precipitation of cells on a slide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cells are collected and transferred to a different inspection location for pathological diagnosis, then inspection can be performed with standard equipment, but re-inspection rate increases and inspection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cell collection, concentration, staining, and inspection functions into a single integrated device that can be positioned at the cell collection site. This merging of functions allows immediate inspection without transferring samples to separate laboratories, thereby maintaining inspection accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency by eliminating transport and waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection device is designed as a multi-functional system that performs cell collection, concentration through filtration, staining, and optical inspection all in one unit. This universal device replaces multiple separate equipment (collection needles, centrifuges, staining chambers, microscopes) with a single integrated system that can operate at the point of care.
2Device complexity
If a simple hollow tube is used for cell precipitation, then device structure is simple, but cell concentration efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the single hollow tube into two concentric tubes: an outer tube for containing the cell suspension and an inner tube with a filter for concentration. This segmentation allows the filtration and concentration function to be added without completely redesigning the structure, maintaining relative simplicity while dramatically improving cell concentration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner tube with the filter is nested inside the outer tube, creating a compact concentric structure. The inner tube can be inserted into and removed from the outer tube, allowing the filtration system to be integrated into the collection device without significantly increasing overall size or complexity.
3Device complexity
If cells are allowed to precipitate naturally on a slide, then no additional concentration mechanism is needed, but insufficient cells are secured on the slide for adequate inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The inner tube is equipped with a porous filter that allows plasma to pass through while retaining cells. This porous material enables active concentration of cells onto the slide surface, securing sufficient cell quantity for adequate inspection without requiring complex mechanical concentration mechanisms.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate steps are used for cell inspection, then each step can be optimized independently, but overall inspection time increases and on-site verification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs cell concentration and staining as preliminary actions within the collection device itself before the inspection step. By preparing the cell sample (concentrating and staining) in advance within the same device used for collection, the system eliminates the need for separate preparation steps at the inspection location, thereby reducing total inspection time while maintaining process optimization.
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 enables rapid and efficient cell inspection by securing more cells on a slide, reducing re-inspection rates and allowing for on-site verification of cell collection, with improved cell precipitation and staining efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an inner cylinder 20 having an internal space 23, and having a filter 24 provided on a bottom surface 20a
Implementation Method 2
a cell precipitation step of precipitating the cells on the slide
Data Source
AI summary
A cell inspection method includes a concentrate production step, a staining step, a cell precipitation step, and an observation step. In the concentrate production step, the cell concentrate is produced by causing an inner cylinder which has a filter provided on a bottom surface to enter from the bottom surface side into the through hole of the outer cylinder and bringing the inner cylinder closer to the slide, the inner cylinder having an internal space, and in the observation step, observation is performed in a state where the inner cylinder is entered into the outer cylinder.