Cell Metabolism Monitoring via Intracellular Motion Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating cell cycle and intracellular metabolism status, particularly in regenerative medicine and cell therapy, are invasive, destructive, or require staining, making them unsuitable for non-invasive, real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that captures multiple images of cells over time, calculates motion vectors to determine intracellular structure movement, and generates indicators of cell metabolism information based on these parameters, allowing for non-destructive, unstained evaluation of cell cycles and metabolism without relying on nuclear division detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If staining methods are used to evaluate cell cycle and intracellular metabolism, then measurement precision is improved, but the evaluation becomes invasive and destructive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical staining methods with optical imaging and image processing. By capturing images of cells over time and analyzing motion vectors of intracellular structures, the system achieves cell cycle evaluation without physical or chemical intervention, thus eliminating invasiveness while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces motion vector analysis as an intermediary method between traditional staining and cell cycle evaluation. By tracking the movement of intracellular structures through sequential imaging and calculating motion vectors, the system indirectly measures cell cycle progress without direct staining, resolving the contradiction between precision and non-invasiveness
2Measurement precision
If nuclear division detection is used to evaluate cell cycle, then measurement precision is improved, but the method cannot evaluate intracellular metabolism status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal evaluation system that uses motion vector analysis of intracellular structures to simultaneously assess both cell cycle phase and intracellular metabolism status. By analyzing the motion characteristics of cytoplasmic structures rather than just nuclear division, the method achieves multi-functional evaluation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the evaluation dimension from nuclear morphology changes to cytoplasmic structure motion dynamics. By tracking the movement of intracellular structures in the cytoplasm rather than relying solely on nuclear division observations, the system gains the ability to evaluate both cell cycle and metabolism through a new dimensional approach
3Measurement precision
If fluorescent staining is used to evaluate intracellular metabolism, then measurement precision is improved, but the method requires destructive staining procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fluorescent staining with optical imaging and computational analysis. By capturing images and analyzing the motion vectors of intracellular structures, the system derives metabolism information through physical observation and mathematical processing rather than chemical staining, eliminating procedural complexity and destructiveness
Data Source
AI summary
According to some aspects, an image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to receive at least two images of at least one cell. The at least two images are captured at different times. The circuitry is further configured to determine a motion amount of at least one intracellular structure identified within the at least one cell by comparing the at least two images and generate an indication of cell metabolism information associated with the at least one cell by relating at least one parameter of the motion amount to a degree of cell metabolism for the at least one cell based on reference information.