Cell Suction Chip Alignment Using a Movable Container Holder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell suction systems face challenges in accurately aligning the needle tip of a chip with the position of a cell to be sucked due to axial misalignment between the chip connection shaft and the chip base, leading to inefficiencies and labor-intensive manual adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A cell suction system design that includes a chip container holder allowing movement of the chip container relative to the chip connection shaft, utilizing a slippery surface and rolling elements to eliminate axial misalignment, ensuring precise alignment of the needle tip with the cell position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the chip container is fixed rigidly to eliminate movement, then positioning stability is improved, but axial misalignment cannot be eliminated during connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The chip container holder is designed to allow dynamic movement of the chip container in the axial direction relative to the chip connection shaft. This movement capability enables the system to adapt during connection, eliminating axial misalignment while maintaining operational stability through regulated motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The chip container holder acts as an intermediary component between the fixed positioning structure and the chip container. It provides the necessary movement freedom to eliminate misalignment while maintaining overall system stability, serving as a mediator that resolves the contradiction between rigidity and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustment is performed to eliminate misalignment, then alignment precision is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The chip container holder enables the chip container to self-adjust its position automatically during connection. The regulated movement mechanism allows the system to eliminate axial misalignment without manual intervention, maintaining high alignment precision while preserving operational efficiency through automated self-positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If the chip container is allowed to move freely to eliminate misalignment, then alignment precision is improved, but positioning stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidpositioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements regulated dynamic movement rather than free movement. The chip container holder provides controlled motion capabilities that enable misalignment elimination while maintaining positioning stability through regulated constraints on the movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the movement parameters of the chip container from fixed to regulated movable. By controlling the degree and direction of movement, the system achieves alignment precision while maintaining stability through parameter-regulated motion rather than complete freedom of movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4696767A1Cell suction system
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4696767A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4696767A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4696767A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cell suction system that can accurately move a needle tip of a needle portion of a chip to the position of a cell to be sucked, after a chip connection shaft of a suction unit is connected to a chip base of the chip held in a chip container is provided. A cell suction system includes a suction unit and a chip container holder. The suction unit includes a chip connection shaft to be connected to a chip base of a chip held in a chip container, and causes the chip to suck and hold a cell component of a cell or an entire cell from a needle tip of a needle portion, in a state in which the chip is connected to the chip connection shaft. The chip container holder holds the chip container so as to allow movement of the chip and the chip container relative to the chip connection shaft, to eliminate axial misalignment when the chip connection shaft is connected to the chip base of the chip held in the chip container.