Cell Transfer Apparatus Even Quality Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transferring cells from a dish to a microplate struggle to evenly distribute cells of equivalent quality across multiple groups, leading to uneven sensitivities in experiments due to variations in cell size, shape, and properties.
Innovation Solution
A cell transfer apparatus and method that includes an imaging unit for evaluating cell quality, an allocation processor for distributing cells evenly across groups, and a transfer controller to ensure cells of equal quality are transferred to specific wells on a microplate, using a dish with holding recessed portions and a microplate with classified wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cells are transferred sequentially by numbering and suction, then the transfer process is simple, but cells with equivalent quality cannot be evenly distributed to multiple groups
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images of all cells before transfer, evaluating their quality characteristics, and pre-determining the allocation plan that ensures even distribution of cells with equivalent quality across multiple groups. This preliminary evaluation and planning enables the subsequent transfer to achieve precise quality-based distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the simple mechanical sequential suction method with an automated system that integrates image capture, image processing for quality evaluation, and computer-controlled allocation. This substitution of mechanical operation with automated systems enables precise control over cell distribution according to quality parameters.
2Productivity
If cells are randomly distributed to wells, then the transfer operation is fast, but sensitivity evaluation becomes unreliable due to unequal cell quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces random mechanical distribution with an automated allocation system that uses image processing to evaluate cell quality and computer algorithms to determine optimal well assignments. This substitution maintains high transfer speed while ensuring that cells with equivalent quality are evenly distributed across groups, thereby reliability of sensitivity evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures images of cells, processes these images to evaluate quality characteristics, and uses this feedback information to determine the allocation plan. This feedback loop ensures that the final distribution achieves even representation of cells with equivalent quality across multiple groups, making sensitivity evaluations reliable.
3Device complexity
If all cells are treated equally without quality assessment, then the process is simple, but experimental sensitivity cannot be evenly evaluated across groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple treatment of all cells equally with an automated image processing system that objectively evaluates cell quality based on captured images. This substitution introduces precise measurement of cell characteristics such as size, shape, and optical properties, enabling accurate quality assessment without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary image processing step between cell observation and transfer decision-making. This intermediary evaluates cell quality objectively from captured images and provides the basis for allocation decisions, enabling precise quality assessment that would be difficult to achieve through direct mechanical or visual inspection alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell transfer apparatus transfers cells from a dish in which the cells are held to a microplate where a plurality of wells are classified into a plurality of groups. The cell transfer apparatus includes a camera unit that captures an image of the dish with the cells being held in the dish, an evaluation unit that gives evaluation levels to the plurality of cells held in the dish, respectively, based on the image of the dish with reference to predetermined multiple-step evaluation level for the cells, an allocation processor that sets transfer destinations of the cells on the dish so that the cells equal in evaluation level are distributed evenly to the groups in the microplate, and a shaft controller that transfers the cells in accordance with the transfer destinations set by the allocation processor.