Collector for Density-Based Isolation of Rare Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing suspensions, such as blood samples, are inefficient in detecting and isolating rare materials like circulating tumor cells due to their low concentrations, making it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat cancer.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a collector, processing vessel, and sealing ring that uses density-based separation and displacement fluids to isolate and extract target materials from suspensions, allowing for efficient separation and analysis of rare components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional blood film analysis techniques are used to detect rare materials like circulating tumor cells, then the analysis method is simple and widely available, but the detection accuracy is extremely low due to the rarity of target cells among billions of background cells
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the blood sample into different density fractions using centrifugal separation. The collector divides the suspension into layers based on density, isolating the target material fraction from the bulk background cells. This segmentation enables focused analysis of the fraction most likely to contain rare target cells, dramatically improving detection accuracy without requiring analysis of all billions of background cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement fluid acts as an intermediary substance with intermediate density between the target material and background cells. This intermediary enables selective displacement and concentration of target cells into the collector while leaving background cells in the original suspension, achieving high-purity isolation that directly addresses the detection accuracy problem.
2Productivity
If manual examination of blood samples is used to find rare target cells, then the equipment requirement is minimal, but the time consumption is extremely high and productivity is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual examination with automated density-based mechanical separation. The centrifugal collector automatically isolates target cells based on density differences, performing the separation function that would otherwise require time-consuming manual searching through microscope slides. This mechanical automation dramatically increases productivity while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary concentration and isolation of target cells before final analysis. By pre-concentrating rare target cells into a small volume fraction using density separation, the system eliminates the need for researchers to manually search through large volumes of diluted blood samples, significantly reducing the time required for detection and analysis.
3Manufacturing precision
If density-based separation with multiple fractions is performed, then the isolation purity of target material is improved, but the device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary target material fraction from the blood sample using density-based separation. Rather than requiring complex multi-fraction analysis, the collector is designed to isolate and collect the specific density range where target cells are most likely to be found, extracting the useful fraction while discarding the rest. This selective extraction achieves high isolation purity with a relatively simple single-collector design.
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 the accurate detection and isolation of rare materials from suspensions, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer diagnosis and treatment by simplifying the extraction process.
Implementation Method 1
density-based separation and displacement fluids to isolate and extract target materials from suspensions
Implementation Method 2
The collector expels at least one displacement fluid from the processing vessel, such that the at least one displacement fluid pushes the target material into the collector
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel and a collector. The collector fits into a primary vessel, such as a test tube. The collector funnels the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessel. The collector includes a funnel at a second end in fluid communication with the cannula which extends into a chamber at a first end of the collector that holds the processing vessel. In one implementation, the processing vessel is empty. In another implementation, the processing vessel includes at least one displacement fluid to displace the target material into the collector. In yet another implementation, the processing vessel may include at least one displacement fluid and at least one processing solution.