Continuous Flexible Sample Strips for Automated Multi-Omics Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of individual glass slides for mounting and analyzing biological samples limits the throughput and automation of sample sectioning and molecular omics analysis, hindering pathological and disease biomarker discovery.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatic spatial and single-cell multi-omics sample preparation and analysis using a continuous flexible sample strip dispensed via a rotary mechanism, which includes a dispensing assembly, a sample preparation assembly, and a sample analysis assembly to generate multi-omics data from both solid and liquid phase biological samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If individual glass slides are used for mounting and analyzing biological samples, then sample preparation and analysis can be performed, but the throughput and automation of sample sectioning and molecular omics analysis are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sample processing workflow into distinct modules: a strip dispenser assembly for continuous sample strip delivery, a sample preparation assembly for automated sectioning and mounting, and a sample analysis assembly for multi-omics analysis. This modular segmentation enables high-throughput processing while maintaining automation capability, as each module can operate independently and in sequence without manual intervention between steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements continuous action through the use of a continuous flexible sample strip that is dispensed uninterrupted from the strip dispenser assembly through the preparation and analysis processes. The sample strip continuously moves through the system, eliminating the need to load individual slides sequentially, thereby maintaining continuous productive action and significantly increasing throughput while preserving full automation.
2Productivity
If individual glass slides are used for mounting biological samples, then sample analysis can be performed, but the speed of pathological and disease biomarker discovery is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-mounting multiple biological samples onto a continuous flexible sample strip in advance. The strip is prepared with multiple sample sections already positioned and ready for analysis, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual slide preparation during the analysis phase. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time required for biomarker discovery while increasing overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous sample strip enables uninterrupted flow from sample preparation through analysis, eliminating idle time between processing individual slides. The system maintains continuous useful action throughout the workflow, from sample mounting on the strip through sectioning, staining, and multi-omics analysis, thereby minimizing total processing time and accelerating biomarker discovery speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for automatic spatial and single-cell multi-omics sample preparation and analysis. In examples, a continuous flexible sample strip is dispensed from a strip dispenser assembly, via a rotary mechanism. A prepared biological sample may be mounted to a sample receiving surface of the flexible sample strip to generate a continuous length of prepared sample strip and spatial and single-cell multi-omics data corresponding to the mounted biological sample may be generated based on the continuous length of prepared sample strip. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may be directed to preparing and analyzing a solid phase biological sample, such as an OCT embedded frozen tissue block or a FFPE tissue block. In other embodiments, the methods and systems may be directed to preparing and analyzing a liquid phase biological sample.