Disposable Mold for Thin Hydrogel Sectioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for preparing thin hydrogel-embedded RPE cell sheets require expensive microtomes and skilled professionals, making them impractical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a recessed part and a flow channel that allows embedding material to flow out while preventing misalignment of the biological sample, enabling easy preparation of thin hydrogel-embedded RPE cell sheets without expensive equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a microtome with a vibrating blade is used to thinly slice the gelatin block, then thin RPE cell sheets can be prepared, but expensive equipment and skilled professionals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable mold made of inexpensive materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) instead of expensive microtomes. The mold is used once to embed and thin the RPE cell sheet, then discarded, eliminating the need for costly equipment while achieving the desired thin section thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical vibration system of a microtome with a simple compression mechanism. By applying uniform pressure through the lid to the embedded sample in the mold, the hydrogel is compressed to achieve thin sectioning without requiring vibrating blades or complex mechanical systems
2Manufacturing precision
If force is applied to reduce the volume of the space to thin the hydrogel, then thin RPE cell sheets are achieved, but misalignment of the biological sample may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates flow channels at specific locations within the mold to allow embedding material to be expelled in a controlled manner. These channels are strategically positioned to maintain uniform compression while preventing sample misalignment, creating local pathways for material flow without affecting overall sample integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channels act as intermediaries between the compression force and the embedding material. They provide a controlled pathway for the hydrogel to be expelled during compression, mediating the force application to prevent direct contact between the compression mechanism and the biological sample, thereby preventing misalignment
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
The device effectively prevents misalignment of the biological sample and allows for easy preparation of thin RPE cell sheets, reducing the need for expensive microtomes and skilled professionals.
Implementation Method 1
the flow channel is configured to allow the embedding material to flow out while preventing misalignment of the biological sample within the embedding material when a force is applied to the medical device to reduce the volume of the space
Data Source
AI summary
It was difficult to create a thin bio sample embedded in an embedding material without using an expensive microtome. The present invention provides a medical device having a space for assisting in the embedding of a bio sample in an embedding material, the medical device being provided with a cover part and a base part having a recessed section in which the space is created by covering the cover part, wherein the base part is provided with a flow passage having an inlet section that is in fluid communication with the space, and the flow passage is configured such that when a force is applied to the medical device so that the volume of the space decreases, the embedding material flows out while preventing a positional misalignment of the bio sample inside the embedding material.