Dynamic Vacuum Control for Cell Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated slide preparation systems for biological specimens do not effectively account for different cellular densities, leading to excessive vacuum application and cell clustering issues during specimen processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the maximum aspiration rate of specimen fluid across a filter based on cellular density, adjusting the amplitude and duration of continuous vacuum to optimize cell collection while minimizing clustering, using sensors to monitor filter coverage and vacuum decay or air flow changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vacuum amplitude and duration are increased to improve processing throughput, then productivity is improved, but cell clustering increases and specimen quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vacuum amplitude and duration parameters in real-time based on feedback from sensors monitoring filter coverage and aspiration rate. The controller continuously modifies vacuum application to maintain optimal cell collection while preventing clustering, enabling high throughput without sacrificing specimen quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes vacuum parameters (amplitude and duration) based on detected cellular density and filter coverage percentage. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than using fixed settings, the system optimizes cell collection efficiency while preventing excessive vacuum application that causes clustering.
2Productivity
If vacuum is applied to collect cells on the filter, then cell collection efficiency is improved, but excessive vacuum causes cell clustering
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to monitor filter coverage percentage and aspiration rate in real-time during cell collection. This feedback is fed to the controller which adjusts vacuum amplitude and duration to maintain optimal collection efficiency while preventing the conditions that lead to cell clustering.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum application is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adjusts vacuum parameters based on real-time monitoring of cell collection progress and aspiration rate, enabling efficient collection while adapting to prevent clustering as the filter becomes increasingly covered.
3Device complexity
If fixed vacuum parameters are used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to different cellular densities
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically sensing cellular density and filter coverage, then autonomously modifying vacuum parameters without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability provides adaptability to different specimens while maintaining relatively simple operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors provide real-time feedback on cellular density and filter coverage, which the controller uses to automatically adjust vacuum parameters. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different specimen types and conditions without requiring complex manual programming or adjustment procedures.
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
This approach allows for efficient cell collection on filters with different cellular densities, enhancing processing throughput while maintaining or reducing cell clustering, and achieving faster specimen slide preparation without compromising specimen quality.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source operable to provide vacuum to the interior chamber... applying a continuous vacuum across the filter to collect cells on the filter
Implementation Method 2
determining a maximum rate of aspiration of the specimen fluid across the filter by applying initial vacuum across the filter to draw specimen fluid across the filter and determining a percentage of the filter covered by cells... based at least in part upon the percentage of the filter covered by cells
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for collecting cells on a filter disposed in a specimen fluid containing suspended cells of a biological specimen. A short vacuum pulse is applied across a filter to sip specimen fluid. A percentage or portion of the filter surface area covered by cells is determined is representative of or correlates to the density of cells in the specimen fluid. A maximum vacuum amplitude and/or duration are determined utilizing the determined filter coverage. A longer, continuous vacuum or slurp is applied across the filter to collect cells on the filter while limiting the amplitude and/or duration of the slurp based at least in part upon the determined maximum vacuum amplitude and/or duration.