Electrophoresis Size Guide Alignment for Gel Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrophoresis data analysis systems struggle to accurately determine the size of components from gel images due to the width of the bands, making it difficult to correlate the band positions with the actual component sizes.
Innovation Solution
An analyzer and display method that includes a first size guide on the gel image and a second size guide on the electropherogram, where the guides are synchronized to allow easy alignment and determination of component sizes by moving the first guide to a specific position, causing the second guide to correspondingly align with the same size on the electropherogram.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gel image is used to display electrophoresis data, then visual representation of separated components is provided, but it becomes difficult to accurately determine the size of components due to band width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a size guide as an intermediary element that is superimposed on the gel image. This size guide contains reference bands with known sizes that serve as a mediator between the visual gel image and the actual component sizes, allowing users to accurately determine component sizes by comparing their bands to the reference bands in the size guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the gel image display by superimposing a size guide that provides size information in addition to the visual separation pattern. This additional dimensional information (size reference) is overlaid on the existing gel image, allowing simultaneous visualization of both separation pattern and size determination.
2Loss of information
If only a gel image is displayed, then separation pattern is visible, but correlation between band position and actual component size is difficult to establish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gel image display with a size guide into a single integrated visualization. The size guide is superimposed on the gel image, combining the separation pattern information with size reference information in one display, thereby preventing loss of size information without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The size guide serves multiple functions: it provides size reference for determining component sizes, acts as a visual overlay that enhances the gel image, and enables direct correlation between band positions and component sizes. This multi-functional element adds value without requiring separate dedicated systems.
3Productivity
If manual alignment of size guides is required, then flexibility is provided, but time consumption and human error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic alignment functionality that uses feedback mechanisms to align the size guide with the gel image bands. The system detects band positions and automatically adjusts the size guide positioning, providing feedback-based correction that eliminates manual alignment errors and improves both efficiency and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-alignment by automatically detecting band positions and positioning the size guide accordingly without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service functionality reduces time consumption and eliminates human error in the alignment process while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An analyzer that analyzes one or more pieces of data acquired by electrophoresis separation of a sample includes a memory, a display unit, and a processor. The memory stores the one or more pieces of data. The display unit displays, based on the one or more pieces of data, a gel image, an electropherogram, a first size guide corresponding to the gel image, and a second size guide corresponding to the electropherogram. When the first size guide is located at a first position corresponding to a specific value associated with a size in the gel image, the processor displays a second size guide at a second position corresponding to the specific value in the electropherogram.