Expandable Hydrogel Microfluidic Cell Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for counting and analyzing biological cells face challenges in accurately determining concentrations and identifying cell types due to interference and obstruction issues, particularly when using instrumentation like microscopes, which require precise imaging and costly optical sectioning techniques.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device employing an expandable hydrogel to move and immobilize cells into a predetermined planar region for enhanced imaging and detection, ensuring cells are constrained within the focal plane of a light collection lens for accurate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional microscopy methods are used for cell counting and analysis, then cell detection can be performed, but interference and obstruction from cell types and imaging costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an expandable hydrogel as an intermediary substance between the sample cells and the imaging system. The hydrogel expands to fill the sample chamber, pushing cells into a planar region that aligns with the microscope's focal plane. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the imaging process by automatically positioning cells without requiring complex optical sectioning or manual focusing, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the hydrogel's physical state - transitioning from a compressed state to an expanded state upon contact with the sample solution. This phase transition automatically adjusts the chamber volume and cell positioning, eliminating the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms. The parameter change approach simplifies the system while improving cell detection accuracy by ensuring all cells are positioned within the optimal imaging plane.
2Measurement precision
If optical sectioning methods are used to improve cell imaging, then imaging quality improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable expandable hydrogel component that replaces expensive, complex optical sectioning systems. The hydrogel is inexpensive, single-use, and provides the necessary cell positioning and imaging quality improvement without requiring costly instrumentation. This approach maintains high imaging quality while dramatically reducing system cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel acts as a simple intermediary that achieves optical sectioning effects through its physical expansion properties rather than through complex optical components. By pushing cells into a planar region, the hydrogel creates a natural optical section that is cheaper and simpler to implement than conventional optical sectioning methods while achieving similar imaging quality improvements.
3Productivity
If cells are not constrained to a planar region, then sample handling is simple, but imaging and detection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable hydrogel performs cell positioning and planar constraint functions automatically through its own expansion, without requiring external mechanical devices or complex constraint mechanisms. The hydrogel's self-expanding property naturally pushes cells into the desired planar arrangement, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating additional complexity while improving imaging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel's volume expansion parameter change automatically creates the planar constraint effect. As the hydrogel expands from a compressed state, it physically pushes cells into a planar region aligned with the imaging plane. This parameter-driven mechanism achieves efficient cell constraint without requiring separate mechanical constraint devices, thereby improving productivity while maintaining simplicity.
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 and cost-effective cell counting and analysis by orienting cells to present a larger profile for clearer imaging, overcoming previous challenges of interference and obstruction, and providing a flexible method for particle and cell detection.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable gel disposed on the second wall capable of expanding to fill the interior of the chamber so that whenever the expandable gel is exposed to a sample solution the expandable gel expands towards the first wall forcing cells in the sample solution into an observation plane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides microfluidics devices, methods and kits employing expandable gels in a sample chamber for translocating cells or particles in a sample solution to an observation plane to facilitate counting and analysis.