Expanding Ring Device for Tissue Strain Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The specific causes of lens growth throughout an individual's lifetime are unknown, and there is a need to determine whether mechanical cues from accommodation increase the proliferation rate of lens epithelial cells (LECs).
Innovation Solution
A system and method for applying mechanical strain to a tissue specimen or cells using an expanding ring device that measures and records deformation, allowing for the study of the effect of strain on LEC proliferation, comprising a specimen holder, a strain-inducing apparatus, and a measurement tool to determine the deformation history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical strain is applied to the specimen using an expanding ring device, then the proliferation rate of LECs increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expanding ring device is divided into multiple segments or struts that can independently move outward, allowing controlled application of mechanical strain to the specimen while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic expanding configuration, enabling controlled application of mechanical strain to stimulate LEC proliferation while measuring deformation in real-time
2Measurement precision
If deformation measurement and recording systems are added to monitor strain effects, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with optical measurement techniques, using imaging systems to track and record deformation of the specimen under strain, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing additional device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Fiducial markers or reference points are introduced as intermediaries between the specimen and measurement system, enabling precise deformation tracking without requiring direct complex mechanical contact with the specimen
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 system effectively increases the proliferation rate of LECs, with the amplitude of mechanical strain modulating this rate, as demonstrated by increased viability and proliferation indices in experiments with porcine lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a strain-inducing apparatus coupled to the specimen holder and configured to apply a straining displacement of a preselected magnitude in at least a first preselected direction to the specimen holder. At least a portion of the strain that is applied to the specimen holder is transferred to and applied to the specimen
Implementation Method 2
a measurement tool for measuring the deformation of the specimen caused by the strain
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for applying mechanical strain to a specimen of tissues and/or cells, for measuring the deformation of the specimen caused by the mechanical strain and for recording the deformation history for the specimen. The system comprises a specimen holder configured to hold a specimen and a strain-inducing apparatus coupled to the specimen holder and configured to apply a straining displacement of a preselected magnitude in at least a first preselected direction to the specimen to strain the specimen in a preselected manner. A measurement tool of the system measures the deformation of the specimen caused by the mechanical strain and a recording tool of the system records the deformation history for the specimen in memory.