External Movable Stage for Vibration-Free Cell Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional microscope systems for cell culture observation face issues such as increased contamination risk from manual handling, temperature fluctuations, and inaccurate imaging due to manual dish repositioning, while integrated automated stage-moving systems are costly and alter the microscope design, causing vibrations and focusing errors.

Innovation Solution

An external movable stage system with automated movement capabilities, compatible with standard microscopes, reduces manual handling and vibrations, and includes an image recognition module for precise cell growth analysis using artificial intelligence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of cell culture dish is used for observation, then operator can visually inspect cell morphology and confluency, but contamination risk increases and temperature fluctuations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual inspection capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk and temperature fluctuation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful manual handling operations from the observation process by introducing an automated stage-moving system that replaces manual dish manipulation, thereby eliminating contamination risk and temperature fluctuations while preserving visual inspection capabilities through the microscope

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated stage-moving system enables the microscope to perform self-positioning and self-observation functions without human intervention, allowing the system to automatically capture and analyze cell images while maintaining stable environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If automated stage-moving function is integrated into microscope assembly, then stage movement is automated, but manufacturing cost increases significantly and original design is altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestage movement automationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and design modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the automated stage-moving function from the microscope assembly into a separate, independently installable module, allowing automation to be added without redesigning the entire microscope system, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining automation capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The externally installed stage-moving device is designed with universal compatibility to work with standard commercial microscopes, enabling one automated module to serve multiple microscope systems without requiring custom integration for each device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If motor-driven automatic stage-moving is used, then stage movement is automated, but vibrations occur causing misalignment and focusing errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestage movement automationVSAvoidimaging accuracy and focus alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using a belt-driven mechanism that provides smooth, vibration-free motion specifically at the stage movement interface, while keeping the microscope's focusing and alignment systems unchanged, thereby maintaining imaging precision while achieving automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional motor-driven mechanical stage movement with a belt-driven system that eliminates vibration-induced misalignment and focusing errors, substituting a smoother mechanical transmission method that preserves imaging accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If manual repositioning of dish is performed, then operator can examine different areas of dish, but blind spots in observation occur due to imprecise positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedish repositioning capabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy and observation completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through automated image capture and analysis that provide precise positional information, enabling the system to systematically scan and examine all areas of the culture dish without missing blind spots, thereby improving observation completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12529879B2External movable stage system for automated cell microscopic imaging and analysis

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 METATECH (AP) INC

AI summary

An external movable stage system for automated cell microscopic imaging and analysis comprises a microscope and an external movable stage device. The external movable stage device is attached to the microscope and configured to assist the microscope in observing a cell sample and to avoid vibration of the microscope. The external movable stage device comprises an automatic stage module, a control module and an image positioning module. The automatic stage module comprises a stage adjustment structure and a movable stage connected to the stage adjustment structure. The control module is configured to move the movable stage in scanning manner so that all parts of the sample plate pass through the objective lens of the microscope to obtain sub-images. The image positioning module is configured to automatically adjust the focal length of the microscope lens, and when the displacement of the sub-images is detected, the sub-images is automatically adjusted to the correct position, and the sub-images is synthesized to produce a full image by an image processing method.