Incubator Cell Imaging for Long-Term Activity Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing cellular response to conditions require multiple samples and perturb the sample during imaging, making it difficult to analyze cell behavior over time without causing disruption.
Innovation Solution
An automated imaging system that maintains samples within an incubator, using a gantry to move an imaging device relative to the samples, generating images over time and analyzing them to identify and track active objects within the cells, such as neurons, by creating range images and time-varying activity traces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If samples are removed from the incubator for imaging, then imaging can be performed, but the sample is perturbed and multiple sample sets are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the incubator and imaging device into a single integrated system. The imaging device is positioned within the incubator chamber, allowing simultaneous maintenance of optimal growth conditions and performance of imaging operations on the same sample without removal or perturbation.
Solution Approach 2:
A movable gantry structure serves as an intermediary mechanism that enables the imaging device to access samples within the incubator without disrupting the incubation environment. The gantry moves the imaging device over the sample container, allowing non-invasive imaging while samples remain in their growth environment.
2Loss of time
If multiple sample sets are used for time-lapse analysis, then temporal response can be assessed, but sample quantity and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous imaging of the same sample over extended time periods by integrating the imaging device within the incubator. Samples are imaged repeatedly at predetermined time intervals while remaining in the same physical location and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for multiple sample sets to track temporal changes.
3Productivity
If imaging device is stationary, then system is simple, but it cannot efficiently image multiple samples or track active objects
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is mounted on a movable gantry that can dynamically position the device over different sample containers or different regions within a container. This dynamic positioning capability allows efficient imaging of multiple samples and tracking of active objects across the field of view without requiring a complex array of stationary imaging devices.
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
Enables continuous, non-disruptive imaging and analysis of cell behavior over extended periods, reducing personnel costs and maintaining consistent growth conditions, while accurately tracking cellular activity and connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
generating a plurality of fluorescence activity images of a sample... each image comprising a respective plurality of pixel values
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5C
Figure 6
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for automatically imaging and analyzing cell samples in an incubator. An actuated microscope operates to generate images of samples within wells of a sample container across days, weeks, or months. A plurality of images is generated for each scan of a particular well, and the images within such a scan are used to image and analysis metabolically active cells in the well. Tins analysis includes generating a "range image" by subtracting the minimum intensity value, across the scan, for each pixel from the maximum intensity value. This range image thus emphasizes cell s or portions of cells that exhibit changes in activity over a scan period (e.g., neurons, myocytes, cardiomyocytes) while de-emphasizing regions that exhibit consistently high intensities when images (e.g., regions exhibiting a great deal of autofluorescence unrelated to cell activity).