Laser Tissue Isolation via Adhesive Tape Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating mRNA from tumor cells are time-consuming and poorly controlled, often damaging the tissue and requiring manual pipette handling, which is inefficient and prone to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a stabilization layer with a bonding layer, where a laser is used to describe a closed curve around the biological material to separate it from the rest, allowing the isolated material to adhere to a substrate or catching device, facilitating rapid and sterile collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual pipette handling is used to collect excised tissue, then flexibility in collection is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual pipette handling with a laser-based automated system. The laser ablates tissue directly onto a collection surface, eliminating the need for manual pipetting operations. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with optical/automated processes simultaneously increases speed and reduces contamination risk from human contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service collection where the laser beam automatically directs and deposits tissue onto the collection surface without requiring manual intervention. The tissue is ablated and transferred in a single automated operation, making the collection process self-contained and eliminating dependency on manual pipette handling.
2Loss of time
If UV laser ablation is used to excise tissue, then collection time is reduced, but tissue damage occurs and movement control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the laser parameters by switching from UV laser to infrared laser radiation. This parameter change in wavelength and energy characteristics allows for controlled ablation that reduces tissue damage while maintaining efficient collection speed. The infrared laser provides more controlled heating and ablation characteristics compared to UV radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces UV laser ablation with infrared laser ablation combined with a stabilization layer. This substitution provides better control over the ablation process, reducing uncontrolled tissue movement and damage while maintaining the time efficiency of laser-based excision.
3Quantity of substance
If larger amounts of tissue are collected for mRNA analysis, then sufficient mRNA quantity is obtained, but isolation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by directly ablating and collecting tissue in a single integrated step onto a stabilization layer. This eliminates intermediate steps of manual excision, transfer, and collection that would otherwise be required. By preparing the collection surface and performing ablation simultaneously, the system obtains sufficient tissue quantity without proportionally increasing isolation time.
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 rapid and sterile isolation of larger tissue samples with improved control, reducing contamination and tissue damage, and allowing for efficient collection and further processing of mRNA.
Implementation Method 1
focusing a laser beam and describing one of a closed or substantially closed curve around the part of the layer of biological material to be isolated where it erodes the biological material and the stabilization layer on the curve
Implementation Method 2
the material of the bonding layer is a material suitable for promoting adhesion between the stabilization layer and the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A film (14) with a tissue section (10) is placed with the tissue section (10) downward on a microscope slide (18) and the microscope slide (18) positioned in the object plane of an inverse microscope; where an adhesive tape (20) is arranged, with a bonding agent (22) downward, above the film (14) and therefore above the tissue section (10); wherein the next step, tissue (36) to be isolated is excised by a focused laser beam, which also divides the film (14); whereupon removal of the adhesive tape (20) from the microscope, the excised tissue pieces (36) adhere to the adhesive tape (20), and the remnant of the film (14) and of the tissue section (10) remains adhering/to the microscope slide (18).