Lever-Mounted Holder for Microdissection Capture Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microdissection systems face challenges in bringing the capture device close enough to the prepared specimen, especially when using different capture devices or sample carriers, which can lead to contamination risks and inefficient specimen collection.
Innovation Solution
A holder with a holding element mounted by levers, allowing vertical displacement relative to a frame, enabling the capture device to be moved upward or downward to compensate for varying distances between the specimen carrier and the capture device, ensuring optimal proximity for reliable specimen collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed holding element is used for the capture device, then the device structure is simple, but the capture device cannot be adjusted to different positions, making it impossible to compensate for varying distances between different capture devices and sample carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element is made dynamically adjustable through a lever mechanism that enables vertical displacement. The lever can be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position, allowing the holding element to move vertically and adjust the capture device's position relative to the sample carrier, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and fixed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is divided into functional segments: a stationary frame, a movable holding element, and a lever mechanism. This segmentation allows the holding element to be independently adjusted via the lever while the frame remains stable, providing position adaptability without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Reliability
If the capture device is positioned far from the prepared specimen, then there is sufficient space for different device configurations, but specimen collection becomes unreliable and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is designed to be adjustable to precisely position the capture device at the optimal distance from the prepared specimen before microdissection begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when specimens are cut, they fall directly into the capture device without traveling through contaminated air space, thus preventing contamination and ensuring reliable collection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pivotable holding element is used as in DE 100 57 292 C2, then the container can be moved into working position, but the distance between the contamination prevention plate and container opening cannot be reduced when using different capture devices
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element incorporates a lever mechanism that enables dynamic vertical adjustment. When the lever is rotated from its retracted position to its extended position, the holding element displaces vertically, reducing the distance between the contamination prevention plate and the capture device opening. This dynamic adjustment allows optimization of the distance for different capture device types.
4Ease of operation
If multiple separate holding elements are used for multiple containers, then each container can be independently positioned, but the overall device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element is designed as a universal, multi-functional component that can accommodate different types of capture devices (e.g., multiwell plates, Petri dishes, PCR tubes). This single versatile holding element design eliminates the need for multiple specialized holding elements, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to position capture devices independently when needed.
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 solution ensures reliable and contamination-free collection of microdissected specimens by allowing precise adjustment of the capture device's position relative to the specimen carrier, minimizing the risk of foreign particles and ensuring efficient specimen collection across various microdissection systems.
Implementation Method 1
the holding element is mounted by way of at least two levers in a frame of the holder, and is vertically displaceable relative to said frame by way of a displacement of the levers
Implementation Method 2
Once the sample (individual cells or a cell group) has been cut out by means of a focused laser beam, it falls under the influence of gravitational force into the capture element located therebelow
Implementation Method 3
a laser beam is guided through the main objective of a microscope with which a prepared specimen is being examined or imaged. The prepared specimen is located as a rule on a suitable film, so that with the aid of the laser beam focused onto the film, a specimen region of interest can be cut out
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a holder for at least one capture device (30) for collecting microdissected specimens, having a holding element (2) in which the at least one capture device (30) is to be arranged, the holding element (2) being transferable into a working position in order to collect microdissected specimens, the holding element (2) being mounted by way of at least two levers (3a, 3b) in a frame (1) of the holder (40), and being vertically displaceable relative to said frame (1) by way of a displacement of the levers (3a, 3b).