Magnetic Gel Embedding for Tissue Imaging Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological tissue samples cleared using hydrophilic methods become soft and prone to deformation or breakage, making it difficult to maintain integrity during imaging, and are challenging to mount and adjust on microscope holders, which hinders imaging quality.
Innovation Solution
Embedding the biological tissue samples in a gel with a magnetic material plate, allowing for easier mounting and positioning on a magnetic sample holder using magnetic forces, thereby reducing the risk of cracking and breaking during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If biological tissue samples are cleared using hydrophilic methods, then transparency and imaging quality are improved, but mechanical strength decreases causing softness and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gel embedding medium as an intermediary substance that surrounds and supports the cleared tissue sample. This gel acts as a mechanical scaffold that compensates for the lost structural integrity while being optically transparent, allowing the tissue to maintain its shape during imaging without compromising transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure consisting of the cleared biological tissue sample embedded within a gel matrix. This composite material combines the optical properties of the cleared tissue with the mechanical properties of the gel, achieving both transparency for imaging and sufficient structural support to prevent deformation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If gel embedding is used to protect tissue samples, then mechanical stability is improved, but ease of mounting and positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation of the gel-embedded sample with magnetic field-based positioning. Magnetic beads embedded in the gel allow for non-contact manipulation using external magnets, eliminating the need for physical handling that could cause deformation while enabling precise positioning on the microscope stage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If gel embedding is used to maintain tissue integrity, then sample stability is improved, but positioning precision and adjustability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical positioning methods with magnetic field control. By embedding magnetic beads in the gel matrix, the sample can be precisely positioned and adjusted using external magnets, achieving high positioning precision while maintaining the mechanical stability provided by the gel embedding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic controllability to the previously static gel-embedded sample. The magnetic beads enable real-time adjustment of sample position and orientation during imaging by applying external magnetic fields, allowing precise positioning while the gel continues to provide mechanical stability.
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 method enhances the stability and ease of handling of gel-embedded biological tissue samples, improving the imaging quality by allowing for more precise positioning and reducing mechanical stress during the imaging process.
Implementation Method 1
mounting the gel body on a sample holder magnetic base of an imaging microscope
Implementation Method 2
embedding the biological tissue samples in a gel with a magnetic material plate, allowing for easier mounting and positioning on a magnetic sample holder using magnetic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A biological tissue sample imaging method, comprising: (1) put a magnetic material plate, a gel precursor solution and a biological tissue sample in an embedding container, and then forming a gel to obtain a gel body, in which the biological tissue sample, and a porous plate having ferromagnetism are embedded; and (2) mount the gel body on the sample holder magnetic base of an imaging microscope, and image.