Marine Microorganism Sorting via Pressure-Resistant Visual Cabin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating marine microorganisms from high-pressure environments, such as deep-sea environments, are inefficient, as they often require atmospheric pressure conditions that are not suitable for piezophilic bacteria, leading to low survival rates and difficulty in culturing and identifying these microorganisms.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for single-cell high-throughput sorting in a marine in-situ environment, utilizing a pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin, optical identification, and automatic sorting system, which maintains consistent pressure and temperature conditions to facilitate the identification and sorting of microorganisms within their native high-pressure environment, using an enriched microorganism injection system and carrier chip with microfluidic channels for dispersion and observation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If atmospheric pressure isolation methods are used for marine microorganisms, then the isolation process is simple, but piezophilic microorganisms cannot survive and culturability is extremely low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from atmospheric pressure to high pressure (matching deep-sea environment), enabling piezophilic microorganisms to survive and be cultured. The high-pressure environment is maintained throughout the isolation and culture process, transforming the physical conditions to match the native habitat of target microorganisms.
2Device complexity
If traditional plate streaking methods are used, then the equipment is simple, but the isolation efficiency and identification capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical plate streaking methods with flow cytometry-based single-cell sorting technology. This substitution enables automated, high-throughput isolation and identification of microorganisms, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through computerized control.
3Ease of operation
If deep-sea microorganisms are cultured in atmospheric pressure environment, then the culture process is easy to operate, but the microorganisms cannot maintain their native physiological characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains high pressure conditions throughout the culture process to preserve the physiological characteristics of piezophilic microorganisms. By changing and maintaining the pressure parameter at levels matching their native deep-sea environment, the microorganisms retain their authentic metabolic and growth properties.
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 enables high-throughput identification and sorting of marine microorganisms at a single-cell scale, improving their culturability and overcoming the limitations of traditional methods by allowing enrichment and isolation in deep-sea conditions, thus enhancing the efficiency of microorganism culture and purification.
Implementation Method 1
optical identification system... when the enriched microorganisms pass through the carrier chip, the microorganisms are observed and identified via the optical identification system
Implementation Method 2
pressurization system is used for meeting the function requirement for consistency between internal pressure of the pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin and internal pressure of the enriched microorganism injection system
Implementation Method 3
annular wall temperature controlling system is used for ensuring consistent internal temperature of the pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a device for single-cell high-throughput sorting in a marine in-situ environment. The device includes a pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin, an optical identification system and an automatic sorting system; a microorganism-containing bacteria liquid is injected into the pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin; the enriched microorganisms is dispersed and pass through a channel via a carrier chip disposed in the pressure-resistant visual sorting cabin; when the enriched microorganisms pass through the carrier chip, the microorganisms are observed and identified via the optical identification system; and the automatic sorting system automatically sorts the microorganisms according to a microorganism identification result. The present invention further provides a method for single-cell high-throughput sorting in the marine in-situ environment. After single-cell dispersion of the microorganisms is achieved through the carrier chip, the microorganisms are observed and identified via the optical identification system, and sorted through the automatic sorting system intelligently.