Mass Spectrometer Tissue Imaging Scan Time Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mass spectral tissue imaging techniques require lengthy analysis times, which hinder their deployment in industrial settings requiring high sample throughput, as existing methods often compromise data quality or require substantial hardware modifications to reduce scan times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing two techniques: defining a non-rectangular tissue imaging boundary to reduce irradiated target regions and using a multi-step imaging process with initial low-resolution scanning to identify areas of interest followed by high-resolution scanning only on those areas, thereby reducing overall analysis time without compromising data quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uniform high spatial resolution is maintained over the entire tissue sample, then measurement precision is improved, but analysis time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the imaging resolution across different regions of the tissue sample. Areas of interest receive high-resolution imaging while other regions are scanned at lower resolution, allowing the system to maintain measurement precision where needed while reducing overall analysis time through selective resolution adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing high-resolution scanning only on selected areas of interest rather than uniformly across the entire tissue sample. The system first identifies regions containing analytes of interest, then applies high-resolution imaging only to those specific areas, avoiding the time-consuming full-sample high-resolution scan.
2Reliability
If rectangular imaging boundary is used to cover entire tissue sample, then completeness of imaging is improved, but number of unnecessary target regions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing the conventional rectangular imaging boundary with a contoured boundary that matches the actual shape of the tissue sample. This asymmetric boundary eliminates unnecessary target regions that would fall outside the sample edges, improving scan efficiency while maintaining complete coverage of the tissue area through the customized boundary definition.
3Productivity
If high laser repetition rate is used to reduce acquisition time, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the tissue sample into multiple regions with different imaging priorities. Areas containing analytes of interest are scanned with higher resolution and more laser pulses, while other regions receive reduced scanning intensity. This segmentation allows the system to use higher laser repetition rates selectively in critical areas without compromising overall data quality.
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
Significantly decreases mass spectral tissue imaging analysis time by reducing the number of unnecessary target regions and focusing high-resolution imaging on areas of interest, enhancing efficiency and maintaining data quality.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating a large number of spatially separated target regions that span the imaging area
Implementation Method 2
measuring the abundance of one or more molecules by analysis of the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions produced by irradiating each target region
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for reducing scan times in mass spectral tissue imaging studies. According to a first technique, a tissue imaging boundary is defined that closely approximates the edges of a tissue sample. According to a second technique, a low-resolution scan is performed to identify one or more areas of interest within the tissue sample, and the identified areas of interest are subsequently scanned at higher resolution.