3D Matrix Sample Holder for High-Density Assay Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biochemical assays are limited by the number of samples that can be processed in one run due to optical diffraction limits and available surface area on the sample holder, leading to impractical solutions when scaling up.
Innovation Solution
A sample holder with a matrix layer that distributes samples in both lateral and thickness directions, allowing for a three-dimensional arrangement of samples, and a rotatable body that rotates during the assay to increase sample capacity without increasing holder size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sample holders with flat bottom surfaces are used, then simple manufacturing is achieved, but poor cell culture conditions result due to insufficient nutrient supply and waste removal
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the holder is designed with a porous structure that allows nutrients to penetrate from the culture medium into the cell layer and enables waste products to be removed. This porous configuration maintains reliable cell culture conditions by ensuring adequate nutrient supply and waste removal, while the integration into a single holder component keeps the overall device complexity manageable.
2Quantity of substance
If thick cell layers are cultured to increase sample material, then sufficient sample quantity is achieved, but poor nutrient supply and waste removal occur
Solution Approach 1:
The porous bottom surface enables deep penetration of nutrients into thicker cell layers, ensuring that even at increased cell densities and thicknesses, adequate nutrient supply is maintained throughout the entire cell layer. This allows cultivation of thicker samples with sufficient material quantity while preventing the nutrient deficiency that would normally occur in thick layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The design extracts and removes waste products efficiently from deep within thick cell layers through the porous structure, preventing accumulation of toxic metabolites. This extraction capability enables cultivation of thicker samples without compromising the reliability of the culture environment.
3Use of energy by moving object
If flat bottom surfaces are used, then simple structure is achieved, but insufficient nutrient penetration into cell layers results
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface is configured with a porous structure that dramatically enhances nutrient penetration into the cell layer. The pores allow culture medium to reach deep into the cell layer, ensuring adequate nutrient supply throughout. This structural modification, while increasing complexity of the bottom surface, is integrated into the holder as a single component, keeping overall device complexity acceptable.
4Ease of operation
If conventional holders are used, then simple design is achieved, but cell layers detach during harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The porous bottom surface provides mechanical interlocking with the cell layer, with cells growing into and around the pore structures. This creates strong attachment that prevents detachment during harvesting operations. The cellular network integrates with the porous architecture, ensuring stable cell layer composition throughout the harvesting process while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a
AI summary
A sample holder (100) for an apparatus (300) configured to perform an assay at a plurality of sample sites (130) is disclosed, wherein each sample site comprises a concatemer. The sample holder comprises a rotatable body (110), a matrix layer (120) and a liquid layer arranged on the matrix layer. The plurality of samples sites are distributed in the matrix layer in both a lateral direction and a thickness direction of the matrix layer, and the rotatable body is configured to be arranged in the apparatus to be rotatable around an axis (A) while the assay is performed at the plurality of sample sites. A corresponding method (200) and apparatus (300) are also disclosed.