Nucleic Acid Microarray Abnormal Spot Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nucleic acid microarray quality inspection methods are inefficient due to variations in spotting amounts and require complex staining and washing processes, leading to potential errors and the rejection of usable microarrays.

Innovation Solution

A method using labeled abnormality detecting nucleic acids to identify abnormal spots on nucleic acid microarrays by comparing hybridization signals across spot pairs, allowing for more accurate and convenient quality inspection without the need for additional reagents or steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If quality inspection is carried out by sampling method, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The microarray performs self-diagnosis by using its own probe sequences as targets for detection. The system automatically identifies abnormal spots through internal reference sequences, eliminating the need for external quality inspection processes and enabling 100% spot verification without reducing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If complex staining and washing processes are used for quality inspection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespot abnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quality inspection process is merged with the normal hybridization workflow. The same hybridization conditions, washing steps, and detection procedures are used for both quality control and target detection, eliminating the need for separate complex staining and washing processes while maintaining detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference probe sequences embedded in the microarray serve multiple functions: they act as both quality control markers and potential target sequences. This universal approach allows the same microarray to perform both quality inspection and analytical detection without requiring additional specialized reagents or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If conventional quality inspection methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection simplicityVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Reference probe sequences are pre-designed and embedded in the microarray during manufacturing. These internal controls are prepared in advance with known sequences and positions, allowing automatic identification of abnormal spots during hybridization without requiring manual intervention or complex post-processing, thus maintaining operational simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach reduces errors and variations in data, enabling more accurate data acquisition and quality inspection of nucleic acid microarrays by identifying and correcting abnormal spots, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of microarray analysis.

Implementation Method 1

hybridizing a labeled abnormality detecting nucleic acid with a probe nucleic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHybridization:

Data Source

PatentEP2261370B1Method for detecting abnormal spots of nucleic acid microarray
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2261370B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2261370B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2E
  • EP2261370B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method carries out a nucleic acid analysis using a nucleic acid microarray. A probe nucleic acid including a probe sequence (a') complementary to a target sequence (a) and a sequence (b') which is different from the probe sequence (a') is immobilized on the nucleic acid microarray. The method includes hybridizing the nucleic acid microarray and a labeled abnormality detecting nucleic acid (B) containing a sequence (b) which can be bound to the sequence (b'), obtaining a labeled amount value (Fc1) of the labeled abnormality detecting nucleic acid (B) from a spot (X1), and determining, based on the measured labeled amount value (Fc1), as to whether or not the spot (X1) is an abnormal spot unsuitable for detecting the target nucleic acid.