Microscope Sample Chamber Airflow for Sterile Incubation Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopes face challenges in maintaining a stable incubation atmosphere within the sample chamber while providing easy access to the sample, as conventional incubators either obstruct access or require, and existing solutions fail to effectively manage a stable incubation atmosphere, and existing solutions fail to effectively manage a stable incubation atmosphere, and existing methods fail to maintain a sterile work environment.
Innovation Solution
The microscope incorporates a sample chamber with a door and fan assemblies to create a laminar flow of atmosphere, ensuring free access and maintaining a sterile environment by entraining particles and preventing atmosphere loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cage incubator is used to enclose the entire microscope, then the incubation atmosphere is maintained, but access to the working area is impaired and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The incubator is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber housing the microscope and a second chamber housing the sample holder. This segmentation allows the microscope to remain accessible while the sample is incubated in a controlled environment, resolving the contradiction between atmosphere stability and operational access.
Solution Approach 2:
The first chamber is positioned within the second chamber, creating a nested configuration. The microscope chamber is accessible from the outside while being surrounded by the incubation environment, allowing simultaneous access and atmosphere maintenance.
2Volume of stationary object
If a stage top incubator is used to enclose only the sample, then space requirements are minimized, but access to the sample is impaired due to the sealed box design
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the microscope operation space from the sample incubation space, allowing the sample chamber to remain small while providing access through the door mechanism that opens into the larger first chamber, maintaining both compactness and accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the incubator lid is opened for sample access, then sample accessibility is improved, but incubation atmosphere escapes and requires replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The door is pre-configured with selective permeability characteristics that anticipate and prevent atmosphere escape before opening occurs. The door's design inherently maintains atmosphere stability even during access operations, eliminating the need for replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is designed to be impermeable to the incubation atmosphere, creating an inert barrier that prevents gas exchange between chambers. This maintains the incubation atmosphere stability in the second chamber while allowing access through the door without atmosphere loss.
4Reliability
If conventional incubators are used, then incubation is provided, but sterile work environment is not maintained due to particle contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile environment is maintained by segmenting the system into two chambers, with the second chamber serving as a protected incubation space. The door acts as a barrier that prevents particle contamination from the first chamber while allowing controlled access.
Solution Approach 2:
The door creates an inert barrier that prevents particle-laden atmosphere from the first chamber from contaminating the sterile environment in the second chamber, maintaining both incubation function and sterility simultaneously.
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
The solution provides a sterile work environment by creating a laminar flow that entrains particles and maintains incubation atmosphere, reducing the need for frequent replenishment and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
create a laminar flow of atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
entraining particles
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope for microscopic examination of a sample includes an illumination optics for illuminating the sample, an imaging optics for imaging the sample, a sample chamber for receiving the sample. The sample chamber has a door providing access into the sample chamber. The microscope further includes a first fan assembly arranged on a first side of the sample chamber for blowing atmosphere into the sample chamber or for draining atmosphere out of the sample chamber, through at least one first opening arranged on the first side in a first side wall of the sample chamber, and at least one second opening arranged on a second side in a second side wall of the sample chamber for allowing atmosphere from inside the sample chamber to exit the sample chamber or for allowing atmosphere from outside the sample chamber to enter the sample chamber.