Inverted Microscope Well Guide for Accurate Plate Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fast-paced laboratory settings, navigating a well plate with an inverted microscope can lead to human error and confusion, resulting in inaccurate sample analysis and potential misdiagnosis due to the difficulty in distinguishing between multiple rows and columns of wells.
Innovation Solution
An inverted microscope guide device with a perimeter and well cover that visually isolates and annotates specific wells, limiting the field of view to a single row and column, using segments and openings to clearly identify the well being analyzed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a technician uses an inverted microscope to analyze multiple wells in a well plate, then sample analysis capability is improved, but human error and confusion increase due to difficulty in distinguishing between multiple rows and columns of wells
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is divided into multiple segments, each corresponding to a specific row or column of wells. These segmented guides are placed on the well plate to create distinct visual zones, allowing the technician to focus on one segment at a time while maintaining awareness of the overall plate layout. This segmentation prevents confusion between adjacent rows and columns.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device acts as an intermediary between the technician and the well plate. It provides visual cues and physical boundaries that mediate the interaction, making it easier to identify and track specific wells during analysis without directly modifying the well plate structure or the microscope.
2Productivity
If a technician quickly moves between multiple wells for efficient analysis, then productivity is improved, but the likelihood of mixing up samples increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is prepared and positioned on the well plate before the technician begins analysis. This preliminary action establishes the visual framework and well identification system in advance, allowing the technician to immediately begin efficient analysis without needing to mentally track well positions during the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device utilizes color coding or visual contrast changes to differentiate between rows and columns. Different segments may use distinct colors or shading patterns that correspond to their associated wells, providing rapid visual identification that maintains accuracy even during quick transitions between samples.
Data Source
AI summary
A guide device for visually isolating and/or annotating one or more wells of a well plate is disclosed. The guide device includes a first segment including first dimensions to cover a first portion of a first row of wells of the well plate. The guide device also includes a second segment including second dimensions to cover a first portion of a second row of wells of the well plate. The guide device also includes a well cover. The well cover interfaces with the first and second segments. The well cover includes an opening to visually isolate at least one well in a selected row of wells of the well plate disposed between the first row of wells and the second row of wells. In another embodiment, the guide device includes a well plate cover for annotating wells.