Automated Microtomy System with Axial Control Loop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional microtomy for producing micron-thin tissue sections is a time-consuming and inconsistent manual process, which is critical in intra-operative applications where every minute saved can significantly impact patient care.
Innovation Solution
An automated microtomy system with a tissue chuck and microtome blade configuration that allows axial displacement and control, utilizing sensors and actuators to maintain precise relative axial location, ensuring consistent tissue section thickness through a control loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated microtomy system with control loop is implemented, then tissue sectioning time is reduced and consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control loop that receives information from position sensors about the relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck, and uses this feedback to control the actuator that displaces the tissue chuck. This closed-loop feedback system ensures consistent tissue section thickness while enabling automated high-speed operation, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity increase.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual microtomy is used, then device complexity is low, but tissue sectioning time is excessive and consistency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system that uses position sensors to detect blade-chuck relative location and a control loop to actuate the tissue chuck via an actuator. This substitution of manual mechanical control with sensor-based automated control achieves consistent tissue section thickness while dramatically reducing sectioning time.
3Manufacturing precision
If high clamping forces are applied to the microtome blade, then cutting precision is improved, but blade vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the clamping structure by introducing an anisotropic material with different stiffness properties in different directions. This material provides high clamping forces for cutting precision while simultaneously dissipating vibrational energy, thus reducing blade vibrations. The parameter change in material stiffness characteristics resolves the contradiction between cutting precision and vibration control.
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 system significantly reduces the time required for tissue sectioning while ensuring consistent tissue section thickness, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in pathology examination.
Implementation Method 1
a control system configured to receive information indicative of a relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck, and to use a control loop to control the relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck such that the one or more tissue sections have a desired thickness
Implementation Method 2
a series of elastic actuators for clamping the microtome blade that has an anisotropic structure so that it can provide high clamping forces on the microtome blade and conform to an opposing clamping plate—blade system in another direction while dissipating energy to passively control vibrations of the microtome blade
Data Source
AI summary
A microtomy system includes a tissue chuck configured to accept a tissue block and a microtome blade configured to remove one or more tissue sections from the tissue block, the microtome blade being axially offset from the tissue chuck along a horizontal axis, where the microtome blade and the tissue chuck are axially displaceable relative to one another along the horizontal axis. The system also includes a control system configured to receive information indicative of a relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck along the horizontal axis, and to use a control loop to control the relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck such that the one or more tissue sections have a desired thickness.