Multimodality CMOS Sensor Array for Cellular Physiological Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensing technologies face challenges in accurately characterizing the complex physiological behaviors of cells due to their high complexity and multiple concurrent physical responses to external biochemical stimuli or physiological condition shifts.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modality sensor array with multiple sensing modalities integrated into a single sensing pixel, allowing for simultaneous measurement of electrical voltage recording, electrical impedance mapping, optical detection, thermal monitoring, and pH testing, enabling comprehensive characterization of cellular physiological behavior changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensing technology is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and characterization accuracy deteriorate due to inability to capture multiple concurrent physical responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical) into a single integrated sensor array platform. Each sensing pixel contains multiple sensing elements that can simultaneously measure different physical responses of cells, such as optical absorption, electrical impedance, and thermal properties, thereby achieving comprehensive physiological characterization without requiring separate devices for each modality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array is designed with universal sensing pixels that can perform multiple sensing functions simultaneously. Each pixel is equipped with diverse sensing elements that can detect various physiological parameters (e.g., cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, metabolic activity) through different physical principles, allowing a single device to serve multiple characterization purposes.
2Productivity
If multiple sensing modalities are integrated into a single sensing pixel, then productivity and characterization efficiency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor array is segmented into multiple independent sensing pixels, each containing a complete set of multi-modality sensing elements. This segmentation allows parallel measurement across numerous pixels simultaneously, significantly increasing productivity. The modular pixel design enables comprehensive physiological characterization to be performed across the entire array in parallel rather than sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensing elements are nested within each sensing pixel structure. The optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical sensing components are integrated in a nested configuration where smaller sensing elements are incorporated within the larger pixel architecture, allowing multiple measurements to occur within a compact footprint without requiring separate device assemblies.
3Loss of time
If multiple sensing modalities are performed simultaneously, then loss of time is reduced, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor array enables continuous simultaneous measurement across multiple sensing modalities without requiring sequential operation. All sensing elements within each pixel operate concurrently to capture optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical responses of cells at the same time, eliminating the time loss associated with sequential measurements and providing real-time physiological monitoring.
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
Enables real-time, comprehensive characterization of cellular physiological behavior changes by performing multiple sensing modalities simultaneously, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cell characterization and drug screening processes.
Implementation Method 1
Each sensing pixel may include a photodiode for optical detection
Implementation Method 2
The at least two sensing modalities may be selected from electrical voltage recording, electrical impedance mapping
Implementation Method 3
thermal monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-modality sensor for physiological characterization of cells can include an array of sensing pixel groups, each sensing pixel group comprising an array of sensing pixels; a plurality of signal conditioning blocks, each signal conditioning block coupled to a corresponding one sensing pixel group of the array of sensing pixel groups to process outputs of that sensing pixel group; and a controller providing signals for independent configuration of sensing modalities for each pixel of each sensing pixel group. The pixels of the multi-modality sensor support at least two sensing modalities by including an op amp that can be shared by at least two sensing circuits and including a photodiode. A cellular culture can be applied to the multi-modality sensor and a biological measurement can be performed on the cellular culture using at least two sensing modalities of the multi-modality sensor.