Observation System for Multi-Color Cell Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current observation systems for cultured cells in incubators lack efficient methods to image and analyze cells and culture medium pH without disrupting the incubation environment, and existing pH measuring devices are limited in their ability to provide comprehensive data on cell morphology and culture medium conditions.
Innovation Solution
An observation system comprising a housing with a transparent member for external illumination and an imaging unit that captures images of cultured cells and culture medium, allowing for imaging of cells and pH analysis through color-based transmittance measurements, enabling the acquisition of images in multiple colors and three-dimensional representation of samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a culture vessel is taken out of the incubator for observation, then cell morphology can be observed with a microscope, but the incubation environment is disrupted and observation time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of removing the culture vessel with an optical observation system. A transparent bottom plate enables light transmission, allowing the imaging unit to capture cell morphology images through the plate bottom without physical removal of the vessel from the incubator environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent bottom plate serves as an intermediary medium that allows optical signals to pass through while maintaining the physical barrier needed for incubation. This intermediary enables simultaneous observation and incubation by decoupling the observation path from the physical handling of the culture vessel.
2Measurement precision
If external illumination is used for imaging through the transparent plate, then cell images can be captured, but the illumination system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is extracted from the main observation apparatus and implemented as a separate external illumination unit. This allows the illumination system to be optimized independently and positioned outside the incubator chamber, reducing the complexity within the confined incubator space while maintaining imaging capability.
3Measurement precision
If pH measurement is performed during cell culturing, then culture medium pH can be monitored, but the measurement system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The observation system is designed to perform multiple functions: cell morphology imaging and pH measurement. The same transparent bottom plate and external illumination unit used for imaging also enable pH measurement by capturing color information from pH-sensitive dyes in the culture medium, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes color changes of pH-sensitive indicators in the culture medium to determine pH levels. The imaging unit captures color information, and the control unit analyzes these color variations to calculate pH values, transforming a chemical measurement problem into an optical analysis problem that leverages the existing imaging infrastructure.
4Illumination intensity
If the arrangement surface is made transparent for imaging, then optical transmission is enabled, but the structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent bottom plate is constructed from composite materials or treated with surface coatings that maintain mechanical strength while ensuring optical transparency. This allows the plate to fulfill both structural support functions and optical transmission requirements for imaging through the plate bottom.
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 precise imaging and analysis of cultured cells and culture medium pH, allowing for accurate determination of cell morphology and pH levels without disturbing the incubation environment, providing comprehensive data for improved monitoring and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the arrangement surface is formed of a transparent member having an optically transparent property
Implementation Method 2
an imaging unit which is provided in the housing and includes an image sensor configured to image, via the transparent member, the sample illuminated by the illumination light
Data Source
AI summary
An observation system includes an observation apparatus including a housing having an arrangement surface for placement of a sample, the sample including a culture medium, and an external illumination unit which is disposed outside the housing and includes at least one light source configured to emit illumination light. At least a part of the arrangement surface is formed of a transparent member having an optically transparent property. The observation apparatus includes an imaging unit which is provided in the housing and includes an image sensor configured to image, via the transparent member, the sample illuminated by the illumination light from the external illumination unit to acquire images of at least three colors.