Patch Clamp Electrode Ultrasonic Cleaning Without Toxic Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patch clamp measurement techniques require toxic cleaning agents to clean electrodes, which can harm or kill cells and compromise measurement reliability.
Innovation Solution
The use of ultrasonic vibrations, preferably generated by piezo actuators, to clean patch clamp electrodes without the need for toxic cleaning solutions, using water or physiological solutions like ACSF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If toxic cleaning agents are used to clean patch clamp electrodes, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cell harm increases and measurement reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning mechanisms with mechanical/physical cleaning mechanisms. Specifically, it uses a jet stream of cleaning fluid combined with ultrasonic vibrations to mechanically remove contaminants from the electrode aperture, eliminating the need for toxic chemical cleaning agents that harm cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibrations to the electrode during the cleaning process. The ultrasonic transducer generates high-frequency mechanical vibrations that enhance the cleaning effectiveness by disrupting and removing contaminants from the aperture, allowing for effective cleaning without toxic chemicals.
2Reliability
If patch clamp electrodes are exchanged instead of cleaned, then measurement reliability is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding used electrodes, the patent implements a recovery process by cleaning and reusing them. The cleaning system with jet stream and ultrasonic vibrations restores the electrode aperture, enabling multiple uses of the same electrode while maintaining measurement reliability and increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is integrated into the measurement system, allowing electrodes to be cleaned automatically between measurements without requiring manual intervention or electrode replacement. This self-service cleaning capability maintains reliability while enabling continuous high-throughput measurements.
3Ease of manufacture
If chemical cleaning solutions are used, then cleaning capability is improved, but ecological impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical cleaning methods (jet stream + ultrasonic vibrations) for chemical cleaning solutions, thereby eliminating the ecological harm associated with chemical disposal while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive and environmentally harmful chemical cleaning solutions, the patent employs water or physiological solutions that are environmentally benign. The cleaning effectiveness is achieved through the mechanical action of the jet stream and ultrasonic vibrations rather than through chemical action.
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
Effectively cleans patch clamp electrodes, allowing for repeated use without cell harm, improving measurement reliability and throughput, and reducing ecological impact.
Implementation Method 1
the used one or more patch clamp electrodes are cleaned by transmission of ultrasonic vibrations to the used one or more patch clamp electrodes
Implementation Method 2
ultrasonic vibrations, preferably generated by piezo actuators
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
Devices and methods for detecting one or more characteristics of cells with patch clamp electrodes (1), wherein the used patch clamp electrodes (1) are cleaned by application of ultrasonic vibrations, and uses of the devices and methods.