Phototagging Microfluidic Sample Holder for Cell Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic sample holders face challenges in controlling and tracking the manipulation of objects within their limited active volume, leading to undesired interactions and increased complexity, especially in biological studies where distinguishing manipulated from unmanipulated cells is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a microfluidic sample holder that uses phototagging to encode spatial information about objects based on controlled local variations in conditions, allowing for precise identification and separation of objects subjected to specific manipulations by altering their optical properties with luminescent substances, enabling accurate tracking and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phototagging is used to identify manipulated objects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phototagging with luminescent substances that change optical properties (fluorescence emission) when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. This allows manipulated objects to be optically distinguished from unmanipulated objects through wavelength-specific detection, achieving precise identification without complex mechanical or electronic tagging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces luminescent substances as intermediaries between the manipulation process and detection system. These substances act as optical mediators that convert mechanical or chemical manipulation events into detectable optical signals, simplifying the overall detection architecture while improving measurement precision
2Manufacturing precision
If additional functionalization steps are added to achieve selective targeting, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wavelength-specific phototagging to achieve selective identification without requiring selective functionalization of different object types. By changing the optical parameter (wavelength) of illumination, the system can selectively tag and identify manipulated objects based on their position or treatment history rather than their intrinsic properties, eliminating additional functionalization steps
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of object manipulation and analysis by allowing for the precise identification and separation of objects based on their exposure to specific conditions, improving the study of cellular interactions and reducing the need for additional functionalization steps.
Implementation Method 1
phototagging on the basis of the determined spatial dependency at least part of the objects in the holding space in one or more tagging positions thus providing tagged objects
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manipulating objects is provided which comprises providing a sample holder comprising a holding space for holding an at least partly fluid sample; providing a sample comprising one or more of the objects in a fluid medium in the holding space; controllably causing a local variation of one or more condition for the objects in at least part of the holding space; and removing at least a fraction of the objects from the holding space. The method also comprises the further steps of determining a spatial dependency of the local variation, and phototagging on the basis of the determined spatial dependency at least part of the objects in the holding space in one or more tagging positions thus providing tagged objects, wherein the step of removing at least a fraction of the objects from the holding space comprises removing at least part of the tagged objects.