Recessed Tray for Labware Positioning and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems struggle to efficiently, reproducibly, and multiplexedly image labware receptacles such as biodomes and culture flasks, due to challenges in positioning and aligning these receptacles on microscope stages.
Innovation Solution
A tray device with recessed regions designed to accommodate various labware shapes, allowing for secure positioning and alignment, combined with a method for fluorescent imaging to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using dynamic headspace sampling and computational modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple receptacles are placed on the microscope stage simultaneously, then imaging throughput is improved, but positioning and alignment becomes more difficult and less reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging tray is divided into multiple discrete recessed regions, each designed to hold a specific type of receptacle. This segmentation allows multiple receptacles to be positioned simultaneously in predetermined locations while maintaining individual precision for each receptacle type.
Solution Approach 2:
Each recessed region in the tray has customized dimensions and shapes tailored to specific receptacle types (e.g., biodomes, culture flasks). This local customization ensures optimal fit and positioning precision for each receptacle while enabling multiplexed imaging of multiple receptacle types in a single tray.
2Ease of operation
If receptacles are placed directly on the microscope stage, then the setup is simple, but reproducible positioning and imaging of the same location is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is pre-configured with recessed regions at specific positions and orientations before imaging begins. This preliminary arrangement of receptacles in standardized locations enables reproducible positioning and consistent imaging of the same regions across multiple experiments, while the tray itself remains a simple single-piece component.
3Device complexity
If a single tray design is used for all receptacle types, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different receptacle shapes and sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging tray incorporates multiple recessed regions with different shapes and sizes within a single device, allowing it to accommodate various receptacle types (biodomes, culture flasks, etc.). This multi-functional design enables one tray to serve multiple purposes and support different imaging configurations without requiring separate trays for each receptacle type.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tray have locally optimized geometries matched to specific receptacle types. For example, circular recesses for biodomes, rectangular recesses for culture flasks, allowing the single tray structure to adapt to diverse receptacle shapes and sizes while maintaining overall design simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a tray device including a frame having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness, wherein the top surface of the frame has a first recessed region having a sidewall around at least a portion of a perimeter, and a ledge extending laterally from the bottom of the sidewall of the first recessed region, wherein the sidewall defines at least a portion of a first shape, a second recessed region having a sidewall around at least a portion of a perimeter, and a ledge extending laterally from the bottom of the sidewall of the second recessed region, wherein the sidewall defines at least a portion of a second shape, and wherein the depth of the first recessed region is deeper into the thickness of the tray than the depth of the second recessed region.