Rotatable Microneedle Microinjection for Precise High-Throughput Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microinjection systems face challenges in achieving high throughput, accuracy, and reproducibility due to manual bias, complex sample manipulation, and issues with needle clogging, particularly in automated systems.
Innovation Solution
A microinjection system with a sample holder, camera assembly, and needle holder that allows for variable distance, rotational movement, and perpendicular motion, combined with advanced imaging and illumination, enabling precise and rapid injection of biological samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual microinjection is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but efficiency is low and manual bias increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated robotic system that uses computer-controlled motors to position the micropipette and perform injections. The robotic manipulator replaces human hands and eyes, eliminating manual bias while maintaining the ability to perform precise microinjections through programmable motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automated image analysis and computer vision that allows the system to self-position and self-adjust without continuous manual intervention. The computer-controlled stages and manipulators automatically track and position samples based on visual feedback, enabling the system to service itself rather than requiring constant manual adjustment.
2Measurement precision
If automated microinjection robots are used, then precision is improved, but complexity increases and automation is limited to partial procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the microinjection system into separate functional modules: a robotic manipulator for positioning, an image analysis system for visualization, a computer control unit for coordination, and a micropipette delivery system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together, reducing overall system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic manipulator is designed to perform multiple functions including positioning, tracking, and coordinating with image analysis systems. The computer-controlled platform integrates various operations (sample positioning, pipette positioning, coordinate transformation) into a single unified system, reducing the need for multiple separate devices and simplifying the overall architecture.
3Loss of time
If sample manipulation is simplified, then time is saved, but adaptability to different sample types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically adjustable parameters including variable speeds, positions, and orientations that can be programmed to accommodate different sample types. The robotic manipulator can adapt its motion profile and positioning strategy based on the specific sample being processed, allowing the same hardware to efficiently handle diverse biological samples without physical reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer-controlled system allows changing operational parameters such as injection speed, position coordinates, and stage movement rates to optimize for different sample types. By adjusting these parameters programmatically, the system maintains high throughput while adapting to various sample characteristics without requiring physical modifications to the hardware.
4Productivity
If injection speed is increased, then throughput is improved, but accuracy and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time image analysis and computer vision that provides continuous feedback on the injection process. The system monitors the position of the micropipette tip relative to the sample and can automatically adjust speed and position to maintain accuracy even at high throughput rates. This closed-loop control ensures precision is not sacrificed for speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system maintains continuous coordinated action between positioning and injection operations without idle time. The computer controls the seamless transition between moving the micropipette, positioning it precisely, and executing the injection in a continuous flow, eliminating the trade-off between speed and accuracy that occurs in manual operations where the operator must mentally coordinate multiple actions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A microinjection system (1) for microinjection of biological samples, comprising a sample holder (2) for supporting a biological sample (S); a first camera assembly (3) spaced apart from the sample holder (2); a needle holder (4) moveably arranged above the sample holder (2). The needle holder (4) is configured to removably receive a hollow microneedle (5), the first camera assembly (3) being configured for imaging the biological sample (S) along an optical axis (O). The needle holder (4) and sample holder (2) are spaced apart at a variable distance along the optical axis (O) for moving a tip part (6) of the microneedle (5) towards or away from the biological sample (S). The sample holder (2) is moveable in a plane (P) perpendicular to the optical axis (O). The needle holder (4) is rotatable around the optical axis (O) for rotating the microneedle (5) around the optical axis (O).