Rotating Cutting Tip for Precise Biological Sample Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dissecting specific areas from slide-mounted tissue sections, such as Manual Macrodissection and Laser Capture Microdissection, face limitations in precision, cost, and efficiency, with Manual Macrodissection being error-prone and labor-intensive, and LCM being expensive and time-consuming with limited sample quantity.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for selectively extracting biological material using a rotating cutting tip with integrated liquid dispensing and aspiration ports, allowing precise disruption and removal of material with simultaneous liquid dispensing and aspiration, facilitated by a system that includes a motor-driven cutting tip, fluidics, and positional movement, enabling precise control and automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If Manual Macrodissection is used, then cost is low and large quantities of sample are obtained, but precision is limited to about 1mm and the process is error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the dissection function into a motor-driven rotating cutting tip that can precisely target and cut specific tissue regions, separating the cutting function from manual manipulation and achieving sub-millimeter precision through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical dissection with an automated motor-driven rotating cutting tip system, substituting human hand manipulation with automated rotational cutting mechanics to achieve higher precision and reduce operator error
2Manufacturing precision
If Laser Capture Microdissection is used, then spatial precision is high allowing capture resolution as small as 5μm, but equipment is very expensive and the process is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes laser-based microdissection with a mechanically-driven rotating cutting tip system that achieves comparable spatial precision through automated control, eliminating the need for expensive laser equipment while maintaining high-resolution cutting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating cutting tip enables continuous cutting action without the intermittent operation required by laser systems, allowing the blade to continuously rotate and cut through tissue sections, thereby increasing processing speed and throughput
3Manufacturing precision
If Laser Capture Microdissection is used, then spatial precision is high, but minute quantities of recovered sample are obtained making downstream biochemical analysis challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic rotating cutting tip that can adjust its rotation speed and cutting depth to optimize tissue section thickness and recovery quantity, allowing flexible control over the amount of biological material extracted while maintaining spatial precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as cutting tip rotation speed, cutting depth, and liquid flow rate to optimize both the precision of tissue sectioning and the quantity of recovered sample, enabling adjustable control over sample characteristics for downstream analysis
4Manufacturing precision
If a rotating cutting tip with integrated liquid dispensing and aspiration ports is used, then precise disruption and removal of material is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the liquid dispensing and aspiration ports directly into the rotating cutting tip structure, combining multiple functions (cutting, liquid delivery, and waste removal) into a single integrated component, thereby achieving precise material disruption without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating cutting tip serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cuts tissue sections, dispenses liquid for sample recovery, and aspirates disrupted material, making it a multi-functional component that reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes device complexity
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
The solution provides a cost-effective, precise, and efficient method for dissecting biological samples with improved spatial resolution and sample recovery, overcoming the limitations of existing techniques by enabling accurate and automated extraction of specific areas from tissue sections.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cutting tip rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to be rotatably driven by a motor, the cutting tip being operable to disrupt material from a region of the biological sample
Implementation Method 2
the liquid aspiration port being operable to aspirate liquid and disrupted biological material from a region proximal to the cutting tip
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
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Figure 5
AI summary
Devices, systems, and associated methods for selectively extracting a material from a sample are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for selectively extracting biological material from a biological sample can include identifying a region of biological material to be extracted from a biological sample disposed on a substantially planar surface, applying an extraction tool to the region of biological material to disrupt biological material from the biological sample, and dispensing a liquid at the region of biological material. The method can also include aspirating the liquid and the disrupted biological material from the biological sample.