Sterile Cell Observation via Bottom Window Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell observation apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a sterile environment while imaging cells in multi-stage culture vessels, as they become complex and large, and lack protection from decontamination media, making it difficult to keep the optical system sterile and practical for use in a sterile chamber.
Innovation Solution
A cell observation apparatus with a sterile chamber containing a transparent observation window at its bottom, where the camera and lighting are positioned below, emitting spot light to the culture vessel's bottom surface, and an angle adjustment mechanism ensures the imaging and irradiation directions are distinct from the orthogonal axis, allowing clear imaging of cells outside the sterile chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera and lighting are provided inside the sterile chamber to observe cells in multi-stage culture vessels, then the observation capability is improved, but the apparatus becomes more complicated and larger, and it becomes more infeasible to contain the culture vessel in the sterile chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The camera and lighting are extracted from the sterile chamber and positioned outside, connected through a transparent observation window. This separates the optical system from the sterile environment, reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining observation capability through the window interface.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent observation window is introduced as an intermediary element between the sterile chamber interior and the external optical system. This mediator allows light transmission and imaging while maintaining the sterile barrier, enabling observation without direct internal placement of optical components.
2Reliability
If the optical system is placed inside the sterile chamber to maintain sterility, then the sterile environment is protected, but the optical system needs protection from heat and decontamination media, increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system (camera and lighting) is extracted from the sterile chamber environment entirely, eliminating the need for protective measures against heat and decontamination media. The transparent observation window serves as the interface, keeping optical components in a non-sterile zone while maintaining sterile conditions inside the chamber.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera and lighting are moved along the height direction to observe cells in each stage of multi-stage vessels, then the observation coverage is improved, but the apparatus becomes more complicated and larger
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the camera and lighting to observe different stages, a transparent observation window is provided at the bottom portion allowing imaging from below. This creates a stationary observation path that captures cells in multi-stage vessels without requiring complex movement mechanisms, as the bottom-up imaging angle provides access to multiple stages.
4Area of stationary object
If inspection light is emitted in a diffuse manner to illuminate the entire culture vessel, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the imaging clarity is reduced due to light scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting emits inspection light as spot light to the bottom surface of the culture vessel, concentrating illumination on a specific local area rather than diffusing it broadly. This local quality approach ensures high imaging clarity by preventing light scattering, while the spot light can be positioned to cover different areas of the culture vessel bottom.
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 configuration enables clear imaging of cells while maintaining the sterile environment, preventing contamination and simplifying the apparatus design, allowing for precise observation of cells in multi-stage vessels without compromising sterility.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent observation window provided in a bottom portion of the sterile chamber and having the culture vessel placed thereabove, wherein the camera and the lighting are provided below the observation window, and the cells in the culture vessel are imaged through the observation window
Implementation Method 2
the lighting emits the inspection light as spot light to the bottom surface of the culture vessel by emitting light in a shape of a spot where the light is not diffused
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
There is provided a cell observation apparatus comprising a sterile chamber 3 containing a culture vessel 1 and a transparent observation window 11 provided in a bottom portion of the sterile chamber 3 and having the culture vessel 1 placed thereabove, wherein the camera 4 and the lighting 5 are provided below the observation window 11. The cells in the culture vessel 1 are imaged through the observation window 11 by setting the focus of the camera 4 to a bottom surface 1d of the culture vessel 1. The lighting 5 emits inspection light L as spot light where the light is not diffused, and an imaging range of the camera 4 is positioned inside an irradiation range of the inspection light L on the bottom surface 1d of the culture vessel 1. An imaging direction of the camera 4 and an irradiation direction of the lighting 5 are set so as not to be at the same angle relative to an axis orthogonal to the bottom surface 1d of the culture vessel 1. The camera and the lighting can be provided outside the sterile chamber and can clearly image the cells in the culture vessel.