Tissue Clearing Apparatus Using Plate Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The CLARITY method for tissue clearing using electrophoresis faces issues with high electric voltage, heat generation, and rapid buffer solution circulation, leading to side reactions and prolonged lipid component separation times.

Innovation Solution

A tissue clearing apparatus employing plate electrodes with a control system for polarity switching and a cooling mechanism to reduce heat and buffer solution circulation rate, allowing for more efficient and rapid lipid clearing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If wire electrodes are used for electrophoresis, then the tissue clearing method is simpler to implement, but the resistance is high and heat generation is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrode geometry from wire shape to plate shape, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the electrode system. This shape change increases the electrode surface area, which directly reduces electrical resistance and heat generation during electrophoresis, while maintaining ease of implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If wire electrodes are used, then the device structure is simpler, but the voltage must be high to maintain sufficient current

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidelectric voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrode geometry from wire shape to plate shape, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the electrode system. This shape change increases the electrode surface area, which directly reduces electrical resistance and heat generation during electrophoresis, while maintaining ease of implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If buffer solution circulates rapidly to cool the chamber, then temperature control is improved, but side reactions increase and clearing time extends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidclearing time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrode geometry from wire shape to plate shape, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the electrode system. This shape change increases the electrode surface area, which directly reduces electrical resistance and heat generation during electrophoresis, while maintaining ease of implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If wire electrodes are used, then the apparatus is simpler, but the clearing process takes 5-9 days

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus simplicityVSAvoidclearing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrode geometry from wire shape to plate shape, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the electrode system. This shape change increases the electrode surface area, which directly reduces electrical resistance and heat generation during electrophoresis, while maintaining ease of implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 apparatus effectively minimizes side reactions and reduces clearing time by applying higher electric current with lower voltage and controlled temperature, achieving faster lipid component separation compared to conventional wire electrode methods.

Implementation Method 1

10 ∼ 60 V electricity is applied thereto to separate the lipid components from the tissue by electrophoresis. While the negative charges (anions) (-) generated from the cathode move to the anode during the electrophoresis, ionized micelles surrounding the lipid components separate the lipid from the brain and keep on moving to the anode.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrophoresis: Electrophoresis

Implementation Method 2

the circulation of buffer solution is used to reduce temperature in the chamber when the temperature therein is elevated by the electricity application

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3168290B1Apparatus for clearing tissue using electrophoresis
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 ALIGNED GENETICS INC
  • EP3168290B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3168290B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3168290B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus for clearing tissue using electrophoresis according to the present invention relates to an apparatus used for separating constituents of biological tissue and clearing the tissue, the apparatus comprising: a chamber which can contain therein a buffer solution and the biological tissue and has an inlet port and an outlet port for circulating the buffer solution; a support member, located within the chamber, for supporting the biological tissue; and electrodes located within the chamber and formed separately of a first electrode and a second electrode which correspond to each other. According to the present invention, since lower voltage is applied at the same current by using a plate electrode instead of an existing wire electrode, such that the amount of side reaction is small and a rapid rise in the temperature of the buffer solution is prevented, and thereby the circulation speed of the buffer solution through the inlet port and the outlet port is slowed down, it is possible to minimize the degradation of decomposition efficiency and quickly clear the tissue compared to a conventional apparatus.