Tissue Specimen Holder with Segmented Support for Imaging Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tissue specimen movement during imaging leads to inconsistencies and potential contamination of optical components, necessitating a system to keep the specimen still and isolated for accurate analysis.
Innovation Solution
A specimen holder apparatus with a cover panel and support structure that secures the tissue specimen in a fixed position, allowing alignment of the region of interest with a viewing aperture, and includes features like magnetic fields, non-Newtonian materials, and deformable panels to maintain specimen stability and isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tissue specimen is freely positioned for alignment, then ease of operation is improved, but specimen stability deteriorates causing movement during imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independently adjustable support elements that can be individually positioned and secured to the specimen. This segmentation allows for easy alignment during setup, then individual elements can be secured to stabilize the specimen during imaging, resolving the contradiction between ease of alignment and stability during imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements are designed to be dynamically adjustable during the imaging process. Initially, the elements can be moved to align the specimen with the viewing aperture, then they can be fixed in position to maintain stability during imaging. This dynamic capability allows the system to transition from ease of operation to specimen stability as needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the specimen is secured to prevent movement, then specimen stability is improved, but risk of contamination to optical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements act as intermediaries between the specimen and the imaging system. Instead of directly contacting the specimen with the imaging apparatus, the support elements provide a stable interface that holds the specimen in position while maintaining isolation from optical components. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact and potential contamination while ensuring specimen stability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured for analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but registration errors increase due to specimen movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements are pre-configured and secured to the specimen before imaging begins. This preliminary stabilization ensures that the specimen remains in a fixed position throughout the entire imaging sequence, preventing movement-induced registration errors between multiple images and maintaining high registration accuracy across all captured images.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for holding a tissue specimen during imaging is provided. The tissue specimen has a 3D geometry and a region of interest. The apparatus includes a cover panel and a specimen support structure. The cover panel has upper and bottom panel surfaces and a viewing aperture that extends between the upper and bottom panel surfaces. The specimen support structure is configured to support the tissue specimen in an imaging orientation. The specimen support structure is configured to permit alignment of the tissue specimen ROI with the viewing aperture. The apparatus is configurable in a secured configuration in which the specimen support structure is positionally fixed relative to the cover panel, the tissue specimen ROI is exposed through the viewing aperture for imaging, and the tissue specimen ROI is held motionless relative to the cover panel.