Tissue Transfer Substrate Using Interfacial Water to Prevent Damage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transferring tissue sections from one surface to another often cause damage due to strong contact forces, making it difficult to preserve the structural integrity of the samples during processing for analysis.

Innovation Solution

A carrier substrate, such as a hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric gel, is used to immobilize tissue sections, allowing for their transfer to a receiving substrate while maintaining structural integrity through an interfacial water layer or adherence mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tissue sections are attached to a glass slide surface, then the tissue sections are immobilized for examination, but strong contact forces between the tissue section and attachment surface make subsequent transfer extremely difficult without damaging the tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue section immobilizationVSAvoidsubsequent transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary transfer medium (such as a hydrogel or adhesive-coated surface) that temporarily holds the tissue section during transfer. This intermediary surface allows the tissue to be released from the glass slide without direct contact forces between the tissue and the final destination surface, enabling damage-free transfer while maintaining immobilization during examination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If tissue sections are transferred to another surface for further analysis, then additional processing steps can be performed, but the transfer process often introduces additional damage to the sample

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidsample damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer medium acts as a protective intermediary that supports the tissue section during movement between processing stages. This allows versatile processing (deparaffinization, staining, imaging) to be performed on the final substrate without the tissue experiencing damaging contact forces during transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical transfer methods (forceful mounting, adhesive tapes) with gentler mechanisms such as capillary action in hydrogels or controlled adhesive release, substituting mechanical stress with chemical or physical fields that minimize tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method enhances the efficiency and speed of tissue testing by minimizing sample damage during transfer, reducing costs, and facilitating further analysis such as deparaffinization and imaging.

Implementation Method 1

A carrier substrate, such as a hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric gel, is used to immobilize tissue sections, allowing for their transfer to a receiving substrate while maintaining structural integrity through an interfacial water layer or adherence mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdherence mechanism: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

A carrier substrate, such as a hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric gel, is used to immobilize tissue sections, allowing for their transfer to a receiving substrate while maintaining structural integrity through an interfacial water layer or adherence mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterfacial water layer: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS20260016378A1Devices useful for tissue sample manipulation

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 SINGULAR GENOMICS SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein, inter alia, are devices and methods for efficient transfer and analyses of cellular material, tissue samples, such as tissue sections.