Urine Cell Preservation Container for Delayed Flow Cytometry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods require fresh urine samples for flow cytometric analysis within six hours, limiting its use in smaller clinics and medical practices due to logistical challenges.
Innovation Solution
A container and method using a buffer substance to maintain pH between 6 and 8 and a formaldehyde releasing compound to preserve urinary cells, allowing storage and transport before analysis, suitable for flow cytometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fresh urine samples are used for flow cytometric analysis, then analysis accuracy is maintained, but logistical complexity increases and smaller clinics are excluded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding a formaldehyde releasing compound to the urine sample immediately after collection, before the sample needs to be transported or stored. This preliminary fixation step preserves the cells in advance, allowing the sample to be stored for later analysis without degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining analysis accuracy and reducing logistical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (formaldehyde releasing compound) that mediates between the urine sample and the analysis process. This intermediary preserves the cellular structures and antigens, enabling the sample to be stored and transported while maintaining its suitability for flow cytometric analysis, thereby reducing the need for immediate analysis and simplifying logistics
2Ease of operation
If urine samples are stored without preservation, then storage simplicity is maintained, but cell stability deteriorates after 4-6 hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful factor (cell degradation) by introducing a formaldehyde releasing compound that specifically targets and stabilizes cellular structures. This extraction of the degradation process allows the sample to be stored simply without cells breaking down, maintaining both storage simplicity and cell stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the urine sample by adding a formaldehyde releasing compound that alters the pH and chemical environment. This parameter change creates conditions that stabilize cells during storage while maintaining their integrity for analysis, resolving the contradiction between storage simplicity and cell stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If formaldehyde is added directly to urine, then cell preservation is achieved, but precipitation occurs and staining quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a formaldehyde releasing compound that provides temporary, controlled release of formaldehyde exactly when needed for preservation. This approach avoids the harmful effects of direct formaldehyde addition (precipitation and staining quality loss) while achieving cell preservation, effectively using a short-lived, controlled-release agent instead of sustained formaldehyde
Solution Approach 2:
The formaldehyde releasing compound acts as an intermediary that controls the release of formaldehyde. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct contact between high concentrations of formaldehyde and urine components, thereby avoiding precipitation and maintaining staining quality while still achieving cell preservation
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
Preserves urinary cells for up to 6 days, enabling reliable analysis and monitoring of renal diseases through flow cytometry, suitable for smaller clinics and medical practices.
Implementation Method 1
adding a formaldehyde releasing compound to the urine sample. Cells that are present in the urine may be detected or analyzed in a subsequent analysis step
Implementation Method 2
using a buffer substance to adjust and maintain the pH between pH 6 and pH 8
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preserving urinary cells or cells from another body fluid, the method comprising the step of contacting a urine sample obtained from a patient with a buffer substance suitable to create and/or maintain a pH value in the range of 6 to 8, particularly approx. 7, within said urine sample, and a formaldehyde releasing compound.