Vacuum-Pump Sucker for Sub-Micron Microscopy Tissue Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stabilizer devices for confocal microscopy, such as biogel-based adhesives and syringe pumps, face issues like bio-toxicity, tissue damage, and difficulty in controlling image depth, making them unsuitable for internal tissue investigation and sub-micron resolution imaging.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum-pump sucker system that uses air to stabilize tissues, allowing independent movement of the focusing lens and precise control of image depth through a transparent imaging window connected to a vacuum pump, eliminating bio-toxicity risks and fluid flow issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biogel-based adhesive is used to fix microscopy onto human tissues, then the microscopy can be stabilized for observation, but it causes bio-toxicity and physical damage to tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful biogel-based adhesive from the system and replaces it with a mechanical vacuum fixation method. The sucker body applies vacuum pressure directly to stabilize the tissue without any adhesive material, thereby eliminating bio-toxicity while maintaining fixation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vacuum pressure (pneumatic principle) through the vacuum pump connected to the sucker body to fix and stabilize the tissue. The vacuum creates negative pressure that holds the tissue firmly against the imaging window, providing stable fixation without harmful chemicals.
2Reliability
If syringe pump is used to pump water for tissue fixation, then tissue can be stabilized, but water flows away when observation direction changes and depth control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic water-pumping method with a pneumatic vacuum method. The vacuum pressure acts directly on the tissue surface through the sucker body, providing stable fixation that does not depend on fluid presence. This eliminates the problem of water flowing away when the observation direction changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables independent movement of the focusing lens relative to the fixed tissue. The vacuum fixation stabilizes the tissue while the lens can be freely adjusted in depth and position, allowing easy control of image depth and flexible observation from different angles without disrupting tissue stabilization.
3Reliability
If conventional sucker system is used, then tissue can be fixed, but image depth control and 3D imaging capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sucker body with a removable focusing lens that can be independently positioned at different depths. This dynamic adjustment capability allows precise control of image depth and enables 3D imaging by capturing multiple focal planes, while the vacuum fixation remains stable throughout the imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the fixation function (vacuum pump and sucker body) from the imaging function (removable focusing lens). This segmentation allows the lens to be independently adjusted for depth control and 3D imaging without affecting the stability of tissue fixation, achieving both reliable fixation and precise depth measurement.
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
Enables safe, precise, and stable sub-micron resolution imaging of internal tissues with accurate 3D image control, preventing tissue damage and fluid flow problems, facilitating comprehensive tissue scanning.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum-pump sucker for sample stabilization in a clinical optical virtual biopsy system
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a vacuum-pump sucker for high-resolution microscopy comprising a sucker body and a transparent plate. The vacuum-pump sucker is designed as a stabilizer for sample stabilization in a clinical optical virtual biopsy system with sub-micron resolution. The sucker is connected with a vacuum pump. As the vacuum pump pumps out air or gas, tissues around the imaged area will be sucked by the sucker and the distance between objective lens and the imaged tissue can be stabilized. In this way, the stability and resolution of the clinical biopsy system can be greatly improved.