Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging for Spatial Biopsy Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for diagnosing disorders through biopsy are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, and often require complex analytical techniques that can alter the spatial relationship between tissue components, making it difficult to accurately locate abnormal tissue.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a substrate and voltage sensitive dye is used to transfer living cells from a tissue to a substrate, maintaining their viability and spatial arrangement, allowing for the assessment of membrane potential patterns to determine physiological characteristics and locate abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional biopsy methods are used to diagnose disorders, then diagnostic accuracy can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary diagnostic information (membrane potential patterns) from tissue samples using a simplified method. By applying voltage-sensitive dyes directly to fresh tissue sections and analyzing membrane potential patterns, the method extracts diagnostic data without requiring time-consuming sectioning, staining, and complex analytical techniques, thus reducing diagnosis time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of the diagnostic process by using membrane potential patterns as a surrogate for traditional histological analysis. The voltage-sensitive dye imaging produces a visual representation of cellular electrical activity that can be analyzed rapidly, serving as an alternative to time-intensive microscopic examination of tissue sections
2Measurement precision
If traditional biopsy analysis methods are used, then tissue can be examined, but the spatial relationship between tissue components is altered making it difficult to locate abnormal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic process into a simple two-step procedure: (1) apply voltage-sensitive dye to fresh tissue, and (2) image membrane potential patterns. This segmentation avoids complex sectioning and staining procedures that disrupt spatial relationships, allowing abnormal tissue to be located in its original spatial context within the tissue sample
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses voltage-sensitive dyes that change color or fluorescence intensity in response to membrane potential changes. This optical signaling method allows direct visualization of abnormal tissue regions through color/brightness variations in the dye, maintaining spatial relationships without requiring complex analytical equipment or procedures
3Loss of information
If complex analytical techniques are used to evaluate tissue sections, then diagnostic information can be obtained, but the process becomes expensive and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs voltage-sensitive dyes that automatically respond to membrane potential changes in living cells without requiring external manipulation or complex processing. The cells themselves generate the diagnostic signal through their natural electrical activity, which is captured by the dye and imaged using standard microscopy, eliminating the need for expensive specialized equipment and reducing labor requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the diagnostic parameter from traditional histological features (requiring complex staining and analysis) to membrane potential patterns (detectable with simple voltage-sensitive dyes). This parameter change allows diagnostic information to be obtained using inexpensive materials and standard imaging equipment, dramatically reducing costs and simplifying the process while maintaining information quality
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
Facilitates a facile and cost-effective analysis of tissue samples by maintaining cell viability and spatial relationships, enabling rapid identification of abnormalities such as cancer through imaging of membrane potential patterns.
Implementation Method 1
exposing cells on a membrane to a voltage sensitive dye, wherein the cells are living cells
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for assessing membrane potential are provided. In some embodiments, the methods and systems, described herein, may allow spatial patterns of membrane potential to be facilely obtained. For instance, a method may comprise transferring a population of cells from a tissue to a substrate. The transfer process may substantially maintain the viability of and/or the spatial relationship between the cells. The cells on the membrane may be exposed to a voltage sensitive dye. The dye may allow the membrane potential of individual cells on the substrate to be imaged or otherwise detected. The individual cell membrane potentials when imaged together on the substrate may form a spatial membrane potential pattern. The spatial membrane potential pattern may be used to assess one or more physiological characteristics of the cells. The methods and systems may be used for a wide variety of applications, including the assessment of biopsies.