CN118440813B - Vapor condensation prevention device and living cell imager - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device for preventing condensation of water vapor and a living cell imager, and relates to the technical field of living cell imaging and dynamic analysis of living cells. It comprises an L-shaped bracket with a hollow interior; one end of the L-shaped bracket is fixed on the living cell imager, and one end of the L-shaped bracket connected to the living cell imager is provided with an air inlet hole connected to the interior of the chassis shell of the living cell imager, and the top of the L-shaped bracket is provided with an air outlet hole on the side close to the living cell imager, and the air outlet hole is located directly above the automatic imaging system of the living cell imager; a fan is provided inside the L-shaped bracket. The present invention effectively prevents the generation of fog and water vapor in the culture vessel during the living cell imaging and detection experiments performed by the living cell imager. At the same time, the device can effectively remove the water vapor condensation caused by the sudden opening of the incubator door or the incubator itself when the room temperature is very low, and can ensure that the image effect of the living cell imager is not affected.

Description

A device for preventing water vapor condensation and a living cell imaging device

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of living cell imaging and living cell dynamic analysis, in particular to a device for preventing condensation of water vapor and a living cell imager.

Background Art

With the deepening of biological and medical research, scientists have an increasing demand for real-time monitoring and analysis of biological processes inside living cells, which has promoted the development of live cell detection technology. Live cell imagers can be placed in incubators to perform long-term imaging and detection analysis of living cells. Generally, the duration of live cell observation and detection analysis experiments is from 1 day to several days. Water is indispensable in the culture of living cells, which directly or indirectly affects the survival, growth and function of cells.

The existing live cell imaging structure has the following problems: During the cell culture process, the water content in the culture medium must be ensured to maintain the normal physiological state of the cells. Since the temperature environment in the incubator is generally 37°C, the water in the cell culture medium will evaporate quickly. Generally, since the culture vessel has a lid and the incubator temperature is maintained constant, part of the water will circulate back to the culture medium inside the culture vessel, and part of it will leak out into the internal space of the incubator. The culture vessel placed on the stage of the living cell imager will generate heat due to the energy conversion of the electronic components inside the living cell imager and the electric focus of the lens, and the friction of the stage's xy axis movement. The heat is transmitted to the bottom of the culture vessel through the stage of the living cell imager, causing the bottom of the living cell culture vessel to be slightly higher than the incubator environment. After the water evaporates, when it reaches the upper cover, the temperature of the upper cover of the culture vessel is slightly lower than that of the bottom, and the generated water vapor will condense on the upper cover or upper layer of the culture vessel. Due to the influence of the surface tension of the liquid, mist or droplet-shaped water vapor condensation will be formed, which cannot flow back to the culture medium. The principle of living cell imaging is that the light source is above the culture vessel. Since the imaging light source will pass through the upper cover to irradiate the living cells in the culture medium, the optical signal can be captured by the imaging system. Once there is water vapor condensation, the living cell imaging will be disturbed, resulting in inconsistent brightness of the imaging picture (as shown in Figure 4), and in severe cases, it will directly lead to the inability to image, seriously affecting the real-time monitoring and analysis of living cells. In addition, some cell culture incubators do not use forced air convection and air circulation, and the internal temperature uniformity is poor, which can also cause the water vapor on the cover of the culture dish to condense into fog or water droplets. At the same time, because the cell culture incubator can culture multiple groups of cells, when the live cell observation experiment is in progress, other experimenters open the incubator door, causing cold air from outside the incubator to enter, which will instantly cause the cover of the culture vessel affected by the cold air to fog up. It is precisely because of the existence of the above problems that the application of live cell imagers is limited. Even with the increasing demand of scientists for real-time monitoring and analysis of biological processes inside living cells, the promotion and use of live cell imagers is relatively slow.

Summary of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a water vapor condensation prevention device and a living cell imaging device to solve the above problems.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a device for preventing water vapor condensation, comprising an L-shaped bracket with a hollow interior; one end of the L-shaped bracket is fixed on a living cell imager, and the end of the L-shaped bracket connected to the living cell imager is provided with an air flow inlet hole connected to the interior of a chassis shell of the living cell imager, and the top of the L-shaped bracket close to the living cell imager is provided with an air flow outlet hole, and the air flow outlet hole is located directly above the automatic imaging system of the living cell imager; a fan is provided inside the L-shaped bracket; and the distance between the top of the L-shaped bracket and the culture vessel placement table of the living cell imager is greater than the height of the culture vessel.

Furthermore, a fixing plate is installed inside the L-shaped bracket; a mounting port is provided on the top side of the L-shaped bracket close to the live cell imager, a bracket cover is sealed and installed on the mounting port, and the air flow outlet is located on the bracket cover; the fixing plate is tightly fitted with the inner side surface of the bracket cover; a fan mounting groove and an air duct groove are connected on the side of the fixing plate close to the bracket cover; the fan is installed in the fan mounting groove; one end of the air duct groove faces the air outlet of the fan, and the other end is connected to the air flow outlet; a through hole is provided on the side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover, and the through hole faces the air inlet of the fan; there is a certain distance between the side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover and the inner wall of the L-shaped bracket; the fan adopts a centrifugal fan.

Furthermore, an air collecting groove connected to the air duct groove is opened on one side of the fixing plate close to the bracket cover plate; the air flow outlet hole is connected to the air duct groove through the air collecting groove, and a wind shield plate facing the air duct groove is arranged in the air collecting groove, and the air flow outlet hole is located behind the wind shield plate.

Furthermore, an air inlet groove is provided on the inner side surface of the bracket cover, and the air inlet groove faces the air inlet of the fan.

Furthermore, the fixing plate is transparent, and a light board is installed on a side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover.

Furthermore, the fixing plate is a plexiglass plate.

The present invention also provides a living cell imaging device, comprising the above-mentioned water vapor condensation prevention device.

Furthermore, it also includes a chassis shell, an automatic imaging system and a culture vessel placement table, the automatic imaging system is located in the chassis shell and installed on the lower surface of the culture vessel placement table, the culture vessel placement table is located on the top of the chassis shell, and the water vapor condensation device is installed on the culture vessel placement table.

The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

The anti-condensation device of the present invention effectively prevents the generation of fog and water vapor in culture vessels when a living cell imager performs living cell imaging and detection experiments. At the same time, the device can effectively remove water vapor that has been generated under other conditions, such as when the incubator door is suddenly opened at very low room temperature or when the incubator itself causes condensation, thereby ensuring that the image effect of the living cell imager is not affected and that the dynamic growth process of living cells can be observed normally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a living cell imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a device for preventing water vapor condensation according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a device for preventing water vapor condensation according to the present invention from another angle.

Figure 4 is a picture showing the shooting effect in the presence of water vapor.

FIG. 5 is a photograph showing the effect of turning on the anti-condensation device and shooting in a state without water vapor. FIG.

Among them, 1-chassis shell; 2-automatic imaging system; 3-culture vessel placement table; 4-culture vessel; 5-water vapor condensation device; 51-L-shaped bracket; 52-light board; 53-fixing plate; 54-fan; 55-bracket cover; 511-air inlet hole; 512-installation port; 531-through hole; 532-fan installation slot; 533-air duct slot; 534-air collecting slot; 535-wind shield; 551-air inlet slot; 552-air outlet hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose and effect, the technical means and structures adopted by the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for the features and functions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 1-3, the present invention provides a device for preventing water vapor condensation, including an L-shaped bracket 51 with a hollow interior; one end of the L-shaped bracket 51 is fixed on the living cell imager, and the end of the L-shaped bracket 51 connected to the living cell imager is provided with an air flow inlet hole 511 connected to the interior of the chassis shell 1 of the living cell imager, and the top of the L-shaped bracket 51 is provided with an air flow outlet hole 552 on the side close to the living cell imager, and the air flow outlet hole 552 is located directly above the automatic imaging system 2 of the living cell imager; a fan 54 is provided inside the L-shaped bracket 51; the distance between the top of the L-shaped bracket 51 and the culture vessel placement table 3 of the living cell imager is greater than the height of the culture vessel 4. When in use, the culture vessel 4 is placed on the culture vessel placement table 3, and is placed directly above the automatic imaging system 2, that is, directly below the air flow outlet 552, and the fan 54 is turned on. The fan 54 draws high-temperature gas from the chassis shell 1 through the air flow inlet hole 511, and delivers the high-temperature gas to the culture vessel 4 through the air flow outlet hole 552.

Based on the normal structure of the living cell imager, the present invention innovatively adds a specially designed air duct line planning, applies the principle of aerodynamics, makes full use of the high-temperature gas generated inside the living cell imager chassis shell 1, and returns it to the top of the culture vessel 4, so that the temperature at the top of the culture vessel 4 is slightly higher than the temperature of the culture medium in the culture vessel 4. In this way, even in the high-temperature environment inside the incubator, when the water vapor of the culture medium inside the culture vessel 4 evaporates to the top of the vessel, due to the higher temperature, the water vapor cannot condense, and falls back to the culture medium according to the air flow direction formed by the temperature difference inside the culture vessel 4, thus forming a closed loop of water vapor and reducing the loss of water in the culture medium. At the same time, because the water vapor cannot condense at the top, the light source of the living cell imager can irradiate the cells in the culture medium without obstruction, so that the image will be clear.

In another embodiment, a fixing plate 53 is installed inside the L-shaped bracket 51; a mounting port 512 is provided on the top of the L-shaped bracket 51 near the live cell imager, a bracket cover 55 is sealed and installed on the mounting port 512, and the air flow outlet hole 552 is located on the bracket cover 55; the fixing plate 53 is tightly fitted with the inner side of the bracket cover 55; a fan mounting groove 532 and an air duct groove 533 are connected on the side of the fixing plate 53 near the bracket cover 55; the fan 54 is installed in the fan mounting groove 532; one end of the air duct groove 533 faces the air outlet of the fan 54, and the other end is connected with the air flow outlet hole 552; a through hole 531 is provided on the side of the fixing plate 53 away from the bracket cover, and the through hole 531 faces the air inlet of the fan 54; a certain distance is spaced between the side of the fixing plate 53 away from the bracket cover 55 and the inner wall of the L-shaped bracket 51; the fan 54 is a centrifugal fan. The high-temperature gas enters the chamber of the L-shaped bracket 51 from the air inlet hole 511, then passes through the through hole 531, the fan 54, the air duct groove 533 in sequence, and finally is discharged from the air outlet hole 552.

In another embodiment, a gas collecting groove 534 communicating with the air duct groove 533 is provided on one side of the fixing plate 53 close to the bracket cover plate 55; the air outlet hole 552 is communicated with the air duct groove 533 through the gas collecting groove 534, and a wind shield 535 facing the air duct groove 533 is provided in the gas collecting groove 534, and the air outlet hole 552 is located behind the wind shield 535. By providing the wind shield 535, on the one hand, the wind pressure coming out of the air duct groove 533 is reduced, and on the other hand, the gas collecting groove 534 is divided into two air passages, and the ends of the two air passages act on the air outlet hole 552 of the bracket cover plate 55. The double-channel air passage effectively ensures that the wind coming out of the air outlet hole 552 can be perpendicular to the culture vessel 4, so that the heat reaching the culture vessel with the same amount of air is maximized.

In another embodiment, an air inlet groove 551 is provided on the inner side of the bracket cover 55, and the air inlet groove 551 is directly opposite to the air inlet of the fan 54; one end of the air inlet groove 551 is connected to the chamber of the L-shaped bracket 51. By providing the air inlet groove 551, air can be reliably inlet to both the upper and lower sides of the fan 54, increasing the air inlet area, and ensuring that the fan 54 with minimum power consumption can smoothly introduce hot air into the chamber of the L-shaped bracket.

In another embodiment, the fixing plate 53 is made of a transparent organic glass plate, and a light board 52 is installed on the side of the fixing plate 53 away from the bracket cover 55. The light emitted by the light board 52 is irradiated on the culture vessel 4 through the fixing plate 53 and the air outlet holes 552, and the water vapor condensation device 5 is integrated with the imaging light source, which saves space and reduces costs.

The present invention also provides a living cell imager, comprising a chassis shell 1, an automatic imaging system 2, a culture vessel placement table 3 and a water vapor condensation prevention device 5, wherein the automatic imaging system 2 is located in the chassis shell 1 and is installed on the lower surface of the culture vessel placement table 3, the culture vessel 3 placement table is located on the top of the chassis shell 1, and the water vapor condensation prevention device 5 is installed on the culture vessel placement table 3.

When the present invention is in use, the culture vessel 4 is placed on the culture vessel placement table 3 and placed just above the lens of the automatic imaging system to achieve automatic focusing. The light signal is transmitted to the camera photosensitive element through the objective lens and the light signal is converted into a digital signal to achieve automatic imaging. At the same time, the internal fan 54 is running, the anti-water vapor condensation device 5 is started, and the hot air flow continuously passes through the predetermined air duct to act on the top of the culture vessel 4, so that the temperature above the culture vessel 4 is slightly higher than the culture liquid temperature, preventing the culture vessel from fogging, so that the intensity of the light signal entering the camera remains unchanged, so that the image presented by the camera is uniform in brightness and clear in quality, and can accurately reflect the growth state of living cells at any time.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Anyone should be aware that any structural changes made under the inspiration of the present invention, and any technical solutions that are the same or similar to the present invention, belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. A device for preventing condensation of water vapor, characterized in that it comprises an L-shaped bracket with a hollow interior; one end of the L-shaped bracket is fixed on a living cell imager, one end of the L-shaped bracket connected to the living cell imager is provided with an air inlet hole connected to the interior of a chassis shell of the living cell imager, a side of the top of the L-shaped bracket close to the living cell imager is provided with an air outlet hole, and the air outlet hole is located directly above the automatic imaging system of the living cell imager; a fan is provided inside the L-shaped bracket; the distance between the top of the L-shaped bracket and the culture vessel placement table of the living cell imager is greater than the height of the culture vessel; A fixing plate is installed inside the L-shaped bracket; a mounting opening is provided on the side of the top of the L-shaped bracket close to the live cell imager, a bracket cover is sealed and installed on the mounting opening, and the air flow outlet is located on the bracket cover; the fixing plate is tightly fitted with the inner side of the bracket cover; a fan mounting groove and an air duct groove are connected on the side of the fixing plate close to the bracket cover; the fan is installed in the fan mounting groove; one end of the air duct groove faces the air outlet of the fan, and the other end is connected to the air flow outlet; a through hole is provided on the side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover, and the through hole faces the air inlet of the fan; there is a certain distance between the side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover and the inner wall of the L-shaped bracket; the fan adopts a centrifugal fan; An air collecting groove connected to the air duct groove is provided on one side of the fixing plate close to the bracket cover plate; the air flow outlet hole is connected to the air duct groove through the air collecting groove, and a wind shield plate facing the air duct groove is arranged in the air collecting groove, and the air flow outlet hole is located behind the wind shield plate. 2. A water vapor condensation prevention device as described in claim 1, characterized in that an air inlet groove is opened on the inner side surface of the bracket cover, and the air inlet groove is directly opposite to the air inlet of the fan. 3. A water vapor condensation prevention device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the fixing plate is transparent, and a light board is installed on the side of the fixing plate away from the bracket cover plate. 4. A water vapor condensation prevention device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the fixing plate is a plexiglass plate. 5. A living cell imaging device, characterized by comprising the water vapor condensation prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. A living cell imager as described in claim 5, characterized in that it also includes a chassis shell, an automatic imaging system and a culture vessel placement table, the automatic imaging system is located in the chassis shell and installed on the lower surface of the culture vessel placement table, the culture vessel placement table is located on the top of the chassis shell, and a water vapor condensation device is installed on the culture vessel placement table.