KR200496791Y1 - Cultured cells remote monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cultured cell remote monitoring device, the present invention, the main body; a mounting portion in which a culture dish for cell culture is mounted; a lighting unit radiating light toward the culture dish; a photographing unit installed on the main body, reciprocating in the Z-axis direction toward the culture dish, and capturing an image of cells in the culture dish and converting the image signal into an image signal; a Y-axis moving unit configured to adjust a photographing position of the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction by reciprocating the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction crossing the Z-axis direction; an X-axis moving unit that adjusts a photographing position of the photographing unit in the X-axis direction by reciprocating in an X-axis direction, which is a direction crossing the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction; a communication unit provided in the main body for wired or wireless communication with an external server or user terminal; and transmits the video signal obtained through the photographing unit to the external server or the user terminal through the communication unit, and the lighting unit, the photographing unit, the Y-axis moving unit, and the external server or the user terminal through the communication unit. Provided is a cultured cell remote monitoring device including a controller for receiving and driving a control signal of the x-axis moving unit.
According to the present invention, the position, magnification, and focusing of the microscope are remotely and automatically controlled, and the cultured cell monitoring device, such as taking a cell image and transmitting the video signal to an external user, is configured as an automated module, Users can continuously or intermittently observe cultured cells without being restricted by time and place.

Description

Cultured cell remote monitoring device {Cultured cells remote monitoring device}

The present invention relates to a remote monitoring device for cultured cells, and more particularly, changes in cultured cells by remotely controlling the shooting position, magnification, and focus of a photographing unit for monitoring cultured cells, as well as the flickering operation of a lighting unit that irradiates light. It relates to a cultured cell remote monitoring device capable of monitoring in another place.

In general, in industrial applications, cells are seeded in a plastic container or a culture dish such as a glass dish or flask and cultured in an incubator, and observation of the cells in culture is performed by taking the culture dish out of the incubator It is performed by an inverted microscope such as a phase contrast microscope.

However, there are cases in which the person in charge of managing the cells needs continuous observation or intermittent observation at regular time intervals, so that the person in charge in the culture room or other personnel to replace it is required, which consumes manpower. There is a problem that follows. Accordingly, there is a need for a monitoring device capable of monitoring the cells in culture without the person in charge residing in the culture room.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1377694

An object of the present invention is to provide a cultured cell remote monitoring device capable of remotely monitoring cultured cells by an observer of the cultured cells.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention, the main body; a mounting portion in which a culture dish for cell culture is mounted; a lighting unit radiating light toward the culture dish; a photographing unit installed on the main body, reciprocating in the Z-axis direction toward the culture dish, and capturing an image of cells in the culture dish and converting the image signal into an image signal; a Y-axis moving unit configured to adjust a photographing position of the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction by reciprocating the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction crossing the Z-axis direction; an X-axis moving unit that adjusts a photographing position of the photographing unit in the X-axis direction by reciprocating in an X-axis direction, which is a direction crossing the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction; a communication unit provided in the main body for wired or wireless communication with an external server or user terminal; and transmits the video signal obtained through the photographing unit to the external server or the user terminal through the communication unit, and the lighting unit, the photographing unit, the Y-axis moving unit, and the external server or the user terminal through the communication unit. Provided is a cultured cell remote monitoring device including a controller for receiving and driving a control signal of the x-axis moving unit.

According to the present invention, the following effects are obtained.

First, the position, magnification, and focusing of the microscope are automatically controlled remotely, and the cultured cell monitoring device, such as taking a cell image and transmitting the video signal to an external user, is configured as an automated module, so that the user can spend time The cultured cells can be continuously or intermittently observed without being restricted by location and location.

Second, if the magnification adjustment process and the focusing process of the photographing unit composed of the camera module are controlled in a state of interlocking with each other or manually controlled by the user according to the above-described automation, the monitoring process can be simplified, of course, The degree of freedom of the monitoring process can be increased.

Third, if images of cultured cells are taken multiple times at the same location, but multiple times are taken while irradiating light of different wavelengths in different directions, a plurality of image signals according to different refractive indices for each wavelength and different contrast for each angle By synthesizing them, there is an advantage that cultured cells can be monitored in three dimensions.

1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a cultured cell remote monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the remote monitoring device for cultured cells of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a detailed configuration of the holder of FIG. 2 .
4 is a partially enlarged view showing a detailed configuration of the lighting unit of FIG. 2 .
5 is a partially enlarged view showing the detailed configuration of the photographing unit of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing detailed configurations of the Y-axis moving unit and the X-axis moving unit of FIG. 2 .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show the internal and external configuration of the cultured cell remote monitoring device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

1 and 2, the cultured cell remote monitoring device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is designed so that an observer can remotely monitor cells in culture, and includes a main body 110 and a holder 120. ), a lighting unit 130, a photographing unit 140, a Y-axis moving unit 150, an X-axis moving unit 160, a communication unit 170, and a control unit 180.

The main body 110 forms the exterior of the device 100, and includes a drawer 111 and an operation indicator light 112. The withdrawal port 111 is formed in a structure that can be opened and closed on a part of the side surface of the main body 110 adjacent to the holder 120 to be described later for the withdrawal and withdrawal of the culture dish PD containing the cells to be monitored. The operation indicator 112 indicates the on/off state of the device 100, whether or not the culture dish (PD) is mounted on the internal holder 121, whether or not there is a communication connection with the outside, and the execution/end of the monitoring process of the cultured cells. indicate whether In addition, in the embodiment, the structure of the body 110 is a hexahedron, an opening and closing opening is formed on the side, and the shape and structure are assumed to be installed independently, but are not limited thereto. Of course, the drawer 111 may also be installed in any one part or a plurality of parts of the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main body 110. In addition, it is of course possible to remotely monitor several cultured cells at the same time by installing the components of the above-described mounting unit 120 to the X-axis moving unit 160 in one main body 110 as a plurality of modules.

On the other hand, in the main body 110, a mounting unit 120 for holding the culture dish PD, a lighting unit 130 for irradiating light for photographing to the mounted culture dish PD, and the mounted culture dish PD A photographing unit 140 for enlarging and photographing the cells of , a Y-axis moving unit 150 and an X-axis moving unit 160 for moving the photographing unit 140 to a target position are installed, which will be described in detail later. do.

The communication unit 170 is installed inside or outside the body 110 and communicates with an external server (not shown) or a user terminal (not shown) by wire or wirelessly. As a configuration for wired/wireless communication, known technical configurations may be adopted and applied, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The control unit 180 transmits the image signal of the cells acquired through the photographing unit 140 to the above-described external server and/or user terminal through the communication unit 170, and transmits the external server and/or user terminal through the communication unit 170. Control signals of the lighting unit 130, the photographing unit 140, the Y-axis moving unit 150, and the X-axis moving unit 160 are received from the terminal and driven individually or interlocked.

The cultured cell remote monitoring device 100 of the present invention remotely controls the monitoring device 100 to automate the monitoring process of cultured cells, and the configuration of the control unit 180 for automation and the communication unit for remote support ( 170), it can be directly installed and used in an incubator, as well as a transfer device (not shown) and a replacement device (not shown) of the culture dish (PD) in the incubator. Installed together If possible, by automating the replacement process of the culture dish (PD), the cultured cells can be monitored without leakage from the outside in the incubator. Thus, the cultured cells can be cultured in a monitored state without worrying about contamination due to external leakage.

Hereinafter, detailed configurations and functions of the above-described holding unit 120, lighting unit 130, photographing unit 140, Y-axis moving unit 150, and X-axis moving unit 160 are shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 It is described in detail with reference to. However, the content overlapping with the above description is omitted or abbreviated.

Referring to FIG. 3, the holder 120 is installed on the upper side of the main body 110 to mount the culture dish PD introduced through the above-described drawer 111, and includes a holder 121, a holder ( 122) and a glass substrate 123.

The holder 121 is coupled along the inner circumferential surface of the main body 110 so that the holder 122 supporting the culture dish PD, which will be described later, is mounted, and the center portion has a photographing unit 140, which will be described below, holding the culture dish PD. A circular or rectangular opening is formed so that imaging can be performed. The holder 122 is a tray supporting the culture dish PD, and the outer rim has a standard corresponding to the above-described holder 121, and the center is formed in an open structure so as to communicate with the opening of the holder 121 described above. At this time, of course, holding jaws (not shown) may be formed in the holder 122 to support the rim of the culture dish PD. The glass substrate 123 covers the center of the opening of the holder 122 and supports the center of the culture dish PD mounted on the holder 122 .

At this time, the culture dish (PD) may be a plate (see FIG. 3 (a)), a dish (see FIG. 3 (b)) or a flask structure including a plurality of wells, and a holder ( 122), it is preferable that the supporting structure of the culture dish (PD) is also formed in a corresponding structure.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the lighting unit 130 is installed on the top of the holder 120 in the main body 110 or on the lower surface of the top of the main body 110 in order to irradiate light to the culture dish PD disposed on the holder 121. To be installed, a plurality of light sources 131 are arranged at set intervals along the width and length directions of the culture dish PD, and irradiate light of different incident angles to the cells accommodated in the culture dish PD. The plurality of light sources 131 may emit light of different incident angles to one cell or well so that cell images obtained by the photographing unit 140 may have different contrasts.

Specifically, these light sources 131 may selectively blink individually or in groups. For example, as shown in the drawing, after dividing a panel in which a plurality of LEDs are installed into four zones, the first group 131a and the fourth group 131d are turned on, and the second group 131b and the second group 131b are lit. The third group 131c is turned off, the first group 131a and the second group 131b are turned on, and the third group 131c and the fourth group 131d are turned off. It is possible to irradiate light in front, rear, left and right directions on the culture dish (PD). The above is only an example, and depending on the number of cell images to be obtained, individual light sources 131 are individually blinked to acquire multiple cell images, or the light sources 131 are grouped into a plurality of groups to obtain a certain number of cell images. Of course, it is possible to obtain In addition, it is preferable that each light source 131 is supplied with power or power is supplied to each light source 131 so that the flickering operation is controlled by power supply.

Meanwhile, the light sources 131 of the lighting unit 130 emit light of different wavelengths so that the cell images of the culture dish PD obtained by the photographing unit 140 have different colors due to different refractive indices. . Accordingly, as described above, light of different wavelengths is radiated in the process of selectively blinking the light sources 131 individually or by group, thereby obtaining cell images of different brightness and color by the photographing unit 140. make it possible

Several cell images of different brightness and different colors of the lighting unit 130 are collected by the controller 180 and generated or synthesized into a three-dimensional cell image, and then provided to an external server or user terminal. Multiple cell images of different brightness and color may be provided to an external server or user terminal, and the external server or user terminal may collect and generate or synthesize the images.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the photographing unit 140 is installed from the bottom of the holding unit 120 toward the culture dish PD, and is illuminated by the lighting unit 130 while being mounted on the holding unit 120. A camera module for capturing (PD), and includes an objective lens 141, an image sensor 142, an auto focusing unit 143 and a magnification adjusting unit 144.

The objective lens 141 is disposed toward the culture dish PD within the main body 110 of the shooting unit 140 having a barrel shape, and the image sensor 142 is the objective lens 141 within the main body 110 of the shooting unit 140. ) is installed at the lower part (distant from the culture dish) and converts the cell image of the culture dish (PD) incident through the objective lens 141 into an image signal. The auto focusing means 143 is installed on the upper part of the objective lens 141 (close to the culture dish) in the main body 110 of the photographing unit 140 to automatically adjust the focus. Here, the auto focusing unit 143 is set so that the magnitude of the applied voltage is variable according to the distance between the objective lens 141 and the image sensor 142, and the photographing unit 140 moves according to the operation of the magnification adjusting unit 144. It is preferable to adopt and use a liquid lens that automatically adjusts the focus when increasing or decreasing the magnification of . The magnification adjusting means 144 is to adjust the distance between the objective lens 141 and the image sensor 142, and is installed on either one of the objective lens 141 and the image sensor 142 so that the objective lens 141 and the image sensor One of 142 is moved relative to the other in the Z-axis direction toward the culture dish PD, and for this purpose, a Z-axis slider 144a, a Z-axis ball screw 144b, a Z-axis motor 144c, It includes a Z-axis guide rail 144d and a Z-axis motion sensor 144e.

The Z-axis slider 144a moves in the vertical direction (Z-axis) along the Z-axis ballscrew 144b while being connected to either the objective lens 141 or the image sensor 142, and the Z-axis ballscrew ( 144b) extends long along the longitudinal direction of the photographing part 140 in a state in which both ends are connected to and supported by the photographing part 140 of the barrel structure, and the Z-axis motor 144c is one of the Z-axis ball screws 144b. It is coupled to one end and provides a driving force for rotating the Z-axis ball screw 144b. In addition, the Z-axis guide rail 144d extends along the Z-axis ball screw 144b to guide the movement path while supporting the Z-axis slider 144a, and to limit the movement radius of the Z-axis slider 144a. Z-axis motion sensors 144e are installed near both ends of the Z-axis ball screw 144b to sense the movement of the Z-axis slider 144a.

Referring to FIG. 6, the Y-axis moving unit 150 is coupled to the lower portion of the above-described photographing unit 140 within the main body 110 to move the photographing unit 140 in the Y-axis direction (left and right direction). It includes an axis slider 151, a Y-axis ball screw 152, a Y-axis motor 153, a Y-axis guide rail 154, and a Y-axis motion sensor 155.

The Y-axis slider 151 is coupled to the lower portion of the photographing unit 140 and moves in the Y-axis direction along the Y-axis ball screw 152, and the Y-axis ball screw 152 extends long along the Y-axis direction, The Y-axis motor 153 is coupled to either end of the Y-axis ball screw 152 to provide a driving force for rotating the Y-axis ball screw 152 . In addition, the Y-axis guide rail 154 extends along the Y-axis ball screw 152 to guide the movement path while supporting the Y-axis slider 151, and limit the movement radius of the Y-axis slider 151. To do this, Y-axis motion sensors 155 are installed near both ends of the Y-axis ball screw 152 to sense the movement of the Y-axis slider 151.

The X-axis moving unit 160 is installed below the Y-axis moving unit 150 in the main body 110 to move the Y-axis slider 151 in the X-axis direction (front and rear direction), and the X-axis slider 161 , an X-axis ball screw 162, an X-axis motor 163, an X-axis guide rail 164, and an X-axis motion sensor 165.

The X-axis slider 161 is coupled to the lower portion of the Y-axis guide rail 154 and moves in the X-axis direction along the X-axis ball screw 162, and the X-axis ball screw 162 extends along the X-axis direction. And, the X-axis motor 163 is coupled to either end of the X-axis ball screw 162 to provide a driving force for rotating the X-axis ball screw 162. In addition, the X-axis guide rail 164 extends along the X-axis ball screw 162 to guide the movement path while supporting the X-axis slider 161, and limit the movement radius of the X-axis slider 161. In order to do this, the X-axis motion sensor 165 is installed near both ends of the X-axis ball screw 162 to detect the movement of the X-axis slider 161.

In the cultured cell remote monitoring device 100 of the present invention, a culture dish (PD) of various standards, such as a plate, dish, or flask structure including a plurality of wells, can be mounted on the holding unit 120, and the photographing unit 140 ) moves in the front, rear, left and right directions, and it is preferable to also move in the up and down direction by the magnification adjusting means 144.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but this is only exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

100: cultured cell remote monitoring device
110: main body 111: cashier
112: operation indicator 120: mounting unit
121: cradle 121a: opening
122: holder 123: glass substrate
130: lighting unit 131: light source
131a to 131d: first to fourth groups 140: photographing unit
141: objective lens 142: image sensor
143: auto focusing means 144: magnification control means
144a: Z-axis slider 144b: Z-axis ball screw
144c: Z-axis motor 144d: Z-axis guide rail
144e: Z-axis motion sensor 150: Y-axis moving unit
151: Y-axis slider 152: Y-axis ball screw
153: Y-axis motor 154: Y-axis guide rail
155: Y-axis motion sensor 160: X-axis moving unit
161: X-axis slider 162: X-axis ball screw
163: X-axis motor 164: X-axis guide rail
165: X-axis motion sensor 170: communication unit
180: control unit PD: culture dish

Claims (9)

main body;
a holder installed inside the main body to mount a culture dish for cell culture;
a lighting unit installed inside the main body to irradiate light toward the culture dish;
a photographing unit installed inside the main body, reciprocating in the Z-axis direction toward the culture dish, and capturing an image of the cells of the culture dish and converting it into an image signal;
a Y-axis moving unit configured to adjust a photographing position of the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction by reciprocating the photographing unit in the Y-axis direction crossing the Z-axis direction;
an X-axis moving unit that adjusts a photographing position of the photographing unit in the X-axis direction by reciprocating in an X-axis direction, which is a direction crossing the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction;
a communication unit provided in the main body for wired or wireless communication with an external server or user terminal; and
The image signal obtained through the photographing unit is transmitted to the external server or the user terminal through the communication unit, and the lighting unit, the photographing unit, the Y-axis moving unit and the external server or the user terminal are transmitted through the communication unit. A control unit for receiving and driving a control signal of the x-axis moving unit;
The holding part,
a cradle installed on the main body and having a central opening corresponding to a movement radius of the photographing unit; and
A holder mounted on the cradle while supporting the culture dish so that the culture dish is properly positioned at a set position of the cradle;
the body,
In order to take in and out of the culture dish supported by the holder, it includes a drawer installed in an openable structure at a portion adjacent to the holder,
The culture dish,
A plate, dish or flask containing one or more wells,
the lighting unit,
Including a plurality of light sources arranged at set intervals along the width and length directions of the culture dish to selectively irradiate light of different incident angles and different wavelengths to the cells of the culture dish, It irradiates light in front, back, left and right directions,
The light sources selectively blink individually or in groups so that the cell images of the culture dish obtained by the photographing unit have different contrast angles, and the light sources irradiate light of different wavelengths, respectively, so that the photographing The cell images of the culture dish obtained by the unit have different colors and different contrasts due to reflection of different refractive indices,
The control unit, the external server or the user terminal,
Cell images having different contrasts and colors obtained by the photographing unit are collected and synthesized into a three-dimensional cell image;
the filming unit,
An objective lens disposed toward the culture dish of the mounting unit, an image sensor converting an image of the cells of the culture dish incident through the objective lens into an image signal, and one of the objective lens and the image sensor transmits the other one. It includes a magnification adjusting means for reciprocating in the Z-axis direction and an auto focusing means for automatically adjusting the focus,
The auto focusing means,
It is installed in front of the objective lens of the photographing unit, and the magnitude of the applied voltage is set to vary according to the distance between the objective lens and the image sensor, so that the focus is automatically performed when the magnification of the photographing unit increases or decreases according to the operation of the magnification adjusting unit. It is a liquid lens controlled by
The magnification control means,
A Z-axis slider coupled to any one of the objective lens and the image sensor, a Z-axis ball screw extending long in the Z-axis direction and coupled to allow the Z-axis slider to move along the longitudinal direction, and the Z-axis ball screw A Z-axis motor for rotating the screw, a Z-axis guide rail for guiding the movement of the Z-axis slider while supporting the Z-axis slider, and the Z-axis slider are set to limit the movement radius of the Z-axis slider. Including a Z-axis motion sensor for measuring arrival at a position and sending a signal to stop driving the Z-axis motor,
Cultured cell remote monitoring device. The method of claim 1,
The holding part,
a cradle installed on the main body and having a central opening corresponding to a movement radius of the photographing unit; and
A holder mounted on the cradle while supporting the culture dish so that the culture dish is properly positioned at a set position of the cradle;
the body,
In order to take in and out of the culture dish supported by the holder, it includes a drawer installed in an openable structure at a portion adjacent to the holder,
The culture dish,
A cultured cell remote monitoring device that is a plate, dish or flask containing one or more wells. delete delete delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The Y-axis moving unit,
A Y-axis slider coupled to the photographing unit, a Y-axis ball screw that extends in the Y-axis direction and is coupled to allow the Y-axis slider to move along the length direction, and a Y-axis that rotates the Y-axis ball screw A motor, a Y-axis guide rail for guiding the movement of the Y-axis slider in a state in which the Y-axis slider is supported, and measuring that the Y-axis slider reaches a set position in order to limit the movement radius of the Y-axis slider and a Y-axis motion sensor for transmitting a signal to stop driving the Y-axis motor. The method of claim 1,
The X-axis moving unit,
An X-axis slider coupled to the Y-axis moving unit, an X-axis ball screw extending in the X-axis direction and coupled to allow the X-axis slider to move along the longitudinal direction, and rotating the X-axis ball screw An X-axis motor, an X-axis guide rail for guiding the movement of the X-axis slider while supporting the X-axis slider, and an X-axis slider reaching a set position to limit the movement radius of the X-axis slider. A cultured cell remote monitoring device comprising an X-axis motion sensor that measures what the X-axis motor is doing and transmits a signal to stop driving the X-axis motor.

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