Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Ann Biomed Eng. 2013 Jun;41(6):1208-16. doi: 10.1007/s10439-013-0791-9. Epub 2013 Mar 19.
This paper presents a system for mechanically characterizing single cells using automated micropipette aspiration. Using vision-based control and position control, the system controls a micromanipulator, a motorized translation stage, and a custom-built pressure system to position a micropipette (4 μm opening) to approach a cell, form a seal, and aspirate the cell into the micropipette for quantifying the cell's elastic and viscoelastic parameters as well as viscosity. Image processing algorithms were developed to provide controllers with real-time visual feedback and to accurately measure cell deformation behavior on line. Experiments on both solid-like and liquid-like cells demonstrated that the system is capable of efficiently performing single-cell micropipette aspiration and has low operator skill requirements.
本文提出了一种使用自动化微量移液器吸液来对单细胞进行机械特性分析的系统。该系统采用基于视觉的控制和位置控制，控制一个微操作器、一个电动平移台和一个定制的压力系统，以将一个微量移液器（4μm 开口）定位到接近一个细胞，形成密封，并将细胞吸入微量移液器中，以定量测量细胞的弹性和粘弹性参数以及粘度。开发了图像处理算法，为控制器提供实时视觉反馈，并在线准确测量细胞变形行为。对固态和液态细胞的实验表明，该系统能够高效地进行单细胞微量移液器吸液操作，并且对操作人员的技能要求较低。
