Juncheng Qian
OMTC to Microscope Stage
September 2019 - October 2019
Client: Dr. Jacopo Ferruzzi
The OMTC to microscope stage is the first big project I worked on during my Biomechanics research. The overall goal is to design and manufacture a stage to fit an Optical Magnetic Twisting Cytometry (OMTC) into an Olympus FV1000 confocal microscope with precision movements in XY axis for centering during the imaging process.
"My client used it to study tumor cell progression, so it felt like I was helping defeating cancer."
Background
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This project is part of the study of tumor progression in collagen carried out by Dr. Jacopo Ferruzzi. When tumor cells progress, the mechanical properties of the collagen nearby is altered, and Dr. Ferruzzi developed a method of directly observinge the changes in collagen’s mechanical properties. By injecting micro-scale metal beads into the collagen samples, and using an Optical Magnetic Twisting Cytometry (“OMTC” for short), a magnetic field generating device, to apply magnetic torque to the beads, the beads under magnetic torque will move and cause the collagen to deform. By comparing the extent of deformation in healthy and tumor infected collagen samples, the effect of tumor can be studied.
Design & Manufacture
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Since the OMTC is custom made, there hasn’t been a stage designed specifically to fit the device to the microscope. I started by searching available biaxial stage on the market, and chose the MiSUMi push screw XY-Axis stage as the main movement driver. By placing the XY-Axis stage at the bottom left corner, and doubling with two perpendicularly stacked slide mechanism, I was able to achieve fine adjustment of the top plate. The main body of the microscope stage was designed as two square aluminum plates with cutouts in the center to hold the OMTC.
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The Aluminum frames were machined using GibbsCAM and CNC machine to maintain high accuracy of the dimensions, and the structure was threaded and bolted together to ensure rigidity. The final prototype was able to secure the OMTC on the microscope, with a biaxial travel range of ±10mm and movement increment of 0.5mm.
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The Supreme sticker shows the superior quality of my build of course; it is not definitely not a hypebeast thing.