Digital imaging system for assays in well plates, gels and blots
AssigneeImaging Research, Inc.
InventorsPeter Ramm, Gang Sun, Rolf Mueller, Timothy Ormsby, Kenneth R. Castle
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Abstract
An electronic imaging system is disclosed, for assessing the intensity of calorimetric, fluorescent or luminescent signal in a matrix consisting of wells, microwells, hybridization dot blots on membranes, gels, or other specimens. The system includes a very sensitive area CCD detector, a fast, telecentric lens with epi-illumination, a reflective/transmissive illumination system, an illumination wavelength selection device, and a light-tight chamber. A computer and image analysis software are used to control the hardware, correct and calibrate the images, and detect and quantify targets within the images.
Claims26
In a digital imaging system for assays, the system being of the type including a lens subassembly and an imaging subassembly disposed behind the lens subassembly for forming an image of a specimen disposed in front of the lens subassembly, the lens subassembly comprising:
- a lens, including a front lens element and having an optical axis;
- and
- a source of light disposed within said lens behind said front lens element and constructed so as to direct light towards said front lens element and out of said lens.
A lens subassembly for use in a digital imaging system for assays of the type including an imaging subassembly disposed behind the lens subassembly for forming an image of a specimen disposed in front of the lens subassembly, the lens subassembly comprising:
- a telecentric macro lens, including a front lens element and having an optical axis;
- and
- a source of light disposed within said lens behind said front lens element and constructed so as to direct light towards said front lens element and out of said lens.
In an area digital imaging system for assays, a method for extracting targets on a specimen containing an array of targets that may not be arranged in perfect regularity, comprising the steps of:
- defining a matrix of nominal target locations including a probe template of predefined, two-dimensional size and shape at each of a plurality of fixed, predefined grid points on the specimen;
- and
- determining the most probable location of the probe template corresponding to a target by:
- making use of an image of the specimen, deriving a most likely location for a selected target based upon pixel intensity in the image in the vicinity of a nominal target location corresponding to the selected target;
- and
- using a confidence value indicative of reliability of the most likely location as a weighting factor in shifting the location of the probe template from the nominal target location towards the most likely location for the selected target.
In a digital imaging system for assays, the system being of the type including a lens subassembly and an imaging subassembly disposed behind the lens subassembly for forming an image of a specimen disposed in front of the lens subassembly, an illumination subassembly positioned forward of the specimen, comprising:
- a planar diffusing plate positioned forward of the specimen in close proximity thereto;
- and
- a plurality of optical fibers, each having a first end adapted to be connected to a source of light and a second end disposed forward of said diffusing plate and oriented so that light emitted therefrom is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the diffusing plate, the optical fibers being arranged so that the spacing therebetween is greater at the center of the diffusing plate than at its periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.