System and method for real-time volume control
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsYu-Heng Cheng, Lisa A. Jones, Jessica A. Wifall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A real-time imaging method and system for monitoring an assay process performed on a biological sample is described. In some embodiments, the method and system can be used to measure and control a reagent volume confined to a space between a cover and a substrate, which is particularly useful for controlling for evaporation in a thin-film staining environment. In particular embodiments, the disclosed reagent volume sensing and replenishment method and system are resistant to system noises generated during operation, for example, system noise due to vibration, field of view blockage by dispenser systems, differences in reagent colors, and changing tissue colors.
Claims42
A method of estimating a replenishment amount of a fluid to be dispensed onto a substrate holding a biological sample undergoing an assay, the method comprising:
- a. capturing an image of the fluid dispensed on the substrate holding the biological sample with an imaging system to produce a captured image, wherein the fluid is confined to a space between the substrate and a cover;
- b. analyzing the captured image to identify fluid boundaries of the fluid dispensed on the substrate and confined to the space between the substrate and the cover;
- c. calculating a fluid volume of the fluid dispensed on the substrate using a fluid width determined from the fluid boundaries;
- and,
- d. calculating the replenishment amount of the fluid based on the calculated fluid volume and a predetermined fluid volume.
A system for estimating a replenishment amount of a fluid dispensed onto a substrate containing a biological sample undergoing an assay, wherein the fluid is confined to a space between the substrate and a cover;
- the system comprising:
- a. an image acquisition and storage system comprising:
- i. a camera disposed above the substrate and the cover;
- and,
- ii. at least two light sources, wherein a first light source is positioned such that a first light emitted from the first light source is within a field of view (FOV) of the camera, and wherein a second light source is positioned such that a second light emitted from the second light source is outside the field of view of the camera, thereby producing an imaging arrangement configured for dark-field imaging;
- b. a processor operatively coupled to the image acquisition and storage system;
- and
- c. a memory operatively coupled to the processor, configured to store digitally-encoded instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- i. capturing an image of the fluid dispensed on the substrate holding the biological sample using the camera to produce a captured image;
- ii. analyzing the captured image to identify fluid boundaries of the fluid dispensed on the substrate and confined to the space between the substrate and the cover;
- iii. calculating a fluid volume of the fluid dispensed on the substrate using a fluid width determined from the fluid boundaries;
- and,
- iv. calculating the replenishment amount of the fluid based on the calculated fluid volume and a predetermined fluid volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.