Classifying microbeads in near-field imaging
AssigneeAlentic Microscience Inc.
InventorAlan Marc Fine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Among other things, an imaging sensor includes a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements and a surface to receive a sample within a near-field distance of the photosensitive elements. Electronics classify microbeads in the sample as belonging to different classes based on the effects of different absorption spectra of the different classes of microbeads on light received at the surface. In some examples, the number of different distinguishable classes of microbeads can be very large based on combinations of the effects on light received at the surface of the different absorption spectra together, spatial arrangements of colorants in the microbeads that impart the different absorption spectra, different sizes of microbeads, and different shapes of microbeads, among other things.
Claims45
An apparatus comprising
- an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements and a surface to receive a sample within a near-field distance of the photosensitive elements, and
- electronics to classify microbeads in the sample as belonging to different classes based on the effects of one or more characteristics of the different classes of microbeads on light received at the surface.
An apparatus comprising
- a first set of microbeads having an absorption spectrum selected to have a predetermined relationship to an absorption spectrum of a second set of microbeads.
A method comprising
- adding to a sample classes of microbeads having different absorption spectra,
- the microbeads of respective classes being bound, coupled, connected, or otherwise associated with another unit, the other unit having a characteristic that will bind or couple or connect or otherwise become associated with a corresponding target element in the sample,
- imaging the sample within a near-field distance of a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements, and
- assaying, counting, classifying, analyzing, or otherwise studying the microbeads of the respective classes using the image of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.