High performance fluorescence imaging module for genomic testing assay
AssigneeElement Biosciences, Inc.
InventorsSteve Xiangling CHEN, Minghao GUO, Michael PREVITE, Chunhong ZHOU, Derek FULLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fluorescence imaging system designs are described that provide larger fields-of-view, increased spatial resolution, improved modulation transfer and image quality, higher spatial sampling frequency, faster transitions between image capture when repositioning the sample plane to capture a series of images (e.g., of different fields-of-view), and improved imaging system duty cycle, and thus enable higher throughput image acquisition and analysis for genomics and other imaging applications.
Claims21
-21. (canceled)
A method of sequencing a nucleic acid molecule, the method comprising:
- imaging a flow cell at a plurality of z-levels with a compensation-free optical system comprising an objective lens, an image sensor, and a tube lens positioned between the objective lens and the image sensor, the tube lens configured to correct an imaging performance metric for imaging at a plurality of z-levels of a flow cell, and wherein the flow cell includes the nucleic acid molecule;
- processing images at the plurality of z-levels to correct for optical aberration, yielding a first image at a first z-level and a second image at a second z-level that is different than the first z-level, the first image and the second image at the same optical resolution;
- and
- detecting a fluorescently labeled composition comprising the nucleic acid molecule, or a complement thereof, to determine an identity of a nucleotide in the nucleic acid molecule.
A system for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule, the system comprising:
- an optical system comprising:
- an objective lens,
- an image sensor, and
- a tube lens positioned between the objective lens and the image sensor, the tube lens configured to correct an imaging performance metric for imaging at a plurality of z-levels of a flow cell;
- and
- a processor programmed to:
- image, with the optical system, the flow cell at the plurality of z-levels,
- process images at a plurality of z-levels to correct for optical aberration, yielding a first image at a first z-level and a second image at a second z-level that is different than the first z-level at the same optical resolution, and
- detect a fluorescently labeled composition comprising the nucleic acid molecule, or a complement thereof, to determine an identity of a nucleotide in the nucleic acid molecule
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.