Stroboscopic high-throughput imaging system
AssigneeStaker Scientific, Inc.
InventorBryan Staker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluorescence imaging system is configured for imaging a plurality of fluorescent biomolecules in a sample wherein the sample may be an array of fluorescent biomolecules. The system acquires a plurality of sequentially offset, overlapping, smeared sub-images of the sample wherein all of the sub-images are obtained with the array of fluorescent biomolecules maintained in a common state across all the sub-images, and estimates a distance between sub-images by correlating pairs of sub-images. The system assembles and averages the sub-images to obtain improved SNR in a final image.
Claims27
A fluorescence imaging system for imaging a plurality of fluorescent biomolecules in a sample, the system comprising:
- a sample stage configured to support the sample, wherein the sample is an array of fluorescent biomolecules;
- an optical system comprising a digital camera optically coupled to the sample stage, wherein the sample stage is in motion with respect to a digital camera;
- a scanning fluorescence microscope coupled to the camera;
- an illumination system that provides pulsed illumination;
- a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the system to:
- acquire, by the digital camera, a plurality of sequentially offset, overlapping, smeared sub-images of the sample wherein all of the sub-images are obtained with the biomolecule array maintained in a common state across all the sub-images;
- estimate a distance between sub-images by correlating pairs of sub-images;
- and
- assemble and average the sub-images to obtain improved SNR in a final image.
A biomolecule array imaging system comprising:
- a flow cell configured to contain an array of fluorescent biomolecules;
- a camera, including an image sensor directly connected to dedicated processing hardware;
- a pulsed illumination system;
- optics, including a microscope objective lens, a tube lens and a dichroic mirror;
- wherein,
- the flow cell is mounted on a translation stage that moves the flow cell in a direction of motion with respect to the optics;
- while the stage moves the flow cell, the pulsed illumination system illuminates a sub-section of the flow cell via the optics, and the camera captures a first set of overlapping sub-images of the flow cell via the optics;
- the pulsed illumination system sets an exposure time for the sub-images;
- the dedicated processing hardware estimates a distance between pairs of sub-images by cross-correlating the pairs of sub-images;
- and
- the dedicated processing hardware aligns and averages sub-images to form a final image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.