High resolution imaging microscope (HIRIM) and uses thereof
AssigneeKairos Scientific, Inc.
InventorMary M. Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention pertains to a high resolution imaging microscope, and more specifically, to a digital imaging spectrophotometer (DIS) configured to enable the direct determination of the ground state absorption spectra of microscopic samples from violet to near infrared. The instrument is capable of simultaneously recording hundreds of spectra, and can, using image processing techniques identify features (such as a single microbial cell) on a microscope slide or thin section. The invention additionally relates to the use of such an instrument.
Claims21
A method for obtaining high resolution spectra of microscopic features, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a high resolution digital imaging spectrophotometer (DIS) comprising:
- (1) a microscope;
- (2) a digital imaging camera;
- and
- (3) a variable wavelength narrowband light source;
- (b) obtaining a set of images of a sample at multiple wavelengths using the DIS;
- (c) generating a reference signal indicative of the instrument response of the DIS;
- (d) locating at least one feature of interest in the set of images;
- (e) determining a spectrum for each feature of interest relative to the reference signal;
- and
- (f) displaying the determined spectra in a color-coded contour plot.
A high resolution digital imaging spectrophotometer (DIS) comprising:
- (a) a microscope;
- (b) a variable wavelength narrowband light source connected to the microscope;
- (c) a digital imaging camera that obtains a set of images from the microscope at multiple wavelengths;
- and
- (d) a computer configured to:
- (1) generate a reference signal indicative of the instrument response of the DIS;
- (2) locate at least one feature of interest in the set of images;
- (3) determine a spectrum for each feature of interest relative to the reference signal;
- and
- (4) display the determined spectra in a color-coded contour plot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.