Imaging and analyzing parameters of small moving objects such as cells
AssigneeAmnis Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Basiji, William E. Ortyn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Light from an object such as a cell moving through an imaging system is collected and dispersed so that it can be imaged onto a time delay and integration (TDI) detector. The light can be emitted from a luminous object or can be light from a light source that has been scattered or not absorbed by the object or can include a light emission by one or more probes within or on the object. Multiple objects passing through the imaging system can be imaged, producing both scatter images and dispersed images at different locations on one or more TDI detectors.
Claims39
An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system comprising:
- (a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
- (b) a dispersing component disposed in the collection path so as to receive the light that has passed through the collection lens, dispersing the light into a plurality of separate light beams, each light beam being directed away from the dispersing component in a different predetermined direction;
- (c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the light beams from the dispersing component, producing a plurality of images corresponding to each of the light beams, each image being projected by the imaging lens toward a different predetermined location;
- and
- (d) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the plurality of images produced by the imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object, said TDI detector producing the output signal by integrating light from at least a portion of the object over time, while the relative movement between the object and the imaging system occurs.
A method for determining one or more characteristics of a moving object from an image of the object, while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) focussing light from the object along a collection path that is in a different direction than the relative movement between the object and the imaging system;
- (b) dispersing the light that is traveling along the collection path into a plurality of light beams;
- (c) focussing each of the light beams to produce a respective image corresponding to that light beam;
- (d) providing a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the respective images;
- and
- (e) analyzing an output signal from the TDI detector to determine at least one characteristic of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.