Imaging and analyzing parameters of small moving objects such as cells

An imaging system for determining 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 from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
• (b) a plurality of light reflecting elements disposed in the collection path to receive light that has passed through the collection lens, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a different predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path, and passing light that does not have said different predefined characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• (c) a plurality of imaging lenses disposed such that for each light reflecting element, at least one imaging lens is positioned to receive one of reflected and transmitted light from that light reflecting element, thereby producing an image, each image projected by each of the plurality of imaging lens being directed toward a different predetermined location;
• and
• (d) a plurality of time delay integration (TDI) detectors disposed such that for each imaging lens, a TDI detector is positioned to receive an image of the object from, each detector producing an output that is indicative of a different characteristic of the object, each 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.

An imaging system for determining 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) at least one optical element disposed to receive light from the object, producing an image that is directed along a predetermined path;
• (b) a plurality of spaced-apart light reflecting elements disposed along said predetermined path, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a different predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path and passing light that does not have said predefined characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• and
• (c) a plurality of detectors disposed such that for each light reflecting element, a different one of the plurality of detectors receives said image via one of reflected and transmitted light from said light reflecting element, each detector producing an output that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object, a length of an optical path between each of said plurality of detectors and the at least one optical element producing and image being substantially equal.

An imaging system for determining 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 from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
• (b) a plurality of light reflecting elements disposed in the collection path, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a different predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path, and passing light that does not have said different predefined characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• (c) a plurality of imaging lenses disposed such that for each light reflecting element, at least one imaging lens is positioned to receive one of reflected and transmitted light from that light reflecting element, thereby producing an image, each image projected by each of the plurality of imaging lens being directed toward a different predetermined location;
• wherein at least one of said plurality of imaging lenses has a focal length differing from another of said plurality of imaging lenses, such that at least one of said plurality of imaging lenses generates a first image having a magnification that is different than a second image generated by another of said plurality of imaging lenses;
• and
• (d) a plurality of detectors disposed such that for each imaging lens, a detector is positioned to receive an image projected by a different imaging lens, each detector producing an output that is indicative of a different characteristic of the object, 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 a plurality of images of the object, while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, based upon light from the object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) focussing the 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) imaging the object using the focussed light;
• (c) at each of a plurality of successive points disposed along the collection path, reflecting light of a predefined characteristic, and passing light that does not have said predefined characteristic, a different predefined characteristic being associated with each of the plurality of points so that light of the different predefined characteristic is reflected from each successive point in a direction different from that at other points;
• (d) receiving one of the light that was reflected and the light that was transmitted at each successive point with a separate one of a plurality of time delay integration (TDI) detectors, each TDI detector producing an output signal in response thereto;
• and
• (e) analyzing the output signal from each TDI detector to determine at least one characteristic of the object.

A method for determining one or more characteristics of a moving object from a plurality of images of the object, while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) focussing the 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) at each of a plurality of successive points disposed along the collection path, reflecting light of a predefined characteristic, and passing light that does not have the predefined characteristic, a different predefined characteristic being associated with each of the plurality of successive points so that light of a different one of the predefined characteristics is at least one of reflected from each successive point in a direction different from that at other points and transmitted from each successive point in a direction different from that at other points;
• (c) producing an image of the object from light that is one of reflected and transmitted at each successive point, and directing said image toward a different one of a plurality of separate time delay integration (TDI) detectors;
• (d) receiving the image from light that was reflected at each successive point with one of the plurality of TDI detectors, each TDI detector producing an output signal in response thereto;
• and
• (e) analyzing the output signal from each detector to determine at least one characteristic of the object.

An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object entrained in a flow of fluid, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising:

• (a) a fluid channel having a generally elongate cross section, such that said fluid channel directs said flow of fluid into a generally broad flat flow;
• (b) a collection lens disposed so that light from the object entrained in fluid passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
• (c) at least one image lens disposed to receive light that has passed through the collection lens, thereby producing an image that is directed toward a predetermined location;
• (d) a plurality of light reflecting elements disposed to receive light that has passed through the collection lens, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path, and passing light that does not have that characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• and
• (e) a plurality of time delay integration (TDI) detectors, disposed such that for each light reflecting element, a TDI detector is positioned to receive an image of the object from one of reflected and transmitted light from that light reflecting element, each detector 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.

An imaging system for determining one or more characteristics of at least one object entrained in a flow of fluid, from an image of the at least one object, while there is relative movement between the at least one object and the imaging system, comprising:

• (a) a fluid channel having a generally elongate cross section, such that said fluid channel directs said flow of fluid into a generally broad flat flow;
• (b) a collection lens disposed so that light from the at least one object entrained in fluid passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
• (c) a plurality of light reflecting elements disposed in the collection path to receive light that has passed through the collection lens, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a different predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path, and passing light that does not have said different predefined characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• (d) a plurality of imaging lenses disposed such that for each light reflecting element, at least one imaging lens is positioned to receive one of reflected and transmitted light from that light reflecting element, thereby producing an image, each image projected by each of the plurality of imaging lens being directed toward a different predetermined location;
• and
• (e) a plurality of time delay integration (TDI) detectors disposed such that for each imaging lens, a TDI detector is positioned to receive an image of the at least one object, each detector producing an output that is indicative of a different characteristic of the at least one object, each TDI detector producing the output signal by integrating light from at least a portion of the at least one object over time, while the relative movement between the at least one object and the imaging system occurs.

An imaging system for determining one or more characteristics of at least one object entrained in a flow of fluid, from an image of the at least one object while there is relative movement between the at least one object and the imaging system, comprising:

• (a) a fluid channel having a generally elongate cross section, such that said fluid channel directs said flow of fluid into a generally broad flat flow;
• (b) at least one optical element disposed to receive light from the at least one object, producing an image that is directed along a predetermined path;
• (c) a plurality of spaced-apart light reflecting elements disposed along said predetermined path, each light reflecting element reflecting light of a different predefined characteristic along a different reflected light path and passing light that does not have said predefined characteristic, such that light from the object passes through each light reflecting only once;
• and
• (d) a plurality of detectors disposed such that for each light reflecting element, a different one of the plurality of detectors receives said image via one of reflected and transmitted light from said light reflecting element, each detector producing an output that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the at least one object, a length of an optical path between each of said plurality of detectors and the at least one optical element producing and image being substantially equal.

An imaging system adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object entrained in a flow of fluid from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system comprising:

• (a) a fluid channel having a generally elongate cross section, such that said fluid channel directs said flow of fluid into a generally broad flat flow;
• (b) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
• (c) 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;
• (d) 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
• (e) 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.