Imaging and analyzing parameters of small moving objects such as cells in broad flat flow
AssigneeAmnis Corporation
InventorsWilliam E. Ortyn, David A. Basiji
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 in a broad, flat flow, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system comprising:
- (a) a collection lens having a field angle in an object space that is sufficiently large to collect light traveling from the object that is in the broad, flat flow so that the light 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 from the object 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 in the broad, flat flow, 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 adapted to determine one or more characteristics of an object in a broad, flat flow, from an image of the object while there is relative movement between the object and the imaging system, comprising:
- (a) a collection lens having a field angle in an object space that is sufficiently large to collect light traveling from the object that is in the broad, flat flow so that the light passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path;
- (b) a light dispersing element disposed in the collection path so as to disperse the light that has passed through the collection lens, producing dispersed light;
- (c) an imaging lens disposed to receive the dispersed light, producing an image from the dispersed light;
- and
- (d) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive the image produced by the imaging lens, producing an output signal that is indicative of at least one characteristic of the object in the broad, flat flow, 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.