US 6,975,400 B2Granted

Imaging and analyzing parameters of small moving objects such as cells

AssigneeAmnis Corporation

InventorsWilliam E. Ortyn, David A. Basiji

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Light from an object such as a cell moving through an imaging system is collected and dispersed so that it is imaged onto a plurality of separate detectors. The light is spectrally dispersed by a plurality of spaced-apart dichroic reflectors, each detector receiving light from a different one of the dichroic reflectors. Each dichroic filter reflects light of a different predefined color, passing light of other colors. The output signal from each detector is indicative of a different characteristic of the object. In one configuration, each detector is provided with a separate imaging lens. In another configuration, the detectors are spaced at varying distances from the corresponding dichroic reflectors, so that separate imaging lenses are not required.

Claims10

Dependent claims

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) 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 element 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 the 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 produces a first image having a magnification that is different than a second image produced by another of said plurality of imaging lenses;
and
(e) 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.

4 more elements

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) introducing the object into a fluid channel having a generally elongate cross section, such that the fluid channel directs the flow of fluid into a generally broad flat flow;
(b) while the object is disposed within the generally broad flat flow, focusing 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;
(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 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;
(d) 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;
(e) receiving the image produced at each successive point with one of the plurality of TDI detectors, each TDI detector producing an output signal in response thereto;
and
(f) analyzing the output signal from each TDI detector to determine at least one characteristic of the object.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/628,662Filed 28 Jul 2003 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Jan 1999
Published: US 2004/0021868 A15 Feb 2004
Granted: 13 Dec 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

G02B 27/148
Operating by reflection only: including stacked surfaces having at least one double-pass partially reflecting surface
C12Q 1/6816
Hybridisation assays: characterised by the detection means
G01J 3/2803
Investigating the spectrum: using photoelectric array detector
G01J 3/2823
Investigating the spectrum: imaging spectrometer

Family

Application60/117,203Us provisional application · filed 25 Jan 1999
Application09/490,478Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jan 2000
Application09/538,604Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Mar 2000
Application60/240,125Us provisional application · filed 12 Oct 2000
Application09/820,434Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Mar 2001
US 6,211,955 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Apr 2001
US 6,249,341 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Jun 2001
Application09/976,257Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Oct 2001
US 2004/0021868 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Feb 2004
US 6,608,682 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,473,176 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0021018 A1Published application
US 2002/0071121 A1Published application
US 6,975,400 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.