System and methods for rapid and automated screening of cells

An optomechanical system for automated analysis of cellular elaboration, comprising:

• an electronic camera;
• an optical subsystem providing a focused image for the camera;
• a positioning subsystem for positioning specimens in a plurality of containers at a location within the range of the optical subsystem;
• and
• a computer controlling the camera and the subsystems, the computer running a computer program on a computer-readable medium including a set of selectable sub-programs together defining a general control process for the analysis of cellular elaboration;
• wherein the control sub-programs include a software autofocus algorithm that accommodates specimens that extend beyond a single plane of focus, the method comprising:
• using the best focus position achieved by the positional autofocus as a reference;
• moving into the specimen container a fixed distance;
• acquiring a set of images spanning a distance range large enough to encompass the specimen;
• and
• combining the acquired images into a single image that best shows a thin optical section of the specimen.

An optomechanical system for automated analysis of cellular elaboration, comprising:

• an electronic camera;
• an optical subsystem providing a focused image for the camera;
• a positioning subsystem for positioning specimens in a plurality of containers at a location within the range of the optical subsystem;
• and
• a computer controlling the camera and the subsystems, the computer running a computer program on a computer-readable medium including a set of selectable sub-programs together defining a general control process for the analysis of cellular elaboration;
• wherein the control sub-programs include a software autofocus algorithm that accommodates specimens that extend beyond a single plane of focus, the method comprising:
• using the best focus position achieved by the positional autofocus as a reference;
• moving into the specimen container a fixed distance;
• acquiring a set of images spanning a distance range large enough to encompass the specimen;
• and
• performing image deconvolution on the acquired set of images to create a single image that best shows a thin optical section of the specimen.