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US 8,259,170 B2Granted
Integrated calibration sample bay for fluorescence readers
AssigneeCellomics, Inc.
InventorsRichard C. Salisbury, Dirk John VandenBerg, III, Kim Anthony Ippolito
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stage assembly, an imaging system that uses the stage assembly, and methods for using the stage assembly in a high content screening system. The stage assembly includes a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface and an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces to receive a specimen plate. The stage assembly also includes a calibration sample bay formed in the stage. A calibration sample can also be secured within the calibration sample bay.
Claims28
A stage assembly for use in a high content screening system, the stage assembly comprising:
- a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the stage bounding an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces;
- a specimen plate holder removably positioned within the opening, the specimen plate holder being configured to receive a microtiter plate holding a plurality of biological cells;
- first and second calibration sample bays respectively formed on the stage at first and second locations spaced apart from the opening;
- first and second calibration samples removably secured within the first and second calibration sample bays respectively, one of the first and second calibration samples comprising a photo-bleaching fluorescent material and the other of the first and second calibration samples comprising a non-photo-bleaching fluorescent material.
1 more element
An imaging system for use in a high content screening system, the imaging system comprising:
- a stage housing;
- a stage assembly disposed on the stage housing, the stage assembly comprising:
- a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the stage bounding an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the opening being configured to receive a microtiter plate holding a plurality of biological cells;
- and
- a calibration sample bay formed on the stage at a location spaced apart from the opening, the calibration sample bay being configured to receive a calibration sample that is used to calibrate the imaging system;
- a microscope having an objective through which information from the stage assembly is captured, the objective being positioned below the stage assembly;
- and
- one or more motors that move the stage assembly with respect to the objective, such that the stage assembly is moveable between a first position where at least a portion of the opening is disposed directly above the objective, and a second position where the calibration sample bay is disposed directly above the objective.
5 more elements
A high content screening system, comprising:
- a plurality of imaging systems, each imaging system comprising:
- a stage housing;
- a stage assembly disposed on the stage housing, the stage assembly comprising:
- a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the stage bounding an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the opening being configured to receive a microtiter plate holding a plurality of biological cells;
- and
- a calibration sample bay formed on the stage at a location spaced apart from the opening, the calibration sample bay being configured to receive a calibration sample that is used to calibrate the imaging system;
- a microscope having an objective through which information from the stage assembly is captured, the objective being positioned below the stage assembly;
- and
- one or more motors that move the stage assembly with respect to the objective, such that the stage assembly is moveable between a first position where at least a portion of the opening is disposed directly above the objective, and a second position where the calibration sample bay is disposed directly above the objective;
- and
- a computing device that calibrates the imaging systems with respect to each other based on measurements obtained from each imaging system using the calibration sample bays.
8 more elements
A high content screening system, comprising:
- a plurality of imaging systems, each imaging system comprising:
- a stage housing;
- a stage assembly disposed on the stage housing, the stage assembly comprising:
- a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the stage bounding an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the opening being configured to receive a microtiter plate holding a plurality of biological cells;
- and
- a calibration sample bay formed on the stage at a location spaced apart from the opening, the calibration sample bay being configured to receive a calibration sample that is used to calibrate the imaging system;
- a microscope having an objective through which information from the stage assembly is captured, the objective being positioned below the stage assembly;
- and
- one or more motors that move the stage assembly with respect to the objective, such that the stage assembly is moveable between a first position where at least a portion of the opening is disposed directly above the objective, and a second position where the calibration sample bay is disposed directly above the objective;
- and
- a computing device that normalizes data values obtained from the imaging systems based on measurements obtained from each imaging system using the calibration sample bays.
8 more elements
A method of using an imaging system for high content screening of biological cells, the method comprising:
- moving a stage assembly of an imaging system to a first position in which a well is aligned with an objective of the imaging system to allow an image to be captured of biological material disposed within the well, the well being disposed within a microtiter plate removably disposed on a specimen plate holder which is removably positioned on the stage assembly;
- moving the stage assembly to a second position in which a first calibration sample bay is aligned with the objective to allow an image to be captured of a first calibration sample disposed within the first calibration sample bay, the first calibration sample bay being formed on the stage assembly and spaced apart from the specimen plate;
- and
- moving the stage assembly to a third position in which a second calibration sample bay is aligned with the objective to allow an image to be captured of a second calibration sample disposed within the second calibration sample bay, the second calibration sample bay also being formed on the stage assembly and being spaced apart from the microtiter plate.
1 more element
A method of calibrating an imaging system used for high content screening of biological cells, the method comprising:
- positioning a first calibration sample in a calibration sample bay of a stage assembly of an imaging system, the calibration sample bay being spaced apart from an opening in the stage assembly configured to receive a microtiter plate;
- moving the stage assembly so that the calibration sample bay is aligned above an objective of the imaging system;
- capturing an image of the first calibration sample disposed within the calibration sample bay using the objective;
- processing the captured image to determine calibration results;
- adjusting system parameters of the imaging system based on the calibration results;
- removing the first calibration sample from the calibration sample bay;
- and
- positioning a second calibration sample in the calibration sample bay.
5 more elements
A method of calibrating a plurality of imaging systems with respect to each other, the imaging systems being used for high content screening of biological cells, the method comprising:
- for each imaging system, calibrating the imaging system by:
- positioning a calibration sample in a calibration sample bay of a stage assembly of the imaging system, the calibration sample bay being spaced apart from an opening in the stage assembly configured to receive a microtiter plate;
- moving the stage assembly so that the calibration sample bay is aligned above an objective of the imaging system;
- capturing an image of the calibration sample disposed within the calibration sample bay using the objective;
- processing the captured image to determine calibration results;
- and
- adjusting system parameters of the imaging system based on the calibration results;
- and
- adjusting the results of high content screening of each imaging system so as to normalize the results with respect to all of the imaging systems.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.