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US 9,001,200 B2Granted
Cell characterization using multiple focus planes
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsGene Breniman, Michael Griffin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for characterizing cells takes a series of digital images of a sample containing the cells. Each of the images is taken at a different plane of focus. One of the images is determined to have been taken at a plane of best focus. The system analyzes the digital image taken at the plane of best focus and at least one other of the digital images to classify cells in the sample as either live or dead.
Claims16
A method of characterizing cells, the method comprising:
- forming, using a camera, a series of digital images of a sample containing the cells, each digital image taken at a different focus plane in relation to the sample;
- automatically identifying, using a specially programmed computer, a cell in at least two of the digital images;
- and
- automatically analyzing, using the specially programmed computer, the two digital images to classify the identified cell in the sample as either live or dead;
- wherein analyzing the two digital images to classify a cell in the sample as either live of dead further comprises recognizing that, based on an analysis of a first of the two digital images, the cell cannot be classified as live;
- locating the cell in the second digital image;
- and classifying the cell as live based on an analysis of a second of the two digital images;
- and wherein locating the cell in the second digital image comprises generating a respective score for each object found in a region of the second one of the two digital images corresponding to a region containing the cell in first digital image, each score indicating a likelihood that the respective object is the cell;
- and selecting as the cell the object having the highest score.
6 more elements
A method of characterizing cells, the method comprising:
- forming, using a camera, a series of digital images of a sample containing the cells, each digital image taken at a different focus plane in relation to the sample;
- automatically identifying, using a specially programmed computer, a cell in a first one of the digital images;
- recognizing that, based on an analysis of the first digital image, the cell cannot be classified as live;
- successively analyzing images taken at other focus locations until either analysis of one of the images indicates that the cell is live or a predetermined maximum number of images to be analyzed has been reached;
- and
- when the cell has been identified as live, classifying the cell as live, and, when the predetermined maximum number of images to be analyzed has been reached without a determination that the cell is live, classifying the cell as dead.
3 more elements
A system for characterizing cells, the system comprising:
- an electronic image sensor;
- an optical system that forms on the electronic image sensor an image of a sample containing the cells;
- a mechanism for adjusting the focus location of the optical system;
- and
- a computer coupled to the electronic image sensor;
- wherein the computer controls the system to:
- form a series of digital images of the sample, each digital image taken at a different focus plane within the sample;
- automatically identify a cell in a first of at least two of the digital images;
- recognize that, based on an analysis of the first of the two digital images, the cell cannot be classified as live;
- generate a respective score for each object found in a region of the second of the two digital images corresponding to a region containing the cell in the first one of the two digital images, each score indicating a likelihood that the respective object is the cell;
- locate the cell in the second of the two digital images as the object having the highest score;
- and
- classify the cell as live based on an analysis of the second of the two digital images.
10 more elements
A system for characterizing cells, the system comprising:
- an electronic image sensor;
- an optical system that forms on the electronic image sensor an image of a sample containing the cells;
- a mechanism for adjusting the focus location of the optical system;
- and
- a computer coupled to the electronic image sensor;
- wherein the computer controls the system to:
- form a series of digital images of the sample, each digital image taken at a different focus plane within the sample;
- automatically identify a cell in a first of the series of digital images;
- recognize that, based on an analysis of the first of the series of digital images, the cell cannot be classified as live;
- successively analyze images taken at other focus locations until either analysis of one of the images indicates that the cell is live or a predetermined maximum number of images to be analyzed has been reached;
- and
- when the cell has been identified as live, classify the cell as live, and, when the predetermined maximum number of images to be analyzed has been reached without a determination that the cell is live, classify the cell as dead.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.