Method for presenting and evaluation of images of micro-titer plate properties

A system for determining selected properties of a microplate comprising a plurality of sample wells, each sample well being open at a top portion of the microplate and including a well surface, the well surface being disposed on the top portion opposite a plate bottom of the microplate, the system comprising:

• a focusing laser for generating a focusing light along an optical path;
• an objective lens substantially centered at the optical path and mounted on an objective lens support that includes z motor components configured to move the objective lens along a z-axis;
• an x-y stage configured to support the microplate, the x-y stage comprising x-y motor components configured to move the x-y stage to selected positions on an x-y plane;
• a light sensor positioned in the optical path to receive light reflected from the microplate and to sense an intensity level of the light reflected from the microplate;
• and
• a controller being implemented in a personal computer configured to control the focusing laser, the z motor components, and the x-y motor components, and to detect the intensity level measured by the light sensor, further comprising a computer-implemented microplate evaluation system configured for:
• performing a focusing function to determine a well surface z-position for a plurality of x-y positions in a selected area of the microplate encompassing one of the wells based on an intensity indicative of a best focus of the well surface;
• performing the focusing function to determine a plate bottom z-position for the plurality of x-y positions in the selected area based on an intensity indicative of a best focus of the plate bottom;
• moving the microplate to position the plurality of x-y positions within the selected area of the microplate in the optical path to perform the focusing functions;
• and
• using the well surface z-positions and the plate bottom z-positions at the plurality of x-y positions to generate an image in a 3-D format to depict the well bottom and plate bottom;
• and
• to display the image on a display to illustrate a flatness of the well bottom, the flatness of the well bottom being one of the selected properties of the microplate;
• the controller, the laser, the light sensor, x-y stage and objective lens being integrated into an imaging system, wherein the computer-implemented microplate evaluation system is configured to be added after manufacture of the imaging system.