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Publication Number
US-11016028-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided herein are enhanced imaging techniques which allow for the use of multiple optical sensors, each of which corresponds to only a portion of an array, including utilizing individual sensors for each individual well of a multi-well plate. The provided systems and methods may reduce the amount of time to perform optical analysis of an array, reduce the amount of moving parts or mechanical devices required to perform optical analysis and/or reduce the amount of space between the sensors and the array being analyzed resulting in more compact, efficient optical analyzers.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an imaging system for a multi-well plate in which a receptacle receives a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells. A plurality of image capture devices are positioned in optical alignment with individual wells so that each image capture device captures an image of one of the wells. A plurality of light sources are placed in optical communication with the image capture devices so that the wells are illuminated for imaging without moving parts.
The invention uses optical conditioning to manage illumination quality and unwanted light. A first light gasket prevents light from the light sources shining directly into the image capture devices, and an emission filter filters unwanted wavelengths from entering the image capture devices. An excitation filter filters unwanted wavelengths from entering the wells, while a second light gasket prevents non-collimated light from entering the emission filter.
Lens arrays positioned between the image capture devices and the wells include convergent lenses to direct and focus light for imaging, and divergent lenses to scatter light to create an output light intensity that is substantially uniform in each well. The disclosed approach supports simultaneously generating the digital images corresponding to each well and aggregating them into a plate image, using optical components such as filters, light gaskets, and lens arrays to reduce stray light and improve uniformity and image quality.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, covering an imaging system architecture for multi-well plates and a corresponding imaging method for multi-well plates, each grounded in the same core optical alignment, filtering, lens-array illumination, and digital image aggregation approach.
Aligned parallel imaging with image capture device array
An imaging system comprising a receptacle for receiving a multi-well plate with a plurality of wells, and a plurality of image capture devices each in optical alignment with an individual well and configured to capture an image of the one well.
Optical communication illumination with light gaskets and filters
An imaging system including a plurality of light sources in optical communication with the image capture devices, with a first light gasket positioned between the image capture devices and the light sources to prevent direct shining, an emission filter positioned between the image capture devices and the wells to filter unwanted wavelengths entering the image capture devices, a second light gasket positioned between the image capture devices and the light sources to prevent non-collimated light from entering the emission filter, and an excitation filter positioned between the wells and the light sources to filter unwanted wavelengths entering the wells.
Lens arrays for directing, focusing, and substantially uniform well illumination
An imaging system including a first lens array positioned between the image capture devices and the wells with convergent lenses to direct light from the light sources toward the wells and to focus light into the image capture devices; and a second lens array positioned between the image capture devices and the wells including convergent lenses to focus light from the wells into the image capture devices and divergent lenses to scatter light from the light sources to create an output light intensity that is substantially uniform in each of the wells.
Aggregate image generation without moving parts
An imaging system that aggregates the plurality of captured digital images to simultaneously generate an aggregate image of the multi-well plate including each individual well without any moving parts.
Stacked filter illumination in a parallel imaging method
A method for imaging a multi-well plate by providing the multi-well plate with a plurality of wells and providing a plurality of image capture devices each in optical alignment with an individual well, and illuminating the plurality of wells with a plurality of light sources by passing light from the light sources through a plurality of stacked filters.
Simultaneous digital image generation per well
A method that simultaneously generates a digital image with each image capture device corresponding to each well thereby generating a plurality of digital images.
Aggregating digital images into a plate image
A method that aggregates the plurality of images into a plate image corresponding to the multi-well plate, with the stacked filters including the first light gasket, the emission filter, the first lens array with convergent lenses, the second light gasket, the excitation filter, the second lens array with convergent lenses and divergent lenses for substantially uniform output light intensity in each well, and the third light gasket to minimize stray light.
Across the independent claims, the inventive subject matter focuses on parallel optical alignment of image capture devices to wells, illumination and optical conditioning using light gaskets and excitation/emission filtering, lens-array arrangements that direct and focus light and produce substantially uniform illumination, and the aggregation of multiple captured digital images into an aggregate or plate image simultaneously without moving parts.
Stated Advantages
Simultaneously generate an aggregate image of a multi-well plate including each individual well without any moving parts.
Prevent direct shining of light from the light sources into the image capture devices.
Filter unwanted wavelengths entering the image capture devices and the wells.
Prevent non-collimated light from entering the emission filter.
Create an output light intensity that is substantially uniform in each well.
Minimize stray light.
Documented Applications
Imaging multi-well plates using plate formats including ELISA plates, TCID50/mL or EID50/mL plates, and microneutralization plates.
Analyzing an agglutination assay by characterizing agglutination parameters including selected options such as titer value, concentration, genotype, phenotype, serotype, viral resistance, inhibition, and the presence or absence of an agglutinating mediator.
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