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Publication Number
US-11609233-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An indicator of a first type and an indicator of a second type are attached to a unit of a chemical component in a sample to form a first multi-indicator complex. The first multi-indicator complex includes the unit of the chemical component, the indicator of the first type, and the indicator of the second type. The indicator of the first type and the indicator of the second type have different discernible characteristics. An image of the sample, including the first multi-indicator complex corresponding to the unit of the chemical component, is captured by an image sensor. Based on a first image of the sample, a count is generated of multi-indicator complexes that include an indicator of the first type and an indicator of the second type, including the first multi-indicator complex. Based on the count, a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample is identified.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for chemical analysis in which a sample containing a chemical component is imaged and multi-indicator complexes are identified and counted. A first indicator of a first type and a first indicator of a second type are attached to a first unit of the chemical component to form a first multi-indicator complex, and a second multi-indicator complex is formed at a second unit by attaching a second indicator of the first type and a second indicator of the second type to a second unit. Indicators of the first type and indicators of the second type have different discernible characteristics, and an image sensor captures an image including the first and second multi-indicator complexes.
The method measures, in the image, proximity between the indicators of the first type and the indicators of the second type within each multi-indicator complex. One or more processors identify the first multi-indicator complex based on the first proximity and identify the second multi-indicator complex based on the second proximity. Based on identifying the multi-indicator complexes, the processors generate a count of a plurality of multi-indicator complexes in the sample, including the first and second multi-indicator complexes.
Based on the count of multi-indicator complexes, the processors identify a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample. The disclosed approaches include determining presence or level from counts and identifications of indicators that are included in the multi-indicator complexes as well as indicators not included in the complexes, and using an empirically generated standard relationship based on counts to identify the presence or level.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims clm-00001, clm-00018, and clm-00019 cover an image-sensor method that forms multi-indicator complexes using two indicator types with different discernible characteristics, identifies complexes in an image using proximity, and derives the presence or level of a chemical component from counting and related indicator-inclusion determinations. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on proximity-based identification of multi-indicator complexes and on using counts, including indicators not included in complexes, to identify presence or level.
Proximity-based identification of multi-indicator complexes
Attaching a first indicator of a first type and a first indicator of a second type to a first unit of a chemical component to form a first multi-indicator complex and attaching a second indicator of the first type and a second indicator of the second type to a second unit to form a second multi-indicator complex, where the indicators of the first type and indicators of the second type have different discernible characteristics; capturing an image of the sample including the complexes; measuring proximity in the image between indicators of the first type and the indicators of the second type in each complex; identifying the first multi-indicator complex based on the first proximity and identifying the second multi-indicator complex based on the second proximity.
Count-based determination of chemical component presence or level from identified complexes
Based on identifying the first multi-indicator complex and the second multi-indicator complex, generating a count of a plurality of multi-indicator complexes in the sample, the plurality including the first and second multi-indicator complexes; and based on the count, identifying a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample.
Indicator-inclusion and non-inclusion counting for presence or level
Generating, in the image, a count of a first plurality of multi-indicator complexes including a first multi-indicator complex and a second multi-indicator complex; identifying a first plurality of indicators of the first type that are not included in the first plurality of multi-indicator complexes; identifying a second plurality of indicators of the second type that are not included in the first plurality of multi-indicator complexes; and based on the count and the identification of indicators not included, identifying a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample.
Singleton indicator determination combined with proximity-based complex identification
Attaching a first indicator to a unit of a chemical component in a sample; attaching a second indicator of a same indicator type as the first indicator to one or more third indicators to form a first multi-indicator complex comprising the second indicator and the one or more third indicators, wherein the first indicator is not included in the first multi-indicator complex; capturing an image where the first indicator, the second indicator, and the one or more third indicators are visible; measuring proximity in the image between the second indicator and the one or more third indicators; identifying the first multi-indicator complex based on the measured proximity; determining that the first indicator is a singleton indicator in the image; and based on the determination and based on the identification of the first multi-indicator complex, identifying a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on forming multi-indicator complexes from two differently characterized indicator types, imaging the sample, using processor-measured proximity to identify each multi-indicator complex, and then deriving the chemical component presence or level from counts. Additional independent-claim structure supports determining presence or level using indicators not included in complexes and using singleton indicator determination together with proximity-based identification.
Stated Advantages
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