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Publication Number
US-11650207-B1
Publication Date
2023-05-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A flow of air including a fungal spore is directed to a collection cartridge. The fungal spore is trapped within the collection cartridge. The fungal spore is illuminated with ultraviolet (UV) light and a camera shutter associated with a camera sensor is opened for a time period. The camera sensor is allowed to collect light emitted from the fungal spore during a first portion of the time period. After the first portion of the time period has elapsed, a first burst of visible light originating from a first position is directed towards the fungal spore during a second portion of the time period. A second burst of visible light originating from a second position is directed towards the fungal spore. After the second portion of the time period has elapsed, the camera shutter is closed to generate an image. The image is analyzed to obtain a shape of the fungal spore.
Core Innovation
An airborne biological particle monitoring system directs a flow of air comprising a fungal spore to a collection cartridge and traps the fungal spore on a tape medium of the collection cartridge. The trapped fungal spore is positioned within a field of view of a camera sensor while the fungal spore remains trapped on the tape medium, and a UV light source illuminates the trapped fungal spore with UV light while the camera shutter is opened for a time period so the camera sensor collects light emitted from the trapped fungal spore during a first portion of the time period.
After the first portion of the time period has elapsed, first and second bursts of visible light are directed towards the trapped fungal spore, with the visible light bursts originating from a first position and a second position different from the first position. After the second portion of the time period has elapsed, the camera shutter is closed to generate an image and the image is analyzed to obtain a shape of the trapped fungal spore.
The document also describes using UV fluorescence together with visible-image processing for spore-state discrimination by inferring biomolecule concentration distributions from image pixel values at image coordinates (x, y). Fluorescent properties reference information linking fluorescent characteristics to known biomolecules and to known spore states is used together with camera sensor color sensitivity information to process inferred concentrations and yield an inferred spore state.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes one independent method claim, with dependent claims refining the illumination geometry and timing and, in at least one refinement, determining fungal spore state from biomolecule concentration inference correlated to fluorescent reference properties and camera sensor color sensitivity. Across the claim set, there are two core inventive features.
UV fluorescence image collection with shutter timing and two-position visible bursts for spore shape
A method directs a flow of air comprising a fungal spore to a collection cartridge, traps the fungal spore on a tape medium, positions the fungal spore within a field of view of a camera sensor while trapped, activates a UV light source to illuminate the trapped fungal spore with UV light, opens a camera shutter during a time period so the camera sensor collects light emitted during a first portion, then directs first and second bursts of visible light originating from a first position and a second position different from the first position during a second portion, closes the camera shutter to generate an image, and analyzes the image to obtain a shape of the trapped fungal spore.
Spore state determination from inferred biomolecule concentrations using fluorescence references and camera color sensitivity
The method determines a fungal spore state by inferring biomolecule concentrations from pixel values at image coordinates (x, y), using fluorescent properties reference information for known states of the fungal spore together with camera sensor information and color sensitivity characteristics of the camera sensor to process the inferred concentrations and output the fungal spore state.
Overall claim coverage centers on trapping spores on tape, collecting UV-emitted light during a first time portion, adding two bursts of visible light from different positions during a second time portion, and analyzing the image to obtain spore shape; additional refinement supports determining spore state by inferring biomolecule concentration from pixel data using fluorescence reference information and camera sensor color sensitivity information.
Stated Advantages
Obtains a shape of the trapped fungal spore by analyzing the generated image.
Determines a fungal spore state using inferred biomolecule concentrations correlated to fluorescent properties reference information and processed with camera sensor color-sensitivity characteristics.
Allows accurate shape and fluorescence information to be obtained in a single image generation process.
Reduces the need for expensive microscopy.
Documented Applications
Analyzing spores and determining a spore state.
Airborne fungal spore monitoring using trapping on a tape medium and imaging-based analysis to obtain spore shape and to infer spore state/health state.
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