Sample processing improvements for microscopy
Inventors
Fine, Alan Marc • Macaulay, Hershel • Hymes-Vandermeulen, Noah
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11874452-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
Among other things, a first surface is configured to receive a sample and is to be used in a microscopy device. There is a second surface to be moved into a predefined position relative to the first surface to form a sample space that is between the first surface and the second surface and contains at least part of the sample. There is a mechanism configured to move the second surface from an initial position into the predefined position to form the sample space. When the sample is in place on the first surface, the motion of the second surface includes a trajectory that is not solely a linear motion of the second surface towards the first surface.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a microscopy system in which a fluid specimen is arranged between a first surface and a second surface, forming a single layer of sample units in at least a portion of a space between the first surface and the second surface. The sample units comprise a light absorbing substance, and the specimen is illuminated with light having a first wavelength while an image is captured with a light-sensitive pixel array.
A concentration of the light absorbing substance is determined from the image by identifying a first sample unit in the single layer and determining a first intensity corresponding to light passing through the first sample unit. A background intensity at a location of the first sample unit is determined, and a path length through the single layer of sample units is determined, which are used together with the first wavelength to determine the concentration.
The invention further constrains the geometry of the optical measurement by determining the path length based on the distance between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface is arranged to receive the fluid specimen within a near-field distance of a light-sensitive pixel array, and the near-field distance is less than the first wavelength, while a movement mechanism moves the second surface to a predetermined distance to form the single layer.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims: an apparatus claim and a method claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive concept is implemented as forming a single layer of sample units containing a light absorbing substance between two surfaces, illuminating the specimen with light of a first wavelength and capturing an image with a light-sensitive pixel array, and determining a concentration by combining first intensity through a sample unit, background intensity at the sample unit location, and a path length with the wavelength.
Forming a single layer of sample units between first and second surfaces
Moving a second surface towards a first surface on which a fluid specimen is arranged to form a single layer of sample units in the fluid specimen in at least a portion of a space between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the sample units comprise a light absorbing substance
Wavelength-based illumination and image capture with a light-sensitive pixel array
Illuminating the fluid specimen with light having a first wavelength; capturing an image of the fluid specimen illuminated with the light having the first wavelength
Concentration determination using first intensity, background intensity, wavelength, and path length
Identifying, in the image, a first sample unit of the single layer of sample units; determining, based on the image, a first intensity corresponding to light passing through the first sample unit; determining, based on the image, a background intensity at a location of the first sample unit; determining a path length through the single layer of sample units; and based on the first intensity, the background intensity, the first wavelength, and the path length, determining a concentration of the light absorbing substance
Near-field distance constraint relative to the first wavelength (apparatus)
A first surface arranged to receive a fluid specimen within a near-field distance of a light-sensitive pixel array, and the near-field distance is less than the first wavelength
Predetermined second-surface distance to form the single layer (apparatus)
A second surface and a movement mechanism configured to move the second surface to within a predetermined distance from the first surface, to form a single layer of sample units in the fluid specimen in at least a portion of a space between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the sample units comprise a light absorbing substance
Electronics configured to perform image-based intensity, background, path length, and concentration determination (apparatus)
Electronics coupled to the light source and the light-sensitive pixel array, the electronics configured to perform operations comprising: causing the light source to illuminate the fluid specimen with light having a first wavelength; causing the light-sensitive pixel array to capture an image of the fluid specimen illuminated with the light having the first wavelength; identifying, in the image, a first sample unit of the single layer of sample units; determining, based on the image, a first intensity corresponding to light passing through the first sample unit; determining, based on the image, a background intensity at a location of the first sample unit; determining a path length through the single layer of sample units; and based on the first intensity, the background intensity, the first wavelength, and the path length, determining a concentration of the light absorbing substance
Across the independent method and apparatus claims, the core coverage centers on forming a single layer of sample units containing a light absorbing substance between two closely spaced surfaces, illuminating with light of a first wavelength and capturing an image, then determining concentration using first intensity through an identified sample unit, background intensity at the sample-unit location, and a path length combined with the first wavelength.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?