Time delay integration acquisition for spatial genomics imaging
Inventors
Johnson, Joseph R. • Li, Ang • Tsang Min Ching, Jean Marc Fan Chung • Vaez-Iravani, Mehdi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12455238-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
An imaging system for capturing spatial-omic images of biological tissue samples may include an imaging chamber configured to secure a biological tissue sample placed in the imaging system; a Time Delay and Integration (TDI) imager comprising at least one scan line; a light source configured to illuminate an area on the biological tissue sample that is being captured by the TDI imager; and a controller configured to cause the TDI imager to scan the biological tissue sample using one or more TDI scans of the biological tissue sample.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an imaging system for capturing spatial-omic images of biological tissue samples. The system includes an imaging chamber configured to secure a biological tissue sample, and a Time Delay and Integration (TDI) imager comprising a plurality of scan lines. A light source and a fiber optic bundle comprising a plurality of fiber-optic lines deliver light of different wavelengths to illuminate an area on the biological tissue sample that is being captured by a set of corresponding scan lines of the TDI imager. A controller causes the TDI imager to scan the biological tissue sample using one or more TDI scans of the biological tissue sample.
To align illumination with the TDI imaging geometry, the fiber-optic lines and their apertures define illumination areas on the tissue sample. The illumination area is approximately circular or the fiber-optic line includes a rectangular-shaped aperture, and the aperture shape can match the field-of-view shape of a TDI imager. The system supports multiple fiber-optic lines arranged so that each line directs light to different portions of a biological tissue sample.
The invention also enables multi-wavelength spatial-omic capture using TDI scanning. Light from a light source is directed through a fiber-optic bundle with fiber-optic lines configured to deliver different wavelengths to illuminate different areas on the biological tissue sample, and the TDI imager scans the sample where each illuminated area is captured by corresponding sets of scan lines. In a refinement, each area is simultaneously illuminated with a distinct wavelength, and the controller causes the TDI imager to simultaneously capture a plurality of distinct images corresponding to the distinct wavelengths captured by corresponding sets of scan lines.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00014. The claim coverage includes three inventive features centered on an imaging chamber with a TDI imager, multi-wavelength illumination delivered through a fiber optic bundle, and scanning or simultaneous capture using sets of TDI scan lines mapped to wavelength-specific illumination areas, yielding spatial-omic images.
TDI imaging system with fiber-optic bundle delivering different wavelengths to corresponding scan lines
An imaging chamber configured to secure a biological tissue sample; a Time Delay and Integration (TDI) imager comprising a plurality of scan lines; a light source and a fiber optic bundle comprising a plurality of fiber-optic lines configured to deliver light of different wavelengths to illuminate an area on the biological tissue sample that is being captured by a set of corresponding scan lines of the TDI imager; and a controller configured to cause the TDI imager to scan the biological tissue sample using one or more TDI scans of the biological tissue sample.
Method of capturing spatial-omic images by fiber-optic multi-wavelength illumination and TDI scanning
Securing a biological tissue sample in an imaging chamber of an imaging system; directing light from a light source through a fiber-optic bundle comprising a plurality of fiber-optic lines configured to deliver light of different wavelengths to illuminate an area on the biological tissue sample; and causing a Time Delay and Integration (TDI) imager to scan the biological tissue sample where the biological tissue sample is illuminated in individual areas corresponding to each of the plurality of fiber-optic lines that are captured by corresponding sets of scan lines of the TDI imager using one or more TDI scans of the biological tissue sample.
Simultaneous multi-wavelength capture with distinct images mapped to scan line sets
An imaging chamber configured to secure a biological tissue sample placed in the imaging system; a Time Delay and Integration (TDI) imager; a light source configured to illuminate areas on the biological tissue, each area being simultaneously illuminated with a distinct wavelength; and a controller configured to cause the TDI imager to simultaneously capture a plurality of distinct images of the biological tissue sample, wherein each of the plurality of distinct images corresponds to one of the plurality of distinct wavelengths captured by a corresponding set of scan lines of the TDI imager.
Overall, the independent claims cover an imaging system and corresponding method in which a TDI imager with multiple scan lines captures spatial-omic images of a biological tissue sample under fiber-optic bundle illumination with different wavelengths mapped to corresponding areas and scan line sets, including configurations that simultaneously capture a plurality of distinct wavelength-specific images.
Stated Advantages
Reduces acquisition time by eliminating per-field mechanical repositioning, stabilization, and focus cycles.
Minimizes unused or wasted light by shaping illumination to match TDI scan-line geometry.
Avoids fluorophore damage.
Documented Applications
Capturing spatial-omic images of biological tissue samples using a TDI imager with multi-wavelength capture and corresponding scan line sets.
Performing multi-wavelength spatial-omic imaging based on simultaneous distinct wavelengths captured as multiple distinct images.
Multi-hyb/fluorophore cycles spatial-omics imaging workflow for capturing spatial-omic images.
General imaging workflow for spatial-omics image capture and a method flowchart for capturing spatial-omic images.
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