Methods for detecting fluorescent signals in a biological sample
Inventors
Kim, Young Min • Zhu, Yanning • Agarwal, Yash • Wang, Xiuzhong • Armstrong, Aaron • Borgerding, Robert • MacGinitie, Andrew • Seppo, Antti • Ichetovkin, Ilia • Kilpatrick, Michael • Tsipouras, Petros • Tafas, Triantafyllos
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7829868-B2
Publication Date
2010-11-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.
Core Innovation
The invention uses an automated microscope and an automated microscopy workflow in which a slide contains electronically interrogatable data recorded therewith and a biological sample thereon. The electronically-interrogatable data are read from the slide, and the data are used to determine how the biological sample is to be scanned by the automated microscope.
The slide is scanned by an automated microscope in the manner dictated by the electronically-interrogatable data recorded therewith. From the scans, the workflow determines a test outcome indicative of a state of the biological sample, or provides an analytical outcome representing the sample.
In broader implementations, the invention provides an automated microscope comprising a slide stage, at least one objective lens, image capturing means, programmable means for operating according to a protocol, and programmable means for providing an analytical outcome. Interrogatable data on one or more microscope slides provide information related to a protocol for analysis, and the microscope analyzes each sample in accordance with the analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data.
High throughput embodiments sequentially transport slide cassettes and sequentially transport slides contained in the cassettes into a position suitable for loading the slide onto the microscope stage. The invention also includes computer-readable storage medium embodiments tangibly embodying programs of instructions executable by a computer, where the program interrogates slide data, positions the slide, causes analysis according to an analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data, and outputs an analytical outcome representing the sample.
Claims Coverage
The document provides independent claims covering methods and computer-readable storage media for automated microscopic analysis driven by electronically interrogatable data on microscope slides. The inventive features center on using encoded slide interrogatable data to dictate microscope scanning and analysis and deriving an analytical outcome or test outcome from the resulting scans or analysis, including high-throughput loading.
Electronically interrogatable slide data to determine automated scanning
Obtaining a slide containing electronically interrogatable data recorded therewith and having a biological sample thereon; reading the electronically-interrogatable data; determining from the electronically-interrogatable data how the biological sample is to be scanned by an automated microscope; scanning the slide with the automated microscope in the manner dictated by the electronically-interrogatable data; and determining from the scans a test outcome indicative of a state of the biological sample.
Automated microscope analysis according to protocol encoded in slide interrogatable data
Providing an automated microscope comprising a slide stage, at least one objective lens, image capturing means, programmable means for operating the microscope according to a protocol, and programmable means for providing an analytical outcome; providing a microscope slide containing a sample and interrogatable data thereon wherein the interrogatable data provide information related to a protocol for analysis of the sample; interrogating the data; positioning the slide on the slide stage; causing the microscope to analyze the sample in accordance with the analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data; and causing the microscope to provide an analytical outcome representing the sample.
High throughput automated microscopic analysis with sequential cassette and slide transport
Providing an automated microscope comprising a slide stage, at least one objective lens, at least one slide cassette containing at least one microscope slide therein, programmable means for operating the microscope according to a protocol, and programmable means for providing an analytical outcome; providing a plurality of microscope slides each containing a sample and interrogatable data thereon, wherein the plurality of slides is contained in one or more of said slide cassettes and wherein the interrogatable data provide information related to a protocol for analysis of said sample; sequentially transporting each of said slide cassettes into a position suitable for loading a slide to said microscope stage; sequentially transporting each of said plurality of slides contained in said transported slide cassette to said microscope stage; interrogating the data found on each of said plurality of slides; positioning each of said plurality of slides on the slide stage; causing the microscope to analyze the sample on each of said plurality of slides in accordance with the analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data; and causing the microscope to provide an analytical outcome representing the sample on each of said plurality of slides.
Computer-readable storage medium for automated microscopic analysis using protocol-encoded slide data
A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer for a method of microscopic analysis using an automated microscope comprising a slide stage, at least one objective lens, image capturing means, programmable means for operating the microscope according to a protocol, and programmable means for providing an analytical outcome, wherein the program comprises instructions for interrogating data on a microscope slide wherein the interrogatable data provide information related to a protocol for analysis of a sample included on said slide; instructions for positioning the slide on the slide stage; instructions for causing the microscope to analyze the sample in accordance with the analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data; and instructions for causing the microscope to provide an analytical outcome representing the sample.
Computer-readable storage medium for high throughput microscopic analysis with sequential cassette and slide workflow
A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer for a method of high throughput microscopic analysis wherein the method uses an automated microscope comprising a slide stage, at least one objective lens, at least one slide cassette containing at least one microscope slide therein, programmable means for operating the microscope according to a protocol, and programmable means for providing an analytical outcome, wherein the program comprises instructions for sequentially transporting each of said slide cassettes into a position suitable for loading a slide to said microscope stage; instructions for each transported slide cassette, for sequentially transporting each of said plurality of slides contained in the transported slide cassette to said microscope stage; instructions for interrogating data on each of said plurality of slides wherein the interrogatable data provide information related to a protocol for analysis of a sample included on said slide; instructions for positioning each of said plurality of slides on a slide stage; instructions for causing the microscope to analyze the sample in accordance with the analytical protocol encoded in the interrogatable data; and instructions for causing the microscope to provide an analytical outcome representing the sample on each of said plurality of slides.
Electronically interrogatable slide data to determine automated scanning and test outcome
Obtaining a slide containing electronically interrogatable data recorded therewith and having a biological sample thereon; reading the electronically-interrogatable data from the slide; determining from the electronically-interrogatable data how the biological sample is to be scanned by an automated microscope; scanning with an automated microscope the slide in the manner dictated by the electronically-interrogatable data recorded therewith; and determining from said scans a test outcome indicative of said biological sample.
The shared inventive concept is that electronically interrogatable data on a microscope slide encode a protocol that dictates automated microscope scanning and analysis, and the resulting scans or analysis are used to determine a test outcome indicative of the biological sample state or an analytical outcome representing the sample, including high-throughput sequential cassette and slide processing and corresponding computer-readable storage medium implementations.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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