Imaging device and imaging method

Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging device and imaging method that can capture multiple objects held within a well without any excess or deficiency. [Solution] The imaging device comprises a container having a well 21 having an opening 22, a side wall 23, and a bottom 24; an illumination device that irradiates the container with light from the opening 22 side of the well 21; and an imaging unit that images an object to be imaged inside the well 21 from the bottom 24 side of the well 21. The illumination device has at least two light sources 31 in a space surrounded by a curved surface Sc connecting the outer peripheral edge 24a of the bottom 24 of the well 21 and the outer peripheral edge 22a of the opening 22 of the well 21. The curved surface Sc is composed of a straight line connecting the outer peripheral edge 24a of the bottom 24 and the outer peripheral edge 22a of the opening 22, and the straight line Ls connecting the at least two light sources 31 does not intersect with the plane that constitutes the bottom 24.

Claims

1. A container having a well with an opening, side walls and a bottom, A lighting device that irradiates light into the container from the opening side of the well, The system includes an imaging unit that images an object to be imaged inside the well from the bottom side of the well, The lighting device has at least two light sources within a space surrounded by a curved surface connecting the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of the well and the outer peripheral edge of the opening of the well. The curved surface is composed of a straight line connecting the outer edge of the bottom and the outer edge of the opening, The straight line connecting the at least two light sources does not intersect the plane constituting the bottom. The side wall of the well has a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, and the horizontal cross-section of the first side wall portion gradually decreases from the opening toward the second side wall portion located toward the bottom of the side wall. The second side wall portion has a gradually decreasing horizontal cross-section from the first side wall portion side toward the bottom side. An imaging device wherein the inclination angle of the first side wall portion with respect to the central axis of the well and the inclination angle of the second side wall portion with respect to the central axis are different from each other, or the second side wall portion includes a curved surface.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two light sources are located on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the well, and when A is the horizontal distance of the region on the plane and surrounded by the curved surface, the distance between the at least two light sources is A / 2 or less.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a diffuser plate is arranged between the lighting device and the container.

4. The container has a plurality of wells, and the height of the bottom of at least one of the wells is different from the height of the bottom of the other wells. The depth of field of the imaging unit is greater than or equal to the difference between the height of the bottom of the lowest well and the height of the bottom of the highest well. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the depth of field region of the imaging unit includes both the height of the bottom of the highest-positioned well and the height of the bottom of the lowest-positioned well.

5. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container is placed on a stage, and a transparent member is placed in at least the region of the stage where the well is located.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stage further comprises a barrier member located around the transparent member.

7. A step of preparing a container having a well with an opening, side walls and a bottom, A lighting device is used to irradiate the container with light from the opening side of the well, The process includes the step of imaging an object to be imaged in the well from the bottom side of the well, The lighting device has at least two light sources within a space surrounded by a curved surface connecting the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of the well and the outer peripheral edge of the opening of the well. The curved surface is composed of a straight line connecting the outer edge of the bottom and the outer edge of the opening, The straight line connecting the at least two light sources does not intersect the plane constituting the bottom. The side wall of the well has a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, and the horizontal cross-section of the first side wall portion gradually decreases from the opening toward the second side wall portion located toward the bottom of the side wall. The second side wall portion has a gradually decreasing horizontal cross-section from the first side wall portion side toward the bottom side. An imaging method wherein the inclination angle of the first side wall portion with respect to the central axis of the well and the inclination angle of the second side wall portion with respect to the central axis are different from each other, or the second side wall portion includes a curved surface.

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