32 results about "Image Cytometry" patented technology

The enumeration of cells in fluids by flow cytometry is widely used across many disciplines such as assessment of leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or of bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. For many applications the cost, size and complexity of the instruments prevents wider use, for example, CD4 analysis in HIV monitoring in resource-poor countries. The novel device, methods and system disclosed herein largely overcome these limitations. The system includes a simple system for CD4 and CD8 counting in point-of-care HIV staging within resource poor countries. Unlike previous approaches, no sample preparation is required with the sample added directly to a chip containing dried reagents by capillary flow. A large area image cytometer consisting of an LED module is used to excite the fluorochromes PerCP and APC labeled targets and a monochrome CCD camera with a combination of two macro lenses captures images of 40 mm² of blood (approximately 1 microliter). CD4 and CD8-T-lymphocyte counts correlate well with those obtained by flow cytometry. The cytometer system described in the present invention provides an affordable and easy-to-use technique for use in remote locations.

A highly sensitive assay is disclosed which combines immunomagnetic enrichment with multiparameter flow cytometric or image cytometry to detect, enumerate and characterize carcinoma cells in the blood. The present invention incorporates the conjugation of different antibodies to the same ferrofluid. This has the effect of making the ferrofluid polyspecific with respect to the antigens that the ferrofluid will bind. The multiple antibodies present on the same ferrofluid do not appear to block or otherwise interfere with each other. Such ferrofluids have the highly desirable effect of being able to bind specifically to more than one type of cell. The assay is especially useful to enable the capture of CTCs that have low EpCAM expression, but high expression of other tumor markers; Accordingly, the assay facilitates the biological characterization and staging of carcinoma cells.

A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. A small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled sample. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The cells are illuminated and the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells are captured by a CCD camera. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample.

Devices and methods for automated collection and image analysis are disclosed that enable identification or classification of microscopic objects aligned or deposited on surfaces. Such objects, e.g. detectably labeled rare target cells, are magnetically or non-magnetically immobilized and subjected to Time Delay Integration imaging (TDI). Incorporation of TDI technology into image cytometry analysis, like CellTracks®, makes it possible to image moving objects with very high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratios. Implementation of TDI camera technology with dual excitation and multispectral imaging of enriched rare cells provides a rapid system for detection, enumeration, differentiation and characterization of imaged rare cells on the basis of size, morphology and immunophenotype.

A cross sectional imaging system performs high-resolution, high-speed partial imaging of cells. Such a system may provide much of the information available from full imaging cytometry, but can be performed much more quickly, in part because the data analysis is greatly reduced in comparison with full image cytometry. The system includes a light source and a lens that focuses light from the light source onto a small spot in a scanning location. A transport mechanism causes relative motion between a cell in the scanning location and the spot. A sensor generates a signal indicating the intensity of light emanating from the cell as a result of illumination by the light source. The system repeatedly takes readings of the light intensity signal and characterizes the light intensity along a substantially linear path across the cell.

A method, system, and instrument for automatically measuring transient activity in cells uses image time sequences to identify transients in cells. Preferably, the transient activity is stimulated or provoked in synchronism with acquisition of the image time sequences. A cell mask is applied to each image of an image time sequence in order to localize the transient activity with respect to each cell. Localization enables cell-by-cell analysis of properties of the transient activity.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for image cytometry analysis, typically at low optical magnification, where analysis is based on detection of biological particles using UV bright field, dark field or one or more sources of excitation light. The system comprises illumination means (11, 112), a sample holder (100), a sample compartment (101), imaging means (120), collection means (121), light modulation means (122, 123), and detection means (130) with active detection elements (131).

The present invention relates to methods and systems for image cytometry analysis, in particular using light sources to be cooled. Thereby is provided optimal light conditions for image cytometry.

The herein invention discloses and claims a quantitative image restoration in bright field (QRBF) method that faithfully recovers shape and enables quantify size of individual unstained samples. The QRBF method restores out-of-focus BF images of unstained samples by applying deconvolution, which enhances contrast and allows for quantitative analysis. To perform deconvolution our procedure uses a point spread function modeled from theory. Image deconvolution can be performed even from a single input image in two dimensions (2D-QRBF), and quantitative information such as size and shape of samples can be determined from restored 2D-QRBF images. Application of 2D-QRBF in a high-throughput screening process to assess shape changes in cells during hyperosmotic shock shows that the described digital restoration approach is suitable for quantitative analysis of unstained BF images in high-throughput image cytometry.

The system includes a simple system for CD4 and CD8 counting in point-of-care HIV staging within resource poor countries. Unlike previous approaches, no sample preparation is required with the sample added directly to a chip containing dried reagents by capillary flow. A large area image cytometer consisting of an LED module is used to excite the fluorochromes PerCP and APC labeled targets and a monochrome CCD camera with a combination of two macro lenses captures images of 40 mm² of blood (approximately 1 microliter). CD4 and CD8-T-lymphocyte counts correlate well with those obtained by flow cytometry. The cytometer system described in the present invention provides an affordable and easy-to-use technique for use in remote locations.

An image processing using a plurality of specimen images obtained by successively applying a plurality of types of staining to a specimen to be evaluated and imaging the specimen after staining for at least two types of staining is performed. The image processing comprises: extracting an inner region corresponding to inward of a cell membrane of a single cell in the specimen based on at least one of the specimen images, specifying a cell region corresponding to an individual cell included in the specimen by expanding the inner region outwardly, and performing image cytometry for the cell region based on the specimen images. In analyzing a pathological specimen on a cell-by-cell basis, it is possible to deal with multiple immunostaining and specify the positions of individual cells and evaluate each cell separately even when a cell density in the specimen is high.

The instant invention describes a virus reduction neutralization test (VRNT) which is a rapid, high throughput alternative to current standard low throughput and laborious neutralization assays. The VRNT utilizes imaging cytometry to count virus-infected cells at about one day post-infection (thus eliminating the wait time other assays employ allowing for viral infection cell to cell), reducing overall assay time and increasing throughput at least 15-fold.