Assay Image Acquisition System High-Speed Biological Activity Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed cameras used in biological assays are limited by software overhead, which inhibits their effective frame rate and can result in missed biological activity during the overhead period, and the need for longer exposure times leads to dim images.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves storing an image stream during the imaging period, sampling it at the end to recreate exposures, and combining measurement results to avoid overhead and capture high-speed biological activity, using a high-speed camera capable of 120 frames per second and integrating image-related information to generate integrated measurement results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the camera uses maximum frame rate (120 fps), then the frame rate is improved, but the exposure time is reduced making images too dim
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into continuous high-speed capture (120 fps) and post-processing integration. The camera operates continuously at maximum frame rate to capture all biological activity, then software integrates selected frames to create synthetic exposures of desired duration. This separates the conflicting requirements of high frame rate capture and adequate exposure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary continuous capture at high frame rate before the actual measurement is needed. By recording multiple frames in advance and storing them for later processing, the system ensures that all biological events are captured regardless of when they occur, then processes these pre-captured frames to generate the required measurement data.
2Illumination intensity
If the exposure time is extended to improve image quality, then the image brightness is improved, but the frame rate is reduced causing gaps in captured biological activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging function into two independent parts: continuous high-speed capture handled by the camera, and selective frame integration handled by software. This segmentation allows the camera to operate at maximum frame rate while the software synthesizes exposures of any desired duration by combining appropriate frames, eliminating the trade-off between exposure time and frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates synthetic copies of exposure data by integrating and combining multiple captured frames. Instead of taking a single long exposure that would miss rapid biological events, the system creates multiple shorter exposure copies (frames) and combines them computationally to produce the desired measurement, effectively copying the exposure process in software rather than hardware.
3Productivity
If software overhead is reduced to increase effective frame rate, then the frame rate is improved, but image processing capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous capture of biological activity at maximum frame rate by keeping the camera continuously imaging the sample. The software processes frames continuously as well, selecting and integrating them in real-time or near real-time. This continuous flow eliminates gaps in captured data while maintaining efficient processing through automated frame selection and integration algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the capture of high-speed biological events without gaps in the image stream, maintaining high frame rates while ensuring adequate image quality by artificially recreating exposures and integrating measurement results, thus overcoming the limitations of existing camera systems.
Implementation Method 1
a camera to capture images of cell responses
Implementation Method 2
measure, for example, the changing spectral properties (e.g., fluorescence or luminescence) of the calcium dye
Implementation Method 3
measure, for example, the changing spectral properties (e.g., fluorescence or luminescence) of the calcium dye due to biological activity
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of imaging an assay sample having a set of individual samples using a camera is provided. A set of image frames is received. The set of image frames corresponds to an image stream of the assay obtained by the camera. A set of measurement results is identified. Individual measurement results in the set of measurement results are respectively associated with individual image frames in the set of image frames. A subset of measurement results is selected based, at least in part, on an exposure time. Individual measurement results in the subset of measurement results are combined to obtain an integrated measurement result.