Fluorescent Well Counting With Adjacent-Well False Positive Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital measurement techniques using well arrays are susceptible to disturbance factors such as foreign matter and scratches on the well array, which can be misinterpreted as target substances, leading to inaccurate detection.
Innovation Solution
A well counting device and method that acquires images of wells emitting fluorescence, counts the number of wells emitting fluorescence, and excludes wells that also emit fluorescence in adjacent wells to eliminate the influence of disturbance factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital measurement is performed using a well array with multiple wells for capturing target substances, then detection sensitivity is improved, but disturbance factors such as foreign matter and scratches may be detected as target substances, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection task into multiple stages: initial detection of all fluorescent signals, identification of potential disturbance factors through pattern recognition, and separate verification processes. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high sensitivity while filtering out false positives caused by foreign matter and scratches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces control wells without target substances as intermediary elements to establish baseline fluorescence characteristics. By comparing test well signals against these control references, the system can distinguish true target substance fluorescence from disturbance factors, thereby maintaining measurement precision.
2Quantity of substance
If fluorescence detection is performed in all wells, then the number of detected target substances increases, but false detection of disturbance factors increases, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary characterization of disturbance factors using control wells before actual measurement. By pre-establishing the fluorescence profiles of empty wells and known disturbance patterns, the system can quickly and reliably distinguish true positives from false positives during the main measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where control well data continuously inform the interpretation of test well results. The system uses the established baseline from control wells to dynamically adjust detection thresholds and criteria, ensuring reliable differentiation between target substances and disturbance factors across all measurements.
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
Accurately counts the number of wells emitting fluorescence, thereby improving detection sensitivity and quantifiability by minimizing the impact of foreign matter and scratches.
Implementation Method 1
fluorescence is emitted in the wells that capture the target substances
Data Source
AI summary
A well counting device comprises an image acquisition unit that acquires one or more images of a plurality of wells capturing a target substance; and a counting unit that counts the number of wells emitting fluorescence among the plurality of wells for each of the one or more images acquired by the image acquisition unit, wherein the counting unit counts the number of wells emitting fluorescence, excluding a well that also emits fluorescence in adjacent wells, among the plurality of wells.