Fluorescent Well Counting With Adjacent-Well False Positive Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital measurement techniques 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 excluding those that also emit fluorescence in adjacent wells, and adjusts luminance to remove interference from different fluorescence colors, thereby eliminating disturbance factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional image-based detection is used to count wells emitting fluorescence, then detection sensitivity is improved, but disturbance factors such as foreign matter and scratches are detected as target substances leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification step using multiple fluorescence color images to distinguish true target substances from disturbance factors. By using a second fluorescence color as a mediator for verification, the system can confirm whether a detected signal represents a genuine target substance or an artifact, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection sensitivity and measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing fluorescence signals across multiple channels and using the results to correct or reject initial detections. The counting unit receives feedback from adjacent well analysis and fluorescence color comparison, adjusting its counting decisions to eliminate false positives while preserving true detections
2Productivity
If fluorescence detection is performed without excluding adjacent well emissions, then counting speed is improved, but fluorescence emission from adjacent wells causes false positive detections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing adjacent well verification as part of the counting process. Before finalizing a well count, the system proactively checks adjacent wells for fluorescence emissions that would indicate false positives, thereby ensuring counting accuracy without significantly compromising speed
Solution Approach 2:
The detection process is segmented into independent well evaluations where each well is assessed considering its neighbors. This segmentation allows the system to process wells systematically while applying local context (adjacent well status) to each detection decision, balancing speed and accuracy
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluorescence colors are detected without luminance adjustment, then detection versatility is improved, but luminance mixing from different fluorescence colors causes detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the luminance parameter by applying adjustment processing to images with different fluorescence colors. This parameter transformation compensates for luminance mixing effects, allowing the system to maintain high detection versatility across multiple fluorescence colors while preserving measurement precision through corrected luminance values
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
The solution effectively eliminates interference from foreign matter and scratches, enhancing the accuracy of digital measurement by accurately counting wells emitting fluorescence.
Implementation Method 1
fluorescence is emitted in the wells that capture the target substances
Data Source
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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.