Flow cell alignment methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method for processing flow cells containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments, the method comprising:
- positioning a flow cell containing DNA fragment beads on an xy stage with the flow cell facing an imaging axis of a camera, wherein the xy stage is movable relative to the camera along an x-axis and a y-axis, the y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis, and the imaging axis is perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis;
positioning the xy stage at a first predetermined nominal location along the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the camera;
illuminating the flow cell from a side of and above the flow cell with a dark field light source to cause a first light to strike the DNA fragment beads at an angle relative to the imaging axis, and reflect off the DNA fragment bead locations;
obtaining a first image of the flow cell;
evaluating the first light reflected from the DNA fragment beads to identify, in the first image, a first reference pattern of bead locations;
moving at least one of the flow cell and the xy stage relative to the camera;
moving the xy stage to reposition the xy stage at a second position substantially at the first predetermined nominal location along the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the camera;
obtaining a second image of the flow cell;
identifying, in the second image, the first reference pattern of bead locations;
evaluating a first offset, relative to the camera, between the first reference pattern in the first image and the first reference pattern in the second image; and
using the first offset to perform a first correction.
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Abstract
A DNA flow cell processing method including positioning the flow cell on a stage at a predetermined location relative to a camera, illuminating the flow cell from a side with a first light source to reflect light off the DNA fragment bead locations, obtaining a first image of the flow cell and identifying a first reference pattern of bead locations in the first image, moving at least one of the flow cell and the stage relative to the camera, attempting to reposition the stage at the predetermined location, obtaining a second image of the flow cell, identifying the first reference pattern in the second image, and evaluating a first offset, relative to the camera, between the first reference pattern in the first image and the first reference pattern in the second image.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for processing flow cells containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments, the method comprising:
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positioning a flow cell containing DNA fragment beads on an xy stage with the flow cell facing an imaging axis of a camera, wherein the xy stage is movable relative to the camera along an x-axis and a y-axis, the y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis, and the imaging axis is perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis; positioning the xy stage at a first predetermined nominal location along the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the camera; illuminating the flow cell from a side of and above the flow cell with a dark field light source to cause a first light to strike the DNA fragment beads at an angle relative to the imaging axis, and reflect off the DNA fragment bead locations; obtaining a first image of the flow cell; evaluating the first light reflected from the DNA fragment beads to identify, in the first image, a first reference pattern of bead locations; moving at least one of the flow cell and the xy stage relative to the camera; moving the xy stage to reposition the xy stage at a second position substantially at the first predetermined nominal location along the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the camera; obtaining a second image of the flow cell; identifying, in the second image, the first reference pattern of bead locations; evaluating a first offset, relative to the camera, between the first reference pattern in the first image and the first reference pattern in the second image; and using the first offset to perform a first correction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification