Shadowed image particle profiling and evaluation recorder

• US 20040109586A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Langebrake, Lawrence, Patten, James, Lembke, Chad, Samson, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/309,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/109
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1468 with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts

Abstract

The instrument of the instant invention provides for a fluidic plankton or other micro-particle analyzer that is capable of data reduction via a novel reduction circuit for better resolution in identification and quantification of the particles. By virtue of using line scan or similar cameras the instant system is capable of high resolution without as much interference as experienced with two-dimensional systems. The data reduction circuit also enables the microscopic material to be analyzed and recorded with better adaptability to current computer storage systems.

Claims

1. An instrument for analyzing microscopic particles in a fluid comprising:

a. a chamber, said chamber being adapted to temporarily contain a sample;

b. a housing surrounding at least a portion of said sample chamber, said housing containing an optical imaging system responsive to variations of materials contained in said sample;

c. a data storage means, said data storage means being in circuit communication with said optical imaging system and being adapted to identify said variations in materials in said sample; and

d. a data manipulation means, said data manipulation means located between said optical imaging system and said data storage means, said data manipulation means serving to reduce the amount of data transferred from said optical imaging system to said data storage means.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the data manipulation means comprises a data reduction circuit to electronically reduce the data input from the optical imaging system being conveyed to the data storage means.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the optical imaging system comprises at least one source and at least one camera means.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a plurality of camera means.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the plurality of camera means define a plurality of similar optical members said members arranged at a fixed angle with respect to each other.

6. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the camera means comprises a line scan camera.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the data storage means contains means to quantify and identify materials found in said sample.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein an additional visual viewing means is in circuit communication with said data storage means.

9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a series of lenses is included in said optical imaging means.

10. A method of analyzing microscopic particles comprising:

a. providing a chamber, said chamber adapted to temporarily contain a sample;

b. providing a housing, said housing surrounding at least a portion of said sample, said housing containing an optical imaging system responsive to variations in materials contained in said sample;

c. measuring variations in optical properties of said sample with said optical imaging system;

d. conveying the measured variations to a data storage system via a data manipulations means which is adapted to reduce the quantity of data generated by said optical imaging system before storage in said data storage means.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data storage means additionally processes the data to provide quantitative and identification information about said sample.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sample is conveyed through said chamber in a continuous flow.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data is simultaneously viewed in a video monitor as is it passed to said data storage means.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical imaging system is constantly controlled by a feedback mechanism with operator assistance capability.