Filtering of pixel signals during array scanning

• US 20060031028A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Staton, Kenneth L., Corson, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/10 Scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing

Abstract

Methods for evaluating a pixel signal produced during scanning of a chemical array are provided. In general, the subject methods involve identifying a set of conformant digital signals for a pixel, and integrating those signals. Also provided are systems and programming for performing the subject methods, and an array scanner containing these systems and programming.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a signal for a pixel produced during scanning of a chemical array, comprising:

identifying a set of conformant digital signals for said pixel signal; and

integrating said conformant digital signals;

to evaluate said pixel signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said array is a nucleic acid array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said array is a polypeptide array.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said conformant digital signals are produced by filtering signals in a time domain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said conformant digital signals are produced by filtering signals in a frequency domain.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said conformant digital signals are produced by:

a) Fourier transforming the time samples of said pixel to produce a plurality of frequency components,

b) reducing the magnitude of frequency components above a threshold as a function of their frequency, and

c) reverse Fourier transforming the adjusted frequency components.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said integrating produces data for said pixel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said data is output from a digital signal processor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said data is stored on a computer readable medium.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises filtering out any non-conformant digital signals prior to signal integration.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said method employs an algorithm to identify said conformant digital signals.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises:

producing an analog signal for said pixel;

digitizing said analog signal to provide a plurality of digital signals for said pixel;

identifying a set of conformant digital signals from said plurality of digital signals; and

integrating said conformant digital signals.

13. A chemical array scanner comprising:

a laser excitation system;

a detection system that produces an signal representative of emitted light from the surface of an array; and

a system for performing the method of claim 1.

14. The chemical array scanner of claim 13, wherein said system comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter; and

a digital signal processor programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

15. The chemical array scanner of claim 13, further comprising a storage medium for storing data.

16. The chemical array scanner of claim 15, wherein said storage medium is computer memory.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising:

programming products for execution by a digital signal processor to produce data for a pixel, said programming comprising;

instructions for identifying a set of conformant digital signals from a pixel signal; and

instructions for integrating said conformant digital signals to produce data for said pixel.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for executing said programming products when a pixel signal containing a non-conformant signal is detected.

19. A processor comprising the computer-readable medium of claim 17.

20. A chemical array scanner comprising the processor of claim 19.

21. A method of assaying a sample, said method comprising:

(a) contacting said sample with a chemical array of two or more chemical ligands immobilized on a surface of a solid support; and

(b) reading said array with a chemical array scanner according to claim 20 to obtain data.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein (b) includes:

identifying a set of conformant digital signals from a plurality of digital signals for a pixel; and

integrating said conformant digital signals to produce data for said pixel.

25. A method comprising transmitting a result obtained from a method of claim 21 to a remote location.

26. A method comprising receiving data representing a result obtained by the method of claim 21.

27. A kit for use in a chemical array optical scanner, said kit comprising:

(a) a computer-readable medium according to claim 17;

and

(b) at least one chemical array.

23. The method according to claim 23, wherein said chemical array is a nucleic acid array.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said chemical array is a polypeptide array.