OBSERVATION DEVICE, OBSERVATION PROGRAM, AND OBSERVATION SYSTEM
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An observation device (1) is provided with: a general observation unit (10) for observing sample cells by observing an entire container (C) containing the cells and a culture solution; and a magnification observation unit (20) for magnifying a region within the container (C) and observing the cells, the general observation unit (10) and the magnification observation unit (20) each individually having lighting for illuminating the cells with light, and an optical system for observing the cells. The general observation unit (10) and the magnification observation unit (20) are thereby each provided with an individual optical system and lighting, making it possible to configure an appropriate observation unit for use both when the cells are observed by observing the entire container (C) and when a part within the container (C) is magnified and the cells are observed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. An observation program for making a computer execute processing, the processing comprising:
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overall image sensing processing for taking an image of a sample through taking an image of an entire container containing the sample and a solution; sample mass discrimination processing for discriminating from the image taken in the overall image sensing processing a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample; coordinate detection processing for detecting coordinates of a center of the sample mass discriminated in the sample mass discrimination processing; magnified image sensing processing for taking an image of the sample mass on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected in the coordinate detection processing; and time keeping processing for counting days and hours from a start of observation of the sample, wherein in the sample mass discrimination processing, discrimination of the magnified observation target sample mass is repeated every predetermined period counted in the time keeping processing with respect to sample mass discrimination until, from the image taken in the overall image sensing processing, any of sample masses, which are each a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample, is recognized as a magnified observation target sample mass having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined size, and the discrimination of the magnified observation target sample mass is stopped on condition that a predetermined number of days have elapsed, and in the coordinate detection processing, on condition that a magnified observation target sample mass having a size equal to or larger than the predetermined size has been recognized in the sample mass discrimination processing, coordinates of a center of the magnified observation target sample mass are detected. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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24. An observation system comprising:
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an overall observation portion including an illuminator which shines light on a sample inside a container containing the sample and a solution and an optical system which guides light for observation of the sample, the overall observation portion taking an image of the sample through taking an image of the entire container; a time keeping portion which counts days and hours from a start of observation of the sample; a data processing portion which repeats discrimination of a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample, every predetermined period counted by the time keeping portion with respect to sample mass discrimination until a sample mass having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined size is recognized from the image taken by the overall observation portion, the data processing portion detecting coordinates of a center of the recognized sample mass having a size equal to or larger than the predetermined size; a magnified observation portion including an illuminator which shines light on the sample inside the container and an optical system which guides light for observation of the sample, the magnified observation portion taking an image of the sample mass on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected by the data processing portion; and a setting portion which sets a sample mass discrimination repetition deadline until which the data processing portion recognizes the sample mass having a size equal to or larger than the predetermined size, timing with which the magnified observation portion takes the image, and an observation deadline until which the sample is observed. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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25. An observation program for making a computer execute processing, the processing comprising:
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overall image sensing processing for taking an image of a sample through taking of a container containing the sample and a solution; sample mass discrimination processing for discriminating from the image taken in the overall image sensing processing a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample; coordinate detection processing for detecting coordinates of a center of the sample mass discriminated in the sample mass discrimination processing; and magnified image sensing processing for taking an image of the sample mass on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected in the coordinate detection processing, wherein in the sample mass discrimination processing, when the discriminated sample mass has a figure with a predetermined roundness, or when a ratio of a major axis length to a minor axis length of an ellipse surrounding a contour of the discriminated sample mass is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the discriminated sample mass is found to have a predetermined figure, and in the coordinate detection processing, on condition that the sample mass has been found to have the predetermined figure in the sample mass discrimination processing, the coordinates of the center of the sample mass are detected. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An observation system comprising:
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an overall observation portion including an illuminator which shines light on a sample inside a container containing the sample and a solution and an optical system which guides light for observation of the sample, the overall observation portion taking an image of the sample through taking an image of the entire container; a time keeping portion which counts days and hours from a start of observation of the sample; a data processing portion which repeats discrimination of a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample, every predetermined period counted by the time keeping portion with respect to sample mass discrimination until a sample mass having a predetermined figure is recognized from the image taken by the overall observation portion, the data processing portion detecting coordinates of a center of the recognized sample mass having the predetermined figure; a magnified observation portion including an illuminator which shines light on the sample inside the container and an optical system which guides light for observation of the sample, the magnified observation portion taking an image of the sample mass on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected by the data processing portion; and a setting portion which sets a sample mass discrimination repetition deadline until which the data processing portion recognizes the sample mass having the predetermined figure, timing with which the magnified observation portion takes the image, and an observation deadline until which the sample is observed.
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31. An observation program for making a computer execute processing, the processing comprising:
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overall image sensing processing for taking an image of a sample through taking of a container containing the sample and a solution; sample mass discrimination processing for discriminating from the image taken in the overall image sensing processing a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample; coordinate detection processing for detecting coordinates of a center of the sample mass discriminated in the sample mass discrimination processing; and magnified image sensing processing for taking an image of the sample mass on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected in the coordinate detection processing, wherein in the sample mass discrimination processing, the sample mass is found to have a predetermined figure based on one parameter selected from a group consisting of elasticity of an ellipse surrounding a contour of the sample mass, roundness of a circle surrounding the contour of the sample mass, size of a sample mass, length of the contour of a sample mass, area inside the contour of the sample mass, major axis length of an ellipse surrounding the contour of the sample mass, minor axis length of an ellipse surrounding the contour of the sample mass, circumferential length of an ellipse surrounding the contour of the sample mass, diameter of a circle surrounding the contour of the sample mass, circumferential length of a circle surrounding the contour of the sample mass, length of a rectangular surrounding the contour of the sample mass, area of a rectangular surrounding the contour of the sample mass, ratio of area of the contour of the sample mass to circumferential length thereof, ratio of area of the contour of the sample mass to area of a rectangular surrounding the contour, ratio of length of the contour of the sample mass to length of a rectangular surrounding the contour, number of corners in the contour of the sample mass, ratio of area of the contour of the sample mass to area of a circle or ellipse surrounding the contour, ratio of length of the contour of the sample mass to circumferential length of a circle or ellipse surrounding the contour, ratio of area of a rectangular surrounding the contour of the sample mass to area of a circle or ellipse surrounding the contour, and ratio of length of a rectangular surrounding the contour of the sample mass to length of a circle or ellipse surrounding the contour, and in the coordinate detection processing, on condition that the sample mass has been found to have the predetermined figure in the sample mass discrimination processing, the coordinates of the center of the sample mass are detected.
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32. An observation system for observation of growth of cells inside a container containing the cells and a culture fluid, the system comprising:
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an overall observation portion provided inside an airtight casing and including an illuminator which shines light on the cells inside the container and an optical system which guides light for observation of the cells, the overall observation portion taking an image of the sample through taking an image of the entire container; a data processing portion which discriminates from the image taken by the overall observation portion a sample mass, which is a mass of a plurality of pieces of the sample; a magnified observation portion provided inside the casing and including an illuminator which shines light on the cells inside the container and an optical system which guides light for observation of the cells, the magnified observation portion taking an image of the cells on a magnified scale about, as a center, the coordinates detected by the data processing portion; a transport portion provided outside the casing, the transport portion holding the container and transporting the container from the overall observation portion to the magnified observation portion or from the magnified observation portion to the overall observation portion; and a Y-axis drive mechanism provided outside the casing, at a side of the transport portion, at a position higher than the container, the Y-axis drive mechanism driving the transport portion with a motor from the overall observation portion to the magnified observation portion or from the magnified observation portion to the overall observation portion.
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Specification