Dual color camera microscope and methodology for cell staining and analysis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of analyzing cells, having at least a first cellular component and a second cellular component, said method comprising:
- chemically-optically enhancing the cells with a first and a second spectral stain material,each of said first and second spectral stain materials combining with one of said first and second cellular components to form a first cell combination and a second cell combination,said first cell combination having a maximum optical transmittance at a first predetermined wavelength and a lower optical transmittance at a predetermined second wavelength,said second cell combination having a substantial light absorption at said first predetermined wavelength,transmitting an image of at least the first and second cell combinations, and communicating said image to a beam splitter;
splitting said image into a first image and a second image;
filtering the first image with a first filter to provide a first substantially monochromatic image at said first wavelength;
filtering the second monochromatic image with the second filter to provide a second substantially monochromatic image at said second wavelength;
sensing the filtered first monochromatic image with a first sensing means to provide a first electrical output representative of the first monochromatic image;
sensing the filtered second monochromatic image with a second sensing means to provide a second electrical output representative of the second monochromatic image; and
,providing an analysis of characteristics of the cells at a characteristic analyzer based on the electrical outputs from the first and second sensing operations.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in performing automated classification of cells and other microscopic specimens. The apparatus provides a compact, adjustable assembly that is operable to provide: an operator-apparatus interactive classification system for the cell analysis; alternative techniques for different cells, cytoplasms and cell populations; and enhanced image or color separation and analysis.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of analyzing cells, having at least a first cellular component and a second cellular component, said method comprising:
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chemically-optically enhancing the cells with a first and a second spectral stain material, each of said first and second spectral stain materials combining with one of said first and second cellular components to form a first cell combination and a second cell combination, said first cell combination having a maximum optical transmittance at a first predetermined wavelength and a lower optical transmittance at a predetermined second wavelength, said second cell combination having a substantial light absorption at said first predetermined wavelength, transmitting an image of at least the first and second cell combinations, and communicating said image to a beam splitter; splitting said image into a first image and a second image; filtering the first image with a first filter to provide a first substantially monochromatic image at said first wavelength; filtering the second monochromatic image with the second filter to provide a second substantially monochromatic image at said second wavelength; sensing the filtered first monochromatic image with a first sensing means to provide a first electrical output representative of the first monochromatic image; sensing the filtered second monochromatic image with a second sensing means to provide a second electrical output representative of the second monochromatic image; and
,providing an analysis of characteristics of the cells at a characteristic analyzer based on the electrical outputs from the first and second sensing operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 51, 52, 53, 55)
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8. An apparatus for the analysis of cells with at least a first cellular component and a second cellular component, a first spectral material and a second spectral material, one of said first and second cellular components chemically combining with one of the first and second spectral materials to provide a first cell combination and the other of said first and second cellular components chemically combining with the other of said first and second spectral materials to provide a second cell combination, said first cell combination having approximately maximum optical transmittance at a first predetermined wavelength and a lower optical transmittance at a second predetermined wavelength, said second cell combination having substantial light absorption at said first predetermined wavelength,
said apparatus comprising: -
a source for projecting light on said cell; means for forming and magnifying an image of the first and second cell combinations and for communicating the image; means for splitting the communicated image into a first image and a second image; first means for filtering the first image to provide a first substantially monochromatic image at said first wavelength; second means for filtering the second image to provide a second substantially monochromatic image at said second predetermined wavelength; first means for sensing the first monochromatic image and providing a first electrical output representative thereof; second means for sensing the second monochromatic image and providing a second electrical output representative thereof; and
,means for analyzing said cell combinations and thus said cells, which analysis means is operable to receive and store the respective first and second sensing means electrical outputs, to combine said first and second images to provide an analysis therefrom, and to provide an output about at least one cell characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (9, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 54)
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10. An apparatus for the analysis of at least one cell, which cell has at least a first cellular component and a second cellular component, one of said first and second components chemically-optically enhanced by combining with one of a first spectral material and a second spectral material to define a first cell combination, the other of said first and second cellular components chemically-optically enhanced by combining with the other of said first and second spectral materials to define a second cell combination, one of said first and second cell combinations having approximately a maximum transmittance at one of a first and second predetermined wavelength and a lower transmittance at the other of said first and second wavelengths, and the other of said first and second cell combinations having substantial light absorption at said first predetermined wavelength, said apparatus comprising:
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means for providing a magnified image of at least the first and second cellular components in a magnified component image light beam with a continuous spectrum; means for acquiring said magnified image; said image acquiring means having means for reflecting said magnified component image light beam, means for splitting said magnified component image light beam into at least a first and a second light beam, means for monochromatically filtering said first and second light beams, and, a first sensor and a second sensor operable to receive monochromatic light beams and provide an electrical output signal based on said monochromatic light beams; said beam splitter means operable to receive said component image light beam and transmit a first light beam and a second light beam; said first and second light beams communicated to said first and second sensors through said filter means, which filter means are optically matched to said first and second cell combinations and said predetermined first and second wavelengths to filter said first beam to provide one of said first and second sensors approximately a monochromatic fist light beam at approximately one of said first and second predetermined wavelengths, and approximately a monochromatic second light beam at approximately the other of said first and second predetermined wavelengths to the other of said first and second sensors, each of said first and second sensors operable to provide an electronic signal indicative of said monochromatic images; and
,means for digitizing and storing an electrical signal for each of said first and second light beams, which digitizing means is operable to receive said electrical output signals from said first and second sensors to digitize, combine, store and project said first and second light beam signals for review and analysis of said cell. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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25. An apparatus for the analysis of at least one cell, each of said cells having at least one nuclear DNA with a nucleus, that is chemically-optically enhanced by a first spectral stain material, and at least one protein and associated protein site, that is chemically-optically enhanced by an immunohistochemical spectral stain material,
said stained nucleus having approximately maximum optical transmittance at a first predetermined wavelength and a lower optical transmittance at a second predetermined wavelength, said stained proteins at said protein sites having a substantial light absorption at said first predetermined wavelength, said apparatus comprising: -
means for providing a magnified objective image of said at least one cell in a magnified cell component; means for acquiring said magnified image; said image acquiring means having means for beam splitting said magnified image, means for reflecting said image, means for monochromatically filtering light beams and at least a first sensor and a second sensor each operable to receive a monochromatic light beam and provide an analog electrical output signal representative of said sensed monochromatic light beam; said image from said magnifying means comprising a plurality of wavelengths encompassing a broadband spectrum from one of the visible and infrared light ranges; said beam splitter means operable to receive said magnified cell component light beam and transmit a first light beam below a predetermined splitting wavelength and a second light beam above said splitting wavelength to said first and second sensors, respectively, through said monochromatic filter means, which monochromatic filter means are operable to filter said first and second light beams at said first and second predetermined wavelengths to provide said first and second sensor a monochromatic first light beam at approximately said first predetermined wavelength and a monochromatic second light beam at approximately said second predetermined wavelength to the other of said first and second sensors; and
,means for digitizing and storing an analog signal for each first and second light beams, which digitizing means is operable to receive said analog electrical output signals from said first and second sensors to digitize, combine, store and project said first and second light beam signals for review. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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40. A method of calibration for an apparatus utilizing two solid state sensors in the image analysis of cells, said method comprising:
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providing means for analyzing cells, which analyzing means has a microscope with a cell examination location, at least one beam splitter, a first optical filter, a second optical filter, means for projecting light through said cell, and a means for providing a cell characteristic; providing a calibration pattern to be viewed by a microscope at the examination location of the cells; projecting a light beam through said pattern to provide an image; acquiring an image of the pattern and communicating the image to a beam splitter; splitting the image into first and second images of the pattern; sensing the first image by the first sensor and providing a first electrical output representative of the first image of the pattern; sensing the image of the pattern by a second sensor and providing a second electrical output representative of the second image pattern, each of said first and second electrical outputs communicated to said means for providing a cell characteristic; combining and displaying the first and second pattern images overlying one another; and adjusting the sensor positions to align the overlying patterns to provide a substantially pixel-by-pixel alignment of the image patterns being sensed by the first and second sensors. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification