Scanning cytometer

• US 6,275,777 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Kotaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/178,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19-23, 702/25-27, 702/29-32, 702/85, 702/86, 702/100, 702/155, 702/159, 702/179, 702/180, 702/183-185, 702/189, 702/193, 382/133, 382/134
• US Class Current: 702/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30024 Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/693 Acquisition

Abstract

Initial values including measurement conditions are set at pre-measurement executed prior to main measurement. An area on a sample of a cell population wider than that for the main measurement is two-dimensionally scanned at a high speed in accordance with the set initial values to acquire statistic data of the cell population. Measurement conditions used for the main measurement are determined based on the acquired statistic data.

Claims

1. A scanning cytometer for scanning a cell population as a sample with optical beams in accordance with measurement conditions and for measuring light from the cells in said cell population with a detector to acquire cytometric data of said cell population, comprising:

providing means for providing main measurement in accordance with main measurement conditions as measurement conditions and pre-measurement performed prior to said main measurement in accordance with initial values for pre-measurement including measurement conditions;

setting means for setting said initial values for pre-measurement;

execution means for acquiring statistic data of said cell population by performing two-dimensional scanning of said cell population across an area wider than the area for the main measurement at a rate higher than the rate of the main measurement with optical beams in accordance with said initial values for pre-measurement set by said setting means; and

determination means for determining said main measurement conditions based on the statistic data acquired by said execution means;

wherein;

said measurement condition is a control condition of said detector;

said setting means comprises means for selecting at least either an arbitrary cell or cell region in said cell population after setting the size of said measuring area for the main measurement and for determining an initial value of said control voltage of the detector from brightness data of at least either said selected cell or cell region; and

said determination means comprises means for selecting a certain cell in accordance with statistic data of said cell population acquired by said execution means and for determining an optimum value for the control voltage of said detector from luminance data of said selected cell.

2. A scanning cytometer according to claim 1, wherein:

said detector comprises a photomultiplier for detecting fluorescent light from said cell and wherein said control condition is an application voltage of said photomultiplier.

3. A scanning cytometer according to claim 1, wherein:

said detector comprises a photomultiplier for detecting fluorescent light from said cell and wherein said control condition is an offset adjusting voltage of said photomultiplier.

4. A scanning cytometer according to claim 1, wherein:

said detector comprises a photodiode for detecting scattered light from said cell and wherein said control condition is a gain of said photodiode.

5. A scanning cytometer according to claim 1, wherein:

said detector comprises a photodiode for detecting scattered light from said cell and wherein said control condition is an offset of said photodiode.

6. A scanning cytometer for scanning a cell population as a sample with optical beams in accordance with measurement conditions and for measuring light from the cells in said cell population with a detector to acquire cytometric data of said cell population, comprising:

providing means for providing main measurement in accordance with main measurement conditions as measurement conditions and pre-measurement performed prior to said main measurement in accordance with initial values for pre-measurement including measurement conditions;

setting means for setting said initial values for pre-measurement;

execution means for acquiring statistic data of said cell population by performing two-dimensional scanning of said cell population across an area wider than the area for the main measurement at a rate higher than the rate of the main measurement with optical beams in accordance with said initial values for pre-measurement set by said setting means; and

determination means for determining said main measurement conditions based on the statistic data acquired by said execution means; and

wherein;

said measurement condition is at least one of a control condition of said detector, a measuring area, a contouring threshold and a minimum cell area.

7. A scanning cytometer for scanning a cell population as a sample with optical beams in accordance with conditions for measurement and for measuring light from the cells in said cell population with a detector to acquire cytometric data of said cell population, comprising:

providing means for providing main measurement in accordance with conditions for main measurement and pre-measurement performed prior to said main measurement in accordance with conditions for pre-measurement;

setting means for setting at least one of conditions for a control condition of said detector, a measuring area, a contouring threshold and a minimum cell area;

execution means for acquiring statistic data of said cell population by performing two-dimensional scanning of said cell population across an area wider than the area for the main measurement at a speed higher than the speed of the main measurement with optical beams in accordance with initial values based on said conditions set by said setting means; and

determination means for determining said conditions for main measurement based on the statistic data acquired by said execution means.