Method for spooling experimental data

• US 8,024,293 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellomics Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cellomics Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyce, Keith S., Dunlay, R. Terry, McKenna, Brian K., Glick, Phillip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US12/189,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 707/610, 707/609, 707/640, 707/822
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1497 Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts

Abstract

Methods and system for efficient collection and storage of experimental data allow experimental data from high-throughput, feature-rich data collection systems, such as high-throughput cell data collection systems to be efficiently collected, stored, managed and displayed. The methods and system can be used, for example, for storing, managing, and displaying cell image data and cell feature data collected from microplates including multiple wells and a variety of bio-chips in which an experimental compound has been applied to a population of cells. The methods and system provide a flexible and scalable repository of experimental data including multiple databases at multiple locations including pass-through databases that can be easily managed and allows cell data to be analyzed, manipulated and archived. The methods and system may improve the identification, selection, validation and screening of new drug compounds that have been applied to populations of cells.

Claims

1. A method for spooling experimental data on a computer system, wherein the experimental data comprises data corresponding to a container having a plurality of sub-containers, each sub-container having a biological specimen disposed therein or thereon, and wherein the computer system includes an analysis instrument with a first database, a second database, and a plurality of third databases, the method comprising the steps of:

copying the second database from the analysis instrument to a shared database, wherein the second database includes;

configuration data used to collect data from the container,

summary data for the container calculated from the plurality of sub-containers; and

summary data for the sub-containers calculated from a plurality of image data and feature data collected from each of the sub-containers, wherein the configuration data, summary data for the container, and summary data for the sub-containers are organized into a first plurality of database tables;

copying the plurality of third databases from the analysis instrument to a shared database file server, wherein the plurality of third databases include the plurality of image data and feature data collected from the plurality of sub-containers, and wherein the image and feature data is organized in a second plurality of database tables; and

updating links in the first database on the analysis instrument, which previously reflected the locations of the second and plurality of third databases on the analysis instrument, to reflect the new storage locations for the second database on the shared database and the plurality of third databases on the shared database file server, wherein the first database is a pass-through database that includes the links to the second database and the plurality of third databases but does not include any data collected from the container, and wherein the first database is used by a display application to view data collected from the container.

2. A computer readable medium having stored thereon or therein instructions for causing a central processing unit to execute the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

copying the first database from the analysis instrument to a local storage location on a store client computer to allow a display application on the store client computer to view the data collected from the container; and

viewing the data collected from the display application on the store client computer by using the first database to retrieve container and sub-container data from the second database on the shared database and image and feature data from the plurality of third databases on the shared database file server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

locating the first database from a store client computer at a remote location to allow a display application on the store client computer to view the data collected from the container; and

viewing the data collected from the display application on the store client computer by using the first database at the remote location to retrieve container and sub-container data from the second database on the shared database and image and feature data from the plurality of third databases on the shared database file server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a microplate, and the plurality of sub-containers comprise wells in the microplate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a bio-chip and the plurality of sub-containers comprise selected micro-gels on the bio-chip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each biological specimen comprises a plurality of cells treated with an experimental compound.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared database is located in faster access local storage on a same store client computer that runs the display application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared database file server is located in slower access remote storage that is remote to a computer that runs the display application.