Analysis, secure access to, and transmission of array images
First Claim
1. A method of conducting an assay and analyzing results therefrom at separate locations, comprising:
- conducting an assay on a patient sample by contacting a uniquely encoded array of receptors with the patient sample and determining if the patient sample comprises any ligands that interact with the receptors by analyzing an assay image for optical signatures that are associated with receptor-ligand interactions andrecording the assay image in a first processor, wherein the array is decoded by a second processor at a location other than the location at which the assay is conducted, wherein the first and second processors communicate by way of a data network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided the autocentering, autofocusing, acquiring, decoding, aligning, analyzing and exchanging among various parties, images, where the images are of arrays of signals associated with ligand-receptor interactions, and more particularly, ligand-receptor interactions where a multitude of receptors are associated with microparticles or microbeads. The beads are encoded to indicate the identity of the receptor attached, and therefore, an assay image and a decoding image are aligned to effect the decoding. The images or data extracted from such images can be exchanged between de-centralized assay locations and a centralized location where the data are analyzed to indicate assay results. Access to data can be restricted to authorized parties in possession of certain coding information, so as to preserve confidentiality.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of conducting an assay and analyzing results therefrom at separate locations, comprising:
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conducting an assay on a patient sample by contacting a uniquely encoded array of receptors with the patient sample and determining if the patient sample comprises any ligands that interact with the receptors by analyzing an assay image for optical signatures that are associated with receptor-ligand interactions and recording the assay image in a first processor, wherein the array is decoded by a second processor at a location other than the location at which the assay is conducted, wherein the first and second processors communicate by way of a data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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obtaining an assay image recorded in a first processor, wherein the assay image is an image arising from an assay conducted on a patient sample by contacting a uniquely encoded array of receptors with the patient sample, and wherein the assay image can be analyzed for optical signatures that are associated with interactions between ligands present in the patient sample and receptors of the array; and decoding the array using a second processor at a location other than the location at which the assay is conducted, wherein the first and second processors communicate by way of a data network. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method comprising:
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obtaining an assay image recorded in a first processor, wherein the assay image is an image arising from an assay conducted on a patient sample by contacting a uniquely encoded array of receptors with the patient sample, wherein the assay image provides optical signatures that are associated with interactions between ligands present in the patient sample and receptors of the array; obtaining a decoding image , wherein the decoding image identifies the receptors at each position of the array; and analyzing the results of the assay by combining the assay image and decoding images, wherein the analyzing is done using a second processor at a location other than the location at which the assay is conducted, wherein the first and second processors communicate by way of a data network. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification