Methods and apparatus for measuring multiple optical properties of biological specimens
US5072382A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1989 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N15/147
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and methods for generating multiparameter optical data that characterize a population of cells. The invention includes the steps of scanning the cell population with a beam to produce sets of digital data samples, each sample set of digital data representing multiparameter optical interactions from a specific location within the cell population; storing the digital data, e.g., in a computer memory; locating a cell within the population, e.g., by comparing the digital data to a preselected threshold value; defining a neighborhood around the digital data representing the located cell; estimating a background level for the neighborhood based upon digital data corresponding to locations outside the neighborhood; and correcting each of the samples corresponding to the neighborhood with the estimated neighborhood background level to generate the optical data. The invention further relates to specific methods of background correction and data calibration as well as specific sampling features to enable precise estimates of multiple cellular constituents or other cell properties at high rates of speed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.