The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

The present disclosure provides methods for automated slide assessments made in conjunction with digital image-based microscopy. Automated methods of acquiring patient information and specimen information from prepared slides, and digitally linking such information into patient-tagged specimen data, are provided. Also provided are methods that include automatically identifying an optimal area for morphological assessment of a blood smear on a hematological slide, including methods for triggering the analysis of such an area, e.g., using an automated digital image-based hematology system. The present disclosure also provides devices, systems and computer readable media for use in performing processes of the herein described methods.

Automated systems and methods for evaluating specimens affixed to substrates, such as slides, an exemplary system including a slide imager configured for acquiring a plurality of micro images of a specimen affixed to an substrate, the specimen including a plurality of objects distributed within a three-dimensional volume, and for generating a whole specimen image of the specimen using the micro images, wherein objects contained in the specimen are depicted substantially in focus in the whole specimen image regardless of a z-depth of the respective objects within the specimen. The whole specimen image is stored on a storage medium for subsequent review by a cytotechnologist using a computer-controlled review station including a display and a user interface, wherein the review station user interface is configured such that the cytotechnologist can review and classify the stored whole specimen images.

An apparatus includes a beam source, beam forming optics, a first focusing lens having a focal length, a second focusing lens having a focal length similar to the focal length of the first lens, and a lens translator configured to move the second lens transversely relative to the beam forming optics and to the first lens, and thereby move the elongated focus transversely. In some embodiments, the beam forming optics are positioned between the beam source and the first focusing lens, the first focusing lens is positioned between the beam forming optics and the second focusing lens, and the beam forming optics, the first focusing lens, and the second focusing lens are arranged to receive a beam of laser radiation from the beam source and to form the beam into an elongated focus.

The present application relates to a method for the cytometric analysis of multiple cell samples by a microscope for examining multiple cell samples under a microscope, wherein the microscope can be or is operated, selectively and/or alternatingly, in a transmission mode and/or in a fluorescence mode, and wherein at least one cell sample has at least one fluorescence marker. The method includes; moving the cell samples continuously in one plane relative to an optical system of the microscope having at least one microscope camera, wherein, during the movement of the cell samples, at least one or more images of a sub-region of the cell samples are recorded in the transmission mode or in the fluorescence mode and at least one or more images of the same sub-region of the cell samples are recorded in the fluorescence mode by at least one microscope camera.

A method of producing a microfluidic chip for use in flow cytometry, the method comprising the steps of providing an opaque substrate, a first surface of which is optically smooth for visible light providing a continuous transparent layer across said first surface by vapour deposition so as to provide conformal contact between the continuous transparent layer and the first surface of the substrate providing a flow channel bounded on a first side by the continuous transparent layer and etching an aperture in a second surface of the substrate extending to the first surface of the substrate so as to provide an optical path between said second surface and the flow channel wherein the continuous transparent layer is less reactive to the etching than the substrate.

For analyzing a sample containing particles of at least two categories, such as a sample containing blood cells, a particle counter subject to a detection limit is coupled with an analyzer capable of discerning particle number ratios, such as a visual analyzer, and a processor. A first category of particles can be present beyond detection range limits while a second category of particles is present within respective detection range limits. The concentration of the second category of particles is determined by the particle counter. A ratio of counts of the first category to the second category is determined on the analyzer. The concentration of particles in the first category is calculated on the processor based on the ratio and the count or concentration of particles in the second category.

Disclosed herein are platforms, systems, and methods including a cell culture system that includes a cell culture container comprising a cell culture, the cell culture receiving input cells, a cell imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of the cell culture, a computing subsystem configured to perform a cell culture process on the cell culture according to the images acquired by the cell imaging subsystem, and a cell editing subsystem configured to edit the cell culture to produce output cell products according to the cell culture process.

An optical proximity sensor includes a first vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine distance to and/or velocity of an object. The optical proximity sensor also includes a second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine whether any variation in a fixed distance has occurred. The optical proximity sensor leverages output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to calibrate output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to eliminate and/or mitigate environmental effects, such as temperature changes.

Imaging systems and methods for capturing an image of a subject. The imaging system includes an imaging device that captures images of the subject, a focus mechanism for changing a focal length of the imaging device, and a controller that processes images captured by the imaging device. The imaging device captures a plurality of images of the subject at each of a plurality of focal lengths. The controller generates a sharpness map for each of the plurality of images of the subject at each of the plurality of focal lengths and a composite image of the subject by blending together the plurality of images at each of the plurality of focal lengths into a single image based on the sharpness maps.