Clarient, of Aliso Viejo, Calif., has been awarded US Patent No. 7,190,818, “Method and apparatus for automated image analysis of biological specimens”
Inventors listed on the patent are Bob Ellis, William Decker, and Gina McLaren.
According to its abstract, the patent covers a method and apparatus designed for automated cell analysis of biological specimens. The technology automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images that are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest and store data about them.
Amnis of Seattle has been awarded US Patent No. 7,190,832, “Computational methods for the segmentation of images of objects from background in a flow imaging instrument.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Keith Frost and James Riley.
The patent covers a technology that enables ”automated computation-based interpretation of images,” according to the abstract. In a multi-step process, objects are first detected and captured into regions of interest. Sets of pixels belonging to respective objects are identified, and objects are detected using both a two-dimensional low-pass filter and a 2D edge-enhancement filter.
The invention is “preferably employed” in conjunction with optical microscopes using the method of TDI to synchronize image formation with the traversal of particles or other objects (such as biological cells) through a measurement cavity, according to the abstract.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, of Madison, has been awarded US Patent No. 7,189,581, “Method of obtaining a sample concentration of a solution in a microfluidic device.”
Inventors listed on the patent include David Beebe and Glenn Walker.
The patent protects a method of obtaining a sample concentration of a solution in a microfluidic device, according to the patent’s abstract. The microfluidic device includes a channel having a reservoir and a collection port. The channel is filled with a solution having particles therein. A reservoir drop is deposited over the reservoir of the channel so that the solution of the channel flows towards the collection port in response to evaporation of the solution at the collection port. The particles at the collection port are collected to obtain the sample concentration.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, of Madison, has been awarded US Patent No. 7,189,580, “Method of pumping fluid through a microfluidic device.”
Inventors listed on the patent include David Beebe and and Glenn Walker.
The patent covers a method for pumping fluid through a channel of a microfluidic device. The channel has an input port of a predetermined radius and an output port of a predetermined radius. The channel is filled with fluid and a pressure gradient is generated between the fluid between the input port and the fluid at the output port. As a result, fluid flows through the channel towards the output port.