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US4573195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for the automatic observation and quantification of phenomena capable of being detected by fluorescence
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-08-31
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Granted: 1986-02-25
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Expires: 2003-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for the automatic observation and quantification of phenomena capable of being detected by fluorescence and appearing in a localized zone (8), the system comprising a source of radiation (2), optionally associated with an excitation filter (5) to send on the localized zone (8) an excitation radiation capable of producing the fluorescence, optical observation means (7) of the localized zone (8) and at least one filter (12) intended to block the excitation radiation and arranged in the path of the luminous radiation of fluorescence emanating from the localized zone (8). In accordance with the invention, the localized zone (8) is observed by a picture-taking tube (17) and through colored filters or windows on a disc (18) intercepting beam 11. The sucessive colored images are memorized and then read simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri G. de France
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6456; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/44; G01J2001/4446; G01J2001/4493; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1468; G01N2021/6463; G01N2021/6471; G01N21/6458; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/10; G01N2201/102; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/80; Y10S436/805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
A system for the automatic observation and quantification of phenomena capable of being detected by fluorescence and appearing in a localized zone (8), said system comprising a source of radiation (2), optionally associated with an excitation filter (5), for sending onto said localized zone (8) excitation radiation capable of producing said fluorescence, optical observation means (7) for said localized zone (8), and at least one filter (12) for blocking the excitation radiation and arranged in the path of the luminous fluorescence radiation emanating from said localized zone (8), characterized in that it comprises disc means (18) provided with at least one peripheral indentation (21) and two different colored filters (22, 23) selected in accordance with the wavelength of the luminous fluorescence radiation for examining said localized zone (8), a variable gain picture-taking tube means (17) for successively examining said localized zone (8) through said optical observation means (7) and through said at least two different colored filers (22, 23), memory means 38 R , 38 V ) for storing the electric signals corresponding to the individual colored images seen by said picture-taking tube means (17), means for simultaneously recovering said electric signals at the output of said memory means, and means for separately adjusting the level of the background for each colored image under the control (by 44) of the amplification gain of said tube means; wherein the signals emanating from said picture-taking tube have a dome-shaped background, and said system is further characterized in that it comprises generator means (45), under the control of the gain of said picture-taking tube means (17) and producing inverted dome-shaped signals (AD), for cancelling the dome-shaped background of the signals emanating from said picture-taking tube means and caused by the fact that the brightness of a luminous area is generally higher at the center of the area than on the boundaries of said area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
311 words
A system for the automatic observation and quantification of phenomena capable of being detected by fluorescence and appearing in a localized zone (8), said system comprising a source of radiation (2), optionally associated with an excitation filter (5), for sending onto said localized zone (8) excitation radiation capable of producing said fluorescence, optical observation means (7) for said localized zone (8), and at least one filter (12) for blocking the excitation radiation and arranged in the path of the luminous fluorescence radiation emanating from said localized zone (8), characterized in that it comprises disc means (18) provided with at least one peripheral indentation (21) and two different colored filters (22, 23) selected in accordance with the wavelength of the luminous fluorescence radiation for examining said localized zone (8), a variable gain picture-taking tube means (17) for successively examining said localized zone (8) through said optical observation means (7) and through said at least two different colored filers (22, 23), memory means 38 R , 38 V ) for storing the electric signals corresponding to the individual colored images seen by said picture-taking tube means (17), means for simultaneously recovering said electric signals at the output of said memory means, and means for separately adjusting the level of the background for each colored image under the control (by 44) of the amplification gain of said tube means; wherein the signals emanating from said picture-taking tube have a dome-shaped background, and said system is further characterized in that it comprises generator means (45), under the control of the gain of said picture-taking tube means (17) and producing inverted dome-shaped signals (AD), for cancelling the dome-shaped background of the signals emanating from said picture-taking tube means and caused by the fact that the brightness of a luminous area is generally higher at the center of the area than on the boundaries of said area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the colored filters comprise at least one red filter (22) and one green filter (23).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
44 words
The system of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said picture-taking tube means (17) also directly examines said localized zone (8) in order to give a black and white representation thereof which is used for the focusing of said picture-taking tube means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said disc means (18) has opaque parts (24,25,26), and wherein said picture-taking tube means (17) is blocked between two successive examinations through successive colored filters and between an examination through a colored filter and a direct examination for giving the black and white representation by means of said opaque parts so as to allow the residual remanence effect of said picture-taking tube means to become negligible during the corresponding time-rotation of said disc means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 4, characterized in that said disc means (18) is also provided with tracks (27,28,29), and means for rotating said disc means so as successively to cause said at least one indentation, colored filters, opaque parts and tracks to intercept the luminous beam of fluorescence (11) sent to said picture-taking tube means (17).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 5, characterized in that it comprises fixed sensor means (30,31,32) for monitoring said tracks, and wherein the rotating disc means (18) cooperates with said sensor means to synchronize the storing of the signals in said memory means (38 R and 38 V ) and to synchronize the other elements of said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said generator means (45) supplies inverted dome-shaped signals (AD) both in the line direction and in the frame direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 7, characterized in that, downstream of said memory means (38 R and 38 V ), it comprises means (46 R and 46 V ) for background cancellation using integration and rectification of the image signals and subtraction of the signals thus obtained from the real signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (47,48) for producing, on the one hand, the difference R-V between the signals emanating from a first colored filter (22) and those emanating from the second colored filter (23) and, on the other hand, the difference V-R between the signals emanating from the second colored filter (23) and those emanating from the first colored filter (22).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 9, characterized in that, downstream of said memory means (38 R and 38 V ), it comprises means (46 R and 46 V ) for background suppression using integration and rectification of the image signals and subtraction of the signals thus obtained from the real signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 or 10, characterized in that, downstream of said memory means (38 R and 38 V ), it comprises artifact suppression means for enabling the suppression of each artifact by means of a portion of itself.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises automatic mechanisms enabling the movement of stage 10 in a focusing plane relative to objective lens 7, including, on the one hand, visualization means (78') of the real cells of a slide (72) and stopping and reading control means (79) on the localized zones (80) of the slide (72), cooperating with an optoelectronic device (30) of disc (18) and with another optoelectronic device (75), for the X movements and, on the other hand, control means (81, 82 and 83), cooperating with still another optoelectronic device (76), for the Y movements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means (41 to 44) for varying the gain of said picture-taking tube means (17) such that the amplitude of the output signals therefrom is always greater than a threshold beneath which the remanence of tube means (17) becomes detrimental.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-24 | 1989-08-26 | 1990-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-08-26 | 1994-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-24 | 1997-08-26 | 1998-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |