Abstract: The effective quantum efficiency of a metal-channel photomultiplier tube can be increased with an optical system. The optical system can direct incident light from areas of low efficiency on the cathode of the metal-channel photomultiplier tube instead to areas of high efficiency on the cathode. These high-efficiency areas of the cathode can correspond to a position between the dynode structure.

Abstract: A bias-variant photomultiplier tube (PMT) includes a photocathode that when operating absorbs photons and emits photoelectrons responsive to the absorbed photons. The bias-variant PMTO also includes a plurality of dynodes that receive the photoelectrons emitted by the photocathode. The plurality of dynodes include a first pair of dynodes having a first bias difference and at least a second pair of dynodes having a second bias difference. The second bias difference is greater than the first bias difference. The bias-variant PMTO also includes an anode to receive photoelectrons directed from the plurality of dynodes.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, includes an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device, and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A bias-variant photomultiplier tube (PMT) includes a photocathode that when operating absorbs photons and emit photoelectrons responsive to the absorbed photons. The bias-variant PMTO also includes a plurality of dynodes that receive the photoelectrons emitted by the photocathode. The plurality of dynodes include a first pair of dynodes having a first bias difference and at least a second pair of dynodes having a second bias. The second bias difference is greater than the first bias difference. The bias-variant PMTO also includes an anode to receive photoelectrons directed from the plurality of dynodes.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, includes an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device, and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known to methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, includes an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device, and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, includes an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device, and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, including an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A new and improved confocal fluorescence microscope is presented. The new microscope has significant advantages relative to existing implementations of microscope confocal imagers. In common with previous confocal imagers the instant invention has the advantages relative to conventional wide-field and confocal fluorescence imagers, however it addresses the drawbacks of confocal technology in terms of cost and complexity, and provides significant savings in both due to the simplicity of the components and the elimination of the need of, in particular, spatial filters such as pinholes or slits.

Abstract: A system for performing automated cell screening in drug discovery, including an automated microscope, a fast autofocus device and a digital imaging system. Processes are implemented in software through which relevant cellular material is segmented and quantified with minimal user interaction. Improvements in the following areas: known methods for image processing are implemented in such a way that automated segmentation is achieved; sets of known measurements (pixel counting, etc.) are implemented as methods which demonstrate aspects of biology in a reliable fashion; components for automated positioning, focusing, imaging and processing of a multiplicity of samples are integrated as systems within which the segmentation and measurement methods may be mounted; and components and methods are adapted into systems which yield more highly automated and more rapid cell screening.

Abstract: A new and improved confocal fluorescence microscope is presented. The new microscope has significant advantages relative to existing implementations of microscope confocal imagers. In common with previous confocal imagers the instant invention has the advantages relative to conventional wide-field and confocal fluorescence imagers, however it addresses the drawbacks of confocal technology in terms of cost and complexity, and provides significant savings in both due to the simplicity of the components and the elimination of the need of, in particular, spatial filters such as pinholes or slits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for imaging time resolved fluorescence in biochemical and medical samples. In a primary aspect, the device includes a lens of large aperture, a flash lamp in the illumination path, a fast-acting solid state shutter or a gated detector in the emission path, a device for delivering homogenous monochromatic illumination to a plurality of wells distributed within a microwell plate, a digital camera of high quantum efficiency, and a computer under computer control, the lamp is pulsed at short intervals. The fast-acting emission shutter or gated detector operates to limit exposure of the camera to a period some microseconds after the extinction of each lamp pulse, during which only delayed fluorescence is transmitted to the camera. The invention achieves simultaneous time resolved imaging of a plurality of samples, with high sensitivity and high throughput.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for imaging time resolved fluorescence in biochemical and medical samples. In a primary aspect, the device includes a lens of large aperture, a flash lamp in the illumination path, a fast-acting solid state shutter or a gated detector in the emission path, a device for delivering homogenous monochromatic illumination to a plurality of wells distributed within a microwell plate, a digital camera of high quantum efficiency, and a computer under computer control, the lamp is pulsed at short intervals. The fast-acting emission shutter or gated detector operates to limit exposure of the camera to a period some microseconds after the extinction of each lamp pulse, during which only delayed fluorescence is transmitted to the camera. The invention achieves simultaneous time resolved imaging of a plurality of samples, with high sensitivity and high throughput.