Abstract: A sealed airflow system suitable for use with a sample shaker assembly. The sealed airflow system includes at least one component which accommodates movement of the sample shaker assembly while maintaining an air tight assembly between components of the sealed air flow system. A compliant sliding seal compensates for movement of the sample shaker assembly with regard to an air intake side of the sealed airflow control system. Additionally, a flexible conduit provides an air tight passage between an outlet of the sealed airflow control system and an exhaust port. The flexible conduit compensates for movement of the sample shaker assembly in a manner that does not permit unwanted airflow into or out of sealed airflow control system.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images of a biological specimen using a computational model is described, the method including processing a cell image of the biological specimen and a phase contrast image of the biological specimen using the computational model to generate an output data. The cell image is a composite of a first brightfield image of the biological specimen at a first focal plane and a second brightfield image of the biological specimen at a second focal plane. The method also includes performing a comparison of the output data and a reference data and refining the computational model based on the comparison of the output data and the reference data. The method also includes thereafter processing additional image pairs according to the computational model to further refine the computational model based on comparisons of additional output data generated by the computational model to additional reference data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically imaging and analyzing cell samples in an incubator. An actuated microscope operates to generate images of samples within wells of a sample container across days, weeks, or months. A plurality of images is generated for each scan of a particular well, and the images within such a scan are used to image and analysis metabolically active cells in the well. Tins analysis includes generating a “range image” by subtracting the minimum intensity value, across the scan, for each pixel from the maximum intensity value. This range image thus emphasizes cells or portions of cells that exhibit changes in activity over a scan period (e.g., neurons, myocytes, cardiomyocytes) while de-emphasizing regions that exhibit consistently high intensities when images (e.g., regions exhibiting a great deal of autofluorescence unrelated to cell activity).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and reagents for determining immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) antibody isotype concentration from biological samples, and for analyzing a plurality of cell samples for IgG antibody production.

Abstract: Methods are provided to project depth-spanning stacks of limited depth-of-field images of a sample into a single image of the sample that can provide in-focus image information about three-dimensional contents of the image. These methods include applying filters to the stacks of images in order to identify pixels within each image that have been captured in focus. These in-focus pixels are then combined to provide the single image of the sample. Filtering of such image stacks can also allow for the determination of depth maps or other geometric information about contents of the sample. Such depth information can also be used to inform segmentation of images of the sample, e.g., by further dividing identified regions that correspond to the contents of the sample at multiple different depths.

Abstract: A kit and method for flow cytometry include a liquid dye concentrate for fluorescent staining of virus-size particles with a plurality of fluorogenic dyes in a liquid medium. The liquid dye concentrate includes a plurality of fluorogenic dyes and one or both of (i) the liquid medium comprising a liquid mixture including water and liquid phase organic material and (ii) disaccharide dissolved in the liquid medium.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a biological material for unassociated virus-size particles having a particular epitope uses a fluorescent antibody stain specific for binding with the epitope and a fluid sample with the virus-size particles and fluorescent antibody stain is subjected to flow cytometry with identification of fluorescent emission detection events indicative of passage through a flow cell of a flow cytometer of unassociated labeled particles of virus size including such a virus-size particle and fluorescent antibody stain.

Abstract: The multi-parameter data produced via flow cytometry and other biological analyses techniques can generate enormous amounts of data, which can take extensive time and/or computational resources to complete. Embodiments provided herein allow for adaptive sub-sampling of such data prior to analysis, allowing for such analyses to be performed while satisfying certain performance criteria. Such performance criteria may include, for example, keeping the latency of the analysis below a specified duration. This can allow analysis of data to be performed in real time as the data is generated, e.g., as flow cytometry data is generated by a cell counter or other flow cytometry instrument. This can also permit for data analyses to be iteratively developed or improved in less time by adaptively sub-sampling the data prior to re-analysis, so that the total time between iterations is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically imaging and analyzing cell samples in an incubator. An actuated microscope operates to generate images of samples within wells of a sample container across days, weeks, or months. A plurality of images is generated for each scan of a particular well, and the images within such a scan are used to image and analysis metabolically active cells in the well. Tins analysis includes generating a “range image” by subtracting the minimum intensity value, across the scan, for each pixel from the maximum intensity value. This range image thus emphasizes cells or portions of cells that exhibit changes in activity over a scan period (e.g., neurons, myocytes, cardiomyocytes) while de-emphasizing regions that exhibit consistently high intensities when images (e.g., regions exhibiting a great deal of autofluorescence unrelated to cell activity).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for acquiring a single, in-focus two-dimensional projection image of a live, three-dimensional cell culture sample, with a fluorescence microscope. One or more long-exposure “Z-sweep” images are obtained, i.e. via a single or series of continuous acquisitions, while moving the Z-focal plane of a camera through the sample, to produce one or more two-dimensional images of fluorescence intensity integrated over the Z-dimension. The acquisition method is much faster than a Z-stack method, which enables higher throughput and reduces the risk of exposing the sample to too much fluorescent light. The long-exposure Z-sweep image(s) is then input into a neural network which has been trained to produce a high-quality (in-focus) two-dimensional projection image of the sample.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided to facilitate epifluorescent imaging of three (or more) color channels and to perform phase contrast and/or bright field imaging of samples without manual adjustment of the imaging apparatus. This allows for automated imaging, over extended periods of time, of a plurality of samples by a device located inside an incubator without disturbing the incubator environment to manually adjust the apparatus. Also provided are embodiments to facilitate user swapping of removable optical modules and/or transillumination modules to allow the imaging apparatus to be adapted to different combinations of assays and/or fluorescent indicators so as to increase the variety of experiments and/or fluorescent dyes that can be imaged using the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system and process for fluid delivery is provided that is useful in in flow-injection based sensing measurements, wherein samples from a sample rack are introduced into a flow cell where sensing measurements are taken. The system and process utilize at least two holding lines where each holding line can retain one of the samples prior to injection of the thus retained sample into a flow cell. The introduction of the samples from the sample racks to the holding lines is alternated and the injection of the samples from the holding lines to the flow cell are alternated so that one holding line is loaded with one of the samples simultaneously with another sample being injected from the another holding line to the flow cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing dispersion gradients and an SPR injection method for determining full kinetics and affinity analysis in the presence of a competitor molecule. The SPR injection provides a dispersion gradient of two or more samples to a SPR flow cell and detector.