Abstract: A robotic inspection platform comprises a robotic arm, an imager, and a controller. The controller causes the robotic arm to retrieve, using its end effector, a container, and to manipulate the container such that the container is sequentially placed in a plurality of orientations while in view of the imager. The controller also causes the imager to capture images, with each of the images being captured while the container is in a respective one of the orientations. The controller also determines one or more attributes of the container, and/or a sample within the container, by analyzing the images using a pattern recognition model and, based on the attribute(s), determines whether the container and/or sample satisfies one or more criteria. If the container and/or sample fails to satisfy the criteria, the controller causes the robotic arm to place the container in an area (e.g., bin) reserved for rejected containers and/or samples.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate the development and/or modification of an automated visual inspection (AVI) system that implements deep learning are described herein. Some aspects facilitate the generation of a large and diverse training image library, such as by digitally modifying images of real-world containers, and/or generating synthetic container images using a deep generative model. Other aspects decrease the use of processing resources for training, and/or making inferences with, neural networks in an AVI system, such as by automatically reducing the pixel sizes of training images (e.g., by down-sampling and/or selectively cropping container images). Still other aspects facilitate the testing or qualification of an AVI neural network by automatically analyzing a heatmap or bounding box generated by the neural network. Various other techniques are also described herein.

Abstract: In a method for replicating performance of an automated visual inspection (AVI) station, a mimic AVI station that performs one or more AVI functions of the AVI station is constructed. One or more container images are captured by an imaging system of the AVI station while a container is illuminated by an illumination system of the AVI station, and one or more additional container images are captured by a mimic imaging system of the mimic AVI station. The method also includes identifying, by one or more processors, one or more differences between the one or more additional container images and the one or more container images, generating, by the one or more processors, a visual indication of the difference(s) and/or one or more suggestions for modifying the mimic AVI station, and modifying the mimic AVI station based on the visual indication.

Abstract: In a method for enhancing accuracy and efficiency in automated visual inspection of vessels, a vessel containing a sample is oriented such that a line scan camera has a profile view of an edge of a stopper of the vessel. A plurality of images of the edge of the stopper is captured by the first line scan camera while spinning the vessel, where each image of the plurality of images corresponds to a different rotational position of the vessel. A two-dimensional image of the edge of the stopper is generated based on at least the plurality of images, and pixels of the two-dimensional image are processed, by one or more processors executing an inference model that includes a trained neural network, to generate output data indicative of a likelihood that the sample is defective.

Abstract: An inspection system for a drug container is provided to identify foreign matter, such as particles or fibers, within the drug container prior to filling with a drug. The system includes a camera device aligned with an axis of the drug container and captures a series of images of an interior surface of a sidewall of the drug container while the robot causes relative movement between the drug container and the camera device along a linear path. Atypical lighting, which improves contrast between particles and the background in images is employed to aid detection. A control circuit then processes the series of images to identify foreign matter within the drug container.

Abstract: An automated inspection system includes a sensor system that includes a sensor and is configured to generate a plurality of syringe scans by scanning each of a plurality of syringes. Each of the plurality of syringe scans is indicative of distance relative to the sensor. The automated inspection system also includes one or more processors configured to, for each of the plurality of syringes, analyze the respective syringe scan to determine (i) a first distance to a first portion (e.g., flange) of the syringe and (ii) a second distance to a second portion (e.g., plunger) of the syringe, and calculate a distance between the first and second portions based on the first distance and the second distance.

Abstract: A robotic inspection platform comprises a robotic arm, an imager, and a controller. The controller causes the robotic arm to retrieve, using its end effector, a container, and to manipulate the container such that the container is sequentially placed in a plurality of orientations while in view of the imager. The controller also causes the imager to capture images, with each of the images being captured while the container is in a respective one of the orientations. The controller also determines one or more attributes of the container, and/or a sample within the container, by analyzing the images using a pattern recognition model and, based on the attribute(s), determines whether the container and/or sample satisfies one or more criteria. If the container and/or sample fails to satisfy the criteria, the controller causes the robotic arm to place the container in an area (e.g., bin) reserved for rejected containers and/or samples.

Abstract: An inspection system for a drug container is provided to identify foreign matter, such as particles or fibers, within the drug container prior to filling with a drug. The system includes a camera device aligned with an axis of the drug container and captures a series of images of an interior surface of a sidewall of the drug container while the robot causes relative movement between the drug container and the camera device along a linear path. Atypical lighting, which improves contrast between particles and the background in images is employed to aid detection. A control circuit then processes the series of images to identify foreign matter within the drug container.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of inhibiting islet cell transplant rejection particular, to treat diabetes, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, by administering to a subject an effective amount of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule. One example of soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule is L104EA29YIg.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting an immune response and a method for inhibiting rejection of transplanted tissues. This method comprises preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of gp39 and CD40 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand and preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of CTLA4, CD28, and B7 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand. The prevention of such molecules from binding their ligand thereby blocks two independent signal pathways and inhibits the immune response resulting in transplanted tissue rejection.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of inhibiting islet cell transplant rejection particular, to treat diabetes, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, by administering to a subject an effective amount of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule. One example of soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule is L104EA29YIg.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of inhibiting islet cell transplant rejection, particularly to treat diabetes, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, by administering to a subject an effective amount of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule. One example of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule is L104EA29YIg.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the non-destructive detection of pits and pit fragments found in dried fruit has been developed. It utilizes a force transducer and a signal processor to determine whether or not pit or pit fragments are present in a fruit specimen, and is able to automatically separate specimens testing positive from the product stream.

Abstract: An object, such as a pistachio nut, is sorted based on a given trait. The sorting process commences by bouncing the object off a body so that the object emits a sound. The sound emitted by the object is converted to an electrical signal which is analyzed to determine electrical characteristics that indicate the trait of the object. For example, the electrical signal can be integrated and a signal gradient produced to discriminate among signals from different classes of objects.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of inhibiting islet cell transplant rejection particular, to treat diabetes, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, by administering to a subject an effective amount of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule. One example of soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule is L104EA29YIg.

Abstract: Methods of establishing hematopoietic chimerism useful to correct hematological diseases and promote acceptance of organ transplants include administering busulfan, costimulation blockade, and readily attainable numbers of T-cell depleted bone marrow cells.

Abstract: An object, such as a pistachio nut, is sorted based on a given trait. The sorting process commences by bouncing the object off a body so that the object emits a sound. The sound emitted by the object is converted to an electrical signal which is analyzed to determine electrical characteristics that indicate the trait of the object. For example, the electrical signal can be integrated and a signal gradient produced to discriminate among signals from different classes of objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting an immune reponse and a method for inhibiting rejection of transplanted tissues. This method comprises preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of gp39 and CD40 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand and preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of CTLA4, CD28, and B7 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand. The prevention of such molecules from binding their ligand thereby blocks two independent signal pathways and inhibits the immune response resulting in transplanted tissue rejection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting an immune reponse and a method for inhibiting rejection of transplanted tissues. This method comprises preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of gp39 and CD40 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand and preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of CTLA4, CD28, and B7 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand. The prevention of such molecules from binding their ligand thereby blocks two independent signal pathways and inhibits the immune response resulting in transplanted tissue rejection.

Abstract: An object is sorted into different classes by producing a video image of the object. The signal level discontinuities in the image are evaluated by first deriving a video signal gradient of each pixel in the image. Then the number of pixels in three different signal gradient ranges are counted to produce count parameters which combined indicate the areas of differing contrast in the object. The count parameters are utilized in a pair of discriminate functions which define the two classes and solution of the discriminate functions are used to determine the probability that the object fits within one class. In response to the probability the object is directed along either a first path associated with one class or along a second path associated with the other class.