Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Albrecht Kettler

Wilhelm Ansorge

Walter Geis

Volker Wilke

Hubert Nasse

A process and apparatus for evaluating pictures of cell cultures uses a computer-aided, observer-interactive system which records and reviews a chronological series of video pictures. The pictures are taken sequentially in each of a plurality of cell culture picture fields which border each other, each such field encompassing a different area of the specimen. Each successive chronological picture is displayed on a monitor where it is reviewed by an observer who uses a digitizing pad to apply distinguishing marks to individual cells and/or cell groups. Picture-memory-an-analysis software is used to facilitate the marking process so that observer work effort and time are remarkably reduced. Stored information relating to the position and number of the distinguishing marks applied to each chronological picture is used to generate statistical graphs and data concerning the division rate of individual cell groups, the mobility of cells, cell pedigrees, and similar matters.

Process for the evaluation of cell pictures

The invention is directed to a method for performing work on cells of a cell culture which includes microinjecting cells in the cell culture or drawing liquid from an individual cell or withdrawing whole cells with the aid of suction from the cell culture. The system is computer-supported and a marker movable in the image on a monitor is superposed on a television image of the cell culture. The marker is positioned in the television image on the cell to be injected by the operator by means of a relative movement of the marker with respect to the image. The coordinates of the cells marked in this way are stored by the computer which thereafter advances the capillary point automatically to the selected cells and penetrates the latter. Pursuant to a feature of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the computer guides the penetration movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capillary by means of a superposed movement (k) of the object stage and through a superposed movement of the drive for the elevation displacement (z) of the capillary on the micromanipulator.

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Aalen, Germany

Albrecht Kettler