Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Cellmax, Ltd

The Scripps Research Institute

Academia Sinica

Huangpin Ben Hsieh

Meng H Lean

Armin Rainer Völkel

Richard H Bruce

Armin R Volkel

XiaoMing Wang

Rui Mei

Bryan Thomas Preas

Ashutosh Kole

Jen-Chia Wu

Hung-Jen Shao

Jr-Ming Lai

Scott Alan Elrod

Douglas N Curry

Robert Thomas Krivacic

John Stuart Fitch

Kai Melde

Eric Peeters

Jurgen Hans Daniel

Michael L Chabinyc

Norine E Chang

Frank Torres

Peter Kiesel

Francisco Eduardo Torres

Jeng Ping Lu

Michael A Kneissl

Jeonggi Seo

Nitin S Parekh

Noble Marshall Johnson

Richard A Lerner

Oliver Schmidt

Gregory Paul Schmitz

John Steven Paschkewitz

Scott Eugene Solberg

Scott J Limb

Jackson H Ho

Ying-Chih Chang

Robert Matusiak

Jürgen H Daniel

Oliver Wolst

Cory D Lancaster

Chinwen Shih

Nicole H Lazarus

Huai-Lu Chen

JengPeng Lu

Joe Zuback

Si-Hong Lu

Tsung-Fu Hung

Techniques for identifying and enumerating candidate target cells within a biological fluid specimen are described. A digital image of the biological fluid specimen is received, and one or more candidate regions of pixels in the digital image are identified by identifying connected regions of pixels of a minimum intensity having a size between a minimum size and a maximum size and an aspect ratio that meets a threshold. For each candidate region of at least one of the one or more candidate region, whether the portion of the image corresponding to the candidate region includes more than a threshold number of intensity levels is determined. If the portion of the image corresponding to the candidate region includes more than the threshold number of intensity levels the portion of the image is continued to be treated as a candidate for classification.

Identifying candidate cells using image analysis with intensity levels

A method for identifying candidate target cells within a biological fluid specimen includes a digital image of the biological fluid specimen with the digital image having a plurality of color channels, identifying first connected regions of pixels of a minimum first intensity in a first channel, identifying second connected regions of pixels of a minimum second intensity in a second channel, and determining first connected regions and second connected regions that spatially overlap. For a pair of a first connected region and a second connected region that spatially overlap, whether the second connected region overlaps the first connected region by a threshold amount is determined, and if the second connected region overlaps the first connected region by the threshold amount then the portion of the image corresponding to the overlap is continued to be treated as a candidate for classification.

Identifying candidate cells using image analysis with overlap thresholds

A method for identifying and enumerating candidate target cells within a biological fluid specimen is described. The method includes obtaining a biological fluid specimen, preparing the biological fluid specimen by staining cell features in the biological fluid specimen, capturing a digital image having a plurality of color channels of the biological fluid specimen, and applying image analysis to the digital image. A computer program product for identifying candidate target cells within a biological fluid specimen is also described. The computer program comprises instructions to cause a processor to carry out the image analysis.

Identifying candidate cells using image analysis

Hydrodynamic separation of suspended particles using curved channels offers advantages in many applications, since it is a fast continuous flow technology that can handle neutrally and near neutrally buoyant particles without the need of a physical barrier or the addition of chemical aids. Designs are provided for a flow splitter at the end of the separation channel, to maintain smooth, counter-vortex-free laminar flow and improve particle separation efficiency while reducing clogging and fouling propensities.

HDS channel exit designs for improved separation efficiency

A Hydrodynamic separation device using curved channels is provided. High aspect ratio channels improve the focusing dynamics of the hydrodynamic separator and leads to improved channel design choices.

Hydrodynamic separation using high aspect ratio channels

A transformational approach to water treatment is provided that incorporates membrane-free filtration with dynamic processing of the fluid to significantly reduce treatment times, chemical cost, land use, and operational overhead. This approach provides hybrid capabilities of filtration, together with chemical treatment, as the water is transported through various spiral stages.

Device and method for dynamic processing in water purification

A wastewater treatment plant that employs an activated sludge process and a method of operating the same is described. Wastewater influent is provided to a bioreactor configured to perform activated sludge processing to develop mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). The MLSS is passed from the bioreactor to a hydrodynamic separator (HDS) system, where separation operations are performed on the MLSS. The separation operations generate a low concentration MLSS stream and a high concentration MLSS stream. The low concentration MLSS stream is passed from the hydrodynamic separator system via a first output to a clarifier, and the high concentration wastewater stream is passed via a second output back to the bioreactor. The clarifier performs clarification operations on the cleaned wastewater stream and then outputs an effluent flow.

Recycling activated sludge by hydrodynamic seperator (HDS) to enable high MLSS bioreactor to process high influent flow and/or high strength wastewater

A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement.

Systems and apparatus for removal of harmful algae blooms (HAB) and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP)

A method and system for splitting fluid flow in an outlet of a particle separation device is provided. The system may include static or passive mechanisms or subsystems. These mechanisms could also be modular and interchangeable to provide for preset fluid split divisions of 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, . . . etc. In other forms of the presently described embodiments, the system is adjustable and variable. In still another form of the presently described embodiments, the system allows for differential pressure control at the outlets to facilitate the flow of varying size particles or particle bands in the respective channels or paths.

Method and apparatus for splitting fluid flow in a membraneless particle separation system

Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.

Platelet extraction from blood

The water treatment system and method incorporating the use of a hydrodynamic separator to remove most of the total suspended solids (TSS) in source water being treated to thereby lighten the load on membrane filtration in the water treatment system and lower energy costs.

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) and moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) configurations for wastewater treatment

A method is provided for preparing a sample containing potential cells of interest and of using a laser of a laser based system for novel excitation and emission collection, and data usage including use of obtained data for direct and ratio based measurements. The prepared sample is configured to emit signals having spectral characteristics sufficient to permit filtering to differentiate and eliminate most false positives from true positives among acquired imaging events, in an imaging system employing a laser spot having a range of diameters from 1 to 20 &#x3bc;m or greater and which excites the fluorescence in a conventional or novel manner. These filtered events may be subsequently imaged and confirmed with another higher resolution device such as a fluorescent microscope in a short amount of time.

Immunocytostaining methods for enhanced dye ratio discrimination in rare event detection

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Huangpin Ben Hsieh