Bio-rad Laboratories, Inc.

Steve Swihart

Evan Thrush

Boaz Ran

Itay Barak

Evelio Perez

Kevin McDonald

Clayton T McKee

Yochanan Uri

Neeraj Bhatt

Hari Jayamohan

Yoachanan Uri

In one application, an imaging device includes an image sensor having an array of pixels, and a mask coupled with the image sensor. The mask is configured to darken a plurality of isolated pixels or groups of pixels interspersed within the array of pixels. The imaging device also includes a processor coupled with the image sensor and configured to receive image data from the image sensor, and determine a dark current fixed pattern noise based on the image data received from the plurality of darkened pixels or groups of pixels.

Digital imaging with masked pixels

An image sensor assembly having a sensor window positioned in front of an image sensor, having structure and/or characteristics to prevent the formation of condensation on the sensor window. Structure to prevent the formation of condensation includes thin films which can have anti-condensation, anti-reflective, electrically conductive, and/or thermally conductive properties. The sensor window can further have a textured surface to displace water so as to avoid condensation formation on the window surface. The sensor window, and in some embodiments a frame, can be maintained at an elevated temperature proximate to the image sensor during operation to prevent the formation of condensation.

Heated image sensor window

Methods and digital imaging devices disclosed herein are adapted to capture images of a specimen in a chemical reaction using a series of short exposures of light emissions from the specimen over a period of time. The series of short exposures is captured using an array of pixels of an image sensor in the digital imaging device that are configured for performing continuous non-destructive read operations to read out a set of non-destructive read images of the specimen from the pixel array. In one embodiment, images are captured by delaying the read out until at or near the end of the chemical reaction to reduce read noise in the images. The signals read out from the image sensor can be continuously monitored and the capturing of images can be discontinued either automatically or based on a command from a user. The captured images can then be displayed in a graphical display.

Non-destructive read operations with dynamically growing images

Kits, systems, and methods are provided for transferring biological macromolecules from an electrophoresis slab gel to a blotting membrane using conductive polymer electrodes.

Dry protein transfer

Devices, systems, methods, and kits for contact imaging are provided. A contact imaging device includes an imaging sensor, a fixed fiber faceplate mechanically coupled to the imaging sensor, and an optical filtering layer mechanically coupled to the fixed fiber faceplate. The optical filtering layer can include an interference filter, an absorptive filter, and/or a removable fiber faceplate. The contact imaging device can be used to image fluorescent samples by filtering out excitation light on the basis of wavelength and/or angle of incidence.

Contact imaging devices for fluorescence applications

An imaging assembly and processing system that includes a sample platform having a target region which can hold a sample, where the sample can be marked with fluorescent or phosphorescent markers. The imaging assembly can have an excitation light module proximate to the sample platform that emits light to excite the markers, and a lens module positioned to receive emission light from excited markers in target region. At least one series filter assembly or interference filter can be arranged in front of, behind, or both in front of and behind the lens module. The assembly includes a light sensor and a processor and imaging module configured to process data captured by the light sensor. Images of the sample are generated based on the emission light from the sample that transmit through and are filtered by the lens assembly and series filter assembly or interference filter.

Series absorbance glass and interference filters

An imaging assembly for the viewing, imaging, and analysis of chemiluminescent or bioluminescent samples in gels or other substrates, in which an adjustable camera and lens module having a prime or fixed lens or a focusing lens is moved to change the field of view by shifting the focal plane of the camera and lens module. The imaging assembly can also include a mirror to bend or fold the optical path between the camera and lens module and the target area having a sample, in which the mirror can move in the same vertical direction as the camera and lens module. Further, the camera and lens module can be configured to more move in a diagonal direction relative to the location of the imaging target area. The imaging assembly can further have a duct system adaptable to adjust with the movement of the camera and lens module.

Mechanical zoom imaging apparatus

An imaging assembly for the viewing, imaging, and analysis of biological, chemical, and/or biochemical samples in gels or other substrates, in which an adjustable camera and lens module, a reflex mirror, and a focal plane mirror, are configured to bend or fold an optical path in order to image a target region, and where the optical path can be reflected along non-orthogonal angles. The imaging assembly is configured to reduce the overall size of the imaging apparatus due to the angles at which the mirrors and camera and lens assembly are positioned relative to each other, which allows for the imaging of relatively larger samples in the target region.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

Steve Swihart