US 12,272,048 B2
Automated detection and repositioning of micro-objects in microfluidic devices
Fenglei Du, Fremont, CA (US); Paul M. Lundquist, San Francisco, CA (US); John A. Tenney, Piedmont, CA (US); and Troy A. Lionberger, Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed by Berkeley Lights, Inc., Emeryville, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/062,907.
Application 17/062,907 is a division of application No. 16/000,385, filed on Jun. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,832,404.
Application 16/000,385 is a continuation of application No. 14/963,230, filed on Dec. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,996,920.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/259,522, filed on Nov. 24, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/089,613, filed on Dec. 9, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0090252 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. G06T 7/00 (2017.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/00 (2024.01); G01N 15/01 (2024.01); G01N 15/10 (2024.01); G01N 15/14 (2024.01); G01N 15/1433 (2024.01); G01N 15/1434 (2024.01); G01N 21/05 (2006.01); G01N 21/17 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 27/453 (2006.01); G06T 5/50 (2006.01)
CPC G06T 7/0012 (2013.01) [G01N 15/1433 (2024.01); G01N 15/1434 (2013.01); G01N 15/1484 (2013.01); G01N 21/6456 (2013.01); G01N 27/453 (2013.01); G06T 5/50 (2013.01); B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); G01N 2015/0038 (2013.01); G01N 15/01 (2024.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1445 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1486 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1493 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1497 (2013.01); G01N 2021/056 (2013.01); G01N 2021/1765 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0635 (2013.01); G01N 2201/127 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30101 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a number density of micro-objects disposed within a predetermined area of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
capturing a digital image of a region in the microfluidic device that contains a micro-object of interest;
determining periodic structures in the digital image using a Fourier transform;
generating a filtered image or a differential image by removing the periodic structures from the digital image;
identifying a micro-object of interest based on the filtered or differential image; and
calculating the number density of micro-objects in the pre-determined area of that region of the microfluidic device using the filtered or differential image.