IP Library Granted Patent US 12687484
Granted Patent B2
US 12687484 · App. 18/572,939 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Biological sample analysis system, information processor, information processing method, and biological sample analysis method

Inventor: Akio Furukawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
G01N15/147G06T7/0016G01N2015/144
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687484
App. No.
18/572,939
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A biological sample analysis system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an irradiator, a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, and a generator. The irradiator irradiates a biological particle in a biological sample with light. Each of the plurality of pixels generates a pulse signal in response to incidence of light emitted from the biological particle as a result of irradiation with the light. The generator generates image data by performing a TDI process with use of a plurality of pulse signals obtained from a plurality of sets of pixel lines of the plurality of pixels, the plurality of sets of pixel lines being disposed to be aligned in a row direction.

Claims (35)

1 . A biological sample analysis system comprising:

an irradiator that irradiates a biological particle in a biological sample with light;

a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, each of the plurality of pixels generating a pulse signal in response to incidence of light emitted from the biological particle as a result of irradiation with the light wherein,

each pixel in the plurality of pixels comprises a counter section and two switch sections; and

a generator that generates image data by performing a TDI (Time Delay Integration) process with use of a plurality of the pulse signals obtained from a plurality of sets of pixel lines of the plurality of pixels, the plurality of sets of pixel lines being disposed to be aligned in a row direction.

2 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 1 , wherein the biological particle comprises a cell or a non-cellular biological particle.

3 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 1 , wherein

the irradiator irradiates a predetermined spot on a flow channel with the light, and

the biological particle travels in the flow channel to pass through the predetermined spot.

4 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 1 , further comprising a spectroscopic optical system that disperses the light emitted from the biological particle by wavelength range in the row direction of the plurality of pixels, wherein

the biological particle is labeled with one or more fluorochromes,

the irradiator irradiates the biological particle with the light including excitation light in one or more wavelength ranges, and

the plurality of pixels generates the respective pulse signals in accordance with pieces of light resulting from dispersion by the spectroscopic optical system.

5 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pixels is disposed in a one-to-one relationship with the respective pieces of light resulting from the dispersion by the spectroscopic optical system.

6 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pixels is disposed to allow the pieces of light resulting from the dispersion by the spectroscopic optical system to form images sequentially.

7 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 6 , further comprising an expansion optical system that expands the light emitted from the biological particle and guides the light to a predetermined region, wherein

the spectroscopic optical system causes the light expanded by the expansion optical system to form images on the plurality of pixels sequentially.

8 . The biological sample analysis system according to claim 1 , further comprising a speed measurement section that detects a speed of the biological particle in a flow channel, wherein

the generator generates the image data from the plurality of pulse signals on a basis of data related to the speed detected by the speed measurement section and

the speed measurement section uses at least one of an electrostatic method and an optical method.

9 . The biological sample analysis system of claim 1 , wherein

the counter section is a digital counter of k bits.

10 . The biological sample analysis system of claim 1 , wherein

the counter section includes a rewrite circuit that rewrites an initial value on the basis of a rewrite signal from an external source, and an adder circuit that adds a input signal from an external source to the initial value.

11 . An information processor comprising

a generator that generates image data by performing a TDI (Time Delay Integration) process with use of a plurality of pulse signals obtained from a plurality of sets of pixel lines of a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, the plurality of sets of pixel lines being disposed to be aligned in a row direction, each of the plurality of pixels generating the pulse signal in response to incidence of light emitted from a biological particle in a biological sample as a result of irradiation of the biological particle with light.

12 . An information processing method comprising

generating image data by performing a TDI (Time Delay Integration) process with use of a plurality of pulse signals obtained from a plurality of sets of pixel lines of a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form wherein,

each pixel in the plurality of pixels comprises a counter section and two switch sections, and

the plurality of sets of pixel lines being disposed to be aligned in a row direction, each of the plurality of pixels generating the pulse signal in response to incidence of light emitted from a biological particle in a biological sample as a result of irradiation of the biological particle with light.

13 . A biological sample analysis method comprising:

irradiating a biological particle in a biological sample with light; and

generating image data by performing a TDI (Time Delay Integration) process with use of a plurality of pulse signals obtained from a plurality of sets of pixel lines of a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form wherein,

each pixel in the plurality of pixels comprises a counter section and two switch sections, and

the plurality of sets of pixel lines being disposed to be aligned in a row direction, each of the plurality of pixels generating the pulse signal in response to incidence of light emitted from the biological particle as a result of irradiation with the light.