Method for the examination of cells in a culture medium

1. A method for the examination of cells ( 20 , 38 ) in a culture medium for in-situ microscopy in a bio-reactor comprising a microscope with an optical axis, whereby cells in a sample volume ( 12 ), said sample volume having a depth that is defined by the depth of field of the microscope ( 18 ) lens are microscopically imaged and are automatically recorded and processed by means of an image processing system ( 30 ), comprising the steps of adjusting the depth of the sample volume ( 12 ) to the size of the cells ( 20 , 38 ) by successively reducing a separation (d) of the windows while an image size (G) of the cells is simultaneously verified by the image processing system ( 30 ) in a manner that a separation value (D) is determined at which the image size (G) of the cells begins to grow, thus corresponding to flattening caused by the contact pressure of the windows ( 14 , 16 ), and setting the separation (d) of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) to said separation value (D) for the examination.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing system ( 30 ) classifies cells ( 20 , 38 ) into different size categories and determines the separation value (D) as that point where the image size (G) of the cells ( 20 , 38 ) of a particular size category begins to grow, and that the separation (d) is set to this separation value (D) for the examination.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the cells ( 38 ) to be examined are adhered to platelet-shaped carriers ( 40 ), the separation value (D) is determined where the image size (G) of the cells ( 38 ) on a surface side of a carrier lying flat between the windows ( 14 , 16 ) begins to grow, and the separation (d) is set to this separation value (D) for the examination.

4. Method according to claim 3 , wherein, for the examination of cells ( 38 ) on a particular surface side of the carrier ( 40 ), the object level of a microscope lens ( 18 ) to be imaged is shifted to the cell layer, with the depth of field selected such that exclusively cells ( 38 ) lying immediately in the object layer are recorded by the image processing system ( 30 ).

5. Method according to claim 4 , wherein the depth of field is altered by adjusting the numeric aperture of the microscope lens ( 18 ).

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the separation value (D) determined in one measuring cycle is stored and in the subsequent measuring cycles the separation (d) of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is set immediately to the stored value (D).

7. Method according to claim 6 , wherein the image processing system ( 30 ) determines whether a carrier ( 40 ) or a cell ( 20 , 38 ) is present in the sample volume ( 12 ), and that on the basis of this assessment the separation (d) of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is set to a stored separation value (D) for a carrier ( 40 ) or for a cell ( 20 , 38 ).

8. Method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is cleaned by a wiper ( 42 ) before or after a measurement is made.

9. An apparatus for the examination of cells ( 20 , 38 ) in a culture medium for in-situ microscopy in a bio-reactor, with a microscope ( 18 ) for the imaging of cells ( 20 , 38 ) within a sample volume ( 12 ) having a depth which is defined by the depth of field of the microscope ( 18 ) lens, and an image processing system ( 30 ) for recording and processing the microscope image, comprising an actuator ( 34 ) for adjusting the separation (d) between the windows ( 14 , 16 ) of the sample volume ( 12 ) along the optical axis which can be controlled by the image processing system ( 30 ) by means of a control unit ( 32 ) in a manner that the separation (d) between the windows ( 14 , 16 ) can be set for the examination to a separation value (D) at which point an image size (G) of the cells ( 14 , 16 ) starts to grow in accordance with their flattening caused by the contact pressure of the windows ( 14 , 16 ).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the image processing system ( 30 ) is provided for the storage of the determined separation value (D), which can be retrieved for setting the separation (d) to a particular separation value (D).

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a diaphragm ( 36 ) for setting the depth of field of the microscope.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a wiper ( 42 ) for cleaning the windows ( 14 , 16 ) of the sample volume ( 12 ).

13. Method according to claim 3 , wherein the separation value (D) determined in one measuring cycle is stored and in the subsequent measuring cycles the separation (d) of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is set immediately to the stored value (D).

14. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the image processing system ( 30 ) determines whether a carrier ( 40 ) or a cell ( 20 , 38 ) is present in the sample volume ( 12 ), and that on the basis of this assessment the separation (d) of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is set to a stored separation value (D) for a carrier ( 40 ) or for a cell ( 20 , 38 ).

15. Method according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is cleaned by a wiper ( 42 ) before or after a measurement is made.

16. Method according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the windows ( 14 , 16 ) is cleaned by a wiper ( 42 ) before or after a measurement is made.

17. Apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a wiper ( 42 ) for cleaning the windows ( 14 , 16 ) of the sample volume ( 12 ).