Patent ID: 11926813
Assignee: MOLECULAR DEVICES, LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC C  G | IPC C  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for selecting one or more monoclonal cell colonies using an apparatus having a digital imaging device, the method comprising:
loading a sample plate onto the apparatus, the sample plate including a well having a plurality of originator cells plated in a semi-solid medium;
capturing, at a first time on day zero and using the digital imaging device, a first plurality of vertically spaced-apart images of the well, each image having a different height along a Z axis, such that a first volumetric image stack is generated with respect to the well;
capturing, at a second time between day zero and pick day and using the digital imaging device, a second plurality of vertically spaced-apart images of the well, such that a second volumetric image stack is generated with respect to the well; and
comparing the second volumetric image stack to the first volumetric image stack to determine movement of the cells in the semi-solid medium;
identifying, based on one or more images of the well captured at the second time later than the first time, a location of a candidate colony of cells;
determining, based on the first volumetric image stack, a measure of likelihood that the candidate colony is monoclonal based on a monoclonal selection criterion comprising
mapping a plurality of originator cell locations based on the first volumetric image stack;
identifying, from the plurality of originator cell locations, single originator cells that are spaced from all other cells by at least a selected first distance; and
limiting potential locations of the candidate colony of cells to locations corresponding to the identified single originator cells; and

in response to the determined measure of likelihood, compiling a pick list of colony coordinates based on locations of colonies satisfying the monoclonal selection criterion, and picking the candidate colony using a picking head of the apparatus to isolate at least a portion of the colony.