Patent ID: 9290382
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: B82Y,C12Q,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An instrument for detecting microcolonies of target cells in a sample, said instrument comprising: (a) a photoelectric array detector having associated optics to detect a detection area having at least one dimension that is ≧1 cm without magnifying said detection area by more than 5-fold and an optical resolution of less than 50 microns; (b) an illumination source that illuminates said detection area; and (c) a computer programmed to receive data collected by said photoelectric array detector, wherein said data is a digital representation of said detection area, and programmed for image analysis comprising analyzing said data to detect one or more microcolonies having a measurement of less than 50 microns in at least two orthogonal dimensions, and programmed to quantify the number of microcolonies detected in said detection area, wherein said instrument detects a property of said one or more microcolonies that does not depend on the addition of a signaling moiety or category binding molecule, and wherein said cells in said one or more microcolonies remain competent to replicate following detection.