Scientific System Example
Wellplate Imaging and Inspection System with Automatic Re-Imaging
Automated imaging of every well, with analysis that sends wells of interest back for higher-magnification images.
Sciotex developed software for a wellplate inspection system that controls an XY stage, a high-resolution color camera with autofocus and programmable zoom, and a fiber optic light source. It images every well, analyzes each one for characteristics of interest, and automatically re-images the interesting wells at higher magnification.
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Full-plate survey imaging
Higher power on demand
Sharp images in every well
Only wells of interest
Example Overview
Two-Pass Imaging of Well Plates
Why image well plates in two passes?
Well plates hold dozens to hundreds of samples, and imaging every well at high magnification takes a long time and creates large amounts of data, most of it uninteresting. Researchers usually care about a subset: wells where crystals formed, cells grew or a reaction occurred.
This system solves that with a survey-then-zoom approach. A fast pass images all wells, analysis flags the ones with characteristics of interest, and the system returns to those wells at higher power. Time and storage go where they matter.
At a glance
- Sample format
- Multi-well plates
- Motion
- XY stage
- Camera
- High-resolution color, autofocus, programmable zoom
- Lighting
- Fiber optic light source
- Workflow
- Survey all wells, analyze, re-image wells of interest
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How It Works
How the Wellplate Imaging System Works
Analysis decides where the system spends its time, so high-magnification imaging is used only where it adds information.
The plate layout is defined.
Every well is imaged with autofocus.
Each well is checked for characteristics of interest.
Interesting wells are re-imaged at higher power.
Images and results are saved by well.
What the System Does
Software Built for Efficient Screening
Automating the decision about which wells to look at closely saves both instrument time and researcher time.
Full coverage
Every well is imaged on every plate.
Targeted high-power imaging
Only flagged wells are re-imaged.
Consistent focus
Autofocus keeps each well sharp.
Programmable optics
Zoom set by software, not by hand.
Hardware and Software
System Capabilities
See laboratory automation software for how instruments like this are integrated.
| Stage | XY stage |
|---|---|
| Camera | High-resolution color camera |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Magnification | Programmable zoom |
| Light source | Fiber optic |
| Analysis | Automatic detection of wells of interest |
| Follow-up | Automatic higher-power imaging |
Related plate-based systems
Sciotex has built several plate-based imaging systems:
- Birefringence imaging of 96-well plates
- Infrared monitoring of reactions in well plates
- Robotic vial handling for parallel experiments
Need plate imaging or screening software?
Sciotex builds automated imaging and lab automation systems for plates, vials and slides.
Additional Resources
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Imaging Plates or Samples?
Talk to a Sciotex engineer about plate imaging and laboratory automation.