Analysis, secure access to, and transmission of array images

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided the autocentering, autofocusing, acquiring, decoding, aligning, analyzing and exchanging among various parties, images, where the images are of arrays of signals associated with ligand-receptor interactions, and more particularly, ligand-receptor interactions where a multitude of receptors are associated with microparticles or microbeads. The beads are encoded to indicate the identity of the receptor attached, and therefore, an assay image and decoding image are aligned to effect the decoding. The images or data extracted from such images can be exchanged between de-centralized assay locations and a centralized location where the data are analyzed to indicate assay results. Access to data can be restricted to authorized parties in possession of certain encoding information, so as to preserve confidentiality.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of determining alignment between two or more images, where each image is of a correspondingly arranged array having corresponding subsets of distinguishable signals, comprising:
 establishing a two-dimensional grid having units, each unit corresponding to a particular position in the arrays from which a signal originates, and aligning the two grids such that corresponding signals align in a one-to-one correspondence such that a detectable difference results when one array is shifted out of alignment by one or more grid units with respect to the other array.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detectable difference results from variation in the correspondence of one or more of the subsets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , whrein the signals are optical signals and the additional signals can be seen by viewing the arrays in another color channel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein different signals in the array originate from beads, and different beads occupy different positions in the array. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the arry of beads includes differently colored beads, and the colors are detected. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  performed by carrying out the steps of the following pseudocode: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   LoadDecodingData(DecodingDataRecord, Decoding Map); 
                 
                   LoadAssayData(AssayDataRecord,Intensity Array); 
                 
                   MinVariance = −1000; 
                 
                   MinVarianceLocation = 0; 
                 
                   /**Check Variance Produced by 7 Pssible Unit Displacements - see Text**/ 
                 
                   For (i=0; i<7; i++){ 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   SiftGridPosition(i); 
                 
                     
                   FilterDarkBeads( ); 
                 
                     
                   Variance[i] = Merge(DecodingMap, Intensity Array); 
                 
                     
                   IF(Variance[i] < MinVariance){ 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   MinVariance = Variance[i]; 
                 
                     
                   MinVarianceLocation = i; 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   } 
                 
                 
               
                   }; 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   WriteAssayData[(MinVarianceLocation, AssayDataRecord); 
                   /**Save Location**/ 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
               
            
             
                
               
            
             
                
               
            
             
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pseudocode is performed by a programmed computer. 
     
     
         9 . A method of image segmentation producing a partition of an image of a planar array of objects, comprising:
 determining overall orientation of the array using a set of reference lines which are brought into alignment with symmetry axes of the array;   replicating the reference lines by shifting normal to each symmetry direction and finding the shortest path connecting the starting point and point of each shifted reference line;   replicating the replicating step until the replicated reference line falls outside the array boundary.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the overall orientation is determined using horizontal and vertical reference lines of known length and computing the shortest path from the starting and end point of each reference line, the path following the local intersection minimal path. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , whrein the minimal path is the path of shortest length following the locus of local intensity minima. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the partition is in the form of a mesh, each mesh field delineating one object. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein objects are color-encoded beads fiunctionalized with receptors capable of binding ligands contained in an analyte solution.