How Automated Microscopes Use Tags to Focus on Biological Samples
A system for automatically focusing and imaging biological samples on a substrate by using special reference marks called tags to guide the microscope's lens.
Original patent title: “System for imaging captured cells”
A system for automatically focusing and imaging biological samples on a substrate by using special reference marks called tags to guide the microscope's lens. Granted to Bio Rad Laboratories Inc in 2025 with 15 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an automated imaging system designed to capture high-quality images of cells or particles trapped on a substrate. The system uses a specific 'tag'—a physical feature or mark on the substrate—as a reference point for the microscope's autofocus mechanism. By detecting this tag, the system automatically adjusts the lens position to ensure the target biological sample is in sharp focus. It also features a platform that can move and tilt to align the sample with multiple light sources and filters, allowing for complex imaging tasks like fluorescence microscopy.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general-purpose optical microscopes that lack the specific tag-based autofocus mechanism.
- Does not cover imaging systems that rely solely on software-based image analysis to find focus without physical tags on the substrate.
- Does not cover the chemical process of capturing cells themselves, only the imaging and focusing hardware/method.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses the tag not just as a location marker, but as a physical focusing target. By focusing on the tag, the system can infer the correct focal plane for the biological sample nearby, effectively using the tag as a 'proxy' for the sample's depth.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-throughput single-cell sequencing platforms
Automated fluorescence microscopy systems
Digital pathology slide scanners
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In fields like single-cell analysis and genomics, researchers must image thousands of tiny cells quickly and accurately. Manual focusing is too slow and prone to error. This technology automates the process, allowing for high-throughput screening where the system 'knows' exactly where to focus based on the tags embedded on the slide, which is essential for modern diagnostic and research tools.
Filed
May 14, 2020
Granted
February 11, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Bio-Rad Laboratories is a major player in life science research tools and is actively developing these integrated imaging and analysis systems. Other companies in the single-cell analysis space, such as 10x Genomics or BD Biosciences, utilize similar automated imaging workflows for their proprietary microfluidic chips.
Market impact
This technology supports the trend toward 'lab-on-a-chip' devices, where complex biological assays are miniaturized. By enabling reliable, automated imaging of these chips, it reduces the need for human intervention in laboratory workflows, increasing the speed and reproducibility of clinical and research data.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an automated imaging system designed to capture high-quality images of cells or particles trapped on a substrate. The system uses a specific 'tag'—a physical feature or mark on the substrate—as a reference point for the microscope's autofocus mechanism. By detecting this tag, the system automatically adjusts the lens position to ensure the target biological sample is in sharp focus. It also features a platform that can move and tilt to align the sample with multiple light sources and filters, allowing for complex imaging tasks like fluorescence microscopy.
The clever bit
The system uses the tag not just as a location marker, but as a physical focusing target. By focusing on the tag, the system can infer the correct focal plane for the biological sample nearby, effectively using the tag as a 'proxy' for the sample's depth.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general-purpose optical microscopes that lack the specific tag-based autofocus mechanism.
- Does not cover imaging systems that rely solely on software-based image analysis to find focus without physical tags on the substrate.
- Does not cover the chemical process of capturing cells themselves, only the imaging and focusing hardware/method.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
10/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$34K – $108K
Midpoint $68K · 13.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
15 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kehrer, A., Javdani, S. S., Gogoi, P., Siemer, C., Gleason, K., Handique, K., Meines, J., & Parunak, G. (2025). How Automated Microscopes Use Tags to Focus on Biological Samples (U.S. Patent No. 12,222,345). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12222345/vertical-integration-at-starbase
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Automated Microscopes Use Tags to Focus on Biological Samples cover?
A system for automatically focusing and imaging biological samples on a substrate by using special reference marks called tags to guide the microscope's lens.
Who owns patent US 12222345?
Bio Rad Laboratories Inc owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 11, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
In fields like single-cell analysis and genomics, researchers must image thousands of tiny cells quickly and accurately. Manual focusing is too slow and prone to error. This technology automates the process, allowing for high-throughput screening where the system 'knows' exactly where to focus based on the tags embedded on the slide, which is essential for modern diagnostic and research tools.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general-purpose optical microscopes that lack the specific tag-based autofocus mechanism.
Patent monitoring