# 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. - **Patent:** US 12222345 - **Original title:** System for imaging captured cells - **Owner:** Bio Rad Laboratories Inc - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, consumer_electronics, mechanical ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. High-throughput single-cell sequencing platforms 2. Automated fluorescence microscopy systems 3. Digital pathology slide scanners ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12222345/vertical-integration-at-starbase **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12222345 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Mapping Tiny Features on a Chip with DNA Barcodes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735743/resolving-spatial-arrays) — This patent describes a method for precisely locating individual biological features, like cells or molecules, on a prepared surface by using unique DNA tags and imaging techniques. - [Robot Systems for Automated Cell Processing with Cartridges](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734521/apparatus-and-method-for-control-of-cell-processing-system) — This patent describes an automated system where a robot moves specialized cartridges containing cells between several different instruments, each performing specific cell processing steps. - [How to Create Wide-Field Images of Tissue Using OCT Scanners](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9677869/autonomous-spaceport-drone-ship-asds) — A method for stitching together multiple high-resolution medical images of uneven tissue samples to create a single, wide-field view for better diagnostic clarity. - [How a Modern Camera Sensor Captures Light and Converts It to Data](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5471515/cmos-active-pixel-image-sensor) — This patent describes a camera sensor technology that combines light-capturing elements with a special circuit to read out the image data quickly and efficiently, all on a single chip. - [Stitching Together Images of Spongy Materials for Better Views](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737841/methods-and-devices-for-enhancement-of-porous-media-images) — This patent describes a method for combining multiple 'slice' images of porous materials like sponges or rocks into one clear, complete picture by precisely identifying and using how they overlap.