System, method, and computer software product for controlling biological microarray scanner

摘要

The present invention relates to methods, systems and computer programs for scanning arrays of biological materials. In particular the invention provides a method comprising: aligning a grid with a first image; generating grid alignment data based on the alignment of the grid with the first image; storing the grid alignment data in memory; retrieving the grid alignment data responsive to an indication to analyze a second image; and analyzing the second image based on the retrieved grid alignment data. Furthermore, the invention provides a computer program product comprising: a grid aligner that aligns a grid with a first image; and an image analysis manager comprising an image analyzer that generates grid alignment data based on the alignment of the grid with the first image, an image analysis data storer that stores the grid alignment data in memory, and a multiple scan alignment controller that retrieves the grid alignment data responsive to an indication to analyze a second image, wherein the image analyzer analyzes the second image based on the retrieved grid alignment data. In addition the invention provides a scanning system having a scanner that scans a first probe array to generate a first image and a second image, and having a programmed computer which is programmed by computer program product as defined above.