This Phase II SBIR proposal requests support for the development of a neural network system and accompanying data analysis software for real.time analysis of flow cytometer data. The prototype system developed during Phase I is capable of analyzing data for about 85 cells per second. The system will be able to recognize various cell types and can be trained to identify new or unknown cells. Development of such a system is greatly needed in the oceanographic community and, if successful, may expand the market for flow cytometry analysis to many other fields. Other potential applications for this system include monitoring toxic phytoplankton blooms for aquaculture farms and analyzing human cells for medical purposes.
