High-precision computer-aided microscope system

Abstract

A microscope frame structure having a front brace for added stability and having a dual plate structure. The front brace is rigidly coupled to the front ends of an upper portion and a base portion. The upper portion then carries optical elements such as a camera for instance. In effect, the optical elements thus reside on a bridge structure, with substantially the same structural support at both ends of the bridge. The arrangement is particularly useful in automated specimen imaging and analysis systems. The dual frame is composed of an upper plate, which supports a sample, a lower plate which contacts an elevating screw, and a spacer post in between the upper plate and lower plate. This configuration allows for more stable movement of samples.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 064,558, filed Oct. 17, 1997 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 064,559, filed Oct. 20, 1997. Moreover, this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 09 / 174,140, filed Oct. 16, 1998 and PCT Application Serial No. PCT / US98 / 21953 filed Oct. 16, 1998.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention is related generally to the field of microscopy, and more particularly to the configuration of optical microscopes and microscope-based electronic imaging systems.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] In its most basic form, a microscope typically includes a base, a plate or stage for holding a sample, a magnifier commonly including a series of lenses, and a viewer for presenting a magnified image to an observer. The principal purpose of a microscope is to create a magnified image of a sample ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] A principal object of the present invention is to provide a computer-aided microscope system that facilitates quick, stable and reproducible microscopic presentation of goals. Another objective of the invention is to provide a microscope having geometric accuracy in the three-motion axes. Still another object of the invention is to provide a microscope that remains stable when performing high-speed moves.

Problems solved by technology

Over the years, microscopes have evolved into very complex and sophisticated optical instruments, taking a variety of forms.

While many cancer-related cytological changes are characteristic and can be detected and classified with a high degree of accuracy by an appropriately configured microscope, inaccurate or imprecise microscope configurations can be the source of unacceptable false positive or false negative cell classifications and sample specimen diagnoses.

Unfortunately, however, traditional mechanical (e.g. fully manual) microscope systems, as well as many of the currently available automated microscope systems, have not provided the positional accuracy, repeatability, stability and resolution required for reliable, reproducible quantitative microscopic imaging applications.

However, the motorized stages in some existing automated-microscope configurations are unstable.

Consequently, these existing systems cannot rapidly, accurately, precisely and repeatedly locate and focus on diagnostically significant areas of a sample from a specimen.

Consequently, existing microscopes tend to generate yaw, pitch, roll and droop errors (i.e., introduce a third derivative, "jerk") during stage movement.

These errors are particularly troublesome in the context of automated computer-aided microscopy.

It is also problematic for human observers who also need stage motion to be dampened before they can visualize a temporally stable image.

However, in most such systems, the detector is attached only to the viewer of the microscope.

As recognized by the present inventors, this configuration thereby increases the likelihood that the camera will become unstable or misaligned during operation, potentially rendering the camera unable to capture magnified images properly.

In these systems, if the sample is illuminated with insufficient or excessive light, or with improper spectral characteristics, the detector may need to compensate for the imperfect illumination and thereby operate less than optimally.

Unfortunately, however, adjustment of these elements can be time consuming and tedious.

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