AI-Enhanced Microscope Imaging Without Tissue Slides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access to histopathology services, particularly frozen-section pathology during surgery, is limited in resource-constrained settings due to the time-consuming and labor-intensive process of preparing slides from tissue, which requires expensive infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system equipped with a phase mask and ultraviolet source that scatters UV radiation to obtain images of tissue surfaces, combined with AI models to deblur and virtually stain images without the need for physical slides, enhancing depth of field and image clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If slide preparation is performed using conventional histopathology methods, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential diagnostic function from the slide preparation process by using optical sectioning and image processing to directly obtain diagnostic images from bulk tissue without physical sectioning. This removes the time-consuming slide preparation step while maintaining diagnostic capability through computational imaging techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical slide preparation process with an optical and computational system. Instead of physically sectioning and mounting tissue on slides, the system uses optical sectioning, light scattering manipulation, and AI-based image processing to generate diagnostic images directly from intact tissue samples.
2Reliability
If slide preparation infrastructure is established, then histopathology service quality is improved, but infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional imaging system that combines optical sectioning, light scattering manipulation, and computational imaging capabilities in a single platform. This universal system can perform multiple histopathology functions without requiring separate specialized equipment for each step of the traditional slide preparation workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies and computational representations of tissue structures without physical duplication. Instead of creating physical slides that are copies of tissue sections, the system generates digital images that replicate the diagnostic information through optical sectioning and image processing techniques.
3Device complexity
If conventional microscopy is used without phase mask, then system simplicity is maintained, but depth of field is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phase mask as an intermediary optical element that modifies light scattering properties to extend depth of field. The phase mask acts as a mediator between the light source and the tissue sample, shaping the illumination pattern to achieve optical sectioning and extended focus without requiring complex mechanical or computational systems.
4Measurement precision
If UV radiation is emitted for optical sectioning, then image clarity is improved, but light scattering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful light scattering effect into a beneficial tool for optical sectioning. By using UV radiation that inherently scatters more, combined with phase mask manipulation and computational processing, the system achieves depth sectioning and improved image clarity by exploiting rather than eliminating scattering effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables clear imaging of tissue surfaces without slides, reducing the need for labor-intensive slide preparation and expensive infrastructure, while improving image clarity and allowing virtual staining, thus facilitating efficient histopathology services.
Implementation Method 1
The microscope is configured to scatter a light illuminating a tissue by emitting, using the ultraviolet source, an ultraviolet radiation towards the tissue
Implementation Method 2
The microscope includes a phase mask disposed within a view of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a microscope and computer system communicably coupled together. The microscope includes a camera, phase mask, and ultraviolet source. The phase mask is disposed within a view of the camera. The microscope is configured to scatter a light illuminating a tissue by emitting, using the ultraviolet source, an ultraviolet radiation towards the tissue and obtain, using the phase mask and the camera, an image of an illuminated surface of the tissue. The tissue includes at least one diagnostic feature. The image is within a predefined depth of field, inclusive, and includes a manifestation of the at least one diagnostic feature. The computer system is configured to determine a deblurred image from a trained first artificial intelligence model based on the image.