Cell Observation Apparatus Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing scanning cytometers, cells outside the region of interest are inadvertently illuminated, leading to photobleaching and incorrect data collection when a non-target cell is mistakenly selected for observation.
Innovation Solution
A cell observation apparatus and method that uses an illumination optical system, adjusted by a control unit, to specifically illuminate only the cell of interest, preventing unwanted cells from being exposed to illuminating light through the use of galvanometer scanners or microelement arrays to define and adjust the illumination area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image is divided into blocks and each block is illuminated for re-observation, then the observation efficiency is improved, but cells outside the region of interest are inadvertently illuminated causing photobleaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the illumination area variable and specific to each observation target. The control unit adjusts the illumination area based on the position and size of each cell of interest, so that only the necessary region receives light. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high observation efficiency through targeted illumination while preventing photobleaching of non-target cells by excluding them from the illumination area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the illumination area adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The illumination area is dynamically changed based on the detected position and characteristics of each cell of interest. This allows the system to maintain high productivity by quickly adapting to different observation targets while preventing harmful photobleaching by precisely controlling which areas are illuminated.
2Ease of operation
If a non-target cell is selected as the cell of interest, then the observation process continues, but the data obtained is incorrect due to prior photobleaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing preliminary observation and detection of all cells in the field of view before conducting detailed observation of selected cells. This preliminary step identifies which cells are actual targets of interest, allowing the system to maintain observation process continuity while ensuring data accuracy by preventing photobleaching of non-target cells before they are mistakenly selected for detailed observation.
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
Prevents photobleaching of non-target cells by ensuring only the cell of interest is illuminated, maintaining the integrity of data collection and reducing unnecessary light exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an image generating portion that generates an image of a cell group from light emitted from the cell group when the cell group is illuminated with illuminating light
Implementation Method 2
the illumination-area adjusting portion may be a galvanometer scanner that includes a pair of galvanometer mirrors and a pivot mechanism for pivoting the pair of galvanometer mirrors
Implementation Method 3
the illumination-area adjusting portion may be a microelement array that includes a plurality of microelements for deflecting the direction of the illuminating light and a driving mechanism for operating the plurality of microelements to change the deflection direction of the illuminating light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cell observation apparatus and an observation method with which only an observation target cell in an region of interest is illuminated with illuminating light to prevent photobleaching of cells that are not the observation target. The invention employs a cell observation apparatus including an objective lens that illuminates a specimen with illuminating light, a scanner that adjusts an area illuminated with illuminating light by the objective lens, an image generating portion 31 that generates an image of the specimen illuminated by the objective lens, a cell-data extracting portion 32 that extracts data showing the characteristics of each cell from the generated image of the specimen, a cell-area extracting portion 33 that extracts an area of each cell associated with the extracted data of each cell, a cell-of-interest selecting portion 35 that selects the cell of interest from the specimen in accordance with the extracted data of each cell, and a controller that operates the scanner to illuminate the cell area corresponding to the cell of interest selected by the cell-of-interest selecting portion 35 with the illuminating light.