Confocal Microscope Visual Selection Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clinicians using confocal microscopes face difficulties in targeting desired depths for image capture in the VivaBlock mode and adjusting parameters in the VivaStack mode, such as number of sectional layers, depth, or confocal imaging power.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that allows for visual selection of tissue sites using a touch screen or mouse, displaying macroscopic and confocal images, enabling users to select target depth images and adjust parameters like depth, layer count, and laser power, with a grid overlay for stepper motor frame positions, facilitating easier navigation and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a confocal microscope is used to capture images at different depths and locations, then comprehensive tissue imaging is achieved, but the difficulty of operation increases due to complex parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the tissue surface map that can be interacted with to select imaging parameters. Users can click on the visual map to automatically set depth, location, and other parameters, eliminating manual adjustment complexity while maintaining precise depth targeting through the visual interface
Solution Approach 2:
The visual map serves as an intermediary between the user and the complex imaging parameters. Instead of directly adjusting technical parameters, users interact with the visual map which translates their selections into appropriate imaging settings, simplifying operation while preserving measurement precision
2Loss of information
If multiple confocal images are captured at successive depths and locations, then complete tissue mapping is achieved, but the time required for image acquisition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning the imaging sequence based on user selections from the visual map. The confocal imager automatically navigates to predetermined locations and depths, capturing images in an optimized sequence that reduces total acquisition time while ensuring complete tissue structure information is obtained
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system dynamically adjusts its operation based on user interactions with the visual map. When users select regions of interest, the system adaptively prioritizes imaging those areas, optimizing the acquisition sequence to capture essential tissue information more quickly without compromising completeness
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual navigation through confocal images is used, then image selection flexibility is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A visual copy or map of the tissue surface is created and displayed, allowing users to visually identify and select regions of interest before initiating confocal imaging. This visual representation maintains full selection flexibility while eliminating difficult manual navigation, as users can simply click on desired locations in the visual map
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a visual dimension to the navigation process by displaying a 2D map representation of the tissue surface. Users navigate by selecting locations on this visual map rather than manually navigating through 3D confocal space, maintaining flexibility in region selection while dramatically improving ease of operation
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
Enhances ease of use and navigation for clinicians by providing a visual method for selecting image sites and adjusting capture parameters, improving the efficiency of tissue imaging and image acquisition in both VivaStack and VivaBlock modes.
Implementation Method 1
Confocal microscopes optically section tissue to produce sectional microscopic images of tissue
Implementation Method 2
a macroscopic imager for capturing a macroscopic image
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
Method and system for imaging tissue, including (i) causing a macroscopic image of a tissue surface to be displayed on a visual display; (ii) receiving a selection of at least one portion of the macroscopic image; (iii) causing a plurality of confocal images captured by a confocal imager at different depths in a portion of the tissue to be displayed; (iv) receiving a selection of at least one target depth image; and (v) for each selected target depth image, instructing the confocal imager to capture a plurality of additional images at different locations and at a common depth with the target depth image. A system for imaging tissue having a macroscopic display module; a first selection module; a confocal display module; a second selection module; and an instruction module for instructing a confocal imager to capture a plurality of images at different locations over a selected region of the tissue.