Confocal Slide-Digitizing Apparatus with Tilting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current slide-digitization techniques using confocal imaging based on structured illumination face challenges such as prolonged digitization time, premature deterioration of fluorescent samples due to intense illumination, and difficulties in stitching adjacent images due to tilting effects, leading to inefficient and damaging processes.
Innovation Solution
A confocal slide-digitizing apparatus with a tilting mechanism that adjusts the imaging unit and slide handling unit relative to each other, combined with a LED light source for gentle illumination and a multichannel filter system, allows for continuous image stitching and reduced exposure time, ensuring sample longevity and efficient digitization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If confocal imaging based on structured illumination is used, then light utilization efficiency is improved, but images of adjacent sections cannot be continuously fitted due to tilting effects
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tilting the light modulation mask and keeping the imaging unit fixed, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the mask perpendicular to the optical axis and tilting the entire imaging unit relative to the slide plane. This inversion maintains the confocal imaging benefits while eliminating the image tilting distortion that prevents continuous stitching of adjacent sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a tilting mechanism that dynamically adjusts the angle between the imaging unit and the slide plane. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to compensate for the tilting effects during scanning, enabling continuous fitting of images from adjacent sections while maintaining the high light utilization efficiency of structured illumination confocal imaging.
2Measurement precision
If intense laser illumination is used for fluorescent markers, then image contrast is improved, but fluorescent markers deteriorate prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful intense laser illumination into beneficial LED illumination. By using LED light sources with appropriate multichannel filters instead of intense lasers, the system achieves sufficient image contrast for fluorescent markers without causing premature deterioration, thus converting a harmful approach into a beneficial one.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the illumination parameters from intense laser light to LED light with controlled intensity and spectral characteristics. By using LED illumination with multichannel filters optimized for fluorescent markers, the system maintains adequate image contrast while significantly reducing the photodamage to samples, thereby extending sample longevity.
3Manufacturing precision
If step by step movement of slide or camera is used, then complete digital image is generated, but digitization time is significantly prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements continuous scanning motion of the imaging unit across the slide while maintaining confocal imaging conditions. This continuous scanning approach, enabled by the tilting mechanism and optimized optical path, generates complete digital images more rapidly than traditional step-by-step methods, thereby improving digitization speed without sacrificing image completeness.
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
The apparatus significantly reduces digitization time, minimizes sample damage, and enables the creation of clear, background-free 3D images of thick biological samples with improved light utilization and sample longevity, while maintaining compactness and ease of redeployment.
Implementation Method 1
illumination emitted by a light source exciting the fluorescent markers
Implementation Method 2
the emission of such fluorescent markers is only a fraction of the intensity of the exciting light
Implementation Method 3
Confocal imaging provides a peculiar modality of optical microscopy that is capable of separating focused and non-focused beams in the light path of the microscope by physical and/or optical techniques
Implementation Method 4
the sample arranged on the slide under study is illuminated through a light modulation mask
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the present invention is a confocal slide-digitizing apparatus (100), comprising a slide handling unit (20) and an imaging unit (10), wherein said slide handling unit (20) has a slide supplier unit (90) configured to handle slides (92), especially to store, supply and move slides (92) one after the other to and/or position in an imaging position, said slides (92) carrying a sample to be digitized; and said imaging unit (10) has a light source (40) to illuminate the sample to be digitized at the imaging position through an objective (18) arranged in a light path that enables confocal imaging of at least a region of the sample, and an image recording unit to receive light with information on at least an illuminated region of the sample through the objective (18) and generate a digital image of a section of a given thickness of said illuminated region. Moreover, said slide handling unit (20) and said imaging unit (10) are joined mechanically together in a tiltable manner relative to one another, thereby correcting the light path of said confocal imaging.