Dual-Optical Sample Imaging for 3D Refractive Index Reconstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image acquisition devices struggle to accurately calculate refractive index distributions and restore images of complex samples with unknown or varying refractive index values, leading to degraded image quality and incomplete representation of three-dimensional samples.
Innovation Solution
A sample image acquisition device and generation device that utilize dual optical systems and a moving mechanism to capture fluorescent and bright field images, combined with a processor to calculate refractive index distributions and restore images using point spread functions, enabling high-accuracy image reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional single optical system is used to capture optical images, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision of refractive index distribution and image restoration quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into two distinct subsystems: a first optical system for capturing fluorescent images and a second optical system for capturing bright field images. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific imaging modality, enabling accurate refractive index distribution calculation through comparative analysis of images from both systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A processor acts as an intermediary that receives image data from both optical systems, performs image registration to align the fluorescent and bright field images, and calculates the refractive index distribution based on the combined information. This intermediary processing step enables precise measurement without requiring direct physical integration of the optical systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sample structure is complex with unknown refractive index values, then adaptability to different sample types is improved, but calculation accuracy of refractive index distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images at multiple focal planes along the optical axis, changing the Z-position parameter to obtain a series of fluorescent images and bright field images at different depths. This multi-parameter imaging approach enables accurate refractive index distribution calculation for complex samples with unknown properties by analyzing the optical path differences across multiple focal positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The image registration and refractive index calculation are performed locally for corresponding regions in fluorescent and bright field images. By comparing local optical characteristics at each spatial position and focal plane, the system can determine refractive index distribution in complex samples with unknown properties, maintaining both adaptability and precision.
3Loss of information
If images are captured at multiple focal planes, then completeness of three-dimensional sample representation is improved, but acquisition time and processing complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image registration between fluorescent and bright field images before refractive index calculation. By pre-aligning the image sets from different optical systems and focal planes, the system reduces processing complexity during the actual measurement phase, enabling complete three-dimensional reconstruction without excessive time loss.
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 high-accuracy calculation of refractive index distributions and restoration of images, even for complex samples with unknown refractive index values, resulting in improved image quality and complete representation of three-dimensional samples.
Implementation Method 1
Only the cell nuclei are stained with a fluorescent dye. Therefore, when the sample OBJ is irradiated with excitation light, fluorescence is emitted only from the cell nuclei.
Implementation Method 2
a second optical system configured to form a second optical image of the sample... a bright field image group including a plurality of bright field images are generated based on the second optical image
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A sample image acquisition device includes a first optical system configured to form a first optical image of a sample, a second optical system configured to form a second optical image of the sample, a moving mechanism, and an image generation unit. A fluorescent image group is generated based on the first optical image, and a bright field image group is generated based on the second optical image. The image generation unit includes a processor. The processor calculates an estimation image of an estimation sample using a refractive index distribution of the estimation sample, calculates, as a final refractive index distribution, the refractive index distribution optimized using a bright field image and the estimation image, calculates a point spread function using the final refractive index distribution, and generates an image corresponding to a fluorescent image, using the point spread function and the fluorescent image of an area.