Automated Microscopic Fiber Counting via Mobile Phase-Contrast Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual techniques for counting microscopic fibers, such as asbestos, are time-consuming, costly, and prone to errors, making them inefficient for rapid and reliable analysis.
Innovation Solution
An automated counting method using a phase-contrast microscope with a motorized focusing system and a mobile terminal equipped with a digital image sensor, processor, and counting program, which performs automatic focusing and image analysis to accurately count fibers across multiple areas with reduced resources and calculation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual visual counting by operator is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but analysis time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated focusing and fiber counting without continuous operator intervention. The motorized focusing system automatically adjusts focus for each image capture, and the image processing algorithm automatically counts fibers, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminating manual labor bottlenecks while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated systems. The motorized focusing system substitutes manual focusing, and the digital image processing algorithm substitutes manual visual counting, thereby eliminating the trade-off between operator flexibility and analysis speed by automating repetitive tasks while keeping the system programmably controllable.
2Device complexity
If manual focusing and counting is performed, then equipment complexity remains low, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized focusing system uses feedback from image analysis to automatically adjust focus. The system captures an image, analyzes its sharpness, and iteratively adjusts the focus position until optimal sharpness is achieved, ensuring consistent and accurate focusing without requiring complex manual intervention or sacrificing measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses digital copying of the sample through image capture and processing. Instead of relying on human visual interpretation, the system creates digital copies of the fiber sample and applies automated algorithms to count fibers, thereby eliminating human error while keeping the physical measurement system relatively simple.
3Productivity
If automated counting system is implemented, then productivity and analysis speed improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a mobile terminal (smartphone or tablet) as a multi-functional device that serves as both the image capture platform and the image processing computer. This universal device performs multiple functions including displaying images, running counting algorithms, and controlling the microscope, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity through automated operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary device that mediates between the mobile terminal and the microscope components. The controller receives commands from the mobile terminal and executes them by controlling the motorized focusing system and image capture, thereby simplifying the interface and reducing complexity while enabling automated high-speed counting operations.
4Measurement precision
If multiple analysis areas are scanned manually, then counting thoroughness improves, but analysis time and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated actions by pre-programming the scan path and automatically moving between multiple analysis areas without operator intervention. The motorized stage automatically positions each field of view according to a predetermined sequence, and the system captures and processes images from multiple areas continuously, thereby achieving thorough counting across multiple areas while minimizing the time lost to manual repositioning and setup.
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 method provides a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective means for automated counting of microscopic fibers, ensuring accurate results and reducing analysis time, even for beginner operators, while allowing for on-site analysis.
Implementation Method 1
capturing a main image of the corresponding analysis area by triggering the digital image sensor
Implementation Method 2
providing a phase-contrast type microscope comprising an optical system
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The method may include placing the sample on the sample-holder of a phase-contrast microscope, establishing a connection between the processor of the mobile terminal and a controller of the microscope, disposing a mobile terminal on a support so that its digital image sensor is positioned in front of an ocular, launching a counting program so that the processor performs successive counting sequences on distinct analysis areas of the sample, wherein between two counting sequences the processor controls a two-axis motorized system to displace the sample, and wherein for each counting sequence the processor implements the following steps of: setting the focus, capturing a main image, and analyzing the main image in order to count the number of fibers.