Microscope Cover Glass Edge Detection for Virtual Slide Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual slide apparatuses inaccurately recognize the area for high-magnification image acquisition due to misidentification of the cover glass edge and peripheral areas, leading to increased scan time and storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A microscope equipped with dark field and bright field illumination, along with an image capturing unit, detects the edge of the cover glass in dark and bright field images to determine the internal area for high-magnification image acquisition, using LED illumination or lasers, and removes noise to accurately define the sample area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic area detection algorithm is used to determine image capturing area, then the process is automated, but the cover glass edge is misrecognized as sample leading to inaccurate area determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image analysis process into two distinct phases: thumbnail image analysis for locating the cover glass area, and full-resolution image analysis for precise sample detection. This segmentation allows each phase to use optimized algorithms appropriate to its specific task, preventing the cover glass edge from being misidentified as sample material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary low-resolution scanning to identify the cover glass area before conducting high-resolution sample detection. By first determining the approximate location and boundaries of the cover glass using thumbnail images, the system establishes a search region that excludes peripheral areas, thereby preventing misidentification of cover glass edges as sample material in subsequent detailed analysis.
2Area of stationary object
If peripheral areas are included in image capturing area, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but scan time increases and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by capturing images only of the necessary area (within the cover glass boundaries) rather than the entire slide. By using the detected cover glass area to define the image capturing region, the system performs high-resolution scanning only where samples are likely to be located, significantly reducing scan time and storage requirements while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all potential sample areas.
3Reliability
If high-magnification images are acquired across entire slide, then no sample area is missed, but storage capacity requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary low-resolution scanning of the entire slide to identify the cover glass area and locate samples before conducting high-resolution imaging. This preliminary action creates a map of relevant areas, allowing the system to acquire high-magnification images only within the cover glass boundaries where samples are located, thereby maintaining complete sample detection while dramatically reducing the total number of high-resolution images that need to be stored.
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
This approach enables precise recognition of the sample area, reducing unnecessary image acquisition and storage needs by accurately distinguishing the sample from other components on the slide.
Implementation Method 1
dark field illumination and bright field illumination which illuminate a preparat where a sample mounted on a slide glass is covered with a cover glass and a mounting agent
Implementation Method 2
an image capturing unit which acquires a dark field image by image-capturing the preparat illuminated by the dark field illumination and which acquires a bright field image by image-capturing the preparat illuminated by the bright field illumination
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a microscope including: dark field illumination and bright field illumination which illuminate a preparat where a sample mounted on a slide glass is covered with a cover glass and a mounting agent; an image capturing unit which acquires a dark field image by image-capturing the preparat illuminated by the dark field illumination and which acquires a bright field image by image-capturing the preparat illuminated by the bright field illumination; and a magnified portion image acquisition area determination unit which detects an edge of the cover glass in the preparat based on the dark field image and the bright field image acquired by the image capturing unit and determines an internal area of the detected edge of the cover glass as a magnified portion image acquisition area of the sample.