Microscope Illumination Control for Specimen Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Microscopes used for fluorescence observation often damage specimens due to intense illumination, leading to discoloration, and existing solutions do not effectively manage illumination to prevent this while allowing for efficient observation and image capture.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with an illumination unit, driving unit for optical members, position changing unit, detection unit, and control unit that automatically adjusts and cuts off or reduces illumination based on the status of optical member movement and focusing, allowing for efficient observation and image capture while minimizing specimen damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If intense illumination light is applied to the specimen to observe weak fluorescence, then the fluorescence observation capability is improved, but the specimen is damaged and discoloration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light is controlled to be applied intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit switches the illumination light on and off based on whether optical members are being driven, performing useful action only when needed and avoiding continuous exposure that causes specimen damage
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from the detection unit about the driving status of optical members and automatically adjusts the illumination light intensity accordingly, reducing illumination when optical members are stationary and maintaining it when movement is detected
2Reliability
If the illumination light is continuously applied to maintain observation quality, then the observation capability is improved, but the specimen damage accumulates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic illumination control by detecting whether optical members are currently driven. Illumination is applied only during periods when optical members are stationary and turned off during movement, creating a periodic on-off pattern that reduces cumulative exposure time while maintaining observation quality during stable periods
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the illumination light is reduced to prevent specimen damage, then the specimen protection is improved, but the fluorescence observation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light intensity is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit automatically adjusts the illumination level based on real-time detection of optical member driving status, increasing illumination when needed for observation and reducing it when optical members are moving, thus adapting to different operational requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample comprises an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens; and an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image. The microscope system changes an order for performing operations in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching the image displayed in a display unit from the still image to the live image.