Digital Microscope Server for Partial Image Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for accessing image data from microscopes and scanners result in significant delays, as large image files take time to generate and upload, limiting real-time access and resource utilization, especially in high-resolution digital microscopy.
Innovation Solution
A processor configuration that allows remote users to access partial or completed microscope images at full or partial resolution while scanning, enabling viewing of selected regions of interest at higher resolution before the entire image is fully uploaded, using a local or remote server to manage image transmission and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high resolution scanning is performed over large areas, then image quality and detail are improved, but the time required to generate and upload the data increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large area scan into multiple smaller fields of view (FOVs) that are scanned and processed independently. This segmentation allows the system to generate and transmit image data in manageable chunks rather than waiting for the entire large area scan to complete, reducing the perceived wait time for users while maintaining high resolution quality.
2Loss of information
If the entire image is scanned and uploaded before access, then complete image data is available, but user access time is significantly delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning and processing of the sample, making image data available for access before the complete scanning process is finished. Users can access and analyze image data from regions that have already been scanned while the scanning process continues, eliminating the need to wait for complete image generation and upload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and transmits specific regions of interest or completed portions of the image separately from the complete image set. This allows users to access and analyze specific areas of the sample without waiting for the entire large image file to be processed and uploaded, reducing access delay while maintaining data availability.
3Ease of operation
If large image files are uploaded to remote servers, then remote access capability is enabled, but upload time and network resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large image files into smaller regional image files corresponding to different fields of view or regions of interest. These segmented files can be uploaded and accessed independently, reducing the time and network resources required for transmission while maintaining full remote access capability to the complete sample data set.
Data Source
AI summary
Access to microscope images while a sample is scanned or images are generated or uploaded can decrease an amount of time that a user waits to view a region of interest of an image. A processor can be configured to allow a remote user to access a portion of an image at full or partial resolution while other portions of the sample are being scanned, or while one or more images are generated or uploaded at full or partial resolution. A processor stored locally with the microscope can be configured to allow a remote user to access a completed scan over the internet prior to the scan being fully uploaded over a network such as the internet to a remote server. In some embodiments, a processor may be coupled to a microscope, a user device, or a remote server.