Microscope Phase Modulation for Specimen-Induced Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical microscopes face challenges in maintaining high image quality due to aberrations caused by the distortion of specimen surface shape and 3-dimensional non-uniformity of refractive index, leading to decreased imaging performance.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system equipped with a phase modulation element that measures and corrects specimen-induced aberrations by calculating and applying a phase distribution to illumination and signal light, using a phase data model to enhance detection accuracy and reduce aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If aberration correction is performed using phase modulation element, then imaging quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of specimen-induced aberration at multiple sampling points before actual observation. A phase data model is created in advance to predict aberration at any position, eliminating the need for complex real-time measurements during observation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a phase data model that copies and represents the specimen's aberration characteristics. This model serves as a simplified representation that can be used to calculate correction phases without repeatedly interacting with the complex physical specimen.
2Measurement precision
If phase distribution is measured at multiple sampling points, then aberration correction accuracy is improved, but observation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Aberration measurements at multiple sampling points are performed in advance during a preliminary characterization phase. The collected data is used to build a phase data model that enables rapid aberration correction calculation during actual observation without requiring repeated measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase data model serves itself by enabling the system to predict aberration at any position based on the preliminary measurements. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous or repeated measurements during observation, significantly reducing observation time.
3Measurement precision
If aberration correction is applied, then imaging resolution is improved, but phototoxicity to specimen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs aberration characterization and builds the phase data model in advance, allowing for optimized phase modulation patterns that achieve correction with minimal light exposure during actual observation.
Solution Approach 2:
By using the phase data model as a copy of the specimen's optical properties, the system can simulate and optimize correction strategies computationally before applying them, reducing the need for repeated high-intensity light exposure on the actual specimen.
4Measurement precision
If phase data model is created based on multiple sampling points, then correction accuracy across different positions is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The specimen's aberration characteristics are segmented into discrete sampling points. The phase data model processes these segmented data points independently, making the calculation manageable by breaking down the complex 3D aberration problem into smaller, discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the complex spatial aberration problem into a different dimensional representation through the phase data model. By modeling phase relationships in this transformed space, the system simplifies the calculation of correction patterns while maintaining accuracy across all specimen positions.
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 system improves imaging resolution and reduces observation time while minimizing phototoxicity to the specimen by efficiently correcting aberrations through phase modulation, enabling high-quality specimen observation.
Implementation Method 1
a phase modulation element that is provided in at least one of the light transmitting optical system and the light receiving optical system and that is configured to add a predetermined phase distribution to the illumination light or the signal light
Implementation Method 2
a light transmitting optical system configured to irradiate a specimen with illumination light from a light source
Implementation Method 3
a light receiving optical system configured to receive signal light emitted from the specimen
Implementation Method 4
a phase distribution measuring unit configured to measure a first phase distribution, which corresponds to specimen-induced aberration at a sampling point of the specimen, at each of a plurality of the sampling points
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope includes light-transmitting-optical-system that irradiates specimen with illumination-light, light-receiving-optical-system that receives signal-light emitted from the specimen, phase-modulation-element that adds predetermined phase distribution to the illumination-light or the signal-light, phase-distribution-measuring-unit that measures first phase distribution, which corresponds to specimen-induced aberration at sampling point of the specimen, at each of a plurality of the sampling points, phase-distribution-calculation-unit that creates phase-data-model showing an amount of phase change which the illumination-light or the signal-light receives when the illumination-light or the signal-light passes through predetermined position in the specimen based on the plurality of first phase distributions, and calculates a second phase distribution which is added to the illumination-light or the signal-light in order to detect detection point of the specimen in a state in which specimen-induced aberration is reduced based on the phase-data-model, and phase-distribution-setting-unit that sets the second phase distribution to the phase-modulation-element.