Microscope 3D Imaging Surface Shape Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser microscopes are inefficient in performing 3D imaging of specimens with uneven or inclined surfaces, as they require significant time to adjust the Z-scanning start position for each XY area, leading to increased imaging time.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system that includes a stage, an objective lens, and driving sections to move the stage in both perpendicular and optical axis directions, with area segmenting, surface-position storing, surface-shape estimating, and imaging condition determining sections to efficiently segment the observation range, estimate surface shapes, and determine optimal imaging conditions for 3D image generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the Z-scanning start position is adjusted for each XY area to accommodate uneven specimen surfaces, then the imaging accuracy is improved, but the imaging time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the specimen surface shape before actual imaging. The surface shape measuring section acquires surface height information in advance, which is then used to pre-calculate the optimal Z-scanning start position for each XY area. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming real-time adjustments during imaging, thereby maintaining high imaging accuracy while significantly reducing total imaging time.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging process is divided into distinct segments: surface shape measurement, Z-scanning start position determination, and actual imaging. By segmenting the observation range into multiple XY areas and calculating optimal Z-scanning start positions for each area based on pre-measured surface shape data, the system efficiently handles uneven specimen surfaces without requiring sequential adjustment for each area during imaging.
2Reliability
If the entire XYZ range is scanned to accommodate uneven specimen surfaces, then complete coverage is achieved, but the imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly scanning the entire XYZ range, the system applies local quality optimization by determining specific Z-scanning start positions for each XY area based on the local surface shape characteristics. The surface shape measuring section captures local surface variations, and the Z-scanning start position determining section calculates area-specific starting positions, ensuring complete coverage of the uneven specimen surface while minimizing unnecessary scanning in flat regions.
3Ease of operation
If conventional Z-scanning is used for inclined specimens, then the imaging process is simple, but the imaging time increases due to excessive movement distance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the specimen surface shape, including inclined regions, before imaging. Based on this pre-acquired surface shape information, the Z-scanning start position determining section calculates optimized starting positions that account for specimen inclination. This allows the system to maintain simple automated operation while significantly reducing the Z-direction movement distance required during actual imaging, thereby reducing imaging time without complicating the imaging process.
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
Enables efficient 3D imaging of specimens regardless of their shape by focusing illumination light on the specimen's surface and automatically determining imaging conditions, reducing imaging time and improving the accuracy of cross-sectional image acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
an objective lens that focuses illumination light onto the specimen and collects light from the specimen
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3F
AI summary
Provided is a microscope capable of efficiently performing 3D imaging irrespective of the shape of a specimen. Employed is a laser microscope including: an area segmenting section (31) that segments an observation range of a specimen in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis of an objective lens into a plurality of areas; a surface-position storing section (32) that stores positions of an motorized stage in association with surface positions of the specimen, for the plurality of areas; a surface-shape estimating section (34) that estimates the surface shape of the specimen from the positions of the motorized stage and the surface positions of the specimen stored in the surface-position storing section (32) for the plurality of areas; a Z-scanning condition determining section (35) that determines surface positions of the specimen at desired positions of the motorized stage from the surface shape of the specimen estimated by the surface-shape estimating section (34); and a light detecting section that detects light from the specimen over certain ranges specified with reference to the surface positions of the specimen determined by the Z-scanning condition determining section (35), in the optical axis direction of the objective lens.