Microscopy System Dual-Path Fluorescence White-Light Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopy systems struggle to efficiently detect and differentiate fluorescence images from white-light images due to the low intensity of fluorescence compared to reflected illumination light, often requiring users to correlate separate images, making it difficult to identify fluorescent markers like tumors in their surroundings.
Innovation Solution
A microscopy system that simultaneously records white-light and fluorescence images using an illumination apparatus producing light in specific wavelength ranges, with beam splitters and filters to separate and detect these images, allowing for spatially resolved detection of fluorescence and white-light intensity distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If special illumination and detection filters are provided for a specific fluorescent dye, then fluorescence detection efficiency is improved, but image color information is lost making it difficult to identify content and surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into two separate detection paths: one for fluorescence images using emission wavelength filters and another for white-light images using reflection wavelength filters. This allows simultaneous capture of both fluorescence signal and color information without mutual interference, resolving the contradiction between detection efficiency and information loss
Solution Approach 2:
The microscopy system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: detecting fluorescence signals with high efficiency while also capturing color information in the white-light images. The dual detection unit enables the system to provide both specialized fluorescence detection and general color imaging capabilities in a single system
2Measurement precision
If fluorescence images and white-light images are recorded alternately by successively arranging filters, then fluorescence detection is improved, but user operation complexity increases requiring manual correlation of images
Solution Approach 1:
The fluorescence detection path and white-light detection path are merged into a single integrated microscopy system with a common optical train. Both detection units capture images of the same field of view simultaneously, automatically correlating the fluorescence and color information without requiring manual alignment or comparison operations by the user
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary image correlation by capturing both fluorescence and white-light images simultaneously in the same field of view. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for users to manually correlate images afterward, as the images are already spatially registered and can be directly compared or overlaid
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 the recording of high-quality, separate white-light and fluorescence images, improving the visibility of fluorescent markers within their surroundings by enhancing color neutrality and contrast, facilitating better identification and correlation of image content.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination apparatus (3), which is configured to produce illumination light in an illumination light wavelength range EX
Implementation Method 2
The fluorescent dyes need to be excited in their excitation wavelength range for the fluorescent dyes to emit fluorescence
Implementation Method 3
Each of the at least one image detection units comprises one or more fluorescence image detectors (13A, 13B), one or more white-light image detectors (15A, 15B) and one or more beam splitters (21A, 21B)
Data Source
AI summary
A microscopy system and a microscopy method for recording a fluorescence image and a white-light image are disclosed. An exemplary microscopy system includes an illumination apparatus for illuminating an object region and for exciting at least one fluorescent dye, an optical unit for imaging the object region onto at least one fluorescence image detector and at least one white-light image detector. A beam splitter and a filter are arranged in the beam path provided by the optical unit and configured such that substantially only fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent dyes is incident on the fluorescence image detector and an image that is as color-neutral as possible is recorded by the white-light image detector.