Mobile Microscope Automation via Mechanics Substitution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current portable microscopy systems require significant skill and resources for operation, are costly, and cannot perform automated sample scanning or on-board analysis, limiting their use in decentralized settings for rapid disease screening and environmental monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A mobile microscope system with a touch screen and camera integrated into a microscope, featuring an automated stage for sample positioning, enabling automated microscopic disease screening and environmental monitoring through automated image capture and analysis, using low-cost hardware and real-time processing for decentralized point-of-collection analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If traditional microscopes are used with automated mechanical systems, then image acquisition automation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage acquisition automationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical automated microscopy systems with a mobile device-based solution. The mobile device's camera, processor, and software algorithms substitute for traditional mechanical stage controllers, focus mechanisms, and image acquisition systems, achieving automation without the associated mechanical complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a functional copy of traditional microscopy capabilities using a mobile device. The camera captures images that are then processed through software algorithms to replicate the functionality of automated mechanical microscopy systems, providing similar diagnostic capabilities with simplified hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If traditional microscopes are used with automated mechanical systems, then image acquisition speed is improved, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage acquisition speedVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive mobile devices that can be mass-produced and easily replaced compared to expensive traditional microscopes. The mobile device platform, combined with software processing, achieves rapid image acquisition at a fraction of the cost of automated mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes expensive mechanical automation systems with software-based image processing on mobile devices. The camera captures images rapidly, and onboard processors analyze them in real-time, eliminating the need for costly mechanical stage controllers and focus mechanisms while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual operation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operator skill requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidoperator skill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service capabilities through automated software algorithms that perform sample scanning, feature identification, and image selection without human intervention. The mobile device's processor automatically analyzes captured images, identifies regions of interest, and prepares diagnostic outputs, eliminating the need for skilled operators to manually navigate and interpret samples

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If manual image capture is used, then device complexity is reduced, but time to achieve diagnostic sensitivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtime to achieve diagnostic sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous automated scanning of the sample by the mobile device camera, systematically capturing images across the entire sample area without interruption. Software algorithms continuously process images in real-time, accumulating diagnostic data until sufficient sensitivity is achieved, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual intermittent capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual image capture with automated software-controlled image acquisition and processing. The mobile device systematically scans the sample, captures images at optimized intervals, and processes them in real-time using onboard algorithms, achieving diagnostic sensitivity rapidly without the time losses associated with manual operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10578851B2Automated hardware and software for mobile microscopy

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

An automated slide scanning system, comprising one or more optical elements, including an objective, having an optical path configured to be disposed within view of a camera of a portable device. An automated stage disposed within the optical path, the automated stage comprising a platform configured for receiving a slide containing a biological sample and having a drive mechanism for translating the stage in at least one direction with respect to said objective. A communications interface coupled to the automated stage, and is configured for receiving a command from the portable device to control operation of the mechanical stage.