Mobile Phone Microscope Scanner for Low-Cost Tissue Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital tissue section scanners are expensive, large, and have long optical paths, limiting their accessibility and accuracy for disease diagnosis, scientific research, and teaching.
Innovation Solution
A mobile phone-based miniature microscopic image acquisition device with a cantilever microscope head, scanning mechanism along X and Y axes, and image stitching and recognition methods, which reduces costs and volume, enabling automatic scanning, stitching, recognition, and cloud processing of images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a digital tissue section scanner is used, then image acquisition for disease diagnosis is achieved, but the equipment cost is very high (about 500,000 Yuan)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the expensive digital tissue section scanner into functional modules: a simple support structure, a mobile phone with camera, a basic microscope head, and a slide holder. Each component can be obtained separately at low cost, while together they achieve the required imaging function for disease diagnosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a mobile phone as a multi-functional component that serves both as the imaging device (camera) and the processing unit. This universal device replaces multiple specialized components in traditional scanners, significantly reducing cost while maintaining diagnostic capability.
2Measurement precision
If a traditional digital tissue section scanner is used, then image acquisition is achieved, but the device volume is large and inconvenient to move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera, processor, and control systems into a single mobile phone device. The mobile phone's integrated design eliminates the need for separate bulky components, creating a compact imaging system that maintains full diagnostic functionality while being portable.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the microscope the central large component with accessories attached, the patent inverts the approach by making the mobile phone the central component and attaching minimal accessories (microscope head, slide holder) to it. This reversal of the traditional architecture dramatically reduces overall device volume.
3Ease of manufacture
If a common optical microscope and smart phone are integrated, then cost is reduced, but the structure is still large in volume and the optical path is relatively long affecting acquisition accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a simple support structure and basic positioning mechanisms only where absolutely necessary for function, while minimizing optical path length through careful local design of the microscope head and camera positioning. This localized optimization maintains accuracy without adding overall system complexity.
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 solution significantly reduces the cost and size of digital tissue section scanners, improves scanning speed and accuracy, and facilitates remote AI-based diagnosis by enabling cloud processing of images, enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of medical imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a microscope head is provided below a camera of the mobile phone... a microscope lens is provided on the other end of the cantilever rod; and the microphone lens is located below the camera of the mobile phone
Implementation Method 2
a lighting source is provided below the slide holder... the lighting source is an LED power source
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile phone-based miniature microscopic image acquisition device, and image stitching and recognition methods are provided. The acquisition device comprises a support, wherein a mobile phone fixing table is provided on the support. A microscope head is provided below a camera of a mobile phone. A slide holder is provided below the microscope head, and an lighting source is provided below the slide holder. A scanning movement is performed between the slide holder and the microscope head along X and Y axes, so that images of a slide are acquired into the mobile phone. The slide sample images acquired into the mobile phone can be stitched and recognized, and can be uploaded to the cloud to be processed by cloud AI, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of cell recognition, greatly reducing the medical cost, and ensuring more remote medical institutions can apply such technology for diagnosis.