Multi-Spectral Auto-Focus Trajectories for Microscope Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional auto-focus systems for microscope slides face challenges in achieving high-quality image data with a high digitization rate due to image blur caused by chromatic aberration and the need for extensive Z-stack acquisition and processing, which results in prolonged scan times and large data files.
Innovation Solution
The system determines optimal multi-spectral trajectories by capturing a low-magnification thumbnail image, forming a grid over the specimen, and using high-magnification Z-stack images to determine best focus points for each grid point, discarding the Z-stack images, and computing xyz trajectories for scanning, thereby adjusting focus for each color channel to minimize chromatic aberration and reduce scan time and data size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complete Z-stack of images is acquired for each color channel to reduce blur, then image quality is improved, but acquisition time increases significantly and data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential focus information needed from Z-stack images rather than acquiring complete Z-stacks. By taking a limited number of Z-stack images at selected positions and extracting focus metrics, the system determines optimal focal planes for each color channel without the need to acquire complete Z-stacks for all channels, thereby reducing acquisition time while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary focus determination using a subset of Z-stack images before actual image acquisition. By pre-determining the optimal focal planes for each color channel using focus metrics calculated from limited Z-stack samples, the system prepares the focusing strategy in advance, avoiding the need to acquire complete Z-stacks during the main imaging process.
2Productivity
If high magnification lenses are used to achieve high digitization rate, then productivity is improved, but chromatic aberration increases causing image blur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining optimal focal planes separately for each color channel (red, green, blue) rather than using a single focal plane for all channels. This allows each color channel to be focused at its optimal Z-position, compensating for chromatic aberration effects in high magnification lenses and maintaining image quality across all colors while enabling high digitization rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic focusing by adjusting the focal plane position for each color channel based on its specific focus metric. Instead of a static focal plane, the system dynamically determines the optimal Z-position for each color channel and acquires images at these adjusted focal planes, thereby compensating for chromatic aberration while maintaining high magnification for fast digitization.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple Z-planes are scanned to compensate for chromatic aberration, then image quality is improved, but the complexity of the scanning system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by acquiring images at a limited number of strategically selected focal planes for each color channel rather than scanning all possible Z-planes. By calculating focus metrics from a small subset of Z-stack images and selecting only the necessary focal planes for image acquisition, the system reduces scanning complexity while maintaining image quality through targeted focusing.
4Manufacturing precision
If focus is optimized for one color channel, then image quality for that channel is improved, but other color channels become blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality to each color channel individually. The system calculates focus metrics separately for red, green, and blue channels and determines optimal focal planes for each channel based on its specific focus characteristics. This allows each color channel to be optimized for its own focus quality while maintaining the ability to acquire images for all channels, thereby achieving both focused image quality and multi-color focus capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and associated method and computer program product for acquiring focused images of a specimen on a slide, by determining optimal scanning trajectories. The method includes capturing a relatively low magnification image of the slide to locate the specimen, forming a grid that includes an arrangement of grid points, overlaying at least part of the grid over a field of view that covers at least part of the specimen, capturing a relatively high magnification Z-stack of images of the specimen within the field of view, determining a best focus for each grid point within said at least part of the grid to form a resulting grid of three dimensional points, and based on the resulting grid, determining one or more three dimensional scanning trajectories.