Multispectral Iris Microscopy for Resolution and Depth of Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical microscopes face a trade-off between resolution and depth of field, with conventional iris settings offering only a fixed balance that does not optimize both qualities simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
Employing a multispectral iris that provides different numerical apertures for two separate optical imaging sensors, one for reflectance imaging and one for fluorescence imaging, and using processors to combine imaging sensor data to generate a composite image with increased resolution and depth of field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the opening of the iris is bigger, then more light passes through and resolution increases, but depth of field decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single imaging task into two separate imaging channels with different numerical apertures. One channel uses a larger numerical aperture for high-resolution imaging of in-focus regions, while the other uses a smaller numerical aperture for capturing out-of-focus regions with extended depth of field. The final image is synthesized by combining information from both channels, effectively resolving the contradiction between resolution and depth of field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the solution from the traditional single-dimension (single numerical aperture) approach to a multi-dimensional approach by capturing images at different focal planes and different numerical apertures. This allows the system to recover both high-resolution details from in-focus regions and contextual information from out-of-focus regions, achieving both resolution and depth of field simultaneously.
2Length of stationary object
If the opening of the iris is smaller, then less light passes through and depth of field increases, but resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging function into two specialized channels: one optimized for resolution (larger numerical aperture) and another optimized for depth of field (smaller numerical aperture). By assigning different numerical apertures to different imaging channels, the system can simultaneously capture both high-resolution details and extended depth information, then combine them in the final image synthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the numerical aperture parameter differently for different imaging channels. Instead of using a single fixed numerical aperture, the system varies this parameter across multiple channels to optimize for different imaging requirements, allowing simultaneous achievement of both high resolution and large depth of field.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to a microscope system, such as a surgical microscope system, and to a corresponding method. The microscope system (100) comprises a microscope (120) with a first optical imaging sensor (122) for generating first imaging sensor data based on light having a first wavelength spectrum, a second optical imaging sensor (124) for generating second imaging sensor data based on light having a second wavelength spectrum, and a multispectral iris (130), configured to provide an opening with a first numerical aperture for the light having the first wavelength spectrum and an opening with a second numerical aperture for the light having the second wavelength spectrum, with the first numerical aperture being different from the second numerical aperture. The microscope system comprises one or more processors (114), configured to generate a composite image based on the first imaging sensor data and based on the second imaging sensor data.