Observation Device Bottom Illumination Incubator Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current observation devices require frequent manual intervention to check cell cultures, as they need to be removed from incubators for monitoring, which is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An observation device with a surface light source that emits illumination light through the bottom of a specimen container, allowing for adjustable light emission patterns and ranges, and a control unit that corrects these patterns based on image brightness, contrast, and pixel relationships to optimize image capture without the need for side illumination, enabling smaller and more versatile equipment designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If side illumination is used for specimen observation, then image quality can be maintained, but the specimen container must have a specific shape and the equipment size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional illumination approach by placing the light source below the specimen container instead of above it. This allows illumination light to pass through the bottom of the container, eliminating the need for side illumination and associated shape constraints while maintaining effective specimen observation
2Illumination intensity
If side illumination is used for specimen observation, then image quality can be maintained, but the equipment size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the illumination direction to come from below through the container bottom, the patent eliminates the need for large lateral spaces required for side illumination systems, thereby reducing overall equipment footprint while maintaining observation capabilities
3Measurement precision
If manual checking of cell cultures is performed, then observation can be conducted, but frequent intervention is required and operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The observation device enables the incubator system to perform self-monitoring of cell cultures through automated imaging and analysis, eliminating the need for manual removal and inspection of specimens while maintaining accurate observation capabilities
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 efficient and high-definition imaging of specimens within incubators, reducing the need for shape-constrained containers and minimizing equipment size, while ensuring optimal illumination and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a surface light source that is arranged at a pupil position of an objective lens in an optical path of illumination light to be incident on the objective lens or at a vicinity of a position conjugate with the pupil position, that makes illumination light transmitted through the bottom portion from below incident on the specimen container
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens that is disposed below a specimen container that contains a specimen and that collects light from the specimen through a bottom portion of the specimen container
Implementation Method 3
an imaging optical system that captures light from the specimen generated by the specimen being irradiated with the illumination light from the surface light source and focused by the objective lens below the specimen container
Data Source
AI summary
An observation device includes an objective lens disposed below a container to collect light from a specimen; a surface light source that is disposed at a pupil position of the objective lens in the optical path of the illumination light, that causes illumination light to enter the container from below, and that can change a light emission pattern in a direction intersecting an emission optical axis, an imaging optical system that captures light from the specimen generated by the specimen being irradiated with the illumination light from the surface light source and focused by the objective lens below the container; and a controller that corrects a light emission pattern on a basis of the light emission pattern and at least one of a brightness, contrast, and the relationship between the number of pixels and the luminance of an acquired image with the light emission pattern.