Overview Imaging Trajectories to Reduce Bleaching and Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopy techniques generate overview images with low resolution that are not suitable for magnification and often capture irrelevant regions, leading to undesired bleaching and inefficient data capture.
Innovation Solution
A method involving two capture durations with individually chosen trajectories and shaped illumination radiation, where first images are captured with position data, and second images are selectively taken to merge into a resultant overview image, minimizing overlap and adapting parameters based on user experience or algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If predetermined scanning paths are used to capture overview images, then complete coverage of the object field is achieved, but significant regions without relevant information are captured leading to inefficient data collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a first capture duration to generate an individual overview image before the second capture duration. This preliminary imaging step allows the system to identify the actual extent and position of the object, enabling subsequent optimization of the scanning path to avoid predetermined regions that contain no relevant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by adapting the scanning path based on object-specific properties detected during the first capture duration. Instead of using fixed predetermined scanning paths, the system dynamically adjusts the second scanning path according to the actual object characteristics, allowing efficient coverage while avoiding redundant imaging of empty regions.
2Reliability
If repeated illumination of the same object regions is performed during multiple capture durations, then complete imaging coverage is achieved, but sample bleaching increases especially in sensitive biological samples
Solution Approach 1:
The first capture duration serves as a preliminary action that captures the necessary overview information with minimal illumination. By obtaining the individual overview image first, the system establishes a baseline that reduces the need for repeated illumination in the second capture duration, thereby minimizing sample bleaching while maintaining imaging completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using object-specific properties identified in the first capture duration to optimize illumination in the second capture duration. The scanning path and illumination parameters are adapted locally according to the actual object characteristics, ensuring that only regions containing relevant information are illuminated repeatedly, thus reducing overall sample bleaching.
3Speed
If lower resolution overview images are captured, then faster capture is achieved, but the images are not suitable for magnification or detailed analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the imaging process into two distinct capture durations with different resolution requirements. The first capture duration generates a lower resolution individual overview image for快速定位, while the second capture duration acquires higher resolution images of specific regions of interest. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both fast overview capture and detailed analysis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The first capture duration performs a preliminary low-resolution scan to identify regions of interest, which then guides the second capture duration to focus on those specific areas at higher resolution. This preliminary action enables the system to achieve fast initial assessment while ensuring that detailed imaging is concentrated on relevant regions, effectively balancing speed and precision.
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 capture of relevant object regions with reduced bleaching and improved image quality, allowing for localized and adaptive image capturing.
Implementation Method 1
Image data of the object are recorded during a first capture duration. In the process, regions of the object are scanned along a trajectory using shaped illumination radiation, in particular laser radiation.
Implementation Method 2
first images of the object are captured, which are stored together with the position data from a global positioning system or an absolute distance measurement system
Implementation Method 3
In addition, the lower-resolution images are not suitable, or suitable only to a very limited extent, for being magnified, that is to say for 'zooming' in to specific image details.
Implementation Method 4
In order to obtain a resultant overview image, the first images captured during the first capture duration and the second images captured during the second capture duration are merged to form the resultant overview image (also: systematic overview image) of the object.
Data Source
AI summary
Generating an overview image of an object includes, during a first capture duration, scanning regions of the object along a trajectory with illumination radiation, where the trajectory is chosen individually on the basis of properties of the object. First images of the object which together with position data (x, y, z) of an absolute distance measurement system are stored as an individual overview image are captured during the scanning of the trajectory. During a second capture duration, at least regions of the object are scanned with illumination radiation, and second images are captured; regions of the object which have already been imaged during the first capture duration are not imaged again. The first images captured during the first capture duration and the second images captured during the second capture duration are merged to form a resultant overview image of the object.