Parallelized Volumetric Microscopy for Well Plate 3D Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D imaging techniques for volumetric specimens in multi-well plates face challenges such as shadowing effects, autofluorescence, and scattering due to well walls, liquid menisci, and material interactions, preventing accurate parallelized 3D imaging.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a multi-camera array microscope with programmable illumination and controlled imaging systems to capture images at varying focus depths and angles, combining them into a 3D volumetric representation through a computer algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If structured illumination or variable-angle illumination is used to acquire 3D information, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to shadowing effects, autofluorescence, and scattering from well walls and liquid menisci
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the imaging task into multiple segments by using multiple objective lenses and image sensors arranged in arrays. Each lens-sensor pair captures images from different angles or focal planes, and the results are computationally combined to reconstruct 3D information. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitations of single-viewpoint illumination by gathering data from multiple perspectives without requiring complex illumination maneuvers that would interact with well plate artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both standard 2D imaging and 3D volumetric imaging using the same hardware platform. The multiple objective lenses and image sensors can be configured for different imaging modes (e.g., focal stacking, angle-based tomography) without requiring separate specialized equipment, making the system adaptable to various imaging needs while maintaining consistency in handling well plate specimens.
2Measurement precision
If rotation or manipulation of specimens is performed to acquire 3D data, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to challenges in rotating multiple specimens within multi-well plates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical specimen manipulation (rotation, tilting) with computational methods. Multiple images are captured from different angles or focal planes using fixed objective lenses and image sensors, and 3D information is extracted through image processing algorithms rather than physical specimen manipulation. This substitution eliminates the operational complexity of handling and rotating multiple specimens in multi-well plates while maintaining high 3D imaging accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple illumination fields are shone onto the specimen to acquire 3D information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens due to challenges in ensuring accurate spatial or angular arrangements across many specimens
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple imaging functions into a single integrated platform by combining multiple objective lenses and image sensors in fixed arrays. Instead of using complex movable illumination systems that would require precise spatial and angular control across many specimens, the system captures multi-angle or multi-focal-plane data simultaneously using the fixed lens-sensor arrays, simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving the same 3D information extraction.
4Productivity
If parallelized imaging with multiple lenses and sensors is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The parallelized imaging system is segmented into multiple independent lens-sensor units that can be arranged in arrays. Each unit captures images independently, and the results are combined computationally to achieve high-throughput parallelized imaging. This modular segmentation allows the system to scale productivity by adding more units while keeping each individual unit relatively simple, managing the overall device complexity through systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple objective lenses and image sensors are designed with universal functionality to perform various imaging tasks (2D imaging, focal stacking, angle-based tomography) using the same hardware platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components for each imaging mode, simplifying the overall device architecture while enabling parallelized high-throughput imaging across multiple specimens simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can be used for imaging volumetric samples using a camera array to capture images under different illumination patterns at different axial planes of focus, and at optionally varying lateral fields of view. The sequence of images taken under the different illumination patterns and optional varying lateral fields of view can be processed to generate an image representation of the sample at a focus plane of the sample. Multiple image representations at different focus planes are assembled to form a 3D volumetric representation of the sample.