Digital Pathology Scanner Array for Large-Area Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital pathology scanners have a small scanning area and long scanning times, which significantly reduce user experience and hinder the practical application of digital pathology in clinical diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A digital pathology scanner with a plurality of microscopic objectives and digital image sensors arranged in an array, where the objectives and sensors move synchronously, allowing for sequential image capture without intervals, enabling faster scanning and improved user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a micro-optical system with single objective and single sensor is used to scan tissue section, then the system structure is simple, but the scanning area is small and scanning time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single objective-sensor system into multiple objectives and multiple sensors arranged in arrays. Specifically, it uses a first array of microscopic objectives and a second array of digital image sensors, where each objective-sensor pair forms an independent imaging channel. This segmentation enables parallel imaging of multiple regions simultaneously, dramatically increasing scanning speed while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple objectives and multiple sensors into coordinated arrays that operate synchronously. The first array of objectives and second array of sensors are positioned and moved together as integrated units, with corresponding objectives and sensors maintaining fixed relative positions. This merging allows simultaneous capture of multiple image fields that are then stitched together to form a complete high-resolution image, achieving fast scanning without sacrificing image quality.
2Productivity
If multiple objectives and sensors are arranged in arrays to increase scanning area, then scanning speed improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic synchronization between the arrays of objectives and sensors. Both arrays are moved together along the scanning direction with coordinated motion control, ensuring that corresponding objectives and sensors maintain their fixed relative positions throughout the scanning process. This dynamic coordination allows the system to adapt to different scanning speeds and fields of view while managing complexity through unified motion control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the objective array and sensor array system to perform multiple functions: each objective-sensor pair can independently image different regions of the tissue section, the arrays can be moved to scan large areas, and the system can capture images at different magnifications by adjusting which objectives and sensors are active. This multi-functionality increases scanning versatility while managing complexity through shared hardware resources and coordinated control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to the field of digital pathology imaging technologies, and relates to a digital pathology scanner for large-area microscopic imaging. According to key points of the technical solution, the digital pathology scanner for large-area microscopic imaging includes a plurality of microscopic objectives and a plurality of digital image sensors; the microscopic objectives and the digital image sensors are equal in quantity and are fixed relatively in a one-to-one correspondence manner; the digital image sensors are sequentially distributed so as to form a sensor array; the sensor array enables images formed by the digital image sensors to be sequentially distributed without intervals in a second direction when moving in a first direction; and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The digital pathology scanner of the disclosure can photograph and splice microscopic images in a parallel manner, is 20 times faster than a conventional method, has smaller volume and lower cost, greatly improves user experience, and truly realizes application value of digital pathology.