Microscope Stage Acceleration Control for Fluid Fluctuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for observing pluripotent stem cells using microscopes face challenges in achieving high-speed image acquisition while maintaining image quality due to fluid level fluctuations in culture vessels, making it difficult to combine rapid imaging with high-quality results.
Innovation Solution
An observation device and control method that adjust the stage's acceleration based on information about the subject, vessel, and observation conditions, using a combination of image-forming optical systems like phase-difference, bright-field, and epifluorescence to minimize the impact of fluid level fluctuations, allowing for faster and higher-quality image acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the stage is moved quickly to scan observation positions, then image acquisition speed is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to fluid level fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the stage acceleration adjustable and adaptable to different observation conditions. The control unit dynamically changes acceleration parameters based on the type of culture vessel, observation method, and other conditions, allowing the system to optimize between speed and image quality rather than using a fixed acceleration value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the acceleration parameter based on multiple conditions including vessel type (well plate, flask, etc.), observation method (phase-difference, fluorescence, etc.), and culture fluid characteristics. This allows the system to select optimal acceleration values that balance imaging speed with image quality for each specific scenario.
2Manufacturing precision
If the stage acceleration is reduced to prevent fluid level fluctuation, then image quality is improved, but image acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acceleration parameter based on multiple conditions to find the optimal balance between image quality and acquisition time. Different acceleration values are set for different vessel types, observation methods, and culture fluid conditions, allowing fast acquisition when possible while maintaining quality when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by having the control unit determine acceleration based on information about the culture vessel, observation method, and other conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust acceleration to prevent fluid level fluctuations that would degrade image quality, while still maintaining efficient acquisition speeds.
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform low acceleration is used to gradually accelerate the stage, then image quality is maintained, but scanning time for all observation positions becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by setting different acceleration values for different phases and conditions of the scanning process. Rather than using uniformly low acceleration, the system adjusts acceleration based on vessel type, observation method, and position, allowing faster scanning when conditions permit while maintaining image quality when fluid level stability is critical.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
An observation device includes: a stage (11) on which a vessel in which a subject is stored is installed; an image-forming optical system (17) that includes an objective lens forming an image of the subject stored in the vessel; a scan control unit (22) that moves the stage (11) with respect to the image-forming optical system (17) to scan each observation position in the vessel by the image-forming optical system (17); and an acceleration-determination-information acquisition unit (24) that acquires at least one piece of information among information about the subject, information about the vessel, information about an observation method, or information about an observation condition. The scan control unit (22) controls an acceleration of the stage on the basis of the at least one piece of information.