Tube Lens Placement for Thick Flowcell Wall Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscope imaging systems face challenges in maintaining optical performance when imaging through flowcells with thicker walls, as standard objectives designed for standard cover slips are not optimized for the increased thickness, leading to degraded image quality and increased costs with specialized or custom-designed solutions.
Innovation Solution
A microscope imaging system with a tube lens positioned closer to the camera than its focal length, combined with an infinity-corrected objective, allows for accurate imaging through flowcell walls thicker than standard cover slips without additional components or cost, by adjusting the spacing between the tube lens and imaging sensor to correct for distortions introduced by the thicker flowcell walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a specialized objective with cover glass thickness adjustment mechanism is used to maintain optical performance through thicker flowcell walls, then image quality is preserved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of tube lens to camera distance from the standard focal length to a shorter distance (less than focal length). This parameter change allows the system to correct for thicker cover glass without requiring specialized objectives, thereby maintaining image quality while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the standard objective lens universal by adjusting the tube lens position, allowing it to work with both standard cover glass thickness and thicker flowcell walls. This eliminates the need for specialized objectives for different applications, reducing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If a custom-designed objective optimized for a particular flowcell wall thickness is used, then optical performance is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of custom-designing objectives for different thicknesses, the patent uses a single objective design and changes the parameter of tube lens positioning to accommodate different cover glass thicknesses. This approach maintains optical performance while significantly reducing manufacturing cost by eliminating custom design requirements
3Measurement precision
If cover glass correction add-on optics are incorporated to mitigate image quality degradation, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the correction function from separate add-on optics and integrates it into the basic optical path by adjusting the tube lens position. This eliminates the need for additional correction components, reducing both device complexity and cost while maintaining image quality improvement
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 high-quality imaging through flowcell walls up to 1 mm thick, maintaining optical performance and reducing complexity and cost compared to specialized or custom-designed objectives.
Implementation Method 1
a tube lens positioned between the objective and the camera. The tube lens is configured to project the magnified image of the biological sample onto the imaging sensor of the camera
Implementation Method 2
adjusting the spacing between the tube lens and imaging sensor to correct for distortions introduced by the thicker flowcell walls
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope imaging system includes an objective (18) configured to collect light from a biological sample (S) for forming a magnified image of the biological sample. The microscope imaging system also includes a camera (14) including an imaging sensor. The imaging sensor is configured to detect the magnified image of the biological sample. The microscope imaging system further includes a tube lens (16) positioned between the objective and the camera. The tube lens is configured to project the magnified image of the biological sample onto the imaging sensor of the camera. The tube lens is spaced apart from the imaging sensor of the camera by a distance (D2) less than a focal length of the tube lens.