Virtual Slide Creation via Real-Time Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual-slide creating methods require pre-setting of image capture positions and movement patterns, which are time-consuming and inefficient, and often result in the acquisition of unnecessary images and gaps in the observation of entire samples.
Innovation Solution
A virtual-slide creating device with a stage, objective lens, relative movement mechanism, position detecting unit, image capturing unit, display unit, image saving unit, and image processing unit that automatically captures and saves images based on relative position information, allowing for the creation of a virtual slide without pre-defined movement patterns, ensuring uniform overlapping and reducing unnecessary image acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If pre-set movement patterns are used for image capture, then the image capture process is automated, but the workload for setting up and the time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining capture positions and movement patterns based on real-time detection of the subject of interest. The image capturing unit autonomously adjusts拍摄 positions without requiring manual pre-setting of movement patterns, thereby reducing setup workload and time while maintaining automation.
2Productivity
If pre-set movement patterns are used for image capture, then the capture process is systematic, but unnecessary images are acquired and gaps in observation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using the position detecting unit to continuously monitor the location of the subject of interest during the capture process. Based on this real-time feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the movement pattern and capture positions, ensuring that all regions containing the subject are captured while avoiding unnecessary image acquisition, thus improving both efficiency and observation completeness.
3Ease of operation
If fixed capture positions are set in advance, then the capture process is simplified, but the ability to adapt to different samples is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-set positions to dynamic adaptive positioning. The position detecting unit enables the system to dynamically determine optimal capture positions based on the actual location and distribution of the subject of interest in each sample, maintaining operational simplicity while significantly improving adaptability to different sample types and configurations.
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 acquisition of enlarged images covering the entire sample without pre-defined movement patterns, reducing the workload and time required for creating virtual slides while avoiding the capture of images without the subject of interest.
Implementation Method 1
an objective lens that collects light from the sample mounted on the stage
Data Source
AI summary
It is possible to create a virtual slide of a subject of observation in a simple configuration without setting a movement pattern in advance. Provided is a virtual-slide creating device including a stage on which a sample is mounted; an objective lens that collects light from the sample; a relative movement mechanism that moves at least one of these components relative to each other in a direction crossing the optical axis of the objective lens; a position detecting unit that obtains relative position information of the stage and the objective lens; an image capturing unit that acquires a partial enlarged image of the sample; a display unit that displays the enlarged image acquired; an image saving unit that saves an enlarged image acquired by the image capturing unit each time at least one of the stage and the objective lens is moved relative to each other by a predetermined distance, based on the relative position information obtained; and an image processing unit that creates a virtual slide by forming an array of saved enlarged images based on the relative position information detected.