Wide Region Image Construction via Stage Movement and Optical Axis Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems require a long time to construct virtual slide images, limiting throughput in pathological examinations.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system that includes a motorized stage, image sensor, and control apparatus to acquire and piece together multiple images of different regions, forming a wide region image by adjusting optical-axis positions, allowing for efficient construction of high-quality wide region images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple images are acquired by moving the motorized stage to construct a wide region image, then the visual field range is improved, but the construction time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The wide region image is segmented into multiple visual-field regions, each captured by the imaging apparatus at different optical-axis positions. The control apparatus divides the construction task into processing multiple captured images separately and then piecing them together, which optimizes the workflow and reduces overall construction time while maintaining comprehensive visual field coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images of different visual-field regions in advance through controlled stage movement and optical-axis position adjustments. These pre-captured images are stored and then processed by the control apparatus to construct the final wide region image, eliminating the need for sequential real-time processing and reducing total construction time.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple captured images are pieced together to form a wide region image, then the region coverage is improved, but the image processing complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus serves as an intermediary that manages the complex process of piecing together multiple captured images. It handles the coordination of image alignment, stitching, and integration automatically, transforming a complex multi-image processing task into a streamlined operation that achieves comprehensive region coverage without requiring manual intervention or excessive processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates multiple copies of the imaging process by capturing images at different optical-axis positions and visual-field regions. Each captured image is a copy of the same visual-field region from a different perspective or position, which are then pieced together by the control apparatus to form the complete wide region image, simplifying the overall process through standardized repeated operations.
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
Reduces the time required to construct wide region images while maintaining high image quality, thereby improving throughput and efficiency in pathological examinations.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor for converting an optical image into an electric signal
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes: an imaging apparatus that includes an image sensor and acquires a captured image; an optical system that includes a first objective and forms, within the image sensor, an optical image of a visual-field region that is a region within an object surface that corresponds to the objective field number (OFN) of the first objective; a motorized stage; and a control apparatus that constructs a first wide region image by piecing together a plurality of constituent images included in a plurality of captured images acquired by controlling the motorized stage and the imaging apparatus, the first wide region image being an image of a region wider than the visual-field region. Each of the plurality of constituent images is a portion of each of the plurality of captured images and is also at least a portion of each of images of a plurality of visual-field regions.