Digital microscope which operates as a server
Inventors
Na'aman, Erez • ILUZ, Michael Shimon • Hayut, Itai
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10935779-B2
Publication Date
2021-03-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Access to microscope images while a sample is scanned or images are generated or uploaded can decrease an amount of time that a user waits to view a region of interest of an image. A processor can be configured to allow a remote user to access a portion of an image at full or partial resolution while other portions of the sample are being scanned, or while one or more images are generated or uploaded at full or partial resolution. A processor stored locally with the microscope can be configured to allow a remote user to access a completed scan over the internet prior to the scan being fully uploaded over a network such as the internet to a remote server. In some embodiments, a processor may be coupled to a microscope, a user device, or a remote server.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a microscope including an optical apparatus and an imaging device, with a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The processor transmits a first image to a display visible to a user, where the first image corresponds to a first portion of an image of a sample, and receives input from the user corresponding to a processing instruction, an imaging instruction, or an uploading instruction.
In response to the received input, the processor reorganizes a queue of image processing instructions, imaging instructions, or uploading instructions for the image. The processor then generates a second image using the imaging device and the optical apparatus or uploads a second image using the processor, where the second image corresponds to a second portion of the image, and transmits an updated portion of the image to the display visible to the user.
The invention also supports prioritizing a user-selected portion of an image, where the user selects a region of interest using low-resolution image or partially completed image views. The system provides updated portions of the image while scanning and/or processing continues, including successively updated portions of the selected region, and supports transferring image portions without requiring full upload of the entire dataset, using partial-image transfer based on segmentation and/or peer-to-peer approaches, and optionally sending predetermined adjacent regions.
The invention additionally documents computational microscope behavior for generating higher-resolution images from low-resolution images under multiple illumination conditions, including varying illumination angle, illumination wavelength, illumination pattern, illumination duration, illumination intensity, and illumination position. The documented high-resolution reconstruction includes Fourier/FFT-based aggregation and inverse transforms, producing a high-resolution image of the sample from the multiple low-resolution images.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim. The independent claim covers a microscope architecture and workflow in which user input causes a queue of image processing, imaging, or uploading instructions to be reorganized so that an updated portion of an image is transmitted to a user display while imaging and processing continue.
User-instructed queue reorganization for portioned image generation and updated transmission
A microscope where, in response to user input corresponding to a processing instruction, an imaging instruction, or an uploading instruction, a processor reorganizes a queue of image processing instructions, imaging instructions, or uploading instructions for the image based on the input, then generates or uploads a second image corresponding to a second portion of the image and transmits an updated portion of the image to a display visible to the user.
The independent claim’s coverage centers on portioned image display, user-provided instructions, queue reorganization, generation or upload of a corresponding second portion, and transmission of updated portions to the user display.
Stated Advantages
Enables transmission of updated portions of the image to the user display in response to reorganized image processing, imaging, or uploading instructions based on user input.
Supports using user input to prioritize generation or uploading of a selected portion of the image rather than only a full completed image.
Provides resolution increase for an updated portion relative to the first image, including an updated portion with higher resolution than the first image.
Allows transfer behavior in which a network server does not store the updated portion in its non-transitory computer-readable storage when the transfer occurs.
Supports generating a high-resolution image of a sample from low-resolution images captured under multiple selected illumination conditions.
Documented Applications
Remote user interaction with a microscope image by selecting a portion from a low-resolution image or a partially completed image, resulting in transmission of updated portions of the image to a user-visible display.
Computational high-resolution reconstruction from low-resolution images under multiple illumination conditions, producing a high-resolution image of the sample.
Annotation support enabling local and remote users to add and view annotations on an updated portion of an image of a sample, optionally before the image is fully completed.
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