Fluorescence biopsy specimen imager and methods
AssigneeLI-COR, Inc.
InventorHan-Wei Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imaging device is described that uses multiple cameras to image a biological sample on a turntable bathed in white light or fluorescing due to a systemically administered dye. Fluorescence farther away from an excitation light source can be compensated upon determining a 3-D position of portions of the sample. The turntable is turned and tilted in order to take enough images to prepare an animation of the sample. In a graphical user interface, the animation can be stopped, zoomed, and tilted per a user's gesture, touch, tablet-tilting, or other commands. The image manipulation can be with touch gestures entered using a sterilizable or disposable touch pen.
Claims16
An apparatus for imaging a biological sample with fluorescence, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable imaging stage adapted for supporting at least a portion of a biological sample within an imaging volume;
- a first camera;
- a monochromatic second camera;
- and
- a switchable mounting system configured to alternatingly position the first camera and the second camera to receive light reflecting or emitting from the biological sample.
An apparatus for imaging a biological sample with fluorescence, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable imaging stage adapted for supporting at least a portion of a biological sample within an imaging volume;
- a transparent window having a plurality of equally spaced marks at predetermined intervals, the transparent window attached to the imaging stage;
- a first camera;
- a monochromatic second camera;
- and
- a partially reflective mirror, the mirror configured to reflect a portion of an image of the at least a portion of the biological sample to one of the cameras, and the mirror configured to transmit a portion of the image to the other of the cameras.
An apparatus for imaging a biological sample with fluorescence, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable imaging stage adapted for supporting at least a portion of a biological sample within an imaging volume;
- a first camera;
- a monochromatic second camera;
- a flip mirror;
- and
- an optical system configured to present an image of the at least a portion of the biological sample to the flip mirror, the flip mirror having a first configuration for reflecting the image to the first camera and a second configuration for reflecting the image to the second camera.
A method of correcting an image for divergence of fluorescence excitation light, the method comprising:
- illuminating a biological sample on a stage with a fluorescence excitation light source;
- taking a first fluorescence image of the biological sample using a camera;
- rotating the stage from a first angle to a second angle;
- collecting a second fluorescence image of the biological sample using the camera;
- determining from the fluorescence images a three-dimensional position of a portion of the biological sample;
- ascertaining a divergence of the fluorescence excitation light;
- acquiring a pixel reading of one of the images;
- and
- applying a correction to the pixel reading based on the three-dimensional position and the divergence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.