Method and device for acquiring and displaying an immunofluorescence image of a biological sample

A device for acquiring and displaying an immunofluorescence image of a biological sample, the device comprising:

• an excitation light source for illuminating a biological sample, using excitation radiation,
• a holding device for holding the biological sample,
• at least one image sensor, having multiple sensor pixels for acquiring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological sample, an optical system for guiding the fluorescent radiation from the biological sample onto the image sensor,
• a positioning unit, which is designed to change a relative position between the biological sample and the optical system, and
• at least one control unit, having
• a first interface to a user input device,
• a second interface to the image sensor,
• a third interface to the excitation light source,
• a fourth interface to the positioning unit, and
• a fifth interface to a display unit,
• wherein the control unit is designed, in a first operating state,
• to control the excitation light source in such a way that the sample is continuously illuminated using the excitation radiation,
• to derive a movement gesture of the user from an input signal of the user input device and to control the positioning unit in such a way that the relative position between the biological sample and the optical system is changed in dependence on the movement gesture,
• to control the image sensor in such a way that, by the multiple sensor pixels, the fluorescent radiation is acquired using a first acquisition duration and furthermore to determine a digital image from resulting sensor pixel values, and also furthermore
• to control the display unit to display the digital image,
• wherein the control unit is further designed, in the first operating state,
• to repeat the acquisition of the fluorescent radiation as well as the determination and the display of the digital image at successive points in time using a defined repetition frequency, and
• upon detection of a termination of the movement gesture, to change to a second operating state,
• wherein the control unit is further designed, in the second operating state,
• to control the image sensor so that, by the multiple sensor pixels, the fluorescent radiation is acquired using a second acquisition duration,
• to determine a further digital image from resulting sensor pixel values,
• to control the display unit to display the further digital image,
• to control the image sensor so that after lapse of the second acquisition duration, the acquisition of the fluorescent radiation is terminated,
• to control the excitation light source in such a way that the illumination of the sample is terminated after lapse of the second acquisition duration, and
• to control the display unit after the termination of the illumination of the sample and after the termination of the acquisition of the emitted fluorescent radiation in such a way that the further digital image is continuously displayed.