US 12,687,712 B2 · Method for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample, and a device suitable for use in such a method

Abstract

A method is presented for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample. The method comprises: providing an illumination beam through an imaging lens such that the illumination beam is focused at a focal plane of the imaging lens; obtaining a plurality of images of the sample. Obtaining comprises providing the illumination beam at a plurality of lateral positions on the focal plane and obtaining each image at each lateral position of the illumination beam, such that an intensity of the illumination beam on a portion of the sample at the focal plane varies for each of the plurality of lateral positions. The method further comprises detecting, using a detector, signals collected via the imaging lens; and constructing the optically-sectioned image based on the plurality of images. The constructing comprises: obtaining a plurality of signal values from the portion of the sample from the plurality of images; evaluating a threshold for the portion; and evaluating a pixel value by integrating a fraction of the plurality of signal values based on the threshold.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample based on a plurality of images of the sample, the method comprising constructing an optically-sectioned image by:

obtaining a plurality of signal values from the plurality of images, the plurality of signal values corresponding to the same pixel across the plurality of images;
evaluating a threshold value for the pixel based on the plurality of signal values and a desired degree of sectioning of the optically-sectioned image;
and
evaluating a pixel value by integrating a fraction of the plurality of signal values above the threshold value,
wherein the plurality of images comprises optical images of the sample obtained by illuminating the sample with a focused patterned illumination beam at a plurality of lateral positions at a focal plane, wherein each image is obtained when the patterned illumination beam is at a respective one of the lateral positions, such that an intensity of the patterned illumination beam on a portion of the sample at the focal plane varies for each of the plurality of lateral positions.

2 more elements

A device for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample, the device comprising:

an imaging lens;
an illumination source configured to provide a patterned illumination beam through the imaging lens such that the illumination beam is focused at a focal plane of the imaging lens;
a detector configured to detect signals collected from the sample via the imaging lens;
a control unit configured to:
obtain a plurality of images of the sample by providing the patterned illumination beam at a plurality of lateral positions on the focal plane, such that an intensity of the patterned illumination beam on a portion of the sample at the focal plane varies for each of the plurality of lateral positions;
and
construct the optically-sectioned image based on the plurality of images by:
obtaining a plurality of signal values from the plurality of images, the plurality of signal values corresponding to the same pixel across the plurality of images;
evaluating a threshold value for the pixel based on the plurality of signal values and a desired degree of sectioning of the optically-sectioned image;
and
evaluating a pixel value by integrating a fraction of the plurality of signal values above the threshold value.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample, and a device suitable for use in such a method

Life of this patent

Method for obtaining an optically-sectioned image of a sample, and a device suitable for use in such a method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20