Auto-Focus Methods and Systems for Multi-Spectral Imaging
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsJoerg Bredno, Jim F. Martin, Anindya Sarkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques for acquiring focused images of a microscope slide are disclosed. During a calibration phase, a “base” focal plane is determined using non-synthetic and/or synthetic auto-focus techniques. Furthermore, offset planes are determined for color channels (or filter bands) and used to generate an auto-focus model. During subsequent scans, the auto-focus model can be used to quickly estimate the focal plane of interest for each color channel (or filter band) rather than re-employing the non-synthetic and/or synthetic auto-focus techniques.
Claims2
A system for enhancing a focus of an image of a biological specimen, the system comprising (i) one or more processors, and (ii) one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories to store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
- determining an in-focus base focus plane for a first slide position of a microscope slide, wherein the in-focus base plane is determined by running an auto-focus routine on at least one of a gray scale or a color channel slide image of the first slide position;
- deriving offset values that provide a best focus plane for each of a plurality of color channels or filter bands for the first slide position;
- and
- generating an image for each of the plurality of color channels or filter bands based on the identified offset values and the determined in-focus base focus plane for the first slide position.
A method for acquiring focused images of a microscope slide using a microscope having an optical system and a digital color camera, the method comprising:
- characterizing chromatic aberration present in the optical system as a Z-offset from a best focus plane in each of multiple color channels of the digital color camera;
- and
- scanning a microscope slide in a manner to reduce the effect of the characterized chromatic aberration by obtaining image data from the multiple color channels in accordance with the Z-offsets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.