Tomographic microscope for high resolution imaging and method of analyzing specimens
OwnerCharles W. Hewitt, Edward J. Doolin +3inventors
InventorsCharles W. Hewitt, Edward J. Doolin, John Kesterson, Peter D. Lauren, Gary Greenberg
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Abstract
Tomographic methods and device for obtaining images of microscopic specimens such as Pap smears.
Claims10
A method for enhancing light microscope viewing of a light-illuminated specimen having a thickness exceeding the depth of focus of the viewing microscope to suppress imaging of objects which are displaced and out of focus with respect to a focal plane of interest, comprising the steps of:
- (1) obtaining a plurality of images of said focal plane of interest at the specimen in which said images are taken at different angles of specimen illumination relative to each other;
- and
- (2) applying a computerized emulation algorithm for cross-correlating information obtained from the angled views by suppressing information that is not common to each angled view and substantially retaining information for said plane that is common for all angled views, whereby to produce a single output image for the said focal plane of interest to define a confocal emulated image.
A tomographic microscope for enhanced viewing of a light-illuminated specimen having a thickness exceeding the depth of focus of the viewing microscope which suppresses imaging of objects which are displaced and out of focus with respect to a focal plane of interest, comprising:
- means for illuminating said specimen at different angles of illumination relative to each other;
- means for obtaining a plurality of images of said focal plane of interest at the specimen, in which said images are taken at said different angles of specimen illumination relative to each other;
- and
- means for cross-correlating information obtained from the angled views by applying a computerized confocal emulation algorithm to suppress information that is not common to each angled view while substantially retaining information for said plane that is common for all angled views, whereby to produce a single output image for the said focal plane of interest to define a confocal emulated image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.