An image processing apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit configured to acquire layer images obtained by imaging different positions of an object by using a microscope; an image generation unit for generating a plurality of observation images from the layer images. The image generation unit generates the observation images by performing combine processing for focus-stacking two or more layer images selected from among the layer images to generate a single observation image, for plural times.

Image processing apparatus, imaging system, and image processing system

Apparatus for and method of rapid three dimensional scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a tilted sensor synchronized with a positioning stage. The system also provides a method for interpolating tilted image layers into a orthogonal tree dimensional array or into its two dimensional projection as well as a method for composing the volume strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single continuous digital image or volume.

Rapid microscope scanner for volume image acquisition

Systems and methods for microscope slide scanning using multiple sensor arrays that receive imagery data from a single optical axis are provided. A single, high quality, easily obtained microscope objective lens is used to project an image onto two or more sensor arrays. The sensor arrays can be linear or two dimensional and imaging takes place along a single optical axis. Simultaneous sensor acquisition and parallel data processing reduce the image acquisition time by a factor of N, where N represents the number of sensors employed.

System and method for single optical axis multi-detector microscope slide scanner

Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) affords highly parallelized 3D imaging with optical sectioning capability and minimal light exposure. However, using Gaussian beams for light-sheet generation results in a trade-off between beam waist thickness and the area over which the beam can approximate a light-sheet. Novel techniques for LSFM are disclosed that uses extended focusing and/or laser line focuses to produce divergence free light-sheets with near diffraction-limited resolution and uniform intensity distribution.

Uniform and scalable light-sheets generated by extended focusing

Image quality is assessed for a digital image that is a composite of tiles or other image segments, especially focus accuracy for a microscopic pathology sample. An algorithm or combination of algorithms correlated to image quality is applied to pixel data at margins where adjacent image segments overlap and thus contain the same content in separately acquired images. The margins may be edges merged to join the image segments smoothly into a composite image, and typically occur on four sides of the image segments. The two versions of the same image content at each margin are processed by the quality algorithm, producing two assessment values. A sign and difference value are compared with other image segments, including by subsets selected for the orientation of the margins on sides on the image segments. The differences are mapped to displays. Selection criteria determine segments to be reacquired.

Image quality assessment including comparison of overlapped margins

An improved system and method for obtaining images of a microscope slide are provided. In one embodiment, a focus camera (22) includes an optical sensor that is tilted relative to the focal plane of a scanning camera (32). A scan of a target region (14) are captured from a plurality of X-Y position. Each image contains information associated with multiple focal planes.

Steven Willems

Papers

System and method for generating digital images of a microscope slide