Neopath, Inc.

Tripath Imaging, Inc.

Louis R Piloco

Jon W Hayenga

William E Ortyn

A method for checking cytological system illumination including the steps of checking global illumination variation, static field uniformity, dynamic field uniformity, specimen thickness variation, strobe repeatability, calibration plate cleanliness, and strobe dropout. A calibration plate and test target is employed for various illumination checks.

Cytological system illumination integrity checking apparatus and method

Cytological system illumination integrity checking method

A high speed image capture apparatus includes a camera with an integration period between consecutive flashes of an illuminating light pulse, where the camera has an image read out period and an image output. A timer for provides a strobe output representative of the start of a flash. An image capture apparatus captures a first image during the integration period and a second image within a predetermined time after capturing the first image but before the image read out period has elapsed so as to substantially increase a rate of producing usable image outputs. The image capture apparatus is coupled to the strobe output and the image output.

Method and apparatus for rapid capture of focused microscopic images

An automated method for checking cytological system autofocus integrity. The automated method includes the steps of checking focus illumination integrity, checking focus camera Modulation Transfer Function, checking focus camera position integrity, and checking closed loop accuracy. Checking focus illumination integrity includes checking focus illumination system integrity, and checking a focus noise floor level. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus camera longitudinal separation, and checking focus camera lateral separation. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus filter frequency response.

Cytological system autofocus integrity checking apparatus

A suite of tests and parameter monitoring methods for at least five major subsystems that are found in most automated image processing systems, as well as calibration routines for three major system functions. The five areas of subsystem verification include processing quality, illumination quality, image collection quality, autofocus quality, and position quality. An automated biological specimen analysis system uses self measures of system parameters to provide a system status. The system status is reported to the user.

Biological specimen analysis system processing integrity checking

An illumination device provides temporally, spatially and angularly stable illumination for microscopic evaluations. An arc lamp serves as the light source. An input optical train gathers and focuses the light through an aperture stop to place an image of the arc incident on an input aperture of a light pipe. The magnification of the arc lamp is chosen to reduce the variation due to occlusion. The light pipe spatially homogenizes the light while preserving the angular integrity. An exit window may be placed over the exit aperture of the light pipe to keep dust and debris out of focus. Another optical train receives the spatially homogenized, angularly preserved light and may focus a many arclet images to fill the pupil of a condenser lens. The condenser lens also may focus the exit aperture of the light pipe onto or near the specimen on a microscope slide. A feedback system samples the light and corrects for residual temporal variations by electronically modifying the image as it leaves a CCD. A neutral density filter controls the overall energy passed through the system.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Louis R Piloco