Color translating UV microscope

Abstract

A color translating UV microscope for research and clinical applications involving imaging of living or dynamic samples in real time and providing several novel techniques for image creation, optical sectioning, dynamic motion tracking and contrast enhancement comprises a light source emitting UV light, and visible and IR light if desired. This light is directed to the condenser via a means of selecting monochromatic, bandpass, shortpass, longpass or notch limited light. The condenser can be a brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast or DIC. The slide is mounted in a stage capable of high speed movements in the X, Y and Z dimensions. The microscope uses broadband, narrowband or monochromat optimized objectives to direct the image of the sample to an image intensifier or UV sensitive video system. When an image intensifier is used it is either followed by a video camera, or in the simple version, by a synchronized set of filters which translate the image to a color image and deliver it to an eyepiece for viewing by the microscopist. Between the objective and the image intensifier there can be a selection of static or dynamic switchable filters. The video camera, if used, produces an image which is digitized by an image capture board in a computer. The image is then reassembled by an overlay process called color translation and the computer uses a combination of feedback from the information in the image and operator control to perform various tasks such as optical sectioning and three dimensional reconstruction, coordination of the monochromater while collecting multiple images sets called image planes, tracking dynamic sample elements in three space, control of the environment of the slide including electric, magnetic, acoustic, temperature, pressure and light levels, color filters and optics, control for microscope mode switching between transmitted, reflected, fluorescent, Raman, scanning, confocal, area limited, autofluorescent, acousto-optical and other modes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 635,936, filed Aug. 7, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,080 issued Nov. 1, 2005, which application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 402,467, filed Dec. 23, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,357 issued Nov. 18, 2003, which application is a 371 of international patent application No. PCT / CA 98 / 00350 filed Apr. 9, 1998, which application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 044,247 and 60 / 041,855 filed Apr. 23, 1997 and Apr. 9, 1997, respectively. This application claims the benefit of all aforementioned applications, and incorporates all said applications herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a color translating microscope employing ultraviolet light in place of or in addition to visible and / or infrared light sources. More specifically, the present invention relate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a novel color translating UV microscope that overcomes the limitations of prior art. It uses filters to separate light into different wavelengths and a device to provide wavelength limited light, which is then passed through or reflected off a sample and imaged onto a video camera. The camera converts the light to a visible image, which is then combined with other images to create a multicolor image. The microscope can use active optical feedback for stabilization and can switch between different forms of illumination and objective lenses. It can also switch between video cameras and synchronize the filters to create a color image of the sample. The invention also provides a method for producing an image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample.

Problems solved by technology

It is believed that all these prior art attempts failed due to the complex nature of the solutions attempted, the attendant costs and the high operating and maintenance burden and costs.

The results from these systems were mediocre at best due to the delay in image availability in the photographic processes and due to the low resolution and long integration times of the video solutions available at the time the work was carried out.

This reference suffers from disadvantages in that, for example, it needs high power UV illumination to provide sufficient illumination to the UV video camera which will be detrimental to the sample, it does not combine multiple three UV images from the same camera created with successive selections of light of different wavelength center and bandpass to create a full three colour visible image and therefore it is prone to misalignment of the individual cameras, and it is preset and not rapidly adjustable as to the wavelengths of light chosen for imaging, it does not use the extending resolving power of the deep UV range of the spectrum in which cellular absorption of biological specimens begins to offer the advantages of absorption staining of living systems and it will not resolve images at resolutions greater than those possible under visible light viewing conditions, as the final displayed visible light and monochromatic UV images are presented to the user at the same pixel resolution.

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