Process for the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope

• US 7,593,581 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: CARL Zeiss Microimaging GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Hecht, Frank, Engelmann, Ralf, Wolleschensky, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; Anh Hong
• Application Number:
  US10/967,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 348/79, 356/72, 356/326, 250/458.1, 430/321, 382/133, 382/154, 382/100, 382/128, 382/232, 435/287.2, 435/6, 435/252.3, 435/254.2, 506/1, 530/350, 536/23.5
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/004 Predictors, e.g. intraframe, interframe coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/007 Transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform

Abstract

Process for the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope, wherein detected image data that correspond to three dimensional probe regions are detected and stored to memory, wherein data compression ensues in that the data of images lying next to one another and over one another on the probe are taken into consideration during compression. A stack of images is advantageously recorded and images that are respectively adjacent in the image stack are consulted for the compression of data. Temporally and/or spectrally detected and stored data shall be consulted for the compression of data.

Claims

1. Process for analyzing developmental processes via the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting image data that correspond to three dimensional sample regions, using the microscope,

(b) storing the detected image data to memory,

(c) compressing the detected and stored image data using a CPU or a graphics board, wherein the data of images lying next to one another and over one another on the sample are taken into consideration during compression, and

(d) using the compressed data to analyze dynamic developmental processes ranging from tenths of seconds to hours at a level of cell groups and entire organisms, using a computer.

2. Process for analyzing intracellular transport processes via the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting image data that correspond to three dimensional sample regions, using the microscope,

(b) storing the detected image data to memory,

(c) compressing the detected and stored image data using a CPU or a graphics board, wherein the data of images lying next to one another and over one another on the sample are taken into consideration during compression, and

(d) using the compressed data to analyze intracellular transport processes for representing small motile structures with high speeds, using a computer.

3. Process for representing molecular and other subcellular interactions via the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting image data that correspond to three dimensional sample regions, using the microscope,

(b) storing the detected image data to memory,

(c) compressing the detected and stored image data using a CPU or a graphics board, wherein the data of images lying next to one another and over one another on the sample are taken into consideration during compression, and

(d) using the compressed data to represent molecular and other subcellular interactions of very small structures with high speeds, preferably while using indirect techniques for resolving submolecular structures, using a computer.

4. Process for studying rapid signal transmission processes via the acquisition of images from a sample with a microscope, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting image data that correspond to three dimensional sample regions, using the microscope,

(b) storing the detected image data to memory,

(c) compressing the detected and stored image data using a CPU or a graphics board, wherein the data of images lying next to one another and over one another on the sample are taken into consideration during compression, and

(d) using the compressed data to study neurophysiological processes with high temporal resolution, using a computer.