High numerical aperture telemicroscopy apparatus

• US 8,743,194 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Fletcher, Daniel, Hansen, Wendy, Switz, Neil, Breslauer, David, Douglas, Erik, Maamari, Robi, Lam, Wilbur, Dill, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US12/826,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 348/79, 359/656, 422/82.05, 600/573, 455/418, 396/429
• US Class Current: 348/79
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0092 Polarisation microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/02 Objectives
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/025 with variable magnification variable magnification G02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/06 Means for illuminating specimens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/36 arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes G02B21/18 takes precedenceor digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements image data processing per se G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/361 Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/365 Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An imaging system consisting of a cell-phone with camera as the detection part of an optical train which includes other components. Optionally, an illumination system to create controlled contrast in the sample. Uses include but are not limited to disease diagnosis, symptom analysis, and post-procedure monitoring, and other applications to humans, animals, and plants.

Claims

1. A telemicroscopy imaging system for making a wireless communications device into a microscope, the system comprising:

a portable, hand-held microscope housing;

an image sensor mounted in the microscope housing;

collection optics mounted in the microscope housing and aligned with the image sensor, the collection optics having a collection numerical aperture (NA) of at least approximately 0.01 and a magnification (M) of at least about 1 ;

an illumination source mounted in the housing and positioned to illuminate a sample;

a wireless transmission unit mounted in the housing for transmitting data from the image sensor to the wireless communications device, wherein the wireless communications device has a microprocessor for controlling data collection, analysis and transmission.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to derive medically relevant information from an acquired image.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to implement a particle counting algorithm.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to extract medically relevant information from an acquired image via automatic image processing.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS or other location sensing unit, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to add location data to image data transmitted by the wireless transmission unit.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to allow user-determined identification of a region of interest of an image for transmission.