High numerical aperture telemicroscopy apparatus

• US 9,523,845 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• 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 N., Douglas, Erik, Maamari, Robi, Lam, Wilbur, Dill, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US14/839,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 348/79
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method for monitoring or diagnosing a patient using a handheld telemicroscopy apparatus that includes a camera and a microscope lens system associated with the camera, wherein the microscope lens system has a collection numerical aperture (NA) of at least approximately 0.1 and a magnification (M) of at least about 1, the method comprising:

focusing the lens system of the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus on a sample;

acquiring an image of the sample using the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus;

transmitting the image from the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus to a telecommunications device; and

transmitting the image from the telecommunications device to a remote server holding a medical record for the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises a patient'"'"'s tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the image.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising appending patient information to the image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising appending location information to the image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein focusing comprises automatically focusing.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading the image to the patient'"'"'s physician.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing automatic image evaluation for medical content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising remotely diagnosing the patient based on the image.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising deriving medically relevant information from an acquired image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a cell phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus includes an illumination source.

13. A telemicroscopy method for monitoring or diagnosing a patient using a handheld telemicroscopy apparatus that includes a camera and a microscope lens system associated with the camera, wherein the microscope lens system has a collection numerical aperture (NA) of at least approximately 0.1 and a magnification (M) of at least about 1, the method comprising:

automatically focusing the lens system of the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus on a patient'"'"'s tissue;

acquiring an image of the patient using the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus;

appending data to the image;

wirelessly transmitting the image from the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus to a telecommunications device; and

transmitting the image from the telecommunications device to a remote server holding the patient'"'"'s medical record.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising appending patient information to the image.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein appending data comprises appending location information to the image.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising uploading the image to the patient'"'"'s physician.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing automatic image evaluation for medical content.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising remotely diagnosing the patient based on the image.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising deriving medically relevant information from an acquired image.

20. A telemicroscopy method for monitoring or diagnosing a patient using a handheld telemicroscopy apparatus, wherein the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus includes a housing, an image sensor mounted in the housing, collection optics mounted in the 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 a wireless transmission unit mounted in the housing for wirelessly transmitting data, the method comprising:

focusing the lens system of the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus on a patient'"'"'s tissue;

acquiring an image of the patient using the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus;

wirelessly transmitting the image from the handheld telemicroscopy apparatus to a telecommunications device; and

transmitting the image from the telecommunications device to a remote server holding a medical record for the patient.