Patents by Inventor Chi-Kuang Sun

Chi-Kuang Sun has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11333870
    Abstract: The field of view (FOV) of a nonlinear optical microscope (NLOM) is expected to be large enough for employing high-speed raster scanning on a mesoscale volumetric biological sample. Concurrently, three-dimensional (3D) visualization of fine sub-micron biological structures requires high enough lateral and axial resolutions, enforcing a high numerical aperture (NA) objective lens to be employed, thereby limiting the FOV of an NLOM. The invention is directed to a laser scanning NLOM, or to a large-angle optical raster scanning system, for deep biological tissue imaging with a large FOV of more than one square millimeter, up to 1.6×1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Bhaskar Jyoti Borah
  • Publication number: 20210353207
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for detecting whether a subject having a target suffers from an Alzheimer's disease. The system includes a multi-harmonic generation microscope and a processor. The multi-harmonic generation microscope images the target by a second harmonic generation (SHG) and a third harmonic generation (THG) to respectively obtain an SHG image and a THG image. The processor couples to the multi-harmonic generation microscope and configures to add a first color to the SHG image and a second color to the THG image to respectively obtain a color-added SHG image and a color-added THG image, and combine the color-added SHG image and the color-added THG image to obtain a combined image, wherein the combined image is used to determine whether the subject suffers from the Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Sandeep Chakraborty
  • Publication number: 20210199423
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method for measuring the height of a skin basal cell, comprising the following steps: providing a non-invasive microscopy device for shooting a picture of at least one skin basal cell of skin to be tested, including a laser source for emitting laser light with pulsed laser and an image processing element for processing image signals; converging the laser light to the skin to be tested via the image processing element and obtaining 2D images; utilizing the image processing element to stack the 2D images; labelling the first appearing 2D image of the at least one basal cell as a first layer; labelling the just disappearing 2D image of the at least one basal cell as a last layer; and multiplying the stacking number of the stacking images between the first layer and the last layer with a preset distance between two stacking images via calculation, thereby obtaining the height of the at least one basal cell for assessing of a skin pigmentation patient to be cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Sheng-Tse Chen
  • Publication number: 20210173189
    Abstract: The field of view (FOV) of a nonlinear optical microscope (NLOM) is expected to be large enough for employing high-speed raster scanning on a mesoscale volumetric biological sample. Concurrently, three-dimensional (3D) visualization of fine sub-micron biological structures requires high enough lateral and axial resolutions, enforcing a high numerical aperture (NA) objective lens to be employed, thereby limiting the FOV of an NLOM. The invention is directed to a laser scanning NLOM, or to a large-angle optical raster scanning system, for deep biological tissue imaging with a large FOV of more than one square millimeter, up to 1.6×1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Bhaskar Jyoti Borah
  • Patent number: 9795340
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum-pump sucker for high-resolution microscopy comprising a sucker body and a transparent plate. The vacuum-pump sucker is designed as a stabilizer for sample stabilization in a clinical optical virtual biopsy system with sub-micron resolution. The sucker is connected with a vacuum pump. As the vacuum pump pumps out air or gas, tissues around the imaged area will be sucked by the sucker and the distance between objective lens and the imaged tissue can be stabilized. In this way, the stability and resolution of the clinical biopsy system can be greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Szu-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 9618445
    Abstract: The present application discloses optical microscopy systems and related method that use modulation techniques and contrast agents to enable the systems to detect nonlinear photoacoustic signals with high spectrum sensitivity and frequency selectivity for imaging. A laser beam is amplitude modulated for pure sinusoidal modulation using either the loss modulation technique or the single light amplitude modulation technique. The sample used in the invention is an endogenous contrast agent by itself or is treated by at least one exogenous contrast agent to produce or enhance photoacoustic effect induced by multi-photon absorption. The modulated laser beam is focused via a focusing device onto a sample which absorbs multiple photons simultaneously and generates ultrasonic (acoustic) waves via nonlinear photoacoustic effect. The ultrasonic waves are received and transformed into electrical signals and the frequency signals within the electrical signals are detected and recorded to create images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Yu-Hung Lai, Chieh-Feng Chang, Szu-Yu Lee
  • Publication number: 20160228048
    Abstract: A method of quantifying melanin includes receiving at a data processor optical data produced by an optical sensor which receives a light from a tissue; determining a set of intensity values based on the optical data; for each intensity value, converting the intensity value to a quantifying value corresponding to quantity of melanin in the tissue based on a two-dimensional non-linear regression with one variable representing the intensity value and another variable representing the quantity of melanin; collecting at the data processor each quantifying value; generating at the data processor melanin quantity distribution data according to the quantifying values; and outputting the melanin quantity distribution data to be presented on a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: CHI-KUANG SUN, WEI-MIN LIU
  • Patent number: 9384537
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer readable medium for processing an oversampled image is disclosed. Filters are applied to an oversampled image to obtain a filtered image. The image filters are Gabor filter, cosine filter, laplacian of Gaussian filter, and radial filter. The filtered image can be turned into a displayed image that is displayed. The displayed image can be a 3D image. The displayed image can be refreshed at a rate of about one frame per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Wei-Cheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20160063689
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer readable medium for processing an oversampled image is disclosed. Filters are applied to an oversampled image to obtain a filtered image. The image filters are Gabor filter, cosine filter, laplacian of Gaussian filter, and radial filter. The filtered image can be turned into a displayed image that is displayed. The displayed image can be can be a 3D image. The displayed image can be refreshed at a rate of about one frame per second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Wei-Cheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20150268200
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides solutions to probing an interface. With a noninvasive measuring device provided in one embodiment of the disclosure, an acoustic wave whose frequency is higher than approximately 300 GHz is generated to propagate in a buffering film. With measuring the reflection from the interface of an object to be measured interfacing with the buffering film, it is possible in one embodiment of the disclosure that at least one physical property of the interface may be analyzed, preferably with approximately 0.3 nm resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: CHI-KUANG SUN, CHIEN-CHENG CHEN, YU-CHIEH WEN
  • Publication number: 20150268199
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides solutions to probing an interface. With a noninvasive measuring device provided in one embodiment of the disclosure, an acoustic wave whose frequency is higher than approximately 300 GHz is generated to propagate in a buffering film. With measuring the reflection from the interface of an object to be measured interfacing with the buffering film, it is possible in one embodiment of the disclosure that at least one physical property of the interface may be analyzed, preferably with approximately 0.3 nm resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: CHI-KUANG SUN, CHIEN-CHENG CHEN, YU-CHIEH WEN
  • Publication number: 20150157253
    Abstract: A system for human age estimation based upon in vivo skin imaging includes a harmonic generation microscopy (HGM) device and an analysis device. The HGM device is configured for observing human skin and forming sectioned images of the human skin of second harmonic generation (SHG), third harmonic generation (THG), and combination of the SHG and the THG of an excitation light scanning the human skin. The analysis device is in communication with the HGM device and configured for processing the sectioned images to reveal relationships between the morphological features of the human skin and chronological age of a human being having the human skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang SUN, Yi-Hua LIAO
  • Publication number: 20150157254
    Abstract: A method for examining skin tissue of a subject based upon in vivo skin imaging includes a harmonic generation microscopy (HGM) device. The HGM device is configured for observing the skin tissue and forming sectioned images of the skin tissue of second harmonic generation (SHG), third harmonic generation (THG), or combination of the SHG and the THG of an excitation light scanning the skin tissue. The method further includes a step to determine whether the morphological feature of the skin tissue is related to a skin disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: CHI-KUANG SUN, YI-HUA LIAO, MING-RUNG TSAI
  • Publication number: 20150160120
    Abstract: The present application discloses optical microscopy systems and related method that use modulation techniques and contrast agents to enable the systems to detect nonlinear photoacoustic signals with high spectrum sensitivity and frequency selectivity for imaging. A laser beam is amplitude modulated for pure sinusoidal modulation using either the loss modulation technique or the single light amplitude modulation technique. The sample used in the invention is an endogenous contrast agent by itself or is treated by at least one exogenous contrast agent to produce or enhance photoacoustic effect induced by multi-photon absorption. The modulated laser beam is focused via a focusing device onto a sample which absorbs multiple photons simultaneously and generates ultrasonic (acoustic) waves via nonlinear photoacoutic effect. The ultrasonic waves are received and transformed into electrical signals and the frequency signals within the electrical signals are detected and recorded to create images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang SUN, Yu-Hung LAI, Chieh-Feng CHANG, Szu-Yu LEE
  • Patent number: 8941087
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plural third harmonic generation (THG) microscopic system and method. The system includes a laser device, a microscopic device, a beam splitter device and a photodetective device. By utilizing lasers with different central wavelengths or a broad band light source to simultaneously analyze THG response with respect to different wavelengths, a plurality of THG images and THG spectrum of the material or bio-tissue under stimulation of different wavelengths are obtained, thereby retrieving distributed microscopic images and resonant characteristics of the observational material or bio-molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Ming-Rung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140033821
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides solutions to probing an interface. With a noninvasive measuring device provided in one embodiment of the disclosure, an acoustic wave whose frequency is higher than approximately 300 GHz is generated to propagate in a buffering film. With measuring the reflection from the interface of an object to be measured interfacing with the buffering film, it is possible in one embodiment of the disclosure that at least one physical property of the interface may be analyzed, preferably with approximately 0.3 nm resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Chien-Cheng Chen, Yu-Chieh Wen
  • Publication number: 20130289370
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a blood glucose level of a subject using an electromagnetic wave. Because a different blood glucose level is accompanied by a different electromagnetic absorption constant, the present invention compares a detected blood glucose electromagnetic absorption constant of the subject with data in a blood glucose electromagnetic absorption constant database so as to obtain a blood glucose concentration of the subject. The present invention also provides a device for detecting a blood glucose level of the subject using the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Yuan-Fu Tsai, Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 8524445
    Abstract: The present invention discloses microwave resonant absorption (MRA) of viruses through dipolar coupling to viral confined acoustic modes. The unique geometrical and mechanical properties of viruses can be reflected by the MRA frequencies, MRA linewidth, and the absorption selection rules of high-order acoustic modes. Combined these spectral characteristics with the mature microwave technology, this invention provides a novel physical mechanism to develop non-affinity-based rapid detection and identification of viruses. It can be applied in preliminary characterization on unknown or mutant viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Tzu-Ming Liu, Hung-Pin Chen
  • Publication number: 20130001408
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plural third harmonic generation (THG) microscopic system and method. The system includes a laser device, a microscopic device, a beam splitter device and a photodetective device. By utilizing lasers with different central wavelengths or a broad band light source to simultaneously analyze THG response with respect to different wavelengths, a plurality of THG images and THG spectrum of the material or bio-tissue under stimulation of different wavelengths are obtained, thereby retrieving distributed microscopic images and resonant characteristics of the observational material or bio-molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Ming-Rung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120150042
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum-pump sucker for high-resolution microscopy comprising a sucker body and a transparent plate. The vacuum-pump sucker is designed as a stabilizer for sample stabilization in a clinical optical virtual biopsy system with sub-micron resolution. The sucker is connected with a vacuum pump. As the vacuum pump pumps out air or gas, tissues around the imaged area will be sucked by the sucker and the distance between objective lens and the imaged tissue can be stabilized. In this way, the stability and resolution of the clinical biopsy system can be greatly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Kuang Sun, Szu-Yu Chen