Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microscopic imaging system for three-dimensional imaging An optical system is provided for focusing illumination light generated by a light source to form a plurality of foci within an object. The optical system is further configured so that the foci, when seen relative to an optical axis of the optical system along which the illumination light is incident on the object, are mutually displaced from each other in an axial direction and mutually displaced from each other in a lateral direction. The optical system and/or a detector system are configured to compensate for the displacement along the axial direction so that for each of the foci, a light receiving portion of the detector system which receives a portion of the detection light is substantially located at a position which is optically conjugate to at least a portion of the respective focus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of a primary image sensor which is a time delay integration (TDI) sensor, and sampling a second number of pixels of an autofocus image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided based on an additional image sensor that is tilted with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of an image sensor and sampling a second number of pixels of the image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided using data from a single sensor based on sampling data along a tilt with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for microscopically imaging a sample, with a digital scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels and to a digital scanning microscope carrying out this method. It is notably provided a method for microscopically imaging a sample with a scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels in an XY coordinate system, the axis Y being substantially perpendicular to the scan direction, wherein the scanner is arranged such that the sensor can image an oblique cross section of the sample, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: • activating a first sub-array of the 2D array of pixels, the first sub-array extending mainly along the Y axis at a first X coordinate (X1), • creating a first image by imaging a first area of the sample by means of the first sub-array of pixels. According to aspects of the invention, it is further proposed a scanner carryout this method and using the same 2D array sensor for imaging and auto-focusing purpose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of a primary image sensor and sampling a second number of pixels of an autofocus image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided based on an additional image sensor that is tilted with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of a primary image sensor which is a time delay integration (TDI) sensor, and sampling a second number of pixels of an autofocus image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided based on an additional image sensor that is tilted with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of an image sensor and sampling a second number of pixels of the image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided using data from a single sensor based on sampling data along a tilt with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: A method of measuring a characteristic optionally a clinical characteristic of a cancer test cell sample comprising: characterizing nuclear organization of DNA of the test cell sample: obtaining DNA image data of the cancer test cell sample nuclei using microscopy, processing the image data using granulometry to obtain one or more data points corresponding to DNA occupied space and/or DNA low space; and quantifying a feature of the DNA occupied space and/or a feature of the DNA low space.

Abstract: A method of measuring a characteristic optionally a clinical characteristic of a cancer test cell sample comprising: characterizing nuclear organization of DNA of the test cell sample: obtaining DNA image data of the cancer test cell sample nuclei using microscopy, processing the image data using granulometry to obtain one or more data points corresponding to DNA occupied space and/or DNA low space; and quantifying a feature of the DNA occupied space and/or a feature of the DNA low space.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample fluid containing organic microobjects is proposed. The method comprises the steps of: up-concentrating (S1) the microobjects by removing, in a total time T1, a volume V1 of the sample fluid from the upconcentrate sample microobjects; immersing (S2) the microobjects in a transfer fluid, or leaving the microobjects in a remaining portion of the sample fluid, the remaining portion of the sample fluid then providing the transfer fluid; filtering (S3), in a total time T3, a volume V3 of the transfer fluid by a filter, thereby accumulating the microobjects on the filter; and generating (S4) an image of the microobjects accumulated on the filter; wherein the throughput V1/T1 of the step of up-concentrating (S1) is greater than the throughput V1/T1, of the step of filtering (S3). The filter may be a second filter, and the step of up-concentrating (S1) may involve: filtering the sample fluid by a first filter, thereby accumulating the microobjects on the first filter.

Abstract: A method for use in biology, histology, and pathology includes providing a digital first image of a first slice of an object having biological material; generating a digital second image of a second slice of the object; determining a region of interest in the second image based on a region of interest in the first image; determining a region of interest in the second slice based on the region of interest in the second image; and extracting material from the region of interest in the second slice.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a fluid of volume V includes a filter having a filter surface or area A, the filter being capable of allowing the fluid to flow through the filter surface. The fluid's volumetric flow density, averaged over the filter surface, is jmean. The apparatus further includes a scanner for scanning the filter surface with a scan rate B. The area A is optimized based on the volume V, the scan rate B and the volumetric flow density jmean to minimize the sum of filtering time and scanning time. Instead of one filter, at least two filters may be used each having a different area A. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for selecting one of the filters and placing the selected filter in an operating position, where the scanner scans the filter surface face of the selected filter.

Abstract: A method of determining a color transformation for images of biological material includes preparing a first set of biological test objects using a first preparation method, and preparing a second set of biological test objects using a second preparation method. Each test object in the second set of test objects corresponding to a counterpart test object in the first set of test objects, the test object and its counterpart being of the same biological type of material. For each test object in the first and second set of test objects, the color of the test object is determined thereby generating a first and second set of colors The method further includes generating a conversion table indicating a mapping between the colors in the first set of colors and the corresponding colors in the second set of colors. The first and second preparation methods include first and second staining methods, respectively.

Abstract: An optical beam shaper comprises a polarization-dependent phase adjustment member which applies a phase pattern of equal magnitude and opposite sign to two orthogonal polarization states. In a preferred embodiment the beamer shaper is a dif tractive element made of a birefringent material, such as a photo-polymerizable liquid crystal polymer frozen in a uniaxial alignment, said dif tractive element comprising a plurality of zones, each zone having a stepped thickness defining a plurality of steps. The beam shaper can be used to introduce astigmatism to a polarized light beam or to undo the astigmatism to a beam with an orthogonal polarization state. The beam shaper is advantageously used within a detection device, such as a fluorescence scanner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of a primary image sensor and sampling a second number of pixels of an autofocus image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided based on an additional image sensor that is tilted with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: An optical system for illuminating a sample with a line beam includes a light source, a beam shaper for transforming the beam of light emitted by the light source into an intermediate astigmatic image, and an imaging system for transforming the intermediate astigmatic image into a final astigmatic image and for illuminating the sample. The beam shaper provides different non-unity magnifications in a lateral plane and in a transversal plane, and comprises a toroidal entrance surface for implementing the angular magnification and angular reduction and a toroidal exit surface with finite radii of curvature.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for microscopically imaging a sample, with a digital scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels and to a digital scanning microscope carrying out this method. It is notably provided a method for microscopically imaging a sample with a scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels in an XY coordinate system, the axis Y being substantially perpendicular to the scan direction, wherein the scanner is arranged such that the sensor can image an oblique cross section of the sample, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: • activating a first sub-array of the 2D array of pixels, the first sub-array extending mainly along the Y axis at a first X coordinate (X1), • creating a first image by imaging a first area of the sample by means of the first sub-array of pixels. According to aspects of the invention, it is further proposed a scanner carryout this method and using the same 2D array sensor for imaging and auto-focusing purpose.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method for use in biology, histology, and pathology, comprises: providing a digital first image (44) of a first slice (12) of an object (10) comprising biological material; generating a digital second image (46) of a second slice (14) of the object; determining a region of interest (50) in the second image on the basis of a region of interest (48) in the first image; determining a region of interest in the second slice on the basis of the region of interest (50) in the second image; and extracting material from the region of interest in the second slice.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for detection of excitation (110) using a multiple spot arrangement (60), in which a multiple spot generator (50) is matched to the multiple spot arrangement (60) in such a way that light (100) entering the multiple spot generator (50) will be guided to defined areas on the multiple spot arrangement (60).

Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample fluid containing organic microobjects is proposed. The method comprises the steps of: up-concentrating (S1) the microobjects by removing, in a total time T1, a volume V1 of the sample fluid from the upconcentrate sample microobjects; immersing (S2) the microobjects in a transfer fluid, or leaving the microobjects in a remaining portion of the sample fluid, the remaining portion of the sample fluid then providing the transfer fluid; filtering (S3), in a total time T3, a volume V3 of the transfer fluid by a filter, thereby accumulating the microobjects on the filter; and generating (S4) an image of the microobjects accumulated on the filter; wherein the throughput V1/T1 of the step of up-concentrating (S1) is greater than the throughput V1/T1, of the step of filtering (S3). The filter may be a second filter, and the step of up-concentrating (S1) may involve: filtering the sample fluid by a first filter, thereby accumulating the microobjects on the first filter.