Microscope Patents (Class 359/368)
  • Patent number: 10527493
    Abstract: A spectrophotometric device is disclosed having a plurality of spectral measurement bands including a single telescope and a single spectrophotometer. The plurality of spectral bands is obtained by placing pupillary separating prisms at an entrance pupil of the telescope, and by using spectral band selection filters. Such a device has a lower weight, smaller dimensions, and a lower price. In particular, it may be integrated into a satellite, in particular for a mission to characterize flows of carbon compounds that are produced on the Earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Frédéric Pasternak
  • Patent number: 10520715
    Abstract: The information budget of a light field microscope is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope, while keeping the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope unchanged. Alternatively, the information budget is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope by a first factor, while increasing the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope by a smaller, second factor. In some cases, an infinity-corrected light field microscope has an overall magnification that is greater than the nominal magnification of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moshe Ben Ezra, Edward Boyden, Christopher Rowlands, Young Gyu Yoon
  • Patent number: 10514534
    Abstract: The information budget of a light field microscope is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope, while keeping the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope unchanged. Alternatively, the information budget is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope by a first factor, while increasing the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope by a smaller, second factor. In some cases, an infinity-corrected light field microscope has an overall magnification that is greater than the nominal magnification of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moshe Ben Ezra, Edward Boyden, Christopher Rowlands, Young Gyu Yoon
  • Patent number: 10477097
    Abstract: Instruments, assemblies and methods are provided for undertaking imaging techniques (e.g., microscopic imaging techniques). The present disclosure provides improved imaging techniques, equipment and systems. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous microscopy/imaging assemblies with single-frame sample autofocusing using multi-LED illumination. The present disclosure provides for assemblies and methods for single-frame rapid sample autofocusing without a z-scan. Potential applications for the disclosed assemblies/methods include, without limitation, whole slide imaging, optical metrology, wafer inspection, DNA sequencing and other high-throughput imaging applications where the sample may need to be scanned over a large field of view. The assemblies/methods advantageously utilize multiple LEDs for sample illumination. A captured image includes multiple copies of the sample, and one can recover the distance between these copies. The distance is directly related to the defocus distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventor: Guoan Zheng
  • Patent number: 10473908
    Abstract: An optical observation device having an imaging optical system for forming an image of light from an object on a sample stage, a movement information retaining unit for retaining the movement information on the sequence of the movement to each relative position and a plurality of relative positions of the sample stage to the imaging optical system, a moving unit for moving the sample stage and allowing the stage to rest at each relative position, an imaging data acquisition unit for continuously acquiring the imaging data of observation images obtained by the imaging optical system at a time interval shorter than the time to move the stage to each relative position and the time of rest at each resting position, and a discrimination information providing unit for providing to the imaging data discrimination information for distinguishing whether the imaging data is imaged at a timing when the stage is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazumi Yokota
  • Patent number: 10466458
    Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged and fro modulating a phase of excitation light output from the light source for each of the plurality of pixels, a first objective lens, a second objective lens, a photodetector, and a control unit for controlling an amount of phase modulation for each of the plurality of pixels in accordance with a two-dimensional phase pattern corresponding to the plurality of pixels. The phase pattern is generated based on a predetermined basic phase pattern. The basic phase pattern includes a first region in which the phase value continuously increases in a predetermined direction and a second region in which the phase value continuously decreases in the direction and facing the first region in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Yuu Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 10451860
    Abstract: A microscope system as an optical microscope system for observing a specimen includes: an imaging optical system that forms an image of transmitted light or reflected light from the specimen; an illumination light source that illuminates illumination light on the specimen; an illumination optical system that has a first spatial light modulation element, which changes intensity distribution of the illumination light at a conjugate position of a pupil of the imaging optical system, and illuminates light, which is originated from the illumination light source, on the specimen; an image sensor that detects light through the imaging optical system; and a calculation section that calculates the intensity distribution of the illumination light appropriate for observation of the specimen on the basis of the intensity distribution of the illumination light formed by the first spatial light modulation element and output data detected by the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohki
  • Patent number: 10444486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rapidly identifying blank fields while capturing a plurality of color field images using a slide scanning microscope having a movable slide stage, a movable objective lens, and a digital video camera having a color digital image sensor that encodes RGB color data for each pixel in a field image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Microscopes International, LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Rainbolt, Jonathan C. Ward
  • Patent number: 10436409
    Abstract: In described examples of a headlamp to project a beam of light from a lens, the headlamp includes: an illumination module to output a light beam to an illumination path; and illumination optics to receive the light beam and to provide illumination to a programmable spatial light modulator. The programmable spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the illumination and to output non-uniform illumination as patterned light to projection optics. The projection optics are arranged to receive the patterned light and to output the patterned light through the lens. At least one of the illumination optics and the projection optics includes an anamorphic lens to shape the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikrant R. Bhakta, Alexander Lyubarsky
  • Patent number: 10438825
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing in-situ, selective spectral reflectometry (SSR) measurements of semiconductor structures disposed on a wafer are presented herein. Illumination light reflected from a wafer surface is spatially imaged. Signals from selected regions of the image are collected and spectrally analyzed, while other portions of the image are discarded. In some embodiments, a SSR includes a dynamic mirror array (DMA) disposed in the optical path at or near a field plane conjugate to the surface of the semiconductor wafer under measurement. The DMA selectively blocks the undesired portion of wafer image. In other embodiments, a SSR includes a hyperspectral imaging system including a plurality of spectrometers each configured to collect light from a spatially distinct area of a field image conjugate to the wafer surface. Selected spectral signals associated with desired regions of the wafer image are selected for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Prateek Jain, Daniel Wack, Kevin A. Peterlinz, Andrei V. Shchegrov, Shankar Krishnan
  • Patent number: 10429276
    Abstract: A sampling apparatus (100) employs a cell-positioning system to move a sample capture cell (138) relative to a specimen positioning system (124). The cell-positioning system may be controlled to move sample capture cell (138) opposite to movement of the specimen positioning system (124) to maintain alignment of the sample capture cell (138) with an optical path of a laser beam of a sample generator (108). Alternatively or additionally, the cell-positioning system may be controlled to move sample capture cell (138) in response to alignment deviation of a reference beam on a quadrant detector (404).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Robert Hilliard, Leif Christian Summerfield, Erik Barnholt Larsen
  • Patent number: 10422983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light microscope for examining microscopic objects with high throughput. The microscope comprises a light source for illuminating a measuring zone, a sample vessel, in which the microscopic objects can be successively moved into the measuring zone, and a detection device for measuring detection light, which originates from a microscopic object located in the measuring zone. According to the invention, the microscope is characterized in that the imaging means comprise a detection lens having a stationary front optics and movable focusing optics, wherein the focusing optics is arranged behind the front optics and in front of an intermediate image plane, and can be adjusted for the height adjustment of a detection plane. The invention further relates to a corresponding microscopy method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V., Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Jan Huisken, Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 10401258
    Abstract: A device for connecting to an optical cable having a set of optical fibers may include a microscope, an assembly to move the microscope in a continuous manner about an axis substantially parallel to a mating surface of the optical cable, and without moving the device, to bring one or more optical fibers, of the set of optical fibers, within a field of view of the microscope without moving the optical cable, and one or more processors. The device may receive an indication to perform a set of analyzes of the set of optical fibers of the optical cable. The device may perform the set of analyzes of the set of optical fibers by modifying a position of the microscope of the assembly of the device in a set of directions. The device may output a result of the set of analyzes for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Brace, Kevin Cassady
  • Patent number: 10379334
    Abstract: A light measurement device is a light measurement device for measuring light coming from a sample, and is provided with a moving-image acquisition part for acquiring moving image data, and an analysis processing part for performing analysis processing on moving image data. The analysis processing part includes: a luminance-value-data acquisition part for acquiring luminance value data indicating a chronological change in a luminance value; a luminance-value extraction part for extracting a peak value and a bottom value of the luminance value, from the luminance value data; and a pixel specifying part for calculating an evaluation value evaluating a state of a change in a luminance value on the basis of the peak value and the bottom value and specifying a target pixel that is to be analyzed from a plurality of pixels on the basis of a repeat state of the evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takuji Kataoka, Masanori Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10379493
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to produce a hologram of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation. An image capture assembly is configured to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the object from the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CELLOPTIC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Rosen, Gary Brooker
  • Patent number: 10365466
    Abstract: A method for microscopically imaging a volume sample includes focusing a microscope objective having a correcting element successively in at least two reference planes which are located within the volume sample at different volume sample depths along the optical axis of the microscope objective; determining, for each reference plane, a reference setting of the correcting element in which an imaging error which is dependent upon the volume sample depth is corrected by the correcting element; determining, on the basis of the reference settings determined for at least one target plane in the volume sample, a target setting for the correcting element in which the imaging error occurring at the volume sample depth of the target plane is corrected by the correcting element; and focusing the microscope objective on the target plane and bringing the correcting element into the target setting in order to image the volume sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Schumann, Andrea Muelter
  • Patent number: 10346973
    Abstract: A method of providing a prognosis in a cancer patient comprising analyzing a tumor image to calculate a metric of immune infiltration for the tumor, and a method of analyzing a tumor image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: THE INSTITUTE OF CANCER RESEARCH: ROYAL CANCER HOS
    Inventor: Yinyin Yuan
  • Patent number: 10340053
    Abstract: The radiation-irradiation device includes: a radiation generating unit that generates radiation; a collimator unit that controls an irradiation range to be irradiated with the radiation generated by the radiation generating unit; and an interval ensuring unit that includes a contact member being in contact with a subject to be irradiated with the radiation in a case in which a distance between the radiation generating unit and the subject is shorter than a preset distance, and ensures an interval between the radiation generating unit and the subject. The interval ensuring unit is detachably mounted on the collimator unit and is capable of being mounted at different rotational positions about an axis, which passes through a center of a diaphragm of the collimator unit and extends in the direction of an optical axis of the radiation, as a central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Misaki Kawahara, Koichi Kitano, Kenji Nakamura, Masaru Sato, Masayuki Iwasaka, Takeyasu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10310212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical microscope stand (100) encompassing: a first carriage (16) that is arranged on a first carrier arm (14) and is drivable by a first drive unit; and a second carriage (18) that is arranged on a second carrier arm (22) and is drivable by a second drive unit. The surgical microscope stand (100) further encompasses an operating region (34) within which at least one operating unit for manual application of control to the first and second drive units is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Marco Schutz
  • Patent number: 10302925
    Abstract: To provide a microscope including: an objective optical system that condenses light from a sample; a relay optical system that relays the light condensed by the objective optical system; a photodetector detects the light coming from the objective optical system and relayed by the relay optical system; and a variable-focus optical system disposed at a position between the photodetector and the objective optical system, the position being optically conjugate to a pupil of the objective optical system, the variable-focus optical system being capable of changing a focal position of the objective optical system in a direction along an objective optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakata, Kenichi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 10269097
    Abstract: A microscope (10) for generating a combined image (34; 54; 64) from multiple individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) of an object (30; 50; 60) encompasses at least one illumination device (22) for illuminating the object (30; 50; 60) from at least two different illumination directions (24a, 24b); an image acquisition unit (26) for acquiring multiple individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) of the object (30; 50; 60) illuminated from the at least two different illumination directions (24a, 24b); and an image combination unit (32) for combining the individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) in order to obtain the combined image (34; 54; 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Robert Paulus, Guenter Grabher
  • Patent number: 10264953
    Abstract: An exemplary optical device for stereoscopic imaging that includes an aperture unit. The aperture unite may be configured to adjust an aperture value of first and second aperture portions while maintaining a binocular disparity between a first alignment location of the first aperture portion and a second alignment location of the second aperture portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kosugi, Masahito Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10254105
    Abstract: An interferometric measuring machine includes an exchangeable lens module system for an optical probe. The probe includes a lens body containing the optical apparatus of an interferometer and a lens module containing an objective lens along an object arm of the interferometer that can be exchanged with other lens modules for varying the measuring characteristics of the probe. The lens modules are adapted to accommodate objective lenses having different focal lengths while maintaining a desired optical path length of the object arm of the interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Quality Vision International, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Kay
  • Patent number: 10241314
    Abstract: A microscope apparatus includes a monitoring optical system, an imaging unit capturing an image of an observation target through the monitoring optical system to generate a plurality of images, a correction unit disposed in the optical monitoring system and correcting various aberrations which occur due to an observation condition, and a decision unit deciding a correction amount of the correction unit based on the plurality of images generated by the imaging unit, whereby an image deterioration ascribable to the aberration occurring due to the observation condition in the microscope apparatus is appropriately and easily corrected according to a use condition of the microscope apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yumiko Ouchi, Takashi Kawahito
  • Patent number: 10234664
    Abstract: An image quality is improved although a medical stereomicroscope optical system and a medical observation apparatus are small and light. An objective optical system and a plurality of imaging optical systems are arranged in an order from an object side to an image side, and the imaging optical system has at least a single aspheric surface. Accordingly, a spherical aberration and a field curvature are improved, and the image quality is improved although the medical stereomicroscope optical system and a medical observation apparatus are small and light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Hatakeyama, Sota Miyatani, Masaki Tamura, Atsushi Oohata, Miki Sato
  • Patent number: 10234671
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope (10) that encompasses an objective system (30) and a zoom system (32). The microscope furthermore has a diaphragm (60) for limiting the aperture of the beam path. A control unit (64) is furthermore provided, that control unit (64) automatically ascertaining, as a function of the current manifestation of at least one parameter of the microscope (10), a respective setting of the diaphragm (60) predetermined for the current manifestation, and setting the diaphragm (60) accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Georg Schlaffer
  • Patent number: 10215998
    Abstract: An optical imaging system with microlens array with integral structure includes a microlens array having a back surface for depositing sample material to be imaged and one or more microlenses on a front surface. At least one of the one or more microlenses are aligned to the deposited sample material. A plate is attached to the microlens array. A microscope objective is positioned proximate to the plurality of microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sure Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Leonberger, Jeffrey Farmer, Zong-Long Liau
  • Patent number: 10209503
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fluorescence microscope light source apparatus and a fluorescence microscope capable of obtaining high-luminance light in a wavelength of 500 to 550 nm and having reduced background noise when a sample is observed. The fluorescence microscope light source apparatus to be installed in a fluorescence microscope including an illumination light bandpass filter includes: a laser diode that emits blue light as excitation light; a phosphor that converts the excitation light from the laser diode into illumination fluorescence with a wavelength region of 500 to 550 nm; an optical system that extracts the illumination fluorescence from the phosphor; a first condenser lens that condenses the excitation light onto the phosphor; a light guide body having one end face on which the illumination fluorescence is incident and the other end face from which the illumination fluorescence exits; and a second condenser lens that condenses the illumination fluorescence onto the one end face of the light guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryohei Takaki, Kiyoyuki Kabuki
  • Patent number: 10209500
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices and systems that apply full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to three-dimensional skin tissue imaging. A special designed Mirau type objective and an optical microscope module allowing both OCT mode and orthogonal polarization spectral imaging (OPSI) mode are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Sheng-Lung Huang, Tuan-Shu Ho, Chien-Chung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10197782
    Abstract: The light measurement device is provided with a moving-image acquisition part and an analysis processing part. The analysis processing part includes: a luminance-value-data acquisition part for acquiring the luminance value data; a luminance-value extraction part for extracting a peak value and a bottom value of the luminance value, from the luminance value data; a pixel extraction part for extracting a target pixel configuring an image of a predetermined cell from a plurality of pixels, on the basis of the evaluation value. The pixel extraction part extracts, as the evaluation value, the target pixel on the basis of at least one of an amplitude of the luminance value obtained from a difference between the peak value and the bottom value and a change ratio of the luminance value obtained from a ratio of the peak value relative to the bottom value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takuji Kataoka, Masanori Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10168353
    Abstract: An apparatus for investigating a sample surface is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a probe array comprising a substrate and a plurality of probe tips extending from the substrate, the probe tips comprising a transparent and deformable material and configured to contact the sample surface; an actuator configured to move the probe array towards the sample surface; a light source configured to illuminate the probe tips with an illumination through the substrate; and an image capture device arranged to detect a change in intensity of the illumination reflected from the probe tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fengwei Huo, Jin Wu
  • Patent number: 10152823
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for methods and systems for three-dimensional imaging of subject particles in media through use of dark-field microscopy. Some examples, among others, include a method for obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) volume image of a sample, a method for determining a 3D location of at least one subject particle within a sample, a method for determining at least one spatial correlation between a location of at least one subject particle and a location of at least one cell structure within a cell and/or other similar biological or nonbiological structure, a method of displaying a location of at least one subject particle, method for increasing the dynamic range of a 3D image acquired from samples containing weak and strong sources of light, and method for sharpening a 3D image in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CYTOVIVA, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Beach, Samuel M. Lawrence, Byron J. Cheatham, James L. Uertz, Robert P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 10151907
    Abstract: The present invention provides a full-color three-dimensional optical sectioning microscopic imaging system and method based on structured illumination, includes an illumination source, a dichroic prism positioned at the illumination optical path, a structured light generator positioned at the reflected optical path of the dichroic prism, a lens positioned at the transmitted optical path of the dichroic prism, a beam splitter positioned at the optical path of the lens, an objective lens and a sample stage positioned at the upper optical path of the beam splitter, a reflector mirror and a tube lens positioned at the lower optical path of the beam splitter and a CCD camera positioned behind the tube lens. The illumination source is an incoherent monochrome LED or a white light LED The structured light generator is a DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: XI'AN INSTITUTE OF OPTICS AND PRECISION MECHANICS OF CAS
    Inventors: Ming Lei, Baoli Yao, Jia Qian, Dan Dan, Xing Zhou, Yanlong Yang, Shaohui Yan, Junwei Min
  • Patent number: 10130513
    Abstract: The disclosure features systems for providing information to a user about the user's environment, the system featuring a detection apparatus configured to obtain image information about the environment, where the image information corresponds to information at multiple distances relative to a position of the user within the environment, and an electronic processor configured to obtain focal plane distance information defining a set of one or more distance values relative to the position of the user within the environment, construct one or more confocal images of the environment, from the image information and the set of one or more distance values, wherein each of the one or more confocal images corresponds to a different distance value and comprises a set of pixels, and transform the one or more confocal images to form one or more representative images comprising fewer pixels and a lower dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schepens Eye Research Institute
    Inventors: Eliezer Peli, Jae-Hyun Jung
  • Patent number: 10117579
    Abstract: A multimode fundus camera enables three-dimensional and/or spectral/polarization imaging of the interior of the eye to assist in improved diagnosis. In one aspect, the multimode fundus camera includes a first imaging subsystem, a filter module, and a second imaging subsystem. The first imaging subsystem is positionable in front of an eye to form an optical image of an interior of the eye. The filter module is positioned at a pupil plane of the first imaging subsystem or at a conjugate thereof. The second imaging subsystem include a microimaging array and a sensor array. The microimaging array is positioned at the image plane or a conjugate thereof, and the sensor array is positioned at the pupil plane or a conjugate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Gao, Lingfei Meng, Noah Bedard
  • Patent number: 10117489
    Abstract: A kit for illuminating the hair of a user, comprises: at least one light emitting diode emitting light at a wavelength, an optical fiber (26) coupled to the or each light emitting diode, a fastening element (22) to fasten the or each light emitting diode and/or the optical fiber to the hair of a user, The kit comprises a fluorescent material (30), the optical fiber (26) being configured to transmit the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode to the fluorescent material (30), the fluorescent material (30) being excited at the wavelength of the or each light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Steven Perkins, Xavier Schultze
  • Patent number: 10120180
    Abstract: The information budget of a light field microscope is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope, while keeping the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope unchanged. Alternatively, the information budget is increased by increasing the field of view and image circle diameter of the microscope by a first factor, while increasing the ratio of overall magnification of the microscope to the numerical aperture of the microscope by a smaller, second factor. In some cases, an infinity-corrected light field microscope has an overall magnification that is greater than the nominal magnification of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moshe Ben Ezra, Edward Boyden, Christopher Rowlands, Young Gyu Yoon
  • Patent number: 10070784
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are vitrectomy probes configured for use with optical coherence tomography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Oregon Health & Science University
    Inventors: David Huang, Yimin Wang, David Wilson, J. Timothy Stout, James Fujimoto, Chen Lu
  • Patent number: 10067059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for simultaneous fluorescence contrasting effect in transmitted light and reflected light, having a reflected light optical path for focusing of the excitation light via a lens onto a sample, having a fluorescence signal, which extends from the sample and is directed onto the same lens, having a dichroite, an emission filter, and a detection unit for the purpose of separating the excitation light from the fluorescence signal and for detection, having a luminescent layer behind the sample and a diaphragm for partial coverage of the excitation optical path between the sample and the luminescent layer, whereby a part of the excitation optical path, which impinges onto the luminescent layer, emits light, which irradiates the sample past the diaphragm by forming an oblique transmitted light illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Schön, Cornelia Bendlin
  • Patent number: 10061107
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for an optical scanning microscope and/or other appropriate imaging system includes components for scanning and collecting focused images of a tissue sample and/or other object disposed on a slide. The focusing system described herein provides for determining best focus for each snapshot as a snapshot is captured, which may be referred to as “on-the-fly focusing.” The devices and techniques provided herein lead to significant reductions in the time required for forming a digital image of an area in a pathology slide and provide for the creation of high quality digital images of a specimen at high throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Loney, Glenn Stark, Chris Todd, Bikash Sabata
  • Patent number: 10060825
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a wavelength-dependent optical characteristic of an optical system has a light-pattern generation device which generates a pattern of polychromatic light in an object plane. Together with the optical system, a measuring optical unit images the object plane on a spatially resolving light sensor. A dispersive optical element is arranged in a light path between the optical system and the light sensor in such a way that a plurality of images of the pattern with different wavelengths are generated simultaneously on the light sensor. The evaluation device determines the wavelength-dependent characteristic of the optical system from the plurality of images on the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TRIOPTICS GMBH
    Inventors: Aiko Ruprecht, Patrik Erichsen, Daniel Winters
  • Patent number: 10054776
    Abstract: An optical component for a microscope may include a low-autofluorescence substrate, or a substrate and a high-performance anti-reflective layer coating the substrate. An optical component may include a low-autofluorescence substrate and high-performance anti-reflective layer coating the low-autofluorescence substrate. The high-performance anti-reflective layer may be a low-autofluorescence high-performance anti-reflective layer. A microscope may include one or more such optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Steven J Boege
  • Patent number: 10036879
    Abstract: A microscope includes a condenser lens that is arranged removably and insertably with respect to a light path of light from a light source, and an objective that collects the light from the light source, which has been transmitted through a sample. A conditional expression below is satisfied when b is an exit pupil diameter of the objective and adet is a diameter of an area in a state in which the condenser lens has been removed from the light path, the area being included in an exit pupil plane of the objective and being an area through which the light from the light source, which has entered the objective through one point on the sample, passes: 1/20?adet/b?1/2 ??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bunryu Arashi
  • Patent number: 10028651
    Abstract: A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing, the electronic display configured to produce a two-dimensional image. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing. The medical apparatus can also include an auxiliary video camera configured to provide an oblique view of a patient on the electronic display without requiring a surgeon to adjust their viewing angle through oculars viewing the electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: CamPlex, Inc.
    Inventor: John Tesar
  • Patent number: 10025083
    Abstract: An adjustable dual-lens device for 3D stereoscopic surgical microscopes has an outer casing, an image set, and an adjusting set. The image set is mounted in the outer casing and has two lenses. The lenses are pivotally mounted in the outer casing at a spaced interval. The adjusting set is mounted in the outer casing and has two adjusting units. Each adjusting unit has a driving motor, a cam, and a limiting element. The driving motor is mounted in the outer casing adjacent to one of the lenses and has a driving shaft. The cam is eccentrically mounted around the driving shaft and is pressed against the lens that is adjacent to the driving motor. The limiting element is connected to the outer casing and the corresponding lens to enable the corresponding lens to press against the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Visionnaire Medtech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chou Ku, Kai-Che Liu, Kun-Wei Lin, Ivan Ku, Shih-Chi Chan, Tong-Wen Wang, I-Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 10018818
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus that may be used in various applications, such as medical diagnosis and conducting research. In one embodiment, the subject matter extends upon the principle of standing wave microscopy by improving the resolution of subject specimen images in all three dimensions, thus achieving near isotropic resolution improvement that allows full three dimensional imaging of the subject specimen beyond the optical resolution limits of the objective lens and without the complexity and cost associated with 4p microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PhotoNanoscopy Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas G. Nowatzyk
  • Patent number: 10018826
    Abstract: A microscope system includes: a stage for placing a sample and movable in a direction; a position detecting unit that detects the stage position; an imaging unit that captures an image of the sample; an image generating unit that combines the acquired image based on the detected position; a position searching unit that searches for the position of an image on the generated combined image as the stage position; a switching detecting unit that detects switching of an optical member; and a control unit that corrects, when switching is detected, the stage position based on a difference between the stage position detected by the position detecting unit and the stage position searched by the position searching unit so that the stage position detected by the position detecting unit coincides with the stage position searched by the position searching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 10001260
    Abstract: A flashlight device for observing an object in a conduit includes a plurality of lights disposed in a front end of an enclosure in a substantially annular configuration about a viewing aperture extending longitudinally through a central portion of the enclosure, and at least one battery for energizing the plurality of lights. The device allows the person via one hand to illuminate and simultaneously observe an object located at a distal portion of a conduit, while the opposite hand holds a tool that engages the distal object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Bradley W. Hoover
  • Patent number: 9995924
    Abstract: A three-dimensional position information acquiring method includes acquiring a first image of a first optical image, acquiring a second image of a second optical image, and performing a predetermined computation using data of the first image and data of the second image, wherein acquisition of the first image is performed based on light beams having passed through a first area, acquisition of the second image is performed based on light beams having passed through a second area, the position of the center of the first area and the position of the center of the second area are both away from the optical axis in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, the first area and the second area respectively include at least portions that do not overlap with each other, and three dimensional position information about an observed object is acquired by the predetermined computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 9989747
    Abstract: A dual-configuration microscope is provided that may be converted into an upright or inverted microscope. The microscope includes a base and a body having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the body is rotatably coupled to the base. The microscope further includes an objective coupled to the first portion of the body, a condenser coupled to the second portion of the body and a stage positioned between the objective and the condenser. The microscope further includes a first and second knob configured to adjust the position of the objective, wherein the first knob is disposed proximal to the first portion of the body and the second knob is disposed proximal to the second portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ECHO LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene L. Cho, Ryan P. Talbot, Gregory J. Gemmen, Eric R. Garcia