Imaging system and method for enhancing microscopic images of unstained cells

摘要

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to an imaging system 100 for enhancing microscopic images of unstained cells. The imaging system 100 comprises a light source 102 for producing light 120a, a sample holder 109 for containing cells to be imaged, a condenser 104 for focussing the light 120b at a focal plane within the sample holder 109 on the cells to be imaged, a translation mechanism for moving the focal plane of the light 120b relative to the sample holder 109 and a detector system 112 configured to acquire a plurality of images at respective focal planes within the sample holder 109 and process the plurality of images to provide an enhanced processed imaged.

主权项

1. An imaging system (100) for enhancing microscopic images of unstained cells, the imaging system (100) comprising:
a light source (102) for producing light (120a); a sample holder (109) for containing cells to be imaged; a condenser (104) for focussing the light (120b) at a focal plane within the sample holder (109) on the cells to be imaged; a translation mechanism for moving the focal plane of the light (120b) relative to the sample holder (109); and a detector system (112) configured to acquire a plurality of images at respective focal planes within the sample holder (109) and to process the plurality of images to provide an resultant enhanced image (Ur), wherein processing of the plurality of images comprises: applying a pixel-by-pixel minimisation operation to each of the plurality of images to identify a dark image (U1dark); applying a non-linear top-hat transform to the dark image (U1dark) to obtain an intermediate image (U2dark); and processing the intermediate image (U2dark) to produce the resultant enhanced image (Ur).