High numerical aperture telemicroscopy apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9523845-B2
Application number	US-201514839023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Jan 2, 2008
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Fletcher Daniel
• Hansen Wendy
• Switz Neil
• Breslauer David N
• Douglas Erik
• Maamari Robi
• Lam Wilbur
• Dill Jesse

Classifications

• G02B21/0092

  Polarisation microscopes · CPC title

• G02B21/365

  Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes (G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B21/36

  arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes (G02B21/18 takes precedence){or digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements (image data processing per se G06T)} · CPC title

• G02B21/0008 Primary

  Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes · CPC title

• G01N21/8483

  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 title