Virtual Reflected-Light Microscopy


Description

<p>&#160;</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>&#160;</p> <div><span style="font-size: 10pt">Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed novel techniques related to virtual reflected-light microscopy.&#160;The new application involves automated hardware and software to localize large numbers of microscopic specimens under a reflected-light microscope, capture images of each specimen under varying lighting conditions, construct a three-dimensional depth map of the specimen, and allow a user to later view the specimen in a virtual 3D representation while interactively changing the lighting conditions.</span></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div><span style="font-size: 10pt">Such an application is useful in situations where users want to share specimens remotely or where there are a vast number of specimens to analyze.&#160;An additional component is a module to accelerate taxonomic classification of specimens, particularly useful in biostratigraphy and micropaleontology (including the study of foraminifera and palynology).&#160;Microfossils are important in the study of ancient life forms and climate and, as such, are also important in the field of energy and mineral exploration by giving information on the type of deposit that is present in an area.&#160;Other possible fields of use include materials science, equipment failure analysis, forensics, and archaeology.&#160;Further information may be found in the <i>Journal of Microscopy</i> (<span style="font-family: Arial; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><a title="blocked::http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2011.03536.x/abstract" target="_blank" href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2011.03536.x/abstract"><font color="#800080">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2011.03536.x/abstract</font></a></span><span style="color: #222222">) and the innovation may be explored in a Java applet found at </span><a href="http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~imagesci/vrlm/"><font color="#800080">http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~imagesci/vrlm/</font></a>.</span></div>

Advantages

<ul> <li> <div><span style="font-size: larger">Accurate 3D shape estimation, allowing accurate virtual images for 3D viewing </span></div> </li> <li> <div><span style="font-size: larger">Works very well in noisy image conditions </span></div> </li> <li> <div><span style="font-size: larger">Interactivity allowing varying lighting conditions</span></div> </li> <li> <div><span style="font-size: larger">Automated hardware and network/Internet-based software, reducing time and manual labour in image capture and digital specimen archival</span></div> </li> <li> <div><span style="font-size: larger">Accelerates taxonomic classification, useful for energy exploration and other fields</span></div> </li> </ul>

Potential Markets

<p><span style="font-size: larger">The invention represents a valuable opportunity in enhancing microscopy and in the field of energy exploration.&#160;There are novel software techniques that are more broadly applicable as well, such as the classification module, useful for biological classification or other sorting applications, and the 3D mapping, which may be used in scenarios where there is high image noise or for sharing of digital representations of museum specimens.&#160;Potential partners include companies involved in microscopy, energy exploration (oil, gas, coal), biostratigraphy, and software.</span></p>

Protection Status

Patent Pending

Product Number

2010050

Contact Information

<div><span style="font-size: larger">Vicki Lui</span></div> <div>Phone: +1-780-492-0230</div> <div>Email:&#160;<a href="mailto:vicki.lui@tecedmonton.com">vicki.lui@tecedmonton.