Patent Application
20220364041
This application claims benefit to European Patent Application No. EP 21174167.3, filed on May 17, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a controlling system for operating an examination system configured for microscopic examination of a sample, to such an examination system, to a method for microscopic examination, and to a method for operating an examination system.
In the field of microscopic examination of living samples like cells, it is of great interest to keep the sample as long as possible under favourable and stress-free environmental conditions. To this end, incubators can be used for generating a microclimate adapted to the sample to be examined. Incubators can be distinguished in stage top incubators, on the one hand, and cage incubators, on the other hand.
Cage incubators are, typically, mounted to a standard microscope, which can be an upright microscope or an inverted microscope, and comprise a large climatic chamber covering the main parts of the microscope, such as the objective revolver, the microscope stage including the sample carrier and a condenser, such that a large volume needs to be incubated. Access to the working area for placing or manipulating the sample is provided inside the cage incubator and can be reached through dedicated openings in the cage incubator walls. Due to these handling openings, the dimensions of the cage incubator are so large that it protrudes significantly beyond the microscope stand. Therefore, it is not possible to equip a microscope with a cage incubator in a space-saving manner. On the other hand, a stage top incubator provides a small volume to be incubated as the stage top incubator only encloses the sample itself and is placed onto the microscope stage. Even if a stage top incubator has minimum space requirements, access to the sample is minimal since the sample is surrounded by a sealed box, which has to be opened, thus, destroying the incubation atmosphere within the box. Access to the sample to introduce additional equipment for manipulation of the sample is difficult if not impossible due to the tight space restrictions of a stage top incubator module. While a cage incubator has a high energy and gas consumption, a stage top incubator provides a small closed incubated room including connected supply conduits for supplying the desired incubation atmosphere. On the other hand, the stage top incubator module is able to quickly equilibrate any disturbance of the incubation atmosphere (e.g. after opening the module) or reach the desired setup as the exchanged air volume per time of a cage incubator usually exceeds that of a stage top incubator.
A stage top incubator allows close control of the direct incubation environment surrounding the sample, the regulated volume being reduced to a minimum, which allows quick changes to the incubation environment. However, access to the sample itself is very limited and, hitherto, the stage top solution adds significant complexity and a high price to the customer system. On the other hand, the cage incubator allows easier access to the sample, but it is slow when it comes to changing environmental conditions or reaching a set point of a predefined incubation atmosphere.
When examining a sample using such microscope and incubator, different temperatures and other parameters have to be set by the user to specific values in order to achieve a desired sample temperature.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a controlling system for operating an examination system configured for microscopic examination of a sample. The examination system includes a microscope, an incubation environment conditioning unit connected to the microscope, and a user interface. The microscope includes: an illumination optics, a microscope stage, an imaging optics, a sample chamber configured to receive the sample, a microscope interface configured for connection of the incubation environment conditioning unit to the sample chamber, and an imaging optics chamber separated from the sample chamber and enclosing the imaging optics. The examination system provides an incubation mode in which the sample chamber is incubated by supplying an incubation atmosphere generated by the incubation environment conditioning unit. The controlling system is configured to receive a target setpoint of at least one examination parameter upon user input via the user interface, select, based on the received at least one target setpoint, predefined adjustment setpoints for at least one incubation environment parameter of the incubation mode and for at least one microscope parameter, and operate the incubation environment conditioning unit and the microscope based on the selected adjustment setpoints.
Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:
In view of the situation described above, there is a need for an improved incubation solution in microscopy. According to embodiments of the invention, a controlling system, an examination system, a method for microscopic examination and a method for operating an examination system with the features of the independent claims are proposed. Advantageous further developments form the subject matter of the dependent claims and of the subsequent description.
An embodiment of the invention relates to an examination system configured for microscopic examination of a sample, in particular a living sample like a cell. Note that examination of a sample also can comprise imaging of such sample. The examination system comprises a microscope, an incubation environment conditioning unit connected to said microscope, and a user interface. Such user interface preferably comprises at least one of a display and input devices. For example, the user interface can comprise or be a touch display. Further, such examination system comprises a controlling system for operating the examination system, which is also a subject of an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the controlling system and the examination system as well as the corresponding operating method will be described together.
Said microscope comprises illumination optics with, e.g., a light source and a condenser, a microscope stage (on which the sample is to be placed), and an imaging optics with, e.g., an objective and an imaging detector. Said microscope further comprises a sample chamber configured to receive the sample (preferably, the sample side of the microscope stage is part of such sample chamber), a microscope interface configured for connection of the incubation environment conditioning unit to the sample chamber, and an imaging optics chamber separated from the sample chamber and enclosing the imaging optics.
The examination system configured for microscopic examination further provides an incubation mode in which the sample chamber is incubated by supply of an incubation atmosphere generated by said incubation environment conditioning unit. This can comprise supplying specific gases or humidity into the sample chamber and heating the sample chamber. Said sample chamber might be a stage top chamber or a cage chamber as mentioned above. Preferably, said microscope is configured to provide both, a stage top chamber and a cage chamber, one of which a user can select to use when examining the sample. Further details of the specific kind of sample chambers will be provided later.
The inventors have recognized that setting and adjusting temperatures and other parameters of the incubator and the microscope is difficult and time consuming. In a perfectly balanced system, all components of the microscope surrounding the sample as well as the sample itself should be at a mutual setpoint of the temperature. That means the sample itself, the sample container, the objective and the air temperature above and below the sample plane need to be close to each other. Usually, therefore, a cage incubator also includes the objective and the objective revolver as well as the sample bottom side in the incubated volume as mentioned above. In addition, for use with a stage top incubator, there are multiple devices available to introduce and to control the exact temperature of the objective itself (e.g., silicone pads with integrated heating foils, wrapped around the objectives).
A cage incubator usually includes the components and the volume beneath the sample plane inside the incubated volume. However, this kind of setup has some drawbacks, as the inventors have recognized; it is (a) a very poorly ventilated area inside the incubator assembly with (b) no sensor to check temperatures around the objectives and (c) with no ability to change the air temperature in the substage compartment without changing the overall temperature setpoint of the system. These systems are fully system integrated and therefore (d) cannot compensate for introduction of warmth into the substage volume by electronic components of the microscope during operation or varying operation modes of the microscope.
A heating collar could be attached to the objectives itself; this can help to, partially, overcome the problem (c) mentioned before. However, such collar cannot be mounted to all types of objectives (e.g. motorized objectives) and it is solely under the control of the incubator, but not of the microscope. Air surrounding the microscope cannot be controlled with such a solution.
While in existing configurations, the microscope and the incubator are two standalone systems, the incubator may display current readouts in the microscope user interface and may receive setpoint commands from the microscope software, but each system is operating and controlling independently.
The controlling system of an embodiment of the invention, however, is configured to performing specific steps in order to operate the examination system. These steps comprise: receiving a target setpoint of at least one examination parameter like a temperature of the sample, upon user input via said user interface; and selecting, based on the received at least one target setpoint, predefined adjustment setpoints for at least one incubation environment parameter of the incubation mode like a temperature in the sample chamber or humidity and for at least one microscope parameter.
These predefined adjustment setpoints are preferably part of one or more datasets; for example, a dataset can have the form of a look-up table comprising target setpoints of the examination parameter being correlated to specific adjustment setpoints of at least one of the incubation environment and microscope parameters. Such specific correlations might be obtained from tests and/or simulations and, preferably, represent optimum examination conditions for the sample. Different datasets or look-up tables can be used for different incubation environment and/or microscope parameters. In other words, the adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters and the microscope parameters are selected from one or more datasets, each dataset comprising adjustment setpoints of one or more of at least one of the incubation environment parameters and the microscope parameters, correlated to target setpoints of the sample temperature.
Further, the controlling system is configured to operating the incubation environment conditioning unit and the microscope based on the selected (predefined) adjustment setpoints. This, for example, comprises operating a heater and a pump in the incubation environment conditioning unit and a fan in the microscope such that the selected adjustment setpoints are reached; this typically requires some time after starting the operation upon the user input and requires measurement of current values of these parameters and feedback for closed-loop control.
An idea of an embodiment of the present invention is to integrate a microscope and incubation solution by implementing feedback control between the two systems. One click for the user in the user interface (this might be correlated with a microscope software), setting, for example, the desired temperature of the sample, can change multiple parameters in parallel in the incubator and in the microscope. Thereby, both systems work together synergistically to bring the entire examination system with objective, sample, sample chamber and substage volume (imaging optic chamber) temperatures to a perfect balance.
In particular, changing the target setpoint for the temperature of the sample by the user will force the incubator and the microscope to make use of various parameter datasets or look-up tables, which contain predefined adjustment setpoints of parameters, which preferably have been verified by integration testing before.
As mentioned above, a preferred examination parameter for which the user can set the target setpoint, is the temperature of the sample. Nevertheless, target setpoints for one or more other or additional examination parameters can, preferably, be set via user input and the user interface. These parameters can include carbon dioxide concentration in the sample chamber, and oxygen concentration in the sample chamber. Depending on the specific sample and/or the specific examination procedure to be performed, target setpoints for such examination parameters can be used (if provided by the incubation environment conditioning unit). Note that a further parameter of particular relevance for such sample examination can be (relative) humidity (concentration of water in the air or atmosphere) in the sample chamber. Choosing a target setpoint for this parameter is not an easy task for the user since there is a strong dependence on other parameters, which can result in too high humidity and cause condensation or evaporation of the sample in the chamber . . . . Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the appropriate humidity as an incubation environment parameter is automatically provided by the incubation environment conditioning unit in dependency on an (adjustment) setpoint or value of one or more of the temperatures, which has already been selected by the user or from the dataset). Nevertheless, switching on and off humidity can be provided, i.e., a user can choose whether or not to provide controlled levels of relative humidity in the sample chamber at all.
Preferably, the at least one incubation environment parameter comprises at least one of the group of temperature in the sample chamber, and humidity in the sample chamber. The temperature in the sample chamber, in particular, relates to the temperature of the air or atmosphere in the sample chamber. Further, the incubation environment carbon dioxide concentration in the sample chamber, and/or oxygen concentration in the sample chamber can be used. Note that the latter ones can be used either as examination parameters or as incubation environment parameters.
As mentioned earlier, also an adjustment setpoint for at least one microscope parameter is selected. Such at least one microscope parameter comprises, in particular, an operation speed of a fan of the microscope, which fan is configured to ventilate the imaging optics chamber. Note that operation speed of the fan can also include no operation of the fan (speed zero). Depending on the fan, there might be only the choice between zero and a specific operation speed; or the operation speed may have different values to be set or may be set continuously within a certain range. Alternatively or additionally, such microscope parameters can comprise at least one of the group of a temperature in the imaging optics chamber (i.e., the temperature of the air or atmosphere in the imaging optics chamber), and a temperature of the imaging optics. Such fan typically influences both temperatures. These temperatures, in turn, have influence on the sample temperature, in particular, if the sample stage is arranged near the imaging optics or an objective being heated from electronics. A further microscope parameter can be the sample temperature; it is correlated to the temperature of an immersion medium, if used, and the temperature of the immersion medium has an effect on the diffraction index. This diffraction index, in turn, might be used to adapt the imaging optics.
To sum up, these adjustment setpoints include, in particular, setpoints for incubator ambient air temperature in cage or stage top mode, as well as dedicated humidity setpoint values. The later values, in particular, ensure that at every temperature setpoint, neither condensation nor evaporation of the sample or inside the sample chamber occurs. This is, why humidity should not be used as an examination parameter for which the user can choose the target setpoint, but humidity shall be set automatically according to predefined adjustment setpoints or values as mentioned. A separate dataset or look-up table can be used for the temperature in the sample chamber and for the humidity.
In addition, a further dataset or look-up table can ensure variable use of the heat generated by the microscope electronic components to push the temperature of the objective and the substage volume (in the imaging optics chamber) close to the temperature of the sample. Further, such datasets can also be of other types than look-up tables; for example, characteristic lines, curves, or functions can be used
For example, when zebra fish (typical target setpoint for the temperature in the sample: 28° C.) or yeast (30° C.) are imaged with the examination system, the fan or fan assembly introduces air from the surrounding room into the imaging optics chamber and warm air is sucked out of the system. The electronic heat is thereby drained from the objectives and the objectives equilibrate quite close to the sample temperatures. This procedure is applied, for example, from room temperature up to a verified temperature limit in the sample that assures that the temperature of the objective, the air temperature above and below the stage as well as the sample temperature show deviations as small as possible. Thereby, the objective temperature closely follows the sample temperature in this range.
However, if performing experiments with the examination system at temperatures higher than the aforementioned temperature limit, such as cell culture experiments (at 37° C., for example), operation of the fan or fan assembly is stopped, allowing the electronic components to introduce additional heat to the objective. This again pushes the temperature of the objectives close to the higher temperature of the sample. This procedure is applied, for example, between room temperature and 45° C.
Advantageously, the controlling system is further configured to: determining when at least one of: the at least one examination parameter, the at least one incubation environment parameter, and the at least one microscope parameter have reached values within a predetermined range around the respective selected adjustment setpoint or have reached the value of the selected adjustment setpoint; and indicating to the user, via said user interface, that the examination system is ready for examination. Indicating to the user can comprise displaying corresponding text on a display, activating a (real or virtual) lamp (like switching from red to green) or the like. In addition, playing a sound is an option. This allows a user to do anything else while waiting for the examination system to be ready for use and examination of the sample.
A further preferred way of operating the incubation environment conditioning unit and the microscope based on the selected adjustment setpoints is when the controlling system is configured to determining whether at least one of the temperature of the sample, the temperature in the sample chamber, the temperature in the imaging optics chamber, and the temperature of the imaging optics have reached a respective predefined value. The respective predefined value can be either the value defined by the respective target setpoint or selected adjustment setpoint, or a value within a range around the respective target setpoint or selected adjustment setpoint (in the sense of a threshold).
Note that each of the mentioned temperatures is either an examination parameter, an incubation environment parameter or a microscope parameter. Nevertheless, each of these temperatures has impact on the temperature of the sample and in the sample chamber and what the maximum value of humidity (or concentration of water in the atmosphere) in the sample chamber is. The higher the temperature in the sample chamber, for example, the higher the maximum value (saturation) of humidity (or relative humidity) is. In addition, said temperatures typically influence evaporation of water in the sample.
Operating the incubation environment conditioning unit to control the humidity in the sample chamber is started after the respective temperatures have reached the respective predetermined values. Thus, condensation of water at the sample or anywhere else in the sample chamber at starting time, when the temperatures are low, can be prevented. In addition, undesired evaporation of water can be prevented. It is not necessary to wait with controlling humidity until the target or selected adjustment setpoints have been reached; rather, controlling humidity might be started before that because increasing humidity also will take some time. The specific range around the setpoints (threshold) may be determined individually for individual situations.
As mentioned above, the examination system combines two sub systems, an incubation environment conditioning unit and a microscope. Typically, each of these two sub systems has its own control unit or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the controlling system comprises a microscope control unit (typically, comprising a processor) configured to operating the microscope based on the selected adjustment setpoints for the microscope parameters, and at least one incubation control unit (typically, comprising a processor) configured to supplying the incubation atmosphere based on the selected adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters. This means that both control units together form the controlling system and, basically, allows each control unit to take care of its respective parameters, including receiving the target setpoint and selecting the respective adjustment parameters. For example, the microscope control unit comprises at least one dataset for the microscope parameters with respective adjustment setpoints, and the incubation control unit comprises at least one dataset for the incubation environment parameters with respective adjustment setpoints. In a preferred embodiment, selecting the predefined adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters can take place in the incubation control unit and selecting the predefined adjustment setpoints for the microscope parameters can take place in the microscope control unit. Receiving the target setpoint of the at least one examination parameter from said user interface can take place in the microscope control unit (or also in the incubation environment control unit).
However, in another preferred embodiment, said microscope control unit is further configured to: receiving the target setpoint of the at least one examination parameter from said user interface; selecting the predefined adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters and the microscope parameters; and transmitting the selected adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters to said incubation control unit. The microscope control unit is used for operating or running any necessary software for dealing with the user input and selecting the appropriate adjustment setpoints for all parameters, based on the datasets. This also means that the datasets are, preferably, provided at the microscope control unit, e.g., in a memory of the control unit. The incubation control unit only receives relevant setpoints for the incubation environment parameters and does not have to deal with any specific determining or selection processes. Note that the at least one incubation control unit does not necessarily need to be part of the controlling system.
The examination system is, preferably, configured to displaying to a user, via said user interface, current values of the at least one examination parameter like the sample temperature, and of the at least one incubation environment parameter. This provides an overview of the current process situation to the user. In addition, a current value of the microscope parameter (e.g., fan on or off) can be displayed, if required.
Advantageously, the examination system further comprises an atmosphere regulation module for controlling the at least one incubation environment parameter in the incubation mode. Such atmosphere regulation module can be connected to the controlling system or the incubation control unit. This allows further regulating or fine-tuning of the incubation atmosphere. To this end, sensors may be provided in the atmosphere regulation module or at least sensor signals may be provided to the atmosphere regulation module, the sensors signals representing values of the at least one incubation environment parameter. If an actual value of such a parameter deviates from the setpoint of this parameter, the atmosphere regulation module can regulate/readjust the respective parameter.
To this purpose, it is advantageous if the atmosphere regulation module is in communication with the incubation control unit and/or a pump control unit for the incubation mode. In this embodiment, if the temperature or humidity of the incubation atmosphere deviates from the corresponding setpoints, the atmosphere regulation module can send a request to the corresponding (pump) control unit for regulating/readjusting the temperature or humidity to the correct setpoints. On the other hand, the atmosphere regulation module can be provided with corresponding means for such a regulation/readjustment. For example, the atmosphere regulation module may comprise at least one of a heater/cooler, and a humidifier for regulating temperature and/or humidity of the incubation atmosphere on its own without communication with the corresponding (pump) control unit, once the adjustment setpoint has been provided.
As already pointed out, in a preferred embodiment, the examination system is configured to providing or supplying incubation atmosphere to two different kind of sample chambers. To this end, said microscope further comprises a microscope housing enclosing the illumination optics, the microscope stage and the imaging optics. Further, said microscope comprises an integrated sample chamber located within the microscope housing and formed by a separated housing section within said microscope housing. The imaging optics chamber is located within said microscope housing and separated from the sample chamber. A first type of sample chamber is a sample chamber integrated into the microscope housing. This type of sample chamber is also called a cage chamber like in a cage incubator providing a sample chamber.
A second type of sample chamber is one to be placed within said integrated sample chamber. This second type of sample chamber is also called a stage top chamber like in stage top incubator providing a sample chamber. Further, said housing section comprises said microscope interface configured for connection of the incubation environment conditioning unit to the integrated sample chamber and/or the stage top sample chamber to be placed within said integrated sample chamber. Note that such second type of sample chamber typically, is not fixed to the microscope or the integrated sample chamber, but can be placed therein upon requirements.
In such configuration, the examination system provides an individual incubation mode for each sample chamber. In particular, the examination system provides a first incubation mode and a second incubation mode, wherein, in the first incubation mode, the integrated sample chamber is incubated by supply of a first incubation atmosphere by said incubation environment conditioning unit, and, in the second incubation mode, the stage top chamber is incubated by supply of a second incubation atmosphere by said incubation environment conditioning unit. Further, the controlling system is configured to: operating the incubation environment conditioning unit and the microscope based on the selected adjustment setpoints for a selected one of the first incubation mode and the second incubation mode. Note that this may require different datasets for the two incubation modes, which datasets correlate adjustment setpoints of one or more incubation environment parameters and/or microscope parameters correlated to target setpoints of the at least one examination parameter.
This provides a customer with two incubation solutions realised in the same examination system. In the first incubation mode, the incubated volume is reduced to the volume of the separated housing section within the microscope housing, which is designed specifically to the needs of the respective microscope and intended applications so that the inside volume is already decreased to a minimum. The sample chamber allows for sufficient space to perform all necessary sample manipulations requested by the application and leaves enough space for additional necessary equipment. Still the system enables a user to make use of a stage top incubator without changing to another system. This preferred embodiment combines a stage top and a sample chamber incubator in one single system, shares common components, and realizes reproducible incubation conditions with respect to temperature homogeneity, heat up phases, etc. For both types of sample chambers or incubation modes, the one-click solution for setting different parameters is available.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a method for microscopic examination of a sample by means of an examination system as explained above is provided. Such method comprises the following steps: providing a sample in the sample chamber (depending on the kind of examination system, this may include choosing one two different sample chambers); providing the target setpoint of the at least one examination parameter, upon user input via said user interface; and examining the sample by means of the microscope after defined threshold values of the predefined adjustment setpoints for the at least one incubation environment parameter of the incubation mode and for the at least one microscope parameter have been reached. These defined threshold values can correspond to the values as set with the adjustment setpoints or may differ slightly. In this regard, it is also referred to the remarks above, dealing with indicating when the examination system is ready for examination.
The adjustment setpoints for the incubation environment parameters and the microscope parameters, in particular, are selected from one or more datasets, each dataset comprising adjustment setpoints of one or more incubation environment parameters and/or microscope parameters correlated to target setpoints of the at least one examination parameter.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a method of operating an examination system configured for microscopic examination of a sample is provided; the examination system comprising a microscope, an incubation environment conditioning unit connected to said microscope, and a user interface. Said microscope comprises: an illumination optics, a microscope stage, an imaging optics, a sample chamber configured to receive the sample, a microscope interface configured for connection of the incubation environment conditioning unit to the sample chamber, and an imaging optics chamber separated from the sample chamber and enclosing the imaging optics. Further, said examination system provides an incubation mode in which the sample chamber is incubated by supply of an incubation atmosphere generated by said incubation environment conditioning unit.
The method comprises the following steps: receiving a target setpoint of at least one examination parameter, preferably comprising at least a target temperature of the sample, upon user input via said user interface; selecting, based on the received target setpoint of the at least one examination parameter, predefined adjustment setpoints for at least one incubation environment parameter of the incubation mode and for at least one microscope parameter; and operating the incubation environment conditioning unit and the microscope based on the selected adjustment setpoints. For further preferred embodiments of the examination system, it is referred to the remarks above, which apply here correspondingly.
For any further details, preferred embodiments and advantage of the methods, it is also referred to the remarks above, which include also method aspects and apply here correspondingly.
An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a computer program with a program code for performing a method according to an embodiment of the invention when the computer program is run on one or more processors or on a controlling system according to an embodiment of the invention.
Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the appended figures.
It should be noted that the previously mentioned features and the features to be further described in the following are usable not only in the respectively indicated combination, but also in further combinations or taken alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The controlling system 140 comprises a microscope control unit 214, an incubation control unit 212 and, for example, a PC 146; the PC is connected with the user interface. Note that the functionality of the PC can also be integrated into the microscope control unit 214, for example. The user interface means can, alternatively, comprise a touch screen, for example.
The microscope 100 is used for microscopic examination of the sample 120 arranged on a microscope stage 116. A microscope housing 102 encloses an illumination optics 118, the microscope stage 116 and an imaging optics 124. An integrated sample chamber 106 is located within the microscope housing 102 and formed by a separated housing section 104 within said microscope housing 102. The housing section 104 comprises a hinged lid 109, which provides direct access to the microscope stage 116 for placing the sample 120 in the sample chamber 106 onto the microscope stage 116 and for exchanging samples 120 and/or manipulating samples 120 when the lid is opened.
The embodiment shown in
The construction of the microscope housing section 104 allows—after closing the lid 109—to form a dedicated sample chamber 106, which constitutes a preferably sealed space which can be incubated such that during microscopic examination/imaging of living samples 120 like cells, the sample can be kept under favorable and stress-free environmental conditions. To this end, the housing section 104 comprises an interface 108 for connection of the external incubation environment conditioning unit 110 to the sample chamber 106. The interface 108 is configured to provide a connection between the incubation conditioning unit 110 and the sample chamber 106, such that environmental conditions in the sample chamber 106 can be controlled when the conditioning unit 110 is connected to the interface 108. This configuration implements the first incubation mode (“sample chamber incubation”).
In the embodiment shown, the interface 108 as a part of the housing section 104 comprises two openings 112 in the backside of the housing section 104, each opening 112 being configured to receive a conduit 114. Incubation atmosphere can be introduced through at least one of the conduits 114 into the sample chamber 106. Depending on the leakage of the sample chamber 106, a part of the incubation atmosphere is allowed to escape the sample chamber 106. On the other hand, a part of the incubation atmosphere can be withdrawn from the sample chamber 106 via another one of the conduits 114.
Suitable incubation atmospheres comprise, e.g., air with a predefined content of H2O (water or water vapor, relative humidity) and a predefined content of CO2 (carbon dioxide). It is also desirable to conduct hypoxia experiments with a deficiency of oxygen in the atmosphere. For further details about specific parameters and suitable or preferred ranges, please refer to the description of the following Figs.
Note that controlling the relevant parameters (incubation environment parameters like temperature of the sample chamber, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration; microscope parameters like fan speed) will be performed automatedly by means of the controlling system 140, with, for example, a target setpoint for the temperature of the sample as an examination parameter being set by a user.
In order to control the above parameters, it is preferred to arrange sensors in or at at least one of the conduits 114, of the sample chamber 106, and of the microscope stage 116 close to the sample 120. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the sensors are integrated into a conduit 114 for supplying incubation atmosphere to the sample chamber 106.
As shown in
For increasing the live span of the imaging optics 124 and in case of using immersion objectives, for example, air condition and/or temperature-control for the imaging optics chamber 122 is provided. To this end, a fan 126 for ventilating the imaging optics chamber 122 is provided, which can be operated or controlled by the controlling system 140 or, in particular, a the microscope control unit 214 as a part thereof.
Said microscope control unit 214 further controls functional components like the illumination optics 118, the microscope stage 116 and the imaging optics 124 of the microscope 100 for controlling the microscopic examination/imaging of the sample 120. Typically, the user interface 142 provides graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the display screen for a user-friendly operation of the microscope 100.
The controlling system 140 is further configured to control the operation of the incubation environment conditioning unit 110 when the conditioning unit 110 is connected to the interface 108, in particular, via the incubation control unit 212 provided for such purposes. Cables and lines for communication between the PC 146 and/or the microscope control unit 214 and the incubation control unit 212 can be guided through one or more of the above openings/conduits of the interface 108.
As shown in
The above-mentioned sensors for detecting one or more of the incubation atmosphere parameters are preferably arranged in the sample chamber 106, particularly in or at the atmosphere regulation module 216. The atmosphere regulation module 216 is connected to the incubation environment conditioning unit 110 via a communication line. In that way, depending on the sensor signals, which correspond to the parameter values, the first atmosphere regulation module 216 together with the incubation control unit 212 can provide a feedback control to set the first group of parameters of the first incubation atmosphere to a desired setpoint. This process will be further described in connection with the following Figs.
In addition, a stage top sample chamber 206 is indicated by dashed lines. Such stage top (or tabletop) sample chamber is to be placed within the integrated sample chamber 106; a connection to an opening 112 and/or a conduit 114 can also be established in order to provide the respective incubation environment in that smaller stage top sample chamber 206. The user can select which sample chamber to use, wherein using the tabletop sample chamber 206 requires placing it in the integrated sample chamber 106.
The left side of
Further, the user interface 142 displays a symbol for (relative) humidity RH in the sample chamber. Humidity is not an examination parameter but an incubation parameter, which is automatedly set. The user is not able to change any setpoint for it. Thus, only a current value might be displayed; also, an option might be to allow switching on and off the use of humidity (water in the sample chamber) at all. Further, the user interface 142 displays a colored symbol 144, representing a (virtual) lamp. Such lamp might switch from red to green when the examination can start, for example. This will be explained in more detail later.
The right side of
In a first step, S1, a user can set a target setpoint TS** for the temperature TS of the sample via the user interface, as described with respect to
In a further step, S2, the controlling system selects, based on the received target setpoint TS**, a predefined adjustment setpoint RH* for the (relative) humidity RH in the sample chamber, and a predefined adjustment setpoint Tch* for the temperature Tch of the sample chamber. These two parameters are incubation environment parameters as they refer to the sample chamber 106, in which the incubation environment is provided, Further, a predefined adjustment setpoint v* for the operating speed v of the fan 226 in the imaging optics chamber is selected. This parameter is a microscope parameter as it refers to components of the microscope and the corresponding imaging optics chamber 122, in which the fan is arranged. The way of how to select such adjustment setpoints based on the target setpoint will be described below with respect to
Then, in a further step, S3, the incubation environment conditioning unit 110 and the microscope 100 are operated, by means of the controlling system or the microscope control unit 214 and/or the incubation control unit 216, respectively, such that the three parameters RH, Tch and v will arrive at the respective adjustment setpoints RH*, Tch* and v* selected before.
In the imaging optics chamber 122, this means that a temperature Tsub in the imaging optics chamber and a temperature Tobj of the imaging optics (comprising an objective) will change due to heat generated by operation of the imaging optics (including, e.g., an imaging detector and a motor for the motorized objective and other electronic components). Depending on the operating speed v of the fan, the heat generated by the electronic components will have more or less impact; please refer to
Note that controlling these parameters in order to achieve the respective adjustment setpoint, typically comprises measuring (or in another way determining) the current values of these parameters repeatedly, feed these current values back to the controlling system, and changing actuating variables, if necessary. Note that this can be performed by means of typical closed-loop control. The atmosphere regulation module 216 and the sensors mentioned above might be used in this regard.
After some time, the adjustment setpoints will have been reached and, thus, also the target setpoint TS** for the temperature of the sample will have been reached, as shown with step S5.
The left side of
Next, the way of how to select adjustment setpoints based on a target setpoint will be described. As mentioned above, a user can choose a desired temperature of the sample as target setpoint TS**. In the specific dataset 300 shown, the corresponding adjustment setpoints RH*, Tch* and v* are found by drawing a vertical line through the point in which the line of TS crosses the target setpoint TS**. The adjustment setpoints RH*, Tch* and v* found in this way will then be selected, and the system is operated based on them.
Note that the graphical illustration of dataset 300 is mainly a preferred way to illustrate the correlations between the different parameters and their setpoints. A typical way of how to implement such dataset in a controlling system can be, for example, as a plurality of sets of values, each set comprising one value for each parameter. This allows, for example, choosing the set in which the value of the temperature of the sample matches the given target setpoint.
The left side of
As can be seen in the diagram, the humidity RH decreases with the start of operation. The reason is that changing or controlling humidity RH is not started together with the other parameters. Rather, humidity is not changed actively at the beginning. However, due to the increase of the temperature Tch in the sample chamber, humidity decreases slightly. The reason as to why humidity is not actively increased from the beginning is that water might condensate at the sample or other components in the sample chamber if the humidity was increased too high with low temperatures around. At low temperatures, maximum relative humidity in air is lower than at higher temperatures.
At time t1, also indicated with a filled star symbol, the temperature Tch in the sample chamber has reached a (threshold) value Tch′, which is considered high enough that increasing humidity RH would not lead to condensation. Thus, the controlling system starts operating the incubation environment conditioning unit 110 such that humidity RH is increased in order to achieve the selected adjustment setpoint RH*.
At time t2, also indicated with an empty star symbol, the temperature Tch in the sample chamber has reached the selected adjustment setpoint Tch*, and humidity RH has reached a value RH′ slightly below the respective selected adjustment setpoint RH*. These conditions are, by means of example, considered sufficient for starting examination of the sample as the temperature of the sample has reached the target setpoint. This is indicated to the user via user interface 142 in that, for example, the symbol 144 (virtual lamp) changes its color from red to green.
Note that, depending on the circumstances, the time for indicating that the examination system is ready for examination, can also be set to a time at which also humidity RH has reached the selected adjustment setpoint. In addition, other parameters can be included.
Note that, depending on the functionality of the fan, different operating speeds may be used for different target setpoints for the temperature of the sample. However, also a simple fan with only on and off mode can be used.
To sum up, an idea of an embodiment of the present invention is to integrate microscope and incubation solution by implementing feedback control between the two systems. It provides a one-click solution for the user and, e.g., the microscope software changes multiple parameters in parallel in the incubator and the microscope. Thereby, both systems work together synergistically to bring objective, sample, sample chamber and imaging optics chamber (substage volume) temperatures to a perfect balance. In particular, the user does not have to take care about any other than the examination parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the only value the user has to provide is the desired sample temperature. Any remaining parameters will automatically be set to optimal values.
As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.
Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, where a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus.
Some embodiments relate to a microscope comprising a system as described in connection with one or more of the
The computer system 140 may be a local computer device (e.g. personal computer, laptop, tablet computer or mobile phone) with one or more processors and one or more storage devices or may be a distributed computer system (e.g. a cloud computing system with one or more processors and one or more storage devices distributed at various locations, for example, at a local client and/or one or more remote server farms and/or data centers). The computer system 140 may comprise any circuit or combination of circuits. In one embodiment, the computer system 140 may include one or more processors which can be of any type. As used herein, processor may mean any type of computational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), multiple core processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), for example, of a microscope or a microscope component (e.g. camera) or any other type of processor or processing circuit. Other types of circuits that may be included in the computer system 140 may be a custom circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like, such as, for example, one or more circuits (such as a communication circuit) for use in wireless devices like mobile telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, two-way radios, and similar electronic systems. The computer system 140 may include one or more storage devices, which may include one or more memory elements suitable to the particular application, such as a main memory in the form of random access memory (RAM), one or more hard drives, and/or one or more drives that handle removable media such as compact disks (CD), flash memory cards, digital video disk (DVD), and the like. The computer system 140 may also include a display device, one or more speakers, and a keyboard and/or controller, which can include a mouse, trackball, touch screen, voice-recognition device, or any other device that permits a system user to input information into and receive information from the computer system 140.
Some or all of the method steps may be executed by (or using) a hardware apparatus, like for example, a processor, a microprocessor, a programmable computer or an electronic circuit.
Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation can be performed using a non-transitory storage medium such as a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disc, a DVD, a Blu-Ray, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, and EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, having electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer readable.
Some embodiments according to the invention comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system, such that one of the methods described herein is performed.
Generally, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code may, for example, be stored on a machine readable carrier.
Other embodiments comprise the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, stored on a machine readable carrier.
In other words, an embodiment of the present invention is, therefore, a computer program having a program code for performing one of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.
A further embodiment of the present invention is, therefore, a storage medium (or a data carrier, or a computer-readable medium) comprising, stored thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein when it is performed by a processor. The data carrier, the digital storage medium or the recorded medium are typically tangible and/or non-transitionary. A further embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus as described herein comprising a processor and the storage medium.
A further embodiment of the invention is, therefore, a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may, for example, be configured to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example, via the internet.
A further embodiment comprises a processing means, for example, a computer or a programmable logic device, configured to, or adapted to, perform one of the methods described herein.
A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.
A further embodiment according to the invention comprises an apparatus or a system configured to transfer (for example, electronically or optically) a computer program for performing one of the methods described herein to a receiver. The receiver may, for example, be a computer, a mobile device, a memory device or the like. The apparatus or system may, for example, comprise a file server for transferring the computer program to the receiver.
In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example, a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are preferably performed by any hardware apparatus.
While subject matter of the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Any statement made herein characterizing the invention is also to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive as the invention is defined by the claims. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made, by those of ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the following claims, which may include any combination of features from different embodiments described above.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21174167.3 | May 2021 | EP | regional |
