US 11,988,823 B2
Printed coverslip for identifying reference focal plane for light microscopy
Benjamin Cahoon, Orem, UT (US); Shane Swenson, Orem, UT (US); and Benjamin S. Larson, Orem, UT (US)
Assigned to Techcyte, Inc., Orem, UT (US)
Filed by Techcyte, Inc., Orem, UT (US)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/746,625.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/794,487, filed on Jan. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/810,850, filed on Feb. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0233199 A1, Jul. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. G02B 21/00 (2006.01); G02B 21/24 (2006.01); G02B 21/26 (2006.01); G02B 21/36 (2006.01); G02B 21/06 (2006.01); G02B 21/34 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 21/26 (2013.01) [G02B 21/006 (2013.01); G02B 21/241 (2013.01); G02B 21/36 (2013.01); G02B 21/06 (2013.01); G02B 21/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for locating a position of a sample to be visualized with an optical microscope, the method comprising:
capturing an overview image of a coverslip covering the sample by imaging the coverslip with a camera, wherein the overview image depicts an entirety of the coverslip;
identifying a fiducial marker captured in the overview image by processing the overview image with one or more computer-executed programs, wherein the fiducial marker is printed on a surface of the coverslip;
in response to identifying the fiducial marker in the overview image, determining x-axis coordinates and y-axis coordinates indicating a location of the fiducial marker;
focusing the optical microscope on the fiducial marker;
in response to focusing the optical microscope on the fiducial marker, calculating a focal distance of the fiducial marker, wherein the focal distance is a z-axis coordinate indicating the location of the fiducial marker; and
calculating with the one or more computer-executed programs a reference focal surface defining the surface of the coverslip based at least in part on the x-axis coordinates, the y-axis coordinates, and the z-axis coordinates indicating the location of the fiducial marker.