Method of and apparatus for analysis of a sample of biological tissue cells

1. A method of analysis of a sample of biological tissue cells disposed on a platform, the sample being a thin phase object and the platform being substantially transparent, the method comprising:

notionally dividing the sample up into an array of portions;

determining a measure of the height of the platform on which each portion of the sample is disposed; and

acquiring from light passing through the platform and the sample, using an optical system including a camera and an objective optical element disposed between the camera and the platform, a set of image patches of the portions of the sample with the focal height of each image patch being adjusted in dependence upon the respective measure of the height of the platform;

stitching the image patches together to form an image of the sample; and

using the image to assess characteristics of the sample;

wherein the measure of the height of the platform is determined by:

projecting a beam of light into the objective optical element substantially parallel to and offset from the optical axis so that:

the beam is projected from the objective optical element to the platform at an inclined angle to the platform so that the beam is reflected, and

the reflected beam is projected back into the objective optical element so that the reflected beam is projected from the objective optical element to the camera;

using the camera to acquire an image of the reflected beam; and

detecting the position of the reflected beam in the image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the image patches for the image are of overlapping portions of the sample; and

in the step of stitching together the image patches, the image patches are blended together in the areas of overlap.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the reflected beam is reflected by an under surface of the platform;

a second beam is reflected by an upper surface of the platform and is projected back into the objective optical element so that the second reflected beam is also projected from the objective optical element to the camera; and

choosing whether to determine the measure of the height of the platform on which each portion of the sample is disposed from the reflected beam or the second reflected beam.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring the image comprises:

illuminating the sample with light of a first color and while doing so acquiring a first monochrome image component of the sample;

subsequently illuminating the sample with light of a second different color and while doing so acquiring a second monochrome image component of the sample; and

combining the first and second image components to produce a color image.

5. The method of claim 4 , and further comprising:

illuminating the sample with light of a third different color and while doing so acquiring a third monochrome image component of the sample; and

combining the third image components with the first and second image components to produce the color image.

6. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising scanning the platform and the optical system relative to each other.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein acquiring the image patches is performed while the platform and the optical system are moving relative to each other.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein focal heights of the image patches are adjusted by moving the optical element.

9. An apparatus for analysis of a sample of biological tissue cells on a platform, the apparatus comprising:

an optical system including a camera and an objective optical element disposed between the camera and the platform, the optical system configured to:

notionally divide the sample up into an array of portions;

determine a measure of the height of the platform on which each portion of the sample is disposed; and

acquire from light passing through the platform and the sample a set of image patches of the portions of the sample with the focal height of each image patch being adjusted in dependence upon the respective measure of the height of the platform; and

a computer system configured to:

stitch the image patches together to form an image of the sample; and

use the image to assess characteristics of the sample.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the optical system is configured to measure the height of the platform by:

projecting a beam of light into the objective optical element substantially parallel to and offset from the optical axis so that:

the beam is projected from the objective optical element to the platform at an inclined angle to the platform so that the beam is reflected; and

the reflected beam is projected back into the objective optical element so that the reflected beam is projected from the objective optical element to the camera;

using the camera to acquire an image of the reflected beam; and

detecting the position of the reflected beam in the image.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the image patches for the image are of overlapping portions of the sample, and the computer system is configured to blend the image patches together in the areas of overlap.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the platform comprises an under surface to reflect the reflected beam, and an upper surface to reflect a second beam that is projected back into the objective optical element to also project the second beam from the objective optical element to the camera; and wherein the computer system is further configured to choose whether to determine the measure of the height of the platform on which each portion of the sample is disposed from the reflected beam or the second reflected beam.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the platform and the optical system are movable relative to each other.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the optical system further comprises:

a light source, a collecting lens, a collimating lens, a first aperture, a mirror, a first focusing lens, a second aperture, and a condenser lens aligned in order on an optical axis on a first side of the sample to project light from the source onto the sample, and a movable mechanical slide with the objective optical element mounted thereon, a beam splitter, a second focusing lens, and the camera aligned in order on the optical axis on a second side of the sample, the optical system configured to acquire the image of the sample from light passing through the platform and the sample.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for a computer in the analysis of a sample of biological tissue cells disposed on a platform, the sample being a thin phase object and the platform being substantially transparent, the program instructions for causing the computer to:

notionally divide the sample up into an array of portions;

determine a measure of the height of the platform on which each portion of the sample is disposed;

cause an optical system including a camera and an objective optical element disposed between the camera and the platform to acquire from light passing through the platform and the sample a set of image patches of the portions of the sample with the focal height of each image patch being adjusted in dependence upon the respective measure of the height of the platform;

stitch the image patches together to form an image of the sample; and

use the image to assess characteristics of the sample.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to:

cause the optical system to obtain the image patches for the image as overlapping portions of the sample; and

blend the image patches together in the areas of overlap during stitching.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to:

cause the optical system to illuminate the sample with light of a first color and while doing so acquire a first monochrome image component of the sample;

cause the optical system to subsequently illuminate the sample with light of a second different color and while doing so acquire a second monochrome image component of the sample; and

combine the first and second image components to produce a color image.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to:

cause the optical system to illuminate the sample with light of a third different color and while doing so acquire a third monochrome image component of the sample; and

combine the third image components with the first and second image components to produce the color image.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to:

cause the optical system to scan the platform and the optical system relative to each other.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to:

cause the optical system to adjust focal heights of the image patches by moving the optical element.