Still-picture acquisition method and apparatus applied to microscope

Abstract

A still-picture acquisition section in a computer selects a brightness-periodically-varying portion of image data of a living cell like a cardiac cell, as a sample, which makes a self-ordered periodic motion, monitors a change in brightness, generates a trigger signal at the timing at which the value of the brightness exceeds a specific threshold value, causes a camera body to repeatedly pick up the image of the living cell after a predetermined delay time, and then averages the picked-up images. This makes it possible to acquire as high-quality still pictures the instantaneous status of a living cell which varies with time in accordance with the application of external stimulation or the in-vivo order.

1. A still-picture acquisition apparatus for a microscope, comprising:
 means for repeatedly picking up an image of a sample at a timing based on a dynamic behavior of said sample; and    means for acquiring a still picture by accumulating or averaging picked-up images.    
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting a periodic change in brightness of said sample and determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with said change in brightness. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said determining means sets said image-pickup timing to a point of a predetermined delay time from a timing at which a value of said brightness exceeds a specific threshold value. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with an electric signal to be detected in accordance with said dynamic behavior of said sample. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said determining means sets said image-pickup timing to a point of a predetermined delay time from a timing at which a value of said electric signal exceeds a specific threshold value. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with a timing at which said sample is stimulated. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said determining means sets said image-pickup timing to a point of a predetermined delay time from a timing at which said sample is stimulated. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for stimulating said sample by a chemical. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for stimulating said sample by light. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for stimulating said sample by electricity. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scanner for scanning said sample with a laser beam; and    means for controlling said scanner in accordance with said timing based on said dynamic behavior of said sample.    
     
     
       12. A still-picture acquisition apparatus for a microscope, comprising:
 an image pickup device for accumulating images of a sample in synchronism with an electric signal to be detected in accordance with a dynamic behavior of said sample; and    means for transferring a still picture formed by accumulation of said images of said sample in said image pickup device.    
     
     
       13. A still-picture acquisition method applied to a microscope, comprising the steps of:
 repeatedly picking up an image of a sample at a timing based on a dynamic behavior of said sample; and    acquiring a still picture by accumulating or averaging picked-up images.    
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of detecting a periodic change in brightness of said sample and determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with said change in brightness. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with an electric signal to be detected in accordance with said dynamic behavior of said sample. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of determining said image-pickup timing in synchronism with a timing at which said sample is stimulated. 
     
     
       17. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program components stored thereon that perform acquiring a still picture, the program components comprising:
 means for causing a computer to perform control to repeatedly pick up an image of a sample at a timing based on a dynamic behavior of said sample; and    means for causing a computer to acquire a still picture by accumulating or averaging picked-up images.    
     
     
       18. A computer program data signal embodied in a data stream comprising program components that perform acquiring a still picture, the program components comprising:
 means for causing a computer to perform control to repeatedly pick up an image of a sample at a timing based on a dynamic behavior of said sample; and    means for causing a computer to acquire a still picture by accumulating or averaging picked-up images.    
     
     
       19. A still- picture acquisition apparatus for a microscope, comprising:      means for determining image - pickup timings for picking up images of a living cell as a sample, based on timings of periodic behaviors of the living cell;        means for picking up only images of instantaneous statuses in the periodic behaviors of the living cell at specific timings, in synchronism with the determined image - pickup timings; and        means for acquiring a still picture of the instantaneous statuses of the living cell by accumulating or averaging the picked - up images.      
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the timings of the periodic behaviors of the living cell are determined by detecting changes in brightness.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the picking- up means repeatedly picks up only images of the living cell at specific timings in periodic changes in cardio pulsations of the living cell.    
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the determining means determines each of the image- pickup timings as a timing that is a predetermined delay time after a timing at which a value of the brightness exceeds a specific threshold value.    
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising means for determining the timings of the periodic behaviors of the living cell by detecting electric signals with a probe.  
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the living cell is a neurocyte, and the probe is transfixed into the neurocyte and detects electric signals which vary in accordance with transmissions of excitation of the neurocyte.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the picking- up means repeatedly picks up only images of the living cell at specific timings immediately after the periodic behaviors of the living cell occur.    
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the determining means determines each of the image- pickup timings as a timing that is a predetermined delay time after a timing at which an electric signal that exceeds a specific threshold value is detected with the probe.    
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising means for determining the image- pickup timings in synchronism with timings at which the living cell is stimulated.    
     
     
       28. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the determining means determines each of the image- pickup timings as a timing that is a predetermined delay time after a timing at which the living cell is stimulated.    
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising means for stimulating the living cell with a chemical.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising means for stimulating the living cell with light.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising means for stimulating the living cell with electricity.  
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
   a scanner for scanning the living cell with a laser beam; and        means for controlling the scanner in accordance with the determined image - pickup timings.      
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
   means for transferring the acquired still picture to a computer.      
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein a scanner scans the living cell with a laser beam.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the scanner includes a rotary disk scanner.  
     
     
       36. A still- picture acquisition method for a microscope, comprising:      determining image - pickup timings for picking up images of a living cell as a sample, based on timings of periodic behaviors of the living cell;        picking up only images of instantaneous statuses in the periodic behaviors of the living cell at specific timings, in synchronism with the determined image - pickup timings; and        acquiring a still picture of the instantaneous statuses of the living cell by accumulating or averaging the picked - up images.      
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising determining the timings of the periodic behaviors of the living cell by detecting changes in brightness.  
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising determining the timings of the periodic behaviors of the living cell by detecting electric signals with a probe.  
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising determining the image- pickup timings in synchronism with timings at which the living cell is stimulated.    
     
     
       40. A computer- readable storage medium encoded with a computer program that is executable by a computer to perform a process comprising:      determining image - pickup timings for picking up images of a living cell as a sample, based on timings of periodic behaviors of the living cell;        picking up only images of instantaneous statuses in the periodic behaviors of the living cell at specific timings, in synchronism with the determined image - pickup timings; and        acquiring a still picture of the instantaneous statuses of the living cell by accumulating or averaging the picked - up images.      
     
     
       41. A still- picture acquisition apparatus for a microscope, comprising:      a computer configured to determine image - pickup timings for picking up images of a living cell as a sample, based on timings of periodic behaviors of the living cell;        a scanner which picks up only images of instantaneous statuses in the periodic behaviors of the living cell at specific timings, in synchronism with the determined image - pickup timings; and        a processor configured to acquire a still picture of the instantaneous statuses of the living cell by accumulating or averaging the picked - up images.      
     
     
       42. A still- picture acquisition apparatus for a microscope, comprising:      a monitoring device which detects periodic behaviors of a living cell as a sample;        a computer configured to determine image - pickup timings for picking up images of the living cell, based on timings of the periodic behaviors of the living cell;        a scanner which picks up only images of instantaneous statuses in the periodic behaviors of the living cell at specific timings, in synchronism with the determined image - pickup timings; and        a processor configured to acquire a still picture of the instantaneous statuses of the living cell by accumulating or averaging the picked - up images.