In conventional light microscopy the magnification of the objective lens is very straight forward, a 20x lens magnifies the image 20 times. Thus, viewed through a 40x lens, objects seem twice as big as with a 20x lens. It’s logical, that the pathologist wants a turret of objectives with a range of magnification to be able to get an overview of the sample, to examine it and to make an informed diagnosis. It also seems logical to think a higher magnification objective is “better”. But does it matter what it says on the tin?
In digital microscopy the magnification steps are achieved in a different manner. The slide is scanned, i.e. photographed in full resolution and the resulting image can be zoomed in and out to get the best scale view of the sample. The simplicity of the continuously variable magnification of a digital zoom makes moving between an overview and the desired level of detail incredibly easy. Digitally, any part of the image can also be magnified to a size far larger than it would ever appear through an eyepiece. A good overview camera and a single, high quality objective lens are thus enough to make an excellent digital microscope which is easy and fluent to use.
The Grundium Ocus delivers the highest sharpness images in digital pathology. To achieve this, the Ocus uses color stacking. In conventional RGB imaging the color channels are mapped in a single image, resulting in an approximation in assigning color value to each pixel. The Grundium Ocus takes full-resolution images individually of each color red, green and blue, and the final image is automatically composed of these three layers. This results in a sharp image with far superior level of detail, as the starting point is three times more pixels than when using a conventional color sensor.
Where other scanners sweep the sample using a pre-defined focus map, the Grundium Ocus automatically focuses each field, which puts the whole sample in focus without the need to make time consuming focus maps. Read an in-depth description of digital magnification in this white paper.
In summary, the Grundium Ocus is a combination of the optimal magnification and optimal numerical aperture. It produces a clear and sharp scanned image fast, excellent for digital pathology. The scanned images are effortless to view and zoom on a screen. The images or even remote operation of the Ocus scanner can be swiftly shared online. This means an expert, a group of students, a lecture audience, or a second opinion can be available just a click away.
Choosing the right setup in digital microscopy is different from traditional light microscopy. Book an online demo or come see Grundium at an industry event near you to test it and see for yourself, how easy it is to scan and share images with the Ocus, and how it fits your line of work. You’ll be surprised how this level of image quality and usability can come in such a small, affordable and beautifully designed package!
If you have questions about picking the right setup for your application, contact Davide or Mika at Grundium for personal assistance.
Davide D’Incau Sales Director davide.dincau@grundium.com
Mika Kuisma CEO mika.kuisma@grundium.com
CONTACTS
