Volume 13, Issue 12 e202000227
REVIEW ARTICLE

Autofocusing technologies for whole slide imaging and automated microscopy

Zichao Bian

Zichao Bian

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Chengfei Guo

Chengfei Guo

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Shaowei Jiang

Corresponding Author

Shaowei Jiang

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

Correspondence

Shaowei Jiang and Guoan Zheng, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Email: [email protected] (S. J.) and Email: [email protected] (G. Z.)

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Jiakai Zhu

Jiakai Zhu

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Ruihai Wang

Ruihai Wang

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Pengming Song

Pengming Song

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Zibang Zhang

Zibang Zhang

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Kazunori Hoshino

Kazunori Hoshino

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

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Guoan Zheng

Corresponding Author

Guoan Zheng

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

Correspondence

Shaowei Jiang and Guoan Zheng, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Email: [email protected] (S. J.) and Email: [email protected] (G. Z.)

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First published: 25 August 2020
Citations: 74

Zichao Bian and Chengfei Guo contributed equally to this work.

Funding information: National Science Foundation, Grant/Award Numbers: 2012140, 1700941, 1809047

Abstract

Whole slide imaging (WSI) has moved digital pathology closer to diagnostic practice in recent years. Due to the inherent tissue topography variability, accurate autofocusing remains a critical challenge for WSI and automated microscopy systems. The traditional focus map surveying method is limited in its ability to acquire a high degree of focus points while still maintaining high throughput. Real-time approaches decouple image acquisition from focusing, thus allowing for rapid scanning while maintaining continuous accurate focus. This work reviews the traditional focus map approach and discusses the choice of focus measure for focal plane determination. It also discusses various real-time autofocusing approaches including reflective-based triangulation, confocal pinhole detection, low-coherence interferometry, tilted sensor approach, independent dual sensor scanning, beam splitter array, phase detection, dual-LED illumination and deep-learning approaches. The technical concepts, merits and limitations of these methods are explained and compared to those of a traditional WSI system. This review may provide new insights for the development of high-throughput automated microscopy imaging systems that can be made broadly available and utilizable without loss of capacity.image

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Research Data are not shared.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.