The subject invention pertains to an apparatus and method for collecting 2-D data slices of a specimen. Embodiments can incorporate a lapidary platen and an image recording system to image a specimen. The lapidary wheel platen can provide an imaging plane such that an image can be taken as the lapidary wheel platen abrades a surface of the specimen. A specimen mount can maintain the surface of the specimen properly aligned in the image plane. The imaging system can be a continuous recording system such as a video camera, a discrete recording system such as a flatbed scanner, or combinations of continuous and discrete recording systems to simultaneously collect two distinct data sets. The 2-D data set(s) can then be processed to create intricate 3-D color models.

1. UF Inventor seeks partner to license:
3D Image Scanner for Full Spectral
Computer Solid Models Beyond CT
or MRI. UF Ref.# 12009 & 15416

2. Contents
 UF- Rising … The Gator
Nation
 Digital Imaging
 State of the Art 3D
Scanners
 The 3D Imagining
Triumvirate
 Lapidary Methods
 Lapidary 3D Scanning
 Surface Imaging
Microscopy (SIM) 3D
 The Acclaimed Visible
Human Project
 Dr. R. Kerschmann
Commercialized (SIM) 3D
 3D Lapidary Scanner
 How The Technology
Works
 3D Lapidary Scanner
Applications
 Highest Market Value
 Q&A

3. UF: Dedicated to Education, Research & Service
 UF is a Leader Among Public Research Universities:
 UF is Top 10 caliber … Number 1 is our goal.
 AAU member; Distinguished Alumni, Strong faculty & Fantastic students with a long history and
tradition of WINNING!
 Research Leader: Multiple Medical Advances, Magnet Lab, Next Generation Space Shuttle
Consortia Leader, Micro-Kelvin Lab … too many to list.
 UF is Very Large:
 The State of Florida’s pre-eminent flagship land grant university.
 ~50,000 students; ~15,000 faculty & staff, 16 colleges, hundreds of departments, 30+ Centers of
Excellence and 67 Counties and ~2000 Lab spaces statewide.
 UF is Nimble an Flexible:
 Streamlined Enterprise: 21st century networking and Hi-End computational solutions to match
the new demands of the future.
 Businesslike: Structurally able to make quick decisions. Purchasing is faster allowing quicker
project progress..
 Strong Partner:
 Cooperative Research And Development Agreements (CRADA): Form a large part of our
research enterprise that allow shared risks and rewards. Our faculty & staff generate ~$3/4
Billion/year in varied grants and is more than all other Florida public universities combined.
 $Multi-Million Commercial Technology Transfer Successes: The Gatorade Franchise,
Sentricon Termite Products, LINAC Scalpel and many more in work.
 Credibility: UF’s top faculty reputation gives partners credibility in the marketplace.
 Our Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) is Number One: We are #1 for public universities
and 5th compared to all universities according the prestigious Millikan Institute.
 It is our mission to share the fruits of our labors through attractive technology transfer
mechanisms.

4. Digital Imaging
Reaching New Frontiers Once Held Only by Film stock
 Digital Imaging: Getting denser and denser
 10-33 MP Electronic sensors: Common and relatively cheap.
 111 MP CCD!: Dalsa (Waterloo, Ontario), a division of Teledyne
Corp. broke the 100MP Barrier. Others soon to follow and prices
should descend.
 Intelligent Digital Cameras: Internet ready built to the IEEE 802
GigE Standard ► Big Data … Large file sets.
 Photographic high grain emulsions may still be an excellent choice
but likely soon to be surpassed by electronic methods. Would
require post process digital scanning and can be an economical
solution.
 Digital Imaging/Sensing is a KEY Core Technology

5. State of the Art 3D Scanners or Digitizers
 Computerized Tomography (Volume Capture):
 Medical Tomography $multibillion international industry. Generic term that defines
the reconstruction of 3D volume from slice data through computational methods. CT,
MRI, PET all depend on Tomography. They are generally not harmful.
 Models generated through state of the art CT & MRI use “smoothing” algorithms to
produce apparent high resolutions that the data do not support. Inter-slice information
is interpolated.
 Dozens of mature tomography software methods are directly applicable to our process.
 Microtome Tomography: Produces amazing 3D volumes yet is limited by high
maintenance costs, inability to handle hard samples (untreated teeth & bone) and likely
has reached the limits of z-axis resolution yet it is the highest resolution method.
 Machine Tool 1st Article Scanner: Machine tool cuts the object layers, moves the object to
be photographed & repeats the process. Used to produce the famous Illustrated man and
Illustrated woman data sets. (Man .5mm Woman .33 mm z-axis resolution … much higher xy)
 These last 2 public domain methods closely related except our novel innovations.
 Surface 3D scanners (Shape Capture):
 Operate on a number of principles from direct contact, laser, photogrammetry and they
too are generally non destructive. These range in price from very low to expensive but
most lack the ability to produce internal structure.

6. The 3D Imagining Triumvirate:
Science & Medicine, Engineering & Architecture & Commercial Arts,
 Science & Medicine:
 Scientists & Engineers working in university, government and military labs
developed core technologies.
 Medical investigators were quick to move forward and for many years 3D
was out of reach for most.
 Cutting edge research continues – Computational Fluid Dynamics and etc.
 Engineers and Architects:
 The next generation developments CA 1990 allowed engineers and architects to
render mesh models into stunning presentations by the development of light ray
tracing and surface texturing technologies.
 CA 1995 Parametric solid modeling became the buzzword for engineers and
some architects.
 Computer aided design (CAD) Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Rapid
Prototyping (RP) Full solutions exist to surface scan 1st article objects and print
parts.
 Architectural robotic printing of houses has been demonstrated. Extensive use
of 3D digitizers and scanners to move hand modeled articles into particular
design packages.
 Commercial Arts:
 Many of the early pioneers who worked in government labs moved to the visual
arts and here is where the most advanced work is being done in photo-realistic
virtual reality generation.
 Distinctions Blur When Applied To Products:
 Many Commercial artists are using scientific tools. Scientist find themselves
using studio tools and engineers and architects are forced to collect esoteric
scientific products to prove their designs. Multi $Billion industry.

7. Surface Imaging Microscopy- Amazing Results:
Results from Cryo-section Microtomy vs. Confocal Microscopy.(1)

8. The Acclaimed Visible Human Project
Joseph Jernigan: Donated his body to science; Image data collected using cryo-section microtome
and/or machine tool technology were reconstructed into 3d computer models. Envisioned by working
groups in the NIH National Library of Medicine 1986 (2) , 1988 (3), 1990 (4)
Surprisingly:
 Very close to 100% image data were lost!
 Could be improved with confocal techniques
for semi-transparent tissues.
 Slice thickness was necessarily large:
 Cost of maintaining large files were high at
the time.
 Difficult to maintain the precise
instrumentation & alignment
 Tool replacement and sharpening issues
were obstacles.
 Did not have the GigE data standard so data
volumes were obstacles.
 Digital Cameras were dumb, slow, expensive
and low resolution.
 To maintain cubic voxels slice thickness was
set to the width x-y pixel width
 Did not expand much in non-
science/medical areas:
 Many other areas were satisfied with
surface scanning solutions.
 One Company built microtome small
scanners (out of business)
 One company built machine tool solution:
Quite Healthy.
 Science & Medical Spinoffs :
 Many University of Maryland Human-
Computer Interaction Lab (5)
Melt-Through-Visible-Human-Project

9. Dr. Russell Kerschmann
3D Pioneer, Researcher and Businessman(6)
Collapse of a fantastic opportunity when Resolution Sciences Corp. went out of business.
 Produced first commercially
available microtome based
3D scanner.
 Company Fell Victim to:
 Under-Capitalization
 Dot-Com Bust – Bad
Timing
 Kerschmann US Patents (7):
 6,409,774 Electrophoresis-
assisted staining of materials
 6,372,512 Combined en bloc
staining and embedding process
 6,330,348 Method and apparatus
for measurement of microtome
performance
 6,195,451 Transformation of
digital images
 4,960,330 Image recording
apparatus
 3D Model of Velcro ™
scanned with a Resolution
Sciences scanner.

10. Lapidary Methods
 Lapidary or “Lap” methods predate human history:
Lap stones use hard polishing surfaces with lubricants or
abrasive slurries.
 Lap wheels are spinning Lap surfaces: Force applied
to an object onto the Lap wheel will remove material
depending upon the force, polishing medium, lap surface
characteristics and speed of the wheel. Results can be
exquisitely controlled by human art craft or automated
methods.
 All known materials can be sharpened or polished up to and
including diamonds. Most Gemstone faceting is done on
spinning Lap wheels
 Lap Techniques - diverse disciplines; Optics,
Astronomy, Mining, Geology, Semiconductors and
Optoelectronics. Used to form the finest instruments and
devices held to the highest tolerances.
 Lapidary techniques are Core Technologies: Most nano-
technical methods require Lap processes.

11. 

12. 3D Lapidary Scanner
 Volumetric results: Most other 3D scans create HOLLOW surface
models represented by; dense point clouds, vector graphics, polygons
or Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) . Ours is a sample
DESTRUCTIVE reverse engineering method that records volumes and
can yield multi-surface models of internal structures.
 Multiple Sensors: Virtually any sensor that can be placed in either
direct or indirect contact with the Lap specimen to create a 2D image of
that layer. The 2D images are stored and later reassembled using
known computer methods to produce 3D models beyond all known
technology.
 Extremely Thin Layers: As the layers are worn away the surface
“images” are stored in media until the entire sample or region of
interest is destroyed. The “movies” are then processed by software to
create matched solid voxelated 3D solids or more simply segmented
concentric 3D mesh files.
 The z axis is perpendicular to the image plane: Because the
abrasion between layers is exquisitely controllable, micrometer realm
resolutions are easily attained in all three xyz dimensions.

13. How The Technology Works
 Exquisite Control: Layer (z) thickness is entirely controllable from
macro-scale  micro-scale  nano-scale. The layer->layer abrasion
between layers is exquisitely controllable, micrometer realm resolutions
are easily attained in all three xyz dimensions.
 Synchronized Parallel Sensors: Placed in either direct or indirect
contact with the Lap specimen. These can be stored in multiple
channels to create multi sensor 2D images of the SAME layer.
 Most All Data Can Be Saved: Materials may be automatically
collected and stored for other physical or chemical analysis registered
to a specific layer. Even more complex systems can be envisioned
that collect the actual volume at specified points through volume. The
2D images are stored and later reassembled using known computer
tomography methods to produce results beyond all known technology.
Multiple sensors can be used simultaneously to create concurrent data
ex:
 Optical, IR, Fluorescence and dye or probe tagged molecules.
 Surface profilometry

14. Early Prototype Lapidary Scanner:
DC Motor; USB2 Video; radial back light; (wiring hidden for clarity)

15. 1st Generation Brass-board Design

17. First Successful 3D Scan
 3D Tomography File 8 of and insect leg scanned with the
prototype USB scanner (grayscale mode)

18. 3D Lapidary Scanner Applications:
These applications would have little regulatory compliance issues
 Scan any real world specimen and store it digitally for later study or
reassembly into any scale actual reality models using direct digital
solid printing processes.
 Pure science
 Physics, Chemistry: Bulk analysis of nano-scale objects.
 Paleontology: Fossilized species such as insects, invertebrates,
trilobites can be brought to life digitally to show internal structures
otherwise difficult or impossible to discern.
 Geology: Direct drill core metrology, physical parameter mapping 3D
models. Would not require pulling cores as long as sensors can exist
in the well hole.
 Engineering R & D
 Reverse Engineering and Quality Assurance
 Integrated circuit failure analysis.
 Bulk analysis of micro-scale and some nano-scale objects and
depositions.
 Bulk 1st article measurements of production line samples.

19. More Applications:
Regulatory hurdles involved, likely require multiple peer reviewed studies
but is a high value market place.
 Medical/Pharma R & D
 Allograft & Xenograft Matrix Pastes: Create 2 Products from a
single donor. Valuable 3D volume files created during processing.
 Enhanced live animal model studies: Leading to numerical
reductions of study animal populations with wise future leadership.
 Reduce costs of trials: Sick animal subjects are scanned and
their disease processes are identified earlier.
 Clinical Human Trials: Autopsies would remove critical organs,
scan them quickly to determine microscopic disease processes.
 Dental R & D
 Dentistry biomaterial applications: Bonding verification
modeling and of testing of the hardest samples & etc. Analysis of
both removed dental tissue and biomaterials. Diamond abrasive
systems could scan titanium implants.

20. Library & Archival Applications
 Library books that have been water
damaged can be scanned and transferred
into digital versions. This otherwise is a
painstaking process that takes an archivist
sometimes weeks to preserve one volume.
 Old degraded film stock might one day be
scanned as a whole. Later reconstructed
into usable video.

21. Mass Market Applications
May be the top revenue center!
 Education
 Make education fun! Creating entertaining datasets that explore
dimensions of reality now too expensive or impossible to explore.
 Educational appliances: Toys and hobby products with
inexpensive USB sensors can be built to mount on most
microscope stages.
 Educational Software Providers: Immersive multimedia software
requires content. Young people have been for years immersed in
quality High-end Computer Graphics (CG). In education it looses
entertainment value if the content is not vibrant and true to life …
Many internal (solids) 3D graphics solutions are not because it is
costly to produce them so many are cartoonish caricatures of real
life.
 Anti-Vivisection Movement: The trend is toward software
solutions vs. lab animal dissections for all but those in higher
education and research settings.
 Higher Education: Extremely microscopically exquisite exact
models from cadavers and lab animals would be excellent
amplifiers to the education experience for those who must learn
surgical techniques.

22. Entertainment
 Edu-tainment: People thirst for knowledge!
Science and education in cable, broadcast,
satellite and internet spaces are filled now with
vibrant new content. Much of it is Computer
Graphics (CG).
 Industrial Light and Magic: The Lucas Arts
empire dwarfs many large universities. ILM will
likely be entirely CG and they and studios like
them will want the newest technologies to
develop their fantasy worlds.

23. Highest Value Market?
 Intellectual Property Generator!
 Data instantly protected: Copyright (©) law &
treaty @ ~ 160 Years (~2 human lifetimes).
Clever artifice to copyright the digital files of
Natures handiwork.
 Cheap to Register © vs. high costs for
defendable patent protections which need
maintenance.
 The Best Data sets will be most valuable
especially in multiple niche markets.
 Vibrant Markets exist for quality 3D files which
are sold usually with limited licenses.

24. How Can It Be Marketed?
 Direct Sales/Maintenance Contracts:
 Instruments Sales
 Parts, consumables and maintenance.
 Closely Held Franchise Arrangements:
 Franchise, Partner & Affiliate Opportunities
 3D Copy Centers both Academic & Commercial:
Clients select between this, and several other 3D scan
solutions.
 Parent Corp. receives revenue.
 Subcontract to Other Manufacturers:
 New sectors sure to arise as the enterprise gains
momentum.

25. Who are we looking for as partners?
 Established 3D Scanner Instrument Companies
 This device would be an impressive addition to established
solutions.
 Medical Implant Makers
 These technologies have potential to produce 3D bone models
beyond known science.
 Diseased bones can be scanned, “healed” digitally using
engineering methods, then be replicated in bio-materials, allografts
or xenografts to be re-implanted later.
 Cadaver ear bones, heart valves, and other delicate human tissue
can be scanned and subsequent 3D models used to develop
prosthetic or cybernetic analogs.
 Histologic Processing labs
 Fast scan data sets can be recorded as layers and reassembled
into models to show physicians much more detail.

26. Other Partner Prospects:
 Destructive 1st Article Inspection
 National Defense (DOD): Integrated circuits can be scanned and
materially mapped to produce electronic analogs of adversary devices
found. Does not preclude using non-destructive methods first but all
other destructive methods are too cumbersome and requires destruction
of several exemplars to produce useable 3D results.
 Factory QC: Qualify as is vs. as designed components throughout the
manufacturing line.
 Complement Design Groups
 Use Cues From Nature: Natures forms are often the most efficient.
 Boutique Niche Service Providers: Small business service labs can
service the needs of all the above users who might not otherwise be able
to justify resources for limited projects. A publisher would only want the
data but perhaps only of a specific species frog.
 Hardware Piracy Protection:
 Trade & Customs agencies: Enforcement and litigant investigations.
 Scan pirated, watches, cell phones, microprocessors to create
signatures and more easily prosecute & convict the criminals.

27. The Future is Bright!
 Most Valuable As © IP Generator:
 Scientific data, 3D visual arts content or reverse engineering information
has value easily protected by ©.
 All embodiments of this invention have this enormous advantage.
 Equivalent to an instrument that can through automation write best selling
novels.
 Information is more valuable than matter and energy
 Transmit extremely complex object information over vast
distances.
 Future Astronauts: May find themselves stationed years or decades from
help. Intelligent nano-technical printing equipment can replace tons of
spare parts. 1st Article scanners allow “as assembled” parts to be emailed
or stored as information in data banks.

28. Bibliography
1) ANDREW J. EWALD,1 HELEN MCBRIDE,1 MARK REDDINGTON,2 SCOTT E. FRASER,1*AND RUSSELL KERSCHMANN2, 2002
,Surface Imaging Microscopy, An Automated Method for Visualizing Whole Embryo Samples in Three Dimensions at High Resolution,
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS 225:369–375 (2002)
2) National Library of Medicine (US) Board of Regents. “Annual Report". US Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 1986: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/manuscripts/nlmarchives/annualreport/1986.pdf
3) National Library of Medicine (US) Board of Regents. “Annual Report”. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 1988; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/manuscripts/nlmarchives/annualreport/1988.pdf
4) National Library of Medicine (US) Board of Regents. "Electronic Imaging: Report of the Board of Regents". US Department of
Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 1990. NIH Publication 90-2197
5) Lorensen, W. E. and Cline, H. E., "Marching Cubes: A High Resolution 3D Surface Construction Algorithm," Computer Graphics, vol. 21,
no. 3, pp. 163-169, July 1987
6) Gunjan Sinha, “Secrets of The Very Small”, Popular Science, December 2001
7) Kershmann, Russell, US Patents; 6,409,774 Electrophoresis-assisted staining of materials,6,372,512 Combined en bloc staining and
embedding process,6,330,348 Method and apparatus for measurement of microtome performance ,6,195,451 Transformation of digital
images 4,960,330 Image recording apparatus US Patent and trademark Office, www.uspto.gov
8) "This result is obtained by using 3DMed software developed by Medical Image Processing Group, Institute of Automation, the Chinese
Academy of Sciences (www.3dmed.net).” To use 3DMed in commercial purpose, please contact Professor Jie Tian at tian@doctor.com.