摘要:
A virtual microscope slide includes images of a specimen for a given level of optical magnification which are associated and stored in a data structure. The forming of the data structure having the multiple Z-plane images preferably includes automatically focusing at a principal reference focal plane and capturing and digitizing an optically magnified reference Z-image and then shifting the specimen relative to the lens system by a predetermined increment to capture and digitize another Z-plane image. Preferably, a multiple sequence of Z-plane images above and below the reference image and captured and digitized. For ease of retrieval and use, each reference image has its associated Z-plane images are formed in a stack that is sent over the Internet, or Intranet to a local computer storage for quick retrieval when a viewer wants to mimic a focusing up or down to better view a detail in an image. Thus, the resultant images are retrieved and displayed such that a virtual focusing capability is available to the user. The images can be formed with overlapping fields of depth, adjacent fields of depth, or wholly separated fields of depth.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for constructing a virtual microscope slide comprised of digitally scanned images from a microscope specimen. The digitally scanned images are arranged in a tiled format convenient for viewing without a microscope, and for transferring the tiled images for viewing by another at a remote location. Several original microscope views at a low magnification are digitized and stored as digitized images coherently seamed together to provide an overall virtual, macro image of the specimen at a lower resolution. Several original microscope views at higher magnifications are digitized and stored as digitized images coherently seamed together to provide virtual micro images at higher resolution. A data structure is formed with these virtual macro and micro digitized images along with their mapping coordinates. Preferably, a generic viewing program is also provided in the data structure that allows remote users to manipulate and interpret the tiled images on the user's monitor. Also, the data structure is formed with significantly compressed data so as to be transmitted over low bandwidth channels, such as the Internet, without loss of resolution that would interfere with the analysis at a remotely-located pathologist receiving the data structure over the Internet. The preferred interactive program allows the pathologist to scroll and view neighboring image areas of interest. A marker on the macro image indicates to the user the location of the micro image and assists the user in selecting areas from the macro image to be viewed at higher resolution and magnification.
摘要:
An apparatus and method acquires and stores multiple resolution images from a specimen on a support and provides to the user a low magnification, reconstructed macro image of the entire specimen, or a large portion thereof, to aid the person in selecting points of interest to be viewed or analyzed at higher magnifications and resolution. The reconstructed image is formed of a large number of tiled, stored images which are coordinated and assembled to form the macro image of the specimen which is displayed on a monitor. Preferably, the stored, reconstructed image is reduced further in size by a software system before it is displayed to the user. The display may be on a local monitor over a local area network or sent over the Internet to the user who is typically a pathologist. The user selects by a marker such as a cursor the defined area of interest or region and then views higher magnification images or has them analyzed. Preferably, the pathologist can scroll to shift digitized, adjacent image tiles into view on the monitor. A fully computer-controlled microscope is used to acquire and store the digitized images and the illustrated microscope can be remotely controlled to change objective lenses, focus, light intensity, filters, field diaphragm, and to shift the microscope stage by a controller.
摘要:
A method is disclosed for using a computer controlled microscope system to provide a reconstructed, seamless image from several contiguous fields of view to show the architecture and spatial relationship of biological material in a specimen. The specimen is scanned with a microscope and a digital scanner to provide digitized titles of contiguous, fields of view at a predetermined magnification, optical resolution and pixel resolution. Preferably, an automated X, Y stage with higher positional spatial resolution than the spatial pixel resolution of the digital scanner is used to acquire the contiguous fields of view and the image registration information which is used to reconstruct and to display on a monitor the reconstructed image formed of the contiguous multiple fields of view. Preferably, a macro image of contiguous image tiles at a low magnification and optical resolution is obtained and the user navigates within the macro image and selects areas. Higher magnification titles for the selected area are assembled and viewed at a higher magnification and optical resolution as a composite micro image of the selected area. Both the macro and micro images may be displayed simultaneously. Preferably, the user may scroll and cause additional fields of view to be added to previously displayed fields of view.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for automated assay of biological specimens positioned on microscope slides. The apparatus comprises an interactive optical subsystem for viewing the biological specimen on the slide and for producing an interactive video signal corresponding to the viewed image. An automated optical subsystem includes a single high power microscope objective for scanning a rack of slides, portions of which having been previously identified for assay in the interactive optical means. The system also includes a processor for processing the interactive and automatic video signals for the two optical subsystems. The processor receives the automatic video signal and performs biological assay functions upon it. A method and apparatus are also disclosed for marking points for later analysis on the microscope slides and for associating an analysis function with each marked point.
摘要:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in performing automated classification of cells and other microscopic specimens. The apparatus provides a compact, adjustable assembly that is operable to provide: an operator-apparatus interactive classification system for the cell analysis; alternative techniques for different cells, cytoplasms and cell populations; and enchanced image or color separation and analysis.
摘要:
An apparatus for preparing blood samples containing red blood cells for automated analysis wherein the blood sample on a slide is spun to create a monolayer of randomly distributed red blood cells. To inhibit cell morphology distortions from occurring during drying, the morphologies of the cells contained in the monolayer are preserved by a fixing agent after monolayer preparation but prior to drying when such distortions would otherwise develop. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for fixing red blood cells to prevent loss of or deformation of a central pallor which would be detrimental to a subsequent automated analysis.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring characteristics of cells, such as red blood cells, and for analyzing parameters of the cell characteristics to define a patient's blood. These parameters may be compared for resemblance to predetermined reference characteristic values for a blood cell pathological condition such as a specific kind of anemia or for a normal blood. A report may be generated showing such resemblance to an anemia or to a normal blood. A report may be generated showing parameters of a multivariate dispersion of distribution for a subpopulation of biconcave cells, an indication of skewness of the distribution of the cells with regard to shape variations in central pallor size; the proportion of abnormal kinds of cells found, and closeness of blood to several specific anemias. To expedite the system, a plurality of microprocessors are employed with one microprocessor controlling the imaging means and the summing of measured characteristics while one or more additional microprocessors are measureing characteristics and analyzing the digitized image signals. An improved method of measuring central pallor size is provided.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for automatically classifying abnormal and normal red blood cells is disclosed. The abnormal cells may be differentiated into mutually exclusive subpopulations. The individual hemoglobin characteristic for each red blood cell is measured and a hemoglobin parameter may be reported for each subpopulation of cells. Additionally, cell sizes are measured and the mean cell size and Wintrobe indices may be reported. The interior cell structures for red blood cells are analyzed and the cells are classified based on the presence or lack of a central pallor, their shape, size, and hemoglobin content.
摘要:
In the preparation of blood films for microscopic examination a slide spins in a centrifuge for a time which is a function of the red blood cell concentration of the blood. A drive circuit controls the time of spinning of a slide centrifuge. A variable control for the centrifuge motor includes a manual adjustment which is adjustable across a scale labeled as a function of the percent hematocrit of the blood.