Abstract: A method for quickly and easily identifying the five basic components of leukocyte cells: basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes is disclosed. The method measures the size of each of the cells. Computation of the quantile feature of the cells and their color is then made. BA and EO cells are differentiated from LY and MO and NE cells using the present method. BA and EO cells can also be differentiated from LY, MO, and NE cells using methods of the prior art. Once BA and EO cells have been differentiated from the five leukocyte cells, LY cells can be differentiated from MO and NE cells based upon the size of the LY cells. The average color intensity of the LY cells determined is then used as the threshold to differentiate MO cells from NE cells.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a plurality of parameters of an object in a field of view is disclosed. An electrical image of the field of view is formed. The electrical image is processed to form a plurality of different representations of the electrical image where each different representation is a representation of a different parameter of the field of view. The positional information, which represents the boundary of the object, is generated. In response to the positional information that represents the boundary of the object being generated, corresponding locations in each of the different representations is traced. The different parameters from each of the different represents are calculated as the locations are traced in each of the different representations.

Abstract: A composition and method for separating red blood cells from whole blood including a rouleaux-forming aggregator and an enhancer for enhancing the settling rate. The enhancer is a material which alters directly or indirectly the properties of the red blood cell and may alter the structure and/or reactivity of the aggregator, without adversely affecting the morphology and function of white blood cells. In most instances, the red blood cell enhancers of the invention are osmotic agents. Such agents create a hypertonic solution while not entering the cells themselves. Preferably the enhancer is a salt of oxalic acid, a salt of malonic acid, mannitol or sucrose. Potassium oxalate is most preferred. High molecular weight substances which are large enough to form molecular bridges between red blood cells form the aggregators used in the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying an object under examination. The object has a discernible boundary. An image of the object is first formed. The image is segmented to form a plurality of pixels. The boundary of the object under examination in the image is then detected. The parameters of the pixels measured within the boundary detected are formed in an ordered sequence:P.sub.1 . . . P.sub.k . . . P.sub.Nwhere P.sub.1 is the first value of the parameter of the pixel within the boundary detected;where P.sub.N is the last value of the parameter of the pixel within the boundary detected;N is the total number of pixels within the boundary detected; and k is the index to the N pixels. The P.sub.k data point is determined such that k, the index satisfies the following relationship: ##EQU1## M--total number of quantile partitions i-i.sup.th fraction of partition or i.sup.th quantile partition. The object under examination is identified based upon the P.sub.

Abstract: A method of identifying a plurality of different types of particles in the field of view is disclosed. A first parameter is measured for each of the plurality of different particles. One of the type of particles is identified based upon the first parameter measured. Once the one type of particle is identified, a second parameter, different from the first parameter, is then measured for the one type of particle. The other types of particles in the field of view can be identified based upon the second parameter associated with the one type of particle which has been identified. In one example, color is first used to differentiate various different particles in the field of view and to identify one particular type of particle. Thereafter, a morphological parameter, such as size, associated with the one type of particle identified is measured.

Abstract: A and an apparatus method for quickly and easily identifying the five basic components of leukocyte cells: basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes is disclosed. The method measures the size of each of the cells. Computation of the quantile feature of the cells and their color is then made. BA and EO cells are differentiated from LY and MO and Ne cells using the present method. BA and EO cells can also be differentiated from LY, MO, and Ne cells using methods of the prior art. Once BA and EO cells have been differentiated from the five leukocyte cells, LY cells can be differentiated from MO and NE cells based upon the size of the LY cells. The average color intensity of the LY cells determined is then used as the threshold to differentiate MO cells from NE cells.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a plurality of parameters of an object in a field of view is disclosed. An electrical image of the field of view is formed. The electrical image is processed to form a plurality of different representations of the electrical image where each different representation is a representation of a different parameter of the field of view. The positional information, which represents the boundary of the object, is generated. In response to the positional information that represents the boundary of the object being generated, corresponding locations in each of the different representations is traced. The different parameters from each of the different represents are calculated as the locations are traced in each of the different representations.

Abstract: A passive method for selecting the best focal position from a plurality of focal positions for a lens focussing on an image in a field of view is disclosed. The lens forms an image at a first position. The image is segmented to form a plurality of pixels. A histogram of the intensity of light at each of the pixels in the image is determined. A cumulative histogram is developed therefrom. A sharpness value is determined from the cumulative histogram. The sharpness value is the intensity of light that corresponds to the smallest cumulative pixel number having a non-zero intensity of light value. The lens is then moved to a new position and another sharpness for the new position is determined. From the plurality of positions moved by the lens, the smallest or lowest sharpness value is chosen and the position that corresponds to that smallest or lowest sharpness value is the position that represents the best focal position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for examining the content of a volume of biological sample containing particles to determine the diagnostic significance of that volume of biological sample. A number of aliquots of the sample are distributed and are examined under low power field magnification. The total number of aliquots examined under low power field magnification if a first fraction of the volume of biological sample. The percentage of particles detected in the first fraction is counted. The percentage of particles detected is compared to a first known percentage. In the event the comparison yields the result that the sample contains diagnostically insignificant number of particles, than the method is terminated. Otherwise the method is continued. A second fraction of volume of the biological sample, comprising a plurality of aliquots, is examined under high power field magnification. The percentage of particles detected under high power magnification is totalled.

Abstract: A method for analyzing particles and particularly sediments of urine is accomplished by distributing the sample over an extended area. A plurality of optical still images is taken of the sample, with each image representing a different portion of the area. Each optical image is converted into an electronic image, with the images of the particles in the electronic images. The images of the particles are extracted from the electronic images. The images of the particles are displayed in an ordered array by classes of visually discernible characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface apparatus between a digital computer and an analog communication medium. The interface apparatus has a telephony apparatus for transmitting or receiving the voice signals and a modem for transmitting or receiving the data signals. A switch is interposed between the telephone line and the modem and the telephony apparatus. The switch can be alternatively switched such that the telephony apparatus is connected to the telephone lines and transmits and receives voice signals and the modem is connected to receive data carrier signals that precede digital data signals and follow the digital data signals to and from the medium, or in the second position wherein the modem is connected to transmit and to receive digital data signals. The interface apparatus further has an interrupt for interrupting the operation of the computer and for causing the computer to be in communication with the modem and for switching the switch to connect the modem with the medium.

Abstract: Urinary particulates in a human subject which have been coated with THP is determined to be from the region of the nephron which is above the Henle loop in the nephron where THP is produced. The identification of those particles in the urine sample which had been coated with THP is performed by subjecting the sample to THP antibodies to form THP antibody-antigen complexes. These complexes can be identified by a number of ways, such as visual, fluorescent, etc. By determining the percentage of the total particulates which have the coating of THP, a diagnostic tool for determining renal disorders is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically locating the boundary of an object in a field of view has a raster scan device to generate an electrical image of the field of view. The electrical image is segmented and digitized to form a first representation. The image is then processed by comparing the digitized signal to a pre-set threshold to form a second representation. A converter combines each value of the pixel of the second representation with the values of the adjacent pixels into a single value and stores it in a corresponding location in a third representation. The values of the pixels in the third representation are read out and compared to a look-up table. A chain code of the boundary of the particle is formed from the look-up table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for examining the content of a volume of biological sample containing particles to determine the diagnostic significance of that volume of biological sample. A number of aliquots of the sample are distributed and are examined under low power field magnification. The total number of aliquots examined under low power field magnification is a first fraction of the volume of biological sample. The number of particles detected in the first fraction is counted. The number of particles detected is compared to a first known total. In the event the comparison yields the result that the sample contains diagnostically insignificant number of particles, then the method is terminated. Otherwise the method is continued. A second fraction of volume of the biological sample, comprising a plurality of aliquots, is examined under high power field magnification. The number of particles detected under high power magnification is totalled. This is then compared to a second known total.

Abstract: In an immunoassay procedure, an analyte in a solution is reacted with a reagent with a label. The reagent is segregated into solid phase (particles) and liquid phase (liquid) with the unreacted reagent ion one phase and the reacted reagent in another phase. An image of the suspension is then taken. The image is converted into electrical signal representation and is stored in digital form. The image is processed by locating and quantifying the labels. The distribution of the labels is representative of the distribution of the reagent between the particles and the liquid.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for analyzing particles and particularly blood cells by conveying the particles along a broad shallow path where the path is magnified and converted into a series of still frame images with multiple particles in individual images. The still frame images are manipulated and combined as digital images to generate measures of the blood cells in the overall fluid sample giving different selected measures, such as, particle count, particle count of different kinds of cells, cell area, and cell count of different predetermined categories of cell type.