Abstract: An array of ultrasonic transducers, where each of the ultrasonic transducers has a matching layer end and a driving layer/individually isolated end. A bump bond connects each one of the ultrasonic transducers to a substrate. A high voltage electrical conductor is connected to at least one driving layer/individually isolated end to provide a drive signal to at least one of the ultrasonic transducers. A conductive/matching layer is disposed to electrically connect each matching layer end. An outer matching layer is connected to the conductive/matching layer. The bump bond is an indium or solder bump bond having a contact area for contact with an ultrasonic transducer less than 20 percent of the driving layer/individually isolated end for the contacted ultrasonic transducer so as to provide mechanical stability while reducing cross talk among the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: An alfalfa product, hybrids and non-hybrids, and a method for synthesizing an alfalfa product having increased uniformity for preselected traits having improved uniformity of one or more selected traits, including flowering dates, flower frequency, maturity rate, growth rate, fall dormancy and winterhardiness. The alfalfa product may also include improved predictability of these traits. A scheduled harvest system may be established using two or more varieties of the alfalfa product having different and predictable mean flowering dates. The scheduled harvest system may be designed to allow for harvesting of alfalfa varieties at maximum relative feeding value. The method may be used to synthesize an alfalfa product having one or more predetermined traits. The method selects germplasm, including a cytoplasmic male sterile line, a genetic male sterile line, a maintainer line, a restorer line and a line having normal cytoplasm, having agronomically desirable traits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a slide is suitable for processing. A suite of suitability tests are performed by an automated microscope system. The tests include magnification error flags, staining flags, main optical density flags, including detected intermediate cell nuclei, rings around detected intermediate cell nuclei, average texture measure of detected intermediate cell nuclei, average contrast to detected intermediate cell nuclei to cytoplasm, standard deviation of detected intermediate cell nuclei optical densities, detected intermediate cell ratios, average stripe area, measure of a saturated magnification of the image, measure of a grossly saturated magnification, and the percentage of images focused properly on a first try, including images never focused properly. The automated microscope quantifies the measurements in a reliable and repeatable way.

Abstract: A method for checking cytological system illumination including the steps of checking global illumination variation, static field uniformity, dynamic field uniformity, specimen thickness variation, strobe repeatability, calibration plate cleanliness, and strobe dropout. A calibration plate and test target is employed for various illumination checks.

Abstract: A method for identifying the size, shape, and location of objects in a specimen where the image of the specimen is represented by image data and where the image data is processed to provide mask data representing a mask where the mask identifies the size, shape, and location of the object. Generally, the method includes the step of enhancing the image and creating a threshold image where the threshold image includes a threshold intensity value associated with each pixel of the image. The threshold image is combined with the original image to provide a mask image that identifies the size, shape, and location of the objects. The mask image may be further refined to ensure accurate identification of the object. Various other techniques are disclosed within the general method for processing image data.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for urine sediment sample handling includes settling cells for carrying patient samples transported on a sample and cell transport assembly. An illumination and camera assembly is positioned in an examination area to view one of the settling cells when it moves to the examination area. The illumination and camera assembly have a first data output. An image processing assembly is coupled to receive data from the first data output. The image processing assembly have a second data output for carrying processed digital data. A processor having control lines is coupled to the sample and cell transport assembly, illumination and camera assembly, and image processing assembly where the sample and cell transport assembly, illumination and camera assembly, and image processing assembly operate responsively to commands from the processor to handle the urine sediment samples.

Abstract: The detection of optical stripes on an image of a glass slide of material of interest. An automated microscope system with an illuminator having a spatial intensity homogenizer provides spatially uniform illumination of a microscope slide specimen. Periodic optical patterns formed from the illumination system are detected by a computer system. The computer forms a high transmission mask of an image of the biological specimen. Edges in the image are detected and a low transmission area process is performed. Horizontal stripes are enhanced. A final thresholding generates a binary image of the patterns. Stripes in the patterns are detected an a stripe flag and strip area are calculated.

Abstract: An illumination device provides temporally, spatially and angularly stable illumination for microscopic evaluations. An arc lamp serves as the light source. An input optical train gathers and focuses the light through an aperture stop to place an image of the arc incident on an input aperture of a light pipe. The magnification of the arc lamp is chosen to reduce the variation due to occlusion. The light pipe spatially homogenizes the light while preserving the angular integrity. An exit window may be placed over the exit aperture of the light pipe to keep dust and debris out of focus. Another optical train receives the spatially homogenized, angularly preserved light and may focus a many arclet images to fill the pupil of a condenser lens. The condenser lens also may focus the exit aperture of the light pipe onto or near the specimen on a microscope slide. A feedback system samples the light and corrects for residual temporal variations by electronically modifying the image as it leaves a CCD.

Abstract: An automated biological specimen screener reports an assessment of slide and specimen preparation and quality. The automated biological specimen screener measures, parameters which reflect slide physical characteristics, specimen collection quality, and specimen preparation quality. The automated system reports an objective measure and uses a consistent standard of evaluation. The automated system evaluates characteristics of a slide set from a clinic. The automated system makes a determination of whether these characteristics are within a training capability of a given automated biological screener. Additionally, rather than periodic reviews, slides successfully scanned by the automated system may be used as part of a specimen preparation assessment.

Abstract: An automated method for checking cytological system autofocus integrity. The automated method includes the steps of checking focus illumination integrity, checking focus camera Modulation Transfer Function, checking focus camera position integrity, and checking closed loop accuracy. Checking focus illumination integrity includes checking focus illumination system integrity, and checking a focus noise floor level. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus camera longitudinal separation, and checking focus camera lateral separation. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus filter frequency response.

Abstract: A computer receives image data from a star-shaped optical target in the object plane and calculates angle-dependent boundary sharpness. The horizontal, x-direction, amplitude derivative and the vertical, y-direction, amplitude derivative are computed over a portion of each star pattern image from a Z panning sequence. A microscope slide stage, carrying the target, is moved vertically from a level just below where the target is in focus to a level just above where the target is in focus. For each small increment of vertical motion, Z panning, an image of the star pattern is captured for analysis. Computations are performed on the differentiated images to search for evidence of elongation of the point spread function and variation with stage Z position of the angle of long axis of such an out-of-round point spread function. The presence of a distorted point spread function that varies along the optical axis indicates astigmatism.

Abstract: Coverslip detection locating all four coverslip edges. A field of view processor receives image data from a charge coupled device camera. The charge coupled device camera images a slide and coverslip that is mounted on a movable frame. The slide and coverslip are illuminated from below with a uniform light source. The moveable frame is under computer control and moves in response to the field of view processor. The field of view processor locates the coverslip by first positioning the movable frame to view a portion of the slide on a predetermined potion of the slide within a predetermined area of the slide. The slide is then re-imaged after the movable frame moves the slide toward a chosen edge of direction. Edge type objects are located and followed over multiple fields of view. If the edge object satisfies a set of predetermined criteria the coverslip edge has been found. The edge is extended to find all four corners of the coverslip. The edge objects are processed using morphological operators.

Abstract: A cytological system dynamic normalization of a normal threshold. An analysis score from a slide is compared against a threshold to determine whether or not the slide is normal or requires microscopy review. The normal threshold is dynamically adjusted using a three step process. The process is implemented on an automatic cytology system. The first step is initial calibration of the system to determine an initial threshold. The second step is a running adjustment of the normal threshold in response to the presentation of new slides to the automatic cytology system. The third step is the batch certification of every slide. The threshold may be adjusted for an analysis score, a quality control score, or a screening score.