Abstract: A computer aided biological specimen screener is responsive to a priori information about biological specimens. An automated slide classifier scans a slide specimen and generates a set of scores. The classification which results from this set of scores depends on a priori information concerning the patient, such as patient age and prior health history and diagnosis. Using the patient information and an appropriate score, the specimen is classified. A normal threshold used for classification is changed over a wide range depending on the specificity appropriate to a particular patient risk category. The sensitivity of the classification is automatically maximized for a predetermined normal specificity.

Abstract: An automatic screening apparatus that screens all pap smear slides called normal by cytotechnologist. These normal pap smears will contain the mistakes, false negatives, which must be recovered as a measure of the cytotechnologist's performance. Additionally, these mistakes must be discovered to improve the quality of the laboratory services. The automated screening machine after rescreening the normals, rank orders of the pap smears with those "normals" most likely to be missed ranked at the top. Another human screener re-examines those pap smears with high ranking to determine if the first human screener misclassified the pap smear. Mistakes are recovered and the performance of the first screener is assessed. Proficiency testing is accomplished with 100% quality control.

Abstract: A network system for review and analysis of computer encoded microscope slides and specimens which were originally computer encoded from a microscope (attached via an encoder device to a local computer site), during an initial examination. The encoding includes parameters of viewing locations and events of interest on the slide, with such information being stored on a networked file server. The encoding also includes information regarding the manner in which the initial examination was conducted, for quality control purposes. The computer encoded information is retrievable at all remote locations of the network (either local or connected via modem) for supervisor review or for pathologist analysis. The network is further constituted by microscope sites having similar computer encoding devices attached thereto, which function, in this aspect, as computer terminals of the network. For enhanced analysis, the computer terminals have direct access to patient background information, e.g.

Abstract: A computerized slide encoder for use with microscope analysis and pathological studies is provided. The slide encoder is attached to the movable microscope stage, whereby x-y direction plane movement and location, is correlated to examination of an identified slide, with information marking and location being directly correspondingly written, at pre-defined times, on computer storage media, during the examination. Subsequent use of the computer-stored information, coupled with the slide encoder, in a slide re-examination, permits independent retrieval of such information and location on the slide. The computer storage media includes digitized vocal transcription of history of the slide made during the original examination. An embodiment of the slide encoder includes a computer mouse pen affixed to the stage of the microscope and a rolling surface, for the mouse pen, being affixed to the movable slide holder.

Abstract: Reference information for a biological slide is obtained. The reference information normalizes the measured object features. Calibrated feature measurement, not based on absolute measurements, self adjusts to match the situation of each slide, where each slide is characterized by the reference information. The reference may be different from slide to slide because of the preparation variations. The calibrated features will not carry the inter-slide variations. In addition, the reference information provides a good indication of the slide condition such as dark stained, air dried, etc. which can be used as slide features for the specimen classification. No alteration of the current practice of specimen preparation is required. The many slide context dependent features improve the classification accuracy of the objects in a specimen.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying normal biomedical specimens. Image data is gathered representing an image of the specimen. The image data is processed to measure features of the objects to determine whether the object is normal. The feature measurements for all objects in the specimen are then combined to determine whether the specimen as a whole is normal.

Abstract: Image enhancement for a digital image, such as an image of a biological specimen mounted on a microscope slide or a cytological specimen is herein described. A digital representation of the image is dilated to produce a dilated image and eroded to provide an eroded image. The dilated image, eroded image and the digital representation of the image are then processed to produce an enhanced image.

Abstract: A method for high speed morphological processing in a computerized image processing system starts by acquiring a binary image and selecting feature and height values corresponding to a desired morphological processing of an image. The image is scanned in a raster scanning sequence so as to produce a scanned image including a plurality of pixels. A sequential labeling transformation is performed on each of the plurality of pixels of the scanned image so as to produce a transformed image. A thresholding operation is performed on the transformed image. The resultant image is translated.

Abstract: A sensor for locating the position of and measuring the velocity of an impacting object. The sensor employs a net attached at each edge to sensor modules mounted on a frame. Each sensor module includes an output drum, a take up drum, a spring and a motor. The net is attached to the sensor modules by cords wound on a spring loaded output drum. The drum is coaxial with a motor that generates a voltage proportional to the angular velocity of the drum. The diode isolated motor partially dissipates the energy of impact to heat on the return stroke in response to the restorative force of the spring. An object impacting a net draws the cord from the output drum, generating a voltage from an attached motor. A maximum voltage or an integrated voltage generated by the motors determines the velocity of impact. Each particular net has an associated set of axes. A pair of motors, their position known relative to the frame, are placed along these axes attached to one or more strings by a cord.

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: 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: Field of views of a slide are examined to assess the likelihood of existence of detectable single cells, groups, and thick groups of cells to locate objects of interest by an automated microscope. The FOV features consists of features selected from the distribution profiles of size, shape, layout arrangement, texture and density of all objects within a FOV which are compared against pre-determined criteria.Each field of view is assigned a likelihood value based on FOV features. Areas that are blank, or contain air bubbles, or are too dense for analysis are identified and excluded for further analysis. Each FOV is ranked according to its likelihood of containing SIL (Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion) cells or cell groups of interest. These results, such as SIL, single cell ranking, group ranking are used to arrange the further examination of FOVs in a priority order.

Abstract: A classifier measures robustness responsive to object presentation effects and decision boundary effects. A cytological image analysis computer obtains objects of interest and classifies them responsive to a decision tree classifier. The robustness of classification is calculated dynamically as objects are classified responsive to a segmentation robustness and a classification decisiveness measure. The results of the decisiveness measure and the segmentation robustness data are combined to provide enhanced overall classification reliability.

Abstract: A robust biological specimen classifier. An automated microscopy system obtains features from an image of a biological specimen slide. A computer system in the automated microscopy system computes feature variations. Clusters are created that comprise samples of similar characteristics. A cluster membership generator generates membership values for each cluster. Classifiers specialized to certain feature sets are used to provide independent outputs. These outputs are offset and biased by the output of the membership generator. The output of the adjusted classification values are summed to create a slide score output.

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.