Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated cell analysis of biological specimens automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. The low magnification images are converted from a first color space to a second color space. The color space converted image is then low pass filtered and compared to a threshold to remove artifacts and background objects from the candidate object of interest pixels of the color converted image. The candidate object of interest pixels are morphologically processed to group candidate object of interest pixels together into groups which are compared to blob parameters to identify candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells or other structures relevant to medical diagnosis of the biological specimen. The location coordinates of the objects of interest are stored and additional images of the candidate cell objects are acquired at high magnification.

Abstract: The invention relates to reverse focusing and methods and systems which employ reverse focusing. In a particular example, an automated focusing microscope uses one or more reverse focusing steps to acquire a focused image. Computer programs having instructions for instructing a computer to acquire a focused image by reverse focusing are also included.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated staining apparatus (autostainer) capable of staining sample on a microscope slide. The autostainer is capable of limiting the amount of reagent used through a process including image acquisition and processing techniques, wherein an image of the slide is acquired and used to determine a region on the slide to be stained. Also disclosed are methods of using images acquired by the autostainer in sample processing. In addition, a system including the autostainer functionally linked to an imaging system is provided.

Abstract: A method for automated image analysis of a biological specimen by histological reconstruction. Also provided is an automated cell image method for analyzing a biological specimen that has consecutively been stained by either an in situ hybridization (ISH) method, or an immunohistochemistry (IHC) method or a nucleic acid stain, and counterstained. The method couples composite images in an automated manner for processing and analysis. To identify structure in tissue that cannot be captured in a single field of view image or a single staining technique, the disclosure provides a method for histological reconstruction to analyze many fields of view on potentially many slides simultaneously.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for automated light microscopic for detection of proteins associated with cell proliferative disorders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated cell analysis of biological specimens automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images (288) which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. The low magnification images are converted from a first color space to a second color space (290). The color space converted image is then low pass filtered (292) and compared to a threshold (294) to remove artifacts and background objects from the candidate object of interest pixels of the color converted image. The candidate object of interest pixels are morphologically processed (296) to group candidate object of interest pixels together into groups which are compared to blob parameters (298) to identify candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells or other structures relevant to medical diagnosis of the biological specimen. The location coordinates of the objects of interest are stored and additional images of the candidate cell objects are acquired at high magnification.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an imager is used to generate an image of a sample, e.g., a tissue sample including diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) stained cells. A user selects a region to be scored in the image. A mean intensity value of a selected color is determined from the pixels in the selected region. The selected color may be the complement of a color to be scored, which, in the case of a DAB test, is blue. A score is generated in response to the mean intensity value using a stored calibration curve.

Abstract: A keyed color generator for use in a machine vision system may include three color channels with a subtractor in each to subtract a corresponding component color of a background on which the object under inspection is being observed. This subtraction operation produces adjusted red (R), green (G), and blue (B) values. The R and B values may be divided by the adjusted G value to produce R/G and B/G color ratios. These color ratios and the adjusted G value may be compared to associated upper and lower threshold values corresponding to a keyed color. If all of the calculated values fall within the associated ranges, the generator outputs a signal indicative of the keyed color.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: A method for automated image analysis of a biological specimen by histological reconstruction. Also provided is an automated cell image method for analyzing a biological specimen that has consecutively been stained by either an in situ hybridization (ISH) method, or an immunohistochemistry (IHC) method or a nucleic acid stain, and counterstained. The method couples composite images in an automated manner for processing and analysis. To identify structure in tissue that cannot be captured in a single field of view image or a single staining technique, the disclosure provides a method for histological reconstruction to analyze many fields of view on potentially many slides simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention relates to reverse focusing and methods and systems which employ reverse focusing. In a particular example, an automated focusing microscope uses one or more reverse focusing steps to acquire a focused image. Computer programs having instructions for instructing a computer to acquire a focused image by reverse focusing are also included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated cell analysis of biological specimens automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. The low magnification images are converted from a first color space to a second color space. The color space converted image is then low pass filtered and compared to a threshold to remove artifacts and background objects from the candidate object of interest pixels of the color converted image. The candidate object of interest pixels are morphologically processed to group candidate object of interest pixels together into groups which are compared to blob parameters to identify candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells or other structures relevant to medical diagnosis of the biological specimen. The location coordinates of the objects of interest are stored and additional images of the candidate cell objects are acquired at high magnification.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for automated light microscopic for detection of proteins associated with cell proliferative disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to reverse focusing and methods and systems which employ reverse focusing. In a particular example, an automated focusing microscope uses one or more reverse focusing steps to acquire a focused image. Computer programs having instructions for instructing a computer to acquire a focused image by reverse focusing are also included.

Abstract: A color transition and area counting device for use in a machine vision system may include an input port for inputting a stream of pixels in a frame. The pixels in the frame with particular colors may be counted and stored by associated counters. The frame may be loaded simultaneously into four frame memories. Each frame memory may be read out in a different pattern, for example, horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and cross-diagonally. The number of valid color transitions detected in each of the four read out operations may be added to determine a transition count for the frame. The area count and transition count may be used to flag potentially defective objects examined by the system.

Abstract: A method for automated image analysis of a biological specimen by histological reconstruction. Also provided is an automated cell image method for analyzing a biological specimen that has consecutively been stained by either an in situ hybridization (ISH) method, or an immunohistochemistry (IHC) method or a nucleic acid stain, and counterstained. The method couples composite images in an automated manner for processing and analysis. To identify structure in tissue that cannot be captured in a single field of view image or a single staining technique, the disclosure provides a method for histological reconstruction to analyze many fields of view on potentially many slides simultaneously.

Abstract: A color threshold analyzer includes a converter to convert signals representative of a pixel color value, e.g., red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signals, to signals representing hue (H), saturation (S), and intensity (I) values. Comparators are provided to compare the hue value to upper and lower hue reference values, the saturation value to a lower saturation reference value, and the intensity value to upper and lower intensity values. A switch may be provided to select a desired orientation (i.e., clockwise or counter-clockwise) on a polar hue scale to define the values between the upper ad lower hue reference values. A color identifier may output a signal indicating that the pixel color value corresponds to a desired color range in response to each of the H, S, and I values falling within their associated range.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated cell analysis of biological specimens automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. The low magnification images are converted from a first color space to a second color space. The color space converted image is then low pass filtered and compared to a threshold to remove artifacts and background objects from the candidate object of interest pixels of the color converted image. The candidate object of interest pixels are morphologically processed to group candidate object of interest pixels together into groups which are compared to blob parameters to identify candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells or other structures relevant to medical diagnosis of the biological specimen. The location coordinates of the objects of interest are stored and additional images of the candidate cell objects are acquired at high magnification.

Abstract: The system and method for evaluating the amount of marker identifying precipitate in a cellular specimen on a microscope slide is disclosed. The automated microscope system performs a low magnification and high magnification scan of a cellular specimen to identify and confirm candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells containing a marker identifying precipitate. A regularly shaped area centered about a centroid computed for a candidate object of interest is used to define the pixels to be processed. A color ratio is computed for each pixel and those color ratios indicative of being dominated by the color corresponding to the marker identified precipitate are summed and normalized. The normalized color ratio is compared to at least one predetermined threshold to assign a grade to the candidate objects of interest. The grades for a predetermined number of candidate objects of interest are summed to form an aggregate score and the aggregate score is compared to a threshold.