Abstract: A method of segmenting chromatin particles in a nucleus of a cell by locating regional minima in an image, computing a zone of influence (ZOI) around each regional minimum, and segmenting a single chromatin blob within each ZOI using a region growing procedure. The method can be used as the basis of a method of qualitatively characterizing the distribution of nuclear chromatin by computing features for individual chromatin particles. Chromatin features can be synthesized from the features of individual particles and particle features can be synthesized into nucleus features and slide features. The method is useful for detecting malignancy associated changes and changes during neoplasia. The method may also be used more generally to assess chromatin patterns in living cells during the cell life cycle. This makes it possible to measure alternations in the evolving patterns that result from pathological or environmental influences.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving individual signals in detector output data, the method comprising determining a signal form of signals present in the data, making parameter estimates of one or more parameters of the signals, wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least signal temporal position, and determining the energy of the signals from at least the form and the parameter estimates.