Abstract: A method and system that includes injecting light into a vapor cell; detecting an output of the light from the vapor cell; modulating the light injected into the vapor cell in dependence on the detected output to achieve an oscillating signal; applying an energy pulse to the vapor cell prior to achieving the oscillating signal to decrease a time required to achieve the oscillating signal; and determining a magnetic field measurement in dependence on a frequency of the oscillating signal.

Abstract: A method and system that includes injecting light into a vapor cell; detecting an output of the light from the vapor cell; modulating the light injected into the vapor cell in dependence on the detected output to achieve an oscillating signal; applying an energy pulse to the vapor cell prior to achieving the oscillating signal to decrease a time required to achieve the oscillating signal; and determining a magnetic field measurement in dependence on a frequency of the oscillating signal.

Abstract: A neural network assisted multi-spectral segmentation method and system. According to the invention, three images having different optical bands are acquired for the same micrographic scene of a biological sample. The images are processed and a cellular material map is generated identifying cellular material. The cellular material map is then applied to a neural network. The neural network classifies the cellular material map into nuclear objects and cytoplasmic objects by determining a threshold surface in the 3-dimensional space separating the cytoplasmic and nuclear regions. In another aspect, the neural network comprises a hardware-encoded algorithm in the form of a look-up table.

Abstract: A method for segmenting spectrally-resolved images. The first step comprises acquisition of three images of the same micrographic scene. Each image is obtained using a different narrow band-pass optical filter which has the effect of selecting a narrow band of optical wavelengths associated with distinguishing absorption peaks in the stain spectra. The choice of optical wavelength bands is guided by the degree of separation afforded by these peaks when used to distinguish the different types of cellular material on the slide surface. By combining these images in a particular fashion, it is possible to achieve a high degree of success in separating the cervical cell from the background and the nuclei from the cytoplasm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for preparing specimens of biological cells uniformly distributed over a substrate surface. The method comprises providing a suspension of biological cells in fluid, and then extracting biological target cells from the suspension to leave debris and contaminants behind. The extracted target cells are distributed over a substrate surface into a primary layer of cells coupled to the substrate surface with the remaining cells forming a secondary layer on top of the primary layer. The target cells forming the secondary layer are then removed to produce a substantially non-overlapping layer of target cells coupled to the substrate surface.

Abstract: A neural network assisted multi-spectral segmentation method and system. According to the invention, three images having different optical bands are acquired for the same micrographic scene of a biological sample. The images are processed and a cellular material map is generated identifying cellular material. The cellular material map is then applied to a neural network. The neural network classifies the cellular material map into nuclear objects and cytoplasmic objects by determining a threshold surface in the 3-dimensional space separating the cytoplasmic and nuclear regions. In another aspect, the neural network comprises a hardware-encoded algorithm in the form of a look-up table.

Abstract: A biological specimen preparation system for processing and depositing a portion of a biological specimen from a specimen vial onto a slide. The biological specimen preparation specimen includes a specimen processing unit and an external actuation unit. The specimen vial is connected to an input port on the specimen processing unit and the slide is coupled to an output port. A portion of the biological specimen is injected into the specimen processing unit and prepared by sequentially passing the biological specimen under the control of the external actuation unit through a number of specimen conditioning chambers and a specimen enrichment chamber in the specimen processing unit. The specimen is then deposited on the slide through the output port. To prevent sample to sample contamination, the specimen processing unit is manufactured as a disposable component using injection moulding techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring exfoliated cells from a variety of specimen collection devices to a preservation fluid contained in a specimen vial. The apparatus comprises an interior frame member which is inserted into the specimen vial. The interior frame member includes a cross-bar member and an open-ended well. The cross-bar member includes a blade which provides an edge for scraping exfoliated cells from a spatula type specimen collection device. The cross-bar member also provides a lower edge for disconnecting a broom sampling head from a broom type collection device of disconnecting a combination type sampling head from a Combi™ type specimen collection device. The open-ended well comprises a sloped interior wall and a lower edge for removing exfoliated cells from a brush sampling head on a brush type collection device.

Abstract: A system and method for database element retrieval. A query comprises identifying which elements in the database are close or similar to an example which is specified in the query. The query is performed by defining a hyper-box that surrounds the example in the database space. Once the hyper-box is defined, the elements contained within the hyper-box will be close or similar to the example in the query. The elements contained in the hyper-box may be subsequently ranked in the database space using a Euclidean concept of distance.

Abstract: A multi-channel spectral imaging module for an automated testing system for cytological applications. The multi-channel spetral imaging module generates four channels of digitized images of a cytological specimen for further processing in the automated testing system. The multi-spectral imaging module comprises a visible light source and an infrared light source, an optical imaging module, a prism module, and an output stage. The cytological specimen is strobed by the visible light and infrared light sources and the illuminated images of the specimen are focussed and coupled to the prism module by the optical imaging module. The prism module breaks the illuminated image into four channels comprising three visible light channels and an infrared channel. The output stage comprises a CCD array sensor for each channel. The CCD array sensor digitizes the image for channel and produces an output for further processing.

Abstract: A system is provided for the automated imaging of a succession of microscope slides (S). The slides are mounted in carriers and loaded into cassettes. Slide carriers from a first cassette in a slide loader (2) are ejected from the cassette into a loading station and thence moved by an actuator onto a stage beneath a microscope objective (6) which images a sub-area of a circular sample area on the slide onto an imaging sensor (10) whence images are digitized and stored. The stage (4) is conjointly rotated by a motor (22) as a carrier (24) for the stage is moved linearly, so as to execute a spiral scan of sub-areas of the sample area which sub-areas are successively imaged using a strobe lamp (12) to illuminate the sample area at intervals during the scan determined by signals from an encoder (25). A preliminary scan, which may be in an opposite direction along the spiral, may be used to obtain, for a focus actuator (18), focusing data used during the scan.

Abstract: A window texture extraction process for quantifying texture features in grey-level images and combining the quantified texture features with previously derived classification results. The previously determined classification results require that all of the training data and all the target data be assigned, or be capable of being assigned to one of two classes. The result is a set of new features that can be quickly analyzed to determine such properties as class membership for identification purposes. In order to fold-in the classification results, the class membership is established in previous experiments on images which have been characterized. The previous experiments are executed through the application of a window texture extraction kernel according to the invention.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system incorporates an imaging device utilizing confocal acoustic focusing of ultrasonic transducers together with apparatus for moving points of focus of the transducers to scan a volume to be imaged and gather data as to the acoustic reflectivity of matter within the volume, the gathered data being used to construct an image of the volume. In a preferred arrangement the point of focus of each transducer is moved in three dimensions. Use of confocal techniques can permit enhanced resolution to be obtained compared with conventional ultrasonic imaging techniques.