Systems, processes, methods and machines for transforming image data into sizing and volume measurements for tissue

• US 10,169,876 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prodo Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Prodo Laboratories
• Inventors: McCord, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Weiwen
• Application Number:
  US15/844,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20180108130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0211 Investigating a scatter or diffraction pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1493 Particle size
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/008 Details of detection or image processing, including general computer control
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts

Abstract

Automated islet measurement systems (AIMS) in combination with tissue volume analysis (TVA) software effectively gauges volumetric and size-based data to generate heretofore unavailable information regarding, for example, populations of islet cells, stem cells and related desiderata.

Claims

1. A method of measuring the volume of a live unfixed cell with a natural, undeformed by a mechanical force, shape comprising the steps of:

identifying a live unfixed cell in a flask, wherein opposing surfaces of the flask do not deform the live unfixed cell;

visualizing the live unfixed cell in the flask through a lens of a non-phase contrast microscope connected to a monochrome charge-coupled device camera;

illuminating the live unfixed cell with a trans-illumination means, which exceeds deep field image size by a factor of at least two;

imaging the live unfixed cell with the camera, wherein the live unfixed cell has a natural, undeformed by a mechanical force, shape;

the image comprising pixels;

evaluating a cross-section size of the live unfixed cell;

measuring an optical transmission at each pixel within the live unfixed cell;

calculating a volume of tissue at each pixel; and

calculating a total volume for the live unfixed cell with an automated cell measurement system, comprising tissue volume analysis software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the live unfixed cell is a pancreatic cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the live unfixed cell is an islet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the live unfixed cell is a stem cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the live unfixed cell is a sphere of stem cells.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flask is a culture flask.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the culture flask is a horizontal culture flask.