Image processing method and system for microfluidic devices

• US 20050282175A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Inventors: Sun, Gang, Dube, Simant, Taylor, Colin Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6.19
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/213 Feature extraction, e.g. by transforming the feature space; Summarisation; Mappings, e.g. subspace methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/7715 Feature extraction, e.g. by transforming the feature space, e.g. multi-dimensional scaling [MDS]; Mappings, e.g. subspace methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/693 Acquisition

Abstract

A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device. The method includes receiving a first image of a microfluidic device. The first image corresponds to a first state. Additionally, the method includes receiving a second image of the microfluidic device. The second image corresponds to a second state. Moreover, the method includes transforming the first image and the second image into a third coordinate space. Also, the method includes obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image, and processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.

Claims

1. A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image corresponding to a first state;

receiving a second image of the microfluidic device, the second image corresponding to a second state;

transforming the first image into a third coordinate space, the transforming using at least a first fiducial on the first image;

transforming the second image into the third coordinate space, the transforming using at least a second fiducial on the second image;

obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image;

processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

locating the at least a first fiducial on the first image;

locating the at least a second fiducial on the second image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transforming the first image into a third coordinate space comprises:

associating the at least a first fiducial to at least a third fiducial in the third coordinate space;

performing a first transformation to the first image based on at least information associated with the at least a first fiducial and the at least a third fiducial.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the performing a first transformation comprises:

estimating the first transformation based on at least information associated with the at least a first fiducial and the at least a third fiducial;

converting the first image into the third coordinate space, the converting using the first transformation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the transforming the second image into the third coordinate space comprises:

associating the at least a second fiducial to the at least a third fiducial in the third coordinate space;

performing a second transformation to the second image based on at least information associated with the at least a second fiducial and the at least a third fiducial.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the performing a second transformation comprises:

estimating the second transformation based on at least information associated with the at least a second fiducial and the at least a third fiducial;

converting the second image into the third coordinate space, the converting using the second transformation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining a third image comprises:

obtaining a difference between the first image and the second image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the obtaining a third image further comprises:

masking at least a first part of the first image, the at least a first part free from information associated with the first state;

masking at least a second part of the second image, the at least a second part free from information associated with the second state.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least a second part corresponds to the at least a first part, the at least a second part based on at least information associated with a change of a feature from the first image to the second image.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the obtaining a third image further comprises masking at least a third part of the third image, the at least a third part free from information associated with the first state and the second state.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least a third part is based on at least information associated with a change of a feature from the first image to the second image.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first state is different from the second state.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the first state is the same as the second state.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the first state is associated with absence of crystallization.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the second state is associated with presence of crystallization.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the second state is associated with absence of crystallization.

75. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first image comprises a first chamber region associated with a first chamber boundary;

the second image comprises a second chamber region associated with a second chamber boundary;

the obtaining a third image comprises determining an implosion padding based on information associated with the first image and the second image.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the determining an implosion padding comprises:

processing information associated with the first image;

determining a first index related to a first implosion associated with the first chamber boundary based on at least information associated with the first image;

processing information associated with the second image;

determining a second index related to a second implosion associated with the second chamber boundary based on at least information associated with the second image;

processing information associated with the first index and the second index;

determining the implosion padding based on at least information associated with the first index and the second index.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the determining a first index related to a first implosion comprises:

selecting a plurality of image areas, the plurality of image areas associated with a plurality of boundaries respectively;

determining a plurality of median intensities associated with the plurality of boundaries respectively;

processing information associated with the plurality of median intensities;

determining the first index based on at least information associated with the plurality of median intensities.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein the determining the first index based on at least information associated with the plurality of median intensities comprises:

determining a minimum intensity from the plurality of median intensities, the minimum intensity being associated with one of the plurality of boundaries;

determining the first index based on at least information associated with the one of the plurality of boundaries.

12. A computer-readable medium including instructions for processing an image of a microfluidic device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image corresponding to a first state;

one or more instructions for receiving a second image of the microfluidic device, the second image corresponding to a second state;

one or more instructions for transforming the first image into a third coordinate space, the transforming using at least a first fiducial on the first image;

one or more instructions for transforming the second image into the third coordinate space, the transforming using at least a second fiducial on the second image;

one or more instructions for obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image;

one or more instructions for processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, the computer-readable medium further comprising:

one or more instructions for locating the at least a first fiducial on the first image;

one or more instructions for locating the at least a second fiducial on the second image.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the one or more instructions for transforming the first image into a third coordinate space comprises:

one or more instructions for associating the at least a first fiducial to at least a third fiducial in the third coordinate space;

one or more instructions for performing a first transformation to the first image based on at least information associated with the at least a first fiducial and the at least a third fiducial.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the one or more instructions for performing a first transformation comprises:

one or more instructions for estimating the first transformation based on at least information associated with the at least a first fiducial and the at least a third fiducial;

one or more instructions for converting the first image into the third coordinate space, the converting using the first transformation.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the one or more instructions for transforming the second image into the third coordinate space comprises:

one or more instructions for associating the at least a second fiducial to the at least a third fiducial in the third coordinate space;

one or more instructions for performing a second transformation to the second image based on at least information associated with the at least a second fiducial and the at least a third fiducial.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for performing a second transformation comprises:

one or more instructions for estimating the second transformation based on at least information associated with the at least a second fiducial and the at least a third fiducial;

one or more instructions for converting the second image into the third coordinate space, the converting using the second transformation.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the one or more instructions for obtaining a third image comprises:

one or more instructions for obtaining a difference between the first image and the second image.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more instructions for obtaining a third image further comprises:

one or more instructions for masking at least a first part of the first image, the at least a first part free from information associated with the first state;

one or more instructions for masking at least a second part of the second image, the at least a second part free from information associated with the second state.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the at least a second part corresponds to the at least a first part, the at least a second part based on at least information associated with a change of a feature from the first image to the second image.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more instructions for obtaining a third image further comprises one or more instructions for masking at least a third part of the third image, the at least a third part free from information associated with the first state and the second state.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the at least a third part is based on at least information associated with a change of a feature from the first image to the second image.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the first state is different from the second state.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the first state is the same as the second state.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the first state is associated with absence of crystallization.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the second state is associated with presence of crystallization.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the second state is associated with absence of crystallization.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein:

the first image comprises a first chamber region associated with a first chamber boundary;

the second image comprises a second chamber region associated with a second chamber boundary;

the one or more instructions for obtaining a third image comprises one or more instructions for determining an implosion padding based on information associated with the first image and the second image.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the one or more instructions for determining an implosion padding comprises:

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first image;

one or more instructions for determining a first index related to a first implosion associated with the first chamber boundary based on at least information associated with the first image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the second image;

one or more instructions for determining a second index related to a second implosion associated with the second chamber boundary based on at least information associated with the second image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first index and the second index;

one or more instructions for determining the implosion padding based on at least information associated with the first index and the second index.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 80 wherein the one or more instructions for determining a first index related to a first implosion comprises:

one or more instructions for selecting a plurality of image areas, the plurality of image areas associated with a plurality of boundaries respectively;

one or more instructions for determining a plurality of median intensities associated with the plurality of boundaries respectively;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the plurality of median intensities;

one or more instructions for determining the first index based on at least information associated with the plurality of median intensities.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the one or more instructions for determining the first index based on at least information associated with the plurality of median intensities comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a minimum intensity from the plurality of median intensities, the minimum intensity being associated with one of the plurality of boundaries;

determining the first index based on at least information associated with the one of the plurality of boundaries.

33. A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image including a first fiducial marking and a first chamber region, the first chamber region being associated with a first chamber boundary;

transforming the first image into a first coordinate space based on at least information associated with the first fiducial marking;

removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the first image;

processing information associated with the first chamber region;

determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region comprises:

generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first chamber region;

processing information associated with the first plurality of features;

determining a second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features;

processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region comprises:

determining a first likelihood that the first crystal is present in the chamber region based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

processing information associated with the first likelihood and a first threshold;

determining that the first crystal is present if the first likelihood exceeds a first threshold and the first crystal is absent if the first likelihood does not exceed the first threshold.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the first plurality of features comprises at least a neighborhood line detector feature, the neighborhood line detector feature being associated with detecting at least a straight line pattern.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the second plurality of features comprises a first Fisher feature.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the first Fisher feature is associated with a first image state and a second image state, each of the first image state and the second image state being selected from a group consisting of a crystal state, a phase/precipitate state, and a clear state.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein:

the first chamber boundary comprises a first section and a second section, the first section being substantially parallel with the second section;

the removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the first image comprises;

determining a first plurality of intensities associated with a first plurality of pixels along a first direction, the first direction intersecting both the first section and the second section;

processing information associated with the first plurality of intensities;

determining a first location associated with the first section and a second location associated with the second section based on at least information related to the first plurality of intensities.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the determining a first location associated with the first section and a second location associated with the second section comprises:

determining a third location associated with the first section based on at least information related to the first plurality of intensities;

determining a fourth location associated with the second section based on at least information related to the third location and a predetermined distance between the first section and the second section;

processing at least information associated with the third location, the fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities;

determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third location, the fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third location, the fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities comprises:

determining a first penalty function associated with the third location;

determining a second penalty function associated with the fourth location;

processing information associated with the first penalty function and the second penalty function;

determining a third penalty function, the third penalty function being associated with the first penalty function and the second penalty function;

processing information associated with the third penalty function;

determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third penalty function.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third penalty function comprises minimizing the third penalty function.

43. A method for processing a plurality of images of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

receiving at least a first image and a second image of a microfluidic device, the first image and the second image being associated with a first focal position and a second focal position respectively, each of the first image and the second image including a first chamber region;

processing information associated with the first image and the second image;

generating a third image based on at least information associated with the first image and the second image;

processing information associated with the third image;

determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region based on at least information associated with the third image.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein:

the third image comprises a first fiducial marking;

the first chamber region is associated with a first chamber boundary;

the determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region comprises;

transforming the third image into a first coordinate space based on at least information associated with the first fiducial marking;

removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the third image;

processing information associated with the first chamber region;

determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the chamber region comprises:

generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first chamber region;

processing information associated with the first plurality of features;

determining a second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features;

processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the generating a third image comprises:

determining a first plurality of sharpness values and a first plurality of colorness values associated with the first image;

determining a second plurality of sharpness values and a second plurality of colorness values associated with the second image;

processing information associated with the first plurality of sharpness values, the first plurality of colorness values, the second plurality of sharpness values, the second plurality of colorness values;

determining a first plurality of intensities associated with the third image based on at least information associated with the first plurality of sharpness values, the first plurality of colorness values, the second plurality of sharpness values, the second plurality of colorness values.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the first plurality of intensities comprises a plurality of red intensities, a plurality of green intensities, and a plurality of blue intensities.

48. A method for adjusting a classifier and processing an image of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image being associated with at least a first predetermined characteristic;

generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first image;

selecting a second plurality of features from the first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features and the at least a first predetermined characteristic;

determining a third plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

processing information associated with the third plurality of features;

determining at least a first likelihood based on at least information based on the third plurality of features and a first plurality of parameters;

processing information associated with the first likelihood and the at least a first predetermined characteristic;

adjusting the first plurality of parameters based on at least information associated with the first likelihood and the at least a first predetermined characteristic.

49. The method of claim 48, and further comprising:

receiving a second image of a microfluidic device;

generating the second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second image;

processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

determining the third plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

processing information associated with the third plurality of features and the first plurality of adjusted parameters;

determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the second image based on at least information associated with the third plurality of features and the first plurality of adjusted parameters.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the second image comprises:

determining a second likelihood that the first crystal is present in the second image based on at least information associated with the third plurality of features;

processing information associated with the second likelihood and a first threshold;

determining that the first crystal is present if the second likelihood exceeds a first threshold and the first crystal is absent if the second likelihood does not exceed the first threshold.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the first plurality of features comprises at least a neighborhood line detector feature, the neighborhood line detector feature being associated with detecting at least a straight line pattern.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the third plurality of features comprises a first Fisher feature.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein the first Fisher feature is associated with a first image state and a second image state, each of the first image state and the second image state being selected from a group consisting of a crystal state, a phase/precipitate state, and a clear state.

54. A computer-readable medium including instructions for processing an image of a microfluidic device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image including a first fiducial marking and a first chamber region, the first chamber region being associated with a first chamber boundary;

one or more instructions for transforming the first image into a first coordinate space based on at least information associated with the first fiducial marking;

one or more instructions for removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the first image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first chamber region;

one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region comprises:

one or more instructions for generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first chamber region;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining a second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55 wherein the one or more instructions for determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a first likelihood that the first crystal is present in the first chamber region based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first likelihood and a first threshold;

one or more instructions for determining that the first crystal is present if the first likelihood exceeds a first threshold and the first crystal is absent if the first likelihood does not exceed the first threshold.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 55 wherein the first plurality of features comprises at least a neighborhood line detector feature, the neighborhood line detector feature being associated with detecting at least a straight line pattern.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 55 wherein the second plurality of features comprises a first Fisher feature.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein the first Fisher feature is associated with a first image state and a second image state, each of the first image state and the second image state being selected from a group consisting of a crystal state, a phase/precipitate state, and a clear state.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein:

the first chamber boundary comprises a first section and a second section, the first section being substantially parallel with the second section;

the one or more instructions for removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the first image comprises;

one or more instructions for determining a first plurality of intensities associated with a first plurality of pixels along a first direction, the first direction intersecting both the first section and the second section;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first plurality of intensities;

one or more instructions for determining a first location associated with the first section and a second location associated with the second section based on at least information related to the first plurality of intensities.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60 wherein the one or more instructions for determining a first location associated with the first section and a second location associated with the second section comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a third location associated with the first section based on at least information related to the first plurality of intensities;

one or more instructions for determining a fourth location associated with the second section based on at least information related to the third location and a predetermined distance between the first section and the second section;

one or more instructions for processing at least information associated with the third location, the fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities;

one or more instructions for determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third location, fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein the one or more instructions for determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third location, the fourth location, and the first plurality of intensities comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a first penalty function associated with the third location;

one or more instructions for determining a second penalty function associated with the fourth location;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first penalty function and the second penalty function;

one or more instructions for determining a third penalty function, the third penalty function being associated with the first penalty function and the second penalty function;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the third penalty function;

one or more instructions for determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third penalty function.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the one or more instructions for determining the first location and the second location based on at least information associated with the third penalty function comprises one or more instructions for minimizing the third penalty function.

64. A computer-readable medium including instructions for processing a plurality of images of a microfluidic device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving at least a first image and a second image of a microfluidic device, the first image and the second image being associated with a first focal position and a second focal position respectively, each of the first image and the second image including a first chamber region;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first image and the second image;

one or more instructions for generating a third image based on at least information associated with the first image and the second image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the third image;

one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region based on at least information associated with the third image.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 64 wherein:

the third image comprises a first fiducial marking;

the first chamber region is associated with a first chamber boundary;

the one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present in the first chamber region comprises;

one or more instructions for transforming the third image into a first coordinate space based on at least information associated with the first fiducial marking;

one or more instructions for removing at least a first part of the first chamber boundary from the third image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first chamber region;

one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the chamber region comprises:

one or more instructions for generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first chamber region;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining a second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the first chamber region based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 64 wherein the one or more instructions for generating a third image comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a first plurality of sharpness values and a first plurality of colorness values associated with the first image;

one or more instructions for determining a second plurality of sharpness values and a second plurality of colorness values associated with the second image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first plurality of sharpness values, the first plurality of colorness values, the second plurality of sharpness values, the second plurality of colorness values;

one or more instructions for determining a first plurality of intensities associated with the third image based on at least information associated with the first plurality of sharpness values, the first plurality of colorness values, the second plurality of sharpness values, the second plurality of colorness values.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67 wherein the first plurality of intensities comprises a plurality of red intensities, a plurality of green intensities, and a plurality of blue intensities.

69. A computer-readable medium including instructions for adjusting a classifier and processing an image of a microfluidic device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a first image of a microfluidic device, the first image being associated with at least a first predetermined characteristic;

one or more instructions for generating a first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first image;

one or more instructions for selecting a second plurality of features from the first plurality of features based on at least information associated with the first plurality of features and the at least a first predetermined characteristic;

one or more instructions for determining a third plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the third plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining at least a first likelihood based on at least information based on the third plurality of features and a first plurality of parameters;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the first likelihood and the at least a first predetermined characteristic;

one or more instructions for adjusting the first plurality of parameters based on at least information associated with the first likelihood and the at least a first predetermined characteristic.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 69, and further comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a second image of a microfluidic device;

one or more instructions for generating the second plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second image;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for determining the third plurality of features based on at least information associated with the second plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the third plurality of features and the first plurality of adjusted parameters;

one or more instructions for determining whether a first crystal is present or absent in the second image based on at least information associated with the third plurality of features and the first plurality of adjusted parameters.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 70 wherein the one or more instructions for determining whether the first crystal is present or absent in the second image comprises:

one or more instructions for determining a second likelihood that the first crystal is present in the second image based on at least information associated with the third plurality of features;

one or more instructions for processing information associated with the second likelihood and a first threshold;

one or more instructions for determining that the first crystal is present if the second likelihood exceeds a first threshold and the first crystal is absent if the second likelihood does not exceed the first threshold.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 69 wherein the first plurality of features comprises at least a neighborhood line detector feature, the neighborhood line detector feature being associated with detecting at least a straight line pattern.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 69 wherein the third plurality of features comprises a first Fisher feature.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 69 wherein the first Fisher feature is associated with a first image state and a second image state, each of the first image state and the second image state being selected from a group consisting of a crystal state, a phase/precipitate state, and a clear state.