Method and apparatus for automatic digital image analysis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A digital image processing system for detecting specific shapes, comprising:
- (a) image gathering means for providing a series of electronic signals representing a series of visual images;
(b) conversion means for converting each of said electronic signals to a digital representation and for modifying said digital representation according to external commands;
(c) memory means for storing each said digital representation as an array of pixels, each of said pixels including a value representing gray shading for a unit of said visual image;
(d) processing means coupled to said memory means and to said conversion means for issuing said commands to said conversion means and for detecting and analyzing changes in successive said digital representations;
(e) processing means further comprising means for transforming each said digital representation by;
(i) dilating said digital representation by a series of first structuring elements to provide a dilated digital representation;
(ii) subtracting said dilated digital representation from said digital representation, for identification of high contrast portions of said visual image;
(iii) threshold comparison of said high contrast portions by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said high contrast portions with a first reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said first reference value with a first fixed gray value and replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value is less than said first reference value with a second fixed gray value to provide a first threshold image;
(iv) performing an annulus transformation on said first threshold image to create an annulustransformed image by;
(1) determining a numerical value for the degree of coincidence between pixels having said first fixed gray value in said first threshold image and masks having annular patterns of pixels, said numerical value representing a degree of ring closure, and(2) storing in said memory means the numerical value for said degree of ring closure and coordinates corresponding to the center of each of said annular masks;
(v) performing a ring-toss transformation on said annulus-transformed image to create a ring-toss transformed image by;
(1) generating a pattern of pixels by dilation of said annulus-transformed image by a second annular structuring element, and(2) subtracting said dilated annulustransformed image from said annulustransformed image;
(vi) generating a second threshold image by threshold comparison of said ring-toss transformed image by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said ring-toss transformed image with a second reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixel whose value exceeds or equals said second reference value with a third fixed gray value and replacing the gray values in each of said pixels whose value is less than said second reference value with a fourth fixed gray value;
(vii) storing said second threshold image in said memory means;
(f) means for comparing successive second threshold images of said transformed digital representations to detect appearances of said specific shapes.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for digitally analyzing continuous visual images, particularly with reference to the detection of mammalian cell mitotic events is disclosed. The visual images are analyzed by first extracting high frequency picture components, threshold comparison of such components and probing for annular objects indicative of putative mitotic cells. The detection of annulae is performed by an algorithm for recognizing rings of differential radii and compensating for other variations. Thereafter, spatial and temporal relationships between such objects is stored and compared to determine whether cell division occurred.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A digital image processing system for detecting specific shapes, comprising:
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(a) image gathering means for providing a series of electronic signals representing a series of visual images; (b) conversion means for converting each of said electronic signals to a digital representation and for modifying said digital representation according to external commands; (c) memory means for storing each said digital representation as an array of pixels, each of said pixels including a value representing gray shading for a unit of said visual image; (d) processing means coupled to said memory means and to said conversion means for issuing said commands to said conversion means and for detecting and analyzing changes in successive said digital representations; (e) processing means further comprising means for transforming each said digital representation by; (i) dilating said digital representation by a series of first structuring elements to provide a dilated digital representation; (ii) subtracting said dilated digital representation from said digital representation, for identification of high contrast portions of said visual image; (iii) threshold comparison of said high contrast portions by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said high contrast portions with a first reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said first reference value with a first fixed gray value and replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value is less than said first reference value with a second fixed gray value to provide a first threshold image; (iv) performing an annulus transformation on said first threshold image to create an annulustransformed image by; (1) determining a numerical value for the degree of coincidence between pixels having said first fixed gray value in said first threshold image and masks having annular patterns of pixels, said numerical value representing a degree of ring closure, and (2) storing in said memory means the numerical value for said degree of ring closure and coordinates corresponding to the center of each of said annular masks; (v) performing a ring-toss transformation on said annulus-transformed image to create a ring-toss transformed image by; (1) generating a pattern of pixels by dilation of said annulus-transformed image by a second annular structuring element, and (2) subtracting said dilated annulustransformed image from said annulustransformed image; (vi) generating a second threshold image by threshold comparison of said ring-toss transformed image by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said ring-toss transformed image with a second reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixel whose value exceeds or equals said second reference value with a third fixed gray value and replacing the gray values in each of said pixels whose value is less than said second reference value with a fourth fixed gray value; (vii) storing said second threshold image in said memory means; (f) means for comparing successive second threshold images of said transformed digital representations to detect appearances of said specific shapes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27, 28)
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13. A method for identifying and recording the appearance of specific objects as digital representations of a series of visual images in a digital image processing system, said objects including patterns of pixels, comprising the steps of:
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(a) converting each said visual image into a digital representation; (b) providing memory means for storage of each said digital representation as an array of pixels, each pixel including a value representing gray shading for a unit of said visual image; (c) transforming said digital representation by; (i) dilating said digital representation by a series of first structuring elements to provide a dilated digital representation; (ii) subtracting said dilated digital representation from said digital representation, for identification of high contrast portions of said visual image; (iii) threshold comparison of said high contrast portions by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said high contrast portions with a first reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said first reference value with a first fixed gray value and replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value is less than said first reference value with a second fixed gray value to provide a first threshold image; (iv) performing an annulus transformation on said first threshold image to create an annulustransformed image by; (1) determining a numerical value for the degree of coincidence between pixels having said first fixed gray value in said first threshold image and masks having annular patterns of pixels, said numerical value representing a degree of ring closure, and (2) storing in said memory means the numerical value for said degree of ring closure and coordinates corresponding to the center of each said annular masks; (v) performing a ring-toss transformation on said annulus-transformed image to create a ring-toss transformed image by; (1) generating a pattern of pixels by dilation of said annulus-transformed image by a second annular structuring element, and (2) subtracting said dilated annulustransformed image from said annulustransformed image; (vi) generating a second threshold image by threshold comparison of said ring-toss transformed image by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said ring-toss transformed image with a second reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said second reference value with a third fixed gray value and replacing the gray values in each of said pixels whose value is less than said second reference value with a fourth fixed gray value; (vii) storing said second threshold image in said memory means; (d) comparing successive said transformed digital representations to detect appearances of said objects; (e) recording appearances of said objects; and (f) displaying appearances of said objects. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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29. A pattern recognition system for detecting annular objects in visual images, each of said visual images having been converted to a digital representation as an array of pixels stored in a memory means, each of said pixels having an associated numerical value representing gray shading, comprising:
- means for transforming each said digital representation by;
(a) dilating said digital representation by a series of first structuring elements to provide a dilated digital representation; (b) subtracting said dilated digital representation from said digital representation, for identification of high contrast portions of said visual image; (c) threshold comparison of said high contrast portions by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said high contrast portions with a first reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said first reference value with a first fixed gray value and replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value is less than said first reference value with a second fixed gray value to provide a first threshold image; (d) performing an annulus transformation on said first threshold image to create an annulus-transformed image by; (i) determining a numerical value for the degree of coincidence between pixels having said first fixed gray value in said first threshold image and masks having annular patterns of pixels, said numerical value representing a degree of ring closure, and (ii) storing in said memory means the numerical value for said degree of ring closure and coordinates corresponding to the center of each of said annular masks; (e) performing a ring-toss transformation on said annulus-transformed image to create a ring-toss transformed image by; (i) generating a pattern of pixels by dilation of said annulus-transformed image by a second annular structuring element, and (ii) subtracting said dilated annulus-transformed image from said annulus-transformed image; (f) generating a second threshold image by threshold comparison of said ring-toss transformed image by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said ring-toss transformed image with a second reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said second reference value with a third fixed gray value and replacing the gray values in each of said pixels whose value is less than said second reference value with a fourth fixed gray value; (g) storing said second threshold image in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (30)
- means for transforming each said digital representation by;
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31. A pattern recognition method for detecting annular objects in visual images, each of said visual images having been converted to a digital representation as an array of pixels stored in a memory, each of said pixels having an associated numerical value representing gray shading, comprising the steps of:
- transformation of said digital representation by;
(a) dilating said digital representation by a series of first structuring elements to provide a dilated digital representation; (b) subtracting said dilated digital representation from said digital representation, for identification of high contrast portions of said visual image; (c) threshold comparison of said high contrast portions by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said high contrast portions with a first reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said first reference value with a first fixed gray value and replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value is less than said first reference value with a second fixed gray value to provide a first threshold image; (d) performing an annulus transformation on said first threshold image to create an annulus-transformed image by; (i) determining a numerical value for the degree of coincidence between pixels having said first fixed gray value in said first threshold image and masks having annular patterns of pixels, said numerical value representing a degree of ring closure, and (ii) storing in said memory the numerical value for said degree of ring closure and coordinates corresponding to the center of each of said annular masks; (e) performing a ring-toss transformation on said annulus-transformed image to create a ring-toss transformed image by; (i) generating a pattern of pixels by dilation of said annulus-transformed image by a second annular structuring element, and (ii) subtracting said dilated annulus-transformed image from said annulus-transformed image; (f) generating a second threshold image by threshold comparison of said ring-toss transformed image by comparing the gray value of each of said pixels of said ring-toss transformed image with a second reference value, replacing the gray values for each of said pixels whose value exceeds or equals said second reference value with a third fixed gray value and replacing the gray values in each of said pixels whose value is less than said second reference value with a fourth fixed gray value; (g) storing said second threshold image in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (32)
- transformation of said digital representation by;
Specification