Graphical User Interface for Analysis and Comparison of Location-Specific Multiparameter Data Sets

• US 20080263468A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytek Biosciences Inc
• Original Assignee: Guava Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lefebvre, Ray, Dixon, George J., King, David Andrew, Kilcoin, Neil, Cappione, Amedeo Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,959,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1402 Data analysis by thresholding or gating operations performed on the acquired signals or stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 45/00 ICT specially adapted for bioinformatics-related data visualisation, e.g. displaying of maps or networks

Abstract

A graphical user interface on a computer provides for the analysis of location specific data and the presentation of analysis results for visual comparison by a user. Results of the analysis are visually presented as icons subdivided into regions and arranged in such a way that the user is able to associate each icon with a data location. A visual presentation of results in the icons and regions allows a user to visually compare the analysis results in two or more data sets according to location. The graphical user interface further provides for the definition and adjustment of an analysis through the interaction of a user with a graphical representation of the analysis. In some cases, the visual presentation of results tracks the analysis adjustments so the user can visually observe the effects that the adjustments have on the results. A method of interacting with the interface to define an analysis and represent results and a method of presenting two or more data sets using the interface are described. The interface can be used to analyze and visually compare the results of location specific data from a number of sources and is illustrated in a flow cytometry application.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for a computer system providing a visual representation of analyses of data sets resulting from interrogation of an arrangement of samples, where the visual representation enables identification of relationships among the data sets, the interface comprising:

an arrangement of icons similar to the arrangement of samples such that each of the icons is visually associated with at least one of the samples; and

at least one of the icons divided into regions, each region of the icon providing information regarding an analysis of a data set, where the data set includes data resulting from interrogation of the sample visually associated with the icon.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein all of the icons are divided into regions, with each region representing an analysis of a data set including data from the sample visually associated with the icon.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the arrangements of samples and icons are the same.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein each data set comprises data resulting from interrogation of two or more samples.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein each icon includes a number of regions equal to a number of analyzed data sets that include data resulting from interrogation of the sample visually associated with the icon.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the samples are particle-containing biological samples.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the samples are interrogated using one of a flow cytometer and a scanning cytometer.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the visual representation of the information is a variation of one of color and visual tone.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 8 in which a hatched pattern is superimposed over the visual representation.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 8 in which the visual representation is logarithmically related to the information.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 1 further comprising a representation of each of the data sets such that the information regarding the analysis of each of the data sets is assigned to a region by a user associating each of the representations with one of the regions.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the icons are shaped to appear visually to have substantially the same shape as the samples.

13. A graphical user interface for a computer for defining analyses of data sets resulting from interrogating samples in an arrangement of samples and visually representing results of the analyses, where the visual representation enables identification of relationships among different data sets, the interface comprising:

a graphical presentation of an analysis that is applied to a data set to produce a set of results, the analysis having at least one parameter that a user controls by interacting with the graphical presentation; and

a location-specific, multiplexed heat map comprising a visual presentation of the set of results and at least one additional set of results, whereby the user determines the effects of changing the parameter on the relationships among the data sets by viewing the heat map.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 13 wherein the samples are particle-containing biological samples.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 13 wherein the samples are interrogated using one of a flow cytometer and a scanning cytometer.

16. The graphical user interface of claim 13 wherein the visual presentation of the set of results tracks the changes in variable analysis parameter.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 13 wherein the variable analysis parameter is changed by adjusting the shape of a figure in a graph.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the geometric figure and graph have one, two or three dimensions.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 13 wherein the variable analysis parameter

is selected by activating buttons on a screen.

20. A method of interacting with a graphical interface of a computer displaying two or more data sets, where the graphical interface comprises an arrangement of icons that is similar to an arrangement of samples such that each of the icons is visually associated with at least one of the samples and the icons are divided into regions, each region of the icons visually representing results of an analysis of one of the data sets resulting from interrogating the arrangement of samples, the method comprising the steps of:

defining at least one analysis;

specifying units of measurement for the analysis;

applying the analysis to a data set to generate results and

representing the results in a region of the icons.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the samples are particle-containing biological samples.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the samples are interrogated using a flow cytometer or scanning cytometer.

23. A method of presenting two or more data sets on a computer display for visual comparison by a user, the data sets resulting from the analysis of an interrogation of an arrangement of samples, the method comprising the steps of:

mapping the arrangement of samples with visual icons in the display so that each icon is associated with at least one sample and the spatial relationship of each visual icon to the other icons is similar to the spatial relationship of the sample associated with the visual icon to the other samples;

subdividing the icons into regions; and

visually representing each data set in a unique region of the icons.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the samples are particle-containing biological samples.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the samples are interrogated using one of a flow cytometer and a scanning cytometer.