Dynamic image analysis system

• US 5,655,028 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Inventors: Voss, Edward R., Soll, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/522,528
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 382/133, 382/214, 382/215, 382/107, 382/201, 382/128, 382/190, 382/100, 382/307, 345/24, 348/155, 348/169
• US Class Current: 382/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30024 Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/64 of convexity or concavity
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/66 of image moments or centre of gravity

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dynamic analysis of images of a mobile object. An electronic signal corresponding to the images, for example, from a video camera, is input into a digitizer which identifies the coordinates of the periphery of the mobile object in each of the images. A digital processor processes the contour information and a computer controlled by a software program having image processing and graphics capabilities calculates a plurality of parameters representative of the shape and motion of the object. The output from the computer may be displayed in graphical representations tabular form, in the formation animations on a monitor, or in hard copy printouts of the tables, animations and other graphical representations.

Claims

1. Apparatus for analyzing motility and dynamic morphology of digital representations of the periphery of a mobile object, comprising:

(a) means for storing each of the digital representations;

(b) a digital processor for processing the digital representations;

(c) a digital computer operable to carry out a set of software commands, wherein said software commands are used to (i) generate a plurality of parameters of shape, changes in shape, and motion of the mobile object between successive images, (ii) provide image processing of the digital representations, and (iii) generate synthesized graphical representations and animations of the mobile object;

(d) wherein said software commands are used to adjust the display of the animations and the periphery of the mobile objects in the animations, by allowing a user to select from a group of four independent display options including (i) color and outline of the animations and the periphery of mobile objects in the animations, (ii) actual shape, curvature or flow of mobile objects in the animations, (iii) degree of differencing, and (iv) a view mode of either tabular, graphical, linear wrapping or circular wrapping; and

(e) means for displaying said graphical representations and animations.

2. Apparatus for analyzing motility and dynamic morphology of digital representations of the periphery of images of a mobile object, comprising:

(a) means for storing each of the digital representations;

(b) a digital processor for processing the digital representations;

(c) a digital computer operable to carry out a set of software commands, wherein said software commands are used to (i) generate a plurality of parameters of shape, changes in shape, and motion of the mobile object between successive images, (ii) provide image processing of the digital representations, and (iii) generate synthesized graphical representations and animations of the mobile object;

(d) wherein said software commands are used to generate graphical representations of the mobile objects, wherein the graphical representations are stacked images from successive frames of the periphery of the mobile object wherein the centroids of the images of the mobile object from successive frames are stacked on the same center point and the scale of the display is expanded at a constant rate; and

(e) means for displaying said graphical representations and animations.

3. Apparatus for analyzing motility and dynamic morphology of digital representations of the periphery of images of a mobile object, comprising:

(a) means for storing each of the digital representations;

(b) a digital processor for processing the digital representations;

(c) a digital computer operable to carry out a set of software commands, wherein said software commands are used to (i) generate a plurality of parameters of shape, changes in shape, and motion of the mobile object between successive images, (ii) provide image processing of the digital representations, and (iii) generate synthesized graphical representations and animations of the mobile object;

(d) wherein said software commands are used to generate graphical representations of the mobile objects, wherein the graphical representations are images taken from two successive frames of the periphery of the mobile object wherein a first color is used for displaying the area common to both peripheries, a second color is used for the area inside the periphery from the first image but outside the periphery of the second image, and a third color is used for the area inside the periphery from the second image but outside the periphery of the first image; and

(e) means for displaying said graphical representations and animations.