A method and apparatus for automated cell analysis of biological specimens automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. The low magnification images are converted from a first color space to a second color space. The color space converted image is then low pass filtered and compared to a threshold to remove artifacts and background objects from the candidate object of interest pixels of the color converted image. The candidate object of interest pixels are morphologically processed to group candidate object of interest pixels together into groups which are compared to blob parameters to identify candidate objects of interest which correspond to cells or other structures relevant to medical diagnosis of the biological specimen. The location coordinates of the objects of interest are stored and additional images of the candidate cell objects are acquired at high magnification. The high magnification images are analyzed in the same manner as the low magnification images to confirm the candidate objects of interest which are objects of interest. A high magnification image of each confirmed object of interest is stored for later review and evaluation by a pathologist.

Method and apparatus for automated image analysis of biological specimens

A method and apparatus for automated analysis of transmitted and fluorescently labeled biological samples, wherein the apparatus automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. Once candidate objects of interest are identified, further analysis is conducted automatically to process and collect data from samples having different staining agents.

Automated system for combining bright field and fluorescent microscopy

A method, system, and apparatus are provided for automated light microscopic for detection of proteins associated with cell proliferative disorders

Automated detection of objects in a biological sample

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can acquire an image of a sector in vivo at the rear of the edge of a tube of the endoscope. SOLUTION: An endoscope has an imaging unit. This imaging unit can include a reflex surface for example for making an image of sector surrounding the tube of the endoscope reflect on an image sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Endoscope with panoramic view

An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with α-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Automated method for image analysis of residual protein

Scrap containing copper is discriminated from iron scrap after being pulverized by imaging iron scrap using a color TV camera, treating RGB signals processed by each of the points in the image as a color vector, and discriminating scrap containing copper from iron scrap when the saturation value of the color vector is larger than a predetermined value and the hue angle of the color vector lies within a predetermined range.

Method of automatically discriminating and separating scraps containing copper from iron scraps

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defect inspecting apparatus with a simple structure which detects linear defects extending along the direction of the manufacturing line, fine irregularities defects and tone-changed defects. SOLUTION: The defect inspecting apparatus comprises an illuminating device which illuminates a band-like illumination surface parallel to a band-like object in the width direction, such that only a horizontal incident line is tilted at a prescribed angle, in relation to a moving direction of the band-like object, in order to obtain a light intensity state uniform across the entire region of the band to be inspected; and an imaging device which effectively receives the intensity modulated light caused by scattered light from the minute irregularities defects, while suppressing only the specularly reflected components of the scattered/reflected light from a tone region that is the normal section of the band-like object, and which easily shades a reflection light image of the linear defect, extending along the direction of the production line. Thus, the irregularities defects and the linear defects, along the moving direction of the band-like object, can be detected simultaneously and with accuracy. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Surface defect inspecting apparatus

A furnace wall observation device for observing the surfaces of the opposed furnace walls of a coke oven carbonizing chamber and a furnace wall shape measuring device for measuring the shape of the surfaces of the furnace walls, wherein a light beam radiation device and an imaging device are stored in an insulated container, a mirror surface is disposed on the outside of the insulated container, and the images of the surfaces of the furnace walls reflected in the mirror surface are imaged by the imaging device.

Furnace wall observation device and furnace wall shape measuring device

PURPOSE:To inspect the internal quality of the metal piece accurately and automatically in a short time without requiring skillfulness by finding a light-shade degree histogram as to an image signal of one stored screen of the metal piece CONSTITUTION:A TV camera 3 picks up an image of the metal piece 1 to be inspected and outputs its image signal to an A/D converter 4 The A/D converter 4 divides one screen of the image signal into previously frictionized picture element units and image signals of respective picture elements are converted into digital image signals of plural stages corresponding to the light-shade level of the image Then the image signals are stored in a storage part 6 in the frictionized picture element units Then an arithmetic part 7 counts picture elements having the same light-shade degree as to the digital image signals of one stored screen to find the light-shade degree histogram Further, the arithmetic part 7 uses the minimum light-shade degree of the histogram as a threshold value to convert the image signals of one stored screen into binary signals, picture elements having the same value and adjoin to each other among the binary image signals are put in connection areas, and the internal quality of the metal piece is inspected by using the umber of picture elements and shape of the connection areas

Internal quality inspecting method for metal piece

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flaw inspecting method and its device for an insulating film covered steel sheet capable of distinguishing the flaws of a lower insulating nontransparent film layer and an upper insulating transparent film layer respectively and inspecting them with a high flaw detection capability. SOLUTION: A covered steel sheet surface formed with the lower insulating nontransparent film layer and the upper insulating transparent film layer is illuminated, the covered steel sheet surface is photographed by an image pickup device to inspect the flaws of the film layers by this flaw inspecting method. The covered steel sheet surface is illuminated at the angle of polarization or an angle near it, and the reflected light from the covered steel sheet surface is photographed by a first image pickup means 21 via a polarization filter 22 at the regular reflection angle or an angle near it and photographed by a second image pickup device 24 via a polarization filter 25.

Shuji Naito

Papers

Method of automatically discriminating and separating scraps containing copper from iron scraps

Surface defect inspecting apparatus

Furnace wall observation device and furnace wall shape measuring device

Internal quality inspecting method for metal piece

Flaw inspecting method and device for insulating film covered steel sheet