G - Physics – 06 – T
Patent
G - Physics
06
T
354/22
G06T 7/00 (2006.01) B07C 5/342 (2006.01) G01N 15/14 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2014979
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION A pap smear inspection apparatus and method for automated screening of cytological smears for dense, possibly malignant cells. A specimen slide is provided for receiving a cytological smear. A microscope is provided for enlarging the image of the smear. The microscope is further provided with a mechanical stage having the ability to be controlled by an external computer. In addition, the microscope is outfitted to receive a video camera for creating an analog video signal corresponding to an area enlarged by the microscope and being observed by the video camera. A video timer synchronizes operation of the smear analysis apparatus. An image window generator focuses the analysis of the apparatus on a sub-area of the entire video image. The size of the sub-area is adjusted to maximize recognition of cancerous cells. A digital-to-analog converter is also provided for converting a digital threshold level into a corresponding analog threshold level, wherein both an upper and a lower threshold level may be produced for use. A comparator is used for transforming the analog video input signal into a binary video signal (having only ON or OFF pixels) according to the analog threshold levels, wherein the gray level of the video input must fall between the lower threshold level and the upper threshold level for a pixel to be transformed into an ON state. The thresholds are set so that the extra dense or irregular cells cause a sufficient number of pixels to be activated to facilitate recognition, but also so that normal cells activate few enough pixels that they will not be mistaken for irregular cells. A pixel counter sums the number of ON pixels both in the transformed video signal, and within the designated window sub-area of said video signal. The counter further produces a digital count output (in binary numerical form) corresponding to the number of ON pixels. A microprocessor compares said digital count output with a user-defined limit on the number of ON pixels allowed to occur within each sub-area under study, and if the limit is exceeded, the current area has failed the test for acceptability. A computer program controls operation of the microprocessor, and typically includes computer code to sum the total number of cells present on a slide, as well as code to store and recall the X-Y coordinates of the failed areas of the slide to facilitate technician examination.
Elmerick Donald V.
Peters Richard K.
Spayer James L.
Walter Gerald E.
Accumed International Inc.
Shapiro Cohen
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