Formed element detection method, formed element detection device, and program

Abstract

To provide a formed element detection method, formed element detection device, and program capable of more accurately distinguishing mulberry bodies from other formed elements.SOLUTION: In a step S2, excitation light that induces self-fluorescence from mulberry bodies is irradiated onto a urine sample containing multiple types of formed elements. In a step S3, fluorescence generated from the urine sample irradiated with the excitation light is spectrally separated into fluorescent light in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band contained in the wavelength band of the self-fluorescence, and fluorescence images are acquired for each formed element. In a step S4, formed elements whose reference information based on the fluorescent light in the first wavelength band and the fluorescent light in the second wavelength band obtained from the fluorescence images is included within a range corresponding to mulberry bodies are extracted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for detecting formed elements, a formed element detection device, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Fabry disease is a type of genetic disease that develops due to the accumulation of a lipid called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in lysosomes, which are the sites of intracellular digestion. When Fabry disease develops, the function of lysosomes is impaired, causing damage to various organs. Conventionally, although the causal relationship between the onset of Fabry disease and urinary mulberry bodies is known, it is difficult to detect mulberry bodies in urinary sediment by urinary sediment examination because the amount of urinary mulberry bodies contained in urinary sediment is very small.

[0003] Furthermore, urinary mulberry bodies have been visually confirmed using a microscope, but since their morphology is similar to that of red blood cells and fungi, it is highly difficult to discriminate by this method. Therefore, a high level of skill is required for the examiner to make this discrimination.

[0004] The following Non-Patent Document 1 describes that by staining urinary sediment, it was clarified that urinary mulberry bodies are derived from lysosomes in which Gb3 has accumulated and are present in the cytoplasm of podocytes.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0005]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Gb3 is expressed not only in the mulberry bodies but also in the renal tubular cells. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately discriminate between the mulberry bodies and the renal tubular cells by a discrimination method based on the detection of stained Gb3.

[0007] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a formed element, a device for detecting a formed element, and a program that can more accurately discriminate mulberry bodies from other formed elements.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In the method for detecting a formed element of the present invention, a urine specimen containing a plurality of types of formed elements is irradiated with excitation light that generates autofluorescence from mulberry bodies (S2), and the fluorescence generated from the urine specimen irradiated with the excitation light is spectrally separated into fluorescence in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence to obtain a fluorescence image for each formed element (S3), and formed elements in which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the fluorescence in the second wavelength band obtained from the fluorescence image is included in the range (R1) corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted (S4).

[0009] According to the method for detecting a formed element of the present invention, since formed elements in which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first and second wavelength bands is included in the range corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted, the mulberry bodies can be more accurately discriminated from other formed elements.

[0010] The formed element detection device (1) of the present invention includes a light source (121) that irradiates a urine specimen containing a plurality of types of formed elements with excitation light that generates autofluorescence from mulberry bodies, an imaging unit (20) that spectrally separates the fluorescence generated from the urine specimen irradiated with the excitation light into fluorescence in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence to obtain a fluorescence image for each formed element, and a processing unit (11) that extracts formed elements in which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the fluorescence in the second wavelength band obtained from the fluorescence image is included in the range (R1) corresponding to the mulberry bodies.

[0011] According to the formed component detection device of the present invention, since the formed components for which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first and second wavelength bands is included in the range corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted, the mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately from other formed components.

[0012] The program (12a) of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a process of detecting formed components in a urine specimen containing a plurality of types of formed components, and is obtained from a fluorescence image for each formed component of fluorescence in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band included in the wavelength band of autofluorescence, which is generated from a urine specimen irradiated with excitation light that causes autofluorescence from mulberry bodies. The formed components for which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band is included in the range (R1) corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted.

[0013] According to the program of the present invention, since the formed components for which the reference information based on the fluorescence in the first and second wavelength bands is included in the range corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted, the mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately from other formed components.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately from other formed components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 27

Figure 28

Figure 29

Figure 30

Figure 31

Figure 32

Figure 33

Figure 34

Figure 35

Figure 36

Figure 37

Figure 38

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a formed-component detection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The formed-component detection device 1 is a device that detects formed components contained in a urine specimen collected from a subject and discriminates mulberry bodies contained in the urine specimen from other formed components other than the mulberry bodies contained in the urine specimen. The formed-component detection device 1 includes a processing unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a display unit 14, an input unit 15, a reading unit 16, a suction unit 17, a storage unit 18, a liquid transfer unit 19, and an imaging unit 20.

[0018] The processing unit 11 is composed of, for example, an FPGA or a CPU. The processing unit 11 receives signals output from each part of the formed component detection device 1 and controls each part of the formed component detection device 1. The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, an HDD or an SSD. The storage unit 12 stores a program 12a that causes the processing unit 11 to execute the processing described later with reference to FIG. 3. The processing unit 11 reads out the program 12a stored in the storage unit 12 and executes the processing shown in FIG. 3 according to the program 12a. The program 12a may be stored in the storage unit 12 via a storage medium, or may be stored in the storage unit 12 by being received from another computer via the communication unit 13.

[0019] The communication unit 13 is, for example, a communication interface based on the Ethernet standard. The processing unit 11 receives subject information corresponding to the specimen ID, etc. from the host computer via the communication unit 13, and transmits the counting result of the formed component, etc. to the host computer.

[0020] The display unit 14 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input unit 15 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a pointing device including a touch panel. The operator operates the operation unit such as a button on the screen displayed on the display unit 14 by operating the input unit 15. Note that the display unit 14 and the input unit 15 may be integrally configured. For example, the formed component detection device 1 may include a touch panel type display as the display unit 14 and the input unit 15.

[0021] The reading unit 16 is composed of, for example, a barcode reader. The reading unit 16 reads the barcode from the barcode label attached to the container in which the urine specimen is stored and acquires the specimen ID. The container from which the specimen ID has been read is set in the formed component detection device 1.

[0022] The suction unit 17 sucks the urine specimen from the container set in the formed element detection device 1 through the nozzle. The storage unit 18 stores the urine specimen sucked by the suction unit 17. The liquid transfer unit 19 transfers the urine specimen stored in the storage unit 18 through the tube and flows it into the flow path 111 (see FIG. 2) of the flow cell 110. The imaging unit 20 images the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the imaging unit 20.

[0024] The imaging unit 20 includes a flow cell 110, light sources 121 and 122, condenser lenses 131 and 132, a condenser lens 141, an optical unit 142, a condenser lens 143, and a camera 144.

[0025] The light sources 121 and 122 irradiate the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110 with light. The light sources 121 and 122 are constituted by, for example, semiconductor laser light sources and emit laser light.

[0026] The light emitted from the light source 121 is excitation light having a wavelength λ11 that causes autofluorescence from the mulberry bodies in the urine specimen. The wavelength λ11 indicates the wavelength at which the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 121 is maximum. The light having the wavelength λ11 emitted from the light source 121 includes not only the light having the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum but also the light having a wavelength in the vicinity of the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum. That is, the light having the wavelength λ11 emitted from the light source 121 is light in a wavelength band including the wavelength λ11. In this specification, the light in a wavelength band including the wavelength λ may be referred to as the light having the wavelength λ. Generally, when the mulberry bodies are irradiated with excitation light of 350 nm or more and 550 nm or less, autofluorescence is generated from the mulberry bodies. Therefore, the wavelength λ11 is set to 350 nm or more and 550 nm or less. In the present embodiment, the wavelength λ11 is 405 nm.

[0027] The light emitted from the light source 122 is light with a wavelength λ12 for acquiring a bright-field image of the formed components in the urine sample. The wavelength λ12 indicates the wavelength at which the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 122 is maximum. The light with the wavelength λ12 emitted from the light source 122 includes not only the light with the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum but also the light with wavelengths in the vicinity of the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum. The light with the wavelength λ12 is light in a wavelength band suitable for acquiring a bright-field image, and has a wider wavelength band than the light with the wavelength λ11.

[0028] The condenser lenses 131 and 132 condense the light emitted from the light sources 121 and 122, respectively. The light with the wavelength λ11 emitted from the light source 121 and the light with the wavelength λ12 emitted from the light source 122 are irradiated onto the urine sample flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110.

[0029] When the urine sample flowing through the flow cell 110 is irradiated with the light with the wavelength λ11, fluorescence is generated from the formed components in the urine sample. When the urine sample flowing through the flow cell 110 is irradiated with the light with the wavelength λ12, part of this light is blocked by the formed components in the urine sample and part of it is transmitted.

[0030] When the urine sample contains mulberry bodies, the fluorescence generated from the formed components in the urine sample includes autofluorescence in a predetermined wavelength band generated from the mulberry bodies. When the wavelength λ11 of the excitation light is 405 nm as described above, the wavelength band of the autofluorescence generated from the mulberry bodies is 435 nm or more and 560 nm or less. Therefore, the imaging unit 20 of the present embodiment is configured to image fluorescence in a wavelength band including a wavelength λ21 of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less (fluorescence with the wavelength λ21) and fluorescence in a wavelength band including a wavelength λ22 of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less (fluorescence with the wavelength λ22) so as to be able to image the autofluorescence with wavelengths of 435 nm or more and 560 nm or less generated from the mulberry bodies. The wavelength λ21 and the wavelength λ21 are the wavelengths at which the intensity of the light is maximum in the corresponding wavelength bands, respectively.

[0031] The condenser lens 141 condenses fluorescence of wavelengths λ21 and λ22 generated from the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110, and light of wavelength λ12 that has passed through the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110. The optical unit 142 has a configuration in which three dichroic mirrors are combined. The three dichroic mirrors of the optical unit 142 disperse the fluorescence of wavelength λ21, the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, and the light of wavelength λ12 by reflecting them at slightly different angles from each other, and separate them on the light-receiving surface of the camera 144. The condenser lens 143 condenses the fluorescence of wavelength λ21, the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, and the light of wavelength λ12, respectively.

[0032] The camera 144 is, for example, a TDI (Time Delay Integration) camera. The camera 144 images the fluorescence of wavelength λ21, the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, and the light of wavelength λ12, and outputs, as imaging signals, a first fluorescence image and a second fluorescence image corresponding to the fluorescence of wavelengths λ21 and λ22, respectively, and a bright-field image corresponding to the light of wavelength λ12. The processing unit 11 in FIG. 1 discriminates mulberry bodies contained in the urine specimen using the first fluorescence image, the second fluorescence image, and the bright-field image imaged by the camera 144.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing related to the formed element detection method by the processing unit 11.

[0034] The processing unit 11 performs the processing shown in FIG. 3 by executing the program 12a stored in the storage unit 12.

[0035] In step S1, the processing unit 11 controls the liquid transfer unit 19 so that the urine sample sucked from the container and stored in the storage unit 18 flows into the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110. In this embodiment, the process of staining the formed components in the urine sample flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110 is unnecessary. In step S2, the processing unit 11 controls the light sources 121 and 122 so that light is irradiated onto the urine sample flowing through the flow path 111. As a result, light with a wavelength of λ11 (excitation light) is irradiated onto the urine sample, and fluorescence with a wavelength of λ21 and fluorescence with a wavelength of λ22 are generated from the formed components in the urine sample. In addition, light with a wavelength of λ12 is irradiated onto the urine sample, and the light with the wavelength of λ12 passes through the formed components in the urine sample. The fluorescence with a wavelength of λ21 generated from the urine sample, the fluorescence with a wavelength of λ22 generated from the urine sample, and the light with a wavelength of λ12 that has passed through the urine sample are spectroscopically analyzed by the optical unit 142, and the three spectroscopically analyzed lights are irradiated onto the light receiving surface of the camera 144 in a separated state.

[0036] In step S3, the processing unit 11 controls the camera 144 to image a plurality of formed components in the urine sample, that is, to image the fluorescence with a wavelength of λ21 generated from the urine sample, the fluorescence with a wavelength of λ22 generated from the urine sample, and the light with a wavelength of λ12 that has passed through the urine sample. As a result, the processing unit 11 acquires a first fluorescence image, a second fluorescence image, and a bright field image for each formed component in the urine sample. The processing unit 11 stores the acquired first fluorescence image, second fluorescence image, and bright field image in the storage unit 12.

[0037] Here, when the formed component shown in the bright-field image acquired by the camera 144 is small, the processing unit 11 may not store the bright-field image, the first fluorescence image, and the second fluorescence image corresponding to this formed component in the storage unit 12. Specifically, when the number of pixels identified as the region of the formed component in the bright-field image is equal to or less than the threshold value, the processing unit 11 may not store the bright-field image, the first fluorescence image, and the second fluorescence image corresponding to the bright-field image in the storage unit 12. The above threshold value is set to the number of pixels corresponding to a size smaller than that of a general mulberry body. As a result, since the number of formed components targeted in the first extraction step is reduced, the processing load for the subsequent first to third extraction steps can be decreased. Note that the above threshold value may be appropriately set according to, for example, the processing load for the first to third extraction steps, the lower limit of the bright-field size of the range R2 set in the second extraction step, and the like.

[0038] In step S4, the processing unit 11 performs a first extraction step regarding mulberry bodies based on the first and second fluorescence images of all the formed components acquired in step S3. In step S5, the processing unit 11 performs a second extraction step regarding mulberry bodies based on the bright-field image of the formed component extracted in the first extraction step of step S4. In step S6, the processing unit 11 performs a third extraction step regarding mulberry bodies based on the first fluorescence image and the bright-field image of the formed component extracted in the second extraction step of step S5. Details of the first to third extraction steps will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 13.

[0039] In step S7, the processing unit 11 displays the image of the formed component extracted in the third extraction step of step S6 on the display unit 14. The display of the image of the formed component will be described later with reference to FIGS. 23 to 28.

[0040] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 13, the first to third extraction steps regarding mulberry bodies will be described.

[0041] In the following, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 11, each extraction step will be described assuming that the processing unit 11 generates scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 during extraction, but the generation of the scattergrams is not necessarily performed. That is, the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 are merely for the convenience of explanation, and as long as the combination of two values for each formed component is included in the range on the data corresponding to the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230, the formed components may be extracted by data processing.

[0042] In the following scattergrams, the plots are color-coded based on the result of a skilled inspection technician visually determining whether or not the images stored in the storage unit 12 are mulberry bodies. However, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 14, the mulberry bodies include those having a cell shape. The inspection technician individually determines the mulberry bodies having a cell shape and the mulberry bodies other than the cell shape, and determines both the mulberry bodies having a cell shape and the mulberry bodies other than the cell shape as mulberry bodies. In the scattergrams shown below, unless otherwise specified, for the sake of convenience, gray plots indicate mulberry bodies having no cell shape, and white plots indicate mulberry bodies having a cell shape and formed components other than mulberry bodies. Note that the color-coding of the plots is for the purpose of confirming the extraction process of the mulberry bodies and can be omitted.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the scattergram 210 generated in the first extraction step.

[0044] The processing unit 11 acquires the maximum luminance from the first fluorescence image corresponding to one formed component and acquires the maximum luminance from the second fluorescence image corresponding to the formed component. Specifically, the processing unit 11 extracts pixels corresponding to the region of the formed component from the first fluorescence image, and acquires the luminance of the pixel with the highest luminance among the extracted pixels as the maximum luminance. The pixels corresponding to the region of the formed component may be extracted based on the change in luminance between adjacent pixels in the first fluorescence image, or may be extracted using the bright-field image of the same formed component. The processing unit 11 performs such acquisition of the maximum luminance for all formed components, that is, for all first and second fluorescence images stored in the storage unit 12.

[0045] The maximum luminance acquired from the first fluorescence image is an example of a value related to the intensity of fluorescence with wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component, and the maximum luminance acquired from the second fluorescence image is an example of a value related to the intensity of fluorescence with wavelength λ22 generated from the same formed component.

[0046] In addition, in the first extraction step of the present embodiment, the value related to the intensity of fluorescence with wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component is the maximum luminance, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be the average value, total value, or median value of the luminance of pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the first fluorescence image. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the value related to the intensity of fluorescence with wavelength λ22 from the formed component is the maximum luminance, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be the average value, total value, or median value of the luminance of pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the second fluorescence image.

[0047] The processing unit 11 plots all formed components on the scattergram 210 using the maximum luminance acquired from the first and second fluorescence images. The vertical axis of the scattergram 210 is the maximum luminance of wavelength λ21 (wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less), that is, the maximum luminance based on the first fluorescence image. The horizontal axis of the scattergram 210 is the maximum luminance of wavelength λ22 (wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less), that is, the maximum luminance based on the second fluorescence image.

[0048] The processing unit 11 extracts the formed elements included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies in the scattergram 210. The range R1 is a fixed range stored in advance in the storage unit 12.

[0049] The range R11 is a range corresponding to the first type of formed elements other than the mulberry bodies. The first type of formed elements are, for example, squamous epithelial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells, etc. The range R12 is a range corresponding to the second formed elements other than the mulberry bodies. The second type of formed elements are, for example, salts and bacteria, etc.

[0050] The range R1 is a range corresponding to the mulberry bodies. The range R1 is set to a range that can exclude the first type of formed elements distributed in the range R11 and the second type of formed elements distributed in the range R12. Specifically, the range R1 is narrow near the origin of the scattergram 210, widens as the values of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of the scattergram 210 increase, and is a range sandwiched between the range R11 corresponding to the first type of formed elements other than the mulberry bodies and the range R12 corresponding to the second type of formed elements other than the mulberry bodies. The range R1 is a range sandwiched between the straight line R1a and the straight line R1b. The straight line R1a is the boundary between the range R1 and the range R11, and the straight line R1b is the boundary between the range R1 and the range R12. Specifically, for example, the straight line R1a is a straight line passing through the origin of the scattergram 210 and having a first angle with respect to the horizontal axis of the scattergram 210, and the straight line R1b is a straight line passing through the origin of the scattergram 210 and having a second angle different from the first angle with respect to the horizontal axis of the scattergram 210.

[0051] In this embodiment, when the mulberry bodies are irradiated with excitation light having a wavelength of 405 nm, the intensity of the autofluorescence with a wavelength of λ21 generated from the mulberry bodies and the intensity of the autofluorescence with a wavelength of λ22 become approximately the same. On the other hand, when other formed components other than the mulberry bodies are irradiated with excitation light having a wavelength of 405 nm, the intensity of the fluorescence with a wavelength of λ21 and the intensity of the fluorescence with a wavelength of λ22 generated from the other formed components are different from those of the mulberry bodies and become values that deviate from each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the range R1 is set in a range extending from near the origin at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the two axes of the scattergram 210, and by setting the ranges R11 and R12 outside the range R1, the mulberry bodies can be accurately discriminated from other formed components. When the formed components within the range R1 are extracted, the first extraction step is completed.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a bright-field image of the formed components included in the range R1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a bright-field image of the formed components included in the ranges R11 and R12.

[0053] The formed components included in the range R1 are, for example, the mulberry bodies shown in FIG. 5. The first type of formed components included in the range R11 are, for example, squamous epithelial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells shown in the upper part of FIG. 6. The second type of formed components included in the range R12 are, for example, salts and bacteria shown in the lower part of FIG. 6.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the scattergram 220 generated in the second extraction step.

[0055] The processing unit 11 acquires the bright-field size and the bright-field contrast from the bright-field images of the respective formed components within the range R1 extracted in the first extraction step.

[0056] The bright-field size is an example of a value related to the size of the formed components based on the bright-field image and is morphological information of the formed components. The processing unit 11, for example, extracts the pixels corresponding to the formed components from the bright-field image and acquires the number of the extracted pixels as the bright-field size. The pixels corresponding to the formed components may be extracted based on the change in luminance between adjacent pixels in the bright-field image.

[0057] Bright-field contrast is an example of a value related to the contrast of formed elements based on a bright-field image and is the morphological information of the formed elements. For example, in the processing unit 11, at the pixels identified as corresponding to the formed elements in the bright-field image, the luminance gradients are added within a 3×3 pixel range, the pixel range is shifted, and the luminance gradients are calculated for each pixel range. The value obtained by dividing the luminance gradient of the entire pixel range by the number of pixels in the region of the formed elements is acquired as the bright-field contrast. The bright-field contrast indicates the amount of change in luminance in the bright-field image. For example, the greater the difference in shading between the edge and the interior of the formed elements in the bright-field image, the greater the bright-field contrast. The bright-field contrast varies due to the difference in shading between the agglomerated surface and the interior, the difference in shading due to the spiral shape of the mulberry bodies, etc.

[0058] Using the bright-field size and the bright-field contrast acquired from the bright-field image, the processing unit 11 plots all the formed elements within the range R1 extracted in the first extraction step on the scattergram 220. The horizontal axis of the scattergram 220 is the bright-field contrast, and the vertical axis is the bright-field size.

[0059] In the scattergram 220, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed elements included in the range R2 corresponding to the mulberry bodies. The range R2 is a fixed range stored in advance in the storage unit 12.

[0060] The ranges R21 and R22 are ranges corresponding to squamous epithelial cells. The range R23 is a range corresponding to urothelial cells. The range R24 is a range corresponding to renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells. The range R25 is a range corresponding to salts and bacteria.

[0061] Range R2 corresponds to the range of the mulberry bodies. Range R2 is set to a range that can exclude squamous epithelial cells distributed near ranges R21 and R22, urothelial cells distributed near range R23, renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells, and salts and bacteria distributed near range R25. Specifically, range R2 is set to a range where the bright-field contrast is generally larger than that of ranges R21 to R24 where squamous epithelial cells, urothelial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells are distributed, and the bright-field size is larger than that of range R25 where small formed elements such as salts and bacteria are distributed. When the formed elements within range R2 are extracted, the second extraction step is completed.

[0062] Figure 8 is a diagram showing bright-field images of the formed elements contained in ranges R21, R22, and R23. Figure 9 is a diagram showing bright-field images of the formed elements contained in ranges R24 and R25. Figure 10 is a diagram showing bright-field images of the formed elements contained in range R2.

[0063] The formed elements contained in range R21 are, for example, squamous epithelial cells shown in the upper part of Figure 8. The formed elements contained in range R22 are, for example, squamous epithelial cells shown in the middle part of Figure 8. The formed elements contained in range R23 are, for example, urothelial cells shown in the lower part of Figure 8. The squamous epithelial cells and urothelial cells in ranges R21 to R23 shown in Figure 8 are generally larger in size than the mulberry bodies and generally have a lower bright-field contrast than the mulberry bodies. Since such formed elements are less likely to be mulberry bodies, the formed elements distributed in ranges R21 to R23 can be excluded by the second extraction step.

[0064] The formed components contained in the range R24 are, for example, renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, red blood cells, etc. shown in the upper part of FIG. 9. The renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells in the range R24 shown in the upper part of FIG. 9 generally have a smaller bright-field contrast than the mulberry bodies. In particular, since red blood cells appear circular in the bright-field image and are morphologically similar to mulberry bodies, it is difficult to distinguish red blood cells from mulberry bodies by visual inspection of the bright-field image. However, red blood cells have a smaller bright-field contrast than mulberry bodies. Since the formed components with such a small bright-field contrast are less likely to be mulberry bodies, the formed components distributed in the range R24 can be excluded by the second extraction step.

[0065] The formed components contained in the range R25 are, for example, salts and bacteria shown in the lower part of FIG. 9. The salts and bacteria in the range R25 shown in the lower part of FIG. 9 are several orders of magnitude smaller in size than the mulberry bodies. Since such formed components are less likely to be mulberry bodies, the formed components distributed in the range R25 can be excluded by the second extraction step.

[0066] The formed components contained in the range R2 are, for example, renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, salts, and mulberry bodies shown in the upper part of FIG. 10. In the bright-field image of the mulberry bodies in the range R2 shown in the upper part of FIG. 10, a spiral shape, etc. is formed inside. The renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, salts, etc. in the range R2 shown in the upper part of FIG. 10 have a size comparable to that of the mulberry bodies and a bright-field contrast comparable to that of the mulberry bodies. Therefore, when the formed components distributed in the range R2 are extracted by the second extraction step, the extracted formed components include formed components other than the mulberry bodies as shown in the upper part of FIG. 10.

[0067] Note that the lower part of FIG. 10 shows a bright-field image obtained by imaging beads having a size of 5 μm and a size equivalent to that of the mulberry bodies with the formed component detection device 1. When setting the range R2 in advance, for example, the bright-field size and the range of the bright-field contrast of the range R2 can be set using the bright-field image obtained by imaging beads of a predetermined size in this way.

[0068] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the scattergram 230 generated in the third extraction step.

[0069] The processing unit 11 obtains the bright-field aspect ratio from the bright-field images of the respective formed components within the range R2 extracted in the second extraction step, and obtains the average luminance from the first fluorescence images of the respective formed components within the range R2 extracted in the second extraction step.

[0070] The bright-field aspect ratio is an example of a value related to the shape of the formed component based on the bright-field image, and is morphological information of the formed component. The processing unit 11 obtains, for example, the aspect ratio of the pixel group identified as corresponding to the formed component in the bright-field image as the bright-field aspect ratio.

[0071] The average luminance obtained from the first fluorescence image is an example of a value related to the intensity of the fluorescence of wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component. The processing unit 11 obtains, for example, the average value of the luminance of the pixels identified as the region of the formed component in the first fluorescence image as the average luminance.

[0072] In the third extraction step of the present embodiment, the value related to the intensity of the fluorescence of wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component is the average luminance, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, the maximum value, the total value, or the median value of the luminance of the pixels identified as the region of the formed component in the first fluorescence image.

[0073] The processing unit 11 plots all the formed components within the range R2 extracted in the second extraction step on the scattergram 230 using the bright-field aspect ratio obtained from the bright-field image and the average luminance obtained from the first fluorescence image. The vertical axis of the scattergram 230 is the bright-field aspect ratio. As the value on the vertical axis increases and moves upward, the value of the bright-field aspect ratio approaches 1. The horizontal axis of the scattergram 210 is the average luminance of wavelength λ21 (wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less), that is, the average luminance based on the first fluorescence image.

[0074] The processing unit 11 extracts the formed elements included in the range R3 corresponding to the mulberry bodies in the scattergram 230. The range R3 is a fixed range stored in advance in the storage unit 12.

[0075] The range R31 is a range corresponding to renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, fat globules, crystals, and bacteria. The range R32 is a range corresponding to formed elements such as cylinders.

[0076] The range R3 is a range corresponding to the mulberry bodies. The range R3 is set to a range that can exclude renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, fat globules, crystals, and bacteria distributed near the range R31 and formed elements such as cylinders distributed near the range R32. Specifically, the range R3 is set to a range where the average luminance of the wavelength λ21 (wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less), that is, the average luminance based on the first fluorescence image, is larger than that of the range R31 where renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, fat globules, crystals, and bacteria are distributed, and the bright-field aspect ratio is larger than that of the range R32 where formed elements such as cylinders are distributed. When the formed elements within the range R3 are extracted, the third extraction step is completed.

[0077] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing bright-field images of the formed elements included in the ranges R31 and R32. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a bright-field image of the formed elements included in the range R3.

[0078] The formed elements included in the range R31 are, for example, renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, fat globules, crystals, and bacteria shown in the upper row of FIG. 12. The formed elements included in the range R31 have a smaller average luminance of the wavelength λ21 (wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less) than the mulberry bodies. Since such formed elements are less likely to be mulberry bodies, the formed elements distributed in the range R31 can be excluded by the third extraction step.

[0079] The formed components included in the range R32 are, for example, cylinders shown in the lower part of FIG. 12. The formed components included in the range R32 have a smaller bright-field aspect ratio than mulberry bodies. Since such formed components are less likely to be mulberry bodies, the formed components distributed in the range R32 can be excluded by the third extraction step.

[0080] The formed components included in the range R3 are, for example, salts, cell debris, white blood cells, red blood cells, mulberry bodies, bacteria, fat globules, and crystals shown in FIG. 13. The formed components included in the range R3 have an average luminance and a bright-field aspect ratio in the same degree as those of mulberry bodies in the wavelength band of wavelength λ21 (435 nm or more and 505 nm or less). Therefore, when the formed components distributed in the range R3 are extracted by the third extraction step, the extracted formed components include formed components other than mulberry bodies as shown in FIG. 13.

[0081] Thus, although formed components other than mulberry bodies remain in the range R3 as shown in FIG. 13, the mulberry bodies included in the range R3 can be easily identified visually by the operator using the screen 300 displayed on the display unit 14. The screen 300 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 23 and later. According to the first to third extraction steps, since the formed components included in the ranges R1, R2, and R3 corresponding to mulberry bodies are extracted, many formed components other than mulberry bodies included in the urine sample are excluded, so that the operator can accurately discriminate mulberry bodies from other formed components by referring to the image displayed on the screen 300 described later.

[0082] Next, mulberry bodies having a cell shape will be described.

[0083] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a bright-field image of mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape. Such mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape are sometimes called mulberry cells. The mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape may include an aggregated (mulberry-like) shape. Even when mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape are contained in a urine specimen, in the first to third extraction steps, using ranges similar to ranges R1, R2, and R3, the mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape are discriminated from other formed components other than the mulberry bodies.

[0084] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the discrimination of mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape contained in a urine specimen.

[0085] The scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 shown in FIG. 15 are each generated from the same image as the image used for generating the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 11. In the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 of FIG. 15, the gray plots indicate mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape, and the white plots indicate mulberry bodies without a cell-like shape and formed components other than the mulberry bodies.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 15, the mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape are included in ranges R1, R2, and R3, similar to FIGS. 4, 7, and 11. Therefore, by setting ranges similar to the above ranges R1, R2, and R3 in the first to third extraction steps, the mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape can be discriminated from other formed components other than the mulberry bodies. Thus, by performing the first to third extraction steps in the same manner as above, the mulberry bodies with a cell-like shape and the mulberry bodies without a cell-like shape can be discriminated from other formed cells other than the mulberry bodies.

[0087] Next, with reference to FIGS. 16 to 22, an experiment of performing the first to third extraction steps on 12 subjects to extract mulberry bodies will be described.

[0088] FIG. 16 is a table showing the number of formed components, the number of mulberry bodies, and the ratio of mulberry bodies included in each range in the first to third extraction steps.

[0089] In this experiment, urine samples were collected from 12 subjects. Microscopic examination was performed on a part of the collected urine samples by a skilled laboratory technician, and the processes of steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 3 were performed on another part of the samples.

[0090] The laboratory technician performed microscopic examination on a part of the urine samples. When it was determined that mulberry bodies were included, the urine sample was regarded as positive; when it was determined that mulberry bodies were not included, the urine sample was regarded as negative. The laboratory technician determined that both cell-shaped mulberry bodies and non-cell-shaped mulberry bodies were mulberry bodies. Urine samples with specimen IDs F014, F025, F049, F057, F079, F084, F086, F095, F115, and F123 were determined to be positive as a result of microscopic examination. Urine samples with specimen IDs N008 and N009 were determined to be negative as a result of the microscopic examination.

[0091] On the other hand, for another part of the same urine samples, the processes of steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 3 were performed to obtain the number of formed elements, the number of mulberry bodies, and the ratio of mulberry bodies in ranges R1, R2, and R3. Whether it was a mulberry body or not was determined by a skilled laboratory technician visually observing the images stored in the storage unit 12. Also in this case, the laboratory technician determined that both cell-shaped mulberry bodies and non-cell-shaped mulberry bodies were mulberry bodies.

[0092] "All" in the column of the formed elements in the table is the number of formed elements included in the scattergram 210. "R1", "R2", and "R3" in the column of the formed elements in the table are, respectively, the numbers of formed elements included in the ranges R1, R2, and R3 of the scattergram 210. "All" in the column of the number of mulberry bodies in the table is the number of mulberry bodies included in the scattergram 210. "R1", "R2", and "R3" in the column of the number of mulberry bodies in the table are, respectively, the numbers of mulberry bodies included in the ranges R1, R2, and R3 of the scattergram 210. "All" in the column of the ratio of mulberry bodies in the table is the ratio of the number of mulberry bodies to the number of formed elements included in the scattergram 210. "R1", "R2", and "R3" in the column of the ratio of mulberry bodies in the table are, respectively, the ratios of the number of mulberry bodies to the number of formed elements included in the ranges R1, R2, and R3 of the scattergram 210.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 16, by performing the first to third extraction steps, the number of formed elements in any urine sample is significantly reduced. On the other hand, in any urine sample, the number of mulberry bodies was hardly reduced by the first to third extraction steps. In other words, the number of mulberry bodies finally extracted by the range R3 was only slightly reduced from all the mulberry bodies corresponding to the image stored in the storage unit 12. As a result, the ratio of mulberry bodies increased each time extraction was performed and finally increased significantly. Therefore, it can be seen that mulberry bodies can be more accurately discriminated from all the formed elements in the urine sample.

[0094] FIGS. 17 to 22 are scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 obtained by the first to third extraction steps for the urine sample shown in FIG. 16.

[0095] Also in FIGS. 17 to 22, the gray plots correspond to the formed components determined to be mulberry bodies without cell shapes by a skilled inspection technician visually inspecting the images captured by the imaging unit 20 in step S3, and the white plots correspond to the formed components determined to be mulberry bodies with cell shapes and formed components other than mulberry bodies.

[0096] Further, the urine specimen with the specimen ID F095 is the same as the urine specimen exemplified in the description of FIGS. 4 to 15. Therefore, the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 shown in the lower part of FIG. 20 are the same as the scattergrams shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 11.

[0097] As can be seen with reference to the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 of each urine specimen in FIGS. 17 to 22, the plots of mulberry bodies without cell shapes shown in gray are substantially within the ranges R1, R2, and R3 of the first to third extraction steps. Also, as shown with reference to FIG. 15, the mulberry bodies with cell shapes are distributed at substantially the same positions as the mulberry bodies without cell shapes and can be said to be substantially within the ranges R1, R2, and R3 of the first to third extraction steps. Thus, it can be understood that by using the ranges R1, R2, and R3 stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, mulberry bodies can be accurately discriminated for any urine specimen.

[0098] Next, the process of displaying the image of the formed component performed in step S7 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 28. In step S7 of FIG. 3, the images of the formed components (the formed components included in the range R3 of the scattergram 230 in FIG. 11) extracted by the first to third extraction steps are displayed on the screen 300 shown below, and the history of the counting results of the mulberry bodies and the information based on the change in the counting results are displayed on the screen 400 shown below.

[0099] FIG. 23 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the screen 300 for displaying the formed component image.

[0100] The screen 300 includes a specimen ID display area 301, a subject ID display area 302, and an image display area 310 for displaying an image of the formed elements. The screen 300 also includes a bright-field image display button 321, a first fluorescence image display button 322, and a second fluorescence image display button 323 for selecting the type of image to be displayed in the image display area 310. The screen 300 further includes a number-order button 331 and a size-order button 332 for setting the order of the images to be displayed in the image display area 310. The screen 300 also includes a counting result display area 341 for displaying the number of mulberry bodies selected in the image display area 310, and a confirmation button 342 for confirming the counting result.

[0101] When the operator inputs the specimen ID and the subject ID and then inputs an instruction to display the screen 300, the processing unit 11 displays the screen 300 shown in FIG. 23 on the display unit 14.

[0102] When the operator operates any one of the bright-field image display button 321, the first fluorescence image display button 322, and the second fluorescence image display button 323, the processing unit 11 displays an image of the type corresponding to the operated button in the image display area 310. In the image display area 310, an image of the formed elements included in the range R3 obtained from the urine specimen indicated in the specimen ID display area 301 is displayed. The example shown in FIG. 23 shows a state where the bright-field image display button 321 among the three buttons for selecting the type of image is operated. As a result, a bright-field image is displayed in the image display area 310.

[0103] When the operator operates either the sequential number button 331 or the size order button 332, the processing unit 11 rearranges the order of the images displayed in the image display area 310. Each image is assigned a serial number of the formed component. When the sequential number button 331 is operated, the images are sorted in the order of this serial number. When the size order button 332 is operated, the images are sorted in the order of the size of the formed component on the image based on the bright field size obtained from the bright field image. The example shown in FIG. 23 shows a state where the sequential number button 331 among the two buttons for setting the sorting order is operated. In either the sequential number button 331 or the size order button 332, when the same button is continuously operated, the display order is switched between ascending order and descending order. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 23, since the selection of the inclusion bodies described later has not been performed, "0" is displayed in the count result display area 341.

[0104] The example shown in FIG. 24 shows a state where the size order button 332 among the two buttons for setting the sorting order is operated. Since the inclusion bodies have the same size as each other, by arranging the images in the order of size, the images corresponding to the inclusion bodies will be arranged adjacent to each other. Thereby, the operator can select the inclusion bodies more smoothly and accurately.

[0105] When the screen 300 is displayed, the processing unit 11 may display the images displayed in the image display area 310 in the order of sequential numbers or in the order of size as an initial setting. Also, on the screen 300, at least one of a button for rearranging the images in the order of the values of each axis obtained in the first extraction step, a button for rearranging the images in the order of the values of each axis obtained in the second extraction step, and a button for rearranging the images in the order of the values of each axis obtained in the third extraction step may be arranged.

[0106] When the operator refers to the image in the image display area 310 and determines that the formed element shown in the image is likely to be a Mallory body, the operator performs an operation (e.g., click) on the image. When the image in the image display area 310 is operated, as shown in FIG. 24, the processing unit 11 overlays and displays an enlarged image area 311 on the screen 300.

[0107] The enlarged image area 311 enlarges and displays the image operated in the image display area 310. The enlarged image area 311 includes a check box 311a. When the operator further observes the enlarged image and determines that the formed element of the object shown in the image is a Mallory body, the operator checks the check box 311a. When the check box 311a is checked, the processing unit 11 associates a flag with the bright-field image, the first fluorescence image, and the second fluorescence image corresponding to the formed element of the object and stores them in the storage unit 12 (see FIG. 1), and assigns a thick frame line 312 to the image of the formed element of the object displayed in the image display area 310. In this way, when the thick frame line 312 is assigned to the image, it becomes easier to identify the image of the formed element determined to be a Mallory body among the plurality of images in the image display area 310. Also, when a flag is associated with the image of the formed element for which the check has been made, the image of the formed element determined to be a Mallory body can be confirmed again at a later date.

[0108] The processing unit 11 displays the number of formed elements for which the check box 311a has been checked in the count result display area 341. Thereby, the operator can smoothly grasp the number of formed elements determined to be Mallory bodies (the number of formed elements to which the thick frame line 312 has been assigned).

[0109] FIG. 25 illustrates a bright-field image of a formed element determined to be a Mallory body by the operator.

[0110] The mulberry bodies may have a black spiral shape as shown in the first stage, or a white spiral shape as shown in the second stage. After grasping the shape of such mulberry bodies, the operator refers to the image display area 310 and the enlarged image area 311 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 to determine whether the formed components shown in the image are mulberry bodies. At this time, as described above, since the formed components other than the mulberry bodies are significantly excluded by the first to third extraction steps, the operator can more smoothly and accurately perform the operation of continuously determining whether it is a mulberry body by referring to the images as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

[0111] FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a screen 300 in a state where the selection of mulberry bodies by the operator is completed.

[0112] In the example shown in FIG. 26, a thick frame line 312 is added to a plurality of images corresponding to the mulberry bodies in the image display area 310 by the selection of the mulberry bodies by the operator. Further, according to the selection of the mulberry bodies, the number of mulberry bodies is displayed in the counting result display area 341.

[0113] After finishing the selection of the mulberry bodies, the operator operates the confirmation button 342. Thereby, the processing unit 11 transmits a counting result including the number of formed components determined to be mulberry bodies via the check box 311a, the ratio of the number of formed components determined to be mulberry bodies to the number of formed components within the range R3, the specimen ID, the subject ID, and the current date and time to an external host computer (see FIG. 1). Instead of or in addition to being transmitted to the host computer, the counting result may be stored in the storage unit 12.

[0114] Note that in Fig. 24, only the enlarged image of the image operated within the image display area 310 was displayed in the enlarged image area 311. However, this is not the only case, and all images (bright-field image, first fluorescence image, and second fluorescence image) corresponding to the formed components in the image operated within the image display area 310 may be displayed. In this case, the operator can smoothly determine whether the target formed component is a mulberry body while referring to all the images.

[0115] Further, a check box for the shape of the mulberry body (such as a spiral shape) may be arranged in the enlarged image area 311. In this case, the operator refers to the image to determine the shape of the mulberry body and checks the check box according to the shape of the mulberry body. Then, on the screen 300, the counting result for each shape of the mulberry body is displayed, and buttons for rearranging the images for each shape of the mulberry body are arranged. As a result, it becomes easier to confirm typical-shaped (such as spiral-shaped) mulberry bodies and atypical-shaped (other shapes) mulberry bodies in the image display area 310. For example, the effect of enzyme replacement therapy performed on a patient with Fabry disease can be confirmed.

[0116] Also, the instruction input for associating the image within the image display area 310 with the mulberry body is not limited to being performed via the check box 311a, and may be performed via other operations (such as right-clicking or double-clicking) on the image.

[0117] Further, the scattergrams 210, 220, and 230 shown in Figs. 4, 7, and 11 may be displayed on the screen 300. In this case, when the operator operates the image within the image display area 310, a mark may be attached to the corresponding plot of the formed component on the scattergram, and when the operator operates the plot of the formed component on the scattergram, a mark may be attached to the corresponding image within the image display area 310.

[0118] Fig. 27 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a screen 400 that displays the history and changes of the counting results of mulberry bodies for the same subject.

[0119] The screen 400 includes a subject ID display area 401, a list display area 411, and a graph display area 412.

[0120] When the operator inputs the subject ID and then inputs an instruction to display the screen 400, the processing unit 11 displays the screen 400 shown in FIG. 27 on the display unit 14. At this time, the processing unit 11 makes an inquiry to the host computer (see FIG. 1) based on the subject ID, and receives a counting result corresponding to the subject ID from the host computer. When there are a plurality of counting results corresponding to one subject ID, the processing unit 11 receives the plurality of counting results from the host computer as a history of the counting results. The processing unit 11 displays the list display area 411 and the graph display area 412 based on the received counting results.

[0121] Each row of the list display area 411 corresponds to one counting result. The list display area 411 displays the number of formed elements determined to be mulberry bodies and the ratio of the number of formed elements determined to be mulberry bodies to the number of formed elements within the range R3. The graph display area 412 is a graph based on the data in the list display area 411. The graph in the graph display area 412 is information based on the change in the counting result.

[0122] Note that the list display area 411 and the graph display area 412 shown in FIG. 27 are displayed on a screen 400 different from the screen 300, but as shown in FIG. 28, they may be displayed in accordance with the screen 300.

[0123] <Effects of the Formed Element Detection Method, Formed Element Detection Apparatus, and Program According to the Embodiment> In step S3 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 controls the light source 121 to irradiate a urine specimen containing a plurality of types of formed elements with excitation light that causes autofluorescence from the mulberry bodies. Also, in step S3, the processing unit 11 spectrally separates the fluorescence generated from the urine specimen irradiated with the excitation light into fluorescence in a wavelength band (first wavelength band) including wavelength λ21 and a wavelength band (second wavelength band) including wavelength λ22, which are included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence of the mulberry bodies, and acquires a fluorescence image for each formed element. In step S4, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed elements included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies, based on the reference information based on the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including wavelength λ21 and the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including wavelength λ22 obtained from the fluorescence image. The reference information is, for example, the maximum value, average value, total value, median, etc. of the luminance of the pixels specified as the regions of the formed elements in the first and second fluorescence images.

[0124] According to this process, since the formed elements in which the reference information based on the fluorescence of wavelength λ21 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band) and λ22 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band) is included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted, the mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately from other formed elements. Also, according to this process, since the step of staining the formed elements in the urine specimen becomes unnecessary, the discrimination of the mulberry bodies can be performed simply.

[0125] The wavelength λ11 of the excitation light is 350 nm or more and 550 nm or less.

[0126] According to this configuration, autofluorescence can be generated from the mulberry bodies.

[0127] The wavelength λ11 of the excitation light is in the vicinity of 405 nm, the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including wavelength λ21 is 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less, and the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including wavelength λ22 is 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less.

[0128] According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the mulberry bodies can be effectively discriminated from other formed elements.

[0129] The reference information based on the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including the wavelength λ21 obtained from the fluorescence image and the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including the wavelength λ22 includes a first reference value regarding the intensity of the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including the wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component and a second reference value regarding the intensity of the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including the wavelength λ22 generated from the same formed component. The first reference value is, for example, the maximum value, average value, total value, median value, etc. of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the first fluorescence image. The second reference value is, for example, the maximum value, average value, total value, median value, etc. of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the second fluorescence image.

[0130] According to this configuration, the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry body can be set smoothly.

[0131] The fluorescence image acquired by the imaging unit 20 includes a first fluorescence image that captures the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including the wavelength λ21 generated from the formed component and a second fluorescence image that captures the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including the wavelength λ22 generated from the same formed component.

[0132] According to this configuration, by separately imaging the fluorescence of the wavelength λ21 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band) and the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band), the first reference value regarding the intensity of the fluorescence of the wavelength λ21 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band) and the second reference value regarding the intensity of the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band) can be acquired smoothly.

[0133] The first reference value is, for example, a value regarding the luminance of the region of the formed component in the first fluorescence image, and the second reference value is, for example, a value regarding the luminance of the region of the same formed component in the second fluorescence image. The value regarding the luminance is, for example, the maximum value, average value, total value, median value, etc. of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the fluorescence image.

[0134] According to this configuration, it becomes easier to discriminate between the mulberry body and other formed components.

[0135] The first reference value is the maximum luminance of the region of the formed elements in the first fluorescence image, and the second reference value is the maximum luminance of the region of the same formed elements in the second fluorescence image.

[0136] According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, it becomes easier to accurately discriminate between the mulberry bodies and other formed elements.

[0137] The step of extracting the formed elements includes a first extraction step (step) of extracting the formed elements whose first reference value and second reference value are included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies.

[0138] According to this configuration, the formed elements included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies can be smoothly extracted.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 4, the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies is narrow near the origin of the scattergram 210 (coordinate system) having two axes, the vertical axis (coordinate axis corresponding to the first reference value) and the horizontal axis (coordinate axis corresponding to the second reference value), and spreads as the values of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis (two axes) increase, and is a range sandwiched between the range R11 (first range) corresponding to the first type of formed elements other than the mulberry bodies and the range R12 (second range) corresponding to the second type of formed elements other than the mulberry bodies.

[0140] According to this configuration, in the first extraction step, the first type of formed elements (for example, squamous epithelial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells exemplified in the upper part of FIG. 6) distributed in the range R11 and the second type of formed elements (for example, salts and bacteria exemplified in the lower part of FIG. 6) distributed in the range R12 can be excluded.

[0141] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies is the range between a straight line R1a (first straight line) passing through the origin of the scattergram 210 (coordinate system) having a first angle with respect to either one of the vertical axis (coordinate axis) corresponding to the first reference value and the horizontal axis (coordinate axis) corresponding to the second reference value, and a straight line R1b (second straight line) passing through the origin and having a second angle different from the first angle with respect to one of the axes, when a plurality of formed components are plotted on the scattergram 210 (coordinate system) with the vertical axis and the horizontal axis (two axes) as two axes.

[0142] According to this configuration, mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately while excluding squamous epithelial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, bacteria, and the like.

[0143] In step S3 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 images the urine sample and acquires a bright-field image for each formed component. In the first extraction step of step S4, the processing unit 11 acquires the first reference value from the first fluorescence image, acquires the second reference value from the second fluorescence image, and extracts the formed components whose first reference value and second reference value are included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies. In the second extraction step of step S5, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components whose other reference information obtained from the bright-field image is included in the range R2 (second range) corresponding to the mulberry bodies.

[0144] According to this process, by using the bright-field image, mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately.

[0145] The above other reference information includes a value related to the size of the formed component and a value related to the contrast of the formed component.

[0146] According to this configuration, based on the value related to the size of the formed elements, formed elements of a urine specimen other than mulberry bodies (squamous epithelial cells distributed in ranges R21 and R22, urothelial cells distributed in range R23, salts and bacteria distributed in range R25) can be excluded. Based on the value related to the contrast of the formed elements, formed elements of a urine specimen other than mulberry bodies (squamous epithelial cells distributed in ranges R21 and R22, urothelial cells distributed in range R23, renal tubular epithelial cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells distributed in range R24) can be excluded.

[0147] In step S3 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 images the urine specimen to obtain a bright-field image for each formed element. In the first extraction step of step S4, the processing unit 11 obtains a first reference value from the first fluorescence image and a second reference value from the second fluorescence image, and extracts formed elements whose first reference value and second reference value are included in the range R1 corresponding to mulberry bodies. In the third extraction step of step S6, the processing unit 11 extracts formed elements whose value related to the aspect ratio of the formed elements based on the bright-field image and the first reference value are included in the range R3 (the third range) corresponding to mulberry bodies.

[0148] According to this processing, based on the value related to the aspect ratio of the formed elements, formed elements of a urine specimen other than mulberry bodies (formed elements such as cylinders distributed in range R32) can be excluded. Based on the first reference value (the value related to the luminance of the region of the formed element in the first fluorescence image) in the third extraction step, components of a urine specimen other than mulberry bodies (renal tubular epithelial cells, salts, fat globules, crystals, bacteria distributed in range R31) can be excluded.

[0149] In step S3 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 images the urine sample and acquires bright-field images for each formed element. In the first extraction step of step S4, the processing unit 11 acquires a first reference value from the first fluorescence image, acquires a second reference value from the second fluorescence image, and extracts formed elements whose first reference value and second reference value are included in the range R1 corresponding to mulberry bodies. In the second extraction step of step S5, the processing unit 11 extracts formed elements whose values related to the size of the formed element and the values related to the contrast of the formed element based on the bright-field image are included in the range R2 (second range) corresponding to mulberry bodies. In the third extraction step of step S6, the processing unit 11 extracts formed elements whose values related to the aspect ratio of the formed element based on the bright-field image and the first reference value are included in the range R3 (third range) corresponding to mulberry bodies.

[0150] According to this process, mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately.

[0151] The range R1 corresponding to mulberry bodies is a range that does not overlap with the ranges R11 and R12 corresponding to epithelial cells, salts, and bacteria.

[0152] According to this configuration, formed elements that generate autofluorescence like mulberry bodies can be excluded, and mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately.

[0153] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 displays the images of the formed elements extracted by the first to third extraction steps (steps of extracting formed elements) on the screen 300 shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 26, and 28.

[0154] According to this process, the operator can smoothly confirm formed elements that are highly likely to be mulberry bodies by referring to the images of the formed elements extracted by the first to third extraction steps.

[0155] In step S3 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 images a plurality of formed elements in the urine sample to acquire a bright-field image, and in step S7, displays the bright-field image of the extracted formed element in the image display area 310 shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 26, and 28.

[0156] Mulberry bodies are likely to be characterized in bright-field images. Therefore, according to this process, the operator can smoothly identify the formed elements that are likely to be mulberry bodies by referring to the bright-field image.

[0157] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 displays a list of the images of the extracted formed elements in the image display areas 310 shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 26, and 28.

[0158] According to this process, since the images of the formed elements are displayed in a list, the operator can easily check the images of a plurality of formed elements in order.

[0159] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 displays a list of the images of the extracted formed elements in the image display area 310 in the order of the sizes of the formed element images, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 26.

[0160] When arranged in the order of the sizes of the formed elements, it becomes easier to separate and display mulberry bodies and other formed elements in the image display area 310. For this reason, the operator can check the mulberry bodies more smoothly.

[0161] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 receives an instruction input to arrange the images of the extracted formed elements in the order of the sizes of the formed elements via the size order buttons 332 shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 26, and 28, and rearranges the images of the formed elements displayed in a list according to the received instruction input.

[0162] According to this process, the operator can smoothly rearrange the formed elements displayed in a list.

[0163] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 receives an instruction input to specify any one of the images of the formed elements displayed in a list, and enlarges and displays the image of the formed element specified by the instruction input, as shown in the enlarged image area 311 of FIG. 24.

[0164] According to this process, since the operator can easily see the formed elements in detail, it is possible to more accurately confirm whether or not the target formed element is a mulberry body.

[0165] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 receives an instruction input for specifying an image of a mulberry body among the images of the formed elements displayed in a list via the check box 311a in FIG. 24, and as shown in FIGS. 24 and 26, displays the counting result obtained by counting the images of the formed elements specified by the instruction input in the counting result display area 341.

[0166] According to this process, the number of formed elements specified by the operator as mulberry bodies can be used as effective information for pathological diagnosis such as determining whether or not the subject has Fabry disease.

[0167] The processing unit 11 stores the history of the counting results for the same subject as shown in the list display area 411 in FIGS. 27 and 28.

[0168] By displaying such a history of counting results, the operator can appropriately confirm the change in the state of the mulberry bodies in the target subject.

[0169] The processing unit 11 displays information based on the change in the counting result based on the history of the counting result as shown in the graph display area 412 in FIGS. 27 and 28.

[0170] According to this process, the operator can smoothly confirm the change in the number of mulberry bodies in the target subject. Therefore, pathological diagnosis such as determining whether or not the subject has Fabry disease and determining the effect of medication on the subject can be advanced more accurately.

[0171] The processing unit 11 displays information based on the change in the counting result shown in the graph display area 412 together with the list of the images of the formed elements shown in the image display area 310 as shown in the screen 300 in FIG. 28.

[0172] According to this process, the list of images and the change in the counting results can be referred to simultaneously. For example, it is possible to confirm whether the administration of medicine or the like to the subject was effective.

[0173] In step S7 of FIG. 3, the processing unit 11 receives an instruction input for specifying an image of a mulberry body among the images of the formed components displayed in a list via the check box 311a in FIG. 24, and associates a flag with the image of the formed component specified by the instruction input and stores it.

[0174] According to this process, the image of the formed component determined by the operator as a mulberry body can be displayed with marking thereafter. Thereby, for example, the determination result by the operator can be smoothly confirmed by a doctor at a later date. Therefore, the diagnosis can be advanced more accurately.

[0175] As shown in FIG. 2, the formed component detection device 1 includes a light source 121 that irradiates a urine specimen containing a plurality of types of formed components with excitation light that generates autofluorescence from the mulberry body, and fluorescence generated from the urine specimen irradiated with the excitation light. An imaging unit 20 that spectrally separates the fluorescence into fluorescence in a wavelength band (first wavelength band) including a wavelength λ21 and a wavelength band (second wavelength band) including a wavelength λ22, which are included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence, and acquires a fluorescence image for each formed component; and a processing unit 11 that extracts a formed component whose reference information based on the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including the wavelength λ21 and the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including the wavelength λ22 obtained from the fluorescence image is included in a range R1 corresponding to the mulberry body.

[0176] According to this configuration, since the formed components whose reference information based on the fluorescence of wavelength λ21 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band) and the fluorescence of wavelength λ22 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band) is included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry body are extracted, the mulberry body can be discriminated more accurately from other formed components. Further, according to this configuration, since the step of staining the formed components in the urine specimen becomes unnecessary, the discrimination of the mulberry body can be performed simply.

[0177] The imaging unit 20 includes a dichroic mirror of the optical unit 142 that splits the fluorescence generated from the urine sample irradiated with the excitation light into fluorescence in a wavelength band (first wavelength band) including wavelength λ21 and fluorescence in a wavelength band (second wavelength band) including wavelength λ22.

[0178] According to this configuration, the fluorescence generated from the urine sample can be easily split into fluorescence of wavelength λ21 and fluorescence of wavelength λ22.

[0179] The imaging unit 20 includes a flow cell 110 through which the urine sample flows, and images the urine sample flowing through the flow cell 110.

[0180] According to this configuration, images of a large number of formed elements can be efficiently acquired.

[0181] The program 12a (see FIG. 1) is a program that causes a computer to execute a process of detecting formed elements in a urine sample containing a plurality of types of formed elements. When the program 12a is executed by the processing unit 11, the fluorescence in the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including wavelength λ21 and the fluorescence in the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including wavelength λ22, which are included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence of the mulberry bodies and generated from the urine sample irradiated with the excitation light that causes autofluorescence from the mulberry bodies, are obtained from the fluorescence images of the formed elements for each formed element. The reference information based on the fluorescence is used to extract the formed elements included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies.

[0182] According to this configuration, since the formed elements included in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies and for which the reference information based on the fluorescence of wavelength λ21 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band) and the fluorescence of wavelength λ22 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band) is included are extracted, the mulberry bodies can be discriminated more accurately from other formed elements. Also, according to this configuration, since the step of staining the formed elements in the urine sample becomes unnecessary, the discrimination of the mulberry bodies can be performed simply.

[0183] <Modification Example 1> In the above-described embodiment, the maximum value of luminance is used in the first extraction step. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the average value of luminance may be used. Hereinafter, the first to third extraction steps of this modified example will be described using the urine sample with the specimen ID "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0184] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the first extraction step in which the average luminance is used according to this modified example.

[0185] The scattergram 210 in FIG. 29 is generated based on all the formed components corresponding to the image stored in the storage unit 12. In the scattergram 210, the vertical axis is the average value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the first fluorescence image, and the horizontal axis is the average value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the second fluorescence image. The range R1 in FIG. 29 is set in a range sandwiched between two straight lines extending obliquely from the origin, similar to the range R1 shown in FIG. 4.

[0186] In the first extraction step in this case, 242,429 formed components in the range R1 were extracted from 252,092 all formed components. That is, 96.2% of the formed components were extracted and 3.8% of the formed components were excluded from all the formed components. Then, based on the formed components in the range R1 in FIG. 29, the second and third extraction steps are performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Thus, in the third extraction step, 2,561 formed components in the range R3 are extracted.

[0187] According to this modified example, the number of extractions (242,429) by the range R1 in FIG. 29 is slightly larger than the number of extractions (236,893) in the case of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 16, and the number of extractions (2,561) by the range R3 in FIG. 29 is slightly larger than the number of extractions (2,061) in the case of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 16. However, it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down to the same extent as in the above-described embodiment. Also, most of the gray plots indicating the mulberry bodies are present within the ranges R1, R2, and R3. Therefore, also in this modified example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies by referring to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on the screens 300 and 400.

[0188] <Modification Example 2> In the above embodiment, the average value of luminance was used in the third extraction step. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the maximum value of luminance may be used. Hereinafter, the first to third extraction steps of this modification example will be described using the urine sample with the specimen ID "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0189] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the third extraction step in which the maximum luminance is used according to this modification example.

[0190] The scattergrams 210 and 220 in FIG. 30 are generated in the same manner as FIGS. 4 and 7. The scattergram 230 in FIG. 30 is generated based on the formed components in the range R2 of the scattergram 220 in FIG. 30. In the scattergram 230, the horizontal axis is the maximum value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the first fluorescence image, and the vertical axis is the same as the vertical axis in FIG. 4. The range R3 in FIG. 30 is set to a rectangular range in the same manner as the range R3 shown in FIG. 11.

[0191] In the third extraction step in this case, 2052 formed components in the range R3 were extracted from 6012 formed components in the range R2. That is, 34.1% of the formed components in the range R2 were extracted, and 65.9% of the formed components were excluded.

[0192] According to this modification example, since the number of extractions (2052) by the range R3 in FIG. 30 is almost the same as the number of extractions (2061) in the case of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 16, it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down to the same extent as in the above embodiment. In addition, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within the ranges R1, R2, and R3. Therefore, also in this modification example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on the screens 300 and 400.

[0193] <Modification Example 3> In the above-described embodiment, the maximum value of luminance was used in the first extraction step, and the average value of luminance was used in the third extraction step. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the total value of luminance may be used in the first and third extraction steps. Hereinafter, the first to third extraction steps of this modified example will be described using the urine sample with the specimen ID "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0194] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the first and third extraction steps in which the total luminance is used according to this modified example.

[0195] The scattergram 210 in FIG. 31 is generated based on all the formed components corresponding to the image stored in the storage unit 12. In the scattergram 210, the vertical axis represents the total value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the first fluorescence image, and the horizontal axis represents the total value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the second fluorescence image. The range R1 in FIG. 31 is set to the range sandwiched between two straight lines extending in the diagonal direction, similar to the range R1 shown in FIG. 4.

[0196] In the first extraction step in this case, 248,547 formed components in the range R1 were extracted from 252,092 all formed components. That is, 98.6% of the formed components were extracted and 1.4% of the formed components were excluded from all the formed components. Then, based on the formed components in the range R1 of FIG. 31, the second extraction step is performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

[0197] The scattergram 230 in FIG. 31 is generated based on the formed components in the range R2 of the scattergram 220 in FIG. 31. In the scattergram 230, the horizontal axis represents the total value of the luminance of the pixels identified as formed components in the first fluorescence image, and the vertical axis is the same as the vertical axis in FIG. 4. The range R3 in FIG. 31 is set to a rectangular range, similar to the range R3 shown in FIG. 11.

[0198] In the third extraction step in this case, 2,665 formed components in range R3 were extracted from 7,150 formed components in range R2. That is, 37.3% of the formed components in range R2 were extracted, and 62.7% of the formed components were excluded.

[0199] According to this modification example, since the number of extractions (2,665) by range R3 in FIG. 31 is almost the same as the number of extractions (2,061) in the case of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 16, it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down to about the same extent as in the above-described embodiment. Also, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within ranges R1, R2, and R3. Therefore, also in this modification example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on screens 300 and 400.

[0200] <Modification Example 4> In the above-described embodiment, both the bright-field size and the bright-field contrast were used in the second extraction step, but either one of the bright-field size and the bright-field contrast may be used. Hereinafter, the second extraction step of this modification example will be described using the urine sample with the specimen ID of "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0201] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the second extraction step in which only the bright-field contrast is used according to this modification example. The left side of FIG. 32 is a reference diagram illustrating the second extraction step of the embodiment, and the right side of FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating the second extraction step of this modification example.

[0202] In the scattergram 220 of this modification example, range R2 is set to include all of the bright-field sizes (values on the vertical axis). That is, in this modification example, the second extraction step is performed only by the bright-field contrast.

[0203] In the second extraction step in this case, 113,004 formed components in range R2 were extracted from 236,893 formed components in range R1 of the first extraction step. That is, 47.7% of the formed components in range R1 were extracted, and 52.3% of the formed components were excluded.

[0204] According to this modification example, although the number of extractions by range R2 (113,004) is larger than the number of extractions in the case of the embodiment (6,012), the number of formed components could be narrowed down in the second extraction step. Also, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within range R2. Therefore, also in this modification example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on screens 300 and 400.

[0205] <Modification Example 5> In the above embodiment, both the bright-field aspect ratio and the average value of luminance were used in the third extraction step, but either one of the bright-field aspect ratio and the average value of luminance may be used. Hereinafter, the third extraction step of this modification example will be described using the urine sample with the specimen ID "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0206] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the third extraction step in which only the average luminance is used according to this modification example. The left side of FIG. 33 is a reference diagram illustrating the third extraction step of the embodiment, and the right side of FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the third extraction step of this modification example.

[0207] In the scattergram 230 of this modification example, range R3 is set to include all of the bright-field aspect ratios (values on the vertical axis). That is, in this modification example, the third extraction step is performed only based on the average luminance.

[0208] In the third extraction step in this case, 2,327 formed components within range R3 were extracted from the 6,012 formed components extracted within range R2 of the second extraction step. That is, 38.7% of the formed components within range R2 were extracted, and 61.3% of the formed components were excluded.

[0209] According to this modified example, since the number of extracts by range R3 (2327) is almost the same as the number of extracts in the case of the embodiment (2061), it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down to about the same extent as in the above embodiment. Also, almost all of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within range R3. Therefore, also in this modified example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies by referring to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on screens 300 and 400.

[0210] <Modified Example 6> In the above modified example 2, both the bright-field aspect ratio and the maximum value of the luminance were used in the third extraction step, but either one of the bright-field aspect ratio and the maximum value of the luminance may be used. Hereinafter, the third extraction step of this modified example will be described using the urine specimen with the specimen ID "F095" shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

[0211] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the third extraction step in which only the maximum luminance is used according to this modified example. The left side of FIG. 34 is a reference diagram illustrating the third extraction step of modified example 2, and the right side of FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the third extraction step of this modified example.

[0212] In the scattergram 230 of this modified example, range R3 is set to include all of the bright-field aspect ratios (values on the vertical axis). That is, in this modified example, the third extraction step is performed using only the maximum luminance.

[0213] In the third extraction step in this case, 2322 formed components within range R3 were extracted from the 6012 formed components extracted within range R2 of the second extraction step. That is, 38.6% of the formed components within range R2 were extracted, and 61.4% of the formed components were excluded.

[0214] According to this modification example, since the number of extractions by the range R3 (2322) is almost the same as the number of extractions in the case of Modification Example 2 (2052), it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down to about the same extent as in Modification Example 2. Also, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within the range R3. Therefore, also in this modification example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on the screens 300 and 400.

[0215] <Modification Example 7> In the above embodiment, the wavelength λ11 of the excitation light emitted from the light source 121 was 405 nm, but it is not limited to this. The wavelength λ11 may be any wavelength as long as autofluorescence is generated from the mulberry body when the excitation light irradiates the mulberry body.

[0216] In this modification example, the wavelength λ11 of the excitation light emitted from the light source 121 is set to 488 nm. Also in this case, the wavelength λ11 indicates the wavelength at which the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 121 is maximum, and the light of the wavelength λ11 emitted from the light source 121 includes not only the light of the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum but also the light of the wavelengths in the vicinity of the wavelength at which the intensity of the light is maximum.

[0217] When the wavelength λ11 of the excitation light is 488 nm, the wavelength band of the autofluorescence generated from the mulberry body is 505 nm or more and 595 nm or less. Therefore, the imaging unit 20 of this modification example is configured to image the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22 of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less and the fluorescence of the wavelength λ23 of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less so as to be able to image the autofluorescence of the wavelengths of 505 nm or more and 595 nm or less generated from the mulberry body.

[0218] Specifically, the condenser lens 141 condenses fluorescence of wavelengths λ22 and λ23 generated from the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110, and light of wavelength λ12 that has passed through the urine specimen flowing through the flow path 111 of the flow cell 110. The three dichroic mirrors of the optical unit 142 spectrally separate the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, the fluorescence of wavelength λ23, and the light of wavelength λ12 by reflecting them at slightly different angles from each other, and separate them on the light-receiving surface of the camera 144. The condenser lens 143 condenses the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, the fluorescence of wavelength λ23, and the light of wavelength λ12, respectively.

[0219] The camera 144 images the fluorescence of wavelength λ22, the fluorescence of wavelength λ23, and the light of wavelength λ12, and outputs a first fluorescence image corresponding to the fluorescence of wavelength λ22 (fluorescence in the first wavelength band), a second fluorescence image corresponding to the fluorescence of wavelength λ23 (fluorescence in the second wavelength band), and a bright-field image corresponding to the light of wavelength λ12 as imaging signals. Similar to the above-described embodiment, the processing unit 11 discriminates mulberry bodies contained in the urine specimen using the first fluorescence image, the second fluorescence image, and the bright-field image.

[0220] FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the first and second extraction steps according to this modification example.

[0221] The scattergram 210 in FIG. 35 is generated in the same manner as FIG. 4. The horizontal axis of the scattergram 210 in FIG. 35 is the maximum luminance of wavelength λ22 (wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less), that is, the maximum luminance based on the first fluorescence image. The vertical axis of the scattergram 210 in FIG. 35 is the maximum luminance of wavelength λ23 (wavelength band of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less), that is, the maximum luminance based on the second fluorescence image corresponding to wavelength λ23. The range R1 in FIG. 35 is set to a range sandwiched between two straight lines extending obliquely from the origin, similar to the range R1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0222] In the first extraction step of this modification example as well, the value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ22 generated from the formed components is the maximum luminance, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be the average value, total value, or median value of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed components in the first fluorescence image. Similarly, the value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ23 from the formed components is the maximum luminance, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be the average value, total value, or median value of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed components in the second fluorescence image.

[0223] In the first extraction step in this case, 357,215 formed components within the range R1 were extracted from a total of 367,248 formed components. That is, 97.3% of the total formed components were extracted, and 2.7% of the formed tail components were excluded.

[0224] The scattergram 220 in FIG. 35 is generated in the same manner as FIG. 7. In the second extraction step in this case, 23,829 formed components within the range R2 were extracted from the 357,215 formed components within the range R1. That is, 6.67% of the total formed components were extracted, and 93.33% of the formed components were excluded.

[0225] The left side of FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the third extraction step according to this modification example.

[0226] The scattergram 230 on the left side of FIG. 36 is generated in the same manner as FIG. 11. The horizontal axis of the scattergram 230 on the left side of FIG. 36 is the average value of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed components in the second fluorescence image with wavelength λ23 (wavelength band of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less). The vertical axis of the scattergram 230 on the left side of FIG. 36 is the bright-field aspect ratio, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11.

[0227] In the third extraction step in this case, 987 formed components within the range R3 were extracted from the 23,829 formed components within the range R2. That is, 4.14% of the formed components within the range R2 were extracted, and 95.86% of the formed components were excluded.

[0228] According to this modified example, the number of extractions (987) based on the range R3 of the scattergram 230 on the left side of FIG. 36 is slightly less than the number of extractions (2061) in the case of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, it can be said that the formed components were narrowed down more than in the above-described embodiment. Also, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within the ranges R1, R2, and R3. Therefore, also in this modified example, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the images of the formed components after extraction displayed on the screens 300 and 400.

[0229] Note that, as shown on the right side of FIG. 36, in the scattergram 230 on the left side of FIG. 36, the horizontal axis may be set to the maximum value of the luminance of the pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the second fluorescence image.

[0230] In this case, 1384 formed components in the range R3 were extracted from the 23829 formed components extracted in the range R2. That is, 5.81% of the formed components in the range R2 were extracted, and 94.19% of the formed components were excluded. Since the number of extractions (1384) based on the range R3 of the scattergram 230 on the right side of FIG. 36 is about the same as the number of extractions (987) on the left side of FIG. 36, it can be said that in the modified example shown on the right side of FIG. 36, the formed components were narrowed down to about the same extent as in the modified example 7 shown on the left side of FIG. 36. Also, most of the gray plots indicating mulberry bodies are present within the range R3.

[0231] As described above, according to the modified example 7, the wavelength λ11 of the excitation light is near 488 nm, the wavelength band (first wavelength band) including the wavelength λ22 is 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less, and the wavelength band (second wavelength band) including the wavelength λ23 is 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less.

[0232] According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 35, mulberry bodies can be discriminated from other formed components.

[0233] <Modified Example 8> In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the first extraction step, the second extraction step, and the third extraction step were executed in this order. However, the execution order of the first extraction step, the second extraction step, and the third extraction step is not limited to this. For example, the second extraction step, the first extraction step, and the third extraction step may be executed in this order.

[0234] FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the processing related to the method for detecting formed components by the processing unit 11 according to this modification example.

[0235] The processing in FIG. 37 is different from the embodiment in FIG. 3 in that the order of the first extraction step in step S4 and the second extraction step in step S5 is reversed.

[0236] In this case, in the second extraction step of step S5, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components in the range R2 based on the bright-field image of all the formed components acquired in step S3. Subsequently, in the first extraction step of step S4, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components in the range R1 based on the first and second fluorescence images of the formed components in the range R2 extracted in step S5. Then, in the third extraction step of step S6, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components in the range R3 based on the first fluorescence image and the bright-field image of the formed components in the range R1 extracted in step S4. Thus, even if the execution order of the three extraction steps is interchanged, the finally extracted formed components are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

[0237] However, as can be seen by referring to the number of formed components in FIG. 16, the number of formed components that can be excluded in the second extraction step is several times larger than the number of formed components that can be excluded in the other extraction steps. In this case, as shown in FIG. 37, it is preferable that the second extraction step is executed prior to the first and third extraction steps. In this way, if the first extraction step is performed first among the three extraction steps, the subsequent processing can be advanced with the number of formed components reduced, so that the calculation amount of the processing unit 11 in the subsequent steps can be reduced.

[0238] <Modification Example 9> In the above embodiment, among the three extraction steps, only the first extraction step and the second extraction step may be executed, only the first extraction step and the third extraction step may be executed, or only the first extraction step may be executed.

[0239] FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the processing related to the method for detecting a formed component by the processing unit 11 when only the first extraction step is executed according to this modification example.

[0240] Compared with the embodiment of FIG. 3, the processing in FIG. 38 omits the second extraction step in step S5 and the third extraction step in step S6. In this case, in the first extraction step of step S4, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components in the range R1 based on the first fluorescence image and the second fluorescence image of all the formed components acquired in step S3. Then, in step S7, the processing unit 11 displays the images of the formed components extracted in the first extraction step of step S4 on the screens 300 and 400.

[0241] Thus, when only the first extraction step is performed as the extraction step, the number of formed components displayed on the screens 300 and 400 increases compared to the case where the first to third extraction steps are performed. However, even when only the first extraction step is performed, the formed components distributed in the range R1 corresponding to the mulberry bodies are extracted, and the formed components distributed in the ranges R11 and R12 corresponding to the formed components other than the mulberry bodies are excluded. Therefore, also in this case, the number of formed components displayed on the screens 300 and 400 is smaller than when the first to third extraction steps are not performed. Thus, the operator can smoothly and accurately select the mulberry bodies with reference to the screens 300 and 400.

[0242] <Other Modification Examples> In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 6, 8, and 9, the wavelength band including the wavelength λ21 was a wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less, but it may be included in the wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less. Further, the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22 was a wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less, but it may be included in the wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less. Also in this case, the mulberry bodies can be extracted by the first extraction step based on the first fluorescence image obtained from the fluorescence of the wavelength λ21 and the second fluorescence image obtained from the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22.

[0243] Similarly, in Modification Example 7, the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22 was a wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less, but it may be included in the wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less. Further, the wavelength band including the wavelength λ23 was a wavelength band of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less, but it may be included in the wavelength band of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less. Also in this case, the mulberry bodies can be extracted by the first extraction step based on the first fluorescence image obtained from the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22 and the second fluorescence image obtained from the fluorescence of the wavelength λ23.

[0244] In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 6, 8, and 9, the wavelength at the boundary between the wavelength band including the wavelength λ21 and the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22 was 505 nm, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be between the lower limit wavelength of the wavelength band including the wavelength λ21 and the upper limit wavelength of the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22. Similarly, in Modification Example 7, the wavelength at the boundary between the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22 and the wavelength band including the wavelength λ23 was 560 nm, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be between the lower limit wavelength of the wavelength band including the wavelength λ22 and the upper limit wavelength of the wavelength band including the wavelength λ23. Even when the boundary wavelength is changed in this way, the dichroic mirror of the optical unit 142 is configured to reflect the fluorescence of the two wavelength bands at slightly different angles from each other.

[0245] In Modification Example 7 above, in the third extraction step, a value related to the intensity of the fluorescence of the wavelength λ23 was used, but instead, a value related to the intensity of the fluorescence of the wavelength λ22 may be used.

[0246] In the above-described embodiment and Modification Examples 1 to 9, the imaging unit 20 is configured to be able to acquire autofluorescence in two wavelength bands out of the autofluorescence in a predetermined wavelength band generated from the mulberry bodies. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured to be able to acquire autofluorescence in three or more wavelength bands out of the autofluorescence in a predetermined wavelength band generated from the mulberry bodies. In this case, in the first extraction step, the processing unit 11 extracts the formed components included in the range corresponding to the mulberry bodies by using the reference information obtained from the fluorescence images obtained by imaging the fluorescence in three or more wavelength bands respectively.

[0247] In the above-described embodiment and Modification Examples 1 to 9, the ranges R1, R2, and R3 are fixed regions. However, at least one of the ranges R1, R2, and R3 may be a variable region. For example, at least one of the ranges R1, R2, and R3 may be a range that changes according to the distribution state of the formed components in the scattergram.

[0248] In the above-described embodiment and Modification Examples 1 to 3 and 7, the range R1 is a range surrounded by two straight lines R1a and R1b (see FIG. 4). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the range R1 may be narrow near the origin of the scattergram 210, may widen as the values of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis increase, and may be a range sandwiched between the ranges R11 and R12 corresponding to the formed components other than the mulberry bodies. The boundary line of the range R1 may include a straight line in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or may include a curve.

[0249] In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 9, information such as bright-field contrast, bright-field size, and bright-field aspect ratio was obtained from the bright-field image, but other information such as bright-field focus may be obtained. The bright-field focus is an example of a value related to the focus state of the formed component based on the bright-field image. The bright-field focus is, for example, a value (average gradient) obtained by normalizing the luminance at pixels specified as the region of the formed component in the bright-field image and dividing the sum of the luminance gradients between adjacent pixels by the number of pixels. The larger the value of the bright-field focus, the more in focus the formed component is in the bright-field image. By using the bright-field focus, out-of-focus and unclear formed components in the bright-field image can be excluded.

[0250] In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 9, the values on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis in the first extraction step were values related to the intensity of the same type of fluorescence, but the present invention is not limited to this, and they may be values related to the intensities of different types of fluorescence. For example, the vertical axis may be the average luminance and the horizontal axis may be the maximum luminance.

[0251] In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 9, the excitation light emitted from the light source 121 was laser light with a narrow wavelength width and high intensity, but the present invention is not limited to this, and light with a wider wavelength width and higher intensity than laser light (for example, LED light) may also be used.

[0252] In the above-described embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 6, 8, and 9, the values related to the intensities of the fluorescence with wavelengths λ21 and λ22 generated from the formed component were obtained from the first and second fluorescence images, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both the fluorescence with wavelength λ21 and the fluorescence with wavelength λ22 may be guided onto the same light-receiving surface of the camera 144 in a separated state, and the camera 144 may capture these two fluorescences to generate one fluorescence image. In this case, for example, the processing unit 11 obtains both the value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ21 and the value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ22 from the generated one fluorescence image by image processing.

[0253] Similarly, also in Modification 7, both the fluorescence with wavelength λ22 and the fluorescence with wavelength λ23 are guided onto the same light-receiving surface of the camera 144 in a separated state, and the camera 144 may capture these two fluorescences to generate one fluorescence image. Also in this case, for example, the processing unit 11 obtains both a value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ22 and a value related to the intensity of the fluorescence with wavelength λ23 by image processing from the generated one fluorescence image.

[0254] In the above-described embodiment and Modifications 1 to 9, as shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 20 includes the flow cell 110 and images a plurality of formed components in the urine specimen flowing through the flow cell 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the imaging unit 20 may be configured by a microscope. In this case, the microscope images a plurality of formed components in the urine specimen on the slide glass, and generates at least a fluorescence image for each formed component, preferably, a first fluorescence image, a second fluorescence image, and a bright-field image. The processing unit 11 extracts mulberry bodies in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment using the images obtained by the microscope.

[0255] In the above-described embodiment and Modifications 1 to 9, the display of the image of the formed component is performed in step S7, but the process of step S7 may be omitted. In this case, for example, the formed components extracted by the first to third extraction steps may be subjected to image analysis by the processing unit 11 or another device, and it may be determined whether each formed component is likely to be a mulberry body.

[0256] The embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0257] 1 Formed Component Detection Device 11 Processing Unit 12a Program 20 Imaging Unit 110 Flow Cell 121 Light Source 210 Scattergram (Coordinate System) R1 Range Line R1a (First Line) Line R1b (Second Line) Range R11 (First Range) Range R12 (Second Range) Range R2 (Second Range) Range R3 (Third Range)

Claims

1. A urine sample containing multiple types of formed elements is irradiated with excitation light that causes autofluorescence from Mulberry bodies, a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band are separated from each other by the excitation light, the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band are separated from each other by the excitation light, and a fluorescence image is obtained for each of the formed components; extracting the formed elements included in a range corresponding to Mulberry bodies based on reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the fluorescence in the second wavelength band obtained from the fluorescence image; Formed element detection method.

2. The wavelength of the excitation light is 350 nm or more and 550 nm or less. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 1.

3. The wavelength of the excitation light is in the vicinity of 405 nm, The first wavelength band is included in a wavelength band of 435 nm or more and 505 nm or less, The second wavelength band is included in the wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less. The method for detecting formed components according to claim 2.

4. The wavelength of the excitation light is in the vicinity of 488 nm, The first wavelength band is included in a wavelength band of 505 nm or more and 560 nm or less, The second wavelength band is included in the wavelength band of 560 nm or more and 595 nm or less. The method for detecting formed components according to claim 2.

5. The reference information includes a first reference value related to the intensity of the fluorescence in the first wavelength band generated from the material component and a second reference value related to the intensity of the fluorescence in the second wavelength band generated from the same material component. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 1.

6. The fluorescent image includes a first fluorescent image obtained by capturing the fluorescence in the first wavelength band generated from the solid component, and a second fluorescent image obtained by capturing the fluorescence in the second wavelength band generated from the same solid component. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 5.

7. the first reference value is a value related to the brightness of the region of the material component in the first fluorescent image, The second reference value is a value related to the brightness of the same region of the substance in the second fluorescent image. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 6.

8. the first reference value is a maximum brightness of the region of the material component in the first fluorescent image; The second reference value is a maximum brightness of a region of the same substance in the second fluorescent image. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 7.

9. The step of extracting the formed components includes a step of extracting formed components in which the first reference value and the second reference value are within the range corresponding to Mulberry bodies. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 5.

10. When the plurality of formed components are plotted on a coordinate system having two axes, a coordinate axis corresponding to the first reference value and a coordinate axis corresponding to the second reference value, the range corresponding to Mulberry bodies is narrow near the origin of the coordinate system and widens as the values ​​of the two axes increase, and is a range sandwiched between a first range corresponding to a first type of formed component other than Mulberry bodies and a second range corresponding to a second type of formed component other than Mulberry bodies. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 9.

11. The range corresponding to Mulberry bodies is a range between a first straight line having a first angle with respect to one of the two axes and passing through the origin of the coordinate system, and a second straight line having a second angle with respect to the one axis different from the first angle and passing through the origin, when the plurality of formed components are plotted in a coordinate system having two axes, a coordinate axis corresponding to the first reference value and a coordinate axis corresponding to the second reference value. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 9.

12. The method further comprises the step of imaging the urine sample to obtain a bright-field image for each of the formed components; The step of extracting formed components comprises: obtaining the first reference value from the first fluorescent image, obtaining the second reference value from the second fluorescent image, and extracting the formed components in which the first reference value and the second reference value are included in the range corresponding to Mulberry bodies; and extracting the formed elements included in a second range where other reference information obtained from the bright-field image corresponds to Mulberry bodies. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 6.

13. The other reference information includes at least one of a value related to the size of the solid component and a value related to the contrast of the solid component. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 12.

14. The method further comprises the step of imaging the urine sample to obtain a bright-field image for each of the formed components; The step of extracting formed components comprises: obtaining the first reference value from the first fluorescent image, obtaining the second reference value from the second fluorescent image, and extracting the formed components in which the first reference value and the second reference value are included in the range corresponding to Mulberry bodies; and extracting the particles in which at least one of a value relating to an aspect ratio of the particles based on the bright-field image and the first reference value falls within a third range corresponding to Mulberry bodies. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 6.

15. The method further comprises the step of imaging the urine sample to obtain a bright-field image for each of the formed components; The step of extracting formed components comprises: a first extraction step of acquiring the first reference value from the first fluorescent image, acquiring the second reference value from the second fluorescent image, and extracting the formed components in which the first reference value and the second reference value are included in the range corresponding to Mulberry bodies; A second extraction step of extracting particles in which at least one of a value relating to the size of the particles and a value relating to the contrast of the particles based on the bright field image falls within a second range corresponding to Mulberry bodies; and a third extraction step of extracting the particles in which at least one of the value relating to the aspect ratio of the particles based on the bright-field image and the first reference value is within a third range corresponding to Mulberry bodies. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 6.

16. The first extraction step, the second extraction step, and the third extraction step are performed on the group of tangible components extracted by the previously performed extraction step. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 15.

17. The second extraction step is carried out prior to the first extraction step and the third extraction step. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 15.

18. The range corresponding to Mulberry bodies does not overlap with the ranges corresponding to epithelial cells, salts and bacteria. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 1.

19. The method further includes a step of displaying an image of the component extracted by the step of extracting the component. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 1.

20. The method further includes the step of imaging the plurality of formed elements in the urine sample to obtain a bright field image, The step of displaying an image of the substance includes displaying the bright field image of the extracted substance. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 19.

21. The step of displaying the images of the components includes displaying a list of the images of the extracted components. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 19.

22. The step of displaying the images of the components includes displaying the images of the extracted components in a list in order of size of the components. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 21.

23. The step of displaying the images of the components includes receiving an instruction input for arranging the images of the extracted components in order of size of the components, and rearranging the images of the components displayed in a list in accordance with the received instruction input. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 21.

24. The step of displaying the image of the solid component includes receiving an instruction input for specifying any one of the images of the solid components displayed in a list, and enlarging and displaying the image of the solid component specified by the instruction input. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 21.

25. The step of displaying the images of the solid components includes receiving an instruction input for identifying the images of the Mulberry bodies from the images of the solid components displayed in a list, and further displaying a counting result of counting the images of the solid components identified by the instruction input. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 21.

26. storing a history of the counting results for the same subject; The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 25.

27. displaying information based on a change in the counting result based on the history; The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 26.

28. displaying information based on the change in the counting results together with a list of images of the formed components; The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 27.

29. The step of displaying the images of the solid components includes receiving an instruction input for identifying an image of the Mulberry body from among the images of the solid components displayed in a list, and storing the image of the solid component identified by the instruction input in association with a flag. The method for detecting formed elements according to claim 21.

30. a light source for irradiating a urine sample containing a plurality of formed elements with excitation light that causes autofluorescence from Mulberry bodies; an imaging unit that separates the fluorescence generated from the urine sample irradiated with the excitation light into fluorescence of a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence, and obtains a fluorescence image for each of the formed components; and a processing unit configured to extract the formed elements included in a range corresponding to Mulberry bodies in reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the fluorescence in the second wavelength band obtained from the fluorescence image. Formed element detection device.

31. the imaging unit includes a dichroic mirror that separates fluorescence generated from the urine sample irradiated with the excitation light into fluorescence in the first wavelength band and fluorescence in the second wavelength band. The particle detection device according to claim 30.

32. the imaging unit includes a flow cell through which the urine sample flows, and images the urine sample flowing through the flow cell. The particle detection device according to claim 30.

33. A program for causing a computer to execute a process for detecting formed elements in a urine sample containing a plurality of formed elements, extracting the formed components included in a range corresponding to Mulberry bodies from reference information based on the fluorescence in the first wavelength band and the fluorescence in the second wavelength band obtained from a fluorescence image of each formed component of the fluorescence in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band included in the wavelength band of the autofluorescence generated from the urine sample irradiated with excitation light that causes the Mulberry bodies to produce autofluorescence; program.

Images