3D Digital Cell Staining for Accurate Blood Cell Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated cell analyzers face challenges in accurately classifying blood cells due to shallow depth of field in two-dimensional imaging, requiring manual intervention for unclear classifications, and conventional staining methods are time-consuming, costly, and limited by reproducibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A method for digitally staining cells using three-dimensional information to determine coloration based on structural contrasts, allowing images to be retrospectively colored as if conventionally stained, without chemical pretreatment, and enabling accurate representation of superimposed cell constituents with mixed colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional staining protocols are used, then cell structures become visible for analysis, but the process is time-consuming and has reproducibility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies of staining protocols that can be applied computationally to microscope images. Instead of physically staining cells with chemicals, the system uses machine learning models trained on stained cell images to generate synthetic staining effects on unstained cell images, eliminating the need for time-consuming chemical staining processes while maintaining diagnostic quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary digital staining through computational processing of microscope images. By pre-training machine learning models on extensively stained cell datasets and applying these models to new images, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming chemical staining steps while achieving consistent, reproducible results across different samples and laboratories
2Device complexity
If two-dimensional imaging is used, then the analysis process is simple, but cell classification becomes unclear and requires manual verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional imaging to three-dimensional imaging by capturing optical sectioning data at multiple focal planes. This additional dimensional information allows the system to reconstruct complete cell structures, including nuclear morphology and cytoplasmic features, enabling accurate automated classification without requiring manual verification while maintaining relative system simplicity
3Measurement precision
If chemical staining is used, then cell structures are highlighted, but chemical waste is generated and pretreatment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical staining mechanism with a computational/mechanical process. Instead of using chemical dyes to highlight cell structures, the system uses machine learning algorithms that process digital images to generate enhanced visual representations of cell structures, eliminating chemical waste while maintaining diagnostic contrast quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of staining effects through computational processing. By training machine learning models on images of chemically stained cells and applying these models to unstained cell images, the system reproduces the visual effects of chemical staining without actually using chemicals, thereby eliminating chemical waste while preserving diagnostic information
Data Source
AI summary
A method for digitally staining a cell and/or a medical preparation cell comprises: determining three-dimensional information of a cell and/or of a medical preparation using an analyzer for analyzing a medical sample, the analyzer comprising an apparatus for determining the three-dimensional information of the cell and/or of the medical preparation; digitally staining the cell and/or the medical preparation according to a predetermined correlation between the three-dimensional information of the cell and/or of the medical preparation and the staining of a corresponding cell and/or medical preparation and/or cellular and/or sub-cellular structures of the cell and/or of the medical preparation using a staining protocol; representing the digitally stained cell and/or the preparation, the representation involving a predetermined defocus region, and regions of the cell and/or of the preparation being represented by different digital staining in the area of the defocus region as corresponding modulations of color intensities and/or as mixed color.