Blood Cell Image Display Apparatus for Re-examination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic blood image analyzing apparatuses are not suitable for re-examining blood cells that are easily misclassified, particularly in cases where certain diseases are characterized by specific types of blood cells, requiring visual observation by engineers or doctors.

Innovation Solution

A blood cell image display apparatus that classifies blood cell images from stained blood smears, receives information about the blood specimen, and displays specific blood cell images determined by analysis results, allowing for re-examination by visual inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic classification of blood cells is performed, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates for certain disease cases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood cell classification speedVSAvoidblood cell classification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an image display apparatus as an intermediary between the automatic blood cell classifier and the inspector. This intermediary allows inspectors to visually verify classifications, particularly for uncertain cases, thereby maintaining high productivity while improving measurement precision for disease-specific blood cells that are easily misclassified

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by allowing inspectors to review displayed blood cell images and provide corrections to the automatic classifier. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from human expertise, improving classification accuracy for problematic cases while maintaining automated processing for routine cases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If visual observation by inspectors is performed for all blood cells, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood cell classification accuracyVSAvoidblood cell classification speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing visual inspection resources selectively to blood cells that require it - specifically those classified as uncertain or abnormal by the automatic classifier. Routine blood cells are processed automatically without visual inspection, maintaining high productivity while ensuring precision for problematic cases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If the apparatus displays all types of blood cell images, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood cell information completenessVSAvoidimage retrieval difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and displays only the relevant blood cell images based on classification results and inspector needs. Rather than displaying all blood cell images, the system selectively presents images of classified blood cells, particularly those requiring verification, making the interface easier to operate while maintaining access to complete information when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8977030B2Blood cell image display apparatus, specimen analyzing system, blood cell image display method and computer program product

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 SYSMEX CORP

AI summary

A blood cell image display apparatus comprising: a classifier for classifying blood cell images, which are obtained by imaging a blood smear prepared from a blood specimen, in accordance with types of blood cells in the blood cell images; an information receiver for receiving information relating to the blood specimen; a display section; and a display controller for determining a type of blood cell as a display object on the basis of the information relating to the blood specimen, and displaying a blood cell image classified as the determined type on the display section, is disclosed. A specimen analyzing system, a blood cell image display method, and a computer program product are also disclosed.