Cell Recognition Using Nucleoli Distance Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to accurately recognize individual cells in cell images, especially when using phase contrast microscopy, as nucleoli appear as high-contrast black grains, making it difficult to determine cell boundaries and count cells reliably.
Innovation Solution
A cell recognition device and method that detects nucleoli, calculates distances between them, and uses threshold values based on nucleoli size to identify cell regions, allowing for accurate recognition of individual cells and cell density distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If phase contrast microscopy is used to image undyed cells, then cell imaging is achieved without dyeing, but accurate recognition of individual cells and determination of cell boundaries becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nucleoli as intermediary markers to identify cell locations and boundaries. By detecting nucleoli positions and using them as reference points, the system can infer cell regions without directly imaging cell membranes or using dyes, thus resolving the contradiction between non-invasive imaging and accurate cell recognition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct optical imaging of cell structures with computational inference based on nucleoli positions. By substituting the mechanical/optical detection of cell boundaries with algorithmic processing of nucleoli spatial relationships, the system achieves accurate cell recognition without relying on direct cell structure imaging
2Measurement precision
If only nucleoli are detected in cell images, then nucleolus identification is achieved, but accurate evaluation of individual cell number and density becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional nucleoli detection to two-dimensional cell region mapping by calculating spatial relationships between nucleoli. By using distance calculations and threshold-based region expansion from nucleoli positions, the system recovers cell boundary information that was lost when focusing only on nucleoli detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary nucleoli detection and position registration before inferring cell regions. By first accurately detecting nucleoli and storing their positions, then using this preliminary information as a basis for subsequent cell region calculation, the system maintains measurement precision while recovering complete cell information
Data Source
AI summary
A nucleolus detection unit, which detects nucleoli in a plurality of cells in a cell image obtained by imaging the cells, and a cell recognition unit, which acquires information indicating a distance between the nucleoli and recognizes the individual cells based on the information indicating the distance, are provided.