Cell Imaging With Multi-Waveband Autofluorescence Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and image-based methods, are unable to simultaneously acquire morphological and autofluorescence information of cells in culture, limiting their use for detailed metabolic and health state analysis.
Innovation Solution
A cell image analysis method that includes morphological information acquisition, autofluorescence image acquisition, cell region extraction, and luminance information extraction from multiple wavebands, using a system with a two-dimensional image sensor to capture and process images from cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is used to determine quantities of autofluorescence information, then autofluorescence measurement capability is improved, but morphological information acquisition capability deteriorates (cannot acquire position and shape information)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines phase difference imaging capability and autofluorescence imaging capability into a single microscopy system, allowing simultaneous acquisition of both morphological information (cell position, shape, size) and autofluorescence information (metabolic state, health status) from the same field of view and same cell population
2Loss of information
If image-based methods are used to acquire morphological information, then morphological information acquisition capability is improved, but autofluorescence information acquisition capability deteriorates (cannot simultaneously acquire both types of information)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges phase difference imaging and autofluorescence imaging into a unified system that captures both morphological and metabolic information simultaneously from the same field of view, eliminating the need for separate measurement systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the imaging process into distinct optical paths: one for phase difference imaging (morphological information) and another for autofluorescence imaging (metabolic information), allowing independent optimization of each imaging mode while maintaining simultaneous operation
3Ease of manufacture
If composite of phase difference image and autofluorescence image is displayed, then visualization capability is improved, but cell-level analysis capability deteriorates (cannot analyze autofluorescence information in units of each cell)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation to identify and delineate individual cell boundaries within the composite image, enabling extraction of autofluorescence measurements specific to each cell or cell clump rather than treating the entire field of view as a single unit
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality analysis by performing cell-level segmentation and extracting autofluorescence characteristics specifically from within each identified cell region, allowing heterogeneous metabolic states across different cells to be resolved and analyzed individually
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous acquisition and visualization of morphological and autofluorescence information of each cell or cell clump, allowing for detailed metabolic and health state analysis without staining, and discrimination of cell species.
Implementation Method 1
an autofluorescence image acquisition step of acquiring an autofluorescence image which is obtained by photographing autofluorescence of the cell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cell image analysis method including: a morphological information image acquisition step of acquiring a morphological information image including morphological information of a cell; an autofluorescence image acquisition step of acquiring an autofluorescence image which is obtained by photographing autofluorescence of the cell and which includes the same field of view as in the morphological information image; a cell region extraction step of extracting one or more cell regions from the morphological information image; and a luminance information extraction step of extracting pieces of luminance information of two or more wavebands different from one another from the autofluorescence image, with respect to the one or more cell regions.