Cell Viability Imaging With Temporal Live-Cell Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining cell viability, such as those using trypan blue staining, inaccurately classify non-viable cells as viable, and existing technologies like Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-314214 and No. 2017-023055 fail to effectively track and quantify cell viability over time.
Innovation Solution
An information acquisition method and system that tracks live cell regions across multiple images taken at different timings, associating and determining viability by tracing back in time, using image processing and machine learning to distinguish live cell regions and quantify viability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional dead cell staining methods (e.g., trypan blue) are used to determine cell viability, then the process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is low because non-viable cells are incorrectly classified as viable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell population into individual cell instances tracked across multiple time points. Each cell is independently monitored for viability status changes, allowing precise classification of viable, dying, and dead cells based on temporal patterns rather than bulk staining
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary tracking and classification of cells across multiple time points before final viability determination. By capturing cell states at multiple timestamps and tracing back from later to earlier times, the system identifies cells that were viable at the first timing, preventing misclassification of non-viable cells
2Measurement precision
If cell images are photographed at multiple time points to improve viability assessment, then the measurement precision improves, but the loss of time and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary association and tracking of cell regions across multiple images in advance of final viability determination. By establishing cell identities and tracking their viability status through time, the system enables efficient batch processing of multi-timepoint data
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of cell region data across different time points through the tracking process. Instead of re-processing raw images multiple times, the system uses copied and associated cell region information from tracked trajectories, reducing redundant computation
3Loss of information
If existing technologies photograph cells over time to monitor cell state changes, then more information is collected, but the ability to accurately determine cell viability is still insufficient due to lack of proper tracking and temporal analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous cell population data into discrete cell instances with unique identities. Each cell's viability trajectory is separately analyzed, allowing complete capture of individual cell fate information (viable, dying, dead) that would be lost in bulk analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from later time point observations to refine viability determination at earlier time points. By tracing back from second timing to first timing, the system incorporates future state information to correct and improve past viability classifications
Data Source
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AI summary
An information acquisition method including: an image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of cell images photographed at a plurality of different photographing timings; a live cell region determination step of determining whether a cell region present in each of the plurality of cell images is a live cell region including a live cell; a tracking step of performing association of live cell regions derived from the same cell region which are respectively present in the plurality of cell images photographed at the plurality of different photographing timings with each other while tracing back in time to the first timing starting from a live cell region present in the cell image photographed at the second timing; and a viability determination step of determining that a live cell region successfully tracked in the tracking step among cell regions present in the cell image photographed at the first timing exhibits viability.