Height-Map Image Segmentation for Overlapping Cell Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately divide analysis target areas in all-in-focus images, particularly when cell clusters overlap, making it difficult to control the shape of divided areas and extract meaningful regions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method that utilizes a height map to divide analysis target areas into multiple regions based on height distribution, identifies inadequate areas, and integrates them with neighboring regions using a determination score, generating an all-in-focus image and height map from multiple picked-up images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the Watershed method is used to divide overlapping cell clusters, then division of analysis target area is attempted, but it becomes difficult when Seed regions cannot be obtained and the shape of divided areas cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis from traditional Watershed Seed region-based division to height map-based division. By using height information from the height map as the dividing parameter, the method can naturally separate overlapping cell clusters without requiring Seed regions, while the determined shape of divided areas is controlled by the height distribution characteristics.
2Reliability
If multiple picked-up images are combined to generate all-in-focus image, then whole target is in focus, but overlapping cell clusters appear merged and cannot be individually extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the analysis target area into multiple divided areas based on height map information. This segmentation allows individual cell clusters that appear merged in the all-in-focus image to be separated into distinct regions, enabling precise extraction and analysis of each cluster while maintaining the overall focus accuracy of the all-in-focus image.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a memory memorizing a target image representing a target viewed from a predetermined direction and a height map indicating heights, in the predetermined direction, of portions of the target corresponding to respective pixel positions of the target image, a target area specifying part for specifying an analysis target area in the target image, an area division part for dividing the analysis target area into divided areas in accordance with the height map, an inadequate area specifying part for specifying an inadequate area among the divided areas, which does not satisfy a predetermined determination condition, and an area integrating part for acquiring a new divided area by calculating a determination score in a case where the inadequate area is integrated with each of divided areas contacting the inadequate area and then integrating the inadequate area with one divided area based on the determination score.