Pathology Image Standardization for Alternate Device Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and limited accessibility of Whole Slide Image (WSI) scanners restrict the widespread use of pathological image recognition for medical diagnostics, as classifiers trained on WSI images are not effective for images captured by other devices, such as smartphones or consumer-grade cameras.
Innovation Solution
A method that standardizes training images from WSI scanners using color correction and blurring to generate a classifier, which can then be applied to pathology images from alternate devices through transfer learning, enabling accurate classification and diagnosis without the need for expensive WSI scanners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a classifier is trained on WSI images from expensive specialized scanners, then classification accuracy is improved, but device cost and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates standardized versions of WSI images that replicate the essential diagnostic features while being compatible with cheaper imaging devices. By copying the key characteristics of expensive scanner images into a standardized format, the system enables accurate classification using affordable devices, directly resolving the contradiction between accuracy and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms images from different device types into a unified parameter space through standardization. By changing the parameters (color space, resolution, formatting) of alternate device images to match WSI standards, the classifier trained on expensive scanner images can accurately process cheap device images, maintaining high classification accuracy while reducing device cost.
2Reliability
If a classifier is trained on WSI images from specialized scanners, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but device accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal standardization framework that enables a single classifier to work across multiple device types. By making the image standard compatible with both expensive WSI scanners and affordable alternate devices, the system achieves both high diagnostic reliability and broad device accessibility, allowing the same classification model to serve diverse medical settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardization process copies the essential diagnostic information from WSI images into a format that can be reproduced by various devices. This copying approach ensures that even cheap devices can generate images with the same diagnostic reliability as expensive scanners, greatly improving accessibility while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardization processes are applied to training images, then classifier generalization to alternate devices is improved, but processing time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies standardization to training images in advance during the classifier development phase. By performing the computationally intensive standardization process beforehand on the training set, the system enables the classifier to directly process alternate device images without requiring real-time standardization, thus improving generalization while minimizing additional processing time during actual use.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for recognizing pathological images captured by alternate image capturing devices. In embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes: obtaining, by a computing device, a classifier generated based on a plurality of standardized training pathology images associated with a known classification and generated by a first type of device; receiving, by the computing device, an alternate pathology image captured by a second type of device; standardizing, by the computing device, the alternate pathology image; determining, by the computing device, a classification of the alternate pathology image based on applying the generated classifier; and outputting, by the computing device, information regarding the determined classification to aid in diagnosis of a medical condition represented by the alternate pathology image.