Microscope Slide Imaging Sequence Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In medical diagnostics, efficiently capturing and matching images of pathological samples across a microscope slide is challenging due to the need for precise identification of sample regions and optimal imaging sequences to minimize stage movement and prevent positional shifts during image processing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that generates an existence map classifying regions by likelihood of sample presence and creates imaging sequence information to prioritize high-likelihood regions, minimizing stage movement and ensuring accurate image matching by adjusting the classification of regions based on updated maps and encoding unused regions for efficient data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are captured at high resolution for all regions, then image quality is improved, but imaging time and stage movement distance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slide is divided into multiple regions based on sample existence likelihood. High-likelihood regions are captured at high resolution while low-likelihood regions are captured at low resolution or skipped, enabling selective high-quality imaging only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different imaging resolutions are applied to different regions based on their sample existence likelihood. This allows high image quality in regions where samples are likely present while using lower quality settings in regions where samples are unlikely, optimizing the balance between image quality and imaging time.
2Productivity
If stage movement is minimized, then imaging efficiency is improved, but image matching precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
An existence map is generated in advance to predict sample locations before actual imaging. This preliminary analysis enables the system to plan an optimal imaging sequence that minimizes stage movement while ensuring all potential sample regions are captured, thereby maintaining both efficiency and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging sequence is dynamically adjusted based on the existence map and actual sample detection. The system adapts the capture order and resolution settings in real-time to minimize stage movement while ensuring accurate coverage of sample regions, balancing efficiency with positioning precision.
3Reliability
If all regions are imaged, then complete sample coverage is achieved, but memory usage and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and captures only the regions where samples are likely to exist, excluding regions with low sample existence likelihood. This selective extraction reduces the total amount of image data that needs to be stored and processed while maintaining reliable sample coverage in the relevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging parameters (resolution, capture frequency) are changed based on the existence likelihood of each region. Regions with high sample existence likelihood are captured at high resolution with full detail, while regions with low likelihood are captured at reduced resolution or omitted, significantly reducing memory usage and processing load.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a memory and a control unit. The memory stores a first image. The control unit divides the first image into a plurality of regions. Further, the control unit calculates a likelihood of an existence of a sample in the plurality of regions thus divided for each of the plurality of regions. Further, the control unit generates an existence map based on the calculated likelihood, the existence map having the plurality of regions classified into first regions, second regions, and third regions. Further, the control unit generates imaging sequence information based on the generated existence map, the imaging sequence information indicating imaging sequences such that the first regions are imaged prior to the second regions and a total movement distance of a stage for imaging the first and second regions becomes minimum.