Estimating Tumor Cell Count to Optimize Specimen Slide Requirements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the number of slides needed for genetic tests using tissue pieces, such as tumor samples, are inefficient and lack a systematic approach to estimate the required number of specimen slides based on the number of tumor cells.
Innovation Solution
A slide number estimation apparatus and method that acquires a slide image of a tissue specimen, estimates the number of tumor cells in a region of interest, and calculates the required number of specimen slides needed for a test using computer-executed algorithms and models, allowing for efficient estimation without analyzing all slides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all specimen slides are analyzed to determine the number of tumor cells, then the accuracy of tumor cell counting is improved, but the time consumption and resource usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tissue specimen into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) on individual slides, analyzing only specific segments rather than the entire slide. This segmentation allows the system to estimate total tumor cell count by summing counts from multiple ROIs, reducing analysis time while maintaining accuracy through systematic sampling of representative regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by analyzing only a subset of slides or regions from each slide rather than all available slides. The system selects a representative sample of ROIs that collectively provide sufficient tumor cell count data to accurately estimate the total, avoiding the excessive action of analyzing every slide while maintaining measurement precision.
2Loss of information
If all specimen slides are prepared and analyzed, then the completeness of test data is improved, but the cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tissue specimen into multiple regions of interest across different slides, analyzing only the necessary segments to obtain complete test data. By systematically sampling ROIs that represent the overall tumor cell distribution, the system achieves data completeness without requiring analysis of all possible slides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a representative copy or sample of the tissue specimen characteristics through selective ROI analysis. Instead of physically analyzing every slide, the system captures representative tumor cell density information from sampled ROIs, which suffices to estimate total tumor cell count and determine adequate slide numbers for testing.
3Measurement precision
If stained slides are used for analysis, then the visibility of tumor cells is improved, but the suitability of slides for genetic testing decreases when staining is not appropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the analysis into two independent parts: visual inspection of stained slides for tumor cell identification and separate genetic testing of unstained slides. This allows the system to use staining only where necessary for visualization while preserving unstained slides for genetic analysis, resolving the conflict between visibility and testing suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the tumor cell identification function from the staining process. By using stained slides solely for visual tumor cell detection and counting, then separately preparing unstained slides for genetic testing, the system separates these two functions. This extraction allows stained slides to serve their visual purpose while unstained slides remain available for genetic analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide number estimation apparatus (2000) acquires a slide image (30). The slide image (30) an image of a specimen slide (20) obtained from a tissue piece (10) of a subject. The slide number estimation apparatus (2000) estimates the number of tumor cells included in a region of interest (22) of the specimen slide (20) corresponding to the obtained slide image (30) using the slide image (30). The slide number estimation apparatus (2000) estimates the number of the specimen slides (20) to be obtained from the tissue piece (10) for conducting a predetermined test based on the estimated number of tumor cells.