US5848177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for detection of biological materials using fractal dimensions
Assignee: Michigan State University
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Filing: 1997-02-27
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2017-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for classification of biological materials is described. The system (100) includes a microscope (10), a digitizing camera (20) and a computer (30). The method includes the steps of capturing the digital image (40) of the biological material or cell (12) using the digitizing camera preferably through the microscope (10). The captured image is digitized and displayed on the computer screen (32). The digitized image is then enhanced using a grey level value thresholding process, a cluster recognition process and a boundary determination process. The resulting enhanced image (40C) is then used to determine the perimeter surface (40D) of the cell. The enhanced image is subjected to a box counting routine in which the number of boxes occupied by the perimeter surface is calculated for various different box sizes. The box counting calculations are plotted using a power-law analysis. Using a linear regression fit to the data points, a straight line is fit to the data points and used to determine the fractal dimension D of the cell. A histogram of the resulting fractal dimensions D for various cells in a sample can be produced. The image enhancing process and the fractal dimension analysis is preformed by software in the computer. The method and system is useful in analyzing large amounts of cells in order to differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic human cells of a given type. Other organisms can be analyzed by the method.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang W. Bauer
- 👤 Charles D. Mackenzie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G06; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/60; G06V20/69; G01N2015/1486; G01N2015/1493; G01N2015/1497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for identification or classification of a biological material having a particle size between about 0.1 and 100 microns including parts thereof which comprises: (a) providing a microscopically enlarged digitized image defined by pixels of a material in a memory of a computer with a range of grey level values and including small sized artifacts in and around the material; (b) representing the range of grey level values in binary form using a minimum grey level value determined by a distribution of the grey level values of the pixels; (c) removing the artifacts by eliminating general clusters of pixels of a minimum number; (d) determining a perimeter surface of the material to be measured; (e) measuring a fractal dimension of the perimeter surface of the material by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7; and (f) identifying or classifying the material based upon the fractal dimension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for identification or classification of a biological material having a particle size between about 0.1 and 100 microns including parts thereof which comprises: (a) providing a microscopically enlarged digitized image defined by pixels of a material in a memory of a computer with a range of grey level values and including small sized artifacts in and around the material; (b) representing the range of grey level values in binary form using a minimum grey level value determined by a distribution of the grey level values of the pixels; (c) removing the artifacts by eliminating general clusters of pixels of a minimum number; (d) determining a perimeter surface of the material to be measured; (e) measuring a fractal dimension of the perimeter surface of the material by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7; and (f) identifying or classifying the material based upon the fractal dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a) the digital image is derived by digitizing a view of the material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein in step (a) the digital image is derived by means of a digital camera connected to the computer and focused on the material through a light microscope so as to be microscopically enlarged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the microscope is selected from the group consisting of microscopes utilizing phase contrast, confocal, laser, electron or atomic force imaging.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a visual image of the material is scanned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (b) the range of grey level values is from 0 to 255.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) the perimeter surface is determined by means of x and y coordinates of pairs of the pixels with maximum differences in the grey level values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the fractal dimension is found by using a box counting algorithm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) there are several different materials, a histogram based upon a ratio of a number of the material with a particular fractal dimension to a number of all of the materials versus the fractal dimension is developed for all materials within a sample by repeating the method for each material in the sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (f) material which is identified or classified is diagnostically relevant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the material which is identified in step (f) is a malignant cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material which is identified is a cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a) the digital image is derived by digitizing a view of the material; wherein in step (d) the perimeter surface is determined by means of x and y coordinates of pairs of the pixels with maximum differences in the grey level values; wherein the fractal dimensions is found by using a box counting algorithm of the cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a computer program controls the computer to perform steps (a) to (e).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the program is as set forth in Appendix I.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps (a) to (f) are each performed by an operator of the computer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for identifying biological materials having a particle size between about 0.1 and 100 microns including parts thereof which comprises: (a) a microscope adapted to view a sample containing the material; and (b) a digital means mounted on the microscope and connected to the computer to download a digital image of the material so that the program can perform a method which comprises providing a digitized image defined by pixels of a material in a memory of a computer with a range of grey level values and including small sized artifacts in and around the material; representing the range of grey level values in binary form using a minimum grey level value determined by a distribution of the grey level values of the pixels; removing the artifacts by eliminating general clusters of pixels of a minimum number; determining a perimeter surface of the material to be measured; measuring a fractal dimension of the perimeter surface of the material wherein by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7; and identifying or classifying the material based upon the fractal dimension.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for identifying biological materials having a particle size between about 0.1 and 100 microns including parts thereof which comprises: (a) a microscope adapted to view a sample containing the material; and (b) a digital means mounted on the microscope and connected to the computer to download a digital image of the material so that the program can perform a method which comprises providing a digitized image defined by pixels of a material in a memory of a computer with a range of grey level values and including small sized artifacts in and around the material; representing the range of grey level values in binary form using a minimum grey level value determined by a distribution of the grey level values of the pixels; removing the artifacts by eliminating general clusters of pixels of a minimum number; determining a perimeter surface of the material to be measured; measuring a fractal dimension of the perimeter surface of the material wherein by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7; and identifying or classifying the material based upon the fractal dimension.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 17 wherein in the computer the range of grey level values is from 0 to 255.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 17 wherein in the computer the perimeter surface is determined by means of x and y coordinates of pairs of the pixels with maximum differences in the grey level values.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 17 wherein in the computer the material which is identified or classified is diagnostically relevant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17 wherein in the computer the material which is identified is a malignant cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 17 wherein in the computer the grey level value is from 0 to 255; wherein the perimeter surface is determined by means of x and y coordinates of pairs of the pixels with maximum differences in the grey level value; wherein the fractal dimensions are found by using a box counting algorithm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the computer program produces a histogram of several different materials based upon a ratio of a number of the material with a particular fractal dimension to a number of all of the materials versus the fractal dimension is developed for all of the materials within a sample by repeating the method for each material in the sample.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the histogram determines whether the material is a malignant cell.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a method for identifying a cell having a size between about 0.1 and 100 microns which is diagnostically relevant, the improvement which comprises microscopically enlarging and then analyzing a fractal dimension of the cell and determining whether the cell is diagnostically relevant based upon the fractal dimension, wherein the fractal dimension is measured by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a method for identifying a cell having a size between about 0.1 and 100 microns which is diagnostically relevant, the improvement which comprises microscopically enlarging and then analyzing a fractal dimension of the cell and determining whether the cell is diagnostically relevant based upon the fractal dimension, wherein the fractal dimension is measured by plotting log N(l) versus l, where N(l) is a number of boxes intersected by a surface of the material and l is a resolution representing a number of the boxes and wherein fractal dimension is a straight line slope of the plot where l is at least between 3 and 7.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the cell can be malignant.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the cell is a blood cell.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the cell is hairy cell leukemia.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |