US6327377B1
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US
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Automated cytological specimen classification system and method
Assignee: TriPath Imaging Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-13
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Granted: 2001-12-04
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Expires: 2018-04-13
Abstract
Abstract An automated screening system and method for cytological specimen classification in which a neural network is utilized in performance of the classification function. Also included is an automated microscope and associated image processing circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark R. Rutenberg
- 👤 Thomas L. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N3/00; G06N3/02; G06N3/04; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/30; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G06N3/0499; G06N3/08; G06N3/09; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/60; G06V20/69; G06V20/693; G01N1/44; G01N2203/00; G01N2203/02; G01N2203/06; G01N2203/0641; G01N2203/0647; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/92; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A semi-automated method of classifying a specimen, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) ranking individual objects in the specimen in an order according to the likelihood that an object has attributes justifying further evaluation, and ii) identifying location coordinates of one or more of the objects for review or further classification by a human.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A semi-automated method of classifying a specimen, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) ranking individual objects in the specimen in an order according to the likelihood that an object has attributes justifying further evaluation, and ii) identifying location coordinates of one or more of the objects for review or further classification by a human.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying location coordinates comprises selecting coordinates of one or more objects according to said order.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one or more objects associated with the selected coordinates is less than the number of ranked objects.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of selecting coordinates further comprises the step of presenting images of objects corresponding to the selected coordinates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said ranking step is performed by a neurocomputer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the specimen in a cervical smear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said ranking step comprises assigning a value to individual objects in the specimen, said value being on a scale between a first output value associated with a first condition and a second output value associated with a second condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first condition is benign and the second condition is non-benign.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said classifying step further comprises selecting individual objects to be ranked by analyzing at least one morphological feature of each object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 9 , wherein the analyzed morphological feature is selected from the group consisting of cell nucleus size and cell nucleus optical density.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for providing interactive review of objects in a specimen indicative of the highest likelihood of abnormality in the specimen, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes of cell abnormality justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) assigning individual objects in the specimen a value according to the likelihood that an object has attributes of cell abnormality, and ii) selecting location coordinates of one or more of the objects to provide for viewing and further classification by a human.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for providing interactive review of objects in a specimen indicative of the highest likelihood of abnormality in the specimen, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes of cell abnormality justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) assigning individual objects in the specimen a value according to the likelihood that an object has attributes of cell abnormality, and ii) selecting location coordinates of one or more of the objects to provide for viewing and further classification by a human.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said assigning step is performed by a neurocomputer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the specimen is a cervical smear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein said assigning step comprises assigning a value on a scale between a first output value associated with a first condition and a second output value associated with a second condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the first condition is benign and the second condition is non-benign.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of providing location-guided screening of a specimen for objects in the specimen having a likelihood of cell abnormality, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes of cell abnormality justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) ranking objects in the specimen in an order according to the likelihood that an object has attributes of cell abnormality, and ii) identifying locations of one or more of the objects to provide viewing and further classification by a human.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of providing location-guided screening of a specimen for objects in the specimen having a likelihood of cell abnormality, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the specimen; and b) classifying the specimen to determine the likelihood that individual objects in the specimen have attributes of cell abnormality justifying further evaluation, said classifying including i) ranking objects in the specimen in an order according to the likelihood that an object has attributes of cell abnormality, and ii) identifying locations of one or more of the objects to provide viewing and further classification by a human.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of classifying further includes selecting one or more of the identified locations for review or further classification by a human.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of presenting images of objects to a human corresponding to one or more of the identified locations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of generating a specimen map corresponding to one or more of the identified locations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein ranking the objects comprises assigning individual objects in the specimen a value according to a likelihood that an object has attributes of cell abnormality.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said ranking step is performed by a neurocomputer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the specimen is a cervical smear.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said ranking step comprises assigning a value to individual objects in the specimen, said value being on a scale between a first output value associated with a first condition and a second output value associated with a second condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 23 , wherein the first condition is benign and the second condition is non-benign.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein said classifying step further comprises selecting individual objects to be ranked by analyzing at least one morphological feature of each object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein the analyzed morphological feature is selected from the group consisting of cell nucleus size and cell nucleus optical density.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |