Description:
Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

 
Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a control unit and a method of processing at least one image in a device

Background of the invention:
[0002] An innovative approach for obtained focused high-quality images from a digital microscopic system which has dynamic variations across samples has been discussed in the present invention. The device uses a stepper motor for movement of an image capturing unit and whenever there is a change in direction there is a certain amount of energy spent in compensating the reversal of polarity which leads to lesser movement than expected movement. This leads to precision loss in movement. Precise movement for microscopic applications is generally achieved by using piezo or hybrid stepper motors or motors with encoders using which the precise position can be determined. The back-clash compensation and re-capturing if required add significant amount of time in trying to correct the focus of image using hardware tuning.

[0003] According to state-of-the-art WO 2019012467, discloses a system and method for detecting a monolayer region in a blood smear slide is provided. The system for detecting the monolayer region in the blood smear slide includes a non- microscopic image acquisition device configured to obtain one or more images of the blood smear slide to generate at least one blood smear image. The system for detecting the monolayer region in the blood smear slide also includes a segmentation subsystem configured to classify the at least one blood smear image into a plurality of layers based on ontology. The system for detecting the monolayer region in the blood smear slide further includes a detection subsystem configured to detect the monolayer region in the plurality of layer.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a control unit in a device for processing at least one image , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of processing at least one image the device, according to the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments:

[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a control unit for processing at least one image in a device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 comprising an image capturing unit 14 an image processing unit 16. The device 10 comprises a slot 18 for receiving a sample 20. The control unit 12 adjusts the image capturing unit 14 in a focal plane above a predefined distance from the sample 20 and maintaining a predefined light intensity. The control unit 12 captures a set of images 24 of the sample 20 by the image capturing unit 14. The control unit 12 separates a foreground and a background in each of the image 24 using at least one processing technique. The control unit 12 identifies a first type of cells and a second type of cells in each of the image 24 from their corresponding contour and area. The control unit 12 calculates a total area of the first type of cells and the second type of cells. The control unit 12 detects a region of interest in the sample 20 based on a comparison.

[0008] Further the construction of the device and the component of the device is explained in detail. According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is a digital pathology device and the sample 20 is loaded with any one of the human fluids comprising blood, urine, saliva, spine fluid, semen and the like. Here for better understanding of the invention, the sample 20 is loaded with blood of a human being and the device is used to identify different types of cells in the sample 20. For instance, the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets.

[0009] The image capturing unit 14 captures the images of the sample 20 in different planes comprising an x-axis plane, a y-axis plane and a z- axis plane. The axis plane referred here is also called as the focal plane. The image capturing unit 14 is made to stand at a predefined distance from the sample 20 while capturing the images. For instance, the predefined distance is ± 15μm from the focal plane. However, the predefined distance can be varied based on the requirement. The image capturing unit 14 is maintained at one position above the sample 20 in the z-axis and is made to move in an axial direction (x-axis). Thus, a field of view (FOV) of the image capturing unit 14 is not changed in this kind of arrangement and the images 24 are captured in this position. The light intensity of a light source (not shown) present in the device 10 for capturing the set of the images 24 is adjusted according to the requirement. According to one embodiment of the invention, the image capturing unit 14 captures a set of five images 24 in the above disclosed field of view.

[0010] Each of the image 24 captured by the image capturing unit 14 comprises multiple cells. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cells present in each of the image are classified as first type of cells and a second type of cells. The first type of cells is of circular shape and the second type of cells are of non-circular shape. The control unit 10 identifies at least one individual cell and at least one overlapping cell based on an area calculated for each of the cell present in the each of the captured image 24.

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a method of processing atleast one image in a device according to the present invention. The device 10 comprises an image capturing unit 14 and an image processing unit 16. The device 10 further comprises a slot 18 for receiving a sample 20 and a control unit 12 for operating at least one component of the device 10. In step S1, the image capturing unit 14 is adjusted in a focal plane above a predefined distance from the sample 20 and maintaining a predefined light intensity. In step S2, a set of images 24 of the sample 20 is captured by the image capturing unit 14. In step S3, a foreground and a background in each of the image 24 is separated by using at least one processing technique by the control unit 12. In step S4, a first type of cells and a second type of cells in each of the image 24 are identified from their corresponding contour and area. In step S5, a total area of the first type of cells and the second type of cells is calculated. In step S6, a region of interest in the sample 20 is detected based on a comparison.

[0012] The above disclosed method is explained in detail. The digital pathology device 10 having the slot 18 receives the sample 20 that has the human fluid filled in. According to one embodiment of the invention, the human fluid is the blood. The blood sample is analyzed further to find any abnormality in the health of a patient.

[0013] The device 10 captures the images 24 of the blood present in the sample 20 for segregating the types of cells and for further analyzing the features of the segregated cells in the process of identifying the abnormality. The content of the sample 20 is captured using the image capturing unit 14 and the captured images 24 are processed further into the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 uses at least one processing technique chosen from a group of processing techniques comprising an adaptive histogram equalization (AHE), a Gaussian blur technique, an adaptive gaussian thresholding technique, a Otsu thresholding technique and the like. It is to be noted that, the processing techniques can be of any other type based on the application, need not to be restricted to the above-mentioned techniques.

[0014] The control unit 12 removes the unwanted data from each of the image 24 before identifying the different types of cells. The unwanted data comprises the noise and the speckles in the image using the Gaussian blur technique. The control unit 12 uses the adaptive histogram evaluation technique to improve the contrast of the image for removing the unwanted data and for processing it further. It is to be noted that, the control unit 12 can use any other processing technique for removing the unwanted data and for improving the image contrast as known to a person skilled in the art.

[0015] The control unit 12 upon removing the unwanted data from each of the image 24, separates a foreground and a background in each of the image 24 using the aadaptive Gaussian Thresholding technique and the Otsu thresholding technique. The control unit 12 identifies the contours of each cell present in each of the captured image 24. The cell is categorized into two different types one being the first type of cells and other being the second type of cells. The first type of cells is of circular shape and the second type of cells are of non-circular shape. The control unit 12 further calculates the area of each cell present in the image 24. Based on the identified contour and their circularity, the control unit 12 identifies the first type of cells. The circularity is a ratio of area by perimeter squared. Further to this, based on the area calculated of each cell, the control unit 12 separates the induvial cells and the over lapping cells in each of the captured image 24.

[0016] The control unit 12 upon calculating of area of all the cells present in the captured image 24 , calculates the total cell area of the first type of cells and the total area of the second type of cell. The total area of all the individual cells present in the image is calculated and is compared to a total cell area in the image 24. This comparison provides a percentage of area of all individual cells in the image 24. It is to be noted that, the individual cells and the first type of cells which are circular in shape are same in meaning. The control unit 12 further compares the calculated percentage of area of all the individual cells to a threshold value. A region of interest is detected based on the comparison. The control unit 12 detects the region of interest in the sample 20 if the percentage of area of all individual cells is above the threshold value. After detecting the possible region of interest, the image capturing unit 14 is fine focused and a sharp image 24 is captured.

[0017] The above disclosed method is performed for all the images present in the set of the images that are captured in the same field of view.

[0018] With the above-mentioned method, the control unit 12 takes less time for providing the focused images for analyzing the content of the sample 20. As there are no additional components required, the method provides a cost-effective solution in saving the time of processing and makes the whole process more effective in a faster way. The disclosed method is compatible with entire visible spectrum and produces sharp full color RGB Images as output. The method is aimed at adding flexibility to the digital pathology device imaging hardware, since input required is any image is within working range. The data is collected in same FOV (Field of View) in numerous slides covering almost all possible cell types and morphological representation.

[0019] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
 
, Claims:
We claim:
1. A control unit (12) for processing at least one image in a device (10), said device (10) comprising an image capturing unit (14); an image processing unit (16); a slot (18) for receiving a sample (20), said control unit (12) adapted to:
- adjust said image capturing unit (14) in a focal plane above a predefined distance from said sample (20) and maintaining a predefined light intensity;
- capture a set of images of said sample by said image capturing unit (14);
- separate a foreground and a background in each of said image (24) using at least one processing technique;
- identify a first type of cells and a second type of cells in each of said image (24) from their corresponding contour and area;
- calculate a total area of said first type of cells and said second type of cells;
- detect a region of interest in said sample based on a comparison.

2. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image capturing unit (12) is maintained at one position in z-plane and moved in an axial direction (x-plane) over the sample (20) while capturing said set of images (24).

3. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first type of cells are of circular shaped cells and said second type of cells are of non-circular shaped.

4. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (12) identifies at least one first type of cell and at least one overlapping cell based on an area calculated for each of said cell present in said each of said captured image (24).

5. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (12) computes a percentage of area of said all individual cells from said total area of said first type of cells and a total cell area in said image (24).

6. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting said region of interest in said sample (20) based a comparison between said percentage of area of said all individual cells and a threshold value.

7. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (12) adapted to remove an unwanted data from each of said captured image (24).

8. The control unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one processing technique is chosen from a group of techniques comprising an adaptive histogram equalization (AHE) , a Gaussian blur technique, an adaptive gaussian thresholding technique, a Otsu thresholding technique.

9. A method of processing at least one image in a device (10), said device (10) comprising an image capturing unit (14); an image processing unit (16); a slot (18) for receiving a sample (20) and a control unit (12) for operating at least one component of said device (10) , said method comprising:

- adjusting said image capturing unit (14) in a focal plane above a predefined distance from said sample (20) and maintaining a predefined light intensity;
- capturing a set of images (24) of said sample by said image capturing unit (14);
- separating a foreground and a background in each of said image (24) using at least one processing technique by said control unit (12);
- identifying a first type of cells and a second type of cells in each of said image from their corresponding contour and area;
- calculating a total area of said first type of cells and said second type of cells;
- detecting a region of interest in said sample (20) based on a comparison.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein detecting said region of interest in said sample (20) based on a comparison between said total area of said first type of cells to a total cell area in said image (24).