Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
[0001] Field of the invention:
The invention is related to a control unit for detecting a region of interest in a sample and a method of working of the control unit.

[0002] Background of the invention:
When any of body fluid like blood is smeared on a sample that is loaded in a pathology device, every region on the smear is not used to analyze. There will be a need to go the region where we need to detect an ideal region. The ideal region is a region where cells are distributed equally, and all morphological conditions of cells are clearly visible. The wrong detection of the ideal region on the smear leads to an incorrect disease detection.

[0003] A US patent application 20200242757 discloses a method and system for determining area to be scanned in peripheral blood smear for analysis. The invention relates to Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) that determines an area to be scanned in PBS for analysis. A PBS analyzing system captures a focused image at each of plurality of positions in the PBS and determines Quality Indicators (QIs) in focused image. Further, a region is identified in PBS where QIs of focused image satisfy predefined QI threshold limits, as a monolayer region of PBS and determines an initiation point in monolayer region based on cell count value and co-ordinates of each of the plurality of positions located in the monolayer region. Finally, the area to be scanned in monolayer region is determined based on the initiation point and a predefined scan pattern. Determining the area to be scanned yields accurate and faster results.

[0004] Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing,
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for detecting an ideal region in a sample according to one embodiment of the invention: and
[0005] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating the control unit according to the present invention.
 
Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for detecting an ideal region in a sample 14 of a device according to one embodiment of the invention. The device 10 comprising a sample holder 12 to hold the sample 14, an image capturing unit 16. The control unit 11 adapted to identify at least one dense body fluid region in the sample 14 and activates the image capturing unit 16 for capturing at least one image of the identified dense body fluid region. The control unit 10 extracts feature from the captured at least one image and detects the ideal region in the sample 14 based on the extracted features.
[0007] Further the construction of the device and the components of the device 10 is explained in detail. According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is a digital pathology device that is used to identify cell types present in the body fluid of a patient. The body fluid of the patient/person is chosen from a group of fluids comprising blood, urine, semen, saliva, mucus, stool, spine fluids and the like. The type of fluid is not restricted to the above-mentioned types, but can be of any other types that is known to a person skilled in the art. For better understanding of the operation of the control unit 11 in detecting the ideal region in the sample 14, we are considering the sample 14 having blood smeared across the surface. The sample 14 having the blood smear is loaded into the device 10 onto the sample holder 12 for further analysis.
[0008] The image capturing unit 16 captures multiple images of the sample 14 and the blood that is smeared on the sample 14. The image captured is processed further by the control unit 11 using any one of the image processing techniques. The image processing unit 18 present in the control unit 11 processes the captured images for detecting the ideal region in the sample 14. The control unit 11 is chosen from a group of control units comprising a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital circuit, an integrated chip and the like. The control unit 11 comprises a display unit 20 adapted to display at least one request after processing the captured images.
[0009] A method of detecting an ideal region in the sample 14 loaded in the device 10. The device 10 having a control unit 11, a sample holder 12, an image capturing unit 16 and an image processing unit 18. The method comprises following steps. In step S1, at least one dense body fluid region in said sample 14 is identified by the control unit11. In step S2, the image capturing unit 16 is activated for capturing at least one image of the identified dense body fluid region. In step S3, features from the captured at least one image is extracted. In step S4, the ideal region in the sample 14 is detected based on the extracted features.
[0010] The method is explained in detail. For better understanding the body fluid smeared on the sample is blood. The sample 14 is then loaded in the device. The sample 14 is divided into multiple portions based on the smear of the blood on the surface of the sample 14. The control unit 11 identifies one such portion where a high concentrated fluid is present. The control unit 11 detects the ideal region in one such portion. That one such portion is referred as dense body fluid region. In order to detect the ideal region in the identified dense body fluid region, the control unit 11 captures multiple images of the dense body fluid region that is identified.
[0011] A predefined number of images are taken of that identified dense region by moving the image capturing unit 16 in a predefined distance. Upon capturing all the predefined number of images, the control unit 11 processes the images. Multiple features are extracted from each captured image. The features are chosen from a group comprising a pattern of cell distribution in the dense region, the pallor area in each cell present in that image, shape of a cell in the blood present in the image and the like. It is to be noted that, the type of features extracted is not limited to the above mentioned one’s but can be of any other types that are used for detecting the ideal region in the sample 14. The control unit 11 upon extracting the features, compares the feature value with a prestored values. The ideal region is thus detected if the extracted features match the prestored features. For example, the percent of pallor area present in a cell of the blood is matched with a prestored percent of the pallor area. In another embodiment, the extracted features are transmitted to an intelligent network /model.
[0012] The control unit 11 displays the detection of the ideal region if the extracted features match the prestored features. The control unit 11 also displays a request if there is no ideal region detected from the at least one image captured in the at least one dense body fluid region. The request is chosen from any one of requests following to load a new sample 14 and to start a new detection process. For instance, if the control unit 11 captures a set of ten images in the identified dense body fluid region, the control unit 11 extracts feature in each of the image and compares with the prestored features or transmits to the intelligence network/model.
[0013] With the use of any of the intelligence networks/models like artificial intelligence, a deep learning technique or a machine learning technique, the control unit 11 detects the ideal region in the sample 14. The image capturing unit 16 is moved in a predefined manner within this identified dense body fluid region for capturing the set of ten images. If neither of the captured ten images have the features that satisfies the ideal region form, then the control unit 11 processes a request for a new search or to load a new sample for detecting the ideal region.
[0014] With the above-mentioned method, we can detect the ideal region in the sample 14 which is effective in analyzing the diseases correctly. The method provides a low-cost solution as there is no additional component used.

[0015] It should be understood that 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 (11) for detecting an ideal region in a sample (14) of a device (10), said device (10) comprising a sample holder (12) to hold said sample (14), an image capturing unit (16), said control unit (11) adapted to:
- identify at least one dense body fluid region in said sample (14);
- activate said image capturing unit (16) for capturing at least one image of said identified dense body fluid region;
- extract features from said captured at least one image;
- detect said ideal region in said sample (14) based on said extracted features.
2. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one dense body fluid region is identified using an image processing unit (16) by capturing multiple images of said sample (14).
3. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body fluid smeared on said sample is chosen from a group of fluids comprising blood, urine, semen, saliva, spinal fluid and the like.
4. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extracted features are pallor area, shape of a cell in said body fluid, a pattern of a cell distribution in said sample (14) and the like.
5. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a display unit (20) adapted to display said detected ideal region in said sample (14) from said at least one image captured in said at least one dense body fluid region.
6. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control unit (11) adapted to display a request if there is no said ideal region is detected from said at least one image captured in said at least one dense body fluid region.
7. The control unit (11) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said request is chosen from any one of requests following to load a new sample (14) and to start a new detection process.
8. A method of detecting an ideal region in a sample (14), said sample (14) is loaded in a device having a control unit (11), a sample holder (12), an image capturing unit (16) and an image processing unit (18), said method comprising:
- - identifying at least one dense body fluid region in said sample by said control unit (11);
- activating said image capturing unit (16) for capturing at least one image of said identified dense body fluid region;
- extracting features from said captured at least one image;
- detecting said ideal region in said sample (14) based on said extracted features.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein capturing multiple images of said sample (14) for identifying at least one dense body fluid region by said image capturing unit (16).
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein starting a new search by said control unit (11) or to load a new sample when no said ideal region in said sample (14) is detected in said at least one captured image of said dense body fluid region.