System and method for image analysis of multi-dimensional data

A system for analyzing multi-dimensional images, wherein the system includes at least one processor, comprising:

• an image capture device;
• a computer-based image acquisition module operating on the at least one processor that receives a first series of images of a biological sample captured by the image capture device, wherein the first series of images comprises a sequence of image planes;
• a computer-based user interface module operating on the at least one processor that receives specifications of a first image analysis step and a second image analysis step;
• and
• a computer-based image analysis module operating on the at least one processor that processes the first series of images in accordance with the first image analysis step to generate a first output series of images, and processes the first series of output images in accordance with the second image analysis step to generate a second output series of images;
• wherein the user interface module displays at least one image plane of the second output series of images on a display associated with a user computer and the first output series of images, and thereafter receives a change in a parameter of the specification of the first image analysis step, and the image analysis module processes the first series of images in accordance with the specification of the first image analysis step and the changed parameter to generate an updated first output series of images;
• and
• wherein the image acquisition module receives a second series of images of the biological sample, and the human interface module receives a specification of a third image analysis step, wherein the first series of images and the second series of images are acquired under different illumination conditions, and the third image analysis step specifies an image processing operation having the first series of images, the second series of images, and the first output series of images as inputs.

A method for analyzing multi-dimensional images, comprising:

• receiving a first series of images and a second series of images of a biological sample captured by an image capture device of a high content imaging system, wherein the first and second series of images each comprise a sequence of image planes and the first and second series of images are captured using different imaging conditions;
• receiving from, a user computer, specifications of a first image analysis step having the first series of images as a first input and a second image analysis step having an output of the first image analysis step as a second input and the second series of images as a third input;
• processing the first series of images in accordance with the first image analysis step to generate a first output series of images;
• processing the first output series of images and the second series of images in accordance with the second image analysis step to generate a second output series of images.

A method for analyzing multi-dimensional images, comprising:

• receiving a first series of images of a biological sample captured by an image capture device of a high content imaging system, wherein the first series of images comprises a sequence of image planes;
• receiving from, a user computer, specifications of a first image analysis step and a second image analysis step;
• processing the first series of images in accordance with the first image analysis step to generate a first output series of images;
• processing the first series of images in accordance with the second image analysis step to generate a second output series of images;
• and
• displaying at least one image plane of the first output series of images and at least one image plane of the second output series of images on a display associated with the user computer;
• when a change in a parameter of the specification of the first analysis step is received, processing the first series of images in accordance with the first image analysis step and the changed parameter to generate an updated first output series of images;
• receiving a second series of images of the biological sample wherein the first series of images and the second series of images are captured under different illumination conditions;
• and
• receiving a specification of a third image analysis step, wherein the third image analysis step specifies an image processing operation having the first series of images, the second series of images, and the first output series of images as inputs.