Linking of images to enable simultaneous viewing of multiple objects

A computerized method for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample such that the digitized images of the serial sections are displayed on a computer display that is controlled by a computer, the method comprising:

• positioning a ghost image over an underlying image, wherein the ghost image and the underlying images are digitized images of different serial sections of the biological tissue sample;
• registering the ghost image to the underlying image;
• and
• linking the ghost image and the underlying image such that when manipulations are performed on either the ghost image or the underlying image, the other of the images is similarly manipulated.

A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample, the computer program product comprising:

• code for creating a copy of a digitized image of a first serial section, the copy being referred to as the ghost image;
• code for positioning the ghost image over a digitized image of a second serial section, the digitized image of the second serial section being visible through the ghost image and being referred to as the underlying image;
• code for registering the ghost image to the underlying image;
• and
• code for linking the ghost image and the underlying image such that when manipulations are performed on either the ghost image or the underlying image, the other of the images is similarly manipulated.

A serial section imaging system for digitizing magnified images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample and for adjusting deformations and relative rotations of the serial sections imaged in the digitized images, the system comprising:

• a computer system including a display, a memory, and an input device, wherein the computer is configured to:
• receive the digitized images from a charged coupled device (CCD) camera, store the digitized images in the memory, and display the digitized images on the display;
• create a copy of one of the digitized images of a first serial section, the copy is referred to as the ghost image;
• position the ghost image over another of the digitized images of a second serial section, the digitized image of the second serial section being visible through the ghost image and is referred to as the underlying image;
• register the ghost image to the underlying image;
• and
• link the ghost image and the underlying image such that when manipulations are performed on either the ghost image or the underlying image, the other of the images is similarly manipulated.