Automatic HLA typing apparatus
AssigneeNippon Kogaku K.K.
InventorsAtsushi Kawahara, Masahiro Sawada, Norio Fujii
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for automatically typing HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) is disclosed. An optical image of a sample containing lymphocytes is formed by a phase-contrast microscope. The optical image is transformed into electrical picture signal through a image pick-up unit which in turn is transformed into binary picture patterns for a predetermined area site in the image through a window circuit. The obtained binary picture patterns are compared with template patterns of predetermined features corresponding to reacted and non-reacted lymphocyte images to detect and type the lymphocyte image. With this typing apparatus, HLA typing test can be conducted automatically with high accuracy.
Claims1
An automatic HLA typing apparatus comprising:
- a phase-contrast microscope for forming an optical image of a sample containing lymphocytes;
- image pick-up means for transforming said optical image into a binary picture signal to transform the images of lymphocytes into binary picture patterns wherein the binary picture pattern indicative of the image of a positive lymphocyte is a non-annular in shape and relatively large in size whereas the binary picture pattern indicative of the image of a negative lymphocyte is annular or non-annular in shape and relatively small in size;
- first detection means for receiving said binary picture signal and detecting from said signal those binary picture patterns which are non-annular and larger than a first determined size;
- first counter means for counting the number of binary picture patterns detected by said first detection means;
- second detection means for receiving said binary picture signal and detecting from said signal those binary picture patterns which are non-annular and larger than a second determined size that is smaller than said first determined size;
- and
- second counter means for counting the number of binary picture patterns detected by said second detection means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.