Method and apparatus for providing preferentially segmented digital images

A method for providing a preferentially segmented digital image representative of a specimen image with an edge overlay from a specimen stained with a dye on a slide and magnified at a predetermined magnification value, the method comprising the steps of:

• interposing an optical filter between the light source and the specimen slide;
• obtaining a blank bright field representation from the slide;
• digitizing the blank bright field representation with an analog to digital converter to provide a blank bright field image;
• obtaining a dark field representation from the slide;
• digitizing the dark field representation with an analog to digital converter to provide a dark field image;
• obtaining a specimen image from the slide;
• digitizing the specimen image with an analog to digital converter to provide a digital specimen image;
• decalibrating the digital specimen image for glare and shading based upon the blank bright field image and the dark field image to provide a decalibrated image;
• determining first and second preferential enhancement values from the magnification value of the specimen image and from the characteristics of the specimen image;
• enhancing the digital specimen image by preferentially accentuating pixel values of objects of interest and minimizing pixel values of background objects based upon the first and second preferential enhancement values to create a dark feature enhanced image;
• binarizing the dark feature enhanced image to create an edge mask;
• detecting the edges of the edge mask to create an edge overlay;
• and
• combining the edge overlay with the decalibrated image to create a preferentially segmented digital image.

An apparatus for measuring the morphometric features of an object of interest in a specimen on a slide, having predetermined characteristics, comprising:

• means for converting a specimen image of the specimen magnified at a predetermined value into an electric signal;
• means for digitizing the electric signal into a digital specimen image;
• means for determining first and second preferential enhancement values from the magnification value of the specimen image and from the characteristics of the specimen image;
• means for obtaining a blank bright field image and a dark field image from the slide;
• means for decalibrating the digital specimen image for glare and shading based upon the blank bright field image and the dark field image to create a decalibrated image;
• means for enhancing the decalibrated image by preferentially accentuating pixel values of objects of interest and minimizing pixel values of background objects based upon the first and second preferential enhancement values to create a dark feature enhanced image;
• means for binarizing the dark feature enhanced image to create an edge mask;
• means for detecting the edges of the edge mask to create an edge overlay;
• means for combining the edge overlay with the decalibrated image to create a preferentially segmented digital image;
• means for measuring the morphometric features of the object of interest from the edge overlay.

A method for providing an edge mask from a specimen image, obtained from a specimen on a slide that is magnified at a predetermined magnification value and has predetermined characteristics, comprising the steps of:

• digitizing the specimen image with an analog to digital converter to provide a digital specimen image;
• determining a first preferential enhancement value and a second preferential enhancement value from the characteristics of the specimen image at a particular magnification value;
• enhancing the digital specimen image by preferentially accentuating pixel values of objects of interest and minimizing pixel values of background objects based upon the first and second preferential enhancement values to create a dark feature enhanced image;
• binarizing the dark feature enhanced image to create an edge mask;
• detecting the edges of the edge mask to create an edge overlay;
• and
• combining the edge overlay with the digital specimen image to create a preferentially segmented digital image.

A method for providing an edge mask from a specimen image, obtained from a specimen on a slide that is magnified at a predetermined magnification value and has predetermined characteristics, comprising the steps of:

• digitizing the specimen image with an analog to digital converter to provide a digital specimen image;
• determining a first preferential enhancement value and a second preferential enhancement value from the characteristics of the specimen image at a particular magnification value;
• decalibrating the digital specimen image for glare and shading prior to enhancing the digital specimen image, including the steps of
• obtaining a blank bright field image from the slide;
• obtaining a dark field image from the slide;
• and
• implementing the following equation
• New Digital Specimen Image=›(Digital Specimen Image--Dark Field Value)/(Blank Bright Field Image--Dark Field Image)!*255;
• enhancing the digital specimen image by preferentially accentuating pixel values of objects of interest and minimizing pixel values of background objects based upon the first and second preferential enhancement values to create a dark feature enhanced image;
• and
• binarizing the dark feature enhanced image to create an edge mask.

A method for providing an edge mask from a specimen image, obtained from a specimen on a slide that is magnified at a predetermined magnification value and has predetermined characteristics, comprising the steps of:

• digitizing the specimen image with an analog to digital converter to provide a digital specimen image;
• determining a first preferential enhancement value and a second preferential enhancement value from the characteristics of the specimen image at a particular magnification value;
• enhancing the digital specimen image by preferentially accentuating pixel values of objects of interest and minimizing pixel values of background objects based upon the first and second preferential enhancement values to create a dark feature enhanced image by implementing the following equation
• Dark Feature Enhanced Image=›(Digital Image.sup.2 /k+Digital Image).sup.n !/k.sup.n-1
• where "digital image" is the digital specimen image, "k" is the first preferential enhancement value and "n" is the second preferential enhancement value;
• and
• binarizing the dark feature enhanced image to create an edge mask.