Method of, and apparatus and computer software for, implementing image analysis protocols

A computer-based method for analyzing image data, the image data containing images including image objects, using an image analysis protocol to report on one or more measurements conducted on selected ones of said image objects, the method comprising:

• receiving a user input identifying a first target set of image objects in the image data;
• receiving a user input identifying a second target set of image objects in the image data;
• defining a pair-wise user-defined target link by specifying a spatial relationship between the first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects;
• utilizing the pair-wise user-defined target link to combine the first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects in the image data into a set of interrelated targets that form a linked target set, wherein each interrelated target in the linked target set includes one image object in the first target set of image objects and at least one image object in the second target set of image objects which is linked to the image object from the first target set based on the spatial relationship;
• performing one or more measurements which are to be reported for said first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects, said measurements being conducted using said user-defined target link relationship;
• and
• displaying the one or more measurements which are to be reported for said first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects on a display device.

A computer-based method for the development of an image analysis protocol for analyzing image data, the image data containing images including image objects, the image analysis protocol being operable in an image analysis software system to report on one or more measurements conducted on selected ones of said image objects, the method comprising:

• providing a first target set of image objects in the image data;
• providing a second target set of image objects in the image data;
• defining a pair-wise user-defined target link by specifying a spatial relationship between the first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects;
• utilizing the pair-wise user-defined target link to combine the first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects in the image data into a set of interrelated targets that form a linked target set, wherein each interrelated target in the linked target set includes one image object in the first target set of image objects and at least one image object in the second target set of image objects which is linked to the image object from the first target set based on the spatial relationship;
• one or more user-defined measurements which are to be reported for said first target set of image objects and the second target set of image objects, said one or more user-defined measurements including a measurement defined from a plurality of predefined measurements;
• and
• displaying, on a display device, said one or more user-defined measurements which are to be reported for said first target set of image objects and said second target set of image objects.