Metaphase Finding Using A Fast Interval Processer, Metafip

Abstract

METAFIP is an image analysis system designed to find cells in metaphase state on a microscope slide for subsequent recall, and eventually to rank them in accordance with some quality criteria. It is based on the Fast Interval Processor (FIP), a high speed image analyser, which scans the image using a linear charge coupled diode array. Slide scan rates of tsq mm./sec. have been achieved without saturating the computer. An 8MHz stream of pixel density values is reduced to a data rate which can be digested in a fast minicomputer using interval coding. The paper describes how the interval parameters (or features) extracted by the hard-wired preprocesser are used by the metaphase finding algorithms. Results are given showing encouraging discrimination between metaphase and nonmetaphase cells on a variety of materials.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.