Neopath, Inc.

James A Stephanick

Keith L Frost

Kim J Hansen

James K Riley

Tuan H Phan

William C Lindow

Robert C Schmidt

Shih-Jong James Lee

Jon W Hayenga

A computer receives image data from a star-shaped optical target in the object plane and calculates angle-dependent boundary sharpness. The horizontal, x-direction, amplitude derivative and the vertical, y-direction, amplitude derivative are computed over a portion of each star pattern image from a Z panning sequence. A microscope slide stage, carrying the target, is moved vertically from a level just below where the target is in focus to a level just above where the target is in focus. For each small increment of vertical motion, Z panning, an image of the star pattern is captured for analysis. Computations are performed on the differentiated images to search for evidence of elongation of the point spread function and variation with stage Z position of the angle of long axis of such an out-of-round point spread function. The presence of a distorted point spread function that varies along the optical axis indicates astigmatism.

Astigmatism measurement apparatus and method based on a focal plane

Separation apparatus and method for measuring focal plane

A method for high speed morphological processing in a computerized image processing system starts by acquiring a binary image and selecting feature and height values corresponding to a desired morphological processing of an image. The image is scanned in a raster scanning sequence so as to produce a scanned image including a plurality of pixels. A sequential labeling transformation is performed on each of the plurality of pixels of the scanned image so as to produce a transformed image. A thresholding operation is performed on the transformed image. The resultant image is translated.

Apparatus for high speed morphological processing

A method for automatically focusing on a slide includes the steps of locating a coverslip, acquiring images from predetermined focal depths in the slide, and starting at an initial focal depth proximate the surface of the coverslip. A set of predetermined characteristics within each of the images are measured to generate at least one image measurement for each of the plurality of images. A focus measure is computed for each of the images, where each focus measure is a function of at least one image measurement. A best focus location is determined relative to a focal depth where an acquired image has a highest focus measure.

Automatic focusing of biomedical specimens apparatus

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

James A Stephanick