Cell Analysis Systems, Inc.

Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Corning Glass Works

Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke Medical Center

Cell Analysis System, Inc.

James W Bacus

James V Bacus

Robert J Marder

Ralph S Hernicz

Peter S Oud

Sarah S Bacus

Lynn G Amos

Charles H Rogers

Robert C Beaty

Robert E Wagner

An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness of a tissue section with an automated image analysis system, preferably using polyploid nuclear DNA content, for subsequent use in analyzing cell objects of a specimen cell sample for the diagnosis and treatment of actual or suspected cancer or monitoring any variation in the nominal thickness in a microtome setting. An image of a measurement material, such as a rat liver tissue section, having known cell object attributes is first digitized and the morphological attributes, including area and DNA mass of the cell objects, are automatically measured from the digitized image. The measured attributes are compared to ranges of attribute values which are preestablished to select particular cell objects. After the selection of the cell objects, the operator may review the automatically selected cell objects and accept or change the measured cell object attribute values. In a preferred embodiment, each selected cell object is assigned to one of three classes corresponding to diploid, tetraploid and octoploid cell morphology and the measured DNA mass of the identified cell object fragments in the rat liver tissue section sample may be corrected. Next, the selected cell objects of the measurement material, e.g., DNA Mass, are then graphically displayed in a histogram and the thickness of the rat liver tissue section can be measured based upon the distribution.

Methods and apparatus for measuring tissue section thickness

A method and apparatus are provided for selecting and analyzing a subpopulation of cells or cell objects for a certain parameter such as DNA using image analysis means. The cells are first stained with an alkaline phosphatase technique including a monoclonal antibody specific to a protein in at least one of the cell's cytoplasm or on a cell membrane, thereby marking any cells including the protein as to type. A second staining of the DNA in the nucleus is accomplished by a Feulgen technique that destroys the cell cytoplasm. After the staining and marking, the cells may then be gated using the image analysis means on the visual parameter such as colored DNA or colored antigen into a subpopulation that is to be measured. The selected cells may then be examined by digital image processing and measured for a parameter such as a true actual measurement of DNA in picograms. A quantitation of the measured parameter may be generated and provided.

Methods and apparatus for immunoploidy analysis

An apparatus and method for analyzing the cell objects of a cell sample for the diagnosis and treatment of actual or suspected cancer is disclosed. An image of the cell sample is first digitized and morphological attributes, including area and DNA mass of the cell objects are automatically measured from the digitized image. The measured attributes are compared to ranges of attribute values which are preestablished to select particular cell objects having value in cancer analysis. After the selection of cell objects, the image is displayed to an operator and indicia of selection is displayed with each selected cell object. The operator then reviews the automatically selected cell objects, with the benefit of the measured cell object attribute values and accepts or changes the automatic selection of cell objects. In a preferred embodiment, each selected cell object is assigned to one of six classes and the indicia of selection consists of indicia of the class into which the associated cell object has been placed. The measured DNA mass of identified cell object fragments in tissue section samples may also be increased to represent the DNA mass of the whole cell object from which the fragment was sectioned.

Method and apparatus for automated analysis of biological specimens

A kit for the quantitation of components in cell nuclei is described wherein the kit includes a stain and microscopic slides. Each slide has reference cell objects and a specimen cell area for receipt of specimen cells which are stained simultaneously with the reference cell objects.

Apparatus and method for analyses of biological specimens

An apparatus and method for automated assay of biological specimens positioned on microscope slides. The apparatus comprises an interactive optical subsystem for viewing the biological specimen on the slide and for producing an interactive video signal corresponding to the viewed image. An automated optical subsystem includes a single high power microscope objective for scanning a rack of slides, portions of which having been previously identified for assay in the interactive optical subsystem. The system also includes a processor for processing the interactive and automatic video signals from the two optical subsystems. The processor receives the automatic video signal and performs biological assay functions upon it.

Method and apparatus for automated assay of biological specimens

An apparatus and method for automated assay of biological specimens positioned on microscope slides. The apparatus comprises an interactive optical subsystem for viewing the biological specimen on the slide and for producing an interactive video signal corresponding to the viewed image. An automated optical subsystem includes a single high power microscope objective for scanning a rack of slides, portions of which having been previously identified for assay in the interactive optical means. The system also includes a processor for processing the interactive and automatic video signals for the two optical subsystems. The processor receives the automatic video signal and performs biological assay functions upon it. A method and apparatus are also disclosed for marking points for later analysis on the microscope slides and for associating an analysis function with each marked point.

Methods for immunoploidy analysis

An apparatus and method for determining an amount of oncogene protein product copies in a cell includes an optical conversion module for measuring an amount of optically enhanced DNA in a cell sample. A subsystem for measuring an amount of an optically enhanced oncogene protein product protein product is coupled to the DNA measuring means. A subsystem for comparing the measured DNA amount and measured oncogene protein product protein product amount produces a oncogene protein product copy measurement which is fed to an output device for producing an output indicative of the amounts of the oncogene protein product in the cells of the cell sample.

Method and apparatus for determining the amount of oncogene protein

An image analysis system is used for the quantitation of nuclear proteins in cell populations. Particularly, the hormonal receptor content of fine needle aspirates of human breast carcinomas are evaluated. Estrogen or progesterone receptors are amplified and visualized in the specimen by a staining technique of the immunoperoxidase type. Monoclonal antibodies specific against the receptor are attached to the receptor sites and are then amplified by a bridging antibody which attaches to the monoclonal antibody and a peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex. A chromagen, diaminobenzidine is combined with the complex and treated with hydrogen peroxide to react with the peroxidase forming an insoluble brown precipitate which marks the receptor sites for optical identification. The specimen is then counterstained with another chromagen, methyl green which is specific to the nucleus of each cell. Two monochromatic filterings optically separate the areas stained by the receptor site optical enhancer and the nuclear area optical enhancer. Measurements of the optical density values of the stained receptor areas yield an intensity value directly related to the quantity of hormonal receptor in the specimen. A comparison of the nuclear area containing hormonal receptor with the total nuclear area yields a percentage value which indicates the distribution of cells throughout of the specimen which contain receptor. These two values for intensity and distribution are then combined to yield a predictive score for an assay. The measured score when compared to an empirically derived reference score is predictive of the prognosis of endocrine therapy.

Methods and apparatus for the quantitation of nuclear protein

A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in performing automated classification of cells and other microscopic specimens. The apparatus provides a compact, adjustable assembly that is operable to provide: an operator-apparatus interactive classification system for the cell analysis; alternative techniques for different cells, cytoplasms and cell populations; and enchanced image or color separation and analysis.

Dual color camera microscope and methodology for cell staining and

An image processing method and apparatus determines a proliferation index of a cell sample by staining the cells with a chromogen for a proliferation substance and a counterstain for the cell nuclei. The chromogen is activated by an antibody-enzyme conjugate which binds to the proliferation substance to produce a stained cell sample. The stained cell sample is examined with an optical microscope, forming a portion of the apparatus, which produces a magnified cell sample image. The apparatus optically filters the cell sample image and produces a pair of optically enhanced proliferation substance and cell nuclei images. The enhanced images are electronically analyzed to determine the amounts of cell nuclei and proliferation substance appearing in the images, respectively. The amounts are then compared to yield a proliferation index for the portion of the cell sample appearing in the cell sample image.

Method and apparatus for determining a proliferation index of a cell

An apparatus and method for staining cell objects on microscope slides includes a container for holding a staining solution and for holding one or more of the slides having the cell objects thereon. The container is preferably a Coplin jar in which is disposed a perforated cage containing a magnetic stirrer. Lower ends of the slides rest on the top of the cage and the stirrer drives liquid in and out of the cage and stirs and mixes the stain solution to obtain uniformity of stain concentration throughout the Coplin jar. A magnetic drive unit is positioned below the container and magnetic flux travels through the imperforated bottom wall of the glass Coplin jar to couple the stirrer rod to rotate within the cage, as the magnetic driver rotates in the unit beneath the jar.

Growing community of inventors

Hinsdale, IL, United States of America

James W Bacus