Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc.

Applied Imaging Corporation

Kevin Shields

Allen Olson

Kiran Saligrama

Walter Georgescu

Bharat Annaldas

Mark Gregson

Darragh Lawler

Hendrikus Johannes Tanke

Gavin Hope

Nico Peter Verwoerd

Johannes Vrolijk

Wilhelmina E Mesker

Willem C R Sloos

Jan Bonnet

Padraig S O'Kelly

James Raine

A convolutional neural network (CNN) is applied to identifying tumors in a histological image. The CNN has one channel assigned to each of a plurality of tissue classes that are to be identified, there being at least one class for each of non-tumorous and tumorous tissue types. Multi-stage convolution is performed on image patches extracted from the histological image followed by multi-stage transpose convolution to recover a layer matched in size to the input image patch. The output image patch thus has a one-to-one pixel-to-pixel correspondence with the input image patch such that each pixel in the output image patch has assigned to it one of the multiple available classes. The output image patches are then assembled into a probability map that can be co-rendered with the histological image either alongside it or over it as an overlay. The probability map can then be stored linked to the histological image.

Processing of histology images with a convolutional neural network to identify tumors

Scanning and analysis of cytology and histology samples uses a flatbed scanner to capture images of the structures of interest such as tumor cells in a manner that results in sufficient image resolution to allow for the analysis of such common pathology staining techniques as ICC (immunocytochemistry), IHC (immunohistochemistry) or in situ hybridization. Very large volumes of such material are scanned in order to identify cells or clusters of cells which are positive or warrant more detailed examination, and if analysis at higher resolution is necessary, information regarding these positive events is transferred to a secondary microscope, such as a conventional scanning microscope, to allow further analysis and review of the selected regions of the slide containing the sample.

Automated scanning method for pathology samples

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Newcastle, United Kingdom

Kevin Shields