Image analysis of urine

Abstract

Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones comprising apparatus for optically observing a urine sample from a subject under magnification and an image analyzer operative to determine the existence of crystalline bodies in the urine sample and to provide an output indication thereof.

1 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones comprising: 
 apparatus for optically observing a urine sample from a subject under magnification; and    an image analyzer operative to determine the existence of crystalline bodies in said urine sample and to provide an output indication thereof.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 1  and wherein said image analyzer is also operative to provide an indication of the size of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 1  and wherein said apparatus for optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe at least one urine sample in the presence of at least one reagent.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 3  and wherein said apparatus for optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe a plurality of urine samples from a subject in the presence of a plurality of different reagents.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 4  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise crystallization inducers of different activities.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 4  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise crystallization inducers of different concentrations.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 3  and wherein said at least one reagent comprises a crystallization inducer.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 1  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which measures the mass of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 1  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which indicates the shape of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 1  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which indicates changes in said crystalline bodies over time.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for analyzing urine of a subject comprising: 
 apparatus for optically observing a urine sample from a subject under magnification; and    an image analyzer operative to determine the existence of bodies in surine sample and to provide an output indication thereof.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 11  and wherein said image analyzer is also operative to provide an indication of the size of said bodies.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 11  and wherein said apparatus for optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe at least one urine sample in the presence of at least one reagent.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 13  and wherein said apparatus for optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe a plurality of urine samples from a subject in the presence of a plurality of different reagents.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 14  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise reagents of different activities.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 14  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise reagents of different concentrations.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 13  and wherein said bodies include at least one of cells, crystalline bodies, microorganisms and casts.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 11  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which measures the mass of said bodies.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 11  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which indicates the shape of said bodies.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 11  and wherein said image analyzer includes software which indicates changes in said bodies over time.  
     
     
         21 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones comprising: 
 optically observing a urine sample from a subject under magnification; and    performing computerized image analysis to determine the existence of crystalline bodies in said urine sample and to provide an output indication thereof.    
     
     
         22 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 21  and wherein said image analysis is also operative to provide an indication of the size of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         23 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 21  and wherein said step of optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe at least one urine sample in the presence of at least one reagent.  
     
     
         24 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 3  and wherein said step of optically observing a-urine sample is operative to observe a plurality of urine samples from a subject in the presence of a plurality of different reagents.  
     
     
         25 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 24  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise crystallization inducers of different activities.  
     
     
         26 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 24  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise crystallization inducers of different concentrations.  
     
     
         27 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 23  and wherein said at least one reagent comprises a crystallization inducer.  
     
     
         28 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 21  and wherein said image analysis measures the mass of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         29 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 21  and wherein said image analysis indicates the shape of said crystalline bodies.  
     
     
         30 . A method for indicating the propensity of a subject to formation of urinary stones according to  claim 21  and wherein said image analysis indicates changes in said crystalline bodies over time.  
     
     
         31 . A method for analyzing urine of a subject comprising: 
 optically observing a urine sample from a subject under magnification; and    performing image analysis to determine the existence of bodies in said urine sample and to provide an output indication thereof.    
     
     
         32 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 31  and wherein said image analysis is also operative to provide an indication of the size of said bodies.  
     
     
         33 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject and wherein said step of optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe at least one urine sample in the presence of at least one reagent.  
     
     
         34 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 33  and wherein said apparatus for optically observing a urine sample is operative to observe a plurality of urine samples from a subject in the presence of a plurality of different reagents.  
     
     
         35 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 34  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise reagents of different activities.  
     
     
         36 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 34  and wherein said plurality of different reagents comprise reagents of different concentrations.  
     
     
         37 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 33  and wherein said bodies include at least one of cells, crystalline bodies, microorganisms and casts.  
     
     
         38 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 31  and wherein said image analysis measures the mass of said bodies.  
     
     
         39 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 31  and wherein said image analysis indicates the shape of said bodies.  
     
     
         40 . A method for analyzing the urine of a subject according to  claim 31  and wherein said image analysis indicates changes in said bodies over time.