Method and apparatus for automated platelet identification within a whole blood sample from microscopy images

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying platelets within a whole blood sample. The method includes the steps of: a) adding at least one colorant to the whole blood sample, which colorant is operable to tag platelets; b) disposing the blood sample into a chamber defined by at least one transparent panel; c) imaging at least a portion of the sample quiescently residing within the chamber to create one or more images; and d) identifying one or more platelets within the sample using an analyzer adapted to identify the platelets based on quantitatively determinable features within the image using a analyzer, which quantitatively determinable features include intensity differences.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying platelets within a biologic sample, comprising:
 providing an analysis device that includes at least one processor in communication with a sample illuminator and an image sensor;   using the at least one processor to execute instructions stored in a memory device, which instructions cause the processor to:
 control the sample illuminator and image sensor to image at least a portion of the sample to create one or more images; 
 identify one or more platelets within the sample, which identifying includes comparing an intensity at one or more predefined wavelengths in at least one region of the image associated with plasma to said intensity at said one or more wavelengths in a region of the image associated with a platelet candidate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine an incremental decrease in intensity extending away from a peak intensity value within the region of the image associated with the platelet candidate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine the incremental decrease in intensity in a plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a circumferential uniformity of the incremental decrease in intensity in the plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a Gaussian distribution of the incremental decrease in intensity in the plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a presence of one or more platelet clusters within the sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions implement a rule based classifier. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intensity at one or more predefined wavelengths is representative of fluorescently emitted light. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one region of the image associated with plasma is local to the region of the image associated with a platelet candidate. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for identifying platelets within a biologic fluid sample, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a sample illuminator;   an image sensor; and   a memory device;   wherein the at least one processor is in communication with the sample illuminator, the image sensor, and the memory device;   wherein the memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the sample illuminator and image sensor to image at least a portion of the sample to create one or more images, and cause the at least one processor to identify one or more platelets within the sample, which identifying includes comparing an intensity at one or more predefined wavelengths in at least one region of the image associated with plasma to said intensity at said one or more wavelengths in a region of the image associated with a platelet candidate.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine an incremental decrease in intensity extending away from a peak intensity value within the region of the image associated with the platelet candidate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine the incremental decrease in intensity in a plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a circumferential uniformity of the incremental decrease in intensity in the plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a Gaussian distribution of the incremental decrease in intensity in the plurality of directions extending away from the peak intensity value. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine a presence of one or more platelet clusters within the sample. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions implement a rule based classifier. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the intensity at one or more predefined wavelengths is representative of fluorescently emitted light. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one region of the image associated with plasma is local to the region of the image associated with a platelet candidate.