JP2018021858A - Measurement method, measurement program, and measurement system equipped with measurement program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable information about light or radiation to be accurately calculated by reducing the effect of shear or distortion, if any, in the scanner image of a specimen container.SOLUTION: A measurement method of the present invention comprises: an image capture step (S1, S3) for capturing a scanner image and an IP image; an area detection step S9 for detecting an area in the scanner image of a specimen part in a flow channel; a length information acquisition step S10 for acquiring information about the length of the specimen part detected in the area detection step; a corrected scanner image acquisition step S11 for acquiring a corrected scanner image by applying the specimen part length information acquired in the length information step to specimen contain design information; a superposition step S12 for stacking the corrected scanner image and the IP image one on top of another; and a calculation step S14 for finding the quantity of light or radiation from the specimen part on the basis of the superposed image stacked in the superposition step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention implements a measurement method for measuring light generated from a luminescent or fluorescent substance contained in a liquid to be measured (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) or radiation contained in the liquid to be measured, and the measurement method. The present invention relates to a measurement program and a measurement system including the measurement program.

  For example, the radioactivity measurement system is used for quantitative analysis in nuclear medicine diagnosis (PET, SPECT, etc.), and is particularly used for measurement of radioactivity concentration in arterial blood of small animals such as mice and rats.

  For example, after administering a radiopharmaceutical into the body of a mouse, blood is collected in time series and dropped into a plurality of minute channels arranged in a disk-shaped specimen container, and the specimen container is rotated. Then, the radiation (for example, β rays, γ rays, etc.) contained in the separated plasma and blood cells is measured (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, the blood to be measured is accommodated in a minute flow path provided in the specimen container, the specimen container is rotated at high speed, the blood is centrifuged, and the blood is separated into plasma and blood cells. Thereafter, the entire sample container is imaged by an imaging device such as an optical scanner, and the imaging data (hereinafter referred to as a scanner image) is acquired.

  The scanner image of the sample container is read by software, and the flow path region, the boundary between plasma and gas from which blood in the flow path is separated, and the boundary between plasma and blood cells are detected by an algorithm by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). To do. From the position of the boundary line and the design information of the specimen container, the volume of the centrifuged plasma part and blood cell part can be calculated respectively.

  When measuring the radioactivity concentration in the blood, a scanner image of each flow path of the sample container imaged by the optical scanner and a β + ray distribution image (hereinafter referred to as an IP image) which is count information obtained by the imaging sample container. ) Is superimposed, and the radioactivity concentration in the blood per unit volume is obtained from the β + ray count information of the portion that overlaps the centrifuged plasma region and blood cell region on the β + ray IP image.

  That is, by associating the plasma part in the scanner image of the specimen container with the plasma part in the IP image of β + ray, the blood cell part in the scanner image of the specimen container and the blood cell part in the IP image of β + ray, respectively, The count is divided by the volume of each part to measure each blood radioactivity concentration.

WO2009-093306

  When capturing a scanner image of a specimen container, the specimen container is usually imaged together with the stationary jig while the specimen container is placed on the stationary jig and the orientation thereof is fixed. However, when a scanner image is taken, the holding plate of the scanner or a hand touches and the fixing jig moves, so that the position of the sample container may deviate from the position where it should be fixed. As a result, a scanner image in which the position of the sample container is shifted is captured. Since the flow path provided in the sample container is very small, the influence is large even if the sample container is slightly displaced from the original position, and the influence is particularly great near the outer periphery of the sample container.

  In addition, depending on the scanner for capturing the scanner image, the sample container may be imaged by stretching or contracting. Then, the scanner image of the sample container is distorted and a scanner image different from the original image of the sample container is acquired. When the scanner image of the sample container is distorted, the dimensions of the entire sample container of the scanner image and the IP image do not match, so each part (plasma / blood cell) in the scanner image and each part (plasma / blood cell) in the IP image Could not be accurately associated, and the blood radioactivity concentration in each part could not be determined accurately.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately calculate light or radiation information even if a scanner image of a specimen container is displaced or distorted, and the influence thereof is reduced. .

The measurement method according to the present invention includes:
An image capturing step for capturing a scanner image obtained by imaging a sample container having a flow path for containing the sample, and an IP image obtained by capturing an image of light or radiation from the sample in the sample container; ,
A region detecting step for detecting a region of the sample portion in the flow path in the scanner image;
A length information acquisition step of acquiring length information of the specimen portion detected in the region detection step;
A corrected scanner image acquisition step of acquiring a corrected scanner image by applying the length information of the sample portion acquired in the length information step to design information of the sample container;
A superimposing step of superimposing the corrected scanner image and the IP image;
And a calculation step of obtaining a light amount or a radiation dose from the specimen portion based on the superimposed image superimposed in the superimposing step.

  Here, when the scanner image is distorted, there is a possibility that accurate length information cannot be obtained if the length information of the specimen portion is acquired as it is. Therefore, in the measurement method of the present invention, after the image capturing step and before the length information acquiring step, the distortion of the scanner image captured in the image capturing step is determined based on the design information of the scanner image. You may further provide the distortion correction step to correct. Then, the length information of the specimen part can be acquired more accurately.

  Even when the sample container is displaced in the scanner image, there is a possibility that accurate length information cannot be obtained if the length information of the sample portion is acquired as it is. Therefore, in the measuring method of the present invention, after the image capturing step and before the length information acquiring step, the inclination of the scanner image captured in the image capturing step is determined based on the design information of the scanner image. An inclination correction step for correction may be further provided. Then, the length information of the specimen part can be acquired more accurately.

  Further, depending on an apparatus that captures an IP image, it is conceivable that the IP image is displaced or distorted. Therefore, in the measurement method of the present invention, after the superimposing step and before the calculating step, the size, shape, or inclination of the corrected scanner image superimposed on the IP image is adjusted according to the IP image. An adjustment step may be further provided. Then, the flow path in the corrected scanner image and the flow path in the IP image can be associated more accurately, and the light quantity or radiation dose from the specimen portion can be determined more accurately.

  The measurement program according to the present invention executes the above-described measurement method by being executed on a computer.

  A measurement system according to the present invention includes a computer that executes the measurement program.

  In the measurement method of the present invention, after detecting the region of the sample portion in the flow path in the scanner image, the length information of the detected sample portion is acquired, and the acquired length information of the sample portion is used as design information of the sample container. Since the scanner image after correction is acquired by applying to the above and the corrected scanner image and the IP image are superimposed, the influence of distortion and inclination (deviation) of the scanner image is reduced. As a result, the specimen portion in the scanner image and the specimen portion in the IP image can be associated more accurately, and the light amount or radiation dose from the specimen portion can be obtained more accurately.

  Since the measurement program of the present invention is configured to execute the above-described measurement method when executed by a computer, it is possible to accurately associate the sample portion in the scanner image with the sample portion in the IP image. The amount of light or the amount of radiation from the specimen portion can be determined more accurately.

  Since the measurement system of the present invention includes the computer that executes the measurement program, the sample portion in the scanner image can be accurately associated with each sample portion in the IP image, and the amount of light from the sample portion or The radiation dose can be determined more accurately.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of a measurement system. It is a flowchart explaining the measuring method in the Example. It is a top view of the sample container used in the Example. It is a scanner image of one separation channel part of the sample container. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the length information acquired in the scanner image. It is a figure which shows the state which applied the length information acquired from the scanner image to design information. It is a figure which shows an example of a superimposed image.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the measurement method, measurement program, and measurement system of the present invention will be described.

  The measurement method, measurement program, and measurement system of this embodiment calculate the light amount or the radiation dose from each centrifuged specimen portion based on the scanner image and IP image of the specimen container for centrifuging the specimen. is there.

  First, the sample container will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the sample container 40 has a disk shape, and a plurality of centrifuge flow paths 42 are provided therein. Each flow channel 42 is a U-shaped flow channel arranged such that its longitudinal direction is directed in the radial direction, and both ends thereof are disposed on the center side of the sample container 40. A sample injection hole 44 is provided at one end of each flow path 42, and an air vent hole 46 is provided at the other end. When the specimen is dropped into the hole 44, the specimen is introduced into the flow path 42 by capillary action.

  When the specimen container 40 is applied to a centrifuge with the specimen introduced into each flow path 42, the specimen container 40 is rotated and the specimen in each flow path 42 is centrifuged. When the specimen is blood, the specimen in each flow path 42 is separated into a plasma portion and a blood cell portion by centrifugation as shown in FIG. As described above, the scanner image and the IP image of the sample container 40 in a state where the sample in each flow channel 42 is centrifuged are obtained, and the positional relationship of each flow channel 42 in the images is associated with each other, thereby obtaining each flow channel. The amount of light or the amount of radiation from each specimen portion centrifuged in 42 is measured.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a measurement system that executes a measurement program for implementing a measurement method.

  The measurement system of this embodiment includes an arithmetic processing unit 2 that executes a measurement program. The arithmetic processing device 2 receives the scanner image data of the sample container 40 acquired by the scanner image acquisition device 4 and the IP image data of the sample container 40 acquired by the IP image acquisition device 6. In addition, the arithmetic processing device 2 is connected to a display device 8 configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display and an input device 10 configured by, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The operator inputs necessary information to the arithmetic processing device 2 via the input device 10.

  The scanner image acquisition device 4 images the centrifuged plasma portion and blood cell portion together with the specimen container 40 and a fixing jig that supports the specimen container 40. The scanner image acquisition device 4 is configured by, for example, a flat head scanner, and irradiates the sample container 40 with light from a light source to capture a planar image of the sample container 40. The plasma portion and blood cell portion centrifuged in each flow path 42 of the specimen container 40 appear in the scanner image as a difference in density due to the difference in absorbance, so that the scanner image is easily identified visually and on the software. be able to. As will be described later, the arithmetic processing unit 2 is provided with a sample portion detection unit 20 that detects a plasma portion and a blood cell portion of each channel 42 in the scanner image based on the difference in density.

  As described above, the scanner image acquisition device 4 includes the fixing jig that fixes the sample container 40 at a predetermined position, but the movement accuracy when the reading sensor of the flat head scanner is moved in the scan scanning direction is low. In some cases, the scanner image may be distorted due to expansion or contraction.

  Further, when the sample container 40 is imaged by the scanner image acquisition device 4, the holding plate or a hand may touch the fixing jig, and the position of the sample container 40 may be shifted together with the fixing jig. There is a possibility that the image of the specimen container 40 is inclined in the image. As a result, even if the scanner image and the IP image are superimposed and displayed, a deviation occurs between the scanner image and the IP image to be superimposed, and each part (plasma / blood cell) in the scanner image and the IP image There is a possibility that the respective parts (plasma and blood cells) are not accurately associated with each other, and the blood radioactivity concentration in each part does not show an accurate value.

  Therefore, in the measurement method implemented in this embodiment, as the extraction result extracted by the algorithm, the contour of the image related to the U-shaped flow path of the specimen container 40 is emphasized to output a contour-enhanced image, and the contour is enhanced. Based on the contour-enhanced image and the design information of the sample container 40 (in this embodiment, the outer contour of the U-shaped channel 42 of the sample container 40), the position of the container in the image and each part (plasma and blood cells) in the container Detect the position and length. The detected position and length of each specimen part (plasma part and blood cell part) in each flow path 42 in the specimen container 40 are reflected in the known design information, and each specimen container 40 without the influence of distortion or inclination is reflected. An image (corrected scanner image) of each specimen portion in the flow path 42 is created, and the blood radioactivity concentration of each specimen portion is calculated based on the image.

  The arithmetic processing device 2 has a scanner image reading unit 12, an IP image reading unit 14, a distortion correction unit 16, an inclination correction unit 18, and a specimen portion detection unit 20 as functions constituting a measurement program for executing the above measurement method. A length information acquisition unit 22, a length information application unit 24, a superimposition processing unit 26, an image display unit 28, a calculation processing unit 20, and a design information storage unit 32. The arithmetic processing unit 2 is realized by a dedicated computer or a general-purpose personal computer.

  The scanner image reading unit 12 has a function of reading a scanner image acquired by the scanner image acquisition device 4, and the IP image reading unit 14 has a function of reading an IP image acquired by the IP image acquisition device.

  The distortion correction unit 16 has a function of correcting the scanner image read by the scanner image reading unit 12. In scanner image distortion correction, scanner image information (for example, vertical and horizontal dimensions) is compared with design information of a specimen container 40 prepared in advance and stored in the design information storage unit 32, and the scanner image is designed as design information. For example, by changing the aspect ratio of the scanner image.

  This distortion correction function is not an essential function, and the distortion correction unit 16 may not be provided. The distortion correction unit 16 may be configured to automatically detect the distortion of the scanner image by comparing the information of the scanner image and the design information and automatically correct the distortion of the scanner image. The scanner image and the design information may be displayed on the display device 8, and the operator may manually correct the distortion of the scanner image based on the display.

  The tilt correction unit 18 is a function for correcting the tilt (shift in the rotation direction) of the scanner image read by the scanner image reading unit 12. When the predetermined position of the sample container 40 in the scanner image is deviated from the design information, the scanner image is corrected by rotating the scanner image in any direction so as to eliminate the deviation.

  This tilt correction function is not an essential function, and the tilt correction unit 18 may not be provided. In addition, the inclination correction unit 18 may be configured to automatically detect the inclination of the scanner image by comparing the information of the scanner image and the design information and automatically correct the inclination of the scanner image. The scanner image and design information may be displayed on the display device 8, and the operator may manually correct the tilt of the scanner image based on the display.

  The sample portion detection unit 20 has a function of detecting each sample portion (plasma portion and blood cell portion) centrifuged in each flow path 42 on the scanner image 20 based on the difference in density.

  Note that the sample portion detection unit 20 is not necessarily configured to automatically detect the position of the boundary portion of each sample portion, and the sample portion is displayed on the scanner image displayed on the display device 8 by the operator. It may be configured to specify the boundary portion of.

  In addition, the sample portion detection unit 20 automatically detects each sample portion in each flow path 42 and then displays a scanner image in a state in which each sample portion is automatically detected on the display device 8. Further, the position of the boundary portion of each sample portion in the scanner image may be configured so that the operator can correct it to an arbitrary position.

  The length information acquisition unit 22 has a function of acquiring length information of each sample portion detected by the sample portion detection unit 20. In this embodiment, as the length information of each specimen portion, as shown in FIG. 5, the length from a predetermined position on one end side of the U-shaped flow path 42 to the boundary portion between the air layer and the plasma portion. A1, a length b1 from a predetermined position on one end side to a boundary portion between the plasma portion and the boundary portion, a length a2 from a predetermined position on the other end side to a boundary portion between the air layer and the plasma portion, a predetermined position on one end side To b2 from the plasma part to the boundary part of the boundary part.

  The length information application unit 24 stores the design information of the sample container 40 stored in the design information storage unit 32 with the length information a1, a2, b1, and b2 of each sample part acquired by the length information acquisition unit 22. Applies to By applying the length information a1, a2, b1, and b2 to the design information of each flow path 42, the plasma portion and the blood cell portion are shown in the design image of each flow path 42 as shown in FIG. Image is obtained. This image is referred to as a “corrected scanner image”.

  The superimposition processing unit 26 has a function of executing superimposition processing for superimposing the corrected scanner image obtained by the length information application unit 24 on the IP image acquired by the IP image acquisition device 6. In this superimposition processing, the position and length of each sample portion in each flow channel 42 in the sample container 40 based on design information without distortion or inclination is superimposed on each flow channel 42 in the IP image. Thereby, a superimposed image as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.

  The image display unit 28 includes a scanner image read by the scanner image reading unit 12, an IP image read by the IP image reading unit 14, and an image after the sample portion of each flow path 42 is detected by the sample portion detection unit 20 (for example, This is a function for displaying on the display device 8 an image such as a scanner image in which the contour of each specimen part is emphasized) and a superimposed image superimposed by the superimposition processing unit.

  The calculation processing unit 30 is a function that performs a predetermined calculation process based on the superimposed image. In the superimposed image obtained by the superimposition process, the position and length of each sample portion of each flow path 42 in the corrected scanner image is accurately associated with each flow path 42 in the IP image. The calculation processing unit 30 divides the β + ray count in the IP image associated with the plasma part in the corrected scanner image by the volume of the plasma part based on the design information, and thereby the blood radioactivity concentration in the plasma Is calculated. Further, the calculation processing unit 30 calculates the blood radioactivity concentration of the blood cell by dividing the β + ray count in the IP image associated with the blood cell part by the volume of the blood cell part based on the design information.

  The design information storage unit 32 has a function of storing design values of the dimensions of the specimen container 40 and design values of the positions and dimensions of the respective channels.

  When there is no distortion or tilt in the IP image, the position of each flow path in the corrected scanner image and the position of each flow path in the IP image exactly match each other, and therefore the sample portion of each flow path 42 is calculated by the calculation processor 30. It is possible to accurately calculate the amount of light and the amount of radiation.

  However, the IP image may be distorted or tilted. In that case, it is preferable that the arithmetic processing device 2 has a function capable of adjusting the size and inclination of the corrected scanner image according to the IP image. In order to give the arithmetic processing device 2 such a function, the distortion correction unit 16 is configured so that the dimensions of the corrected scanner image can be adjusted automatically or manually by the operator, and the inclination correction unit 18 is configured. The tilt of the scanner image after correction may be adjusted automatically or manually by an operator.

  A measurement method executed by the function of the arithmetic processing unit 2 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 together with FIG.

  First, a scanner image and an IP image are taken into the arithmetic processing device 2 (image taking step: steps S1 and S3). The captured scanner image and IP image are displayed on the display device 8 (steps S2 and S4). Although it is not an indispensable step, when distortion correction of the scanner image is performed (step S5), distortion correction is performed (distortion correction step: step S6), and when inclination correction of the scanner image is performed (step S7), inclination correction is performed. (Slope correction step: Step S8).

  A region where each sample portion of each flow path 42 of the scanner image exists is detected automatically or manually by an operator (sample portion detection step: step S9). After detecting the area of each specimen part, length information (for example, a1, a2, b1, and b2 (see FIG. 5)) of each specimen part is acquired based on the detection result (length information acquisition step: step S10). ).

  The acquired length information is applied to the design information of the specimen container 42 to acquire a corrected scanner image (corrected scanner image acquisition step: step S11). A superimposition process for superimposing the acquired corrected scanner image and the IP image is executed to obtain a superimposition image (superimposition step: step S12). Although not essential, the superimposed image is displayed on the display device 8 (step S13), and the distortion and tilt of the corrected scanner image are adjusted as necessary (adjustment step). Based on the superimposed image, the radioactivity concentration of each specimen portion (plasma portion and blood cell portion) of each flow path 42 is calculated (step S14).

  Although the scanner image acquired by the flat head scanner is used as the scanner image in the embodiment described above, any image may be used as long as it is a scanner image having the form information of the specimen, for example, an inexpensive digital camera The image imaged by the above may be used. Even in such an image, for example, a contour image of the sample container 40 in the image is emphasized to output a contour-enhanced image, and the contour-enhanced image is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the design information of the sample container 40 to be a scanner image. It may be used as

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Arithmetic processing apparatus 4 Scanner image acquisition apparatus 6 IP image acquisition apparatus 8 Display apparatus 10 Input apparatus 12 Scanner image reading part 14 IP image reading part 16 Distortion correction part 18 Inclination correction part 20 Specimen part detection part 22 Length information acquisition part 24 Length information application unit 26 Superimposition processing unit 28 Image display unit 30 Calculation processing unit 32 Design information storage unit 40 Sample container 42 Channel 44, 46 hole

Claims (6)

An image capturing step for capturing a scanner image obtained by imaging a sample container having a flow path for containing the sample, and an IP image obtained by capturing an image of light or radiation from the sample in the sample container; ,
A region detecting step for detecting a region of the sample portion in the flow path in the scanner image;
A length information acquisition step of acquiring length information of the specimen portion detected in the region detection step;
A corrected scanner image acquisition step of acquiring a corrected scanner image by applying the length information of the sample portion acquired in the length information step to design information of the sample container;
A superimposing step of superimposing the corrected scanner image and the IP image;
And a calculation step of obtaining a light amount or a radiation dose from the specimen portion based on the superimposed image superimposed in the superimposing step.   A distortion correction step of correcting distortion of the scanner image captured in the image capture step based on design information of the scanner image after the image capture step and before the length information acquisition step is further provided. The measurement method according to claim 1.   An inclination correction step for correcting the inclination of the scanner image captured in the image capture step based on the design information of the scanner image after the image capture step and before the length information acquisition step is further provided. The measuring method according to claim 1 or 2.   The adjustment step of adjusting the size, shape, or inclination of the corrected scanner image superimposed on the IP image according to the IP image after the superimposing step and before the calculating step. 4. The measuring method according to any one of items 1 to 3.   The measurement program which implements the measuring method as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4 by being performed on a computer.   A measurement system comprising a computer that executes the measurement program according to claim 5.