User interface method and system for management and control of automated image processing in high content screening or high throughput screening

Abstract

A user interface method and system for controlling automated image processing operations of HCS and/or HTS systems includes a graphical interface to enable user designation of an image naming convention, image sources and destinations, image processing channels, processing parameter values, and processing spatial designations.

1 . A user interface method for managing the processing of images acquired from a sample of biological material, comprising:
 a processor-executed step of displaying a graphical user interface;   entering via the graphical user interface a designation of image sources;   entering via the graphical user interface a designation of first and second image processing channels, each image processing channel corresponding to a respective image component;   entering via the graphical user interface settings of a parameter value for an image component; and,   generating mask images according to the settings by an automated image process from an image stored at an image source such that the mask images include a first mask image with masks representing a first count of positions of the first component in the image according to a first setting and a second mask image with masks representing a second count of positions of the first component in the image according to a second setting;   wherein the first and second counts are unequal; and   a processor-executed step of displaying the mask images.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface method of  claim 1 , wherein the image component is a cell nucleus and the parameter value is a nuclear size. 
     
     
         3 . The user interface method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the mask images includes displaying images with masks representing nuclear edges. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface method of  claim 1 , wherein the image component is a cell nucleus and the parameter value is a nuclear size threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface method of  claim 4 , wherein displaying the mask images includes displaying images with masks representing nuclear edges. 
     
     
         6 . The user interlace method of  claim 1 , wherein the image component is a cellular component and the parameter value is a threshold value indicating a level of sensitivity to be observed by the automated image process for an image processing channel. 
     
     
         7 . The user interface method of  claim 6 , wherein the cellular component is a nucleus. 
     
     
         8 . The user interlace method of  claim 6 , wherein the cellular component is RNA. 
     
     
         9 . A user interface method for controlling the processing of images acquired from a sample of biological material, including processor-executed steps comprising:
 generating a graphical user interface;   receiving via the graphical user interface a designation of image sources and destinations;   receiving via the graphical user interface a designation of at least one image processing channel corresponding to a respective image component;   storing at the designated image destinations mask images generated by an automated image process from images stored at the designated image sources;   displaying mask images stored at an image destination; and,   the mask images including a first mask image with masks representing a first size of the first component in the image and a second mask image with masks representing a second size of the first component in the image.   
     
     
         10 . The user interlace method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second sizes are unequal. 
     
     
         11 . The user interface method of  claim 9 , wherein entering designation of at least one image processing channel includes entering designation of a first dye. 
     
     
         12 . The user interface method of  claim 11 , wherein the first dye is a nuclear stain. 
     
     
         13 . The user interface method of  claim 11 , wherein the first dye is an RNA stain. 
     
     
         14 . The user interface method of  claim 9 , wherein entering designation of at least one first image processing channel includes entering designation of a first dye corresponding to a first image processing channel and entering designation of a second dye corresponding to a second image processing channel. 
     
     
         15 . The user interface method of  claim 14 , wherein the first dye is a nuclear stain. 
     
     
         16 . The user interface method of  claim 15 , wherein the second dye is an RNA stain. 
     
     
         17 . The user interface method of  claim 14 , wherein the first component is a cell nucleus.