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SonyPatent applicationHealth & bodyInterest 4/10

Sony patents method to verify cell staining results using unstained images

Sony describes a technique for analyzing biological samples by comparing images of stained cells with images of similar unstained cells. The system uses a processor to detect cells in both sets of images and calculates a difference between the results to determine if a specific cell is a 'positive' match for the stain.

Why it mattersThis method could help laboratories reduce false positives in medical testing by using unstained samples as a baseline to verify that staining reagents are reacting correctly with the target cells.

In the filing’s own words

A positive determination method according to the present disclosure includes a first analysis step of performing first analysis processing including cell detection on a stained image obtained by imaging a stained specimen prepared by staining a specimen containing a target cell with a fluorescent reagent, a second analysis step of performing second analysis processing, which is the same as the first analysis processing, on an unstained image obtained by imaging an unstained specimen, the unstained specimen containing the target cell and being the same as and/or similar to the specimen, the first analysis step and the second analysis step being executed by a processor, and the method includes outputting an index indicating whether or not the target cell is a positive cell, based on a difference between an analysis result of the first analysis processing and an analysis result of the second analysis processing.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A positive determination method, comprising: a first analysis step of performing first analysis processing including cell detection on a stained image obtained by imaging a stained specimen prepared by staining a specimen containing a target cell with a fluorescent reagent; a second analysis step of performing second analysis processing, which is the same as the first analysis processing, on an unstained image obtained by imaging an unstained specimen, the unstained specimen containing the target cell and being the same as and/or similar to the specimen, the first analysis step and the second analysis step being executed by a processor; and outputting an index indicating whether or not the target cell is a positive cell, based on a difference between an analysis result of the first analysis processing and an analysis result of the second analysis processing.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title
POSITIVE DETERMINATION METHOD, IMAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
Publication number
US20260287508A1
Application number
19168516
Filed
Mar 22, 2024
Published
Sep 24, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
17

Classified under

G01N 21/6428 Physics & computingG01N 21/6458 Physics & computingG06T 7/0014 Physics & computingG01N 2021/6439 Physics & computingG01N 2021/646 Physics & computingG06T 2207/10056 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.