LUCIA Karyo stands out in the ease of use and the speed of getting results. Beside the image analysis functionality it provides a tool for both automatic and manual report generation and very powerful and flexible database shared with the other members of the LUCIA family. The systems includes also a camera that is compatible with the most of microscopes.
Key Features
- Image capturing enables wide spread metaphase collection and large image (multi-frame) composition.
- Automated image corrections with enhancement in contrast, banding and staining.
- Semi-automated separation routines (clipping of touching or overlapping chromosomes).
- A trainable automated classifier.
- Easy to use karyogram editor including all clipping functions. Many display options including ideograms G400, G550, G850, R400, Q400.
- Image and karyogram annotations including user defined phrases.
- Intuitive, synoptic, flexible and secure data management with a powerful SQL database module.
- Fast creation of reports including summary reports. The reports can be stored in a database, printed out or exported directly to PDF format.
Image Acquisition
The very first thing that needs to be done is to acquire an image of a metaphase spread. LUCIA systems ensure the high image quality carefully selecting the cameras together with sofisticated camera control including a tracking auto exposure. The system indicates the image quality during the acquisition to help obtain good results.
If the chosen metaphase exceeds the field of view, the Capture Large Images function is there to help it. The user is lead to capture the single images (sharing a narrow overlapping stripe). The images are stitched automatically by the system. The result is the large image that preserves the chromosomes distribution in the metaphase spread to make the user's orientation easier.
The Collect Chromosomes option enables you to capture scattered isolated chromosomes which are far from the metaphase spread, and place them nearer the center of the spread. The function enables user to capture additional snapshot and than move the new chromosomes to the first image. The screen divides into four parts, the metaphase spread on the left, and the chromosome(s) to be collected on the right. The top images display the whole captured field of view. Draw a clipping region around the isolated chromosome(s) in the bottom right part. Drag the clipped chromosome to the bottom left part. This procedure will copy the clipped area to the original image.
Image Processing and Analysis
Before the image of the metaphase can be classified, it is sometimes needed to modify it in order to enhance the important parts of it: you can use the Contrast, Sharpen, Smooth or Median filter enhancement functions.
Once having the metaphase spread image ready, it is a good time to add annotations to it, or to count the present chromosomes. All the annotations (text, arrows, numbers or marks) are stored in a vector layer and are not a part of the image data. Anytime, they can be easily moved and resized by mouse.
The metaphase image is then being segmented - the areas where the chromosomes lie are detected within the metaphase spread image, and the background is separated. Every detected object is indicated by an outline of different color. LUCIA offers several tools for separating touching and overlaying chromosomes. If two chromosomes are connected only by a tiny neck, right-click the object, and the chromosomes will be separated automatically. Manual clipping is possible as well. User draws the line that separates two or more chromosomes. When two chromosomes are overlapping, separate them selecting an appropriate tool and just clicking the crossing. There are other sets of functions helping to get rid of unwanted objects such as dust, scratches or cytoplasm. If the shape of a chromosome is incorrectly determined there are functions to easily correct the problem.
Once the clipping is finished and hopefully no other objects but the chromosomes are detected, it is time to create a karyogram. The system assigns a type to each chromosome and arrange a karyogram automatically. The result can be corrected manually. The accuracy of the classification can be improved by creating a new classifier from laboratory's own images, such classifier would respects the laboratory technique specifics. All clipping functions can be used in karyogram as well for convenience.
All image processing, chromosome editing and annotation steps are recorded in a history which can be browsed back and forth. If the result of any step is not satisfying it can be easily undone.
Database
The images can be stored and managed together with the patient data. The system works with a standard SQL database engine. Data are stored in a central place - the server. Maintenance and backups are easy. A user can work in different working places or at home connected to the database via Internet. Communication with the database server can be encrypted (secure). It is possible to store large amount of data on the server. It is possible to search, view and analyze data much faster compared to a standalone PC machine. The database provides additional functionality which is not possible to perform on files (duplicity check, statistics, pre-filled items in record forms). Additional data such as reports, information about specimen slides or user settings can be stored in the database too.
Reports
LUCIA can create reports containing images and patient or examination data and directly print them or export them to PDF format. You can create report by hand. It can be useful for situation when report layout is used just once. For repetitive tasks, a report template shall be created which will make the report creation very easy and fast. The most powerful and time saving usage is when creating reports from data saved in a database. LUCIA Cytogenetics can save reports and also report templates to a file or a database. If saved in the database it can be shared with other users. To enhance workflow efficiency LUCIA allows you to put bar codes into the reports.