The first step in setting up AutoScope is to configure the program for the particular hardware used
(items such as cameras and frame-grabbers), and to establish the “Magnification Calibration
Definitions” which calculate the relationship between the actual size of an object being viewed (in
microns), and its apparent size on the computer screen (in pixels).
The next step is to customise the program for a given microscopic laboratory application.
In each case, one or more “Object Definitions” are created, which tell the program how to recognise
the objects sought. These instructions usually relate to attributes such as the typical range of areas,
perimeter lengths, and a range of other user-selectable parameters.
Typically, the objects being examined are mounted on one or more standard glass microscope slides,
each of which may contain one or more “Regions of Interest“ (ROIs). The locations of the boundaries
of each of these ROIs are set by the operator. Object definitions can be applied simultaneously to
more than one ROI. Often, more than one slide may be searched for similar or related objects. Such
groups of slides, which are related for some reason, are known as a “Batch”. Once the objects have
been defined, the slides determined and their ROI’s mapped, this information is saved in a batch file
and processing can commence.
Processing consists of scanning all the ROIs on all slides in a given batch. Processing detects all
defined objects, determines their location and shape or other attributes, and establishes a database
which contains all of these data items, as well as a “thumbnail” image of each object. After
processing, this database can be used for subsequent re-location of any object, and sorting, filtering
and post-processing of the data set.
The data set is created by AutoScope as an Microsoft Access v3.0 database file. Its contents can thus
be exported to a wide range of statistical and other data processing or data presentation packages.
For details of AutoScope requirements see Hardware Requirements help topic. For an introduction to
using AutoScope refer to Step-by-Step: Overview.