Cell evaluation apparatus and method to search for an area to be observed in cardiomyocytes

The present technology relates to a cell evaluation apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of easily searching for an area to be observed within cardiomyocytes without requiring special preparation.The cell evaluation apparatus includes: a motion detecting section configured to detect motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes; a motion amount calculating section configured to calculate a motion amount of the detected motion; a pulsation information calculating section configured to calculate pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount; an evaluation value calculating section configured to calculate an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and a field determining section configured to determine an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a cell evaluation apparatus and method, and a program, and more particularly, to a cell evaluation apparatus and method and a program that are capable of easily searching for an area to be observed in cardiomyocytes without requiring special preparation.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, in the study of cellular processes and the like, a technology called calcium (Ca) imaging has been used, in which cells and the like are dyed using a pigment (calcium fluorescent indicator), the pigment being bonded to calcium ions to emit fluorescence, and are observed as image information.

Further, an evaluation using a multi-electrode array (MEA) is also performed. In the evaluation using the MEA, a change in extracellular membrane potential is detected by electrodes disposed on the bottom of a culture dish.

Further, an image processing technology by which pulsations can be observed easily and non-invasively is also proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the related art, however, a field of view used in experiments and the like have been determined qualitatively through verification of pulsations in cardiomyocytes by human visual contact. For that reason, for example, it has been difficult to search for an area of cardiomyocytes to be compared before and after medication.

For example, there have been techniques to search for a target cell by using shape information or luminance information of cardiomyocytes and simple motion information on a difference between frames and the like. However, information on the number of pulsations, a contraction speed, and the like have not been taken into consideration, and thus this makes it difficult to know whether cardiomyocytes are actively pulsating or not, for example.

The present technology is disclosed in view of the circumstances as described above and aims at enabling easily searching for an area to be observed in cardiomyocytes without requiring special preparation.

Means for Solving the Problem

According to a first aspect of the present technology, there is provided a cell evaluation apparatus including: a motion detecting section configured to detect motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes; a motion amount calculating section configured to calculate a motion amount of the detected motion; a pulsation information calculating section configured to calculate pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount; an evaluation value calculating section configured to calculate an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and a field determining section configured to determine an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

The pulsation information may be a pulsation area of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field.

The motion detecting section may detect the motion for each of the partial areas in each of frames of a moving image of the observation area, and the pulsation information calculating section may generate, on the basis of the motion amount for each of the partial areas of the plurality of frames of the moving image, wave shape information representing the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes of each of the partial areas.

The pulsation information may be a number of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field within a unit time, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

The pulsation information may be a contraction time or a relaxation time of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

The pulsation information may be a contraction speed or a relaxation speed of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

The pulsation information may be a correlation coefficient of a wave shape of the pulsations between the partial areas of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

The pulsation information may be a propagation speed and a propagation direction of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

The evaluation section may calculate the evaluation value that corresponds to each of the plurality of observation fields, before and after predetermined processing performed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, and the observation field determining section may determine the observation field by selecting a predetermined number of observation fields from the plurality of observation fields on the basis of a difference between the evaluation values before and after the predetermined processing performed on the cultured cardiomyocytes.

According to the first aspect of the present technology, there is provided a cell evaluation method including: detecting, by a motion detecting section, motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes; calculating, by a motion amount calculating section, a motion amount of the detected motion; calculating, by a pulsation information calculating section, pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount; calculating, by an evaluation value calculating section, an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and determining, by a field determining section, an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

According to the first aspect of the present technology, there is provided a program causing a computer to function as a cell evaluation apparatus including: a motion detecting section configured to detect motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes; a motion amount calculating section configured to calculate a motion amount of the detected motion; a pulsation information calculating section configured to calculate pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount; an evaluation value calculating section configured to calculate an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and a field determining section configured to determine an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

In the first aspect of the present technology, motion of cultured cardiomyocytes is detected for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes, a motion amount of the detected motion is calculated, pulsation information that is information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes is calculated on the basis of the calculated motion amount, an evaluation value that is calculated on the basis of the pulsation information and corresponds to each of the plurality of observation fields is calculated, and an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes is determined on the basis of the evaluation value.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present technology, it is possible to easily search for an area to be observed in cardiomyocytes without requiring special preparation.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the technology disclosed herein will be described with reference to the drawings.

For example, in regenerative medicine, cultured cells, which serve as cellular tissues produced by culturing cells that are collected from a living body, are used to treat various kinds of tissues and organs of human bodies. Cultured cardiomyocytes that are cultured cells obtained by culturing cardiomyocytes have a possibility of being used in treatment of heart, for example. Further, the cultured cardiomyocytes are also used for evaluation of toxicity to heart in drug development.

In a living body, the cardiomyocytes pulsate while constantly repeating contraction and relaxation. Therefore, in the cardiomyocytes, cells of each part thereof move in a predetermined direction such that the entire cardiomyocytes repeat contraction and relaxation. Actually, the cardiomyocytes have parts that autonomously pulsate and parts that pulsate depending on surrounding pulsations.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a medication evaluation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology.

A medication evaluation apparatus100shown in the figure is an apparatus that observes motion of cultured cardiomyocytes110to evaluate a medication administered for the cultured cardiomyocytes110. The medication evaluation apparatus100includes an imaging section101, an evaluation target image data generating and recording section102, an evaluation index data generating section103, an evaluation section104, a display section105, a control section106, and a stage107.

The imaging section101images the cultured cardiomyocytes110as an observation target. The imaging section101may image the cultured cardiomyocytes110directly (without intervention of another member) or may image the cultured cardiomyocytes110via another member such as a microscope.

Further, the cultured cardiomyocytes110are placed on the stage107and fixed with respect to the imaging section101. The stage107is configured to move under the control of the control section106in vertical and horizontal directions, for example.

The imaging section101images the cultured cardiomyocytes110for a predetermined period of time. Specifically, the imaging section101obtains a moving image in which the cultured cardiomyocytes110serve as a subject. The imaging section101images the cultured cardiomyocytes110before and after the administration of a medication. It should be noted that the imaging section101may image the cultured cardiomyocytes110more than once after the administration of a medication according to a predetermined condition, for example, each time a predetermined period of time elapses.

It should be noted that the imaging section101normally images a partial area of the cultured cardiomyocytes110. By the movement of the stage107or the movement of the imaging section101, an area to be imaged is moved in the cultured cardiomyocytes110. An area to be imaged by the imaging section101at a predetermined time is called an observation field.

The imaging section101supplies an image signal111(moving image) of the image of the cultured cardiomyocytes110, which is obtained by imaging, to the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102.

The evaluation target image data generating and recording section102generates evaluation target image data on the basis of the image signal supplied from the imaging section101and records and saves the generated evaluation target image data in, for example, an internal recording medium. The evaluation target image data generated here is, for example, moving image data generated from the image signal obtained by imaging of the cultured cardiomyocytes110.

For example, the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102may extract only frame images in a certain period of time from a plurality of frame images supplied from the imaging section101and use those frame images as the evaluation target image data. Further, for example, the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102may extract a partial area of each of the frame images supplied from the imaging section101as a small frame image and use a moving image including those small frame images as the evaluation target image data.

Moreover, for example, the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102may perform arbitrary image processing on each of the frame images supplied from the imaging section101and use a result of the image processing as the evaluation target image data. For the image processing, for example, enlargement, contraction, rotation, and deformation of images, correction of luminance and chromaticity, sharpness, noise removal, intermediate frame image generation, and the like may be considered. As a matter of course, any image processing other than those above may be employed.

The evaluation target image data generating and recording section102supplies the stored evaluation target image data112to the evaluation index data generating section103at a predetermined timing or in response to a request from the evaluation index data generating section103.

The evaluation index data generating section103performs motion detection of the observation target (cultured cardiomyocytes110) for each of the blocks, which are partial areas into which the entire area of the image of the observation target (cultured cardiomyocytes110) is divided, between the frame images of the supplied evaluation target image data112.

The evaluation index data generating section103expresses the detected motion of each of the blocks as a motion vector and obtains the magnitude of that motion vector (motion amount). Further, the evaluation index data generating section103calculates pulsation information that is information on a characteristic amount related to the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes110.

The evaluation index data generating section103supplies data containing the pulsation information, as evaluation index data113, to the evaluation section104.

The evaluation section104calculates an evaluation value related to each of the areas in the cultured cardiomyocytes110on the basis of the evaluation index data113. Here, the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation section104is used to specify an area to be observed in the cultured cardiomyocytes110, for example.

The display section105makes visible and displays the evaluation index data113and information related to the evaluation value generated by the evaluation section104.

The control section106controls the movement of the stage107and controls imaging by the imaging section101on the basis of information output from the evaluation section104. In other words, the control section106specifies an observation field in the cultured cardiomyocytes110on the basis of the information output from the evaluation section104, and controls the stage107or the imaging section101such that an area corresponding to the observation field is imaged.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the evaluation index data generating section103ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2, the evaluation index data generating section103includes a motion detecting section121, a motion amount calculating section122, and a pulsation information calculating section123.

The motion detecting section121inputs the recorded evaluation target image data112from the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102and performs motion detection for each of the blocks, to supply a result of the detection (motion vector) as motion detection data to the motion amount calculating section122. The motion detection data will be described later.

As will be described later, the motion amount calculating section122divides each piece of the supplied motion detection data into new blocks and calculates an average motion amount in each of the blocks. The motion amount calculating section122supplies the calculated average motion amount to the pulsation information calculating section123.

The pulsation information calculating section123calculates pulsation information, which will be described later, at a predetermined timing or in response to a request from the evaluation section104, and generates the evaluation index data113containing that pulsation information. The generated evaluation index data113is supplied to the evaluation section104.

It should be noted that the motion detecting section121, the motion amount calculating section122, and the pulsation information calculating section123perform the above processing for each of the frame images of the evaluation target image data.

FIG. 3shows a structural example of the evaluation target image data112supplied to the evaluation index data generating section103. Imaging is performed in an evaluation interval having a predetermined length (for example, T+1 frames (T is an arbitrary natural number)). Specifically, the evaluation target image data112supplied to the evaluation index data generating section103is constituted by, for example, the first to (T+1)th frame image data132-1to132-(T+1) corresponding to the evaluation interval.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing a main configuration example of the motion detecting section121. As shown inFIG. 4, the motion detecting section121includes a frame memory141and a motion vector calculating section142. The frame memory141retains the pieces of frame image data132, which are sequentially input thereto as the evaluation target image data112per frame period.

The motion vector calculating section142inputs the frame image data that is input as the evaluation target image data112of a current time, and the frame image data of the latest (chronologically earlier) time that is retained in the frame memory141. The motion vector calculating section142then calculates a motion vector for each of the blocks, the motion vector indicating motion between those two pieces of frame image data. The calculated motion vector is supplied to the motion amount calculating section122as motion detection data151.

The processing executed by the motion detecting section121ofFIG. 4will be described in more detail. The motion vector calculating section142inputs the frame image data132of the current time and the frame image data132of the latest (chronologically earlier) time. The motion vector calculating section142divides each piece of the input frame image data132into M×N (M and N are each an arbitrary natural number) blocks161as shown inFIG. 5, and performs motion detection for each of the blocks161by a technique such as block matching between the frame images, for example, to generate a motion vector.

The motion vector calculating section142executes such motion detection processing by sequentially using the first to (T+1)th frame image data132. Specifically, the motion vector calculating section142generates (M×N×T) pieces of motion detection data (motion vectors) using the (T+1) frame images. The motion vector calculating section142supplies the motion vectors thus calculated, which serve as motion detection data, to the motion amount calculating section122.

When the final motion detection processing using the Tth and (T+1)th frame image data132is completed, as shown inFIG. 6, motion detection data constituted by T pieces of frame unit motion detection data171-1to171-T are supplied to the motion amount calculating section122.

Each piece of the frame unit motion detection data171-1to171-T is obtained by performing the motion detection processing on the frame image data132of the current time, which is obtained per frame period, and on the frame image data132of the latest (chronologically earlier) time.

For example, the third frame unit motion detection data171-3is obtained by inputting the fourth frame image data132-4and the third frame image data132-3as the frame image data of the current time and the frame image data of the latest time, respectively, and performing the motion detection.

Further, each piece of the frame unit motion detection data171-1to171-T is constituted by (M×N) pieces of block unit motion detection data181. Each piece of the block unit motion detection data181corresponds to one block161and is to be data indicating a motion vector detected for a corresponding block161.

As described above, the motion detection data151of this embodiment has a structure including the (M×N) pieces of block unit motion detection data181in each piece of the frame unit motion detection data171.

FIGS. 7 and 8are diagrams for describing the processing executed by the motion amount calculating section122.

In the motion detection data151, the motion amount calculating section122newly divides each piece of the frame unit motion detection data171, which is constituted by the (M×N) blocks, into (K×L) blocks. For example, as shown inFIG. 7, the frame unit motion detection data171is divided into (K×L) blocks191.

The motion amount calculating section122calculates an average value of the pieces of block unit motion detection data181included in each of the (K×L) blocks191, to calculate an average motion amount in each block. For example, in the case where L=N/3 and K=M/3, an average value of the nine motion vectors (block unit motion detection data181) within the block191is calculated, and (K×L) average motion amounts are calculated.

As will be described later, the values of K and L may vary depending on the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123. For example, when a pulsation area is calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123, it is assumed that L=N and K=M. Further, for example, when the number of pulsations is calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123, it is assumed that L=1 and K=1 (i.e., one for the entire screen). Furthermore, when a correlation coefficient is calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123, it is assumed that L=4 and K=4 (i.e., the entire screen is divided into 4×4). Moreover, for example, when a propagation speed and a propagation direction per pulsation are calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123, it is assumed that L=8 and K==8 (i.e., the entire screen is divided into 8×8).

Thus, for example, as shown inFIG. 8, motion amount data200constituted by T pieces of frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-T is generated. As described above, each piece of the frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-T is constituted by (K×L) pieces of block unit motion amount data211. Each piece of the block unit motion amount data211corresponds to one block191and is to be data indicating an average value of the motion vectors within a corresponding block191.

Next, an example of the processing of the pulsation information calculating section123will be described. The pulsation information calculating section123calculates the pulsation information, which is information on a characteristic amount related to the pulsations of cultured cardiomyocytes, m the following manner, for example.

The pulsation information calculating section123calculates a pulsation area within an observation field.

For example, the pieces of block unit motion amount data211, which correspond to a predetermined number of frames, are added, and thus the presence or absence of the pulsations within a unit time is determined. For example, the pieces of block unit motion amount data211of the blocks191of the frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-J (J<T) are added. An added value of the pieces of block unit motion amount data corresponding to the respective blocks191is compared with a threshold value, and the blocks191having an added value smaller than the threshold value are determined to have no pulsations within a unit time.

In such a manner, an area corresponding to the number of blocks191within the observation field, which excludes the blocks191having no pulsations within a unit time, is calculated as a pulsation area.

The pulsation area calculated in such a manner is assumed to be one type of pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates the number of pulsations within the observation field.

The pulsation information calculating section123generates wave shape information220indicating a change in motion amount on the basis of the motion amount data200. In other words, the pulsation information calculating section123averages the (K×L) pieces of block unit motion amount data211, which form the motion amount data200, over the entire screen and thus calculates a change with time in the observation field.

For example, as shown inFIG. 9, an average value of the pieces of block unit motion amount data in the pieces of frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-1on the entire screen is plotted for each time, the frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-T forming the motion amount data200. Thus, the wave shape information220for the observation field is generated. In the wave shape information220inFIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents a time, the vertical axis represents a motion amount, and a change with time in average value of the motion amounts within the observation field is denoted as wave shapes221.

The pulsation information calculating section123specifies a rise time of each wave shape in the wave shape information220. The wave shapes221inFIG. 9are assumed as wave shapes in which high peaks and low peaks alternately appear. This is because contraction and relaxation are repeated in the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes. The high peaks correspond to times at which the cultured cardiomyocytes contract, and the low peaks correspond to times at which the cultured cardiomyocytes relax.

It should be noted that the peaks corresponding to the contraction of the cultured cardiomyocytes and the peaks corresponding to the relaxation thereof can be distinguished on the basis of the following characteristics, for example. In the wave shapes of pulsations, the contraction peaks are prior to the relaxation peaks. Further, the contraction peaks have a higher speed. Furthermore, the contraction peaks have a sharper rise. Moreover, the contraction peaks have a lower speed of the starting point.

Therefore, it is possible to recognize that a period of time from the rise of the contraction peak to the fall of the relaxation peak, which is indicated by the wave shape221, is one pulsation of the cultured cardiomyocytes of an appropriate block. On the basis of the wave shapes221of the wave shape information220, the number of pulsations within a unit time in the block can be calculated.

The pulsation information calculating section123calculates an average value on the number of pulsations in each of the blocks191within the observation field, for example, and sets the average value to be the number of pulsations within the observation field.

The number of pulsations calculated in such a manner is assumed as one type of the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a contraction time and a relaxation time of the pulsations within the observation field.

For example, the contraction time is calculated as a period of time from the rise of a contraction peak to the reach of the fall of the contraction peak in the wave shape221of the wave shape information220. Further, for example, the relaxation time is calculated as a period of time from the rise of a relaxation peak to the reach of the fall of the relaxation peak in the wave shape221of the wave shape information220. It should be noted that the contraction time may be calculated using a period of time from the rise of a contraction peak to the reach of the fall of a relaxation peak.

The pulsation information calculating section123sets, for example, an average value of the contraction times and the relaxation times within a predetermined period of time to be a contraction time and a relaxation time within the observation field.

The contraction time and the relaxation time calculated in such a manner are one type of the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Moreover, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a contraction speed and a relaxation speed of the pulsations within the observation field.

For example, the contraction speed is calculated on the basis of a period of time from the rise of a contraction peak to the reach to the peak in the wave shape221of the wave shape information220and on the basis of a motion amount corresponding to the contraction peak. Further, for example, the relaxation speed is calculated on the basis of a period of time from the rise of a relaxation peak to the reach to the peak in the wave shape221of the wave shape information220and on the basis of a motion amount corresponding to the relaxation peak.

The pulsation information calculating section123sets, for example, an average value of the contraction speeds and the relaxation speeds within a predetermined period of time to be a contraction speed and a relaxation speed within the observation field.

The contraction speed and the relaxation speed calculated in such a manner are one type of the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a pulsation duration time within the observation field. The pulsation duration time is calculated as, for example, a period of time from the rise of a contraction peak to the reach of the fall of a relaxation peak in the wave shape221of the wave shape information220.

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a correlation coefficient between blocks within the observation field.

For example, the pulsation information calculating section123sets blocks for which a correlation coefficient is to be calculated. For example, a block191-A and a block191-B are set as blocks for which a correlation coefficient is to be calculated.

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123obtains the wave shape information220, which is as described above with reference toFIG. 9, for each of the blocks191-A and191-B. For example, as shown inFIG. 10, wave shape information220-A and wave shape information220-B are obtained for the block191-A and the block191-B, respectively, the block191-A and the block191-B being adjacent to each other.

The pulsation information calculating section123obtains a correlation coefficient of the pulsations of the blocks191-A and191-B. Such a correlation coefficient is a parameter indicating cooperative performance of the pulsations and has a larger value as the cooperative performance between the blocks becomes higher.

For example, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a correlation coefficient between the motion of the block191-A and the motion of the block191-B, for example. In other words, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a correlation coefficient by using the motion amounts of the block191-1A and the block191-B of a frame of a specific time, and an average value of the motion amounts of the block191-A and the block191-B in a chronological direction within an appropriate evaluation interval. Specifically, a degree of correlation between the two blocks in a state of a change in motion amount within the evaluation interval is calculated.

The pulsation information calculating section123obtains such a correlation coefficient, for example, between arbitrary blocks191within the observation field roughly throughout and over the entire screen or within a predetermined vicinity area, and calculates an average value of the correlation coefficients.

The correlation coefficient calculated in such a manner is assumed as one type of the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Moreover, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates a propagation speed and a propagation direction of the pulsations within the observation field as follows.

FIG. 11is an enlarged diagram of a portion of the wave shape221ofFIG. 9. At that time, the pulsation information calculating section123sets a motion amount of a high peak (i.e., a peak corresponding to contraction of the cultured cardiomyocytes) PK1as 100%, and specifies a time at which the wave shape reaches 10% of the motion amount of the peak PK1as a rise time Tup.

When there is no plotted point in the wave shape221, the plotted point corresponding to the time at which the wave shape reaches 10% of the motion amount of the peak PK1, for example, the wave shape is interpolated on the basis of the previous and next plotted points, to specify the rise time Tup.FIG. 12is an enlarged diagram of the vicinity of the rise of the wave shape221inFIG. 11(a portion surrounded by the rectangular shape in the figure). In the figure, the wave shape is interpolated on the basis of plotted points PL1and PL2.

In such a manner, the rise time of a block191-pcorresponding to block unit motion amount data211-pis specified. The rise time of a block around the block191-pis also specified.

For example, as shown inFIG. 13, the pulsation information calculating section123sets a block of interest in each of the (K×L) blocks191. For example, the block191-pis set as a block of interest, and a rise time t0of the first pulsation of the block of interest191-pis specified. A rise time tx of the first pulsation of a block191-qthat is separated from the block of interest by a predetermined distance (for example, a distance corresponding to two blocks) in the horizontal direction is then specified, and a rise time ty of the first pulsation of a block191-rthat is separated from the block of interest by a predetermined distance (for example, a distance corresponding to two blocks) in the vertical direction is further specified.

The pulsation information calculating section123obtains a propagation speed vx of a pulsation in the horizontal direction and a propagation speed vy of a pulsation in the vertical direction by Expression (1).

Further, the pulsation information calculating section123obtains a propagation speed |v| of a pulsation by Expression (2) on the basis of the propagation speed vx of a pulsation in the horizontal direction and the propagation speed vy of a pulsation in the vertical direction.

Moreover, the pulsation information calculating section123obtains a propagation direction θ of a pulsation by Expression (3) on the basis of the propagation speed vx of a pulsation in the horizontal direction and the propagation speed vy of a pulsation in the vertical direction.

In such a manner, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the block191-pare calculated. Further, similarly, a propagation speed and a propagation direction of another block as a block of interest are calculated.

In such a manner, the propagation speeds and the propagation directions of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes are calculated. It should be noted that the propagation speed and the propagation direction obtained here are obtained per pulsation for each of the blocks of the motion amount data200. The propagation speed and the propagation direction per pulsation in each block, for example, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the first pulsation in the block191-p, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the second pulsation therein, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the third pulsation therein, . . . , the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the first pulsation in a block191-p+1, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the second pulsation therein, the propagation speed and the propagation direction of the third pulsation therein, . . . , are obtained.

The propagation speeds and the propagation directions of the respective pulsations calculated in such a manner are assumed as one type of the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Further, information representing the orientation of the pulsations in the observation field may be calculated as one type of pulsation information.

The data obtained in such a manner, which contains the pulsation information on the observation field, is output as the evaluation index data113.

As described above, after the pulsation information is calculated for one observation field, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates pulsation information on the next observation field.

For example, when the calculation of the pulsation information on one observation field is completed, the stage107is moved on the basis of a control signal that is output from the control section106, and an area that corresponds to the next observation field and is a partial area in the cultured cardiomyocytes110is imaged by the imaging section101. The pulsation information on the next observation field is then calculated.

FIG. 14is a diagram for describing a mode in which the observation field is moved by the movement of the stage107under the control of the control section106. A circle of the figure represents the cultured cardiomyocytes110(actually, a culture dish, a well, etc. in which the cultured cardiomyocytes110are placed), and a rectangular area110awithin the circle may be an observation target.

For example, each small rectangle within the area110ais assumed as an area corresponding to one observation field, and the movement of the stage107is controlled such that the observation field is moved as indicated by a line241in the figure.

In such a manner, the pulsation information is calculated in association with each of a plurality of observation fields.

Referring back toFIG. 1, an example of the processing of the evaluation section104will be described.

As described above, the evaluation section104calculates an evaluation value related to each area in the cultured cardiomyocytes110on the basis of the evaluation index data113containing the pulsation information.

For example, the evaluation section104calculates an evaluation value E1. The evaluation value E1evaluates that the number of pulsations within a unit time within an appropriate observation field falls within a certain range. The evaluation value E1is obtained as shown inFIG. 15, for example. InFIG. 15, the horizontal axis represents the number of pulsations and the vertical axis represents the evaluation value. As shown inFIG. 15, when the number of pulsations falls within a certain range, the evaluation value is 1. When the number of pulsations is out of the certain range, the evaluation value is decreased.

Further, for example, the evaluation section104calculates an evaluation value E2. The evaluation value E2represents the smallness (degree of dispersion) of a dispersion value of an average value of the propagation direction related to the plurality of pulsations within that observation field. The evaluation value E2is obtained as shown inFIG. 16, for example. InFIG. 16, the horizontal axis represents the dispersion value of the propagation direction and the vertical axis represents the evaluation value. As shown inFIG. 16, when a value of the horizontal axis is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the evaluation value is 1. When a value of the horizontal axis is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the evaluation value is decreased.

Further, for example, the evaluation section104calculates an evaluation value E3. The evaluation value E3evaluates the magnitude of a contraction speed of the pulsations within the observation field. The evaluation value E3is obtained as shown inFIG. 17, for example. InFIG. 17, the horizontal axis represents the contraction speed and the vertical axis represents the evaluation value. As shown inFIG. 17, when a value of the horizontal axis is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, the evaluation value is 1. When the value of the horizontal axis is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the evaluation value is decreased.

Similarly, an evaluation value E4, an evaluation value E5, . . . related to other pieces of pulsation information may be calculated by the evaluation section104.

The evaluation section104then calculates an observation field evaluation value E that evaluates the importance of an area to be observed in the cultured cardiomyocytes110.

For example, when the evaluation values E1to E5are calculated as described above, the evaluation values E1to E5are used to obtain the observation field evaluation value E that evaluates the importance of an area to be observed in the cultured cardiomyocytes110by Expression (4).
[Expression 4]
E=α1E1+α2E2+α3E3+α4E4+α5E5(4)

It should be noted that α1 to α5 in Expression (4) are assumed to be preset weight coefficients.

The control section106moves the stage107on the basis of the observation field evaluation value E, and thus an area having high importance as an area to be observed in the cultured cardiomyocytes is automatically set as an observation field.

The above embodiment has been described in which when the calculation of the pulsation information for one observation field is completed, the stage107is moved on the basis of the control signal output from the control section106, and an area corresponding to the next observation field is imaged by the imaging section101. However, for example, when the calculation of the observation field evaluation value for one observation field is completed, the stage107may be moved on the basis of the control signal output from the control section106, and an area corresponding to the next observation field may be imaged by the imaging section101.

Referring back toFIG. 1, an example of the processing of the display section105will be described.

The display section105makes visible and displays the evaluation index data113and the information related to the evaluation value generated by the evaluation section104.

FIG. 18is a diagram showing an example of a screen that is displayed by the processing of the display section105. In an area271on the upper left of the figure, wave shape information is displayed. The wave shape information displayed in the area271is displayed on the basis of, for example, the wave shape information220generated by the pulsation information calculating section123.

Further, in an area272on the lower left ofFIG. 18, the transition of the pulsation information with the elapse of time is displayed as a graph. In the area272, for example, the transition of the pulsation information with the elapse of time, the pulsation information containing a contraction time, a contraction speed, a correlation coefficient, and the like, is displayed as a graph.

Further, in an area273on the right side of the area272ofFIG. 18, the pulsation information is displayed using numerical values, characters, and the like. In the area273, for example, the pulsation information calculated by the pulsation information calculating section123is displayed using numerical values or characters.

In an area274on the right side ofFIG. 18, an image of the observation field is displayed. In other words, in the area274, an image of an area of the cultured cardiomyocytes110, which is taken by the imaging section101, is displayed. The image may be a moving image or a still image.

FIG. 19is a diagram showing another example of the screen displayed by the processing of the display section105.FIG. 19shows an evaluation value map281. The evaluation value map281shows, for example, the observation fields described with reference toFIG. 14, which are displayed in different colors on the basis of the observation field evaluation values E. In the evaluation value map281, the rectangles corresponding to the respective observation fields are displayed in lighter colors as the observation field evaluation values E of the observation fields become larger, and are displayed in darker colors as the observation field evaluation values E of the observation fields become smaller, for example.

Further, the evaluation value map281is not necessarily displayed in different colors only on the basis of the observation field evaluation values E and, for example, may be displayed in different colors on the basis of any value of the evaluation values E1to E5.

Further, for example, the control section106may select an observation field on the basis of the evaluation value map281to move the stage107. For example, an observation field in which the observation field evaluation value E becomes maximum may be observed. Alternatively, the stage107may be moved such that N observation fields having the largest N observation field evaluation values E are sequentially observed.

Further, similarly, for example, an observation field in which any value of the evaluation values E1to E5becomes maximum may be observed. Alternatively, the stage107may be moved such that N observation fields having the largest N evaluation values, which are any values of various evaluation values including the evaluation value E1, the evaluation value E2, the evaluation value E3, and the like, are sequentially observed.

Alternatively, the stage107may be moved such that an observation field in which various kinds of evaluation values become maximum is observed among a plurality of observation fields selected in advance.

Alternatively, for example, the evaluation value map281displayed on a display may be used as a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the stage107may be moved such that an observation field selected by the user is observed.

As described above, it is also possible to select an observation field on the basis of the evaluation value map281.

As configured in such a manner, the user can easily specify the observation field.

In the above description, the example in which the cultured cardiomyocytes are placed in one culture dish, a well, and the like has been described. However, for example, on a well plate on which a plurality of wells is arranged, cultured cardiomyocytes placed on the respective wells may be observed.

FIG. 20is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation value map in the case where a well plate on which six wells are arranged is used. In this example, as shown by circles in the figure, six wells are arranged on a well plate290represented by a rectangular shape.

When the well plate shown inFIG. 20is used, evaluation value maps282-1to282-6are generated to correspond to the respective six wells.

In this case, for example, the stage107may be moved such that the observation field is selected from the six wells on the basis of the evaluation value maps282-1to282-6, as in the case described above.

Alternatively, for example, the observation field may be selected on the basis of a difference between the evaluation value previously calculated and the evaluation value most recently calculated.

For example, after the elapse of a predetermined period of time from the first calculation of the evaluation value, a second calculation of the evaluation value is performed. A difference between the evaluation value of the first time and the evaluation value of the second time may be calculated in each observation field and, for example, an observation field having a large difference may be selected. Alternatively, for example, a difference between the evaluation values may be calculated in each observation field before and after medication, and then an observation field having a large difference in evaluation values may be selected.

Similarly, for example, the observation field may be selected on the basis of a difference between the pulsation information previously calculated and the pulsation information most recently calculated.

As configured in such a manner, for example, an area in which pulsations are made stable by medication, an area in which pulsations are disturbed by medication, and the like can be easily searched for and observed.

Next, an example of observation field determination processing by the medication evaluation apparatus100to which the present technology is applied will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 21.

In Step S21, the evaluation target image data generating and recording section102obtains image data of a taken image of cultured cardiomyocytes.

In Step S22, the evaluation index data generating section103executes evaluation index data generation processing, which will be described later, with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 22. Thus, the evaluation index data is generated.

In Step S23, the evaluation section104executes evaluation value calculation processing, which will be described later, with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 23. Thus, the evaluation value is calculated and the evaluation value map described above is generated.

In Step S24, the display section105displays information on an observation field. Thus, for example, a screen as described with reference toFIG. 18is displayed.

In Step S25, the control section106determines whether the next observation field is present or not. When it is determined in Step S25that the next observation field is present, the processing proceeds to Step S26.

In Step S26, the control section106moves the stage107. After that, the processing returns back to Step S21, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. As configured in such a manner, the pulsation information and the evaluation value for each of the observation fields are calculated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in Step S25that the next observation field is not present, the processing proceeds to Step S27.

In Step S27, the control section106determines an observation field. At that time, for example, the observation field is determined on the basis of the evaluation value map.

In such a manner, the observation field determination processing is executed.

Next, the detailed example of the evaluation index data generation processing of Step S22ofFIG. 21will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 22.

In Step S41, the motion detecting section121performs motion detection on the basis of the image data obtained in Step S21ofFIG. 21. Thus, as described above, the motion detection data151containing the (M×N) pieces of block unit motion detection data181is obtained.

In Step S42, the motion amount calculating section122calculates a motion amount on the basis of the motion detection data151obtained along with the processing of Step S41. At that time, for example, in the motion detection data151, each piece of frame unit motion detection data171each including the (M×N) blocks is divided into the (K×L) blocks191. An average value of the pieces of block unit motion detection data181contained in each of the (K×L) blocks191is then calculated, and thus an average motion amount within each block is calculated.

Thus, for example, as shown inFIG. 8, the motion amount data200constituted by the T pieces of frame unit motion amount data201-1to201-T is generated.

In Step S43, the pulsation information calculating section123calculates the pulsation information. At that time, for example, a pulsation area within an observation field, the number of pulsations within the observation field, a contraction time and a relaxation time of pulsations within the observation field, a contraction speed and a relaxation speed of pulsations, a pulsation duration time, a correlation coefficient, a propagation speed and propagation direction of pulsations, and the like are calculated as the pulsation information.

In Step S44, the pulsation information calculating section123outputs the evaluation index data containing the pulsation information calculated in the processing of Step S43.

In such a manner, the evaluation index data generation processing is executed.

Next, an example of the evaluation value calculation processing of Step S23ofFIG. 21will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 23.

In Step S61, the evaluation section104calculates the evaluation value related to the number of pulsations. At that time, for example, the evaluation value E1is calculated, which evaluates that the number of pulsations within a unit time within an appropriate observation field falls within a certain range.

In Step S62, the evaluation section104calculates the evaluation value related to the propagation direction. At that time, for example, the evaluation value E2is calculated, which represents the smallness (degree of dispersion) of a dispersion value of an average value of the propagation direction related to the plurality of pulsations within that observation field.

In Step S63, the evaluation value related to the contraction speed is calculated. At that time, for example, the evaluation value E3is calculated, which represents the magnitude of a contraction speed of the pulsations within the observation field.

In Step S64, the evaluation section104calculates the observation field evaluation value.

In Step S65, the evaluation section104generates the evaluation value map,

In such a manner, the evaluation value calculation processing is executed.

It should be noted that a series of processing described above can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processing described above is executed by software, programs forming the software are installed from a network or a recording medium in a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware, in a general-purpose personal computer700as shown in, for example,FIG. 24, and the like, the general-purpose personal computer700being capable of executing various functions by installing various programs therein.

InFIG. 24, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)701executes various types of processing according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory)702and a program that is loaded from a storage section708to a RAM (Random Access Memory)703. The RAM703appropriately stores data required for the CPU701to execute various types of processing, and the like.

The CPU701, the ROM702, and the RAM703are connected to one another via a bus704. An input and output interface705is also connected to the bus704.

The input and output interface705is connected with an input section706constituted by a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, an output section707constituted by a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal display), a speaker, and the like, the storage section708constituted by a hard disk and the like, and a communication section709constituted by a modem, a network interface card such as a LAN card, and the like. The communication section709performs communication processing via a network including the Internet.

The input and output interface705is also connected with a drive710as necessary, to which a removable medium711such as a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately mounted. A computer program that is read from the removable medium711is installed in the storage section708as necessary.

When the series of processing described above is executed by software, programs constituting the software are installed from a network such as the Internet or a recording medium constituted by the removable medium711and the like.

It should be noted that this recording medium is not limited to a recording medium constituted by the removable medium711as shown inFIG. 24, which is provided separate from a main body of the apparatus and distributed so as to deliver programs to a user. The removable medium711includes a magnetic disc (including a floppy disk (registered trademark)), an optical disc (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)), a magneto-optical disc (including an MD (Mini-Disk) (registered trademark)), or a semiconductor memory, which stores a program. The recording medium may also include a recording medium constituted by the ROM702or a hard disk included in the storage section708, which stores a program distributed to a user in a state of being built in the main body of the apparatus.

In this specification, the series of processing described above include, in addition to processing that are performed in time series along the described order, processing that are executed in parallel or individually though not processed chronologically.

Further, the embodiment of the present technology is not limited to the embodiment described above and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present technology.

It should be noted that the present technology can also have the following configurations.

a motion detecting section configured to detect motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes;

a motion amount calculating section configured to calculate a motion amount of the detected motion;

a pulsation information calculating section configured to calculate pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount;

an evaluation value calculating section configured to calculate an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and

a field determining section configured to determine an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

(2) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (1), in which

the pulsation information is a pulsation area of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field.

(3) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (1), in which

the motion detecting section detects the motion for each of the partial areas in each of frames of a moving image of the observation area, and

the pulsation information calculating section generates, on the basis of the motion amount for each of the partial areas of the plurality of frames of the moving image, wave shape information representing the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes of each of the partial areas.

(4) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (3), in which

the pulsation information is a number of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field within a unit time, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

(5) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (3), in which

the pulsation information is a contraction time or a relaxation time of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

(6) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (3), in which

the pulsation information is a contraction speed or a relaxation speed of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

(7) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (3), in which

the pulsation information is a correlation coefficient of a wave shape of the pulsations between the partial areas of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

(8) The cell evaluation apparatus according to (3), in which

the pulsation information is a propagation speed and a propagation direction of the pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes within the observation field, calculated on the basis of the wave shape information.

(9) The cell evaluation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), in which

the evaluation section calculates the evaluation value that corresponds to each of the plurality of observation fields, before and after predetermined processing performed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, and

the observation field determining section determines the observation field by selecting a predetermined number of observation fields from the plurality of observation fields on the basis of a difference between the evaluation values before and after the predetermined processing performed on the cultured cardiomyocytes.

detecting, by a motion detecting section, motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes;

calculating, by a motion amount calculating section, a motion amount of the detected motion;

calculating, by a pulsation information calculating section, pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount;

calculating, by an evaluation value calculating section, an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and

determining, by a field determining section, an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

(11) A program causing a computer to function as a cell evaluation apparatus including:

a motion detecting section configured to detect motion of cultured cardiomyocytes for each of partial areas of a plurality of observation fields on the cultured cardiomyocytes;

a motion amount calculating section configured to calculate a motion amount of the detected motion;

a pulsation information calculating section configured to calculate pulsation information on a characteristic amount of pulsations of the cultured cardiomyocytes on the basis of the calculated motion amount;

an evaluation value calculating section configured to calculate an evaluation value corresponding to the plurality of observation fields, calculated on the basis of the pulsation information; and

a field determining section configured to determine an observation field to be observed on the cultured cardiomyocytes, on the basis of the evaluation value.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

101imaging section102evaluation target image data generating and recording section103evaluation index data generating section104evaluation section105display section106control section107stage121motion detecting section122motion amount calculating section123pulsation information calculating section