Automatic Slide Staining Machine and Preliminary Tissue Analysis Using Image Analysis Technique

Abstract

This research presents an automatic slide staining machine and preliminary tissue analysis using image analysis techniques for systematic analysis. The system involves designing a staining process for tissue samples using the H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) staining method, a standard pathological technique that utilizes seven chemical solutions. The staining process follows the standard procedures of the Pathology Laboratory at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Royal Thai Air Force, Thailand. The primary objective of developing this automated system is to reduce the reliance on imported, expensive staining equipment by utilizing locally sourced materials and equipment, resulting in significantly lower costs. Results of testing the efficiency of the automated staining system revealed the following performance: The slide gripper had an average Y-axis movement speed of 1.95–2.04 cm/s and an average X-axis movement speed of 4.51–4.99 cm/s, and the tissue staining process takes an average of 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. After staining, put the put the stained tissue into a digital microscope to create a still image and analyze the still image using an image processing technique developed with the Pycham program to identify areas where the tissue might be cancerous or have abnormal pathology. The initial analysis results detect 0 to 5 possible malignant areas, depending on each tissue piece. The cost-benefit analysis for investing in this automated staining system calculated the break-even point to be at 156.44 tissue sample tests. This means that if 157 or more tissue samples are tested, the system will generate profits exceeding the initial investment cost. It is important to note that the image analysis mentioned here is only a preliminary assessment step. The actual diagnosis must rely on further laboratory testing and evaluation by clinical pathology experts.