Automated analysis of multi-dimensional biomedical image dataacquired using optical microscopy

Biomedical image data can be produced by different instruments. In hospitals the most frequent source of such data are computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging or X-ray imaging. For research purposes, however, the most frequent instrument is optical microscope (typically cells or their components stained with fluorescent dyes are observed). The image formed in the microscope is recorded using a special low-light camera, transferred to computer memory and analysed by computer. Although camera is a two-dimensional device, more dimensions can be acquired using scanning (e.g., third spatial dimension, spectral dimension, time dimension or viewing angle dimension). Due to the increasing complexity and volume, the resulting multidimensional data often need computer analysis with a high degree of automation. This paper provides an overview in the field of computer analysis of different types of biomedical image data generated by optical microscopy and related automation efforts.