An automatic image analysis methodology for the measurement of droplet size distributions in liquid–liquid dispersion: round object detection

Abstract

This article presents an efficient and economical automatic image analysis technique for the droplet characterization in a liquid-liquid dispersion. The methodology employs a combination of the Satoshi Suzuki's (Suzuki, 1985) find contours algorithm and the method of minimal enclosing circle identification, proposed by Emo Welzl (Welzl, 1991), to achieve the objectives. The round object detection algorithm has been designed for the identification and verification of correct droplets in the mixture which helped to increase the accuracy of automatic detection. Tests have been performed on various sets of images obtained during several emulsification processes and contain examples of droplets which differ in size, density, volume and appearance etc. An effective communication between the two methodologies and newly introduced algorithms demonstrated an accuracy of 90% or above in the measurement of droplet size distribution and Sauter mean diameters through an automatic vision based system.

Vision-Based Performance Analysis of an Active Microfluidic Droplet Generation System Using Droplet Images

“…Size [32] Eccentricity [33] Gradient [34] Concavity [35] Projected Surface Area [36] Sphericity Index [37] Symmetry [38] Roundness [39] Border [40] Radius [41] Membrane Surface Area [42] Contrast Variations [30] Shape [43] Elongation [44] Saturation [45] Volume [38] Sphericity Coefficient [46] Form factor [47] Precise droplet production and manipulation are critical in droplet-based bioassays. Droplet-based analytical devices have demonstrated promising results, but most systems are trained to generate predefined droplets, and the devices are incapable of adapting to performing complex bioassays which require step-by-step processing.…”

Droplet image analysis with user-friendly freeware CellProfiler

“…Both in channelbased and 2D array systems, the droplet fluorescence analysis usually involves developing a custom script based on e.g. Labview 2,16 , ImageJ 15 , Matlab 17,18 , FluoroCellTrack 19 , or Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV) 20 . However, scripting such analytical tools and customizing them to meet the needs of specific experimental assays in the lab, requires expertise in scripting and programming which is not always sufficiently available in traditional biology and chemistry laboratories.…”

CellProfiler: A fit tool for image analysis in droplet microfluidics

“…Both in channelbased and 2D array systems, the droplet fluorescence analysis usually involves developing a custom script based on e.g. Labview 2,16 , ImageJ 15 , Matlab 17,18 , FluoroCellTrack 19 , or Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV) 20 . However, scripting such analytical tools and customizing them to meet the needs of specific experimental assays in the lab, requires expertise in scripting and programming which is not always sufficiently available in traditional biology and chemistry laboratories.…”