JP4846138B2 - Image search system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image search system in which images to be browsed are recorded in a database and used for search and image browsing by an observer. More specifically, the present invention relates to various cells including blood cells. It is used as a reference when observing from a specific viewpoint.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a blood test, a blood sample collected from a patient is subjected to a predetermined process such as staining to prepare a blood smear, and blood cells on the sample are observed with a microscope. At that time, the size / N / C ratio of the blood cells to be observed (the ratio of nuclei in the cells), the presence or absence of cell membrane irregularities / basicity / granules in the cytoplasm, the presence / absence of nuclear irregularities / nucleoli in the nucleus Various morphological features such as the state of the chromatin net and the state of the chromatin network are useful information for determining the type of the cell and the type of the patient's disease. In view of these morphological characteristics, the cells are compared with known cells.
[0003]
In the above case, a pictorial book (so-called blood atlas) in which photographs of cells are recorded for each of various diseases and cases is used as an image of known cells. In recent years, blood atlas, which has been published as a paper medium, has been published as electronic data recorded on a CD-ROM or the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventional blood atlases often contain photographs of cells divided by type of disease / case, so known cells with morphological features close to the cells being observed are used. In order to identify it, the observer was required to have knowledge of cell morphology and disease. Therefore, it takes a long time for those who are unfamiliar with such observation work to specify a known cell having a morphological feature close to the cell to be observed.
[0005]
In addition, when a morphological feature common to a known cell is found in a cell to be observed, the source of the cell to be observed is immediately collected with the disease name displayed for the known cell. There is a risk that it is judged that the patient is a disease. If the morphological characteristics are specific to the type of disease, there is no problem. However, in other types of diseases, the cells may have the same morphological characteristics. There is a possibility of determining the type of the disease without comparing the known cells with the cells to be observed.
[0006]
These problems are common to conventional blood atlases regardless of whether paper media or electronic data is used.
[0007]
In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image search system that allows an observer to search for an image of a known cell intuitively and easily from the viewpoint of morphological characteristics of blood cells. To do. In this specification, the image search system refers to an image that is automatically searched by inputting some search condition to a database having image data that can be searched using a computer, and an image conforming to the search condition is obtained. This is a display system.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes an input unit for inputting a search condition, a processing unit for performing processing based on the search condition input by the input unit, a display unit for displaying a processing result by the processing unit, and a cell image. An image database stored in association with cell morphological characteristics, wherein the search condition is a cell morphological characteristic, and the processing unit is based on a cell morphological characteristic input as a search condition. An image search system for searching the image database is provided.
[0009]
In the image search system, the present invention further includes an illustration database storing illustrations corresponding to morphological characteristics of cells, and the processing unit corresponds to morphological characteristics of cells input as a search condition. An image retrieval system is provided in which an illustration is called from the illustration database, and the display unit displays the illustration called by the processing unit.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The image search system of the present invention includes a known personal computer (input unit such as a keyboard and mouse, a display unit such as a CRT or LCD, a processing unit that performs processing, storage, recording, and the like based on various data). (Hereinafter referred to as “PC”), and by operating various programs on the PC, the PC functions as an image search system. The processing unit receives input from the input unit with execution of various programs, and executes a database search. These various programs and databases may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. In that case, the PC preferably includes a CD-ROM drive. The recording medium is not necessarily limited to a CD-ROM, and various recording media such as a hard disk, an MO, and a semiconductor memory can be used. Various programs and databases are not necessarily stored in one recording medium. For example, a certain program may be recorded on a CD-ROM, and another program may be recorded on a hard disk of a PC.
[0011]
On the recording medium, a program such as a search engine and a database such as an image database are recorded. In the image database, an image of a cell, for example, an image of a blood smear taken with a microscope is recorded as data. This image may be a high-magnification image taken with a narrow field of view and high magnification so that one or several cells fit within one image, or may be present in the target cell and its surroundings. It may be a weakly enlarged image taken with a wide field of view and low magnification so that many other cells fit. These images are stored in an image database in association with the morphological features of the cells in the image.
[0012]
The morphological characteristics of a cell are useful in determining the type of the cell and the type of disease. For example, in leukocyte blood cells including lymphocytes, the cell size / N / C ratio ( The ratio of the nucleus in the whole cell), the presence / absence of cell membrane irregularity / basicity / granules in the cytoplasm, the presence / absence of nuclear irregularity / nucleoli in the nucleus, and the state of chromatin netting.
[0013]
In the image database, information on the morphological characteristics of each cell is stored in association with the image of each cell. If the information of the morphological characteristics is associated with the image of the cell according to the example of the leukocyte blood cell, for example, in the case of a cell derived from a patient with HCL (Hair Cell Leukemia), a hair-like protrusion extends around the cytoplasm The image of the cell in this case is associated with information on the morphological feature that “there is a cell membrane irregularity”. In addition, cells derived from ATL (adult T-Cell leukemia) patients are known to be cut into the nucleus of the cell and to have the shape of a flower with multiple petals (so-called flower cell). Such cell images are associated with information on morphological features such as “nuclear irregularity”. Information on the morphological features stored in the database in association with the cell image in this way is used when a search engine described later performs a search.
[0014]
The search engine is a program that searches the image database based on an input search condition and searches for an image of a cell that matches the search condition. The search engine checks whether the image of each cell meets the search condition by comparing the input search condition with the information on the morphological features stored in the database in association with the cell image. Determine whether.
[0015]
A cell image determined to meet the search condition by the search engine is displayed as a search result on a predetermined search result display screen. The cell image displayed on the search result display screen may display a strongly magnified image or a weakly magnified image for the same cell. Moreover, you may display the disease name regarding the said cell with the image of a cell.
[0016]
The search condition is input on a predetermined search condition input screen. The display of the search condition input screen and the search result display screen described above is executed by a program recorded in the recording medium, but they may be executed under the operation of application software for screen display. A commercially available WEB browser can be used as the screen display application software. In this case, the WEB browser may be installed in advance on the PC.
[0017]
In the present invention, the recording medium may further include an illustration database storing illustrations corresponding to each morphological feature as a search condition, and a program for calling and displaying the illustrations. In this case, when a search condition is input on the search condition input screen, an illustration corresponding to each search condition, that is, a morphological feature of the cell is displayed. At this time, when a plurality of morphological features of cells are input as search conditions, a plurality of illustrations corresponding to each morphological feature may be combined to form and display one cell illustration. This means that each illustration corresponding to the morphological feature serves as a part, and a plurality of these parts are combined and displayed at the same time to constitute an illustration of one cell as a whole.
[0018]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of an image search system according to the present invention. The PC 1 includes a CPU 101, a hard disk 102, a memory 103, an input unit 11, a display unit 12, and a CD-ROM drive 13. The CPU 11, hard disk 12, and memory 13 constitute a processing unit 20 that performs processing, storage, recording, and the like based on various data. In this embodiment, the input unit 11 is a keyboard and a mouse, and the display unit 12 is an LCD. The display unit 12 displays various screens to be described later as a user interface of the image search system. Moreover, the input with respect to those screens can be performed using the input part 11. In this embodiment, a Microsoft Internet Explorer is installed in advance on the PC 1 as a WEB browser, and a search condition input screen and a search result display screen described later are displayed on the display unit 12 under the operation. .
[0019]
In this embodiment, the CD-ROM 2 is an electronic blood atlas that records image data and various programs of cells with various diseases related to lymphocytes, which are a kind of blood cells.
[0020]
FIG. 2 illustrates the functional configuration of the present invention. The search condition input module 21, cell illustration display module 22, cell illustration database 23, search engine 24, cell image database 25, and search result display module 26 are all selected. Is a program or database recorded on the CD-ROM 2. Each program of the search condition input module 21, the cell illustration display module 22, the search engine 24, and the search result display module 26 is read and executed by the processing unit 20. Hereinafter, the functions of these programs will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
First, in step S1, search conditions are input. The search condition input module 21 is a program that operates to input a morphological feature as a search condition when a user of this system searches for an image of a cell. A search condition input screen is displayed on the display unit 12. Display. An example is shown in FIG. In the frame F1 of this screen, cell morphological features are input as search conditions, and a check box is provided for each morphological feature item. By clicking the check box of any item and checking it, the item is selected and the search condition is input. Here, as the search conditions, the options of “(1) lymphocyte size”, “(2) lymphocyte size to 2 times”, and (3) 2 times or more ”are selected as N / C for the cell size. “▲ 1 ▼ Large” and “▲ 2 ▼ Small” choices per ratio, and “▲ 1” juvenile ”and“ ▲ 2 ”mature” choices per differentiation, and “▲ 1” B lymphatic system per immune trait "" (2) T lymphoid system "," (3) myeloid system "and" (4) other "options. Items related to cytoplasm include “▲ 1” and “No 2” options for cell membrane irregularities, “1” and “No 2” options for basicity, and “1” for granules. “Yes”, “No”, “No”, “No”, “No”, “No”, “No”, and “No”, “No”, “No” . In addition, as for the items related to the nucleus, the choices of “1) are” and “2” are not available for nuclear irregularities, and the choices of “1) delicate” and “2) ruggedness for chromatin are“ There are (1) Yes and (2) None options. In addition, the frame F1 in FIG. 3 is in a default state, “(2) small” for N / C ratio, “(2) none” for cell membrane irregularity / nuclear irregularity, basicity, granules, inclusion bodies, vacuoles, "1" is present for each nucleolus, and "2) Roughness" is selected in advance for the chromatin, and the checkbox is checked. Can be cleared to uncheck all and re-select the condition. Alternatively, with respect to the default state, by changing the selection of items that have already been selected and by checking any check box for items that have not been selected, the desired search condition can be selected and entered. Is possible.
[0022]
In step S2, the cell illustration display module 22 displays each search condition, that is, an illustration corresponding to each morphological feature on the frame F2 of the search condition input screen based on the input search condition. The data of each illustration is stored in the cell illustration database 23, and the illustration data corresponding to the input search condition is called and displayed on the frame F2 of the search condition input screen. The illustration is composed of a transparent gif file. When a plurality of search conditions are input, the cell illustration display module 22 operates to display a combination of a plurality of illustrations. As a result, a plurality of illustrations are displayed. A synthesized cell is formed and displayed in the frame F2 of the search condition input screen. That is, the illustrations corresponding to the morphological features act as parts, so that a plurality of these parts are combined and displayed at the same time, thereby constituting an illustration of one cell as a whole. Note that the frame F2 in FIG. 4 is in the default state, like the frame F1, and a plurality of component illustrations are displayed simultaneously in combination with the items checked in the frame F1, but the frame F1. The cell illustration display in the frame F2 changes according to the selection of the search condition in.
[0023]
In the default state shown in FIG. 4, “(2) None” is selected as the cell membrane irregularity in the frame F1, and the shape of the cell membrane is displayed in a perfect circle shape in the frame F2. In addition, “1” is selected for the basicity, and the cytoplasm is expressed in light blue in the frame F2 correspondingly. For the granules, inclusion bodies, and vacuoles, “1” is selected, and in the frame F2, the granules, inclusion bodies, and vacuoles are displayed in the cytoplasm. Regarding the nucleus, “(2) None” is selected for the nuclear irregularity, and the shape of the nucleus is displayed in a perfect circle correspondingly. For chromatin, “(2) Roughness” is selected, and a rough lattice pattern is displayed in the nucleus correspondingly. In addition, “1” is selected for the nucleolus, and the nucleolus is displayed in the nucleus correspondingly. As for the N / C ratio, “(2) small” is selected, and the size of the nucleus corresponding to the size of the whole cell is displayed at a smaller ratio correspondingly.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows a state where the check is re-checked from “(2) small” to “(1) large” for the N / C ratio in the frame F1 with respect to the default state. In this case, in the frame F2, the size of the nucleus with respect to the size of the entire cell is displayed at a larger ratio than in FIG.
[0025]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 shows a state in which “(2) is absent” and “(1) is present” are re-checked with respect to cell membrane irregularities in the frame F1. In this case, the shape of the cell membrane displayed in a perfect circle shape in FIG. 5 is displayed in an irregularly disordered shape.
[0026]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 shows a state where the basicity is changed from “1” to “No 2” in the frame F1. In this case, the cytoplasm displayed in light blue in FIG. 6 is displayed in light red.
[0027]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 shows a state where the check is re-checked from “1” to “none” in the frame F1. In this case, the granules displayed in dark blue in the cytoplasm in FIG. 7 are not displayed.
[0028]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the check is re-checked from “1” to “No 2” for the enclosure in the frame F1. In this case, the inclusions that are displayed in dark pink in the cytoplasm in FIG. 8 are not displayed.
[0029]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 shows a state in which “1” is checked from “1” is not checked for each vacuole in the frame F1. In this case, the vacuole displayed in the cytoplasm in FIG. 9 is not displayed.
[0030]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 shows a state in which “1” is re-checked from “No 2” for nuclear irregularities in the frame F1. In this case, the shape of the nucleus displayed in a perfect circle in FIG. 10 is displayed in a notched shape instead of a perfect circle.
[0031]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 12 shows a state in which the check is re-checked from “(2) coarse and rigid” to “(1) delicate” for the chromatin in the frame F1. In this case, the coarse lattice pattern displayed in the nucleus in FIG. 11 is changed to a fine lattice pattern.
[0032]
In contrast to the state shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 13 shows a state in which “1” is changed from “1” to “No 2” per frame body in the frame F1. In this case, the nucleolus displayed in the nucleus in FIG. 12 is not displayed.
[0033]
As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, since the illustrations representing the morphological features of the cells are displayed in combination according to the selected search condition, the user of the image search system of the present invention can search by himself / herself. It becomes possible to select the search condition while visually confirming what morphological characteristics the cell to be obtained has. The step S2 for displaying the illustration representing the morphological characteristics of the cell can be positioned as a first display step performed before displaying the final search result, and this PC1 is displayed by the operation of the cell illustration display module 22. Can be said to function as a first display means.
[0034]
In step S3, if the input of the search condition is continued, the process returns to step S1, and if the input is terminated, the process proceeds to the next step S4 to execute the search. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, “(2) small” for the N / C ratio, “1” for cell membrane irregularity, “(2) none” for inclusion bodies, and nuclear irregularity. Select “No 2”, “2” Roughness for Chromatin, “1” Yes ”for nucleolus, and check the check box. If the input is to be completed, the cursor is placed on the search execution button B2 and the button is pressed by clicking. Then, the search by the search engine 24 is executed. In this embodiment, if none of the options are selected for each item and the check is not entered, the display is the same as when any option is selected for that item. For example, for the basicity, neither “1” is present nor “2” is not selected, but the cytoplasm is displayed in light blue on the display of the illustration in the frame F2 (of course, of course) , It may be displayed in light red). Neither “1” is present nor “2” is not selected for the granule, but no granule is displayed in the cytoplasm on the display of the illustration in the frame F2.
[0035]
In step S <b> 4, the search engine 24 searches the cell image database 25 for an image of a cell that matches the search condition based on the search condition input on the search condition input screen. FIG. 17 shows a part of the configuration of the cell image database 25. Here, a unique identification number is assigned to each cell, and morphological feature information is stored in association with the representative image G1, the strongly enlarged image G2, and the weakly enlarged image G3. The item of the morphological feature is the same as the item displayed in the frame F1 of the search condition input screen shown in FIG. 4 and the like (some items are omitted by “·” in FIG. 17), and for each cell. Morphological features are stored. In each item, description such as “(1)”, “(2)”, or “(3)” is an option number in each item, which is displayed in the frame F1 of the search condition input screen. Corresponds to options in the item. For example, for the cell with the identification number 048-2, the item of N / C ratio is “(2)”, which is the same as the options in each item displayed in the frame F1 of the search condition input screen. The / C ratio represents “(2) small”. Here, some options are not necessarily described for all items. Such items are indicated by blanks in the figure. The search engine 24 performs a search by collating the search condition input on the search condition input screen with the information on the morphological features stored in association with the image data of each cell.
[0036]
The cell image determined to satisfy the search condition as a result of the search by the search engine 24 is displayed on the search result display screen by the search result display module 26 (step S5). While step S2 is positioned as the first display step, this step S5 can be positioned as the second display step in the present invention, and the PC 1 functions as the second display means by the operation of the search result display module 26. I can say that. An example of a search result display screen displayed as a result of the search based on the search condition shown in FIG. 14 is shown in FIG. On this screen, representative images of ten cells determined to meet the search conditions are displayed in a row at the same time. When the cursor position on the screen is set to one of them and selected, a strong enlarged image G2 and a weakly enlarged image G3 of the selected cell are displayed. This is shown in FIG. 16 (the cursor is not shown, but the representative image G1 of the selected cell is shown with the upper frame of the image inverted in blue).
[0037]
In the state where the representative images are displayed in a row in FIGS. 15 and 16, “ATLL” and “HCL” are displayed at the upper left of each image. This is the name of the disease diagnosed for each cell. Abbreviation for (diagnosis name). According to the present invention, even when searching under the same search condition, cells corresponding to such different diseases are displayed at the same time, so that the actually observed cells are only one type of disease recorded in the blood atlas. It is possible to prevent the disease from being determined immediately because it resembles the case.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, display / non-display of the diagnostic name abbreviation is switched, and the switching is performed by selecting the diagnostic name abbreviation display / non-display switching button B3 shown in FIGS. . Further, in this embodiment, in the search result display screen shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, when it is desired to confirm under what search condition the search result displayed there is searched, the search condition button B4 is set. When pressed, a list of search conditions entered on the search condition input screen is displayed (not shown). Further, in this embodiment, when the disease concept button B5 is pressed in a state where any of the representative screens is selected on the search result display screens shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a general description of the disease relating to the cells of the selected representative image is performed. Is displayed (not shown). In this embodiment, when the case data button B6 is pressed in a state where any of the representative screens is selected on the search result display screens shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the findings regarding the cells of the selected representative images and the cells are displayed. The data and the like of the patient from which the sample is collected are displayed (not shown).
[0039]
In step S6, if an image search is to be performed under another search condition, the process returns to step S1. If not, exit.
[0040]
In the image search system of the present embodiment, the step of inputting a cell morphological feature as a search condition into the processing unit by the input unit, and the processing unit displays an illustration corresponding to the input cell morphological feature from the illustration database. The step of calling, the step of displaying the illustration called by the processing unit on the display unit, the step of searching the image database storing the image of the cell based on the input search condition, and the cell that matches the input search condition An image search method comprising the step of the display unit displaying the image as a search result is used. This image search method is also included in the present invention.
[0041]
Further, in the image search system of the present embodiment, the recording medium stores a program for performing a search of an image database storing cell images by a computer, and the morphological characteristics of the cells as a search condition are processed by the input unit. An input step for inputting to the cell; an illustration step for calling an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell input in the input step from an illustration database storing illustrations corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell; A first display step of displaying the displayed illustration on the display unit, a search step of searching an image database storing cell images based on the morphological features of the cells input as search conditions, and a search by the search step As a result, the second display that displays the cell image on the display Step, although computer-readable recording medium storing a program to be executed is used, the recording medium is also included in the present invention.
[0042]
Further, in the image search system of the present embodiment, a computer program is used to search an image database storing cell images, and input means for inputting morphological characteristics of cells to the processing unit by the input unit as a search condition Calling means for calling an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell inputted by the input means from the illustration database storing the illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell, and displaying the illustration called by the calling means First display means to be displayed on the screen, search means for searching an image database storing cell images based on the morphological features of the cells input as search conditions, and a cell image as a result of the search by the search means As a second display means for displaying on the display unit. G is used, this program is also included in the present invention.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since a cell image can be searched from morphological features, known cells having morphological features close to the cell being observed can be easily identified rather than using a conventional blood atlas. it can.
[0044]
In addition, when entering the search conditions, illustrations representing each morphological feature are displayed in combination with the selected search criteria, so that the user can see what morphological features the cell he / she wants to search for. It is possible to visually confirm whether or not it has, facilitating selection of search conditions and enabling intuitive search.
[0045]
In addition, when the original morphological feature is similar but the feature is not limited to one type of disease, images of a plurality of cells are displayed in the search result based on the same search condition, Since each disease name is displayed for each cell, seeing only the disease name in one cell image, immediately determine that it is the same type of disease as the patient from whom the cells to be observed are collected. Can be prevented.
[0046]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of data processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cell image database in an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 PC
10 processing section
11 Input section
12 Display section
13 CD-ROM drive
101 CPU
102 hard disk
103 memory
2 CD-ROM
21 Search condition input module
22 Cell illustration display module
23 Cell illustration database
24 search engine
25 Cell image database
26 Search result display module

Claims (6)

  An input unit for inputting a search condition, a processing unit for performing processing based on the search condition input by the input unit, a display unit for displaying a processing result by the processing unit, and an image of a cell An image database stored in association with the morphological feature, and an illustration database storing an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell, wherein the search condition is a morphological feature of the cell, and the processing unit includes: An illustration corresponding to a morphological feature input as a search condition by the input unit is called from the illustration database and displayed on the display unit. When a search execution instruction is input by the input unit, the search condition is input. An image search system for searching the image database based on morphological characteristics of the cells.   When a plurality of morphological features of cells are input as search conditions to the processing unit, the processing unit calls a plurality of illustrations corresponding to the morphological feature from the illustration database, and combines the plurality of called illustrations. The image search system according to claim 1, wherein an illustration of one cell is configured, and the display unit displays the illustration of the one cell.   The image search system according to claim 1, wherein the cells are blood cells. Executed by a computer having an input unit, a display unit, an illustration database storing illustrations corresponding to morphological features of cells, and an image database storing images of cells associated with the morphological features of cells An image search method,
Receiving a morphological feature of a cell input as a search condition via an input unit, calling an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell from an illustration database and displaying the illustration on a display unit, via the input unit When receiving the search execution instruction, the image comprising a step of displaying on the display unit as a search result image conforming cell retrieving an image database based on the morphological characteristics of the cells, the morphological characteristics of the cells retrieval method.   A recording medium recording a program for performing a search of an image database storing cell images by a computer, wherein an input step for inputting a cell morphological feature into a processing unit by means of an input unit as a search condition, a cell morphological An illustration display step of calling an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell input in the input step from the illustration database storing the illustration corresponding to the feature and displaying it on the display unit, and a search execution instruction is input by the input unit Then, a search step for searching an image database storing cell images based on the morphological features of the cells input as search conditions, and an image for displaying a cell image on the display unit as a result of the search by the search step Display step, computer readable recording program Do recording medium.   A program for searching an image database storing cell images by a computer, an input means for inputting cell morphological characteristics to a processing section by an input section as a search condition, and an illustration corresponding to cell morphological characteristics When the search execution instruction is input by the input unit, an illustration display unit that calls an illustration corresponding to the morphological feature of the cell input in the input step and displays it on the display unit from the illustration database storing the search condition. Search means for searching an image database storing cell images based on the morphological features of the cells input as, image display means for displaying a cell image on the display unit as a result of the search in the search step, A program for causing the computer to function.

Images