A unique device for automatic detection of blast cells in peripheral blood has been created as a result of joint collaboration of MEPhI (“Computer medical systems” department, Head DScTech V.G. Nikitaev) with Russian oncological scientific center n.a. N.N. Blokhin and Institute of improvement of qualification of Federal Medical Biological Agency.

A technical solution suggested by MEPhI academics (patent authors V.G. Nikitaev, O.V. Nagornov, A.N. Pronichev, E.V. Polyakov, Selchuk V.Yu., Chistov K.S., Blindar V.N., Dmitrieva V.V., Gorddev V.V.) is aimed at automatic detection of blast cells in blood smears while making general blood analysis. During the research on leucosis type detection and its variant atypical cells are detected and leukocyte type is evaluated. New development will, first of all, help doctors – oncologists in their struggle with cancer diseases such as acute leukemia.

Detection and counting of blast cells in peripheral blood is an essential part of laboratory research in diagnostics of acute leukemia. However, up to the present moment there have been no systems fulfilling accurate detection of blast cells in peripheral blood. It might be explained by the fact that characteristics describing size and form of the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell are not enough for blast identification.

That is why means of automatic microscope analysis of blood smear with detection of blast cells in peripheral blood based on their texture characteristics measuring have been worked out.

Evgeniy Polyakov, best post-graduate student of MEPhI-2015, “Computer medical systems” department, one of co-authors of patent on early diagnostics of acute leukemia, author of 5 scientific works, published in journals, indexed in Web of Science и Scopus and 2 reports at international conferences:

- The device is user-friendly. The blood smear at the slide is made by standard methodology. The slide is placed at motorized microscope table. The microscope depiction of the medicine becomes digital with the help of digital camera, then the depiction analysis is made by the methods of digital processing and pattern recognition. One of the key stages is forming of characteristics space on the basis of informative cells characteristics.

The results received during the development of system of automated diagnostics of acute leukemia have become a basis for blast cells research of bone marrow aspirates. The works are done together with Hematopoiesis Immunology Laboratory of Blokhin Oncological Scientific Center (head – Tupitsin N.N., dr. med. sci.).

The Department № 46 “Computer medical systems” and Hematopoiesis Immunology Laboratory plan to develop diagnostics technology using methods and means of molecular immune oncology for micrometastasis detection of malignant neoplasms. The laboratory collaborates with German, American, British and Spanish laboratories in this direction.

The department № 46 is famous for its scientific works in Russia and worldwide. New development of MEPhI scientists will help a lot in struggle with oncological diseases.