Scaling-index method as an image processing tool in scanning-probe microscopy

The scaling-index method (SIM) is a novel tool for image processing in scan ning-probe microscopy. Originating from the theory of complex systems, the SIM can be used in order to extract structural information from arbitrary d ata sets. This method can readily be applied to the analysis of digital ato mic-force microscopy (AFM) images. Especially for biomedical diagnostics, w here genetic material is investigated by various microscopic methods, a rel iable image segmentation based on the SIM algorithm is helpful. As a first application, AFM-images of CTC-banded human metaphase chromosomes (with G b ands obtained by Trypsin using Giemsa) are compared with micrographs from c onventional light microscopy by means of a scaling-index analysis. While th e grey-level distributions of the optical and the AFM-images are largely di fferent from each other, the scaling-index images are remarkably similar. U sing this method, a fingerprint of an image can be produced which helps in the classification and interpretation of the measured data. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.