Area Fraction Fractionator probe

Purpose

The Area Fraction Fractionator (AFF) is essentially a Cavalieri point counting estimate of area and volume performed on a systematically selected fraction of the tissue.

The probe is designed to estimate the fraction of a region occupied by a sub-region. Any number of sub-regions may be examined using the AFF. This area fraction probe is implemented by performing a fractionator scan of the area of interest, while overlaying a grid of points (as in the Cavalieri estimator).

Examples for use:

  • Comparing the ratio of white matter to gray matter in the spinal cord
  • Quantifying the ratio of muscle fiber to connective tissue to vasculature in a muscle

A shortcoming of the method is that there may be uncertainty in judging whether points near the boundaries of the area are inside or outside of the region of interest or object of interest.

 

See Area Fraction Fractionator formulas