Automated system and method of processing biological specimens
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10746751-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for automated imaging of at least one slide that includes an imaging module comprising a microscope, a storage module, and an automated transport module for transporting the at least one slide between the imaging module and the storage module. The at least one slide comprises an identifier that is operable to store information regarding a desired imaging protocol and a processing protocol for the at least one slide. The controller directs transport of the at least one slide and schedules imaging based on information read from the identifier related to the processing protocol.
The invention supports a workflow in which imaging of a biological specimen is coordinated with availability of imaging modules. A method reads an identifier on the at least one slide and automatically determines whether an imaging module of a plurality of imaging modules is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide. The method transports the at least one slide to the imaging module when it is determined that the imaging module is available, and captures an electronic image of a portion of the biological specimen; when imaging is not available, the method transports the at least one slide to a storage module.
The invention includes machine readable medium program instructions that cause a controller to perform the imaging and routing method. The instructions read an identifier on an at least one slide, automatically determine whether an imaging module of a plurality of imaging modules is available, transport the slide to an available imaging module to capture an electronic image, and transport the slide to a storage module when imaging is not available.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include three independent claims: an apparatus claim, a method claim, and a machine-readable medium claim. Across these independents, the core coverage centers on identifier-driven protocol selection, availability-based scheduling and routing to imaging modules, and fallback routing to a storage module when imaging capacity is unavailable.
Microscope imaging module with identifier-driven protocol scheduling
An apparatus comprising an imaging module comprising a microscope, a storage module, an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between the imaging module and the storage module, the at least one slide comprising an identifier that is operable to store information regarding a desired imaging protocol and a processing protocol for the at least one slide, and a controller for directing transport of the at least one slide by the transport module, wherein the controller is operable to schedule an imaging of the at least one slide at the imaging module based on information read from the identifier related to the processing protocol.
Processing protocol includes coverslipping technique and sample-based imaging protocol
The processing protocol provides information concerning at least one of a coverslipping technique, a type of sample on the slide and an imaging protocol for the type of sample on the slide.
Availability-based routing among a plurality of imaging modules with electronic image capture
A method comprising reading an identifier on an at least one slide, automatically determining whether an imaging module of a plurality of imaging modules is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide, transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module when it is determined that the imaging module is available, capturing an electronic image of a portion of the biological specimen, and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available.
Machine readable medium executing identifier-driven availability routing and imaging
A machine readable medium including non-transitory program instructions that when executed by a controller linked to at least one processing module, an imaging module, and a storage module, cause the controller to perform a method comprising reading an identifier on an at least one slide, automatically determining whether an imaging module of a plurality of imaging modules is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide, transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module when it is determined that the imaging module is available, capturing an electronic image of a portion of the biological specimen, and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available.
The independent claims collectively define an automated slide imaging workflow in which slide identifiers store desired imaging and processing protocols, a controller automatically schedules or routes slides based on imaging module availability, electronic images are captured at the imaging module, and slides are routed to a storage module when imaging is unavailable. The machine-readable medium claim further covers controller-executed program instructions implementing the same availability-based routing and electronic image capture.
Stated Advantages
Reducing manual touches, personnel errors, and instrument downtime.
Eliminating overnight batching.
Documented Applications
Automated pathology workflow integrating slide processing, automated slide transport among stainer/coverslipper, one or more imagers, and a storage module.
Iterative imaging/testing requests coordinated with imaging availability and electronic image capture.
Storage and retrieval of slides using slide identifiers and indexed retrieval.
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