Specimen processing systems and related methods

Inventors

Gordon, Joseph • Glaberson, John • Ebsworth, Tara Pratap • Gutelius, Patrick N.

Assignees

CooperSurgical Inc

Abstract

A specimen processing system includes a plate for supporting a specimen system, wherein the specimen system includes a container and a specimen contained therein. The specimen processing system further includes a camera disposed above the plate and configured to generate images of the specimen system, a light source disposed beneath the plate for radiating light towards the plate, a light stop for blocking a portion of the light from reaching the specimen system to produce darkfield illumination of the specimen at the camera, and one or more processors electronically coupled to the camera and configured to track a position of the specimen within the specimen container during a specimen processing protocol based on the images.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a specimen processing system for processing a specimen within a specimen container at a processing station. A plate supports a specimen system that includes a specimen container and a specimen contained therein, and a camera disposed above the plate generates images of the specimen system while the system operates during a vitrification protocol.

The system applies a centripetal force to the specimen by using a rotatable platform to which the processing station is secured. One or more processors electronically coupled to the camera track a position of the specimen within the specimen container in real time based on the images during the vitrification protocol, and a microcontroller controls a rotational speed, a spin direction, and an acceleration of the rotatable platform to maintain the centripetal force on the specimen at a substantially constant value during the vitrification protocol.

Following completion of the vitrification protocol, the system includes a cutting station configured to cut and release a distal portion of the specimen container with the specimen contained therein. The invention is also described as using a vision algorithm for detecting specimen position and for computing position, speed, and direction in real time, together with feedback control to adjust rotational speed, spin direction, and acceleration to maintain substantially constant centripetal force.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims are directed to a specimen processing system and a method of processing a specimen, both centered on real-time imaging-based tracking during a vitrification protocol while controlling a rotatable platform to maintain substantially constant centripetal force. The inventive features emphasized across the independent claims include overhead imaging, real-time position tracking, closed-loop rotational control, centripetal-force-based specimen movement, and post-protocol cutting and release of a distal portion of the specimen container.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on generating overhead camera images, tracking specimen position in real time during a vitrification protocol, and controlling rotational speed, spin direction, and acceleration of a rotatable platform to maintain centripetal force at a substantially constant value. Both claims further require cutting and releasing a distal portion of the specimen container after completion of the vitrification protocol.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications