Slide imaging apparatus and a method for imaging a slide
Inventors
HOLL, Konstantin • Maier, Alexander • OSSWALD, Denny • REHBERGER, Marc • SPRING DE SOUZA, Bernardo • Weiser, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12584932-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
A slide imaging apparatus includes: at least one first imaging device and at least one second imaging device, each configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide; a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides; and a supply device configured to selectively supply the slides from the storage device to the at least one first imaging device or to the at least one second imaging device, wherein the at least one first imaging device and the at least one second imaging device comprise at least one visual indicator configured to indicate an operational status of the at least one first imaging device and the at least one second imaging device, wherein the slide imaging apparatus further comprises at least one vision sensor configured to detect an operational status of the at least one first imaging device and the at least one second imaging device using the at least one visual indicator.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a slide imaging apparatus for digital pathology that includes at least one first imaging device and at least one second imaging device, each configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide. The apparatus further includes a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides and a supply device configured to selectively supply the slides from the storage device to either the at least one first imaging device or the at least one second imaging device. An operating system is configured to control operation of at least one of the supply device, the first imaging device, or the second imaging device.
The first and second imaging devices include at least one visual indicator configured to indicate an operational status by generating a visual pattern. At least one vision sensor is configured to detect the operational status of the imaging devices based on the visual pattern generated by the visual indicators. The vision sensor is further configured to detect a failure of an imaging device based on the visual pattern.
In response to detecting a failure, the operating system rearranges a mode of operation of the supply device so that the supply device delivers to and discharges only any available imaging devices of the first and second imaging devices. The apparatus continues imaging despite failures by reorganizing supply behavior toward available imaging devices and reduces downtime and avoids manual handling.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: one apparatus claim and one method claim. Both claims share the same core inventive concept: visual-indicator-based operational status and failure detection by a vision sensor, followed by operating-system-driven rearrangement of supply behavior to use only available imaging devices.
Selectively supplying slides to first or second imaging devices with operating system control
A slide imaging apparatus comprising at least one first imaging device and at least one second imaging device that generate images of a sample mounted on a slide, a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides, and a supply device configured to selectively supply the slides to the first or second imaging device, with an operating system configured to control operation of at least one of the supply device or the imaging devices.
Visual indicators generating visual patterns for operational status
The first and second imaging devices comprise at least one visual indicator configured to indicate an operational status of the imaging devices by generating a visual pattern.
Vision sensor detects operational status and failure from visual patterns
At least one vision sensor is configured to detect the operational status and to detect a failure of an imaging device based on the visual pattern generated by the visual indicators.
Rearranging supply mode to only deliver/discharge available imaging devices after failure
In response to detecting a failure, the operating system is configured to rearrange a mode of operation of the supply device to only deliver to and discharge any available imaging devices.
Method of imaging multiple slides with selective supply and visual-pattern status/failure handling
A method for imaging a plurality of slides that includes loading and storing slides in a storage device, selectively supplying the slides to at least one first imaging device or at least one second imaging device, generating an image using the supplied imaging device(s), and using visual indicators with a vision sensor to detect operational status and a failure based on visual patterns.
Rearranging mode of operation to only deliver/discharge available imaging devices in the method
In response to the vision sensor detecting a failure based on the visual pattern, the slide imaging apparatus is configured to rearrange a mode of operation to only deliver to and discharge any available imaging devices.
Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on imaging-device visual indicators that generate visual patterns representing operational status, a vision sensor that detects operational status and failure from those visual patterns, and an operating system that rearranges the supply device mode so slides are delivered and discharged only to available imaging devices.
Stated Advantages
Enables uninterrupted processing of slide imaging despite a failure of an imaging device by rearranging supply behavior to only deliver to and discharge any available imaging devices.
Documented Applications
Digital pathology slide imaging (whole slide imaging) of a plurality of slides using multiple imaging devices with selectable supply and status/failure detection.
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