Automated cassette and slide handling system for an automatic microscope
Inventors
Virag, Tibor • Agarwal, Yash • Guo, Wei • Eberle, Richard • Kim, Youngmin • Kilpatrick, Michael • Tsipouras, Petros • Tafas, Triantafyllos
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-7948676-B2
Publication Date
2011-05-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An automated cassette and slide handling system is disclosed which organizes microscope slides in cassettes, automatically and sequentially removes individual slides from their respective cassettes, positioned each slide under the microscope as provided by the protocol, and after examination returns the slide to its proper cassette.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an automated microscope system that uses cassette-based slide storage and sequential handling. A cassette includes a plurality of microscope slides in multiple slide slots and provides a retaining feature to hold each slide. The cassette is moved by a cassette handler from an input rack through an elevator mechanism to a slide-access position and then to an output port.
Each cassette includes a detectable device for sensor-based identification. The detectable device enables detecting the cassette by way of a detectable device affixed to the cassette, such as a magnetic sensor, RFID/optical tags, or a barcode label, and supports protocol-driven sequencing of slides for examination.
A slide handler assembly includes a feeder arm with a longitudinal channel that receives a rotatable longitudinal draw-out spring wire. The draw-out spring wire has orthogonally bent ends and is configured so the draw-out spring wire is rotatable in the longitudinal channel, allowing each bent end to change orientation with respect to the feed arm. The slide handler withdraws a selected microscope slide from the cassette onto a slide holder by causing rotation by approximately 90 degrees, then returns the microscope slide to its originating cassette slot.
The slide holder stage provides X/Y/Z positioning via orthogonal linear actuators, including a lead-screw mechanism and a piezo-electric transducer, to support repeated exam-and-reinsert cycles for all slides in a cassette. Slides are handled sequentially by detecting the cassette at an input port, accessing an individual slide via feeder arm positioning, and automatically removing and returning each slide to the cassette.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, covering two inventive features: a rotatable orthogonally bent draw-out spring wire in a feed arm channel, and a computerized method for automatically handling microscope slides in a cassette with cassette detection and sequential slide removal/replacement.
Rotatable orthogonally bent draw-out spring wire in a longitudinal feed-arm channel
A feed arm containing a longitudinal channel and a draw-out spring wire defining a longitudinal axis with first and second ends each bent orthogonal to one another and to the longitudinal axis, where the wire is positioned in the longitudinal channel so the first and second ends perpendicularly protrude and the draw-out spring wire is rotatable therein to allow each bent end to change orientation with respect to the feed arm.
Computerized cassette detection and sequential slide removal/replacement using a draw-out spring wire
Automatically handling microscope slides by detecting a cassette at an input port using a detectable device affixed to the cassette, sequentially removing and replacing each microscope slide by positioning the cassette for access, extending a feeder arm into the cassette with a draw-out spring wire extending above and parallel to the slide surface, moving a slide holder to contact a rear end of the draw-out spring wire to rotate the wire by approximately 90 degrees, withdrawing the feeder arm so a forward end contacts the microscope slide to withdraw it onto the slide holder, and automatically removing the microscope slide from the slide holder and returning it to the cassette.
Together, the independent claims cover a mechanical mechanism enabling a rotatable, orthogonally bent draw-out spring wire interaction with a slide via a feeder arm, and a computerized method that uses cassette detection and sequential slide removal/replacement with the feeder arm to place slides onto a holder and then return them to the cassette.
Stated Advantages
Enables automatic handling of microscope slides in a cassette.
Supports sequential removal and replacement of each microscope slide.
Uses detectable devices affixed to the cassette for cassette detection at an input port.
Draw-out spring wire rotation by approximately 90 degrees facilitates withdrawing a slide onto a slide holder.
Automatically removes a microscope slide from the slide holder and returns it to the cassette.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?