System for read-write control of specimen analysis by automated microscope
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Publication Number
US-8830574-B2
Publication Date
2014-09-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for automated microscopic analysis of a plurality of data-encoded microscope slides that provides that data written to or read from the slides may include images, analysis protocols, analytic results and other pertinent data. The system may also encompass a magazine that contains a plurality of data encoded slides.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to an automated microscope slide analysis system for viewing or imaging microscope slides, where each microscope slide has electronically-addressable reference position tag(s) thereon. A field objective allows viewing or imaging of a defined field on the microscope slide. An emitter emits an electromagnetic wave toward at least one electronically-addressable reference position tag, and a detector detects the position tag from a response of the position tag to the electromagnetic wave.
A processor processes information from the detector and the field objective to determine a position of a field viewed or desired to be marked with respect to at least one of the electronically-addressable position tag(s). In response to the reference position tag, the processor causes writing of the position of the field desired to be marked in electronic data memory associated with the slide. The slide-associated electronic data memory can be write-once read-many (WORM) memory, and the system also records an image of the slide into electronic data memory.
The system further supports automated slide analysis using coordinate-reference position tags on the slide that are interrogated via an emitter/detector to compute field coordinates for repositioning, and to store marked field positions and images in slide-associated electronic memory. A slide cassette or magazine associates each slide with a physical position for consistent re-placement.
The disclosed workflow includes automated slide feeding and a capture subsystem in which a camera captures multiple images per second while x-y-z motion sensors detect slide motion, and the processor corrects for movement by altering or discarding captured images.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines the overall automated microscope slide analysis system, comprising five main inventive components: electronically-addressable reference position tag(s), emitter and detector interrogation, field objective imaging, processor determining field position relative to tags, and writing the marked field position into slide-associated electronic data memory. Dependent claims further refine the tag type and the electronic data memory type, and add image capture with motion detection and image correction; an additional dependent claim constrains a camera capture-rate threshold.
Electronically-addressable reference position tag(s) on the slide
One or more microscope slides each having one or more electronically-addressable reference position tag(s) thereon.
Emitter and detector interrogation of tag response
An emitter configured to emit an electromagnetic wave toward at least one of the electronically-addressable reference position tag(s), and a detector configured to detect the position tag from response of the position tag to the electromagnetic wave.
Field objective imaging of a defined field
A field objective operatively configured to allow viewing or imaging of a defined field on the microscope slide.
Processor determines field position relative to tag(s)
A processor configured for processing information from the detector and the field objective to determine a position of a field viewed or desired to be marked with respect to at least one of the electronically-addressable position tag(s).
Writing marked field position into slide-associated electronic data memory
The processor causes writing of the position of the field desired to be marked in electronic data memory associated with the slide in response to the reference position tag.
Radio frequency identification reference position tag(s)
Configuring the electronically-addressable reference position tag(s) as a radio frequency identification device (RFID).
Write-once read-many electronic data memory
Configuring the electronic data memory as write once read many (WORM) memory.
Recording slide images into electronic data memory
The processor further records an image of the slide into electronic data memory.
High-rate image capture with x-y-z motion correction using tag data
Using a camera to capture multiple images per second, detecting slide movement in x-y-z space using electronically-addressable reference position tag(s), and processing captured image data with the tag data to correct movement by either altering or discarding images.
Camera capture at at least about 300 images per second
Capturing at least about 300 or more images per second with the camera.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the system centers on electronically-addressable reference position tag(s) on the slide interrogated by an emitter/detector, with a processor determining field position relative to the tags and writing marked field positions into slide-associated electronic data memory. Dependent refinements specify RFID tags and WORM memory, add recording of slide images, and further define a high-rate camera capture with x-y-z motion correction by altering or discarding images based on tag data, including a capture threshold of at least about 300 images per second.
Stated Advantages
Electronic data storage of marked field positions in electronic data memory associated with the slide.
Storing the position of a field desired to be marked in response to the reference position tag.
Electronic recording of slide images in the slide-associated electronic data memory.
Write once read many (WORM) electronic data memory capability.
Correcting for movement during image capture by altering or discarding captured images.
High-speed image capture using a camera capturing at least about 300 images per second.
Documented Applications
Automated microscope slide analysis workflow for viewing or imaging microscope slides and marking/storing field positions with slide-associated electronic memory.
‘GPS-like’ repositioning of fields using electronically-addressable position tags and storing marked field positions and images in electronic memory associated with the slide.
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