A method of preparing a stage for use in a slide imaging apparatus including positioning a stage in relation to a flat surface so that the flat surface is positioned in front of the top surfaces of slide support pin bases on the top surface of the stage. The method also includes injecting a fluid pin surfacing material configured to solidify into the hole of each slide support pin base so that at least some of the fluid pin surfacing material exits the hole at the top surface of the slide support pin bases and pushes up against the flat surface. The method also includes removing the flat surface so that a tip of solid pin surfacing material is formed on the top surface of each slide support pin base, thereby providing the stage with a plurality of slide support pins.

A method of preparing a stage for use in a slide imaging apparatus including positioning a stage in relation to a flat surface so that the flat surface is positioned in front of the top surfaces of slide support pin bases on the top surface of the stage. The method also includes injecting a fluid pin surfacing material configured to solidify into the hole of each slide support pin base so that at least some of the fluid pin surfacing material exits the hole at the top surface of the slide support pin bases and pushes up against the flat surface. The method also includes removing the flat surface so that a tip of solid pin surfacing material is formed on the top surface of each slide support pin base, thereby providing the stage with a plurality of slide support pins.

A method is disclosed for acquiring a single, in-focus two-dimensional projection image of a live, three-dimensional cell culture sample, with a fluorescence microscope. One or more long-exposure “Z-sweep” images are obtained, i.e. via a single or series of continuous acquisitions, while moving the Z-focal plane of a camera through the sample, to produce one or more two-dimensional images of fluorescence intensity integrated over the Z-dimension. The acquisition method is much faster than a Z-stack method, which enables higher throughput and reduces the risk of exposing the sample to too much fluorescent light. The long-exposure Z-sweep image(s) is then input into a neural network which has been trained to produce a high-quality (in-focus) two-dimensional projection image of the sample. With these high-quality projection images, biologically relevant analysis metrics can be obtained to describe the fluorescence signal using standard image analysis techniques, such as fluorescence object count and other fluorescence intensity metrics (e.g., mean intensity, texture, etc.).

A method is disclosed for acquiring a single, in-focus two-dimensional projection image of a live, three-dimensional cell culture sample, with a fluorescence microscope. One or more long-exposure “Z-sweep” images are obtained, i.e. via a single or series of continuous acquisitions, while moving the Z-focal plane of a camera through the sample, to produce one or more two-dimensional images of fluorescence intensity integrated over the Z-dimension. The acquisition method is much faster than a Z-stack method, which enables higher throughput and reduces the risk of exposing the sample to too much fluorescent light. The long-exposure Z-sweep image(s) is then input into a neural network which has been trained to produce a high-quality (in-focus) two-dimensional projection image of the sample. With these high-quality projection images, biologically relevant analysis metrics can be obtained to describe the fluorescence signal using standard image analysis techniques, such as fluorescence object count and other fluorescence intensity metrics (e.g., mean intensity, texture, etc.).

Systems for allowing adjustable imaging of specimens of various sizes in solutions of various refractive indices, such as those with a refractive index of at least 1.45, for use in microscopes such as fluorescent light sheet microscopes. The systems allow for imaging large specimens in various refractive indices while maintaining the highest optical sectioning provided by the objectives used across the full range of microscope stage travel. The systems also allow the use of a wider range of optics, such as low magnification 2.5× detection objectives, allowing for increased imaging speed and field of view.

Embodiments provide slide navigation technology that addresses challenges in digital pathology of navigating and viewing high resolution slide images. Example systems comprise a virtual slide stage (VSS) having at least one sensor that detects user movement of a target placed on the VSS, and an input component, coupled to the VSS, which provides quick function movement control of the target via quick functions. The systems also comprise a connector component that connects the VSS to a user device and transmits output from the at least one sensor and input component to the user device. The systems further comprise a computer processor, in communication with the VSS, which processes the output using a computational model to generate data representing movement profiles of the target. The computer processor executes a software component, causing the output, translated based on the movement profiles, to be relayed via a viewing application on the user device.

Embodiments provide slide navigation technology that addresses challenges in digital pathology of navigating and viewing high resolution slide images. Example systems comprise a virtual slide stage (VSS) having at least one sensor that detects user movement of a target placed on the VSS, and an input component, coupled to the VSS, which provides quick function movement control of the target via quick functions. The systems also comprise a connector component that connects the VSS to a user device and transmits output from the at least one sensor and input component to the user device. The systems further comprise a computer processor, in communication with the VSS, which processes the output using a computational model to generate data representing movement profiles of the target. The computer processor executes a software component, causing the output, translated based on the movement profiles, to be relayed via a viewing application on the user device.

The portable device (1) for quality control of semen comprises a housing (10) and within an inner space (11) of the housing, an accumulator (20), a processor unit (30) and a sample storing unit (40) for fixing a sample transporting cell (90), wherein the device (1) is further provided with a microscope unit (50) comprising a camera unit (51) secured to the housing (10), an optical unit (52) connected to the camera unit (51) and a light source (53) illuminating the sample transporting cell (90) during use, and wherein the sample storing unit (40) is arranged inside the housing (10) at the upper side of the housing (10) or adjacent thereto, wherein the light source (53) is arranged on the outer side of the sample storing unit (40) and connected to the housing (10), wherein the camera unit (51) is arranged in the inner space (11) of the housing, on the inner side of the sample storing unit (40) in such a configuration that the distance between the supporting plane (41) of the sample storing unit (40) and the light sensor of the camera unit (51) is at most 35 mm, and wherein the optical unit (52) is arranged between the camera unit (51) and the sample storing unit (40).

A microscope system is provided with a microscope that acquires images at least at a first magnification and a second magnification higher than the first magnification, and a processor. The processor is configured to specify a type of a container in which a specimen is placed, and when starting observation of the specimen placed in the container at the second magnification, the processor is configured to specify an observation start position by performing object detection according to the type of container on a first image that includes the container acquired by the microscope at the first magnification, and control a relative position of the microscope with respect to the specimen such that the observation start position is contained in a field of view at the second magnification of the microscope.

A microscope system is provided with a microscope that acquires images at least at a first magnification and a second magnification higher than the first magnification, and a processor. The processor is configured to specify a type of a container in which a specimen is placed, and when starting observation of the specimen placed in the container at the second magnification, the processor is configured to specify an observation start position by performing object detection according to the type of container on a first image that includes the container acquired by the microscope at the first magnification, and control a relative position of the microscope with respect to the specimen such that the observation start position is contained in a field of view at the second magnification of the microscope.