A pathological specimen preparation device includes a stage portion including a stage, a reagent supply portion 150 capable of supplying a reagent to a substrate W mounted on the stage, a washing portion capable of supplying a washing solution to the substrate, an electric field stirring portion capable of stirring the reagent or the washing solution supplied to the substrate by applying an electric field to the reagent or the washing solution, and a control unit, wherein the washing portion, the reagent supply portion, and the electric field stirring portion are sequentially disposed in a Y direction as a first direction, and the device includes a stage transport mechanism that moves the stage in the Y direction, and a stage tilting mechanism that tilts the stage in an X direction as a second direction crossing the Y direction when the stage is positioned in the washing portion.

A pathological specimen preparation device includes a stage portion including a stage, a reagent supply portion 150 capable of supplying a reagent to a substrate W mounted on the stage, a washing portion capable of supplying a washing solution to the substrate, an electric field stirring portion capable of stirring the reagent or the washing solution supplied to the substrate by applying an electric field to the reagent or the washing solution, and a control unit, wherein the washing portion, the reagent supply portion, and the electric field stirring portion are sequentially disposed in a Y direction as a first direction, and the device includes a stage transport mechanism that moves the stage in the Y direction, and a stage tilting mechanism that tilts the stage in an X direction as a second direction crossing the Y direction when the stage is positioned in the washing portion.

A sample imaging device includes a side illumination unit, a two window sample chamber, and refractive index matching. An optically transparent sample holder is in the sample well as is sample immersion fluid. The refractive index matching includes matching of the refractive index of material of a sample to be imaged.

This disclosure describes a slide comprising a substrate, a WISP, and a temperature sensor, wherein the slide is capable of communicating with an external communications device via the WISP. In some implementations, the WISP comprises an antenna, an integrated circuit, and a memory unit, that are powered wirelessly by an external device, such that it is capable of measuring, logging, and communicating data. The data, such as time and temperature, may be collected via sensors connected to the WISP. In some implementations, the WISP and temperature sensor are embedded in the substrate to prevent direct contact with mounted specimens. In some implementations the slide further comprises displayed content. In some implementations, the displayed content is linked to a database of information. The various implementations of this invention may describe a slide utilizing any number of the features described above in any combination.

A method includes providing a sample holder having a plasmonic layer and applying the sample to the sample holder. The sample is illuminated and an image formed. The method enables identifying a structure in the sample from the image based at least partly on its colour. The colour can encode a structural property of the sample, preferably without staining. The method can be used to differentiate a state of at least one cell in a sample. Application to identification of cancer and non-cancer abnormalities are disclosed.

A fixed reference edge system that guides a glass slide from a slot of a slide rack onto a scanning stage and guides the glass slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. In an embodiment, the fixed reference edge has a first side that is parallel to a side of the slot of the slide rack. The system comprises an assembly that includes a push bar configured to push the slide from the slot onto the scanning stage, and a pull bar configured to pull the slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. When the slide is pulled into the slide rack, the long edge of the slide is pressed against the first side of the fixed reference edge to maintain a parallel orientation between the slide and the slot of the slide rack.

Before an observation region of the imaging optical system reaches an observation position in a culture container, a vertical position of the culture container at the observation position is precedently detected by an auto-focus displacement sensor. In a case where an auto-focus control is performed on the basis of the position, an error between the precedently detected vertical position of the container at the observation position and a vertical position of the container at a time point when an observation region of the imaging optical system is scanned up to the observation position is acquired, and an objective lens is moved in an optical axis direction on the basis of the error.

A power off delay system and method is configured to delay termination of electrical power to a digital pathology device in a power off condition. If the apparatus includes a UPS, the power off delay system and method delays termination of electrical power when a power switch is turned off and when a catastrophic power failure occurs. During the delay of the termination of electrical power, the digital pathology device is configured to control the scanning stage system and the glass slide conveyor system and the slide rack conveyor system to place each of these systems into a known state and position all glass slides into a known position prior to the termination of electrical power to the digital pathology device. This allows the digital pathology device to resume normal operation upon power up.

A power off delay system and method is configured to delay termination of electrical power to a digital pathology device in a power off condition. If the apparatus includes a UPS, the power off delay system and method delays termination of electrical power when a power switch is turned off and when a catastrophic power failure occurs. During the delay of the termination of electrical power, the digital pathology device is configured to control the scanning stage system and the glass slide conveyor system and the slide rack conveyor system to place each of these systems into a known state and position all glass slides into a known position prior to the termination of electrical power to the digital pathology device. This allows the digital pathology device to resume normal operation upon power up.

A microscope includes an optical imaging system with an adjustable corrector, a microscope drive, a position sensitive detector, an optical measuring system and a control unit. The optical measuring system configured to form first and second measuring light beams, direct the measuring light beams into an entrance pupil of the optical imaging system eccentrically with first and second distances to the optical axis thereof, receive first and second reflection light beams, and direct the reflection light beams onto the position sensitive detector. The control unit is configured to record positions of the reflection light beams on the position sensitive detector, and determine an aberration based on the recorded positions.