A system is capable of detecting substrates and can differentiate between zero, one, or multiple transparent or semi-transparent substrates in a stack. The system can include an optical sensor, an optically anti-reflective element, and a detector. The optical sensor outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element. The light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by substrates, if any, positioned within a detection zone between the optically anti-reflective element and the detector.

An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container includes an automated tool head configured to rotate about a first axis, and to translate along a second axis different than the first axis, an analytic element positioner having an analytic element holder configured to releasably grip an analytic element, and a specimen transfer device carried by the tool head, wherein the tool head is configured to automatically position a working end of the specimen transfer device to obtain a specimen from a sample container held in the sample container holder, and to transfer the obtained specimen to an analytic element held by the analytic element holder, respectively, through one or both of rotation of the tool head about the first axis and translation of the tool head along the second axis.

Equipment for the control of the industrial contamination of industrial components comprising at least one base frame; and an extraction unit/device/component of contaminating impurities from at least one industrial component, mounted on the base frame and provided with a washing unit/device/component of the industrial component by way of an operating fluid adapted to remove the contaminating impurities from said industrial component, the operating fluid mixing with the contaminating impurities to obtain an operating mixture following the washing of the industrial component; and a preparation unit/device/component of at least one analysis sample of the contaminating impurities removed from the industrial component starting from the operating mixture, wherein the equipment comprises an analysis unit/device/component of the analysis sample mounted on the base frame and adapted to detect at least one analytical data which is characteristic of the contaminating impurities.

Various embodiments are directed to a device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: a collection fluid dispense assembly configured to selectively dispense a volume of collection fluid onto an absorbent media disposed within an internal sensor portion of a fluid composition sensor, producing a collection media based on interaction between the volume of collection fluid and the absorbent media; and a controller configured to determine, based on a particle image captured by an imaging device, a particle characteristic associated with a particle captured at the collection media. In various embodiments a device is configured to receive therein a collection media comprising a biologically nutritive substance; and may comprise an imaging device and a controller configured to determine a biological particle characteristic based on a comparison of first particle data and second particle data generated by the imaging device, the second particle data being associated with an incubated particle configuration.

Assay system including assay apparatus and handheld single use assay devices for ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR) examination of a specimen. The assay devices include a housing, a specimen slide for elevation from an initial lowermost specimen introduction position to a final uppermost specimen examination position and a built-in liquid reagent dispensing arrangement for dispensing liquid reagent on the specimen slide. The assay apparatus automatically actuates an assay device and includes an imaging arrangement for obtaining specimen images.

A stall detection system is provided that determines if a glass slide in motion during an automated process is at risk for being damaged and stops motion in the event of an unacceptable risk of damage. The system includes one or more motors configured to move a glass slide (directly or indirectly). The motors are configured to generate a load resistance value. The system includes one or more processors that monitor the load resistance value of a motor during motion and compares the load resistance value to a predetermined threshold resistance value to determine the risk of a glass slide being damaged. The predetermined threshold resistance value may correspond to a risk of slide breakage in response to a force applied to any surface of the slide, or a risk of losing a controlling grip on a slide rack, or a risk of a motor skipping a motor step.

The present disclosure also relates to systems and methods for quality control in histology systems. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes receiving a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, imaging the tissue block to create a first imaging data of the tissue sample in a tissue section on the tissue block, removing the tissue section from the tissue block, the tissue section comprising a part of the tissue sample, imaging the tissue section to create a second imaging data of the tissue sample in the tissue section, and comparing the first imaging data to the second imaging data to confirm correspondence in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.

The present invention relates to digital pathology. In order to provide an improved handling of probes in digital pathology, a slide-holder (10) for digital pathology is provided that comprises a tray basis (12), a plurality of mounting means (14) and a plurality of slide-holder registration points (16). The tray basis is configured to carry a plurality of slides (20) to be imaged by a digital pathology system, for which the tray basis provides a plurality of slide-receiving positions. The plurality of mounting means are arranged on the tray basis to mount the plurality of slides on the tray basis in a plurality of slide-receiving positions to image each slide in a separate imaging position. The slide-holder registration points comprise a plurality of interacting portions (22) that provide a mechanical registration of the tray basis with a digital pathology system for each of the imaging positions.

An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container includes an automated tool head configured to rotate about a first axis, and to translate along a second axis different than the first axis, an analytic element positioner having an analytic element holder configured to releasably grip an analytic element, and a specimen transfer device carried by the tool head, wherein the tool head is configured to automatically position a working end of the specimen transfer device to obtain a specimen from a sample container held in the sample container holder, and to transfer the obtained specimen to an analytic element held by the analytic element holder, respectively, through one or both of rotation of the tool head about the first axis and translation of the tool head along the second axis.

The present disclosure also relates to systems and methods for quality control in histology systems. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes receiving a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, imaging the tissue block to create a first imaging data of the tissue sample in a tissue section on the tissue block, removing the tissue section from the tissue block, the tissue section comprising a part of the tissue sample, imaging the tissue section to create a second imaging data of the tissue sample in the tissue section, and comparing the first imaging data to the second imaging data to confirm correspondence in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.