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Method and Apparatus for Scanning Microscope Slides Using At Least Two Microscope Slide Scanners

20230221342 · 2023-07-13

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    A method for scanning object carriers using at least two microscope slide scanners includes a) loading a feed unit for microscope slides with a plurality of microscope slides, each of which is part of one of a plurality of sample series, b) transferring one microscope slide from the feed unit to every microscope slide scanner not loaded with a microscope slide, c) carrying out a scanning process for each loaded microscope slide scanner, d) transferring each scanned microscope slide from the microscope slide scanner to an intermediate storage rack, e) providing a data set for every scanning process for analysis, and f) transferring all microscope slides of a sample series from the intermediate storage rack to a final storage rack.

    Claims

    1. A method for scanning microscope slides using at least two microscope slide scanners (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), comprising: a) loading a supply unit (6) for microscope slides (14) with a multiplicity of microscope slides (14), which in each case belong to one of a plurality of sample series, b) transferring one microscope slide (14) in each case from the supply unit (6) to each microscope slide scanner (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) not loaded with a microscope slide, c) carrying out a scanning process for each loaded microscope slide scanner (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), d) transferring each scanned microscope slide (14) from the respective microscope slide scanner (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) to an intermediate storage rack (16), e) providing a data record for each scanning process for examination, and f) transferring all microscope slides (14) of a sample series from the intermediate storage rack (16) to a final storage rack (17).

    2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each microscope slide of the supply unit (6) is transferred to a microscope slide scanner (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), scanned there and subsequently transferred to the intermediate storage rack (16), according to the steps b), c) and d).

    3. The method according to claim 1, wherein step f) is carried out for all sample series to which the microscope slides (14), with which the supply unit (6) was loaded according to step a), belong.

    4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage rack (16) has a multiplicity of identifiable storage positions and the storage position of each microscope slide (14) in the intermediate storage rack (16) is stored in a database.

    5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step d), the microscope slides (14) are placed in the intermediate storage rack (16) in an unordered manner according to sample series.

    6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step f), the stored storage position in the intermediate storage rack (16) is read for all microscope slides (14) of the respective sample series and the microscope slides (14) are ordered in the final storage rack (17) according to sample series.

    7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after step e) and before step f), the method additionally comprises: ecustom-character) transferring a microscope slide (14) from the intermediate storage rack (16) to an unloaded microscope slide scanner (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), ecustom-character) carrying out a re-scanning process of the microscope slide (14), and ecustom-character) transferring the re-scanned microscope slide (14) to the intermediate storage rack (16).

    8. The method according to claim 7, comprising after step e) for each data record, determining whether the associated microscope slide (14) is to be re-scanned according to the steps ecustom-character) to ecustom-character).

    9. The method according to claim 7, wherein, after step e), the scanning parameters for the scanning process according to step ecustom-character) are determined.

    10. The method according to claim 1, wherein one, a plurality or all transfers of the microscope slides (14) according to the steps b), d) and f), and/or the steps ecustom-character) and ecustom-character) are executed by at least one industrial robot (13).

    11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one industrial robot (13) is an articulated robotic arm.

    12. A device (1) for scanning microscope slides (14) according to the method according to claim 1, comprising: at least one supply unit (6) for microscope slides, at least two microscope slide scanners (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), at least one intermediate storage rack (16) for microscope slides, and at least one final storage rack (17) for microscope slides.

    13. The device according to claim 12, comprising at least one industrial robot (13), designed to execute one, a plurality or all of the steps b), d) and f).

    14. The method according to claim 1, wherein one, a plurality or all transfers of the microscope slides according to the steps b), d) and f), and/or the steps ecustom-character) and ecustom-character) are executed by exactly one industrial robot.

    15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one industrial robot is a 6-axis, 7-axis or 8-axis articulated robotic arm, which has a gripper for gripping the microscope slides.

    16. The device according to claim 12, comprising exactly one industrial robot, which is designed to execute one, a plurality or all of the steps b), d) and f).

    Description

    [0092] The invention is explained once again in the following on the basis of the figures.

    [0093] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0094] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0095] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0096] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0097] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0098] FIG. 6 shows a detail of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0099] FIG. 7 shows a detail of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic illustration.

    [0100] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for scanning microscope slides in perspective view comprising a base frame 2, on which a supply unit 6 and a plurality of microscope slide scanners 7, 8, and an industrial robot 13 in the form of an articulated robotic arm are arranged. The device is provided with a casing 3, which is mounted on the base frame 2. The device can be operated by means of a control panel 4 and with the aid of control elements 5. The device has a flap, shown here in the open state, which can be closed, so that the working area of the industrial robot 13 is not accessible from outside. The supply unit 6 can be loaded from outside with microscope slide holders, which are loaded with microscope slides, through an opening of the casing in the region of the supply unit 6. The articulated robotic arm 13 can transfer the microscope slides arranged in the supply unit by means of a gripper 15 into the microscope slide scanners 7, 8 and the further microscope slide scanners not provided with reference numbers here. As soon as all microscope slides of a microscope slide holder arranged in the supply unit 6 have been transferred to a microscope slide scanner, the articulated robotic arm 13 transfers the empty microscope slide holder, with the aid of the gripper 15, to the microscope slide holder storage rack 18, which is accessible from outside through an opening in the casing 3.

    [0101] FIG. 2 shows a device 1 according to the invention in perspective view, comprising six microscope slide scanners 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 mounted on a side wall of the base frame. An intermediate storage rack 16 for intermediate storage of the microscope slides is provided on the opposite side wall, in which intermediate storage rack the microscope slides can be stored temporarily after carrying out a scan in one of the six microscope slide scanners 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, before the microscope slides are re-scanned or transferred to the final storage rack.

    [0102] FIG. 3 shows a device 1 according to the invention in side view, with the microscope slide scanners 7, 9, 10, which can be loaded with microscope slides by the industrial robot 13. The scanned microscope slides can subsequently be transferred to the intermediate storage rack 16. From the intermediate storage rack 16, the microscope slides can either be re-scanned in one of the microscope slide scanners or be transferred to the final storage rack 17.

    [0103] FIG. 4 shows a device 1 according to the invention from the view from above. The device 1 comprises the microscope slide scanners 7, 8. The articulated robotic arm 13 can remove microscope slides 14 from the supply unit 6 and transfer them to the microscope slide scanner 7, 8. After the scanning process, the scanned microscope slides 14 can be transferred by the articulated robotic arm 13 to the intermediate storage rack 16. From the intermediate storage rack 16, the microscope slides 14 can be transferred to the final storage rack 17. The final storage rack 17 is constructed in multiple parts, here five parts. The intermediate storage rack 16 has a multiplicity of storage positions for one microscope slide 14 in each case. In the intermediate storage rack, the microscope slides 14 can be stored in an unordered manner according to sample series. All microscope slides 14 of a sample series, which are arranged arbitrarily in a distributed manner in the intermediate storage rack 16, can be removed successively from the intermediate storage rack 16 by the articulated robotic arm 13 and arranged consecutively in the final storage rack 17. Preferably, all microscope slides 14 of a sample series can be arranged in a partial final storage rack and can be removed together and archived for example.

    [0104] FIG. 5 shows a device 1 according to the invention in perspective view, in which a multiplicity of microscope slide scanners 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, an industrial robot 13 and a final storage rack 17 are illustrated. A microscope slide holder storage rack 18 is also to be seen, which is designed to accommodate the empty microscope slide holders. The device additionally comprises a collecting device for defective microscope slides 19, into which the microscope slides which cannot be scanned, for which a defect was detected or the codes of which cannot be read, can be transferred.

    [0105] FIG. 6 shows a detail illustration of a device 1 according to the invention, in which a supply unit 6 loaded with microscope slides 14, an intermediate storage rack 16 and a final storage rack 17 are illustrated. The supply unit 6 is designed as a two-part supply unit 6, wherein each partial supply unit 6 has a base plate arranged in a sloping manner. The supply unit 6 is designed to accommodate individual microscope slides 14 or microscope slide holders, which are loaded with microscope slides 14. Microscope slide holders, which can be given to the supply unit 6, can slide towards an end wall due to gravity.

    [0106] FIG. 7 shows a partial illustration of a device according to the invention. A supply unit 6, an intermediate storage rack 16 and a final storage rack 17 are illustrated. The supply unit 6 is designed to accommodate microscope slide holders loaded with microscope slides. The intermediate storage rack 16 is designed to accommodate a multiplicity of microscope slides, wherein each storage position of the intermediate storage rack 16 has an individual identifier. The final storage rack 17 is likewise designed to accommodate a multiplicity of microscope slides. Whilst the microscope slides in the intermediate storage rack 16 are generally not arranged in an ordered manner according to sample series, the microscope slides in the final storage rack 17 are arranged according to sample series.

    REFERENCE LIST

    [0107] 1) Device [0108] 2) Base frame [0109] 3) Casing [0110] 4) Control panel [0111] 5) Control element [0112] 6) Supply unit [0113] 7) Microscope slide scanner [0114] 8) Microscope slide scanner [0115] 9) Microscope slide scanner [0116] 10) Microscope slide scanner [0117] 11) Microscope slide scanner [0118] 12) Microscope slide scanner [0119] 13) Industrial robot [0120] 14) Microscope slide [0121] 15) Gripper [0122] 16) Intermediate storage rack [0123] 17) Final storage rack [0124] 18) Microscope slide holder storage rack [0125] 19) Collecting device for defective microscope slides