System for handling slides having two coverslipper modules

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (10) for handling slides, including a first and at least a second module-receiving area (24 through 28) for receiving at least one module (30, 34) for handling slides each. The first module-receiving area (24) accommodates a coverslipper module (30, 32) for coverslipping thin sections on slides with a mounting medium and a cover slip (48).

Claims

1. A system for handling slides, comprising: a housing (12) accommodating an upper level and a lower level below the upper level; a first module-receiving area (24) disposed in the upper level within the housing (12); a coverslipper module (30) for coverslipping thin sections on slides with a mounting medium and a cover slip (48), the coverslipper module (30) being disposed in the first module-receiving area (24), wherein the coverslipper module (30) has a first part and a second part; at least one second module-receiving area (26) disposed in the upper level within the housing (12); at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides, the at least one module being disposed in the at least one second module-receiving area (26), wherein the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides has a first part and a second part; a support plate (36) attached to the coverslipper module (30) and the at least one module (32, 34), wherein the support plate (36) has surfaces that define a plurality of cutouts through which the second part of the coverslipper module (30) and the second part of the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides are configured to extend, and wherein the first part of the coverslipper module (30) and the first part of the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides are engaged to the support plate adjacent to one of the cutouts; a plurality of units (14, 22) disposed in the lower level, each of the plurality of units being used commonly by the coverslipper module (30) and the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides; an input compartment (14) for receiving racks (16) holding the slides, the input compartment being one of the plurality of units disposed in the lower level; a reader unit arranged to read information from an information carrier attached to a rack (16) received by the input compartment (14), the reader unit being one of the plurality of units disposed in the lower level; a drying unit for removing moisture of the mounting medium from slides coverslipped by the first coverslipper module (30), the drying unit being one of the plurality of units disposed in the lower level; an output compartment (22) for receiving racks (16) to be outputted from the system (10), the output compartment (22) being one of the plurality of units disposed in the lower level; a transport unit (20) for transporting racks (16); and a control unit (52) for controlling the transport unit (20); wherein the transport unit (20) is operable to transport racks (16) received by the input compartment (14) from the input compartment (14) directly to the coverslipper module (30) disposed in the first module-receiving area (24); and wherein the transport unit (20) is further operable to transport racks (16) received by the input compartment (14) from the input compartment (14) directly to the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides disposed in the second module-receiving area (26).

2. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, wherein the coverslipper module (30) is a first coverslipper module; and wherein the module (32, 34) for handling slides is a second coverslipper module (32) for coverslipping thin sections on slides with a mounting medium and a cover slip (48).

3. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, wherein the module (32, 34) for handling slides is a quality control module (34) for checking the quality of thin sections placed on the slides and/or the coverslipping quality.

4. The system (10) as recited in claim 3, wherein the quality control module (34) includes a camera which captures at least one image showing at least a portion of the slide where the thin section is located.

5. The system (10) as recited in claim 4, wherein the control unit (52) executes at least one stored image-processing algorithm; and at least one of a staining quality of the thin section, mechanical damage to the thin section and/or to the cover slip (48), a relative position of the thin section on the slide, and air inclusions between the slide and the cover slip (48) are detected by the control unit (52) based on the captured image with the aid of the image-processing algorithm.

6. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit (52) is configured to control the transport unit (20) such that once the slides in a rack (16) have been coverslipped by the coverslipper module (30) received in the first module-receiving area (24), the transport unit (20) transports the rack (16) containing these slides from the first module-receiving area (24) to the second module-receiving area (26).

7. The system (10) as recited in claim 6, wherein the control unit (52) is configured to control the transport unit (20) such that once the slides have been processed by the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides received in the second module-receiving area (26), the transport unit transports the rack (16) containing these slides from the second module-receiving area (26) to the first module-receiving area (24).

8. The system (10) as recited in claim 2, comprising: a first mounting medium reservoir for storing a first mounting medium to be applied to slides by the first coverslipper module (30); and a second mounting medium reservoir for storing a second mounting medium to be applied to slides by the second coverslipper module (32).

9. The system (10) as recited in claim 2, comprising: a first coverslip container (50) for storing cover slips (48) to be applied to slides by the first coverslipper module (30); and a second coverslip container for storing cover slips which may be applied to slides by the second coverslipper module (32).

10. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, comprising: a third module-receiving area (28); and a further module (32, 34) for handling slides received by the third module-receiving area (28).

11. The system (10) as recited in claim 10, wherein the coverslipper module (30) is a first coverslipper module; wherein the module (32, 34) for handling slides is a second coverslipper module (32) for coverslipping thin sections on slides with a mounting medium and a cover slip (48); and wherein the further module for handling slides is a quality control module (34) for checking the quality of thin sections placed on the slides and/or the coverslipping quality.

12. The system (10) as recited in claim 10, wherein the transport unit (20) is operable to transport racks (16) directly between the input compartment (14) and the third module-receiving area (28), directly between the first module-receiving area (24) and the third module-receiving area (28) and directly between the second module-receiving area (26) and the third module-receiving area (28).

13. The system (10) as recited in claim 2, wherein the drying unit is configured for removing moisture of the mounting medium from slides coverslipped by the first coverslipper module (30) and from slides coverslipped by the second coverslipper module (32).

14. The system (10) as recited in claim 10, wherein the control unit (52) determines, based on the information read, which of the modules (30 through 34) received in the first through third module-receiving areas (24 through 28) the rack (16) is to be transported to by the transport unit (20).

15. The system (10) as recited in claim 14, wherein the control unit (52) further determines, based on the information read, an order in which the rack (16) is to be successively transferred to at least two of the modules (30 through 34) received in the first through third module-receiving areas (24 through 28).

16. The system (10) as recited in claim 10, wherein the first through third module-receiving areas (24 through 28) are disposed in the upper level.

17. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, wherein the second parts of the coverslipper module (30) and the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides are configured to be disposed in the lower level.

18. The system (10) as recited in claim 1, wherein the transport unit (20) is disposed in the lower level and is operatively connected to the second parts of the coverslipper module (30) and the at least one module (32, 34) for handling slides that extend through the cutouts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEW

(1) Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

(2) The FIGURE is a schematic perspective view of an automated coverslipper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The FIGURE shows in schematic perspective form a system for handling slides which takes the form of a coverslipper 10. Housing 12 of coverslipper 10 is partially indicated by the dot-dash lines, so that the components located in and protected by housing 12 may be seen.

(4) Coverslipper 10 includes an input compartment 14 via which racks 16 can be introduced into coverslipper 10. Located in racks 16 are slides having thin sections placed thereon which are to be coverslipped by coverslipper 10.

(5) The slides may be introduced both manually and mechanically. This allows for both a stand-alone mode of operation, in which coverslipper 10 is not connected to other systems, and for a workstation mode of operation. In the workstation mode of operation, coverslipper 10 is disposed in particular adjacent to an automated stainer, so that once the thin sections placed on the slides have been stained, the slides are automatically received into racks 16 transferred from the stainer to coverslipper 10.

(6) The racks 16 introduced via input compartment 14 are received in containers filled with xylene and held therein until they are further processed, one of said containers being denoted, by way of example, by reference numeral 18. Coverslipper 10 further has a transport unit 20 capable of transporting racks 16 within coverslipper 10. This transport unit 20 is designed to be capable of carrying out all transport operations of racks 16 within coverslipper 10 that are necessary to coverslip the slides. In particular, only one single transport unit 20 is needed to perform all transport operations of racks 16, from the introduction via input compartment 14 to the output via an output compartment 22.

(7) Coverslipper 10 has three module-receiving areas 24 through 28 for receiving one module for handling slides each. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGURE, each of the first and second module-receiving areas 24, 26 has disposed therein a coverslipper module 30, 32 for coverslipping thin sections placed on slides. Third module-receiving area 28 has a quality control module 34 placed therein.

(8) In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, only one of module-receiving areas 24 through 28 may have a coverslipper module 30, 32 disposed therein, and the other two module-receiving areas may each accommodate a quality control module 34. Alternatively, it is also possible that one of module-receiving areas 24 through 28 is vacant; i.e., that no module 30 through 34 is received therein. In this case, in particular, a coverslipper module 30, 32 is received in one of the other two module-receiving areas 24 through 28, while the other one accommodates a quality control module 34. In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, only one of module-receiving areas 24 through 28 may have a coverslipper module 30, 32 disposed therein, and the other two module-receiving areas 24 through 28 may not have any module 30 through 34 placed therein.

(9) Module-receiving areas 24 through 28 are bounded, in particular, by a support plate 36 to which modules 30 through 34 can be attached in a simple manner. In particular, modules 30 through 34, or individual components thereof, may be screwed to this support plate 36 in a simple manner, so that modules 30 through 34 can be easily replaced. Because of this, the set of modules 30 through 34 with which coverslipper 10 is equipped may be easily adapted to the individual requirements of the operator of coverslipper 10. Support plate 36 is in particular provided with a plurality of cutouts through which parts of modules 30 through 34 may extend.

(10) Coverslipper 10 further includes two mounting medium reservoirs, which are not visible in the FIGURE. A first one of these mounting medium reservoirs is connected to first coverslipper module 30 while the second mounting medium reservoir is connected to second coverslipper module 32. The two mounting medium reservoirs can be filled with mounting media independently of each other via the two inlet ports 38, 40. The first mounting medium received in the first mounting medium reservoir is pumped to first coverslipper module 30, in particular by means of a first pump (not visible). Analogously, the second mounting medium received in the second mounting medium reservoir is pumped to second coverslipper module 32 by a second pump.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGURE, the two coverslipper modules 30, 32 are identical in design. Therefore, the explanations given below by way of example for first coverslipper module 30 apply analogously to second coverslipper module 32. In an alternative embodiment, the two coverslipper modules 30, 32 may be designed differently.

(12) First coverslipper module 30 includes a removal unit 42 by means of which the slides in the rack 16 that has been introduced into first coverslipper module 30 are removed one after the other from this rack 16. Subsequently, a predetermined amount of the first mounting medium is applied to the slide in the region of the thin section using a hollow needle 44. Then, a suction cup device 46 removes a cover slip 48 from a coverslip container 50 and covers the thin section with this cover slip 48. After the slide is covered, it is transported back into rack 16 by removal unit 42. More specifically, the slide is transported into the same holding compartment in which it was held previously. Then, rack 16 is displaced to a position where removal unit 42 can remove another slide therefrom for coverslipping.

(13) By providing two mounting medium reservoirs, the two coverslipper modules 30, 32 can be operated independently of each other; i.e., one coverslipper module 30, 32 can coverslip slides simultaneously with the other coverslipper module 30, 32. This makes it possible, in particular, to store two different mounting media in the two mounting medium reservoirs, so that, unlike the known coverslippers which have only one coverslipper module 30, 32, there is no need to change the mounting medium when different mounting media are required depending on the type of thin section.

(14) Input compartment 14 includes a reader unit capable of reading information from an information carrier attached to rack 16, such as, for example, a bar code or an RFID chip. This information includes, in particular, information for uniquely identifying rack 16. Based on the information read from the information carrier, a control unit 52 of coverslipper 10 determines the mounting medium with which the slides received in this rack 16 are to be coverslipped. Accordingly, control unit 52 then controls transport unit 20 to transport rack 16 to the coverslipper module 30, 32 that contains the right mounting medium. Thus, the assignment of racks 16 to the two coverslipper modules 30, 32 operating in parallel can be accomplished automatically without having to make a manual selection. Control unit 52 has stored therein, in particular, a database in which the mounting medium to be used for a particular rack 16 is stored uniquely for each rack. Based on the information read, control unit 52 may uniquely identify rack 16, and thus read information from the database as to which mounting medium is to be used.

(15) In an alternative embodiment, the information stored on the information carriers of racks 16 may already include the information as to which mounting medium is to be used. In this case, there is no need to store such a database in control unit 52.

(16) Transport unit 20 is designed, in particular, as a linear transport mechanism having three linear axes oriented orthogonal to one another, so that it is capable of carrying out all transports within coverslipper 10. Thus, transport unit 20 is, in particular, able to move from input compartment 14 directly to any of module-receiving areas 24 through 28, so that it can transfer rack 16 directly to one of module-receiving areas 24 through 28 without having to previously transfer it to any of the other module-receiving areas 24 through 28. This ensures that modules 30 through 34 received in module-receiving areas 24 through 28 can be operated completely independently of each other.

(17) Once all slides of a rack 16 received in one of coverslipper modules 30, 32 have been coverslipped, transport unit 20 removes this rack 16 from coverslipper module 30, 32 and transfers it to a drying unit, which is not visible in the FIGURE. The drying unit removes moisture from the mounting medium, so that the mounting medium dries up faster and the cover slip adheres securely to the slide and cannot be displaced during further handling of the slides. The drying unit includes, in particular, a drying chamber in which a plurality of racks 16 can be received at the same time and through which is passed a stream of air heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating element, so that the slides located in the air stream are reliably, quickly and gently dried.

(18) After drying, transport unit 20 removes rack 16 from the drying unit and transfers it to quality control module 34, which is received in third module-receiving area 28. This quality control module 34 includes a camera which captures at least one image showing at least the coverslipped thin section of each slide. The coverslipping quality is determined based on this image. In particular, control unit 52 has image-processing algorithms stored therein, which are executed by the control unit and which make it possible to detect damage to the thin sections, cover slips and/or to the slides, air inclusions between the cover slip and the slide and/or improper staining of the thin sections. If quality control module 34 should detect that the coverslipping quality of a slide does not meet the specified minimum requirements, it outputs, in particular, information indicative of this condition to the user of coverslipper 10.

(19) Once quality control module 34 has checked the coverslipping quality of all the slides received in rack 16, transport unit 20 transports rack 16 and the slides received back therein into output compartment 22, so that it can be removed by a user. Alternatively, removal can be performed automatically. Output compartment 22 is configured, in particular, in the manner of a drawer, which allows for easy removal of racks 16.

(20) In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the drying unit may be omitted. In this case, after racks 16 have been coverslipped by coverslipper modules 30, 32, they are transferred directly to quality control module 34.

(21) The three module-receiving areas 24 through 28 are arranged, in particular parallel to one another, in an upper plane which, apart from them, accommodates only control unit 52. In contrast, input compartment 14, output compartment 22 and the drying unit are disposed in a lower level under this upper level, so that, on the one hand, a particularly compact design is achieved and, on the other hand, it is ensured that module-receiving areas 28 through 28 located above are easily accessible, so that modules 30 through 34 can be easily replaced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 10 coverslipper 12 housing 14 input compartment 16 rack 18 xylene container 20 transport unit 22 output compartment 24, 26, 28 module-receiving area 30, 32 coverslipper module 34 quality control module 36 support plate 38, 40 inlet port 42 removal unit 44 hollow needle 46 suction cup device 48 cover slip 50 coverslip container 52 control unit