Coverslipper for automatically applying coverslips to slides held in a slide carrier, and method for handling slides

Abstract

The invention relates to a coverslipper (1000) for automatically applying coverslips to slides (10) held in a slide carrier (20), wherein the coverslipper (1000) has a gripping mechanism (100) and a coverslipping mechanism (200) and is designed to grasp the slides (10) held in the slide carrier (20) in order by means of the gripping mechanism (100) and to remove them from the slide carrier (20) and to feed them to the coverslipping mechanism (200), wherein the coverslipper (1000) is designed, after a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to grasp a first slide held in the slide carrier (20), to automatically stop attempting to grasp the first slide and to automatically grasp a second slide (10), which is different from the first slide. The invention further relates to a method for handling slides (10) held in a slide carrier (20) in a coverslipper (1000).

Description

[0001] Coverslipper for automatically covering slides held in a slide holder and method for handling slides

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to an automatic coverslipper for automatically covering slides held in a slide holder. The coverslipper is configured to grip the slides held in the slide holder one after the other by means of the gripping mechanism, remove them from the slide holder, and feed them to the coverslipping mechanism. The present invention also relates to a method for handling slides.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] For pathological examinations, stained specimens or tissue samples, such as histological sections, are mounted on microscope slides and covered with a coverslip. The covered specimens can then be examined under a microscope. Automatic coverslippers are particularly suitable for applying the coverslip to the microscope slide, as the application of coverslips or individual slides takes place in an automated process. For this process, several slides containing tissue samples are arranged in compartments or slots of a rack or slide holder. The rack is fed to the coverslipper, where one slide at a time is removed from the rack and a mounting medium is applied to the slide. The coverslip is then applied to the slide to seal the tissue sample onto the slide.A slide can be removed from the rack using a gripping mechanism.

[0006] Such a glass coverslipper is, for example, marketed by the applicant under the name "Leica CV 5030".

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] According to the invention, an automatic coverslipper for automatically covering slides held in a slide holder or rack and a method for handling slides with the features of the independent patent claims are proposed. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims and the following description. The invention has the advantage that slides that cannot be gripped by the gripping mechanism - for whatever reason - do not lead to an error or an interruption in the workflow, thus eliminating or at least reducing the need for manual user intervention. Rather, the coverslipping process can be continued and completed for all slides that can be reliably gripped. The defective slides can be identified very easily.

[0009] For this purpose, the invention makes use of the measure of not interrupting the process sequence in the event of an inadmissibly high number of faulty gripping attempts of a first slide, but rather continuing it with another second slide, expediently the slide following in the process sequence.

[0010] Specifically, the coverslipper according to the invention is configured to automatically abort gripping of a first slide held in the slide holder after a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to grip the first slide and to automatically grip a second slide that is different from the first. The predetermined number can also be one, i.e., after each unsuccessful attempt to grip, the system continues with another slide. However, the predetermined number is advantageously greater than one, e.g., three, so that brief gripping disturbances do not immediately result in the slide being skipped.

[0011] The inaccessible first slide is, in particular, marked so that it is identifiable for the user. For example, provision can be made to visually display the rack position of the inaccessible or error-causing first slide, for example, on a display device of the coverslipper, for example by indicating the rack position number.

[0012] Generally, coverslippers are used for covering slides of different dimensions, with a range of dimensions and formats standardized in DIN ISO 8037-1. This is because different types and sizes of objects, e.g. tissue sections, cells or smears, have to be coverslipped. It is therefore possible that slides of different formats are located in a rack, but available coverslippers can only be set to one slide format per automatic coverslipping process or coverslipping batch (automatic process for serially covering a series of slides). This can lead to problems in the automatic coverslipping process because a slide has a different format than expected and cannot then be gripped. Conventionally, the coverslipper can be set to automatically switch to an error or failure mode.PAUSE mode is activated if the gripping mechanism cannot grip or grasp a slide after three attempts. Other reasons can also prevent slides from being gripped securely, such as poorly applied labels, sticky labels, broken edges, etc. In the event of an interruption, the faulty slide must usually first be located and then removed from the coverslipper and sorted out. The interrupted automatic process then has to be restarted. This is very time-consuming. However, with the invention, the process is now automatically continued with another slide, so there is no interruption or pause.

[0013] In one embodiment, the coverslipper is configured to store and / or display a position of the first (i.e., error-causing) slide in the slide holder, in particular on a display device of the coverslipper and / or on a display device remote from the coverslipper, e.g., on a monitoring computer or monitoring location, or on the Internet. The error-causing slide can, in particular, be displayed during and / or after the coverslipping process. The rack position number of each error-causing slide can be displayed by means of a message. Alternatively or additionally, these rack position numbers can be stored in error memory entries or logbook entries (run logs).

[0014] In one embodiment, the coverslipper is configured to store and / or display an unsuccessful attempt to grasp the first slide, in particular on a display device of the coverslipper and / or on a display device remote from the coverslipper, e.g., on a monitoring station or on the Internet. Accordingly, not only ultimately unsuccessful attempts to grasp the slide are displayed and / or stored, but also before the predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts is reached.

[0015] In one embodiment, the coverslipper has a second coverslipping mechanism configured to receive manually fed slides. Unlike the aforementioned coverslipping mechanism, to which the slides are automatically fed by means of the gripping mechanism, the coverslipper also has the option of manually feeding and covering slides. This can be advantageously used for those slides that could not be gripped with the gripping mechanism and therefore were not covered with the aforementioned coverslipping mechanism. Thus, no separate coverslipping device is required.

[0016] In one embodiment, the coverslipper is configured to receive configuration parameters for the second coverslipping mechanism from a user, for example via a human / machine interface. In one embodiment, it can be provided that the user can freely enter all parameters. In embodiments, it can also be provided that a number of parameter sets are predetermined, from which the user can select a suitable parameter set. This has the advantage that the user does not have to know the parameters themselves. In embodiments, it can also be provided that parameters of parameter sets can be changed or overwritten by the user. In this way, the error-causing slide can be manually coverslipped, for example, after the other error-free slides.

[0017] In one embodiment, the coverslipper has a display device and / or a human-machine interface. This allows, among other things, the previously described advantages to be realized very easily.

[0018] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The invention is illustrated schematically in the drawing using exemplary embodiments and is described below with reference to the drawing.

[0020] Short description of the drawings

[0021] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a coverslipping machine schematically in a perspective view.

[0022] Figure 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a method for handling slides.

[0023] Embodiment(s) of the invention

[0024] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a coverslipping machine in a perspective view and is designated overall by 1000. The coverslipping machine 1000 is configured for the automatic coverslipping of specimen slides 10 held in a specimen slide holder 20 and comprises a gripping mechanism 100 and a coverslipping mechanism 200.

[0025] The slide holder 20 with a number of slides 10 is stored in a container 300, which may contain, for example, solvent. Suitable slide holders or racks are shown, for example, in DE 10 2010 062 543 A1.

[0026] The gripping mechanism 100 has a base body 110 and two gripping jaws 120, which can be moved back and forth in at least one direction R in order to grip or grasp a specimen slide 10 between the gripping jaws 120. The base body 110, together with the gripping jaws 120, can be moved in several directions X, Y, and Z within the coverslipper 1000 in order to bring gripped specimen slides 10 to a desired position. The gripping jaws 120, with a specimen slide 10 received therein, can in particular also be rotatable about a rotation axis D in order to pivot a specimen slide 10 arranged vertically in the vessel 300 into a horizontal position, which is required for further processing in the coverslipper 1000.

[0027] The coverslip mechanism 200 has a receiving location 210 on which a slide 10 can be placed. The receiving location 210 can be configured to fix a received slide 10 and / or move it in specific directions. A mounting medium can be applied to a slide 10 received on the receiving location 210 via a nozzle 220. By means of a coverslip holder 230, one of several coverslips 240 can be picked up, for example by vacuum, and arranged on the slide 10 provided with mounting medium. With regard to the basic functioning of a coverslip mechanism, reference is made, for example, to DE 10 2011 009 502 A1.

[0028] The coverslipper 1000 is configured to grip the slides 10 held in the slide holder 20 one after the other by means of the gripping mechanism 100, remove them from the slide holder 20, and feed them to the coverslipping mechanism 200, so that an automatic and ideally uninterrupted sequence of coverslipping operations takes place until all slides 10 held in the slide holder 20 are provided with a coverslip. For dispensing the covered slides, a further slide holder 20' can be provided, into which the covered slides are inserted, for example, also by means of the gripping mechanism 100. On a display device such as a display 400, which can also be designed as a touchscreen, various information can be presented during operation and / or inputs from a user can be received in the sense of a human-machine interface.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the coverslipper 1000 additionally has a manual coverslipping mechanism 200', which is accessible to the user, for example, via a housing opening 500, in order to manually coverslip slides which could not be covered, for example, during an automatic coverslipping process.

[0030] The housing opening 500 can be closed, for example, by a flap.

[0031] To control the aforementioned components of the coverslipping machine 1000, a computing unit such as a control unit 600 can be provided, which is programmed to control the coverslipping machine 1000.

[0032] Figure 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a method for handling slides, which can be implemented, for example, by the computing unit 600 in the coverslipping machine 1000 together with the other described components, as a block diagram.

[0033] The process begins in step 2000.

[0034] In a step 2010, the gripping mechanism 100 is moved to a first of the row of slides 10 stored in the slide holder 20 in the vessel 300, so that the slide 10 is positioned between the gripping jaws 120 and can be gripped by the gripping jaws 120. A counter value of unsuccessful gripping attempts is set to zero.

[0035] In a step 2020, the slide is gripped, in particular by closing the gripping jaws 120 in accordance with a predetermined expected slide format. For example, the gripping jaws 120 are brought to a predetermined distance according to the expected slide format. In particular, a

[0036] In a step 2030, a check is performed to determine whether the slide 10 could be gripped or grasped. For example, a certain (force) resistance during gripping is to be expected if the gripping jaws grip a slide of the correct format. Alternatively or additionally, a visual check of the gripping process can also be performed, for example, using a camera or light barrier, to determine whether the slide can be lifted.

[0037] If it is determined that the gripping process was successful, branch "1", the slide 10 is moved to the receiving location 210 of the coverslip mechanism 200 in a step 2040 and then covered and dispensed in a block 2050.

[0038] However, if it is determined in step 2030 that the gripping process was unsuccessful (branch "0"), the counter value of unsuccessful gripping attempts is incremented in step 2060. It may be provided that each unsuccessful gripping attempt is stored in a memory unit of the computing unit 600, for example, in a logbook. In step 2070, the counter value of unsuccessful gripping attempts is compared with a predetermined threshold value, e.g., 3.

[0039] If the predetermined threshold has not yet been reached, branch "0", another gripping operation 2020 is attempted.

[0040] However, if the predetermined threshold value is reached, branch "1", the faulty slide (i.e., the first slide within the meaning of the claims) is left in the slide holder 20, and the process continues with the next or generally another slide (i.e., the second slide within the meaning of the claims) at step 2010, i.e., the gripping mechanism is moved there. Furthermore, the position of the faulty slide is stored in the memory unit of the computing unit 600, in particular also in the logbook, in a step 2080 and can be displayed on the display device 400 in a step 2090, for example, as a position number in the slide holder 20. In the example shown, the numbers 4 and 8 are shown there, which means that the slides located at position numbers 4 and 8 could not be gripped.Such defective slides can then be manually covered, for example, using the coverslipping mechanism 200'. Parameters to be used for the coverslipping process, such as a quantity and / or position of the mounting medium, a coverslip size, etc., can be entered by the user, for example, via the display device 400. In embodiments, it can also be provided that a number of parameter sets are predetermined, from which the user can select a suitable one. This has the advantage that the user does not have to know the parameters themselves. List of reference symbols.

[0041] Slides 10 Slide holder 20, 20'

[0042] Coverslipper 1000

[0043] Gripping mechanism 100

[0044] Base body 110

[0045] Gripping jaws 120

[0046] Direction R, X, Y, Z

[0047] Rotation axis D

[0048] Covering mechanism 200, 200'

[0049] Recording space 210

[0050] Nozzle 220

[0051] Coverslip sensor 230

[0052] Coverslips 240

[0053] Vessel 300

[0054] Display 400 Housing opening 500 Control unit 600

[0055] 2000 - 2090 process steps

Claims

Claims 1. A coverslipping machine (1000) for automatically covering slides (10) held in a slide holder (20), wherein the coverslipping machine (1000) has a gripping mechanism (100) and a coverslipping mechanism (200) and is configured to grip the slides (10) held in the slide holder (20) one after the other by means of the gripping mechanism (100) and to remove them from the slide holder (20) and to feed them to the coverslipping mechanism (200), wherein the coverslipping machine (1000) is configured to automatically abort the gripping of the first slide after a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to grip a first slide held in the slide holder (20) and to automatically grip a second slide (10) which is different from the first.

2. Automatic coverslipper (1000) according to claim 1, which is configured to store and / or display a position of the first slide in the slide holder (20).

3. Automatic coverslipper (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, which is designed to store and / or display an unsuccessful attempt to grip the first slide.

4. Coverslipper (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a second coverslipping mechanism (200') which is adapted to receive manually fed slides (10).

5. Coverslipper (1000) according to claim 4, which is configured to receive configuration parameters for the second coverslipping mechanism (200') from a user.

6. Coverslipping machine (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a display device (400) and / or a human / machine interface.

7. A method for handling slides (10) held in a slide holder (20) in a coverslipping machine (1000), wherein the coverslipping machine (1000) has a gripping mechanism (100) and a coverslipping mechanism (200), comprising: Moving (2010) the gripping mechanism (100) to a first slide of the slides (10) held in the slide holder (20), Gripping (2020) the first slide with the gripping mechanism (100), checking (2030) whether the first slide has been gripped by the gripping mechanism (100) if it is determined that the first slide has not been gripped, moving (2010) the gripping mechanism (100) to a second slide different from the first slide.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: if it is determined that the first slide has not been gripped, storing and / or displaying (2080) a position of the first slide in the slide holder (20).

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein checking (2030) whether the first slide has been gripped comprises: Check (2070) whether the first slide has not been grasped for at least a predetermined number of unsuccessful grasp attempts.

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, further comprising: when it is determined that the first slide has been gripped, moving (2040) the first slide to the coverslipping mechanism (200) and / or coverslipping (2050) the first slide.

11. Coverslipper according to one of claims 1 to 6, which is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 7 to 10.

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