Specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging in vitro tissue specimens - Patents.com

Abstract

A specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen includes a specimen container having a bottom and an upstanding wall, the system further including an additional bottom plate attachable to the bottom of the specimen container, the additional bottom plate configured to receive the in vitro tissue specimen.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of in vitro tissue specimen analysis, the assessment of resection accuracy is an important issue. For example, after resection of tumor tissue, the tumor tissue needs to be removed as completely as possible, and therefore the resection margins of the resected tissue need to be evaluated to determine whether further tissue needs to be resected. Furthermore, the resected tissue needs to have sufficient margins of tumor-free tissue. Such assessment of resection accuracy can be performed by a histopathologist. However, the presence or waiting of a histopathologist during surgery can be relatively expensive and is logistically relatively difficult to achieve. At the same time, histopathological evaluation is a relatively time-consuming process and difficult to realize intraoperatively. Therefore, such histopathological evaluation is rarely performed intraoperatively, which leads to undesirable schedules of subsequent additional surgery if tumor margins of the resected tissue are detected postoperatively.

[0003] It is known to use one or more imaging techniques in the assessment of the resection accuracy of an ex vivo tissue specimen, which imaging technique can visualize tumor tissue. The CT imaging module can, for example, detect differences in tissue density of the tissue specimen and provide morphological information about the imaged tissue specimen to distinguish between tumor tissue and healthy tissue. However, CT images often provide limited contrast between tumor tissue and healthy tissue. The PET imaging module can detect the distribution in the patient's body of a positron-emitting radioactive tracer administered to the patient prior to imaging. The PET imaging module can provide images of tumor tissue with relatively high accuracy, for example, since some radioactive tracers are taken up by tumor tissue with high specificity. Unfortunately, detailed morphological information may not be available in the PET images. Thus, the combination of images produced by the CT imaging module and the PET imaging module is highly advantageous in clinical imaging, particularly in margin assessment of resected tissue specimens.

[0004] A key issue in margin assessment of resected tissue specimens is the orientation of the tissue specimen outside the body relative to the body from which the tissue was excised. Various techniques are used to define the orientation of the tissue specimen. The surgeon may, for example, indicate the anterior, posterior, superior or inferior surface of the tissue specimen by using a specific wire or color paint indicating that surface, or by using a labeled marker or clip. The specimen orientation may, for example, be prescribed by the provider of the specimen container for the imaging device. However, such prescriptions are prone to human manipulation and / or handling errors, which may lead to erroneous margin assessment with respect to the original orientation of the tissue specimen inside the body.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve or at least mitigate one or more of the problems set forth above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging ex vivo tissue specimens that allows for relative flexibility in the orientation of the resected specimen while minimizing the risk of potential mishandling. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen is provided, characterized by the features of claim 1. In particular, the specimen container system comprises a specimen container having a bottom and an upright wall. The specimen container system further comprises an additional bottom plate attachable to the bottom of the specimen container. The additional bottom plate can be attached to the bottom of the specimen container in a permanent manner, for example by gluing or any other suitable method. Alternatively, the additional bottom plate can be removably attached to the bottom of the specimen container. The additional bottom plate is configured to receive the in vitro tissue specimen in an orientation selectable by a user. The additional bottom plate comprises at least two characteristic orientation markers configured to indicate at least two substantially transverse anatomical orientations, which orientations can be assigned to said at least two characteristic orientation markers depending on the orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen on the additional bottom plate selected by the user. The at least two orientation markers can, for example, comprise at least two of at least two characteristic symbols, for example a star, a square, a disk, a polygon, a cross or other symbols, as will be clear to the skilled person. The at least two orientation markers are preferably arranged along the periphery of the additional bottom plate such that the markers remain visible when the extracorporeal tissue specimen is placed on the additional bottom plate. In contrast to the prior art specimen container systems, the extracorporeal tissue specimen may be placed on the additional bottom plate in an orientation selected by the user, rather than imposed by the manufacturer of the specimen container system. When determining the optimal orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen in the specimen container, the user may take into account, for example, the stability of the positioning of the extracorporeal tissue specimen and / or the particularity of the tissue specimen that needs to be imaged. However, the user preferably selects the orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen such that the anatomical orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen corresponds to one of the at least two characteristic orientation markers. Thus, the selection of the manner of the extracorporeal tissue specimen on the additional bottom plate is preferably not entirely random but is selected among several potential orientations, the number of potential orientations depending on the number of characteristic orientation markers on the additional bottom plate. The user may then assign importance, in particular the anatomical orientation, to the orientation markers depending on the selected orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen.In other words, the two characteristic orientation markers allow at least two substantially transverse anatomical directions to be assigned to said at least two characteristic orientation markers depending on the orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen selected by the user. A first symbol can be assigned a first anatomical direction or orientation, e.g. "posterior" and a second symbol can be assigned a second anatomical direction or orientation, which is substantially orthogonal to the first direction, e.g. "up" or "down" or "left" or "right". By assigning at least two anatomical transverse directions, any orientation of one of three anatomical planes, namely sagittal or longitudinal, transverse, coronal or frontal, can be defined. The assignment of at least two substantially transverse anatomical directions to said at least two characteristic orientation markers may be different for each use of the specimen container. In this way, the manipulation of the in vitro tissue specimen can be simplified and increased flexibility, and manipulation errors can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0007] The additional bottom plate can advantageously be made of foam. Foam can be practically invisible on X-ray. As a result, X-ray images of tissue specimens on foam give the impression of a floating tissue specimen, with clear boundaries of the specimen avoiding artifacts in the image, which can simplify the automated imaging process. Furthermore, an additional bottom plate made of foam can offer several practical advantages when used to receive ex vivo tissue specimens. Foam can at least partially absorb the body fluids of the ex vivo tissue. Furthermore, foam allows relatively easy fixation of ex vivo tissue specimens on the additional bottom plate, for example by pinning the specimen to the foam or by fixing the specimen in other ways known to the skilled person. The foam can be, for example, a closed cell foam, such as, for example, polyethylene (PE) or ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), which is relatively robust and allows, for example, writing on the foam. The foam is preferably a white foam or any light colored foam. If paint is used on the foam as a marking or indicator, the white or light color increases the visibility of the color.

[0008] The specimen container preferably includes an inwardly protruding edge. The additional bottom plate includes a corresponding recess configured to receive said protruding edge of the specimen container. In this way, the additional bottom plate can be inserted into the sample container in only one way. As a result, the orientation marker on the additional bottom plate can always point in the same direction relative to the specimen container. The inwardly protruding edge protrudes from the bottom of the specimen container, or from the upright walls of the specimen container, or from both the upright walls and the bottom of the specimen container. The protruding edge and the recess can have any suitable shape, as long as the protruding edge is of a corresponding shape such that it can engage with the recess in only one direction. Alternatively, the specimen container may include a recess or an outwardly protruding edge, and the additional bottom plate includes a corresponding protruding edge that fits into said recess of the specimen container.

[0009] The additional bottom plate preferably includes at least four characteristic orientation markers configured to indicate at least four anatomical directions, at least two of which are substantially orthogonal to each other. More preferably, every two adjacent orientation markers may be configured to indicate a substantially lateral anatomical direction. The at least four characteristic orientation markers may be assigned to, for example, four anatomical directions in one of three anatomical planes. Even if the direction can already be defined by two lateral directions, the at least four characteristic orientation markers may help to define the orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen without doubt, for example, when the in vitro tissue specimen partially covers one or more orientation markers. Furthermore, the at least four characteristic orientation markers may increase the number of potential orientations of the in vitro tissue specimen. Even if the user can select an optimal orientation for the in vitro tissue specimen, the selection of the orientation is not completely random. It is further preferred to position and orient the in vitro tissue on the additional bottom plate of the specimen container such that one anatomical orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen corresponds to one of the at least two or more characteristic orientation markers. Four characteristic orientation markers, in which every two adjacent orientation markers are configured to indicate a substantially lateral anatomical orientation, can provide, for example, 24 potential preferred orientations for the in vitro tissue specimen on the additional base plate. Each additional set of four orientation markers, in which every two adjacent orientation markers are configured to indicate a substantially lateral anatomical orientation, can increase the number of potential preferred orientations for the in vitro tissue specimen on the additional base plate. Such additional sets of four orientation markers can be, for example, rotated 30° or 45° relative to the first set of four characteristic orientation markers. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the at least four orientation markers are at least four characteristic orientation markers, for example at least four different symbols. Such orientation markers differ in shape, color, or both shape and color.

[0010] Preferably, the specimen container is at least partially transparent. In particular, the upright walls of the specimen container may be transparent. More preferably, the entire specimen container is transparent. Preferably, the specimen container is transparent to various wavelength ranges, in particular to X-rays. It is preferable to have the specimen container additionally transparent to visible light so as to allow visual inspection of the ex vivo tissue. The specimen container may be made of a transparent plastic, for example acrylic or styrene acrylonitrile. The specimen container may be made, for example, by injection molding.

[0011] The specimen container is preferably substantially cylindrical. Such a shape allows optimizing the surface area of ​​the bottom of the specimen container relative to the surface area of ​​the upright walls. Alternatively, other shapes are possible as well. The upright walls are preferably high enough to provide lateral support to the in vitro tissue specimen. At the same time, the upright walls are preferably not too high so as not to impede the insertion of the in vitro tissue specimen into the container. The height of the upright walls is, for example, comprised in the range of about 3 cm to about 10 cm, more preferably about 4 cm to about 7 cm, for example about 5 cm. The diameter or similar width of the specimen container preferably corresponds to the field of view of the imaging device in which the specimen container system can be used. The diameter of the specimen container is, for example, comprised in the range of about 9 cm to about 12 cm, for example about 10.5 cm. The dimensions of the specimen container can be adjusted depending on the type of in vitro specimen to be imaged.

[0012] The upper side of the specimen container is preferably open. An open top or top allows for example the use of a top-down camera in an imaging device. A top-down view, or preferably an image, of the in vitro specimen in the specimen container allows both the in vitro tissue specimen and the at least two orientation markers of the additional bottom plate to be seen together. Such a view allows an automatic determination of the orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen based on a prior assignment of the orientation markers to anatomical orientations. Alternatively, the specimen container comprises an openable upper side, e.g. a lid, which may advantageously be transparent to X-rays and preferably also transparent to visible light.

[0013] The upper ends of the upright walls advantageously include visual indicators, such as notches, that aid in aligning the specimen container system within the imaging device, particularly rotationally, since the specimen container system is preferably insertable into the imaging device in only one orientation.

[0014] The specimen container system further comprises a platform to which the bottom of the container can be removably secured. By securing the specimen container on such a dedicated platform, a stable positioning of the specimen container and thus the in vitro tissue specimen can be ensured during a procedure of imaging the in vitro tissue specimen. The platform may be integrated with a dedicated imaging device or may be configured to be attachable to an existing imaging device, for example by retrofitting such an imaging device.

[0015] The specimen container and / or the platform may be configured such that the specimen container can be removably fixed on the platform in only one orientation. This single-orientation fixation can be obtained in various ways. As an example, one of the bottom of the container and the platform includes at least one, preferably a plurality of outwardly protruding edges configured to be received in a corresponding recess in the bottom of the other of the container and the platform. The bottom of the specimen container, in particular the periphery of the bottom, includes, for example, an edge that protrudes outwardly, preferably downwards. To improve the stability of the specimen container when not fixed on the platform, it is preferred to include at least three edges, for example four edges, such as support edges on which the specimen container can stand. And the platform may include a corresponding recess configured to receive an edge protruding from the bottom of the specimen container. Alternatively, the bottom of the platform includes at least one recess configured to receive an edge protruding upwards from the platform. In both cases, the protruding edges and the corresponding recesses allow only one way of fixing the specimen container to the platform, such that the orientation of the direction marker relative to the platform is known and always the same.

[0016] The at least one outwardly projecting edge may either project downwardly from the specimen container or project upwardly from the platform and may advantageously comprise a chamfered edge. A chamfered edge may guide the insertion of the at least one edge into a corresponding recess, thereby facilitating manipulation of the specimen container. An end or a side of the at least one edge may be chamfered, or both.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging device system for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen, comprising a specimen container system, which is an imaging device having the features of claims 11-12. Such an imaging device may provide one or more of the above mentioned advantages. The imaging device may for example comprise a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging module and / or a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging module. In a highly advantageous embodiment, the imaging device may be a single device comprising both a PET imaging module and a CT imaging module. The specimen container system may be configured to receive an in vitro tissue specimen for imaging by both the CT imaging module and the PET imaging module.

[0018] According to further aspects of the present invention there is provided a computer implemented method, a controller and a computer program product for assigning an orientation to an in vitro tissue specimen having the features of claims 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Such a method, controller and computer program product may provide one or more of the advantages mentioned above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen according to a first aspect of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the specimen container system of FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of an additional bottom plate of a specimen container, and FIG. 3b shows a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a specimen container for an imaging device for imaging in vitro tissue specimens according to the first aspect of the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the specimen container system of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the specimen container system of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the stage of the specimen container system of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the specimen container system of FIG. 1 including the platform of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen according to a first aspect of the invention. The specimen container system comprises a specimen container 1 having a bottom 2 and an upright wall 3 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The specimen container 1 is, for example, substantially cylindrical, i.e. has a substantially circular cross section with the upright wall 3. The top surface 4 of the specimen container 1 is preferably open. The specimen container 1 is at least partially transparent. The specimen container 1 can be made, for example, of acrylic or styrene acrylonitrile. The specimen container 1 can preferably be made by injection molding. The system further comprises an additional bottom plate 5 attachable to the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1. The additional bottom plate 5 is preferably made of foam. The additional bottom plate 5 is, for example, glued to the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1. The bottom plate may be removably attached in other known ways or may rest on the bottom 2 without attachment. The additional bottom plate 5 is configured to receive an in vitro tissue specimen, for example tumor tissue freshly excised during surgery. The specimen container 1 comprises an inwardly projecting edge 7. As in the present embodiment, the inwardly projecting edge 7 is included in the upright wall 3 or in the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1, or in both. The inwardly projecting edge 7 is an inwardly projecting protrusion extending from both the bottom 2 and the upright wall 3, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 4. The inwardly projecting edge 7 may extend over the entire height of the upright wall 3, so as not to impair the volume of the specimen container 1, but preferably not. The height of said inwardly projecting edge 7 corresponds to the height of the additional bottom plate 5, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 4. The additional bottom plate 5 is thus substantially flush with the upper surface of the inwardly projecting edge or protrusion 7. The shape of the inwardly projecting edge 7 can be varied. Here, the inwardly projecting edge 7 extends substantially along a chord of the cross section of the specimen container 1, and said cross section of the specimen container 1 at the level of the inwardly projecting edge 7 differs from a substantially circular cross section. The additional bottom plate 5 advantageously comprises a corresponding recess 8 configured to receive said protrusion of the specimen container. The shape of the recess 8 preferably corresponds to the shape of the protrusion 7. In this embodiment, the additional bottom plate 5 is substantially disc-shaped lacking a substantially circular portion as the recess 8.The upper edge of the upright wall 3 includes a notch 9, e.g., a single notch, located substantially above the inwardly protruding edge 7. Such a notch or other visual indicator can aid and guide a user in accurately orienting the specimen container system and facilitating insertion of the specimen container system into the imaging system.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the specimen container system of FIG. 1. The additional bottom plate 5 comprises at least two characteristic orientation markers 6 configured to indicate at least two substantially transverse anatomical directions, in particular allowing at least two substantially transverse anatomical directions to be assigned to said at least two characteristic orientation markers 6. More preferably, the additional bottom plate 5 comprises at least four characteristic orientation markers 6, for example a square, a triangle, a disk and a hexagon as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, or a square, a triangle, a disk and a cross as shown in FIG. 3a, 3b and 7. Other types of symbols can also be used as orientation markers 6. The characteristic orientation markers are preferably arranged biased towards and / or along the periphery of the additional bottom plate 5, for example not towards a central region of said additional bottom plate 5, so that these orientation markers 6 remain visible when observed ex vivo when an ex vivo tissue specimen is placed on the additional bottom plate 5 in an orientation selected by the user. The orientation markers 6 are arranged to indicate a substantially transverse anatomical direction for every two adjacent orientation markers 6. There are three independent anatomical axes, which always point in the same direction relative to each other. Each of the three independent axes has two labels representing the two directions along the axis. The anatomical directions include, for example, superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, left, right, medial, lateral, or other directions known to those skilled in the art, depending on the anatomical plane used. Different medical specialties have different preferences for labeling the anatomical directions. A user, for example a surgeon or a nurse, can first place the ex vivo tissue specimen in the specimen container 1 in an orientation that the user considers to be the optimal orientation, and in a next step can assign an anatomical direction to at least one of said characteristic direction markers 6. The opposite anatomical direction is then automatically estimated. As an example, a triangle can be assigned to indicate the posterior direction. Any opposite direction markers, especially hexagons, can be automatically assigned to the anterior direction by estimation. In the next step, the user is left with the remaining four anatomical directions and at least one direction marker, or two opposite direction markers. The user can then assign one of the remaining four anatomical directions, for example the left direction, to the disk or square.The opposite anatomical direction can then be automatically assigned to the opposite directional marker. In this example, the plane of the additional bottom plate 5 can correspond to the transverse plane of the body, for example, such that the square directional marker corresponds to the right direction and the hexagonal directional marker indicates the forward direction. The direction indicated by the directional marker 6 can be redefined each time the specimen container is used. This procedure is in contrast to what is done in the prior art, where the orientation of the in vitro tissue specimen is generally imposed by the manufacturer of the specimen container. In the present invention, the user is given considerable freedom in positioning the in vitro tissue specimen in the container 1, so that he can choose a relatively stable specimen positioning method that is favorable for imaging. The user only needs to assign an anatomical direction to the characteristic directional marker 6 provided on the additional bottom plate 5 of the specimen container 1.

[0022] FIG. 3b shows a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a specimen container 1' for an imaging device for imaging in vitro tissue specimens according to the first aspect of the invention, and FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of an additional bottom plate 5' of said specimen container 1' of FIG. 3b. The additional bottom plate 5' differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in particular in that the periphery 5a of the additional bottom plate 5' comprises at least one, preferably several radially extending protrusions 20 or tabs. The periphery 5a may further comprise at least one, preferably several recesses 21, from which said at least one protrusion 20 extends. The at least one protrusion 20 is preferably made of a flexible material such that it is retractable inside the specimen container 1', despite the at least one protrusion 20 extending beyond the inner diameter of the specimen container 1'. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 3b, the at least one protrusion 20 can be pressed into the specimen container 1'. The at least one recess 21 may provide a space for receiving the retracted protrusion 20. The at least one protrusion 20 is preferably made of the same material as the additional bottom plate 5', for example foam. The at least one protrusion 20 has a substantially triangular shape with only one extension angle, which is relatively acute. In this way, the at least one protrusion 20 can be pressed relatively easily into the specimen container 1', minimizing friction with the inside of the specimen container 1' and facilitating the insertion of the additional bottom plate 5'. Other shapes of the at least one protrusion 20 are possible as well. The multiple protrusions 20 and the corresponding recesses 21 are distributed at substantially equal distances along the circumference 5a of the additional bottom plate 5', for example every 120° for three protrusions 20. Too many protrusions may impair ease of use. The additional bottom plate 5' further differs from the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 in that the segment-shaped recesses 8 include substantially rounded ends 8a. Thanks to the at least one protrusion 20, the additional bottom plate 5' includes additional protection against rotational movements of the additional bottom plate 5' within the specimen container 1', in addition to the segment-shaped recesses 8 which can ensure a fixed orientation of the additional bottom plate 5' relative to the specimen container 1', while the characteristic orientation markers 6 allow for random orientation of the specimens on the additional bottom plate 5'.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the specimen container system of FIG. 1. The bottom 2 of the specimen container 1 comprises a plurality, for example four, outwardly and preferably downwardly projecting edges 10. Said edges 10 are arranged and / or extend along the circumference or periphery of the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1. The downwardly projecting edges 10 have for example the shape of a curved blade along the circumference of the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1. Said edges 10 may be configured to be received in corresponding recesses of a platform to which the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1 is removably fixed. Said edges 10 advantageously have different lengths along the periphery of the bottom 2 of the specimen container 1. As a result, the specimen container 1 is received in said platform in only one orientation, more preferably in the corresponding recess of said platform. Thus, the orientation of the specimen container 1 with respect to the platform is always the same and known. The downwardly projecting edges 10 are chamfered edges, for example comprising a chamfered end 11, or even a first and a second chamfered end 11. The downwardly projecting edge 10 optionally further includes at least one hole 12 configured to receive a snap element to secure the specimen container 1 onto a platform. Alternatively, the specimen container 1 may be configured to rest on the platform by its own weight without the use of an additional snap fastener, magnetic engagement, or other retention element.

[0024] Figure 5 shows a side view of the specimen container system of figure 1. The total height of the specimen container is, for example, comprised in the range of about 2 cm to about 12 cm. The height of the upright wall 3 is, for example, comprised in the range of about 3 cm to about 10 cm, more preferably about 4 cm to about 7 cm, for example about 5 cm. The diameter of the specimen container 1 preferably corresponds to the field of view of an imaging device in which the specimen container system can be used. The diameter of the specimen container 1 may, for example, be comprised in the range of about 9 cm to about 12 cm, for example about 10.5 cm.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the platform 13 of the specimen container system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the specimen container system of FIG. 1 including the platform of FIG. 6. The platform 13 may be included in an imaging device or may be retrofitted to an existing imaging device. The platform 13 is configured to receive the bottom of the specimen container 1 in a releasably securable manner. The specimen container 1 can be secured, for example, by a form-fit of the specimen container 1. Alternatively, the specimen container 1 can be snapped onto the platform, or held by a magnetic element, or in other ways known to those skilled in the art. The specimen container 1 and / or the platform 13 are preferably configured to releasably secure the specimen container 1 on the platform 13 in only a single orientation. Furthermore, the platform 13, preferably the outer periphery of the platform 13, includes recesses 14 configured to receive the outwardly, e.g. downwardly extending edge 10 of the specimen container 1. The recesses 14 have different perimeters, for example, such that each recess is configured to receive only one of the multiple downwardly extending edges 10 of the specimen container 1. The platform 13 further includes a sensing button 15 configured to sense whether the specimen container 13 is properly positioned on the platform 13. The sensing button 15 may include a pretensioned element (not shown), e.g. a spring element configured to maintain the sensing button 15 in an extended position as shown, in which case the sensing button 15 extends above the platform 13. Only if the specimen container 1 is properly positioned on the platform 13 can the sensing button be pressed into the platform 13 against the force of the pretensioned element. The sensing button 15 may be configured to send a signal to the central processing unit and / or the imaging device that the specimen container 1 is correctly positioned. The platform 13, and in particular the bottom surface of the platform 13, further includes an additional recess 16 that extends substantially along a chord around the platform 13, the additional recess being configured to ensure the platform 13 is correctly positioned. This imaging device is easier to obtain on a relatively straight and / or flat surface, such as along a chord, than along a curved surface. The additional recess 16 includes holes 17 that allow the platform 13 to be fixedly attached to an imaging device, for example by means of screws or any other known attachment means.

[0026] In summary, the platform 13 is shaped to have a fixed orientation relative to the imaging device system. The platform 13 and the specimen container are configured such that only one orientation of the container 1 is possible relative to the platform 13. The additional bottom plate 5 including the characteristic orientation marker 6 can be positioned in the specimen container 1 in only one way. The position of the orientation marker 6 is therefore known to the imaging device system and is relatively error-free. At the same time, the user has a relatively free positioning when positioning the ex vivo tissue specimen in the specimen container. The user is then prompted, for example by dedicated software, to assign one of six anatomical directions to the first orientation of the orientation marker 6. The opposite anatomical direction can then be estimated and the user only has to assign one of the remaining four anatomical directions to the second orientation marker that is on the transverse axis relative to the first orientation marker. In this way, other anatomical directions can be estimated and used by the imaging device system. Thus, the present invention can provide a specimen container system for an imaging device imaging an ex vivo tissue specimen that provides a relatively flexible positioning of the resected specimen while minimizing the risk of potential handling errors.

[0027] During surgery, for example during breast surgery, imaging of the ex vivo tissue specimen can be performed using an imaging device, for example a mobile imaging device. Furthermore, the surgeon, or more preferably a nurse, can move the imaging device close to the operating table. The surgeon or nurse can place the excised tissue specimen in a tissue specimen receiving element, for example the specimen receiving system of the present invention, in a random orientation. The surgeon, nurse or other operator can then assign at least two lateral directions, preferably four anatomical directions, of the orientation markers 6, depending on how the tissue specimen is to be positioned, for example by using dedicated software. The tissue specimen receiving element can then be provided in the imaging device. The imaging device can be shaped to accurately position the tissue specimen receiving element in the device. An optical camera is mounted substantially above the tissue specimen receiving element, for example a specimen container system, allowing to create a top-view image of the tissue specimen, contributing to the automatic determination of the orientation of the ex vivo tissue specimen in the specimen container system. The tissue specimen receiving element can then be moved to a CT imaging module of the imaging device. The CT imaging module can perform imaging of the ex vivo tissue specimen. In a combined PET-CT scanning device, the same tissue specimen receiving element can be moved to a PET imaging module, which can then perform imaging of the ex vivo tissue specimen. The reconstructed 3D PET and / or CT images can then be displayed separately and / or simultaneously on a display for evaluation by a surgeon and / or nurse or other medical personnel for high-precision margin assessment of the ex vivo tissue specimen, preferably during surgery.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the present invention can be practiced in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that are within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims. In other words, it is intended to cover any modifications, variations, or equivalents that are within the scope of the underlying basic principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. Furthermore, readers of this patent application will understand that the words "comprise" or "comprises" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor, or another integrated unit, can perform the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the respective claims concerned. Terms such as "first", "second", "third", "a", "b", "c", etc., when used in the specification or claims, are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and do not necessarily describe a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, terms such as "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", etc., are introduced for explanatory purposes and do not necessarily indicate a relative position. It should be noted that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that embodiments of the invention may be practiced in accordance with the invention in other orders or directions different from those described or illustrated above.

Claims

1. A specimen container system for an imaging device for imaging an in vitro tissue specimen, the specimen container system comprising a specimen container having a bottom and upright walls, the system further comprising an additional bottom plate attachable to the bottom of the specimen container, the additional bottom plate being configured to receive an in vitro tissue specimen, the additional bottom plate including at least two characteristic direction markers configured to assign at least two substantially transverse anatomical directions to the at least two characteristic direction markers, characterized in that the specimen container system.

2. The specimen container system according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional bottom plate is made of foam.

3. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, the specimen container including an inwardly projecting edge, the additional bottom plate including a corresponding recess configured to receive the projecting edge of the specimen container, characterized in that the specimen container system.

4. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, the additional bottom plate including at least four characteristic direction markers configured to indicate at least four anatomical directions, at least two of which anatomical directions are substantially orthogonal to each other, in particular, for each two adjacent direction markers, being configured to indicate a substantially transverse anatomical direction, characterized in that the specimen container system.

5. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the specimen container is at least partially transparent.

6. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the specimen container is substantially cylindrical.

7. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper side of the specimen container is open.

8. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper end of the upright wall includes a visual indicator such as a notch.

9. The specimen container system according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the bottom of the specimen container comprises a removably fixable base.

10. In the specimen container system according to claim 9, The specimen container system is characterized in that the specimen container and / or the stage are configured such that the specimen container can be removably fixed on the stage only in a single orientation.

11. An imaging device system for imaging an extracorporeal tissue specimen, comprising the specimen container system according to Claim 1 or 2.

12. In the imaging device system according to Claim 11, The imaging device system is characterized by comprising a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging module and / or a computed tomography (CT) imaging module.

13. A computer-implemented method for assigning a direction to an extracorporeal tissue specimen placed in the specimen container according to Claim 1 or 2, comprising: - Optionally, displaying on the screen the at least two direction markers and the six anatomical directions; - Receiving, from a user input, an assignment of a first direction marker among the at least two direction markers to a first direction among the six anatomical directions; - Optionally, displaying on the screen four of the six anatomical directions excluding the anatomical direction to which the first direction marker is assigned and the opposite anatomical direction; - Receiving, from a user input, an assignment of a second direction marker adjacent to the first direction marker to a second anatomical direction, wherein the second anatomical direction is transverse to the first anatomical direction and is preferably one of the four anatomical directions displayed on the screen; - Deriving the orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen from the first and second transverse anatomical directions; - Optionally, displaying on the screen the assigned orientation of the extracorporeal tissue specimen. The method is characterized by including the above steps.

14. A controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, together with the at least one processor, to cause the controller to execute the method according to Claim 13.

15. A computer program product, A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 13 when the program is executed on a computer.

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