Bi-functional Slide Holder for Digital Pathology Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current slide-handling systems in digital pathology are cumbersome and inefficient, particularly in molecular pathology, where handling multiple slides for examination and processing is labor-intensive and economically challenging.
Innovation Solution
A slide-holder system with a tray basis and bi-functional registration points that provide both mechanical and optical registration, allowing for precise positioning and handling of slides within a digital pathology system, enabling efficient imaging and processing, including manual or automated dissection and transfer of regions of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple slides are handled manually in digital pathology, then examination efficiency can be improved, but the handling procedure becomes cumbersome and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the slide handling task into automated components: the slide holder automatically positions multiple slides in a tray, the image acquisition system automatically captures images of all slides, and the processing system automatically identifies regions of interest across multiple slides. This segmentation of manual operations into automated subsystems resolves the contradiction by maintaining high productivity while eliminating the cumbersome manual handling procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide holder system performs self-positioning and self-identification functions. The mechanical registration means automatically aligns the slide holder with the image acquisition system, and the optical registration markers enable the system to automatically detect and track slide positions without manual intervention. This self-service capability allows multiple slides to be processed efficiently while keeping the operation simple and automated.
2Measurement precision
If precise positioning of slides is achieved through mechanical registration, then imaging accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical registration means serve multiple functions: they provide precise positioning of the slide holder, enable automatic alignment with the image acquisition system, and facilitate reproducible positioning across multiple slides. By making the registration system multi-functional, the patent achieves high imaging accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same mechanical components perform several critical tasks simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical registration markers as intermediary elements between the mechanical registration system and the image acquisition system. These markers translate mechanical positioning into optical signals that can be detected and processed automatically, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high precision. The markers act as a mediator that bridges the mechanical and optical domains, reducing the complexity of direct mechanical coupling.
3Productivity
If bi-functional registration points are used for mechanical and optical registration, then workflow efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mechanical and optical registration functions into a single integrated system. The mechanical registration means and optical registration markers are combined in such a way that they work together seamlessly to provide both mechanical positioning and optical identification. This merging allows the system to achieve high workflow efficiency by eliminating the need for separate registration systems, while the combined design distributes the manufacturing precision requirements across multiple components rather than concentrating them in a single complex element.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to digital pathology. In order to provide an improved handling of probes in digital pathology, a slide-holder (10) for digital pathology is provided that comprises a tray basis (12), a plurality of mounting means (14) and a plurality of slide-holder registration points (16). The tray basis is configured to carry a plurality of slides (20) to be imaged by a digital pathology system, for which the tray basis provides a plurality of slide-receiving positions. The plurality of mounting means are arranged on the tray basis to mount the plurality of slides on the tray basis in a plurality of slide-receiving positions to image each slide in a separate imaging position. The slide-holder registration points comprise a plurality of interacting portions (22) that provide a mechanical registration of the tray basis with a digital pathology system for each of the imaging positions.