Calibration Slide with Aperture Arrays for Automated Microscope Consistency
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multiplexing workflows for molecular pathology imaging require all rounds of imaging for a tissue sample to be performed on a single microscope to maintain consistency, which can lead to inefficiencies such as idle microscopes and prolonged calibration processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of a calibration slide with defined calibration zones and apertures of varying density, along with an automated microscope system that includes a slide stage and control unit capable of positioning the slide and aligning the microscope's focus with the center of the crosshair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all rounds of imaging are performed on a single microscope to maintain consistency, then image quality consistency is improved, but microscope utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a calibration slide with a standardized aperture pattern that can be copied across multiple microscopes. This master calibration pattern is reproduced on identical slides, allowing each microscope to be calibrated against the same reference standard, thereby achieving consistent measurements across multiple devices without requiring all imaging to occur on a single microscope.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration slide incorporates apertures with precisely controlled parameters (sizes, spacing, patterns) that serve as reference standards. By changing the physical parameters of the calibration target rather than the imaging conditions, the system enables cross-microscope calibration consistency while allowing flexible workflow distribution across multiple instruments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microscopes are calibrated relative to one another, then load-balancing capability is improved, but calibration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration slide is prepared in advance with a complete set of reference aperture patterns printed or etched onto it. This preliminary preparation of the calibration standard eliminates the need for time-consuming calibration procedures during microscope operation. Each microscope can be quickly calibrated by simply imaging the pre-prepared slide, dramatically reducing calibration time while maintaining the ability to calibrate multiple microscopes.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration slide contains multiple distinct aperture patterns segmented into different regions or quadrants, each serving as an independent calibration reference. This segmentation allows for rapid verification of different calibration parameters without requiring complete recalibration procedures, reducing overall calibration time while maintaining comprehensive calibration capability across multiple microscopes.
3Reliability
If calibration is performed frequently to maintain consistency, then measurement reliability is improved, but throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized calibration pattern on the slide acts as a reusable reference that can be imaged repeatedly without degradation. This copyable standard allows for frequent verification of microscope calibration status with minimal time investment, maintaining measurement reliability while having negligible impact on throughput since the verification process is so rapid.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a calibration slide for calibration of an automated microscope. The slide includes at least one calibration zone defined on at least one major surface of the sample slide. The at least one calibration zone is divided by a cross hair to define a plurality of quadrants. Each of the plurality of quadrants is defined with an array of apertures of varying density of arrays. The automated microscope including the calibration slide of the present disclosure enables corrective maintenance. The method of the present disclosure may be employed across various automated microscopes within a lab or at labs at various locations through offline/online mode to achieve similar results when tested on same sample.