Slide Digitization Inline Quality Control for Selective Rescanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide digitization processes are manually intensive, error-prone, and inefficient, leading to reduced throughput and scalability due to the need for post-imaging quality checks that result in wasted resources and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implement inline quality controls during the slide digitization process to identify and rectify defects in real-time, allowing for selective rescanning of defective areas without removing the slide from the scanner, thereby enhancing automation, quality, and throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual post-imaging quality checks are performed, then quality control is achieved, but productivity is reduced and time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs quality control measurements during the scanning process itself rather than after completion. Quality metrics are calculated in real-time as images are captured, allowing defects to be identified and addressed before the scanning process finishes, thus eliminating post-processing delays and maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors quality metrics during scanning and provides real-time feedback. When defects are detected, the system automatically adjusts scanning parameters or triggers selective rescanning of affected areas, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains quality without requiring manual intervention or stopping production.
2Reliability
If complete slides are rescanned when defects are detected, then quality is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the slide into multiple regions and independently tracks quality metrics for each region. When a defect is detected in a specific region, only that region is marked for potential rescanning rather than the entire slide. This segmentation allows selective reprocessing of only the defective portions, dramatically reducing time loss while maintaining overall quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual quality control processes are used, then flexibility is maintained, but device complexity increases and automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs quality control autonomously without requiring manual intervention. Quality metrics are automatically calculated from captured images, defects are automatically detected through image analysis, and corrective actions are automatically initiated. This self-service approach reduces operational complexity while maintaining flexibility through programmable quality thresholds and adjustable scanning parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a system for digitizing a slide. A system may include an optical system including at least an optical sensor; and a computing device configured to perform a scan of the slide by capturing at least a first image and capturing at least a second image, wherein performing the scan includes identifying a first scanning parameter; using the optical system, capturing the at least a first image as a function of the first scanning parameter; determining a first quality metric as a function of the at least a first image; determining a second scanning parameter as a function of the first quality metric; and using the optical system, capturing the at least a second image as a function of the second scanning parameter.