Abstract: Image scanning apparatus comprises a plurality of imaging sensors for generating image data; a focusing system and a scanning system. The focusing system defines an optical axis and directs light received from a target on to the imaging sensors. Each imaging sensor is positioned with respect to the focusing system such that, the light directed to the imaging sensor has an optical focus level with respect to the target which is different from each other imaging sensor, and the light is received from a position on the target with respect to the optical axis which is different from the respective position for each other imaging sensor. The focusing system comprises a optical path modifier so as to generate a first light path between the optical path modifier and at least one of the plurality of imaging sensors, and a second light path between the optical path modifier and at least one of the imaging sensors, wherein the first light path is different from the second light path.

Abstract: A cell deposition and imaging apparatus comprises: a printing mechanism comprising at least one channel, the at least one channel of the printing mechanism arranged to: receive a sample of a cell-carrying fluid comprising at least one cell-type; and deposit the sample of the cell-carrying fluid onto a target area of a substrate, an imaging system arranged to image the target area; and a transportation system arranged to move the target area between a printing position, in which the target area is located substantially adjacent to the printing mechanism, and an imaging position, in which the target area is located substantially adjacent to the imaging system; wherein the imaging system comprises an imager capable of imaging a region of the substrate wherein the region is smaller than the target area and the imaging system is arranged to image all of the target area by moving the target area relative to the imager.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a microscope scanner 1 comprising a line scanner 3. Pre-scan data is generated for a target 6 comprising a sample, wherein generating the pre-scan data comprises: obtaining a pre-scan image of the target 6 from a pre-scan; and identifying one or more sample-containing regions 24 and one or more sample-free regions 26 of the target 6 from the pre-scan image. An imaging scan is then performed of a scanning region of the target 6 including the one or more sample-containing regions 24 and the one or more sample-free regions 26. The scanning speed of the line scanner 3 is adjusted along the image scan path based on the pre-scan data so that the target 6 is imaged at a higher scanning speed within the one or more sample-free regions 26 than in the one or more sample-containing regions 24.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a microscope scanner. A first imaging scan is performed of one or more area(s) of interest, AOI, on a target including a sample. This involves moving a detector array relative to the target along an image scan path and acquiring an image of the target at each of a plurality of locations along the image scan path. Focus control data is generated during the imaging scan by calculating a focus merit value at each said location along the image scan path. The focal height of the detector array is then adjusted along the image scan path based on the focus merit values. The efficacy of the first imaging scan is analysed using the focus control data and a change to one or more scanning parameters from the first imaging scan is determined, for the performance of a second imaging scan, based on this analysis.

Abstract: A method of forming an imaging calibration device for a biological material imaging system is provided. A first set of one or more discrete regions is provided upon or within a retaining member. Each said region of the first set comprises a selected tissue stain material, wherein each of the selected tissue stain materials exhibits a predetermined optical response inside a colour-stable region of a chromaticity diagram defined by the ellipse x2/a2+y2/b2=1, where a=0.21, b=0.135, the rotation is ?0.07 rad and the translation is (0.38,0.333). A second set of one or more discrete regions is also provided upon or within the retaining member. The second set is formed of one or more coloured filters having a predetermined optical response outside the colour-stable region.

Abstract: A method of printing using a print head comprising first and second print arrays, each comprising a plurality of nozzles. Each of the first print array nozzles emits a droplet of a first volume and each of the second print array nozzles emits a droplet of a second volume, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume. The method comprises: a. receiving image data comprising a received tone value for a pixel; b. selecting one of the print arrays corresponding to the pixel location; c. mapping the received tone value to a mapped tone value using a tone mapping for the selected print array; d. comparing the mapped tone value with a threshold value for the location of the pixel; and e. generating a control signal for the selected print array if the mapped tone value corresponds to the threshold value in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A method of printing using a print head comprising first and second print arrays, each comprising a plurality of nozzles. Each of the first print array nozzles emits a droplet of a first volume and each of the second print array nozzles emits a droplet of a second volume, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume. The method comprises: a. receiving image data comprising a received tone value for a pixel; b. selecting one of the print arrays corresponding to the pixel location; c. mapping the received tone value to a mapped tone value using a tone mapping for the selected print array; d. comparing the mapped tone value with a threshold value for the location of the pixel; and e. generating a control signal for the selected print array if the mapped tone value corresponds to the threshold value in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A method of forming an imaging calibration device for a biological material imaging system, the method comprises: providing one or more discrete regions upon or within a retaining member, each region for the receipt of a selected predetermined biological stain material; selecting one or more predetermined biological stain materials, wherein each of the selected predetermined biological stain materials has a predetermined optical response, and providing one or more of the selected predetermined biological stain materials to the said one or more discrete regions such that the said material is localised in the said region.

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus is provided, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target. The method comprises obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, each at least one image scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector, each at least one focus scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using at least the at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the calculated focus parameter(s).

Abstract: A method for estimating an in-focus position of a target using an image scanning apparatus is provided. The in-focus position is monitored at a seed location and an end location on the target and a pre-scan path is calculated between these locations. A pre-scan is then performed and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along the pre-scan path. An imaging scan is next performed wherein the target is imaged along an image scan path and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along said path. The focal height of the apparatus is adjusted during the imaging scan by comparing the focal parameter monitored for a current location on the image scan path with the focal parameter monitored for a similar location on the pre-scan path. The focal parameter monitored for different locations on the image scan path may also be compared.

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus is provided, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target. The method comprises obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, each at least one image scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector, each at least one focus scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using at least the at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the calculated focus parameter(s).

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus is provided, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target. The method comprises obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, each at least one image scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector, each at least one focus scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the calculated focus parameter(s).

Abstract: A method is provided of forming an imaging reference device for a biological material imaging system. A first region is provided in a substrate formed from an optically transmissive material which is an analogue of biological tissue. This first region is stained using a first biological tissue stain. A second region is provided in second substrate which is optically transmissive and an analogue of biological tissue. The second region is stained with a second biological tissue stain. The first and second regions are overlapped as a pair, such that light incident upon the pair is modulated by the respective first and second biological tissue stains of the respective regions. Multiple regions of the first and second type may be provided, stained to different degrees.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming a stain assessment target for a biological material staining system. At least one region of a substrate is provided upon a support such as a microscope slide. The substrate is formed from an optically transmissive material which is an analogue of biological tissue. A biological tissue sample for inspection is also provided upon the support. The support, including the at least one region, together with the biological tissue sample and then stained by applying at least one biological tissue stain under similar staining conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming an imaging reference device for a biological material imaging system. A first region is provided in a substrate formed from an optically transmissive material which is an analogue of biological tissue. This first region is stained using a first biological tissue stain. A second region is provided in second substrate which is optically transmissive and an analogue of biological tissue. The second region is stained with a second biological tissue stain. The first and second regions are overlapped as a pair, such that light incident upon the pair is modulated by the respective first and second biological tissue stains of the respective regions. Multiple regions of the first and second type may be provided, stained to different degrees.

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target, the second line scan detector comprising at least one focus shifting element such that each focus scan line is obtained at respective first and second focus levels, wherein the first focus level is different from the second focus level, the method comprising: obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector; obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, the image scan line being obtained at a respective third focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using the at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the at least one focus parameter.

Abstract: A method for estimating an in-focus position of a target using an image scanning apparatus is provided. The in-focus position is monitored at a seed location and an end location on the target and a pre-scan path is calculated between these locations. A pre-scan is then performed and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along the pre-scan path. An imaging scan is next performed wherein the target is imaged along an image scan path and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along said path. The focal height of the apparatus is adjusted during the imaging scan by comparing the focal parameter monitored for a current location on the image scan path with the focal parameter monitored for a similar location on the pre-scan path. The focal parameter monitored for different locations on the image scan path may also be compared.

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus is provided, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target. The method comprises obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, each at least one image scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector, each at least one focus scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the calculated focus parameter(s).

Abstract: A method of generating a digital representation of a portion of an object from sets of digital data defining the color content of individually stored, overlapping swathes of pixels of an image of the object portion. The method comprises: (a) selecting a portion of the object; (b) determining the swathes which contain pixels within the selected portion; (c) correlating adjacent ones of said swathes; (d) if necessary, adjusting the relative positions of the adjacent swathes in accordance with the results of the correlating step (c); and, (e) generating a digital representation of pixels of the selected portion from the correlated swathes.

Abstract: A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target, the second line scan detector comprising at least one focus shifting element such that each focus scan line is obtained at respective first and second focus levels, wherein the first focus level is different from the second focus level, the method comprising: obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector; obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, the image scan line being obtained at a respective third focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using the at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the at least one focus parameter.