Patents Assigned to Ventana Medical System, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11176412
    Abstract: An image analysis system for analyzing biological specimen images is disclosed. The system may include: a superpixel generator configured to obtain a biological specimen image and group pixels of the biological specimen image into a plurality of superpixels; a feature extractor configured to extract, from each superpixel in the plurality of superpixels, a feature vector comprising a plurality of image features; a clustering engine configured to assign the plurality of superpixels to a predefined number of clusters, each cluster being characterized by a centroid vector of feature vectors of superpixels assigned to the cluster; and a storage interface configured to store, for each superpixel in the plurality of superpixels, clustering information identifying the one cluster to which the superpixel is assigned. The system may also include a graph engine configured construct a graph based on the stored information, and use the graph to perform a graph-based image processing task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yao Nie
  • Patent number: 11162878
    Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated slide processing apparatuses capable of dispensing liquids onto microscope slides. Additional aspects of the technology are directed to methods of replacing a reagent pipette in automated slide processing apparatuses. The apparatus can include, for example, a reagent pipette assembly including a reagent pipette moveable between at least one loading position for obtaining reagent from a reagent container at a filling station and at least one dispense position. The apparatus can also include a retainer for releasably securing the reagent pipette. In some embodiments, the reagent pipette assembly includes a locking mechanism for transitioning the retainer from an open configuration for receiving a pipette and a closed configuration for securing a pipette, in e.g., an aligned position within the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Barnett, Robert Javier Cisneroz, Timothy Brett McDonald, Christopher OHaire, Jason Ruhl, John Charles Tessen
  • Patent number: 11162877
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for inactivating one or more enzymes in a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Grille, Brian D. Kelly, Jerome Kosmeder, II, Eric May, Noemi Sebastiao, Pamela Wirth
  • Patent number: 11164316
    Abstract: A system and method of displaying of multiple simultaneous views of a same region of a biological tissue sample. Logical instructions are executed by a processor to perform operations such as receiving a plurality of images of the biological tissue sample, converting the plurality of images to a common reference frame based on the individual metadata of each image, and arranging the plurality of images into a display pattern for simultaneous viewing of different aspects of the imaged biological tissue sample on a display screen. The plurality of images is produced by preprocessing images of the biological tissue sample. Each image shows a view mode of a same region of the biological tissue sample, and each image contains metadata that describe spatial orientation, such as the translation, rotation, and magnification, of the image to bring the plurality of images to a common view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Barnes, Carlo Bifulco, Christophe Chefd'hotel, Ting Chen, Alisa Tubbs
  • Patent number: 11162961
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and compositions featuring a solid, dissolvable reagent composition for delivering the reagent, such as an antibody, probe, chromogen, etc., to a sample. The present invention also features methods of producing said compositions, and automated systems featuring the use of the solid, dissolvable reagent compositions. The solid, dissolvable reagent composition may comprise a water-soluble polymer film, such as a polyvinyl alcohol film, infused with the reagent, wherein when applied to the sample, the water-soluble polymer film with reagent contacts the sample (e.g., tissue) and dissolves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anisha Anand, Crystal L. Stephens, Natcha Suriyavirun
  • Patent number: 11155878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for discrimination of p16INK4a overexpressing metaplasias from neoplastic or preneoplastic p16INK4a overexpressing lesions by determination of the level of high risk HPV encoded gene-products such as e.g. HPV E2 and/or HPV E7 molecules in biological samples in the course of cytological testing procedures. The method thus enables for reduction of false positive results in the p16INK4a based detection of anogenital lesions in cytological testing procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruediger Ridder, Magnus Von Knebel Doeberitz, Peter Martin
  • Publication number: 20210327564
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for an image visualization system (120) that includes a contextually adaptive digital pathology interface. At least one image of a biological sample stained for the presence of one or more biomarkers is obtained (300). The image is displayed on a display screen at a first zoom level (310), in which a first subset of user selectable elements are contemporaneously displayed (320). As a result of user input, the image being is displayed at a second zoom level (330), in which a second subset of user selectable elements are contemporaneously displayed with the image (340). The one or more elements within the second subset of user selectable elements are disabled or hidden at the first zoom level, or one or more elements within the first subset of user selectable elements are disabled or hidden at the second zoom level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joao FERREIRA, Alexander KALOGRIDES, Olivier TROY, Eduardo Ferroao ULRICH
  • Patent number: 11143648
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel chromogenic conjugates, the conjugates comprising at least two detectable moieties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Ashworth-Sharpe, Brian D. Kelly, Mark Lefever, Nathan W. Polaske
  • Patent number: 11144774
    Abstract: A system and a method for unveiling poorly visible or lightly colored nuclei in an input image are disclosed. An input image is fed to a color deconvolution module for deconvolution into two color channels that are processed separately before being combined. The input image is deconvolved into two separate images: a stain image and a counter stain image. A complement of the stain image is generated in order to clearly reflect the locations of the poorly visible or light-colored nuclei. The complement image and the counter stain image are optionally normalized and then combined and segmented, to generate an output image with clearly defined nuclei. Alternatively, the complement of the stain image and the counter stain image can optionally be normalized, and then segmented prior to being combined to generate the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Guetter, Kien Nguyen, XiuZhong Wang
  • Patent number: 11132529
    Abstract: Convolutional neural networks for detecting objects of interest within images of biological specimens are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods of training and using such networks, one method including: obtaining a sample image and at least one of a set of positive points and a set of negative points, wherein each positive point identifies a location of one object of interest within the sample image, and each negative point identifies a location of one object of no-interest within the sample image; obtaining one or more predefined characteristics of objects of interest and/or objects of no-interest, and based on the predefined characteristics, generating a boundary map comprising a positive area around each positive point the set of positive points, and/or a negative area around each negative point in the set of negative points; and training the convolutional neural network using the sample image and the boundary map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Chukka, Jianxu Chen
  • Publication number: 20210285056
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for image processing systems and methods for automatically analyzing digital images of biological samples stained for the presence of protein and/or nucleic acid biomarkers (311) and automatically detecting and quantifying signals corresponding to one or more biomarkers (314). The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for the clinical interpretation of dual ISH slides where the cells to score are automatically selected (e.g. by using one or more cell detection and identification algorithms (204)). By automatically detecting, identifying, and selecting cells for assessment, it is believed that subjectivity is reduced or eliminated. The automated systems and methods also allow for an increased number of cells to be considered for scoring as compared with manual dot counting methods, thereby increasing detection sensitivity, ultimately enabling improved patient care and treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas CHUKKA, Thomas M. GROGAN, Anindya SARKAR
  • Patent number: 11113809
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate, among other things, to unmixing more than three stains, while preserving the biological constraints of the biomarkers. Unlimited numbers of markers may be unmixed from a limited-channel image, such as an RGB image, without adding any mathematical complicity to the model. Known co-localization information of different biomarkers within the same tissue section enables defining fixed upper bounds for the number of stains at one pixel. A group sparsity model may be leveraged to explicitly model the fractions of stain contributions from the co-localized biomarkers into one group to yield a least squares solution within the group. A sparse solution may be obtained among the groups to ensure that only a small number of groups with a total number of stains being less than the upper bound are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Chukka, Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 11112413
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to epitope-tagged antibodies, as well as methods of employing the epitope-tagged antibodies for detecting one or more targets in a biological sample, e.g. a tissue sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Farrell, Antony Hubbard, Eric May, Lei Tang, Tsu-Shuen Tsao, Wenjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11107248
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for separating colors in an image by automatically selecting color reference vectors that take into consideration the effect of light scattering, and principally how the light scattering changes the proportions of RGB channel signals in detected light at varying stain concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yao Nie
  • Patent number: 11092611
    Abstract: An automated system is provided for performing slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a slide tray holding a plurality of slides in a substantially horizontal position and a workstation that receives the slide tray. In a particular embodiment, a workstation delivers a reagent to slide surfaces without substantial transfer of reagent (and reagent borne contaminants such as dislodged cells) from one slide to another. A method for automated processing of slides also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Reinhardt, Charles D. Lemme, Glen Ward, William L. Richards, Wayne Showalter, Brandon Ambler, Austin Micheil Ashby, Chris Borchert, Devon C. Campbell, Kimberly Christensen, Matthew Freeman, Andrew Ghusson, Rick Griebel, Kendall B. Hendrick, Miroslav Holubec, Parula Mehta, Vince Rizzo
  • Patent number: 11092594
    Abstract: A method for performing a multiplexed diagnostic assay, such as for two or more different targets in a sample, is described. One embodiment comprised contacting the sample with two or more specific binding moieties that bind specifically to two or more different targets. The two or more specific binding moieties are conjugated to different haptens, and at least one of the haptens is an oxazole, a pyrazole, a thiazole, a nitroaryl compound other than dinitrophenyl, a benzofurazan, a triterpene, a urea, athiourea, a rotenoid, a coumarin, a cyclolignan, a heterobiaryl, an azo aryl, or a benzodiazepine. The sample is contacted with two or more different anti-hapten antibodies that can be detected separately. The two or more different anti-hapten antibodies may be conjugated to different detectable labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome W. Kosmeder, II, Mark Lefever, Donald Johnson, Michael Farrell, Zhanna Zhilina, Christopher Bieniarz
  • Patent number: 11079372
    Abstract: Polymers and conjugates comprising polymers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the conjugates disclosed are suitable for use as detection probes in immunohistochemical assays, including multiplex immunohistochemical assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Tang, Wenjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11079382
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, kits, and systems for scoring the immune response to cancer through examination of tissue infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Methods of scoring the immune response in cancer using tissue infiltrating lymphocytes include detecting CD3, CD8, CD20, and FoxP3 within the sample and scoring the detection manually or scoring the digital images of the staining with the aid of image analysis and algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Noemi Sebastiao, William Day, Robert Ochs, Srinivas Chukka, Jim Martin, Michael Barnes, Joerg Bredno, Ting Chen, Alisa Tubbs, Yao Nie
  • Publication number: 20210233206
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for image registration and annotation. The devices include computer software products for aligning whole slide digital images on a common grid and transferring annotations from one aligned image to another aligned image on the basis of matching tissue structure. The systems include computer-implemented systems such as work stations and networked computers for accomplishing the tissue-structure based image registration and cross-image annotation. The methods include processes for aligning digital images corresponding to adjacent tissue sections on a common grid based on tissue structure, and transferring annotations from one of the adjacent tissue images to another of the adjacent tissue images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Chukka, Anindya Sarkar, Quan Yuan
  • Patent number: 11071978
    Abstract: A tissue sample that has been removed from a subject can be properly fixed for evaluation using the disclosed transporter assembly for carrying a tissue sample and method for fixing an unfixed tissue sample. In one embodiment, the disclosed assembly includes a transport container, a fixative in the transport container, and a cooling device that reduces and/or maintains the temperature of the fixative to perform a pre-soaking process at a temperature of less than about 7° C. The pre-soaking process can, for example, be performed during sample transport or during extended periods of storage, such as over a weekend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Crum, Timothy Keller, Alastair Laing, Michael Otter, Vinnie Petre, Elizabeth Pigman, Taylor Shingler, Stacey Stanislaw, Benjamin Stevens