Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.

Abstract: Control processes for a slide-scanning system comprising a carousel with a plurality of rack slots configured to receive slide racks via an exposed portion of the scanning system. In an embodiment, initializing the scanning system comprises automatically homing back-end and front-end components, wherein the front-end components comprise the carousel. An inventory of all slide racks in the carousel is automatically generated. If any slide rack was being processed by any back-end components, the slide rack is automatically unloaded into a corresponding rack slot. In addition, the carousel is automatically positioned to expose a starting subset of the rack slots within the exposed portion. This starting subset may comprise a maximum segment of adjacent empty rack slots.

Abstract: A stuck slide determination system is provided that determines if a slide (e.g., glass slide), positioned on a scanning stage at the start of the scanning process, gets stuck and does not move along with the scanning stage after the scanning process commences. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a transmitter and receiver that are relatively positioned to detect the presence of the stage or a slide or the absence of the stage or a slide. When the scanning stage begins to move at the start of the scanning process, a processor monitors a signal from the sensor and determines if the slide is improperly positioned after the scanning process has commenced. If the slide is improperly positioned, the processor stops movement of the scanning stage in order to protect the slide from damage.

Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a plurality of scanning devices in a high-throughput laboratory environment. Each of the scanning devices is configured for a remote boot operation from an administrative server that is communicatively coupled with the plurality of scanning devices via a local network. The remote boot replaces the complete operational firmware of a scanning device. The scanning devices are each configured to periodically provide operational information to the administrative server for centralized storage. The centralized storage of operational information for each of the plurality of scanning devices, coupled with the ability of the administrative server to initiate a reboot of any scanning device and thereby update the complete operational firmware of the scanning device, allows for centralized administration of multiple scanning devices that facilitates configuration, support, image data storage, and/or communication with outside servers.

Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.

Abstract: Two-pass capture of a macro image. In an embodiment, a scanning apparatus comprises a stage, a high-resolution camera, and a lens that provides a field of view, substantially equal in width to a slide width, to the high-resolution camera. The apparatus also comprises a first illumination system for transmission-mode illumination, and a second illumination system for reflection-mode illumination. Processor(s) move the stage in a first direction to capture a first macro image of a specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the first illumination system, and move the stage in a second direction to capture a second macro image of the specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the second illumination system. The processor(s) identify artifacts in the second macro image, and, based on those artifacts, correct the first macro image to generate a modified first macro image.

Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.

Abstract: A stuck slide determination system is provided that determines if a slide (e.g., glass slide), positioned on a scanning stage at the start of the scanning process, gets stuck and does not move along with the scanning stage after the scanning process commences. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a transmitter and receiver that are relatively positioned to detect the presence of the stage or a slide or the absence of the stage or a slide. When the scanning stage begins to move at the start of the scanning process, a processor monitors a signal from the sensor and determines if the slide is improperly positioned after the scanning process has commenced. If the slide is improperly positioned, the processor stops movement of the scanning stage in order to protect the slide from damage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a plurality of scanning devices in a high-throughput laboratory environment. Each of the scanning devices is configured for a remote boot operation from an administrative server that is communicatively coupled with the plurality of scanning devices via a local network. The remote boot replaces the complete operational firmware of a scanning device. The scanning devices are each configured to periodically provide operational information to the administrative server for centralized storage. The centralized storage of operational information for each of the plurality of scanning devices, coupled with the ability of the administrative server to initiate a reboot of any scanning device and thereby update the complete operational firmware of the scanning device, allows for centralized administration of multiple scanning devices that facilitates configuration, support, image data storage, and/or communication with outside servers.

Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a plurality of scanning devices in a high-throughput laboratory environment. Each of the scanning devices is configured for a remote boot operation from an administrative server that is communicatively coupled with the plurality of scanning devices via a local network. The remote boot replaces the complete operational firmware of a scanning device. The scanning devices are each configured to periodically provide operational information to the administrative server for centralized storage. The centralized storage of operational information for each of the plurality of scanning devices, coupled with the ability of the administrative server to initiate a reboot of any scanning device and thereby update the complete operational firmware of the scanning device, allows for centralized administration of multiple scanning devices that facilitates configuration, support, image data storage, and/or communication with outside servers.

Abstract: Two-pass capture of a macro image. In an embodiment, a scanning apparatus comprises a stage, a high-resolution camera, and a lens that provides a field of view, substantially equal in width to a slide width, to the high-resolution camera. The apparatus also comprises a first illumination system for transmission-mode illumination, and a second illumination system for reflection-mode illumination. Processor(s) move the stage in a first direction to capture a first macro image of a specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the first illumination system, and move the stage in a second direction to capture a second macro image of the specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the second illumination system. The processor(s) identify artifacts in the second macro image, and, based on those artifacts, correct the first macro image to generate a modified first macro image.

Abstract: A stuck slide determination system is provided that determines if a slide (e.g., glass slide), positioned on a scanning stage at the start of the scanning process, gets stuck and does not move along with the scanning stage after the scanning process commences. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a transmitter and receiver that are relatively positioned to detect the presence of the stage or a slide or the absence of the stage or a slide. When the scanning stage begins to move at the start of the scanning process, a processor monitors a signal from the sensor and determines if the slide is improperly positioned after the scanning process has commenced. If the slide is improperly positioned, the processor stops movement of the scanning stage in order to protect the slide from damage.

Abstract: Two-pass capture of a macro image. In an embodiment, a scanning apparatus comprises a stage, a high-resolution camera, and a lens that provides a field of view, substantially equal in width to a slide width, to the high-resolution camera. The apparatus also comprises a first illumination system for transmission-mode illumination, and a second illumination system for reflection-mode illumination. Processor(s) move the stage in a first direction to capture a first macro image of a specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the first illumination system, and move the stage in a second direction to capture a second macro image of the specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the second illumination system. The processor(s) identify artifacts in the second macro image, and, based on those artifacts, correct the first macro image to generate a modified first macro image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a plurality of scanning devices in a high-throughput laboratory environment. Each of the scanning devices is configured for a remote boot operation from an administrative server that is communicatively coupled with the plurality of scanning devices via a local network. The remote boot replaces the complete operational firmware of a scanning device. The scanning devices are each configured to periodically provide operational information to the administrative server for centralized storage. The centralized storage of operational information for each of the plurality of scanning devices, coupled with the ability of the administrative server to initiate a reboot of any scanning device and thereby update the complete operational firmware of the scanning device, allows for centralized administration of multiple scanning devices that facilitates configuration, support, image data storage, and/or communication with outside servers.

Abstract: Two-pass capture of a macro image. In an embodiment, a scanning apparatus comprises a stage, a high-resolution camera, and a lens that provides a field of view, substantially equal in width to a slide width, to the high-resolution camera. The apparatus also comprises a first illumination system for transmission-mode illumination, and a second illumination system for reflection-mode illumination. Processor(s) move the stage in a first direction to capture a first macro image of a specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the first illumination system, and move the stage in a second direction to capture a second macro image of the specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the second illumination system. The processor(s) identify artifacts in the second macro image, and, based on those artifacts, correct the first macro image to generate a modified first macro image.

Abstract: A stuck slide determination system is provided that determines if a slide (e.g., glass slide), positioned on a scanning stage at the start of the scanning process, gets stuck and does not move along with the scanning stage after the scanning process commences. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a transmitter and receiver that are relatively positioned to detect the presence of the stage or a slide or the absence of the stage or a slide. When the scanning stage begins to move at the start of the scanning process, a processor monitors a signal from the sensor and determines if the slide is improperly positioned after the scanning process has commenced. If the slide is improperly positioned, the processor stops movement of the scanning stage in order to protect the slide from damage.

Abstract: A slide rack inventory and reinsertion system for use with a digital slide scanning apparatus is provided that determines, prior to scanning of glass slides in a slide rack, a status of each slot in the slide rack as properly occupied, improperly occupied, or empty. The system also determines whether a slide that has been removed from the slide rack for processing has been properly reinserted into the slide rack.