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 digital pathology imaging apparatus includes a single line scan camera sensor optically coupled with first and second optical paths. In a first embodiment, transmission mode illumination and oblique mode illumination are simultaneously used during a single stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of the entire sample area and the entire label area of the slide via the first optical path. In a second embodiment, transmission mode illumination is used during a first stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of at least the entire sample area via the first optical path and oblique mode illumination is used during a second stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of at least the entire label area via the first optical path.

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: There are provided systems and methods for synchronizing effects for multi-user mixed reality experiences. In one implementation, such a system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive sensor data from multiple sensors within a venue, identify an activity in the venue based on the sensor data, and track a respective perspective and a respective location within the venue of each of multiple observers of the activity. The hardware processor also executes the software code to identify a first effect triggered by an action of one of the observers, conform the first effect to the respective perspective and the respective location of each of the observers to produce multiple second effects corresponding to the first effect, and output the second effects for operating multiple actuating devices within the venue during the activity.

Abstract: A fixed reference edge system that guides a glass slide from a slot of a slide rack onto a scanning stage and guides the glass slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. In an embodiment, the fixed reference edge has a first side that is parallel to a side of the slot of the slide rack. The system comprises an assembly that includes a push bar configured to push the slide from the slot onto the scanning stage, and a pull bar configured to pull the slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. When the slide is pulled into the slide rack, the long edge of the slide is pressed against the first side of the fixed reference edge to maintain a parallel orientation between the slide and the slot of the slide rack.

Abstract: A slide rack clamp apparatus that secures a slide rack in a digital slide scanning apparatus. In an embodiment, the slide rack clamp apparatus includes an upper clamp and a lower clamp. Each clamp comprises one or more clamp projections, which are configured to engage one or more recesses in engagement surfaces of a plurality of different slide racks from different manufacturers. The lower clamp is driven by a motor along a linear axis to engage the lower clamp projections with the one or more slide rack recesses of the bottom surface of the slide rack. The motor drives the lower clamp and the engaged slide rack upward to engage the one or more slide rack recesses of the top surface of the slide rack with the clamp projections of the upper clamp to fully engage the slide rack between the upper clamp and the lower clamp.

Abstract: A digital slide scanning apparatus includes a safety light curtain that operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when the presence of an object (e.g., the fingers of an operator) is detected within a predetermined area of the carousel. The light curtain also operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack is detected. The digital slide scanning apparatus also includes a multi-color status indicator for each rack slot that indicates the rack slot location of an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack.

Abstract: A digital slide scanning apparatus slide rack carousel allows continuous loading and unloading of slide racks into the carousel while the digital slide scanning apparatus is simultaneously digitizing glass slides. The slide rack carousel includes a base having an interior portion of its upper surface at an angle. The slide rack carousel also includes plural rack spacers extending upward from the base and adjacent rack spacers define a rack slot. Each rack spacer also includes a rack stopper on each side such that adjacent rack spacers have rack stoppers facing each other. The rack stoppers prevent a slide rack from moving further toward the center of the carousel than desired.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for synchronizing effects for multi-user mixed reality experiences. In one implementation, such a system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive sensor data from multiple sensors within a venue, identify an activity in the venue based on the sensor data, and track a respective perspective and a respective location within the venue of each of multiple observers of the activity. The hardware processor also executes the software code to identify a first effect triggered by an action of one of the observers, conform the first effect to the respective perspective and the respective location of each of the observers to produce multiple second effects corresponding to the first effect, and output the second effects for operating multiple actuating devices within the venue during the activity.

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 digital slide scanning apparatus slide rack carousel allows continuous loading and unloading of slide racks into the carousel while the digital slide scanning apparatus is simultaneously digitizing glass slides. The slide rack carousel includes a base having an interior portion of its upper surface at an angle. The slide rack carousel also includes plural rack spacers extending upward from the base and adjacent rack spacers define a rack slot. Each rack spacer also includes a rack stopper on each side such that adjacent rack spacers have rack stoppers facing each other. The rack stoppers prevent a slide rack from moving further toward the center of the carousel than desired.

Abstract: A fixed reference edge system that guides a glass slide from a slot of a slide rack onto a scanning stage and guides the glass slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. In an embodiment, the fixed reference edge has a first side that is parallel to a side of the slot of the slide rack. The system comprises an assembly that includes a push bar configured to push the slide from the slot onto the scanning stage, and a pull bar configured to pull the slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. When the slide is pulled into the slide rack, the long edge of the slide is pressed against the first side of the fixed reference edge to maintain a parallel orientation between the slide and the slot of the slide rack.

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 slide rack clamp apparatus that secures a slide rack in a digital slide scanning apparatus. In an embodiment, the slide rack clamp apparatus includes an upper clamp and a lower clamp. Each clamp comprises one or more clamp projections, which are configured to engage one or more recesses in engagement surfaces of a plurality of different slide racks from different manufacturers. The lower clamp is driven by a motor along a linear axis to engage the lower clamp projections with the one or more slide rack recesses of the bottom surface of the slide rack. The motor drives the lower clamp and the engaged slide rack upward to engage the one or more slide rack recesses of the top surface of the slide rack with the clamp projections of the upper clamp to fully engage the slide rack between the upper clamp and the lower clamp.

Abstract: A digital pathology imaging apparatus includes a single line scan camera sensor optically coupled with first and second optical paths. In a first embodiment, transmission mode illumination and oblique mode illumination are simultaneously used during a single stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of the entire sample area and the entire label area of the slide via the first optical path. In a second embodiment, transmission mode illumination is used during a first stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of at least the entire sample area via the first optical path and oblique mode illumination is used during a second stage movement that captures a low resolution macro image of at least the entire label area via the first optical path.

Abstract: A digital slide scanning apparatus includes a safety light curtain that operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when the presence of an object (e.g., the fingers of an operator) is detected within a predetermined area of the carousel. The light curtain also operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack is detected. The digital slide scanning apparatus also includes a multi-color status indicator for each rack slot that indicates the rack slot location of an improperly positioned glass slide or 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: A slide rack determination system for a digital slide scanning apparatus. In an embodiment, a motor drives a slide rack at a known rate toward an engagement surface. The elapsed time until engagement may be used to detect the presence or absence of the slide rack and/or the height of the slide rack. In addition, one or more sensors may detect one or more features of the slide rack, and these feature(s) may be used to determine the presence or absence of a slide rack, whether usage of the slide rack is supported or unsupported by the digital slide scanning apparatus, the orientation of the slide rack, and/or the manufacturer and/or model of the slide rack.

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.