Abstract: A quality check module for characterizing a specimen and/or a specimen container. The quality check module includes an imaging location within the quality check module configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more cameras located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more spectrally-switchable light source including a light panel assembly located adjacent the imaging location and configured to provide lighting for the one or more cameras, the spectrally-switchable light source configured to be operatively switchable between multiple different spectra. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container and specimen, and specimen testing apparatus including a quality check module adapted to carry out the method are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A quality check module for characterizing a specimen and/or a specimen container including stray light compensation. The quality check module includes an imaging location within the quality check module configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices configured to capture images of the imaging location from one or more viewpoints, and one or more light sources configured to provide back lighting for the one or more image capture devices, and one or more stray light patches located in an area receiving stray light from the one or more light sources enabling stray light affecting the images to be compensated for and to provide a stray light compensated image. Calibration methods, methods of characterizing a specimen, specimen testing apparatus including a quality check module, and specimen container carriers including one or more stray light patches are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method and intraoral scanner are provided for detecting topography of the surface by at least partly superimposing a first and a second sub-topography. Each sub-topography is detected by projecting a total measurement pattern onto a respective sub-region of the surface by a projection device. The total measurement pattern has at least two different measurement patterns, each of which has parallel measurement lines, and each of the measurement patterns is assigned to a diffractive optical element, by means of which measurement lines can be generated by light diffraction. The method then provides a first and a second image of each sub-region, a first measurement pattern being projected onto the sub-region of the surface in the first image and a second measurement pattern being projected onto the sub-region of the surface in the second image, and detects the sub-topographies by triangulation in each case.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum and plasma portion of a specimen in regions occluded by one or more labels. The characterization method may be used to provide input to an HILN (H, I, and/or L, or N) detection method. The characterization method includes capturing one or more images of a labeled specimen container including a serum or plasma portion from multiple viewpoints, processing the one or more images to provide segmentation data including identification of a label-containing region, determining a closest label match of the label-containing region to a reference label configuration selected from a reference label configuration database, and generating a combined representation based on the segmentation information and the closest label match. Using the combined representation allows for compensation of the light blocking effects of the label-containing region. Quality check modules and testing apparatus and adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an imaging device adapted to characterize a feature of a sample container, such as a cap color or cap type. The method includes providing a calibration tube including an imaging surface at an imaging location of a first imaging apparatus; illuminating the imaging surface with light emitted from multiple front light sources; adjusting a drive current to each of the multiple front light sources to establish a substantially uniform intensity of the imaging surface; recording drive current values for the multiple front light sources; replacing the calibration tube with a calibration tool having a calibration surface of a known reflectance; and measuring target intensity values of the calibration tool at the respective drive current values. Calibration tools, imaging apparatus, quality check modules, and health check methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing a specimen and/or specimen container. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, a light source configured to provide lighting of the imaging location, and a hyperspectral image capture device. The hyperspectral image capture device is configured to generate and capture a spectrally-resolved image of a small portion of the specimen container and specimen at a spectral image capture device. The spectrally-resolved image data received at the spectral image capture device is processed by a computer to determine at least one of: segmentation of at least one of the specimen and/or specimen container, and determination of a presence or absence of an interferent, such as hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container, and specimen testing apparatus including a characterization apparatus are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A characterization apparatus including pattern generation. The characterization apparatus is configured to characterize a specimen and/or a specimen container in some embodiments. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more light panel assemblies including pattern generation capability located adjacent to the imaging location and configured to provide back lighting. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container using the pattern generation are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of imaging a specimen container and/or specimen. The method includes providing a specimen container containing a specimen at an imaging location, providing one or more cameras configured to capture images at the imaging location, providing one or more light sources adjacent to the imaging location, illuminating the imaging location with the one or more light sources, and capturing multiple images including: specimen images of the image location at multiple different exposures, with the specimen container and specimen being present at the image location. Quality check modules and specimen testing apparatus including a quality check module are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A model-based method of inspecting a specimen for presence of an interferent (H, I, and/or L). The method includes capturing images of the specimen at multiple different exposures times and at multiple spectra having different nominal wavelengths, selection of optimally-exposed pixels from the captured images to generate optimally-exposed image data for each spectra, identifying a serum or plasma portion of the specimen, and classifying whether an interferent is present or absent within the serum or plasma portion. Testing apparatus and quality check modules adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of imaging a sample container and/or a specimen in a sample container. The method includes enclosing at least a portion of a sample container with a moveable hood, the moveable hood having a wall with one or more openings extending between an interior of the moveable hood and an exterior of the moveable hood. Image data of the sample container is generated using one or more imaging devices positioned exterior to the moveable hood. The one or more imaging devices have a line of sight to the sample container through the one or more openings. Automated specimen testing systems, optical characterization apparatus, and methods of measuring characteristics of sample containers are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An optical characterization apparatus for imaging a specimen container containing a specimen. The optical characterization apparatus includes a moveable hood configured to move between an open state and a closed state relative to a specimen container imaging location and having an interior, wherein when the moveable hood is in the closed state, a specimen container positioned at the specimen container imaging location is at least partially located within the interior of the moveable hood. One or more optical devices coupled to or within the interior of the moveable hood are positioned, when the moveable hood is in the closed state, to allow imaging of a specimen container positioned at the specimen container imaging location. Automated specimen testing systems, optical characterization apparatus, and methods of measuring characteristics of specimen containers are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a device for calibrating a measuring apparatus for measuring a measurement object extending along an axis in space, the device comprising: an active region recording an entirety of the measurement object; a light projector generating at least two different calibration patterns into the active region onto a real plane wall or real plane surface; and a processor calculating the real plane wall or real plane surface as an ideally plane wall or ideally plane surface and using the calculation for calibration.

Abstract: A method of tube slot localization is provided using a tray coordinate system and a camera coordinate system. The method includes receiving, a series of images from at least one camera of a tray comprising tube slots arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. Each tube slot is configured to receive a sample tube. The method also includes automatically detecting fiducial markers disposed on cross sectional areas between the tube slots on the tray and receiving an encoder value indicating when each row of the tray is substantially at the center of the camera's field of view. The method further includes determining calibration information to provide mapping of locations from the tray coordinate system to locations from the camera coordinate system and automatically aligning the tray based on the encoder value and calibration information.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a device for calibrating a measuring apparatus for measuring a measurement object extending along an axis, the device comprising: an active region recording an entirety of the measurement object; and a light projector configured to project at least two different calibration patterns into the active region onto a planar surface.

Abstract: A characterization apparatus including pattern generation. The characterization apparatus is configured to characterize a specimen and or a specimen container in some embodiments. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more light panel assemblies including pattern generation capability located adjacent to the imaging location and configured to provide back lighting. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container using the pattern generation are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing a specimen and/or specimen container. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, a light source configured to provide lighting of the imaging location, and a hyperspectral image capture device. The hyperspectral image capture device is configured to generate and capture a spectrally-resolved image of a small portion of the specimen container and specimen at a spectral image capture device. The spectrally-resolved image data received at the spectral image capture device is processed by a computer to determine at least one of: segmentation of at least one of the specimen and/or specimen container, and determination of a presence or absence of an interferent, such as hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container, and specimen testing apparatus including a characterization apparatus are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A quality check module for characterizing a specimen and/or a specimen container including stray light compensation. The quality check module includes an imaging location within the quality check module configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices configured to capture images of the imaging location from one or more viewpoints, and one or more light sources configured to provide back lighting for the one or more image capture devices, and one or more stray light patches located in an area receiving stray light from the one or more light sources enabling stray light affecting the images to be compensated for and to provide a stray light compensated image.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum and plasma portion of a specimen in regions occluded by one or more labels. The characterization method may be used to provide input to an HILN (H, I, and/or L, or N) detection method. The characterization method includes capturing one or more images of a labeled specimen container including a serum or plasma portion from multiple viewpoints, processing the one or more images to provide segmentation data including identification of a label-containing region, determining a closest label match of the label-containing region to a reference label configuration selected from a reference label configuration database, and generating a combined representation based on the segmentation information and the closest label match. Using the combined representation allows for compensation of the light blocking effects of the label-containing region. Quality check modules and testing apparatus and adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of imaging a specimen container and/or specimen. The method includes providing a specimen container containing a specimen at an imaging location, providing one or more cameras configured to capture images at the imaging location, providing one or more light sources adjacent to the imaging location, illuminating the imaging location with the one or more light sources, and capturing multiple images including: specimen images of the image location at multiple different exposures, with the specimen container and specimen being present at the image location. Quality check modules and specimen testing apparatus including a quality check module are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A model-based method of inspecting a specimen for presence of an interferent (H, I, and/or L). The method includes capturing images of the specimen at multiple different exposures times and at multiple spectra having different nominal wavelengths, selection of optimally-exposed pixels from the captured images to generate optimally-exposed image data for each spectra, identifying a serum or plasma portion of the specimen, and classifying whether an interferent is present or absent within the serum or plasma portion. Testing apparatus and quality check modules adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.