Abstract: A system, an instrument, a computer-implemented method, and a clinical workflow for mesodissection of biological specimens on tissue slides by incorporating annotations. An image of an annotated reference slide is acquired and transposed onto a plurality of serial samples on the tissue slides along with the corresponding annotations and metadata. The serial samples are milled based on the annotations, and the milled tissue is automatically collected along with a milling buffer solution inside milling tips, and then dispensed in designated collection vials. The instrument automates the filling of aqueous buffer inside the milling tips and the monitoring of the buffer solution and the sequential filling of the milling tips. The workflow provides an integrated interface that performs tissue annotation, alignment, dissection, tracking, and reporting on a single screen. The degree of precision, ease of use and repeatability will improve PCR and NGS test results, ultimately providing timely patient results.

Abstract: Method for optically scanning an object comprising a flat support for holding the object; a linear optical sensor held in a fixed position on one side of the support; a light source held in a fixed position on the other side of the support for projecting light through the object toward the optical sensor; and a drive mechanism for moving the object along one direction to successive scanning positions. The user may create custom application computer programs for performing desired image scanning and analysis on an object. To enable this, the system stores software tools each capable of performing an image scanning or image analysis function, stores an interpreter program corresponding to a natural language identifiers for the functions, and provides an interactive computer environment for the user to specify a sequence of software tools using the natural language identifiers to be executed to perform the desired image scanning and analysis.