Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated automated slide processing system, especially to stain, to cover and to digitize one or more microscope slides (49) in one turn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated automated slide processing system, especially to stain, to cover and to digitize one or more microscope slides (49) in one turn.

Abstract: A system for handling slides having a tray moving on a carriage with seats for the slides and with a tray moving mechanism, a slide loading arm, and a slide holding frame having a slide loading arm driving motor. There are outstretched Maltese crosses on the lower side of the tray of the slide feeder and a crank is arranged in the carriage, opposite to and parallel with the crosses. The slide loading arm is arranged movably and tiltably above and a supporting plate is arranged movably and tiltably below the slide holder. The slide holding frame has a lifting means for tilting the slide loading arm and the supporting plate. The lifting means is actuated by a controller arranged on the disk of the crank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method of digitizing a moving slide (4). According to the invention, the slide (4) is displaced via stepper motors (6X, 6Y, 6Z) and the exposition of said slide (4) for imaging purposes is performed in synchronous with pre-set numbers of steppings (nx, ny, nz) accomplished by said stepper motors (6X, 6Y, 6Z) by activating a light source (2) that is capable of emitting a luminous flux high enough. Said light source (2) is preferably controlled directly by the stepper motors (6X, 6Y, 6Z).

Abstract: An automated cassette and slide handling system is disclosed which organizes microscope slides in cassettes, automatically and sequentially removes individual slides from their respective cassettes, positioned each slide under the microscope as provided by the protocol, and after examination returns the slide to its proper cassette.

Abstract: A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for handling slides comprising a tray moving on a carriage provided with seats for the slides and with a tray moving mechanism; a slide loading arm; and a slide holding frame provided with a slide loading arm driving motor, wherein the slide holder (30) is provided with slide holding elements; there are outstretched Maltese crosses (13) on the lower side of the tray (6 ) of the slide feeder (1) and a crank (14) is arranged in the carriage (4), opposite to and parallel with the crosses (13), said crank being coupled to said crosses; said slide loading arm (9) is arranged movably and tillable above (30) and a supporting plate (11) is arranged movably and tiltable below the slide holder, said supporting plate cooperating with said slide loading arm. The slide holding frame (7) is provided with lifting means for tilting the slide loading arm (9) and the supporting plate (11), said lifting means being actuated by controlling means arranged on the disk (15) of the crank (14).

Abstract: A focusing method is provided for the high speed digitalization of microscope slides using an imaging device, wherein the slide is divided into fields of view according to the imaging device and focusing is performed. During rough focusing, several images are captured within the focus range using large focus steps. On the basis of this set of images the position of the best contrast is determined. Fine focusing is performed by adjusting the focus according to the focus distance already determined for another field of view and by focusing with fine steps. A slide displacing device is provided, which enables the displacement of a slide parallel to the optical axis. The slide displacing device includes slide holding elements affixed to one side of a supporting member having two parallel sides, which are connected by stiffening elements defining at least two parallel planes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated digital image recording system (1) for digitizing slides (6). The image recording system (1) comprises a slide holding means (7, 17), a mechanism for actuating it, a first digital image recording means, a second digital image recording means of high magnification and a control unit (4) for a software-based control of the automated image recording. The image recording system (1) is adapted for digitizing a slide (6) having one or more regions with sample and at least one separate region that comprises a field of information. The first digital image recording means is adapted for reading out the at least one region comprising the field of information and comprises a digital preview camera (2) capturing a low resolution preview image of each of the one or more regions with sample separately. The control unit is provided with a routine for searching points of the low resolution preview images that belong to the sample.

Abstract: An automated cassette and slide handling system is disclosed which organizes microscope slides in cassettes, automatically and sequentially removes individual slides from their respective cassettes, positioned each slide under the microscope as provided by the protocol, and after examination returns the slide to its proper cassette.

Abstract: A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.

Abstract: A method for the storage ensuring fast retrieval and efficient transfer of interrelated, high volume, mainly 3D, information, whereby the input information is assigned to two files, so that image data information required for histological reconstruction is stored in one file and information regarding predetermined parameters of the image data is stored in the other file, whereas in the course of the storing of the received information, associated information regarding the hierarchical relationship of individual image data is also stored in a further file. A computer program product for the storage ensuring fast retrieval and efficient transfer of interrelated, high-volume, mainly 3D, information, contains a computer-readable storage medium including a computer-readable programme code, further a software tool to store associated information regarding the hierarchical relationship of individual image data, while storing input information.

Abstract: A focusing method is provided for the high speed digitalization of microscope slides using an imaging device, wherein the slide is divided into fields of view according to the imaging device and focusing is performed. During rough focusing, several images are captured within the focus range using large focus steps. On the basis of this set of images the position of the best contrast is determined. Fine focusing is performed by adjusting the focus according to the focus distance already determined for another field of view and by focusing with fine steps. A slide displacing device is provided, which enables the displacement of a slide parallel to the optical axis. The slide displacing device includes slide holding elements affixed to one side of a supporting member having two parallel sides, which are connected by stiffening elements defining at least two parallel planes.

Abstract: A slide feeding unit for a microscope includes a slide magazine having a base plate; a toothed rack secured to a magazine side wall; and slide guiding elements perpendicular to an open magazine side. The unit further includes a magazine moving mechanism having a magazine-receiving trough including opposite side plates. Two rotary shafts supported by the trough extend along the trough side plates. Magazine-advancing feeding gears are supported by the side plates and may mesh with the toothed magazine rack. Lifting gears, held in the side plates, have pins on which the magazine is supported when raised or lowered. Driving worm gears are rotated by the shafts and mesh with the lifting gears. The unit also includes a slide feeding device having a robot arm displaceable perpendicularly to the direction of advance of the magazine for removing a slide from the magazine.

Abstract: For imaging a two-dimensional target and ensuring scanning, photography and digitalization of the surface of a museum piece book opened at an angle slightly exceeding 45°, a method includes matching at least one optical unit adapted for influencing the direction of light rays falling onto it with the target, illuminating the target while directing an optical recording element to the optical unit and turning away the optical recording element, displacing in a receding manner from the plane of the target at a predetermined angle in a curved course compared to the optical axis originating from the target centre while tilting a mirror to half the extent of displacement, and mapping the pixels of the target reaching the optical recording element by projecting the rays originating from the pixels at right angles to the target through the optical unit to sensor elements.

Abstract: A slide feeding unit for a microscope includes a slide magazine having a base plate; a toothed rack secured to a magazine side wall; and slide guiding elements perpendicular to an open magazine side. The unit further includes a magazine moving mechanism having a magazine-receiving trough including opposite side plates. Two rotary shafts supported by the trough extend along the trough side plates. Magazine-advancing feeding gears are supported by the side plates and may mesh with the toothed magazine rack. Lifting gears, held in the side plates, have pins on which the magazine is supported when raised or lowered. Driving worm gears are rotated by the shafts and mesh with the feeding gears and the lifting gears. The unit also includes a slide feeding device having a robot arm displaceable perpendicularly to the direction of advance of the magazine for removing a slide from the magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for sedimentation comprising: a cuvette holder configured to receive a cuvette containing a sample liquid containing particle; and a centrifuge having a horizontal shaft which is coupled to the cuvette holder such that the cuvette holder can assume a plurality of rotational positions about the horizontal shaft and configured such that the cuvette holder is substantially horizontal when the cuvette holder is in a lowermost position relative to the horizontal shaft.