Abstract: The object of the invention relates to an objective changing and focussing apparatus (10) for microscopes (100) containing a plurality of objectives (12), and having an optical axis Z, the essence of which is that it contains—a first rail system (16a) having a first guide rail (17a) fixed to the microscope (100) and a first moving member (18a) guided by the first guide rail (17a), wherein the first rail system (16a) is arranged along an axis X perpendicular to the optical axis Z, —a first drive unit (20a) in drive connection with the first rail system (16a), —a plurality of objective interface elements (24), adapted for being connected to the objectives (12), arranged next to one another along the X axis and fixed to the first moving member (18a) movably along the Z axis, —a second rail system (16b) having a second guide rail (17b) fixed to the microscope (100) and a second moving member (18b) guided by the second guide rail (17b), wherein the second rail system (16b) is arranged parallel to the optical axis

Abstract: A microscope stage is movably mounted to a base and is movable relative to the base by two separate drive units on separate rail systems situated at an angle relative to one another. The drive units are mechanically isolated from one another and one of the drive units uses a belt drive.

Abstract: The object of the invention relates to an objective changing and focussing apparatus (10) for microscopes (100) containing a plurality of objectives (12), and having an optical axis Z, the essence of which is that it contains—a first rail system (16a) having a first guide rail (17a) fixed to the microscope (100) and a first moving member (18a) guided by the first guide rail (17a), wherein the first rail system (16a) is arranged along an axis X perpendicular to the optical axis Z,—a first drive unit (20a) in drive connection with the first rail system (16a),—a plurality of objective interface elements (24), adapted for being connected to the objectives (12), arranged next to one another along the X axis and fixed to the first moving member (18a) movably along the Z axis,—a second rail system (16b) having a second guide rail (17b) fixed to the microscope (100) and a second moving member (18b) guided by the second guide rail (17b), wherein the second rail system (16b) is arranged parallel to the optical axis Z,

Abstract: A confocal slide-digitizing apparatus (100) includes a slide handling unit (20) and an imaging unit (10), wherein the slide handling unit (20) has a slide supplier unit (90). The imaging unit (10) has a light source (40) to illuminate the sample to be digitized at the imaging position through an objective (18) arranged in a light path that enables confocal imaging of at least a region of the sample and an image recording unit to receive light with information on at least an illuminated region of the sample through the objective (18) and generate a digital image of a section of a given thickness of said illuminated region. Moreover, said slide handling unit (20) and said imaging unit (10) are joined mechanically together in a tiltable manner relative to one another, thereby correcting the light path of said confocal imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for moving a microscope (100) stage, which device (10) has a first and second rail system (16a, 16b), and has a microscope stage (12) that may be moveably fixed to a first base (14) with the first and second rail systems (16a, 16b), furthermore, it contains: —a first drive unit (20a) for moving the stage (12) along the first rail system (16a), connected to the stage (12) via a first drive connection, and —a second drive unit (20b) for moving the stage (12) along a second rail system (16b) positioned at an angle to the first rail system (16a), connected to the stage (12) via a second drive connection, the essence of which is that the first drive unit (20a) is arranged on a second base (15) that is mechanically isolated from the first base (14), and the first drive connection is provided as a belt drive.

Abstract: A confocal slide-digitizing apparatus (100) includes a slide handling unit (20) and an imaging unit (10), wherein the slide handling unit (20) has a slide supplier unit (90). The imaging unit (10) has a light source (40) to illuminate the sample to be digitized at the imaging position through an objective (18) arranged in a light path that enables confocal imaging of at least a region of the sample and an image recording unit to receive light with information on at least an illuminated region of the sample through the objective (18) and generate a digital image of a section of a given thickness of said illuminated region. Moreover, said slide handling unit (20) and said imaging unit (10) are joined mechanically together in a tiltable manner relative to one another, thereby correcting the light path of said confocal imaging.

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: The invention relates to a method for accessing a slide from a plurality of digitized microscope slides from a remote workstation, wherein the plurality of digitized microscope slides are accessible via a plurality of data station units (DSU), the method comprising: providing a central management station unit (CMSU) connected to a communication network for storing slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides, allowing the workstation to connect to the CMSU via the communication network; providing at least a part of the slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides to the workstation; allowing the workstation to select a digitized microscope slide based on the provided slide information; and allowing for a direct connection over the communication network between the remote workstation and a DSU enabling access to the selected digitized microscope slide. The invention further relates to a system and a CMSU for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image wherein relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be presented are stitched together on the basis of the stored values the method comprising: subdividing the overlaps of the individual image blocks into smaller regions with fixed relative positions; picking up at least one region most useful for the determination of the stitching; determining the offset goodness value based on the similarity of pattern of the image blocks; stitching the blocks of the image so that first the two image blocks characterized by the best offset goodness values are stitched together and the two image blocks characterized by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, whereas only the co-ordinates of the images figuring in a table are modified in the course of the stit

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: The present invention relates to a method and an automated fluorescent imaging system for digitizing a specimen with fluorescent target points on a microscope slide. The method uses the fluorescence microscope system for detecting and scanning said fluorescent target points. The method comprises the steps of marking the position of said specimen on said slide by visible marking means to define a specimen area containing said specimen and said fluorescent target points; capturing a bright field image of at least a portion of the slide at a first optical magnification, said portion(s) containing the specimen area and determining, from the visible marking means, a position of target fields falling within said specimen area; and scanning the target fields of the specimen area at a second optical magnification higher than said first optical magnification, said scanning including focusing on at least a part of said target fields.

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: A method for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image wherein relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be presented are stitched together on the basis of the stored values the method comprising: subdividing the overlaps of the individual image blocks into smaller regions with fixed relative positions; picking up at least one region most useful for the determination of the stitching; determining the offset goodness value based on the similarity of pattern of the image blocks; stitching the blocks of the image so that first the two image blocks characterised by the best offset goodness values are stitched together and the two image blocks characterised by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, whereas only the co-ordinates of the images figuring in a table are modified in the course of the stit

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for accessing a slide from a plurality of digitized microscope slides from a remote workstation, wherein the plurality of digitized microscope slides are accessible via a plurality of data station units (DSU), the method comprising: providing a central management station unit (CMSU) connected to a communication network for storing slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides, allowing the workstation to connect to the CMSU via the communication network; providing at least a part of the slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides to the workstation; allowing the workstation to select a digitized microscope slide based on the provided slide information; and allowing for a direct connection over the communication network between the remote workstation and a DSU enabling access to the selected digitized microscope slide. The invention further relates to a system and a CMSU for carrying out the method.

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.