Slide tray
Apparatus and methods for loading a tray containing a plurality of slides into an imaging system, and for verifying the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system. A plurality of retainers secures the slides in recesses defined by the tray. An aligning projection on the tray interacts with an alignment component on the imaging system to verify the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system and to disable the system if it cannot do so.
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The present invention generally relates to methods and devices for in imaging specimen slides, and more particularly, to devices and methods for loading a tray containing a plurality of slides into an imaging system, and for verifying the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTVarious devices have been used to store glass slides, such as microscope and patient test slides. One known storage receptacle is a cardboard folder with recesses configured to hold slides. These folders have two flaps, which cover the recesses and hold the slides in place. These folders are typically used for archiving slides and also allow individual slides to be located with relative ease.
Another known storage receptacle is a slide cassette. A cassette typically includes a pair of fingers or support members with retaining members that extend from the cassette and below a slot. A slide is loaded into a slot and onto a pair of fingers. Each slot receives a single slide. The dimensions of a slot are typically larger than the dimensions of a slide so that the slide can be easily inserted into and removed from the slot.
Slide cassettes are often used with automated or semi-automated imaging systems. Automated or semi-automated imaging systems use robotic actuators or other devices to remove a slide from the cassette, process the slide or specimen, and return the slide into the cassette. For example, one device may acquire a slide from a cassette and position it beneath a microscope or other device so that a cytotechnologist can analyze the sample for cancer and other medical conditions. More specifically, the imaging system grasps the slide, lifts it above the retaining members of the fingers, removes the slide from the fingers and the slot, and positions the slide beneath the microscope or vision system. The imaging system re-inserts the slide into the cassette after the analysis is completed.
Transferring slides from the folders, in which they are stored, to cassettes, from which they are automatically loaded into slide imagers, is typically done by hand. Manual loading of slides, however, is time consuming and may lead to improper positioning of slides in cassettes. For example, a slide may not rest flat on the fingers. Instead, the slide may only partially clear one of the fingers and come to rest at an angle. Further, the slide can be inserted upside down so that the surface with a specimen sample is facing downward, whereas other slides may have their specimen samples facing upward. Further, slides can be twisted around. In other words, the slide may be inadvertently rotated 180 degrees. This may present a problem when, for example, a bar code or other data is present on one end of a slide.
Slides that are improperly positioned may also be broken by equipment that is programmed to select slides since the equipment is typically configured to select or re-insert a slide that is oriented in a particular manner. Thus, equipment errors and broken slides may result from misplaced slides. These errors may also result in system downtime while a cytotechnologist or technician is forced to examine the cassette and rearrange misplaced slides or replace broken slides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a tray for use with a slide imaging system, comprises a retainer and an aligning member, both disposed on a planar member. The planar member defines a recess for receiving a slide. The retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system to be verified.
In various embodiments, the retainer may be a leaf spring made from a resilient material or a planar cover configured to hold the slide on the planar member by compression. The retainer may be manually engaged, or it may be engaged by application of a cover to the planar member or insertion of the planar member into the slide imaging system.
In one embodiment, the aligning member is asymmetrically disposed on the planar member. In various embodiments, the aligning member may be a reflective marking, a projection, or a depression. Generally, the aligning member is configured to interact with the slide imaging system to verify the alignment and the orientation of the planar member, and to disable the slide imaging system if it cannot do so.
In one embodiment, the planar member defines an aperture, which provides a path through which light can pass to the slide disposed on the planar member. In another embodiment, the planar member defines a receptacle for receiving an aligning member disposed on a second tray, when the second tray is stacked on top of the tray.
In one embodiment, the tray comprises a plurality of retainers, which secure a plurality of slides into a plurality of recesses defined by the planar member. The tray may further comprise an actuator, wherein the actuator engages the plurality of retainers.
In accordance with another embodiment, a slide imaging system is provided with a light source, a stage disposed adjacent to the light source, one or more optical elements disposed adjacent to the stage, a tray holder disposed on the stage, and a slide tray affixed to the stage by the tray holder. The tray includes a retainer and an aligning member, both disposed on a planar member. The planar member defines a recess for receiving a slide. The retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system to be verified. The system may further comprise an enclosure surrounding the system.
The system may further comprise an alignment component, where the alignment component interacts with the aligning member to verify the alignment and the orientation of the slide tray on the stage, and to disable the slide imaging system if it cannot do so. In various embodiments, the alignment component may include an optical sensor, a switch, an electromechanical switch, or a light beam projector.
In yet another embodiment, a method of loading slides into an imaging system includes loading slides into a tray, retaining the slides on the tray with a resilient retainer, loading the tray into the imaging system, and verifying an alignment and an orientation of the slide tray in the slide imaging system by placing an aligning member disposed on the tray in proximity to an alignment component disposed on the imaging system. The method may further comprise disabling the system if the system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the tray in the imaging system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn order to better understand and appreciate the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments thereof. In the drawings, similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals, and:
FIGS. 2A-B are detailed perspective views of the slide tray of
FIGS. 4A-B are detailed perspective views of the slide tray of
FIGS. 7A-B are detailed perspective views of a slide tray, according to another embodiment, for loading a plurality of slides into a slide imaging system while verifying the alignment and orientation of the slides;
FIGS. 11A-B are detailed cross sectional views through the line x-x in
FIGS. 12A-C are detailed cross sectional views through the line x-x in
In the following description of the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings and specific components thereof are not necessarily to scale, and that various structural changes may be made without departing from the scope or nature of the various embodiments.
A slide tray and system are disclosed for storing slides and loading slides into a slide imaging system without manually transferring slides from a tray to a cassette. The tray includes recesses that are sized for holding a slide and leaf spring retainers in each recess that hold the slide in place through a friction fit mechanism. The tray also includes an aligning member, which is asymmetrically disposed on the bottom of the tray and interacts with an alignment component on the slide imaging system to verify the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system. If the system cannot verify the alignment and orientation of the tray, the system is disabled. If the system verifies the alignment and orientation of the tray, the system is enabled. Additional details regarding the tray components and their operation follow.
Referring to
As shown in
When a slide 106 is inserted into the recess 102, as shown in
Referring to
When a slide 106 is inserted into the recess 102 with the retainer 104 in its uncompressed, slightly curved shape, there is a space 130 between the retainer 104 and the slide 106. When the actuator 122 is moved forward towards the corner 114 of the inner surface of the tray 100 where the retainer 104 is connected, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other retainers can be utilized. For example, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other alignment components 212 can be utilized with the aligning projection 126 described above. For example, referring to
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other alignment mechanisms can be utilized to verify the alignment and orientation of a tray 100 in an imaging system 200. For example, as shown in
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a tray 100 can also include an aligning reflector 140, as shown in
Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it should be understood that the above description and figures are not intended to be limiting, and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A tray for use with a slide imaging system, the tray comprising:
- a planar member, the planar member defining a recess for receiving a slide;
- a retainer; and
- an aligning member, wherein the retainer and the aligning member are both disposed on the planar member, the retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables verification of an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system.
2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a leaf spring.
3. The tray of claim 1, wherein the retainer is made from a resilient material.
4. The tray of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a planar cover.
5. The tray of claim 4, where the planar cover is configured to hold the slide on the planar member by compression.
6. The tray of claim 1, wherein the retainer is manually engaged.
7. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a cover, wherein the retainer is engaged by application of the cover to the planar member.
8. The tray of claim 1, wherein the retainer is engaged by insertion of the planar member into the slide imaging system.
9. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is asymmetrically disposed on the planar member.
10. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is a reflective marking.
11. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is a projection.
12. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is a depression.
13. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is configured to interact with the slide imaging system to verify the alignment and the orientation of the planar member.
14. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aligning member is configured to interact with the slide imaging system to disable the slide imaging system if the slide imaging system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the planar member.
15. The tray of claim 1, wherein the planar member defines an aperture, the aperture providing a path through which light can pass to a slide disposed on the planar member.
16. The tray of claim 1, the planar member defining a receptacle for receiving an aligning member disposed on a second tray, the second tray being stacked on top of the tray.
17. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of retainers that secure an associated plurality of slides into a respective plurality of recesses defined by the planar member.
18. The tray of claim 17, further comprising an actuator that engages the plurality of retainers.
19. A slide imaging system, comprising:
- a light source;
- a stage disposed adjacent to the light source;
- one or more optical elements disposed adjacent to the stage;
- a tray holder disposed on the stage; and
- a slide tray affixed to the stage by the tray holder, the tray including a planar member defining a recess for receiving a slide, a retainer, and an aligning member, wherein the retainer and the aligning member are both disposed on the planar member, the retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables verification of an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an enclosure substantially surrounding the system.
21. The system of claim 19, further comprising an alignment component that interacts with the aligning member to verify the alignment and the orientation of the slide tray on the stage.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the alignment component includes an optical sensor.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the alignment component includes a switch.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the switch is an electromechanical switch.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein the alignment component includes a light beam projector.
26. The system of claim 21, wherein the alignment component is configured to interact with the aligning member to disable the system if the system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the slide tray on the movable stage.
27. A method of loading slides into an imaging system, comprising:
- loading slides into a tray;
- retaining the slides on the tray with a resilient retainer;
- loading the tray into the imaging system; and
- verifying an alignment and an orientation of the slide tray in the slide imaging system by placing an aligning member disposed on the tray in proximity to an alignment component disposed on the imaging system.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising disabling the system if the system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the tray in the imaging system.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 2, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Applicant: Cytyc Corporation (Marlborough, MA)
Inventors: Patrick Guiney (Concord, MA), Mark Bangert (Milford, MA), Bernie Lane (Littleton, MA), Mathew McCormack (Lunenburg, MA), Robert Sakal (Bolton, MA)
Application Number: 11/050,547
International Classification: B65D 85/48 (20060101);