Patent Description:
The scan speed of microscope slide scanners in pathology has been increased to the point where the setup time required for configuring the scanner to acquire a scan is a significant portion of the total time, and especially when a large number (hundreds or even thousands) of slides must be scanned each day.

After one or more slides are prepared, they are visually examined by the technician and then loaded into a sample holder. The sample holder is then loaded into the slide scanner, or into the autoloader. Before high-resolution scanning, a preview image is recorded for all slides, usually using a camera in the scanner that is dedicated to this operation. The preview image may include only a single slide, or all of the slides in the tray. This preview image may contain an image of each slide's barcode as well as the area containing the specimen (usually tissue). The area containing the specimen is outlined to delimit the area that will be scanned. This can happen automatically or by the operator adjusting the size of the outline on the computer screen until it is near the edges of the sample. When the sample area is chosen automatically, before scanning the operator may check the image of each slide to ensure that the entire area of interest is included in the area to be scanned. Some scanners require focus points to be placed on the sample image before scanning, and that is done manually or automatically (and checked and possibly re-positioned by the operator) at this time. These focus points (or focus dots) are the positions on the sample where focus of the scanner will be measured for automatic adjustment of focus during scanning. In addition, a sub-area inside the region to be scanned with characteristics required for setting white balance (brightfield imaging) in the final scanned image may be chosen at this time. All other settings required to acquire the high-resolution scan are configured at this time with the help of the preview image.

For automated scanning, microscope slides are loaded automatically into a slide scanner. Two general types of microscope slide loaders are common. Slide loaders designed for loading slides onto standard microscopes (for example the Prior Scientific PL-<NUM>) and some slide loaders integrated into pathology scanners (for example Aperio ScanScope AT) place microscope slides onto the microscope stage or insert them into the optical path. A second type of slide loader handles sample holders (trays) containing one or more slides, with the advantage that the slides themselves are not handled during movement of the trays, and multiple slides can be loaded into a single tray. The size of slides that can be handled is limited only by the size of the tray and slide sizes can be mixed in a single run or even in a single tray.

When only a single slide, or slides in a single slide holder are to be imaged, the time required for acquiring preview images and subsequently setting up the high-resolution scan is only a few minutes, however when hundreds of slides must be scanned, this pre-scan preparation time becomes significantly larger, and since the scanning system is used for this pre-scan preparation procedure, this limits the number of slides that can be scanned per day.

One example of a commonly-used workflow is described in <FIG>. The sequence of operations performed in the scanner before scanning commences is as follows:.

The drawbacks of this commonly-used workflow include, but are not limited to:.

<CIT> discloses a method including sensing an image without magnification of a portion of a tissue sample using a first optic, and sensing a magnified view of an area of the portion of the tissue sample using a second optic. <CIT> discloses taking an image of film-type culture mediums on a tray with a digital camera.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Low Resolution" may be defined as spatial resolution greater than <NUM> micron.

For the purposes of this disclosure "High Resolution:" may be defined as spatial resolution less than or equal to <NUM> micron.

For the purposes of this disclosure, "Preview Image" may be defined as a low resolution overview image of a partial, whole or many specimen(s) used to setup the required parameters for performing a high-resolution scan. It can also include an image of labels, bar codes, and other identifiers of the slide, sample holder, and specimen.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Sample" may be defined as anything presented to the instrument for the purpose of being imaged, generally a specimen on a microscope slide, the entire microscope slide containing the specimen, a microwell plate, a semiconductor wafer, etc, that can be inserted into the scanner/autoloader for imaging.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Sample Holder" may be defined as any device that can be used to hold one or more samples, and can be inserted into the scanner/autoloader for imaging.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Autoloader" may be defined as a device that loads samples or sample holders into the scanner.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Workstation" may be defined as a computer to control the scanner and/or autoloader and can generate scan-control information from preview images (scan-setup).

For the purposes of the disclosure "Scan-Setup" may be defined as a process that uses a preview image to generate all of the information required by the scanner for scanning a high-resolution image of a specified area. This information can include but is not limited to information defining the region of interest, focus positions, flat fielding, colour content, specimen type identification, corresponding scanning protocol, etc..

For the purposes of this disclosure "Preview Imager" may be defined as a device dedicated
to capturing preview images. In some cases the Preview Imager will also have the capability to generate scan-setup information from the preview images. A preview imager can be an independent device or a part of a larger system, for example, part of the scanner and/or autoloader.

For the purposes of this disclosure "ROI" (region of interest) may be defined as the area of the specimen that will be imaged at high resolution.

For the purposes of this disclosure "Tablet" may be defined as a general-purpose computer contained in a single panel. Its distinguishing characteristic is the use of a touch screen as one of several input devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a preview station according to the appended claim <NUM>, and a method of previewing images of a slide tray having a plurality of microscope slides thereon using a preview station, according to the appended claim <NUM>.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning are performed, where this apparatus is an appliance that can be remote from the scanner.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning are performed, where this apparatus is an appliance that can be a part of the scanner.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning are performed, where this apparatus is decoupled from the operation of the scanner, allowing preview operations to be performed while the scanner is in operation scanning other samples.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning are performed, where this apparatus is decoupled from the scan-setup process, allowing preview operations to be performed while scan-setup data is generated from previously-acquired preview images.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for scan-setup where this apparatus is decoupled from preview imaging, allowing scan-setup operations to be performed while preview imaging is performed.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for scan-setup where this apparatus is decoupled from the operation of the scanner, allowing scan-setups to be performed while the scanner is in operation scanning other samples.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning where both the apparatus and the scanner include identifiers to enable accurate alignment and positioning of the sample/sample holder when it is transferred from the apparatus to the scanner.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scan-setup and scanning, where the apparatus is separate from the scanner and captures information about the samples to be scanned that includes some of, but not limited to, the following information: an image of each sample that also shows the sample's barcode and/or label, (or information contained in the slide's barcode attached or embedded), information that delimits the sample area for scanning, the position of focus points on the sample, the position(s) for setting the scanner's white-balance. Ifan image of the slide-holder's barcode is not transmitted to the scanner, the information encoded in that barcode or other information to identify the slide holder can be transmitted instead.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that allows the user to load samples into a sample holder while the sample holder is within the apparatus.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that allows for the generation of an unlimited number of preview images and scan-setups in advance of scanning.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that allows for the generation of an unlimited number of preview images and scan-setups in advance of scanning that can feed multiple workstations/scanners.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that allows for multiple instances of the appliance distributed over an area that can feed one or multiple workstations/ scanners.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where the apparatus contains light sources and detection capability for previewing samples in a variety of imaging modes, including brightfield and/or fluorescence.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus can be used for assessing sample quality and suitability for scanning.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that can be remote from the scanner, and where such appliance contains a viewing screen and apparatus for interacting with the preview image.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that can be remote from the scanner, and where in this case the appliance does not include a built-in viewing apparatus, but includes wireless or wired capability to communicate with a separate viewing apparatus.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus is an appliance that can be remote from the scanner, and where such appliance may image a single sample or multiple samples on a sample-holder.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing and reviewing the preview images of samples/sample-holders before scanning, where this apparatus contains sufficient digital memory to store images of slides and/or sample holders containing slides to enable all of the slides in a batch to be reviewed at the same time, after images of all sample holders (or slides) in the batch have been acquired.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where the apparatus is separate from the scanner and communicates data from images of the slides to be scanned to the scanner after pre-scan preview is completed, where both the area of the specimen to be scanned and the barcode information on each slide are contained in the data transmitted.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where the apparatus is separate from the scanner and communicates an image of the sample holder containing slides to be scanned that includes an image of a barcode on the sample holder that identifies the sample holder as well as an image of a barcode on each microscope slide. Most commonly, all of this information is contained in a single image.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, which includes or connects to a local viewing station (for example a local laptop computer or Tablet, for example an iPad) where this apparatus is separate from the scanner and the local viewing station communicates information about the slides to be scanned to the scanner, using wireless or wired connection, during or after pre-scan preview. Pre-scan preview can be accomplished either on the remote viewing station or on the scanner's viewing station.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning, where the preview-imager camera connects to a local viewing station or to the scanner wirelessly using a wireless memory card (like the WiFi SD card).

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning where the local viewing station is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer (like an iPad), a portable media player that includes a viewing screen that allows the operator to view and interact with an image on the screen, a smart phone, or other wireless or wired device that allows the operator to view and interact with an image of the microscope slide or slides.

It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for previewing samples/sample-holders before scanning where an image of the sample holder or single sample (single slide) is acquired automatically upon insertion of the sample holder or single sample into the apparatus, and this image is stored in digital memory. A series of samples or sample holders can be inserted into the apparatus, causing a series of images to be stored for later use.

The present invention is an apparatus ("preview station") and method for previewing microscope slides before scanning, where previewing can be accomplished using an apparatus that is remote from the scanner, and preview data can be transmitted to the scanner after preview is complete; or where the preview apparatus is attached to or included in the scanner, but uses a different optical path and illumination from that used in scanning, and can be operated while the scanner is scanning slides.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a first arrangement of optical components of a Preview Station. Microscope slides <NUM> are held in a slide tray (or slide carrier) <NUM> (the slide tray is open beneath the slides) and are illuminated from below by transmission illumination source <NUM>. The slide tray is held on both sides by a tray-holder <NUM>. (Tray-holder <NUM> is designed such that when the slide tray is inserted later in the scanner, both the position and alignment of the slide tray is the same in the scanner as it was in the preview station. ) The slide tray is inserted into the tray holder by sliding it into place using handles <NUM>. The slide tray is identified by tray barcode <NUM> which may be illuminated from below by transmission illumination source <NUM> (the slide tray is open beneath the barcode when illumination from below is used) or from above using a second light source (not shown). Light from transmission illumination source <NUM> illuminates the entire bottom of the slide tray, including all of the microscope slides. A digital camera <NUM> is placed above the slide tray on an optical axis <NUM> with its lens <NUM> focused to image the slides in the slide tray. In this embodiment, digital camera <NUM> includes a wireless memory card <NUM> (like the WiFi SD card) or other communication means to transmit the image of the slide tray (including slides and barcodes) to an external viewing station (containing viewing, computing, storage and communication capabilities). Images from a batch of slide trays can be stored in the SD card and transmitted to the external viewing station on demand.

For use with single slides that are not in a slide tray or other slide carrier, slide tray-holder <NUM> can be redesigned to hold only a single slide, or a single-slide carrier can be inserted into slide-tray holder <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a second arrangement of optical components of a Preview Station. In this arrangement, transmission light source <NUM> has been replaced by an epi light source (epi illuminator) <NUM> mounted to illuminate the slide tray and microscope slides from above. This arrangement also illuminates the barcodes on microscope slides and on the slide tray from above and in some situations will result in better images of the barcodes and data written on the microscope slides, which may be written on labels that are easier to image when illuminated from above. In addition, this arrangement is particularly useful for fluorescence imaging, where the illumination wavelength band of epi light source <NUM> is adjusted to match the excitation wavelength band of the fluorophores in use, and an emission filter <NUM> is inserted into the optical path in front of lens <NUM> to pass the fluorescence emission wavelengths from the specimen. In this case, when fluorescence imaging is required, it may be appropriate to replace colour camera <NUM> with a monochrome camera.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a third arrangement of optical components of a Preview Station, in which both transmission and epi illumination are available, either separately or in combination. Note that emission filter <NUM> has been removed from the optical path, but can be replaced for fluorescence imaging using epi illuminator <NUM>. This optical combination is particularly useful when an image using transmission illumination is best for tissue finding, and an image using epi illumination is best for fluorescence and for reading the tray barcode <NUM> and/or the barcodes and written information (sometimes on stickers) on microscope slides <NUM>. One technique to produce a single image with good contrast for both the barcodes and tissue specimens is to acquire one image using transmission illuminator <NUM>, and a second image using epi illuminator <NUM>, then combine the two images digitally. There are many ways to combine the two images. One possibility is to simply digitally add the two images together on a pixel-by-pixel basis, since they are perfectly registered, and the areas of the microscope slides containing tissue will be much brighter in the transmission-illuminated image, while the areas containing barcodes and stickers will be brighter in the epi-illuminated image. Another possibility is to mask the epi-illuminated image to include only areas containing barcodes and written information, mask the transmission-illuminated image to include all other areas, then digitally add the two images together to produce a single image.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a fourth arrangement of optical components of a Preview Station. This arrangement is functionally the same as that shown in <FIG>, however transmission illumination source <NUM> has been replaced by transilluminator <NUM>. Transilluminators (sometimes called light boxes) are often used when imaging gels in the laboratory, and are available as white light and/or UV illuminators, using either LED or incandescent sources, or fluorescent tubes placed below flat plate <NUM>. Plate <NUM> may be constructed of transparent, translucent, fluorescent, or filter material. Plates can be removed and replaced to change the spectral characteristics of the transmission illumination, and/or the spectral characteristics can be changed by changing the illumination source (for example, a white light source can be constructed using arrays of red, green and blue LED's, and these three arrays can be activated separately or in combination).

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a first (preferred) embodiment of a Preview Station using the optical system comprised of the arrangement shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the preview station optical system <NUM> shown in this figure using dotted lines is comprised of the same components detailed in <FIG>. A light-tight enclosure (or "hood") <NUM> contains a slot <NUM> for insertion and removal of slide tray <NUM>. In this embodiment, before hood <NUM> is placed over optical system <NUM>, slides in slide tray <NUM> can be examined visually using illumination from transilluminator <NUM> and this provides a quick and easy method of quality control to find obvious flaws in microscope slide preparation even before using the Preview Station camera.

After adjusting epi light source <NUM> and transilluminator <NUM> to achieve the correct illumination intensity and colour for the slides to be previewed, and filter <NUM> is either removed from the optical train or the correct filter is inserted, hood <NUM> is placed over optical system <NUM> and slide tray <NUM> is inserted through slot <NUM>. This embodiment does not have an integrated computer and viewing screen, so the camera can be triggered manually or set to automatically trigger a few seconds after insertion of a new slide tray (sensed using a mechanical switch, not shown in the Figure) or the camera can be triggered remotely using WiFi or a direct connection to a remote or local viewing station. If the preview station camera is triggered automatically by insertion of a slide tray, the images can be stored in memory in the camera, and then transferred in a batch to a local or remote viewing station. Such a local or remote viewing station can be one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer (like an iPad), a portable media player that includes a viewing screen that allows the operator to view and interact with an image on the screen, a smart phone, or other wireless or wired device that allows the operator to view and interact with an image of the microscope slide or slides, or the scanner's viewing station.

Note: A light-tight enclosure <NUM> can be added to each of the three optical component arrangements shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> to produce a second, third and fourth embodiment of a Preview Station.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a fifth (preferred) embodiment of a Preview Station using the optical system comprised of components shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the preview station optical system <NUM> shown in this figure using dotted lines is comprised of the same components detailed in <FIG>. A light-tight enclosure <NUM> contains a slot <NUM> for insertion and removal of slide tray <NUM>. In this embodiment, a computerized viewing station <NUM> is mounted on top of light-tight enclosure <NUM>. A light-tight door (not shown) in the front panel of enclosure <NUM> provides access to the light sources, camera and filter. The computerized viewing station mounted on top of enclosure <NUM> is comprised of an integrated computer that communicates with and controls the camera or cameras and light sources, stores images and metadata, and communicates with the scanner. (This figure shows the camera communicating with the computer in viewing station <NUM> using a WiFi SD Card, however a wired connection between the camera and the viewing station computer can also be used. Communication between the viewing station computer and the scanner can be either wired or wireless. ) Viewing screen <NUM> is a touch screen that enables the operator to view and interact with the computer and an image on the screen. AC power for the unit and control of the light sources may be achieved by using mechanical switches or controls <NUM>, or using the touch screen. This fifth embodiment is a stand-alone preview station with all of the features and components required to allow the user to view and interact with images of the slide tray and individual slides, and to store and later communicate both preview images and data to the scanner.

Note: A light-tight enclosure <NUM> and computerized viewing station <NUM> can be added to each of the three optical component arrangements shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> to produce a sixth, seventh and eighth embodiment of a Preview Station that are also stand-alone instruments.

<FIG> shows one implementation of a viewing screen <NUM> that can be used on a stand-alone Preview Station or on the viewing screen of a remote or local viewing station. A series <NUM> of horizontal rectangles <NUM> represents the slides on the slide tray imaged on the screen. Small squares <NUM> represent the number of the slide tray being imaged (in this early implementation of a viewing screen the slide tray number was manually changed from <NUM> to <NUM> using button <NUM> - in later implementations the slide tray number is read from a barcode and displayed on the screen). Microscope slides <NUM> include tissue specimens <NUM> and slide barcodes <NUM> on each slide. The scan area is adjusted by changing the position of the sides of rectangle <NUM> that delimits the area to be scanned on the scanner. A zoom function allows the user to zoom in to increase the size of the view of each slide in the tray.

<FIG> shows one possible arrangement of a Preview Station and scanner. Note that in a large hospital or laboratory, one or more preview stations may be connected to one or more scanners. A Preview Station <NUM> reports preview image data, scan parameters, quality control (QC) information, and scan priority to a Scan Setup Workstation and Database <NUM> using wireless transmission <NUM> or through wired connection <NUM>. (Note: In some implementations, the Preview Station sends only images to the Scan Setup Workstation and scan-setup information is produced in the Scan Setup Workstation. ) Scan Setup Workstation and Database <NUM> is attached to a display <NUM>, which may be separate from or internal to Workstation <NUM>. Workstation <NUM> interacts with scanner <NUM> (or multiple scanners) through a Network <NUM>, which may be wired or wireless. When multiple scanners are used, each may be set up for particular kinds of imaging in advance - for example one may be a fluorescence scanner, one may be a brightfield-only scanner, and one may be used only for highest priority scanning. Many combinations are possible. Slide trays are loaded into a scanner or into that scanner's autoloader after previewing in Preview Station <NUM>. Using information stored in Scan Setup Workstation and Database <NUM>, a scanner requests a particular slide tray, the autoloader loads that tray into the scanner, and scan commences. When scanning of the slides in that tray is completed, the Autoloader unloads the tray and places it in a "completed work" storage stack (not shown). Final scanned images and metadata for the slides in each tray are stored in Scan Setup Workstation and Database <NUM> and can be transmitted on request to a remote medical imaging station (not shown - in the physician's office for example) either wirelessly or by wire.

Many different arrangements of components are possible in a large hospital or laboratory. For example, several different Preview Stations can report data to the same Scan Setup Workstation and Database, and the Scan Setup Workstation and Database can control multiple scanners, each of which has its own autoloader , where each of these scanners (and autoloaders) is connected to the Network <NUM>. Network <NUM> may be a wired or wireless network.

One example of the steps required for scanning slides using the Preview Station (some of these steps can be omitted, combined or automated in specific installations) are as follows:.

Use of the preview station described in this document gives several advantages when scanning a large number of microscope slides:.

As one example, consider a situation in which <NUM> slides containing specimens are to be scanned. In this case, assume ten slides are contained in each slide tray. One possible operating sequence for the scanning system, which includes the Preview Station and the Scanner, is as follows:.

A first embodiment of a workflow for slide scanning using the Preview Station is shown in <FIG>. In this workflow, the Preview Imager is used to image the sample(s) but scan setup information is generated from that image in a separate workstation, which sends the scan setup information on to the Scanner. This workflow decouples preview image generation (including imaging the barcode/label), decouples scan-setup, and decouples high resolution image acquisition, all from one another. The sample/sample holder is loaded <NUM> into preview imager <NUM> manually or automatically. After being loaded, an image <NUM> of the samples is acquired and transmitted <NUM> to a workstation <NUM>. The sample holder is then removed <NUM> from the Preview Imager and can be loaded into the scanner <NUM> or the scanner's autoloader. At the workstation, the received preview images <NUM> are used to automatically or manually generate scan setup information <NUM> to control the high-resolution scanner. Automatically generated scan-setup information can be reviewed and adjusted if necessary. While the workstation is in use for generating high-resolution scan-setup information, the Preview Imager can be continuously transmitting additional images to the workstation. The workstation, which also controls the scanner, uses the scan-setup information to acquire the specified high-resolution image. While the scanner is acquiring high-resolution images, the workstation can be receiving additional preview images from the Preview Imager, and also be used to automatically or manually generate additional scan-setups. This arrangement parallelizes the processes of capturing preview images, generating scan-setups, and acquiring high-resolution images. This workflow does not impose physical attachment dependencies on the preview imager, for example, it can be an independent station or attached to the scanner.

The preview imager may also be used to generate scan-setup information and while recognizing this would couple the generation of preview images with generation of scan-setups, it may be desirable under specific lab circumstances. In this case, the Preview Imager must have a screen for displaying preview images and the ability to generate scan-setup information, automatically or manually.

A second embodiment of a workflow is shown in <FIG>. This workflow couples preview image generation (including barcode/label) with the generation of scan-setup information, and decouples high resolution image scanning. In this embodiment setting up a scan takes place immediately after capturing a preview image. In <FIG>, the slide(s)/slide tray is loaded <NUM> into the preview imager <NUM> manually or automatically. After being loaded, an image of the slides is acquired and immediately displayed <NUM>. The preview images are used to automatically or manually create scan-setups <NUM>. Automatically generated scan-setups can be reviewed and adjusted if necessary. Then the preview image and scan-setups are transmitted to the workstation <NUM>. The slide tray is then removed from the Preview Imager and can be loaded 1121into the scanner/autoloader. The workstation, which also controls the scanner <NUM>, uses the scan-setup information to direct the scanner acquire the specified high-resolution image. While the scanner is acquiring high-resolution images, the workstation can be receiving additional preview images and corresponding scan-setup information from the Preview Imager. This arrangement couples the process of capturing preview images and generating scan-setups however, de-couples the acquisition of high-resolution images. This second workflow does not impose physical attachment dependencies on the preview imager, for example, it can be an independent station or attached to the scanner.

A third embodiment of a workflow is shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, all preview images are taken first, followed by setting up all scans. In <FIG>, the slide(s)/slide tray is loaded into the preview imager manually or automatically. After being loaded, a preview image is acquired and stored. The slide tray is then removed from the Preview Imager and can be loaded into the scanner/autoloader. This process is repeated until all slides/slide trays are loaded and imaged. Upon completion of preview imaging, the preview images are used to automatically or manually create high-resolution scan-setups. Automatically generated scan-setups can be reviewed and adjusted if necessary. After a scan-setup is created, its corresponding preview image and the scan-setup are transmitted to the workstation. The workstation, which also controls the scanner, uses the information in the scan-setups to acquire the specified high resolution image. While the scanner is acquiring high-resolution images, the workstation can be receiving additional preview images and corresponding scan-setups from the Preview Imager. This arrangement couples the process of capturing preview images and generating scan-setups however, de-couples the acquisition of high-resolution images. The workflows described in this disclosure do not impose physical attachment dependencies on the preview imager, for example, it can be an independent station or attached to the scanner.

The Preview Station and Methods of Operation described in this patent document are useful for any imaging system in which a preview image of the specimen is required to set imaging or scan parameters before acquiring a high-resolution image using a scanner or other high-resolution large-area imager. In addition to digital pathology and other microscopy applications in which high-resolution images of the entire specimen are required (often called whole-slide imaging), the present invention will have application when imaging microwell plates, well plates, microarrays, and many others.

Many different arrangements of components are possible in a large hospital or laboratory. For example, several different Preview Imagers can report data to the same Scan Setup Workstation and Database, and the Scan Setup Workstation and Database can control multiple scanners, each of which has its own autoloader, where each of these scanners (and autoloaders) is connected to a network, which may be wired or wireless. The workstation receives preview images and can generate scan-setups and prioritizes scan-setups based on user specifications including predetermined configurable protocols, for example, FIFO (first-in-first-out). The autoloader is able to communicate with the workstation to determine which scan-setup is next in order and load the appropriate sample/sample holder into an available scanner. Scanners communicate with the autoloader updating their status indicating availability for scanning, the need for removal of scanned sample(s)/sample holder, whether they are busy scanning, and other relevant information.

The Preview Imager and Methods of Operation described in this disclosure are useful for any imaging system in which a preview image of the specimen is required to set imaging or scan parameters before acquiring a high-resolution image using a scanner or other high-resolution large-area imager. In addition to digital pathology and other microscopy applications in which high-resolution images of the entire specimen are required (often called whole-slide imaging), the present invention will have application when imaging microwell plates, well plates, microarrays, and many others.

While the embodiments described herein are directed to particular implementations of the portable electronic device, it will be understood that modifications and variations to these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention as defined in the independent claims. For example, the size and shape of many of the features of the portable electronic device can differ while still providing the same function. Many other modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications and variations are believed to be within and scope of the present invention as defined in the independent claims.

Claim 1:
A preview station (<NUM>) for previewing a slide tray (<NUM>), the preview station comprising a tray holder (<NUM>) and a slide tray (<NUM>), the tray holder being configured to support the slide tray (<NUM>), the slide tray (<NUM>) having a plurality of microscope slides (<NUM>) thereon, a light source (<NUM>) to illuminate the slide tray (<NUM>), each microscope slide (<NUM>) having a specimen (<NUM>) thereon, a digital camera (<NUM>) and lens (<NUM>) located on an optical axis (<NUM>) relative to the slide tray (<NUM>), the digital camera (<NUM>) and the slide tray (<NUM>) being fixed relative to one another and configured to take a single preview image showing the slide tray and each microscope slide (<NUM>), wherein a focus of the lens (<NUM>) is fixed to image the slide tray (<NUM>) and the microscope slides (<NUM>) thereon simultaneously in said single preview image upon the camera (<NUM>) being activated; the slide tray having a tray barcode (<NUM>) and each microscope slide having a respective slide barcode (<NUM>), the camera having a memory (<NUM>) to store data of the single preview image showing each slide (<NUM>) of the plurality of microscope slides on the slide tray, each respective slide barcode and the slide tray barcode, and a computer processor configured to: automatically obtain separate data for each microscope slide (<NUM>) by automatically choosing a scan area on each microscope slide (<NUM>) from the single preview image; process the data for each microscope slide (<NUM>) from the single preview image; process barcode data from the respective slide barcodes and the slide tray barcode; and transmit the data for each microscope slide from the single preview image and the barcode data to set up a high resolution scan of the scan area of each microscope slide (<NUM>).