CN111679416A

CN111679416A - Automatic scanner for microscope slide

Info

Publication number: CN111679416A
Application number: CN202010447589.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周琦; 刘亚平; 秦绮玲
Original assignee: Humeds Health Technologies Corp; Suzhou Mitai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute Co ltd; Suzhou Mite Xisaier Artificial Intelligence Co ltd
Current assignee: Humeds Health Technologies Corp; Suzhou Mitai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute Co ltd; Suzhou Mite Xisaier Artificial Intelligence Co ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-25
Filing date: 2020-05-25
Publication date: 2020-09-18

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic scanner for a microscope slide. The scanner includes: the device comprises a bracket, a microscope objective, an electronic eyepiece, a light-gathering light source, an automatic objective table, a Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device and a three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system. The scanner completes unrepeated and uninterrupted scanning and image acquisition under the control of a computer.

Description

Automatic scanner for microscope slide

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of mechano-electronics and optics, in particular to an automatic microscope slide scanner.

Background

TCT inspection and liquid-based thin-layer cell inspection are currently and internationally used cytology inspection technologies for cervical cancer. One difficulty in providing large-scale TCT examinations for women is that physicians with extensive clinical experience are lacking at the basic level, and therefore, the cells need to be sampled and sent to specialized hospitals and third-party testing facilities for testing. Another difficulty is that the workload of artificial cell classification detection is too large, and the current pathological doctors are seriously lack, so that the detection capability of the existing special hospitals and third-party institutions is insufficient, the detection speed is too slow, and the accuracy also needs to be further improved.

In order to solve the difficulties, the invention provides the automatic microscope slide scanner which supports the realization of automatic TCT slide scanning, is matched with corresponding artificial intelligent automatic identification and classification software for cervical cancer, and realizes the large-scale cervical cancer screening with high accuracy, high efficiency and low cost. The system can solve the problems of low efficiency of the artificial cell classification diagnosis mode commonly adopted in China at present, shortage of basic-level screening personnel, difficulty in input of manpower and material resources of governments at all levels and difficulty in expanding screening surfaces.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention discloses an automatic scanner for a microscope slide. The scanner includes: the device comprises a bracket, a microscope imaging and digital image acquisition system, a light condensing source, an automatic objective table, a Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device and a three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system. The scanner completes unrepeated and uninterrupted scanning and image acquisition under the control of a computer.

According to one aspect of the invention, the scanner may be integrated with the computer into a single housing, forming a complete product.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bracket is used for mounting and supporting the microscope imaging and digital image acquisition system, the light condensing source, the automatic object stage, the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device and the three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system.

Preferably, the base of the stand has sufficient weight to ensure the stability of the scanner during operation and a vertical column large enough to tightly fix the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device to the stand column of the stand.

Preferably, the bracket ensures that the microscope imaging and digital image acquisition system is mounted vertically.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the microscopy imaging and digital image acquisition system comprises: the microscope objective lens, the connecting cylinder and the electronic eyepiece are used for magnifying an observed sample on the slide sample so that a digital image with enough definition can be shot by the electronic eyepiece.

Preferably, the objective lens is screwed to the cylinder through threads, the cylinder is vertically installed on the bracket, and the electronic eyepiece is installed at the other end of the cylinder.

Preferably, the electronic eyepiece is vertically inserted into the cylinder and is fastened by screws, so that the electronic eyepiece is convenient to replace.

Preferably, the microscope imaging and digital image acquisition system is kept still during the focus adjustment, and the focus is adjusted by adjusting the vertical distance between the slide on the automatic objective table and the objective lens window.

Preferably, the electronic eyepiece is used for shooting an image of the slide sample in the window range of the objective lens and outputting the shot digital image through a USB port.

Preferably, the light source is used to uniformly illuminate the field of view of the microscope objective, so that the whole image seen by the light source is relatively consistent and perfect in effect.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the robotic stage is adapted to load a slide and move in the X and Y directions with micron precision under control of a stepper motor to effect movement of a slide specimen under the objective lens viewing window.

Preferably, the automatic objective table is installed on the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device, and the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device drives the automatic objective table to move with nanometer precision along the Z-axis direction, so that automatic focusing of an observed sample under an objective window on the glass sheet is realized.

Preferably, each slide on the automatic stage is scanned in the sequence starting from the x-axis starting point and moving one x-axis window distance at a time until the end of the effective area of the sample is scanned. Then, the distance of the y-axis window is moved along the y-axis, and the starting point of the x-axis is retraced. And repeating the steps until the whole slide scanning is finished.

Preferably, the slide on the automatic stage moves along the directions of the x axis and the y axis, so that the effective area of the observed sample on the slide is continuously and repeatedly scanned under a microscope window. Ensuring that the microscope viewing window extends over the sample active area of each scanned slide.

Preferably, each time the slide sample on the automatic objective table moves to a new window position, the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device controls the sliding block on the automatic objective table to move up and down, so as to drive the automatic objective table to move up and down, and thus the automatic focusing of the slide window sample is completed. Thereby ensuring the definition of the sample image under the window of the microscope.

Preferably, after each focusing is completed, the electronic eyepiece automatically captures a digital image of the sample under the objective lens window.

Preferably, the automated stage can carry a plurality of standard slides.

Preferably, the robotic stage has a positioning device for each slide along the x-axis.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the three-axis stepper motor drive and control system is adapted to control the stage X and Y axis stepper motors, and the Z axis stepper motors to reciprocate.

Preferably, the three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system is supplied with direct current,

preferably, the input interface of the three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system adopts a computer standard serial communication interface, so that the three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system is conveniently controlled by a computer.

Preferably, the three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system respectively represents X, Y and Z-axis adjusting states by using LED indicating lamps.

The invention has the beneficial effects that: provides an automatic scanner for microscope slides, which has simple structure and convenient use. The slide scanning can be rapidly finished and the slide scanning can be rapidly acquired into a digital image, so that the artificial intelligent diagnosis and analysis are convenient, and the transmission and the storage are convenient.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automated microscope slide scanner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a microscope slide autoscanner support of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of an automatic Z-axis focal length adjusting device of an automatic microscope slide scanner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a three-axis stepper motor drive and control system for an automated microscope slide scanner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 5 is a microscope slide autoscan workflow of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments. The drawings are simplified schematic diagrams illustrating the basic principles, basic structures and basic functions of the present invention in a schematic manner, and thus show only the constituents related to the present invention.

One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize certain variations and equivalents of the invention, which should not be construed as beyond the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automated microscope slide scanner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the bracket is composed of a base 101 and a

support frame

102, 107 is a rectangular groove formed on the inner side surface of the support frame 102 and used for installing a Z-axis focal length

automatic adjusting device

104, 105 is a slide block installed on a screw rod of the

support frame

104, 106 is a stepping motor, and the support frame 105 moves up and down under the driving of 106; the microscope imaging system consisting of an objective lens 108, an objective lens connecting cylinder 109 and an electronic eyepiece 110, wherein the objective lens 109 penetrates through a round hole on a cylinder 102, is vertically arranged with a cylinder 101 and is fastened by a fastening screw 118; 112 is an electronic eyepiece USB interface, and a digital image shot by the electronic eyepiece is output through USB; 103 is an automatic stage, 103 is fastened on 105, when 105 makes vertical movement (also called z-axis movement), 103 is driven to make horizontal movement (xy-plane vertical movement), and the base 101 is horizontally placed as a reference; 111 is a light source for condensing light, and adjusting 111 to uniformly illuminate the field of view of the microscope objective; 113 is a three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system, 114 is a control interface of 113, in the embodiment of the present invention, 114 is a computer serial communication interface; 114 are connected to 106, 116 and 117 via terminals and wires, respectively, wherein the stepper motor 106 drives 105 to move along the Z-axis, the stepper motor 117 drives the stage to move along the x-axis, and the stepper motor 116 drives the stage to move along the y-axis.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a microscope slide autoscanner support according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the bracket is composed of a base 201 (101 in fig. 1), a support bar 202 (102 in fig. 1), a circular hole 203, a fastening screw hole 205, and a rectangular groove 204. The rectangular slotted surface 204 of 202 is perpendicular to 201, and the rectangular slot 204 on 202 is used for installing the Z-axis automatic focal length adjusting device 104 shown in FIG. 1 and ensuring that the side surface of 105 shown in FIG. 1 does not contact with the outer side surface of 202 when sliding. 203 is used to fix the connecting circle 109 of the objective lens imaging system of fig. 1 and to ensure that 109 is installed perpendicular to 201, and 205 is a screw hole for fastening 109.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of an automatic Z-axis focal length adjusting device for an automatic microscope slide scanner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, 301 is a rectangular support frame thereof, supporting a screw 303 and mounting the stepping motor 106. 302 is a screw slider with a threaded hole screwed to a threaded rod 303, which 302 moves axially along 301 when 304 rotates 303.

Limit switches

305 and 306 are mounted on 301, which automatically stop moving and change the direction of movement when the touch 305 is moved by 302, as is the case when the touch 306 is moved.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the three axis stepper motor drive and control system of the microscope slide autoscanner of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, computer control commands are sent to the stepper motor controller 113 via the computer serial communication interface 114, and the controller sends Z, X and Y-

axis motor drivers

403, 405, and 407 three-axis control signals, respectively, and the drivers drive the

stepper motors

117, 116, and 106 to rotate, respectively, to move the auto-stage along the z-axis, Y-axis, or x-axis. Similarly, the positioning signal of the robot stage is also sent to the controller 113 and output via 114. Numeral 409 denotes a dc power supply for supplying power to the motor 113, and numeral 410 denotes an LED indicator for indicating the operation state of the stepping motor.

Figure 5 is a microscope slide autoscan workflow of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5, the process S01: starting to scan the ith slide, and returning the objective platform to the starting point of the ith slide; process S02: setting sizes Xc and Yc of a microscope window, wherein Xc is the side width of the window along the x axis, and Yc is the side width of the window along the y axis; process S03: receiving a control signal sent by the outside (computer); process S04: judging whether the driving signal is the x-axis driving signal, if so, the process S05: then, whether the x-axis is driven in the forward direction or in the reverse direction is judged. The forward drive advances to a process S06: the step motor drives the loading platform to move forward to the x axis by the Xc distance, and the step motor returns to S03; if the direction is reverse, go to the process S07: the step motor drives the loading platform to move towards the x axis in the reverse direction for the Xc distance, and the step motor returns to S03; if the determination result of the process S04 is not the x-axis adjustment signal; the flow proceeds to S08: and judging whether the y-axis adjusting signal exists. If so, the flow proceeds to S09: the step motor drives the carrying platform to move forward to the y axis for a distance Yc, and the step motor returns to S03; if not, the flow proceeds to S10: judging the z-axis adjustment direction, and if the z-axis adjustment direction is the forward adjustment direction, entering the process S11: moving forward a small distance along the z-axis, and returning to the process S03; if the adjustment is the reverse adjustment, the flow proceeds to S12: and the process returns to the step S03 after moving a small distance in the reverse direction along the z-axis.

In light of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, it is clear that many modifications and variations can be made by the worker skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the content of the specification, and must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An automated microscope slide scanner, the scanner comprising: the device comprises a bracket, a microscope objective, an electronic eyepiece, a light-gathering light source, an automatic objective table, a Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device and a three-axis stepping motor driving and controlling system.

2. The microscope slide automatic scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner performs non-repetitive and uninterrupted scanning and image acquisition under computer control; the microscope objective lens and the electronic eyepiece are connected into a microscope imaging system through a cylinder, so that the microscope objective lens and the electronic eyepiece are convenient to fix, a sample under a microscope window is convenient to image, and a digital image with a certain magnification and enough clarity is shot; the lens is characterized in that the objective lens is connected with the cylinder through threads, so that the objective lens is convenient to replace; the electronic eyepiece is directly inserted into the cylinder and is tightly pressed on the cylinder by a screw.

3. The automatic microscope slide scanner of claim 1, wherein the structure ensures that the stage moves with micron-scale precision along the x and y axes and with hundred million-nanometer-scale precision along the z axis under the drive of the stepper motor.

4. The automated microscope slide scanner of claim 1, wherein each forward or reverse movement of the robotic stage along the x-axis is a window size Xc, and each movement along the y-axis is a window size Yc; the x-axis movement of the object stage starts along the positive direction of the x-axis until one line is scanned; the stage then moves one Yc along the y-axis and then moves back along the x-axis until a line is scanned again, and so on until the non-entire slide is scanned.

5. The microscope slide autoscanner of claim 1, wherein the stage performs a focus after each x or y axial movement; the focusing is completed by controlling the Z-axis focal length automatic adjusting device by the Z-axis movement control signal so that the objective table repeatedly moves along the Z-axis direction.

6. The automated microscope slide scanner of claim 1, wherein the robotic stage can carry a plurality of slides.

7. The microscope slide automatic scanner of claim 1, wherein the x, y and z axis movement control is accomplished by the three axis stepper motor drive and control system; movement control and positioning signals are transmitted by the computer serial communication port.