WO2019035790A2

WO2019035790A2 - Fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear

Info

Publication number: WO2019035790A2
Application number: PCT/TR2018/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Muhammed Kamil TURAN; Abdullah ELEN
Original assignee: Turan Muhammed Kamil; Elen Abdullah
Priority date: 2017-01-12
Filing date: 2018-01-10
Publication date: 2019-02-21
Also published as: WO2019035790A3; TR201700493A2; CA3070857A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear that allows the remote and real-time control with more than one preparation and the access of desired number of users as well as the automatic adjustment of the focal length. Peripheral smear is a technique for analyzing the different elements of blood such as leucocyte (white blood cell), erythrocyte (red blood cell), thrombocyte (blood platelet) by staining the blood samples taken from the patients with special stains (giemsa etc.) in the clinical laboratories. Briefly, it is an hematologic test. As it is an gold standard technique which is most widely preferred by the hematologists, it is used quite often (according to number of patients). It is possible to perform peripheral smear not only from complete blood smear but also from the bone marrow aspirates. It is a reliable laboratory method presenting useful information on the percentage of leucocytes (such as neutrophil, basophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil) in blood and the quantity and forms of blood cells such as thrombocyte and erythrocyte as well as the diagnosis of blood diseases. It is used for identifying the morphological disorders occurred in various blood diseases (leukemia, lymphoma and anemia etc). Besides diagnosis, it provides reliable information on following the patient's respond to treatment and identifying the recurrence in leukemia cases. Peripheral smear analyzer is a device that can be used nearly all hospitals whether there is a hematologist or not. Thanks to its configuration that allows remote control, it is possible to examine patients in situ. In this context, this device may be needed in community health centers. It is a typical device that may be used in the affiliated laboratories of the community health centers. Similarly, it may be used for diagnosis/control purposes by each authorized hematologist via remote access.

Description

FULLY AUTOMATED AND REMOTELY CONTROLLED ANALYZER FOR

PERIPHERAL SMEAR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear that allows the remote and real-time control with more than one preparation and the access of desired number of users as well as the automatic adjustment of the focal length.

PRIOR ART

There is very scarce number of motorized microscope systems in the international scientific literature in terms of design and manufacturing. Some similar studies are as follows: According to study of Amirunidzam, "Auto Focus Microscope: Motorized Microscope Focus Controller", University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), 2014 a motorized microscope system with automatic focusing was designed. Arduino UNO micro-controller board was used for "B1 Advanced Series" light microscope which was preferred in the said study. Unipolar Stepper Motor (Minibea MO-STEP-17PM-J3X) was used in the study. 3-mega pixel "Veho VMS-001" camera that enables up to 200X magnification was also used for the said study. Tomari et al. "Computer Aided System for Red Blood Cell Classification in Blood Smear Image", Procedia Computer Science, 42, 206-213, 2014 developed a motorized light microscope system (equipped with 40X DinoEye eyepiece camera) in order to automate detection and identification of red blood cells from the blood smear images. However, there is no possibility of customizing the microscopes developed by Amirunidzam and Tomari et al. because they are classified as commercial products and also they have mechanical limitations with various aspects depending on their design.

Campbell et al. "Openstage: A Low-Cost Motorized Microscope Stage with Sub- Micron Positioning Accuracy", PLoS ONE, 9, e88977, 2014 designed a microscope system with the capability of moving for one meter and on three axes. Stepper motor was used for controlling the moving part. They preferred serial port as communication interface with computer and they used Matlab and Phyton for designing user interface and coding. The system they have developed provides an advantage with low-cost considering the market value, however, it does not incorporate other features (dynamic focus length control for camera system, remote-control, multi preparation cell) to enhance the capabilities of the device as we proposed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear developed to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and then offer new advantages for the relevant technical field.

According literature research, it is shown that there is no microscope system developed at national level. The motorized light microscopes which are especially used in health sector in Turkey are manufactured by the foreign companies and so their costs are very high. Also, almost all types of such devices have single preparation cell. While reviewing the national and international literature, any similar type of fully automated microscope system that enables remote-control has never been found. In addition, adjustable auto-focusing of camera system also provides an advantage.

Considering the software developed for the product, this fully-automated software product is unique (in terms of overall system) because it enables to analyze peripheral blood smear preparations in real-time by remotely controlling the electromechanical light microscope and as previously mentioned it allows the relevant physicians to share the data in National Hematology Patient Monitoring Network (UHHTA). In some cases hematologists may require to open the peripheral blood smears of their patients up for consultation among other hematologists so as to take the opinion of others. There is no available system in the health care institutions of Turkey to find a proper solution for such cases in the framework of legal procedures. The project we developed serves a platform to meet hematologist via internet and it enables them to transfer all patient data securely and also to carry out all required processes by controlling the remote microscope system. The patients who need to be controlled in remission have to go to health care centers in which hematologists are available in order to have their routine peripheral smear tests taken; as compared to the medical examination of physician, this requirement (going to medical center) is much more related to take peripheral smear tests and analyze the results properly. Thanks to this invention, it may be possible to fill hematologist gap arising out of the shortage of hematologist in each health care center because of the limited number of hematologists in the health sector, and also to make the current internists' job easier for the examination and control processes of hematological patients and to enable them to make in situ consultation.

As a result of giving software support to the developed device, the records of each patient will be stored in a main server and by this way, all data can be easily accessed when required. The fact that said invention facilitates the follow-up of patients and enables the newly diagnosed patients with hematological problem to be examined by larger number of physicians and allows consultation in situ creates an another important area of usage.

The subject device is able to be modified to be used in different sectors for the similar purpose by means of modifications that will incorporate the below mentioned modules.

In order to provide ease of transportation, the mobility of device has been improved by integrating WiFi or 4.5G compatible communication protocols.

Because of the fact that the developed device is an electromechanical microscope system, it can be used in all fields suitable for analyzing with light microscope.

Figures Embodiments of the present invention summarized above and explained in further detail below are elucidated through the sample embodiments of the invention depicted in the following drawings. However, it should be revealed that the attached drawings are depictive only for typical non-limiting applications of this invention and so it does not mean any limitation to the scope of invention as it may allow other equally effective applications.

Figure 1- Isometric view of developed device,

Figure 2- Interior view of X-Axis,

Figure 3- Outer view of X-Axis,

Figure 4- Isometric view of Y-Axis,

Figure 5- Bottom views of Y-Axis,

Figure 6- Isometric view of Z-Axis,

For the sake of clarity, identical reference numbers are used when possible in order to indicate common identical components of the figures. The figures are not to scale and may be simplified to ensure clarity. It is considered that the components and properties of an embodiment may be usefully applied to other embodiments without further explanation. Detailed Explanation of the Figures

1.1 Stepper motor driving X-Axis stage in forward and backward direction,

1.2 Lower support rail system for X-Axis stage,

.3 Plate for lighting system,

1.4 Spacer for the interconnection between X-Axis stage and lower support rail,

1.5 Lower support element of mechanical system bearing,

1.6 Roller bearing for ball screw,

1.7 Ball screw for driving X-axis,

1.8 Ball screw nut,

1.9 Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw,

1. 0 Preparation stage with 15 cells,

1.11 X-Axis stage,

1.12 Sigma profile, 1.13 Metal stand,

1.14 Sigma profile termination cap,

2.1 Fixing and termination element for camera system,

2.2 Fixing element of induction rod,

2.3 Induction rod guiding perpendicular to camera system ,

2.4 Ball screw nut for driving Y-Axis stage,

2.5 Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis,

2.6 Fixing element of laser bellow to Y-Axis,

2.7 Microscope lens,

2.8 Y-Axis stage,

2.9 Protective laser bellow for camera system focusing, 2.10 Camera stage,

2.11 Induction rod nut guiding for driving the Y-Axis,

2.12 Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw,

2.13 Digital camera,

2.14 Ball screw nut,

2.15 Ball screw for driving camera system,

2.16 Revolver for microscope lens,

2.17 Microscope lens,

2.18 Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis,

2.19 Microscope lens,

2.20 Stepper motor driving the camera system up and down,

2.21 Microscope lens,

3.1 Induction rod bearing,

3.2 Induction rod guiding the vertical movement of Y-Axis,

3.3 Induction rod nut,

3.4 Stepper motor for driving Y-Axis,

3.5 Ball screw nut,

3.6 Ball screw for vertical movement of Y-Axis system,

3.7 Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw, 3.8 Stepper motor for driving Z-Axis,

3.9 Lower support element of mechanical system bearing,

3.10 Induction rod nut,

3.1 Spacer for the interconnection between Y-Axis and X-Axis, 3.12 Lower support element of mechanical system bearing,

3.13 Ball screw bearing,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the configuration of the invention, that is, fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear are indicated herein as non-limiting descriptions of the invention and intended only for better understanding of the subject matter. Despite the fact that peripheral blood smear process can be prepared by the clinicians of nearly all health institutions, the analysis and assessment processes should be carried out by hematologists. As hematology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine, hematologists are only assigned to work in large scale health care centers. For this reason, it is hard for the patients living in the areas out of city centers to consult a hematologist due to long distances. In such cases, the patients are required to go to the health center in which hematologist works in order to have their blood samples examined. The developed system eliminates this problem due to its structure allowing remote control. The remote hematologist is able to have online access to the blood smear samples taken by the relevant health institution thereby performing analysis processes.

The developed system allows 4-axis movement. X-Axis, which is depicted in Figure 2 and Figure 3, performs linear movement in forward and backward direction by means of two stepper motors independent of other axes. Camera System, shown in Figure 4 in detail, is positioned on Y-Axis and it moves vertically (up and down) by means of stepper motor fixed to the lower part of Y-Axis. The bellow is folded or unfolded during the vertical movement of camera and so optimum focal point of digital camera is determined. Y-Axis, whose details are given in Figure 4 and Figure 5, are dependent on Z-Axis in perpendicular direction. Y-Axis is linearly moved (right and left) by means of the piece no. 4 (stepper motor) depicted in Figure 6. The piece that allows vertical movement of Z-Axis (up and down) in Figure 6 is stepper motor no. 8. The device disclosed herein has the characteristic features described above by means of the following parts; for X-Axis (1), it consists of Stepper motor driving the X-Axis stage in forward and backward direction (1.1), Al lower support rail system for X-Axis stage (1.2), Plate for lighting system (1.3), Spacer for the interconnection between X-Axis stage and lower support rail (1.4), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (1.5), Roller bearing for ball screw (1.6), Ball screw for driving X-axis (1.7), Ball screw nut (1.8), Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw (1.9), Preparation stage with 15 cells (1.10), X-Axis stage (1.11), Sigma profile (1.12), Metal stand (1.13), Sigma profile termination cap (1.14);

For Y-Axis (2), it consists of Fixing and termination element for camera system (2.1), Fixing element of induction rod (2.2), Induction rod guiding perpendicular to camera system (2.3), Ball screw nut for driving Y-Axis stage (2.4), Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis (2.5), Fixing element of laser bellow to Y-Axis (2.6), Microscope lens (2.7), Y-Axis stage (2.8), Protective laser bellow for camera system focusing (2.9), Camera stage (2.10), Induction rod nut guiding for driving the Y-Axis (2.11), Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw (2.12), Digital camera (2.13), Ball screw nut (2.14), Ball screw for driving camera system (2.15), Revolver for microscope lens (2.16), Microscope lens (2.17), Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis (2.18), Microscope lens (2.19), Stepper motor driving the camera system up and down (2.20), Microscope lens (2.21); For Z-Axis (3), it consists of Induction rod bearing (3.1), Induction rod guiding the vertical movement of Y-Axis (3.2), Induction rod nut (3.3), Stepper motor for driving Y-Axis (3.4), Ball screw nut (3.5), Ball screw for vertical movement of Y- Axis system (3.6), Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw (3.7), Stepper motor for driving Z-Axis (3.8), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (3.9), Induction rod nut (3.10), Spacer for the interconnection between Y-Axis and X-Axis (3.11), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (3.12), Ball screw bearing (3.13).

Claims

- The device disclosed herein is the fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear characterized in that it is comprised of Stepper motor driving the X-Axis stage in forward and backward direction (1.1), Al lower support rail system for X-Axis stage (1.2), Plate for lighting system (1.3), Spacer for the interconnection between X-Axis stage and lower support rail (1.4), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (1.5), Roller bearing for ball screw (1.6), Ball screw for driving X- axis (1.7), Ball screw nut (1.8), Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw (1.9), Preparation stage with 15 cells (1.10), X-Axis stage (1.11), Sigma profile (1.12), Metal stand (1.13), Sigma profile termination cap (1.14) for X-Axis (1);

and comprised of Fixing and termination element for camera system (2.1), Fixing element of induction rod (2.2), Induction rod guiding perpendicular to camera system (2.3), Ball screw nut for driving Y-Axis stage (2.4), Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis (2.5), Fixing element of laser bellow to Y-Axis (2.6), Microscope lens (2.7), Y-Axis stage (2.8), Protective laser bellow for camera system focusing (2.9), Camera stage (2.10), Induction rod nut guiding for driving the Y-Axis

(2.11) , Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw

(2.12) , Digital camera (2.13), Ball screw nut (2.14), Ball screw for driving camera system (2.15), Revolver for microscope lens (2.16), Microscope lens (2.17), Fixing element of induction rod to Y-Axis (2.18), Microscope lens (2.19), Stepper motor driving the camera system up and down (2.20), Microscope lens (2.21) for Y-Axis (2) and; Induction rod bearing (3.1), Induction rod guiding the vertical movement of Y- Axis (3.2), Induction rod nut (3.3), Stepper motor for driving Y-Axis (3.4), Ball screw nut (3.5), Ball screw for vertical movement of Y-Axis system (3.6), Coupling for the interconnection between stepper motor and ball screw (3.7), Stepper motor for driving Z-Axis (3.8), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (3.9), Induction rod nut (3.10), Spacer for the interconnection between Y-Axis and X-Axis (3.11), Lower support element of mechanical system bearing (3.12), Ball screw bearing (3.13) forZ-axis (3).

A fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear according to claim 1 , wherein it allows the blood smear slides to be screened comparatively and serially by virtue of more than one preparation chamber.

3- A fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear according to claim 1 , wherein the focal point is set by moving the system upwards and downwards by means of the electromechanical system (2.1 ) equipped with a laser bellow (2.2) driven by stepper motor-controlled and linear ball screw system, and mechanical parts fitted to the bellow base with fixing and termination element for camera system and to the digital camera base with induction rod (2.3) that guides the camera system at vertical axis as well as the ball screw nut and Microscope lens (2.4-2.7) for driving the Y-Axis stage on the fixed parts.

4- A fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear according to claims 1 or 3, wherein it operates real-time and allows remote control.

5- A fully automated and remotely controlled analyzer for peripheral smear according to claim 1 or 3, wherein it allows all patient data to be transferred securely and the remote microscope system to be controlled and also it enables the performance of all necessary processes.