Method and apparatus for electronically extracting information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for electronically representing identification indicia on a histological sample carrier, comprising:
- (a) illuminating indicia on a histological sample carrier;
(b) forming a digital image of the indicia; and
(c) processing the digital image to create an electronic representation of the information conveyed by the indicia.
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Abstract
Indicia conveyed on histological sample carriers is illuminated and read by a digital camera to create a digital version of the indicia, which is processed to create an electronic representation of the information conveyed by the indicia.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for electronically representing identification indicia on a histological sample carrier, comprising:
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(a) illuminating indicia on a histological sample carrier;
(b) forming a digital image of the indicia; and
(c) processing the digital image to create an electronic representation of the information conveyed by the indicia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for electronically representing identifying indicia marked on a histological sample carrier, comprising:
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a housing supporting an indexing surface for indexing the histological sample carrier such that indicia on the histological sample carrier is coincident with an image acquisition window;
a light source contained in the housing;
a camera contained in the housing and having a field of view encompassing the indicia on the histological sample carrier when the histological sample carrier is indexed on the indexing surface;
a controller configured receiving data from the camera and programmed for converting the data into an electronic representation of thereof. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. Apparatus for electronically representing indicia marked on a histological sample carrier, comprising:
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illumination means for illuminating the indicia;
digital camera means for generating a digital image of the illuminated indicia;
computer processing means for processing the digital image to extract the information conveyed by the indicia from the image, and for providing the information in electronic form. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for acquiring images of identification indicia printed on histological sample carriers comprising:
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a light configured to cast shadowless illumination on the indicia printed on the histological sample carrier;
a camera having a field of view encompassing the indicia printed on the histological sample carrier;
an indexing surface configured to locate the histological sample carrier in a predefined position with respect to the light and camera such that the indicia is within an image acquisition window; and
a switch connected to the camera and operable when a histological sample carrier has been placed in the predetermined position to cause the camera to capture a digital image of the indicia through the image acquisition window. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification