Improvements, Enhancements in SMD_II type scanners
These modifications do not result in another scanner type, but to bundle
all the modifications, the terms DESK_II (D_II), MIDI_II (M_II) and SCAN_II
(S_II) was created and are used internally.
Scanners, delivered since summer 2016 including all the following
improvements and modifications, appropriate replaced units, used in previous
versions are no longer delivered in new scanners.
Following improvements are done in Pannoramic SMD_II
type scanners, delivered since summer 2016
Enhancements
for all scanners
X-Y-Stage
Mounting
- Mounting of
the X-Y-stage unit to the scanner plate was modified, so vibration,
resonance and noise are reduced.
- The scanner
plate has a rectangular cut out for placing the X-Y stage unit's base
plate into it.
- The unit's
base plate is mounted to the bottom of the scanner plate with three
L-shaped holding elements and springs.
X-Y-Drive
- Using of
5-Phase stepper motors improves smoothness of the rotor’s movement to
reduce vibration and resonance.
- Newly
designed spindle mounting allowing simplified, easily adjustments and
exchange.
- Using an
integrated, slippage-free transport module (includes transport nut and
counter nut) simplifies adjustments.
- X-direction
prolonged to reach the double width of the slide (D_II only).
X-Y-Rails
- Using of
improved X-rails and the modified distance
between the X-rails increases stability in X-direction.
- X-direction prolonged
to reach the double width of the slide (D_II only).
- Newly
designed Y-rail solution increases stability in Y-direction.
Specimen holder
- Newly
designed slide holding mechanics; the holding mechanics of the SCAN was
adapted to the
- Modifications
of the specimen holder allowing holding and the movement of slides with a
thickness of 1.2mm in the SMD_II type scanners.
- The DESK_II
can also hold slides of single width (25mm) by using a simple adapter or
double width (50mm); hereby the adapter is removed manually.
Focus unit
Stepper motor type exchanged
In the DESK, there was a 2-phase stepper motor with 200
full-steps/revolution used, so a resolution of the 3200micro-steps/revolution
is possible.
In the DESK_II a 5-phase stepper motor is implemented, this guarantees a
higher full-step resolution, and more
smooth movement of the rotor and so, vibration and noise are also reduced.
The revolution of the 5-phase motor's rotor after transforming is now
done in 6400µ-steps/revolution.
Increased slide thickness
The modified focusing solution allows now focusing of slides with a
thickness of 0.95mm to 1.20mm.
Modified focusing mechanics
To focusing slides with a thickness of 1.20mm, the movement range of the
focus pin had to be increased.
To reach this, the relation of the divider was modified to 4:1 and the
stepper motor's step angle was decreased.
The focus range is now 1600µ-steps, because the rotor's step size is now
reduced to the half, the rotor revolution is done in 6400µ-steps/ revolution.
The construction of the BF optical scan path uses only a monochrome
camera, so only monochrome images can be produced.
To create color information of the tissue with a monochrome camera, we
illuminate the tissue more times with monochrome light.
If the tissue is illuminated by blue light, and we are making an image
of the Field of view, the gray scaled camera image contains the intensity of
the blue parts in the tissue.
Because the pixel resolution of the camera is very high and the
resolution of the image's gray scale is 12bit per pixel, very detailed
information of the blue part in the FOV related to the appropriate pixel can be
reached.
If we repeating the procedure with the colors Green and Red, 3 images of
the same FOV are produced and so, the software knows detailed color information
about each pixel of the Field Of View.
By using the software coloring method the true color information of each
pixel is found.
By using cameras with a large image sensor low shutter time and high
pixel resolution (small pixel size), the scan time of the tissue can be held in
acceptable boundaries and the result is an image with high resolution and high
color fidelity.
USB and
DC control
Five phase stepper motors
5-Phase stepper
motors are implemented into the focus unit (6400micro-steps/revolution), and
the X- and Y-stage unit (3200micro-steps/revolution).
For the user the 5-phase motor uses the same step resolution (after
transformation) as required for the traditional X-Y-stage unit.
· The focus unit’s
traditional rotor resolution of 3200µ-steps/revolution is now increased to 6400µ-steps/revolution;
so focusing of slides with a thickness of 1.2mm becomes also possible.
Watch video: 5-phase motor unit
5-phase motor
unit construction
Default scan camera Grasshopper3
The
monochrome Grasshopper 3 with high pixel resolution in conjunction with the RGB
BF-illumination eliminates any kind of camera changer unit.
The same camera is used for brightfield and
fluorescent scan sessions.
Details of the grasshopper3 camera can be
found in the chapter Prerequisites and Scan cameras
Triggering the scan camera Grasshopper3
Use the trigger output of the control electronics of the USB controller.
Improved
MicroscopeConfiguration.ini
New parameters and values are implemented
Serial number ends with the number 5 if SCAN_II or with 8 if MIDI_II
Lumencor SPECTRA
holder
In SM_II type scanners FL scan versions the Lumencor
SPECTRA light engine got a holder system with foot.
By adjusting the height of the light engine, the right
position of the exciting beam can be found and a precise illumination
adjustment is possible.
Enhancements
for SCAN_II
Housing
The color of the stack rail spacer is changed to pink; the painting of
the rear wall is changed to black.
Turret and scanner unit mounting
Modification in summer 2016
The Clamp 1,3 of the scanner unit
is now placed in the front part, because the modified X-Y-stage requires the
space on the rear.
Magazine unit
The Magazine unit of the SCAN_II has the same functionality implemented
as the Magazine unit of the P250.
Turret unit
The turret wheel
moves now endless; limit adjustments no longer required.
Same unit implemented as the turret unit of the P250.
Modification in summer 2016
The unit spacer is implemented.
Enhancements
for MIDI_II
Improved Tray unit
Support plate removed.
Specimen holder modified
Slide studs removed
Slide loading procedure modified
Tray unit adjustments modified
Turret unit
The turret wheel moves now endless; limit adjustments no longer
required.
Same unit implemented as the turret unit of the P250.
Enhancements
for DESK_II
Housing
DESK_II's housing
dimensions has changed, it is now nearly twice in width
The slide door was modified, it is now enlarged to handle slides with
double width easily, the shift mechanics was modified.
The painting of the slide door is now pink and the lower cover is black.
The upper cover is now mounted with two bolts on the left side and two
bolts on the right side.
X-Y-Stage
X-Y-Drive
- X-direction
prolonged to reach the double width of the slide.
X-Y-Rails
- X-direction
prolonged to reach the double width of the slide.
Specimen holder
- The DESK_II
can also hold slides of single width (25mm) by using a simple adapter or
double width (50mm); hereby the adapter is removed manually.
Focus
unit
Shutter mechanics removed
Because the scanner unit of the DESK is never able to scan slides in FL
scan mode, the mechanical shutter is also not required.
The ex-center of the focus unit may now rotate unlimited.
In DESK, the shutter unit was implemented for the Hardware limits and to
keep compatibility with SCAN and
Hardware limits not required
Because the shutter wire is removed, the rotation of the ex-center is no
longer limited. The ex-center may rotate unlimited.
Ex-center position visualization pin
In the position of the shutter arm of the ex-center, now only a
visualization pin is implemented to make the ex-center position adjustment
possible.