Recommended maintenance for scanners

 

 

The following chapter merges actions and procedures to be done in specified time intervals to guarantee an always proper function of the scanner.

 

 

Can be made on the same visit1

Can be made on the same visit1

Can be made on the same visit1

Actions to be done

every half year

every half year or 50000-100000 slide cycles2; whichever  fulfilled first

every half year

every half year or 50000-100000 slide cycles2; whichever fulfilled first

every year

every two years or

100000 Slide cycles;  whichever  fulfilled first

Check BF scanned image quality

SCAN; P250

 

MIDI

 

DESK

 

Check Preview image quality

SCAN; P250

 

MIDI

 

DESK

 

Check FL scanned  image quality

SCAN; P250

 

MIDI

 

DESK

 

Check specimen holder

 

SCAN; P250

 

MIDI

 

 

Check slide insert, removal;

Check magazine load, unload

SCAN; P250; MIDI

 

 

 

 

 

Check the magazines

 

SCAN; P250

 

 

 

 

Check tray movements;

Check slide insert and removal

 

 

 

MIDI

 

 

Check foil quality at FLASH light source

 

P250

 

 

 

 

Exchange transport nut for X and Y drive units

 

 

 

 

 

DESK; MIDI; SCAN; P250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)         At the visit because of any reason (number of scanned slide or the expired time period) both actions good to be done on the same visit

2)         Depending on the used quality of the glass slides, slide preparation and cover slip positioning

 

Important remarks

The frequency of maintenance and the life time of the slide loading mechanics are highly influenced by the correct prepared slides and the slide quality as well; it means:

·       The used slide dimensions should never exceed the allowed slide dimensions; slides with cut corners and chamfered edges should be preferred.

·       The position of the cover slip is important! The cover slip should never touch the specimen holder lower edge; on the other side, the cover slip position should never exceed the physical dimensions of the slide!

                       

·      After maintenance or service and performed tests of the scanner are 100 % finished, protective ground connections and other safety regulations related to hazardous voltages, accessible conductive parts and dangerous to life parts have to be checked (again).

·        For safety regulations regarding human health and scanner functionality please refer to:   Precautions

 

Abbreviations               S_M_D          means:          true for SCAN, MIDI and DESK

·       DESK:           Pannoramic DESK

·       MIDI:              Pannoramic MIDI

·       SCAN:           Pannoramic SCAN150

·       P250:             Pannormic 250

 

 

Requirements

            Hex key bolt drivers;           see also:        Tools and requirements

            Service program                  SlideScannerService.exe

            Scan program                      “SlideScanner.exe”

            Cleaning materials             see also:        Cleaning optics” and “Tools; materials

 

 

 

 

Important

To execute the procedures as described below, some of them require removing the cover.

To remove the cover, please see SCAN; MIDI; DESK; P250

 

      Housing and constructionS_M_D” and “P250_Housing_construction

 

 

 

 

 

Check all the used magazines           SCAN and P250

·       Magazine’s slide positions are free of dust, paraffin residues and glass shards; otherwise clean them

·       The magazine is not deformed, cracked or damaged in any form; otherwise replace it.

·       The slide remove security metal plate should be in its correct position and its edge should not be bent in the slide slot as a result of the slide removal procedure. The bent edge may occur if slides with non-cut corners are removed. If the security plate of the magazine is damaged in any way, please exclude this magazine from the working set!

·       The permanent magnet is present and acts in the input and output stack correctly (P250 only); replace the magazine, if necessary.

 

Watch video:                        Magazine load      Magazine unload  (P250 and SCAN)

                                  

      Magazine unit and slide handling SCAN and P250_Magazine unit_slide handling

 

 

 

 

 

Check the slide trays         MIDI

·       The tray’s slide bays are free of dust, paraffin residues and glass shards; otherwise clean them.

·       The tray is not deformed, cracked or damaged in any form; otherwise replace it.

·       The permanent magnet is present and acts in the tray insert and removal position correctly; adjust the tray insert position, if required.

·       The tray moves correct (without slip) in the tray leader; on the other side, the tray does not move too strong; otherwise clean the tray leader and check for any mechanical reason also!

·       Check the easy movement of the tray tightener! Clean it, if required.

·       The Maltese slot of the tray should not be worn too much. If the slot is worn, the tray load position has to be adjusted more precise; the tray itself might be unusable.

 

Watch video:                        Tray_slide_loading          Remove_tray         (MIDI and PCON)

 

 

      Tray and slide loading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the specimen holder               S_M_D and P250

·       In all cases the specimen holder and the slide studs (MIDI, DESK) must be cleaned, check for paraffin residues and glass shards also.

·       Check the correct position and correct movement of the slide tightener in its slot (SCAN, P250).

·       Check the slide clamp, clean it, paraffin residues dust and other dirt should not prevent the slide clamp from easy movement.

·       The slide insert procedure is done smoothly and evenly without bangs.

o                Check this behavior with the thinnest and smallest, as well as the thickest and widest allowed slide dimensions.

·       If the slide is hold in the specimen holder, the slide must not change its position; check this behavior manually; see also: Specimen holder!

o                Please use for this checks the thinnest and smallest, as well as the thickest and widest allowed slide dimensions.

 

Further information can be found in the chapter of the appropriate specimen holder; please see also:        Specimen holder P250; Specimen holder SCAN; Specimen holder MIDI; Specimen holder DESK.

 

Watch video:                        Slide tightener       Slide insert test” (P250 and SCAN)

 

 

      X_Y_stage unit S_M_D and P250_X_Y_stage unit

 

 

 

 

 

Check the slide insert and removal procedure SCAN and P250

·       Clean the magazine feeder channel and other parts, required for the slide insert procedure with a brush; then check these for paraffin residues and glass shards (again).

·       Remove the slide loader, check the movements and the sensor states of correctness; then place the slide loader return.

·       Check the specimen holder lower edge and the slide clamp for abrasion or battering; replace, if necessary.

·       During placing the magazine into the input stack, the magazine is recognized.

·       During the magazine load procedure, the empty magazine moves downward, into the feeder channel smoothly and evenly, without stumbling.

·       The magazine is sensed correctly by the left magazine sensor and the magazine is moved to the first slide position, or any selected slide position (check both).

·       The slide insert procedure is done smoothly and evenly without bangs or more force requiring sounds.

o                Check this behavior with the thinnest and smallest, as well as the thickest and widest allowed slide dimensions SCAN; P250.

·       If the slide is hold in the specimen holder, the slide must not change its position; check this behavior manually!

o                Check this behavior with the thinnest and smallest, as well as the thickest and widest allowed slide dimensions SCAN; P250.

·       During slide removal, the slide should be placed return, into the slot of the magazine safely, without any difficulties.

·       Check the slide removal procedure without inserted slide also (with an empty slide position of the magazine during slide insertion).

·       During magazine unload, the magazine should be moved into the output stack smoothly and evenly, without any difficulties.

o                Check the correct movement and position of the magazine supporters.

·       If the tenth magazine will be moved into the output stack, check the state “output stack full”.

·       Execute the slide insert and removal test with all used and available magazines of the user; separate, exclude unusable magazines from the scan process..

 

 

Watch video:                        Slide insert test” (P250 and SCAN)

 

 

      Magazine unit and slide handling SCAN and P250_Magazine unit_slide handling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the slide insert and removal procedure MIDI

 

      Tray and slide loading”; “Test the adjustments

 

Watch the video:     Tray and slide loading”; “Remove tray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check preview unit and preview image quality S_M_D and P250

·       Evenly illumination of the BF preview (background illumination)

·       Check the cleanness of the preview mirror and the preview objective; please clean them only, if required!

·       Preview calibration check

·       Darkfield preview quality (DFP; P250 only, if present); acceptable DF previews are shown here.

·       Execute barcode reading; use also “hard to read” barcodes of the user (if any); decide, adjustments are required or not.

 

       Preview S_M_D     and     P250_Preview

 

 

 

 

 

Check BF scanned image quality                        S_M_D and P250

·       Scan a tissue in BF scan mode and check the following with the Pannoramic viewer:

·       Sharpness, focus of field of view

·       Chromatic aberration

·       Clearly not bent parallelogram

 

      Optics and illumination_S_M_D and P250_optics and illumination

 

 

 

 

Check BF illumination                                            S_M_D and P250

 

·       The illumination mirror (MIDI and DESK) should be free of dust, please blow away the dust with a manual air blower; see also:       Cleaning optics

 

      Optics and illumination_S_M_D; “P250_Optics_and_Illumination

 

 

 

 

Check FL scanned image quality                         S_M and P250

·       Scan a tissue in FL scan mode and check the following with the Pannoramic viewer:

·       Sharpness, focus of the field of view

·       Chromatic aberration

·       Clearly not bent parallelogram

·       Check the aperture position and the aperture size

·       Check the luminous field size and position

·       Check the evenly illumination of the FL FOV;

o                Check the quality, position and correct connection of the liquid light guide;

o                Check the position (correct insertion) and the run time of the light source bulb (max. 2000 hours); replace, if necessary

 

      Reflector turret unit (gear) S_M and Reflector turret unit (belt) P250

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange the diffuser foil of BF light source    P250

 

      Upgrade to software version 1.16

 

 

 

 

 

Check the hysteresis of the  Y- and the X-carriage drive   S_M_D and P250

 

      Sample scan process        

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange the transport nut of the X- and Y-drive unit       S_M_D and P250

 

            Exchange the X-drive unit S_M_D and

            Exchange the Y-drive unit P250

 

 

Clean the fan dust filters                                        P250

 

The procedure is described in the chapter “Fan covers 1, 2”.