IP Library Granted Patent US 7,906,337
Granted Patent B2
US 7,906,337 · App. 10/866,428 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

Method of generating and using biological qualification slides to qualify biological screening devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,906,337
App. No.
10/866,428
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Kits and methods for qualifying automated biological screening system. At least one biological specimen having a plurality of marked target zones (MTZs) exhibiting an attribute is provided. The biological specimen(s) is processed through the automated biological screening system to determine locations of biological objects suspected of exhibiting the attribute. The locations of the MTZs can be compared to the locations of the suspicious biological objects in order to determine a number of matches. The automated biological screening system can then be qualified based on the number of matches, and optionally based on statistical information related to the biological specimen. The statistical information can be acquired by processing the biological specimen through a qualified automated biological screening system over a number of runs.

Claims (28)

1. A method of qualifying an automated biological screening system, comprising:

providing at least one biological specimen having a plurality of marked target zones (MTZs) exhibiting an attribute;

processing the at least one biological specimen through the automated biological screening system to determine locations of biological objects suspected of exhibiting the attribute; and

comparing the locations of the MTZs to the locations of the suspicious biological objects in order to determine a number of matches.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biological specimen is carried by a slide.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biological specimen comprises a plurality of biological specimens.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MTZs comprise cells exhibiting an abnormal attribute.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the abnormal cells are selected from a group consisting of Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LGSIL), High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HGSIL), Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, and Adenocarcinoma in situ.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising qualifying the automated biological screening system based on the number of matches.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising qualifying the automated biological screening system based on the number of matches and statistical information relating to the MTZs.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the statistical information comprises a number of match counts between the locations of the MTZs and the locations of suspected biological objects obtained from at least one other automated biological screening system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the statistical information comprises a mean, and the automated biological screening system is qualified based on the number of matches relative to the mean.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the statistical information comprises a tolerance interval, and the automated biological screening system is qualified based on the number of matches that fall within the tolerance interval.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tolerance interval is defined such that a predefined percentage of the population is contained within the tolerance interval at at least a predefined confidence level.

12. A method of generating statistical information for a biological specimen, comprising:

providing at least one biological specimen having a plurality of marked target zones (MTZs) exhibiting an attribute;

processing the at least one biological specimen through at least one automated biological screening system over a number of runs, wherein locations of biological objects suspected of exhibiting the attribute are determined for each processing run;

comparing the locations of the MTZs to the locations of the suspicious biological objects in order to determine a number of matches for each run; and

generating statistical information based on the number of matches for each run.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one biological specimen is carried by a slide.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one biological specimen comprises a plurality of biological specimens.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one automated biological screening system comprises a plurality of automated biological screening systems.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the MTZs comprise cells exhibiting an abnormality.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the abnormal cells are selected from a group consisting of Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LGSIL), High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HGSIL), Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, and Adenocarcinoma in situ.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the statistical information comprises a number of match counts between the locations of the MTZs and the locations of suspected biological objects obtained from at least one other automated biological screening system.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the statistical information comprises a mean of the number of matches determined over the runs.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the statistical information comprises a tolerance interval for the number of matches.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the tolerance interval is defined such that a predefined percentage of the population is contained within the tolerance interval at at least a predefined confidence level.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: BIOTHERANOSTICS, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; CYTYC CORPORATION; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; GYNESONICS, INC.; BOLDER SURGICAL, LLC; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC; HEALTH BEACONS, INC.; HOLOGIC, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075462/0440 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →