Facing and quality control in microtomy
The present disclosure also relates to systems and methods for quality control in histology systems. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes receiving a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, imaging the tissue block to create a first imaging data of the tissue sample in a tissue section on the tissue block, removing the tissue section from the tissue block, the tissue section comprising a part of the tissue sample, imaging the tissue section to create a second imaging data of the tissue sample in the tissue section, and comparing the first imaging data to the second imaging data to confirm correspondence in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.
1 . A method for quality control in histology system comprising:
imaging a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, wherein the tissue sample is imaged prior to performing a cut on the tissue block to remove a layer of embedding material from the tissue block to expose the tissue sample, to generate a baseline imaging data of the tissue sample, wherein the baseline imaging data comprises an expected outline, an expected size, or an expected shape of the tissue sample;
performing one or more cuts on the tissue block to expose the tissue sample from the embedding material in a face of the tissue block;
generating exposed imaging data, wherein generating the exposed imaging data comprises imaging the tissue sample exposed in the face of the tissue block;
removing a tissue section from the tissue block, wherein the tissue section comprises at least a part of the tissue sample;
generating first imaging data of the tissue section, wherein generating the first imaging data comprises, after removing the tissue section from the tissue block, imaging the tissue section on a transfer medium configured to transfer the tissue section to a slide;
transferring the tissue section from the transfer medium to the slide;
generating second imaging data, wherein generating the second imaging data comprises, after transferring the tissue section to the slide, imaging the tissue section on the slide;
first comparing an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the first imaging data, and an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the second imaging data to the expected outline, the expected size, or the expected shape of the tissue sample from the baseline imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters;
second comparing the outline, the size, or the shape of the tissue sample in the second imaging data to an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the exposed imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters; and
based on the first comparing, the second comparing, or both determining at least one of:
whether there is a mechanical damage in the tissue sample in the first imaging data, the second imaging data or both; or
whether there is a sufficient cross-sectional area of tissue in the tissue sample in the first imaging data, the second imaging data or both to render the tissue sample adequate for analysis.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a depth profile by one or more of disparity, from focus, or light field imaging.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising imaging the tissue block with a structured light to determine a depth profile.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising illuminating the tissue block with a structured light in a UV range.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the first imaging data or the second imaging data with the baseline imaging data to determine when the tissue block has been faced.
6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising increasing contrast between the tissue sample and the embedding material.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
imaging the tissue section on the transfer medium to create the first imaging data comprises illuminating the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium with UV light and capturing light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium with a camera to create the first imaging data, wherein the capturing comprises refraining from capturing UV light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium; or
imaging the tissue section on the slide to create the second imaging data comprises illuminating the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide with UV light and capturing light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide with a camera to create the second imaging data, wherein the capturing comprises refraining from capturing UV light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein refraining from capturing the UV light comprises filtering the UV light prior to capturing the light with the camera or capturing the light with a visible range camera that is configured not to capture UV light.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein capturing the light from the tissue sample comprises capturing the light emitted from the tissue sample in response to the illuminating of the tissue sample with the UV light.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the first imaging data to the second imaging data to confirm correspondence in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the tissue section is non-conforming if there is no correspondence in one or more quality control parameters in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more quality control parameters include one or more of shape of the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data, size of the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data, or one or more mechanical damages in the first imaging data or the second imaging data.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the tissue section is non-conforming if there is no correspondence in the outline, shape or the size of the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical damage is at least one of wrinkling or bubbles.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the outline, the size, or the shape of the tissue sample in the first imaging data to the outline, the size, or the shape of the tissue sample in the exposed imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.
16 . A method for quality control in histology system comprising:
imaging a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, wherein the tissue sample is imaged prior to performing a cut on the tissue block to face the tissue block, to generate a baseline imaging data of the tissue sample at a first depth of the tissue block, wherein the baseline imaging data comprises an expected outline, an expected size, or an expected shape of the tissue sample at the first depth;
facing the tissue block to expose the tissue sample from the embedding material in a face of the tissue block;
generating exposed imaging data, wherein generating the exposed imaging data comprises imaging the tissue sample exposed in the face of the tissue block;
removing a tissue section from the tissue block, wherein the tissue section comprises at least a part of the tissue sample at the first depth;
generating first imaging data of the tissue section, wherein generating the first imaging data comprises imaging the tissue section on a transfer medium, the transfer medium configured to transfer the tissue section to a slide;
transferring the tissue section from the transfer medium to the slide;
generating second imaging data, wherein generating the second imaging data comprises, after transferring the tissue section to the slide, imaging the tissue section on the slide;
first comparing an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the first imaging data, and an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the second imaging data to the expected outline, the expected size, or the expected shape of the tissue sample in the baseline imaging data;
second comparing the outline, the size, or the shape of the tissue sample in the second imaging data to an outline, a size, or a shape of the tissue sample in the exposed imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters; and
based on the first comparing, the second comparing, or both determining at least one of:
whether there is a mechanical damage in the tissue sample in the first imaging data, the second imaging data or both; or
whether there is a sufficient cross-sectional area of tissue in the tissue sample in the first imaging data, the second imaging data or both to render the tissue sample adequate for analysis.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining a depth profile by one or more of disparity, from focus, or light field imaging.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of:
imaging the tissue section to create the first imaging data comprises illuminating the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium with UV light and capturing light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium with a camera to create the first imaging data, wherein the capturing comprises refraining from capturing UV light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the transfer medium; or
imaging the tissue section to create the second imaging data comprises illuminating the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide with UV light and capturing light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide with a camera to create the second imaging data, wherein the capturing comprises refraining from capturing UV light from the tissue sample in the tissue section on the slide.