# US 2026/0061602 A1 · Slide imaging apparatus and a method for imaging a slide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0061602 A1 - Document ID: US20260061602A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/382,067 - Filed: 2025-11-06 - Published: 2026-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27 - Assignees: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Alexander MAIER; Denny OSSWALD; Marc REHBERGER; Bernardo SPRING DE SOUZA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260061602A1 ## CPC - B25J 9/1612: {characterised by the hand, wrist, grip control} - G02B 21/24: Base structure - B25J 9/1687: {Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement} - B25J 11/00: Manipulators not otherwise provided for - G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G02B 21/34: Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides - G01N 2035/00138: {Slides} - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A slide imaging apparatus includes: at least one imaging device configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide, wherein the imaging device comprises an operating button; a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides and configured to store the slides; and a supply device configured to supply the slides from the storage device to the imaging device, wherein the supply device is configured to press the operating button. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A slide imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging device configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide; a storage device configured to be loadable with and to store a plurality of slides; and a supply device comprising a robotic arm and configured to supply the slides from the storage device to the imaging device, the robotic arm comprising a gripping device configured to grip at least one of the slides or a slide holder configured to hold more than one slide, the gripping device comprising a first gripping part and a second gripping part that are linearly moveable relative to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first gripping part and the second gripping part have substantially plane surfaces facing one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein first and second gripping parts are moveable along a direction perpendicular to the slide or the slide holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing encompassing the imaging device, the storage device, and the supply device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a safety door and a safety switch configured to detect an open state or a closed state of the safety door. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an emergency stop switch comprising an emergency stop button and configured to stop an operation of the slide imaging apparatus in response to the emergency stop button being pressed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a fast lane configured to store at least one slide for privileged processing relative to other ones of the plurality of slides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a slide reception configured to receive the slide for imaging. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the slide reception defines a slit at a side of the imaging device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply device is configured to return the slides back from the imaging device to associated positions within the storage device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the associated positions are positions into which the slides have previously been loaded prior to scanning. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the imaging device comprises a 2-dimensional camera or a line scan detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises an indicator configured to indicate an operational status of the imaging device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a vision sensor configured to detect an operational status of the imaging device based on an indication provided by the indicator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a first imaging device and a second imaging device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: an operating system configured to control an operation of the supply device, wherein the operating system and the plurality of imaging devices are communicatively coupled for communicating an operational status of each of the first and second imaging devices. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the supply device is configured to automatedly supply the slides from the storage device selectively to the first imaging device or to the second imaging device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a frame; and a first plate and a second plate connected to the frame and each being independently extendable from the frame, wherein the first imaging device is arranged on the first plate, and the second imaging device is arranged on the second plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first plate and the second plate are extendable from the frame independently of each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The slide imaging apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first plate and the second plate have depressions, each being configured to receive a respective base of the first and second imaging devices.