Method and device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier

Abstract

A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, e.g. blood, is described. The device includes: a cutting unit ( 103 ) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, an optical imaging unit ( 101 ) for producing an electronic image of the sample carrier, and a processor ( 102 ) for controlling a display screen ( 108 ) to display the image ( 104 ) and one or more indicators ( 105, 105′ ) each expressing the location of one sample region to be cut off. Thus, an operator of the device is enabled to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region or regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. As no direct visual communication with the sample carrier is needed, the working ergonomics of the operator can be improved.

1 . A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, the device comprising:
 an optical imaging unit ( 101 ) for producing an image of at least portion of the sample carrier,   a cutting unit ( 103 ) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, and   a processor ( 102 ) arranged to carry out an image analyzing algorithm for finding, from the image, a region which is distinguished from its surroundings so as to determine the location/locations of the one or more sample regions to be cut off, and to control accordingly a mutual position of the cutting unit and the sample carrier,   
       characterized in that the processor is further arranged to control a display screen to display the image ( 104 ) and, on top of the image, one or more indicators ( 105 ,  105 ′) each of which expressing the location of one of the one or more sample regions to be cut off from the sample carrier so as to enable an operator to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region/regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is arranged to receive a control signal from the operator via a user interface, and on the basis of the control signal: determine or change the location of at least one of the one or more sample regions to be cut off, control accordingly the mutual position of the cutting unit and the sample carrier, and update accordingly the location of the corresponding indicator on the display screen. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is arranged to carry out an image analyzing algorithm for finding, from the image, a machine-readable identifier element, to read from the machine-readable identifier element information encoded to the machine-readable identifier element, and to save the information read from the machine-readable identifier element into a memory unit for further use. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the machine-readable identifier element comprises at least one of the following: a bar code, a matrix code, a string of characters readable with an optical character recognition method. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 3   4 , wherein the processor is arranged to control the display screen to display at least part of the information read from the machine-readable identifier element in a human readable form ( 106 ). 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the processor is arranged to change the displayed information on the basis of instructions given by the operator via a user interface and to save the changed information into the memory unit. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting unit comprises a punch ( 107 ) and a die provided with a channel for the punch, the punch being arranged to cut off each sample region with a stroke through the sample carrier. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting unit comprises a cutting instrument for producing a point-form cut on the sample carrier and equipment for directing the cutting instrument so that cutting impact produced by the cutting instrument is moved along the outer periphery of each sample region so as to cut off the sample region. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is arranged to compare brightness values of pixels of the image to a threshold value, the result of the comparison with the threshold value determining whether or not an individual pixel belongs to the region which is distinguished from its surroundings. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further arranged to determine the threshold value on the basis of an average or median brightness value of the pixels of the image or of a part of the image. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one of the following: the display screen ( 108 ), a signal interface for connecting to an external display unit comprising the display screen. 
     
     
         12 . A method for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, the method comprising:
 producing ( 201 ) optically an image of at least portion of the sample carrier,   using an image analyzing algorithm for finding ( 202 ), from the image, a region which is distinguished from its surroundings so as to determine the location/locations of the one or more sample regions on the sample carrier, and   cutting off ( 204 ) the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier,   
       characterized in that the method further comprises, prior to cutting off the one or more sample regions, displaying ( 203 ) the image on a display screen and displaying ( 203 ), on top of the image, one or more indicators each of which expressing the location of one of the one or more sample regions to be cut off from the sample carrier so as to enable an operator to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region/regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises receiving a control signal from the operator via a user interface, and on the basis of the control signal: determining or changing the location of at least one of the one or more sample regions to be cut off and updating accordingly the location of the corresponding indicator on the display screen. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises using an image analyzing algorithm for finding, from the image, a machine-readable identifier element, reading from the machine-readable identifier element information encoded to the machine-readable identifier element, and saving the information read from the machine-readable identifier element into a memory unit for further use. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the machine-readable identifier element comprises at least one of the following: a bar code, a matrix code, a string of characters readable with an optical character recognition method. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises displaying at least part of the information read from the machine-readable identifier element on the display screen in a human readable form. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises changing the displayed information on the basis of instructions given by the operator via a user interface and saving the changed information into the memory unit. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sample regions are cut off with a punch and a die provided with a channel for the punch, the punch being capable of cutting off each sample region with a stroke through the sample carrier. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises moving a point-form cutting impact produced by a cutting instrument along the outer periphery of each sample region so as to cut off the sample region from the sample carrier. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the image analyzing algorithm comprises comparing brightness values of pixels of the image to a threshold value, the result of the comparison with the threshold value determining whether or not an individual pixel belongs to the region which is distinguished from its surroundings. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the image analyzing algorithm comprises determining the threshold value on the basis of an average or median brightness value of the pixels of the image or of a part of the image. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program for controlling cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, the computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processor to:
 control an optical imaging unit to produce an image of at least portion of the sample carrier,   carry out an image analyzing algorithm for finding, from the image, a region which is distinguished from its surroundings so as to determine the location/locations of the one or more sample regions to be cut off, and control accordingly a mutual position of a cutting unit and the sample carrier, and   control the cutting unit to cut off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier,   
       characterized in that the computer program further comprises computer executable instructions for controlling the programmable processor to control a display screen to display the image and, on top of the image, one or more indicators each of which expressing the location of one of the one or more sample regions to be cut off from the sample carrier so as to enable an operator to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region/regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. 
     
     
         23 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, characterized in that the computer readable medium is encoded with a computer program according to  claim 22 .