Project number
25023
Organization
Roche Tissue Diagnostics
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Roche Tissue Diagnostics is developing the Histobot system for safe, efficient and automated transfer of tissue sample histology slides. These histology slides are currently prepared by technicians who add coverslips to the slides or equipment that automatically places coverslips. Both of these methods can cause inconsistencies in coverslip alignment. A misaligned coverslip can cause damage to both the slide and the human tissue being processed. This increases the time for patient diagnosis. Roche needs a precise, modular and safe system to ensure that histology slides always have aligned coverslips.
To meet these goals, the team developed the Slide Labeling for Integrity and Defect Evaluation System (SLIDES). It is an entirely automated system that can detect misaligned slides. The main design is a turntable with a rotating disk supported by an outer frame and placed above a plate. A stepper motor spins the disk around to different positions via a pulley system. It can house up to four slides simultaneously, and Roche’s Histobot system can load and unload these slides from SLIDES as it moves around. The frame design includes a camera and lighting system positioned above the slides for viewing and analysis.
To meet these goals, the team developed the Slide Labeling for Integrity and Defect Evaluation System (SLIDES). It is an entirely automated system that can detect misaligned slides. The main design is a turntable with a rotating disk supported by an outer frame and placed above a plate. A stepper motor spins the disk around to different positions via a pulley system. It can house up to four slides simultaneously, and Roche’s Histobot system can load and unload these slides from SLIDES as it moves around. The frame design includes a camera and lighting system positioned above the slides for viewing and analysis.