Slide tray

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for loading a tray containing a plurality of slides into an imaging system, and for verifying the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system. A plurality of retainers secures the slides in recesses defined by the tray. An aligning projection on the tray interacts with an alignment component on the imaging system to verify the alignment and orientation of the tray in the imaging system and to disable the system if it cannot do so.

1 . A tray for use with a slide imaging system, the tray comprising: 
 a planar member, the planar member defining a recess for receiving a slide;    a retainer; and    an aligning member, wherein the retainer and the aligning member are both disposed on the planar member, the retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables verification of an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system.    
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a leaf spring.  
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is made from a resilient material.  
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a planar cover.  
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , where the planar cover is configured to hold the slide on the planar member by compression.  
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is manually engaged.  
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover, wherein the retainer is engaged by application of the cover to the planar member.  
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is engaged by insertion of the planar member into the slide imaging system.  
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is asymmetrically disposed on the planar member.  
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is a reflective marking.  
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is a projection.  
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is a depression.  
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is configured to interact with the slide imaging system to verify the alignment and the orientation of the planar member.  
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning member is configured to interact with the slide imaging system to disable the slide imaging system if the slide imaging system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the planar member.  
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the planar member defines an aperture, the aperture providing a path through which light can pass to a slide disposed on the planar member.  
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 1 , the planar member defining a receptacle for receiving an aligning member disposed on a second tray, the second tray being stacked on top of the tray.  
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retainers that secure an associated plurality of slides into a respective plurality of recesses defined by the planar member.  
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 17 , further comprising an actuator that engages the plurality of retainers.  
     
     
         19 . A slide imaging system, comprising: 
 a light source;    a stage disposed adjacent to the light source;    one or more optical elements disposed adjacent to the stage;    a tray holder disposed on the stage; and    a slide tray affixed to the stage by the tray holder, the tray including 
 a planar member defining a recess for receiving a slide,  
 a retainer, and  
 an aligning member, wherein the retainer and the aligning member are both disposed on the planar member, the retainer secures the slide in the recess, and the aligning member enables verification of an alignment and an orientation of the planar member in the slide imaging system.  
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an enclosure substantially surrounding the system.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an alignment component that interacts with the aligning member to verify the alignment and the orientation of the slide tray on the stage.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment component includes an optical sensor.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment component includes a switch.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the switch is an electromechanical switch.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment component includes a light beam projector.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment component is configured to interact with the aligning member to disable the system if the system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the slide tray on the movable stage.  
     
     
         27 . A method of loading slides into an imaging system, comprising: 
 loading slides into a tray;    retaining the slides on the tray with a resilient retainer;    loading the tray into the imaging system; and    verifying an alignment and an orientation of the slide tray in the slide imaging system by placing an aligning member disposed on the tray in proximity to an alignment component disposed on the imaging system.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising disabling the system if the system cannot verify the alignment and the orientation of the tray in the imaging system.