VisionTek ®

Digital Microscope

a t i n g
p er
O nual
Includes Model Number:
9002 VisionTek Ma
VisionTek ating
Oper al
®
Digital Microscope Manu
The brand names of products that have been registered or trademarked by
and are owned by Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., Sakura Finetek Japan Co., Ltd.,
and Sakura Finetek Europe B.V. appear here:
Sakura
VisionTek

Other trademarks referenced in this operating manual:

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
Plan-Neofluar and Neofluar are registered trademarks of Carl Zeiss AG Corporation
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation

© 2015 Sakura Finetek USA, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

Printed in U.S.A.

Manufactured for:
Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., Torrance, CA 90501 U.S.A.
Sakura Finetek Japan Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
Sakura Finetek Europe B.V., 2408 AV Alphen aan den Rijn, NL

Revised July 22, 2015

0007485-01 Rev.A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Intended Use Statement ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Safety Precautions ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 General Description ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
1.3.1 Features.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Physical Characteristics ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.4.1 Cabinet Front .................................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.5 Delivery Contents (VisionTek) ............................................................................................................................................ 7
1.5.1 Cabinet Rear VisionTek .................................................................................................................................................. 9
1.5.2 PC Rear VisionTek ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Specifications VisionTek ................................................................................................................................................... 10
1.7 Safety Standards ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
2. INSTALLATION
2.1 General Information ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.2 Environmental Factors ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.3 Unpacking ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.3.1 Delivery Contents.......................................................................................................................................................... 16
2.3.2 Work Surface ................................................................................................................................................................ 16
3. SYSTEM START
3.1 System Start ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17
4. SYSTEM OPERATION
4.1 Slide Loading...................................................................................................................................................................... 19
4.2 Carrier Loading .................................................................................................................................................................. 19
5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
5.1 Software Operation for Single and Multiple Live Slide Review...................................................................................... 21
5.1.1 Startup Screen .............................................................................................................................................................. 21
5.1.2 Upper Tool Bar ............................................................................................................................................................. 21
5.1.3 Startup Screen: “Microscope Mode” ............................................................................................................................. 22
5.1.4 Slide Selection .............................................................................................................................................................. 22
5.1.5 Slide Navigation – Description of Mouse Wheel Settings ............................................................................................. 24
5.1.6 Software Functions for Single and Multiple Slide Review ............................................................................................. 27
5.1.7 Single Slide Review Workflow ...................................................................................................................................... 45
6. DIGITAL RECORDING OF IMAGES
6.1 Digital Recording of Images .............................................................................................................................................. 47
6.1.1 The Screenshot: Saving images as jpeg or bmp files for use in a different application ................................................ 47
6.1.2 High Resolution Scan in Microscope Mode .................................................................................................................. 48

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

6.1.3 High Resolution Mini Scan during Live Review............................................................................................................. 52

6.1.4 Automated Scanning..................................................................................................................................................... 52
7. VIEWING OF DIGITAL SLIDES
7.1 Opening of Digital Slides ................................................................................................................................................... 55
7.2 Selection of Slides in the gallery ...................................................................................................................................... 55
7.3 Features for Scanned Images ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.3.1 Same Features as for the Live Mode ............................................................................................................................ 56
7.3.2 Annotations ................................................................................................................................................................... 56
7.3.3 Addition of Live Slides Present in the Carrier................................................................................................................ 56
7.3.4 Scan Information ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
8. SLIDE TRAY
8.1 Slide Tray and Data ............................................................................................................................................................ 59
8.1.2 General Slide Tray Features ......................................................................................................................................... 60
8.1.3 Features for Single Microscope Slide Review............................................................................................................... 65
8.1.4 Features for Digital Slide Review .................................................................................................................................. 68
8.1.5 The Virtual Case Session ............................................................................................................................................. 69
9. DIGITAL GALLERY
9.1 The Digital Slide Gallery .................................................................................................................................................... 73
9.1.1 Master Table ................................................................................................................................................................. 73
9.1.2 Detailed View ................................................................................................................................................................ 75
9.1.3 Exporting or Importing from Digital Slide Gallery .......................................................................................................... 78
9.1.4 Import Function ............................................................................................................................................................. 81
9.1.5 Important information on the Export/Import function tool .............................................................................................. 81
9.1.6 Digital Gallery Useful shortcuts ..................................................................................................................................... 82
10. SETTINGS
10.1 Settings ............................................................................................................................................................................. 83
10.1.1 General Tab ................................................................................................................................................................ 83
10.1.2 Display Tab ................................................................................................................................................................. 84
10.1.3 Microscope Tab .......................................................................................................................................................... 86
10.1.4 Scan Tab .................................................................................................................................................................... 86
11. TEACHIN APPLICATION
11.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 89
11.2 Application Workflow....................................................................................................................................................... 89
11.2.1 Loading Labels into the TeachIn database ................................................................................................................. 89
11.2.2 Create a New Profile, Open, or Delete an existing Profile .......................................................................................... 90
11.2.3 Select Label to be used as Template.......................................................................................................................... 90

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 11.2.4 Select the Region of Interest in the Barcode............................................................................................................... 91
11.3 Text Mapping .................................................................................................................................................................... 92
11.3.1 Basic Mapping ............................................................................................................................................................ 92
11.3.2 Add Fixed Text ............................................................................................................................................................ 93
11.4 Multi-Combination ............................................................................................................................................................ 94
11.5 Barcode Engine Activation and Results ........................................................................................................................ 95
11.5.1 Settings ....................................................................................................................................................................... 95
11.5.2 Live Slide Gallery ........................................................................................................................................................ 95
11.6 Auto Scanner Mode.......................................................................................................................................................... 96
12. KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
12.1 Keyboard Shortcuts ......................................................................................................................................................... 97
12.1.1General Shortcuts ........................................................................................................................................................ 97
12.1.2 Digital Gallery Shortcuts ............................................................................................................................................. 98
13. RECOVERY PROCESS
13.1 Recovery Process ............................................................................................................................................................ 99
13.1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 99
13.1.2 Actions for Recovering from an Error Condition.......................................................................................................... 99
14. CARE OF THE INSTRUMENT
14.1 General Information ....................................................................................................................................................... 101
14.2 Periodic Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................... 101
14.3 Maintenance As Needed: Slide Carrier cleaning ......................................................................................................... 101
14.4 Daily Maintenance: Exterior Cleaning .......................................................................................................................... 101
14.5 Annual Maintenance ...................................................................................................................................................... 101
15. TROUBLESHOOTING
15.1 General Troubleshooting Procedures .......................................................................................................................... 103
15.1.1 Instrument Not Operating.......................................................................................................................................... 103
16. SERVICE
16.1 When there is a Performance Issue.............................................................................................................................. 105
16.1.1 When there is a Problem with the Instrument ........................................................................................................... 105
16.1.2 Where to Call for Service .......................................................................................................................................... 105
16.2 Accessories/Parts .......................................................................................................................................................... 105

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Intended Use Statement
The VisionTek® Digital Microscope is used to visualize human and animal tissue placed on a microscope
slide. The ocular objectives magnify the image to allow the observer with a choice of tissue fields of
view. The image is viewed on a standard computer screen in real time with the option to store the field of
view. The device is used in the same manner as a light microscope when it is determined that a
specimen requires microscopic examination for pathology by a qualified pathologist. Like the light
microscope, the VisionTek has no analytical capability. The VisionTek is also capable of high resolution
scanning of the whole slide (WSI) or Partial slide (PSI).

1.2 Safety Precautions

WARNINGS, CAUTIONS and NOTES are provided throughout this manual to indicate levels of potential
hazards as defined below:

WARNING: Identifies a potential hazard in which failure to follow instructions may result in serious
injury to the operator and/or other personnel.
CAUTION: Indicates a potential hazard in which failure to follow instruction may result in damage to the
instrument and/or other property, or may result in poor performance.
NOTE: Indicates a reminder or other helpful information.

CAUTIONS:
• Do not remove or change objectives. The installed objectives are calibrated.
• Ensure that there is enough space to the rear of the instrument for proper operation and
airflow.
• Do not remove the housing of the instrument.
• Do not attempt any repairs or alterations.

1.3 General Description

The VisionTek is a digital microscope for histology, cytology and hematopathology. Sample specimens
for review can either be formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue/specimen, frozen sections or
cytology preparations on slides with glass or film cover slip.
The VisionTek allows interactive operation similar to a standard light microscope, with the added
benefits of simultaneous live view of up to four slides or simultaneous view of multiple areas of the same
slide at different magnifications ranging from 2.5x to 40x. The instrument is also capable of capturing
partial or whole slide scans at multiple z planes and stored in the Digital Slide Gallery for further review.
Upon insertion of the slides, the VisionTek acquires an overview image of each inserted slide, including
imaging of their labels. Overview images of the slides are displayed, allowing the user to navigate to

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1. INTRODUCTION
positions within the specimen. One can then zoom in to view high resolution images "live" of selected
areas. At the highest resolution, sub-cellular and sub-nuclear features can be analyzed.

1.3.1 Features
The instrument has the following features:
• Live view of up to four slides with time-to -view under 17 seconds
• Real-time focus, magnification change and stage control with a computer mouse
• Live review of multiple slides simultaneously or view multiple areas of the same slide at different
magnifications and z-planes
• Autofocus assisted navigation of slides
• Up to 4 magnifications
• User defined partial or whole slide scanning in multiple focal planes at all magnifications
• Automated scan of partial and/or whole slide images at multiple focal planes at all magnifications
• Automated scan using tissue/specimen detection
• Single or multiple field of view screen shots
• Annotations and measurements on live or saved images
• Export of live or saved images to non-proprietary image formats
• Review of saved images at different magnifications and z- planes

1.4 Physical Characteristics

1.4.1 Cabinet Front
Keypad and LED Indicators — provide the operating controls and indicators necessary to operate the
instrument and monitor system status.
• The Keypad buttons provide the following functions:
o POWER: Press for >5 seconds to turn on the instrument. (The main switch rear right panel
must be ON)
o EJECT: Press to eject the slide carrier. Only valid when the software is not running to avoid
wrongful ejection of slides during automated scanning process.
o SCAN: <currently inactive>
• The LED Indicators provide the following information:
o POWER (Green): Light is ON only when the mains switch is on, the power button has been
pressed, and the instrument is running
o BUSY (Orange): Light ON – Action in process
o ERROR(Red): Light ON – Error state
Slide Carrier Door — provides access for inserting and removing the slide carrier with specimens.

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 Slide Carrier Door

BUSY indicator EJECT button

ERROR indicator
POWER button and indicator SCAN button

1.5 Delivery Contents (VisionTek)

VisionTek includes the following:
• 2 Slide Carriers
• 2 USB Cables
• Camera Gigabit Ethernet Cable
• Power cord, 110V, North America NEMA 1-15 or 240V SCHUKO
• Operating Manual

Additional hardware included:

PC:
• Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1 English
• Intel Core i7-2600 (or higher)
• 8 GB or higher DDR-3

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1. INTRODUCTION
• Primary hard disk: 120GB or higher
• Secondary hard disk: 1,000 GB or higher
• Minimum of 6x USB2 or higher
• Dual Monitor output: DVI or Display Port (DP)
• 1000 Base-T Ethernet
• Intel Pro/1000 PT Server network card
• QWERTY keyboard and mouse

Monitor:
• TFT monitor with S-IPS or PVA panel
• 24 inch
• 1920 x 1200 pixel
• Display Port or DVI
• Pre-calibrated

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1.5.1 Cabinet Rear VisionTek
Power Switch — connects the instrument to the main power. Switch ON to use the instrument.
Power Cord Connector — accepts standard power cords for all countries via the IEC-320 plug.
USB, Gig-E Connectors — accept the provided cables for connection to the PC.

1.5.2 PC Rear VisionTek

Power Switch — connects the instrument to the main power. Fuses are located in this power entry
module.
Power Cord Connector — accepts standard power cords for all countries via the IEC-320 plug.
USB, Gig-E Connectors — accept the provided cables for connection to the VisionTek.

NOTES:
• Make sure the VisionTek USB camera is plugged to the second row alone, in the right port.
• Make sure the VisionTek USB control is connected to the top row, in the far left port.
• The two USB ports connected to the VisionTek need to be diametrically opposed in the PC ports.
• Keyboard and mouse are preferably plugged into the USB hub of the monitor.
• Be sure to use this bottom port to connect to the VisionTek Gig-E Adapter Card.
• This is the built-in network regular LAN connection of the PC. It is NOT to be connected in.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.6 Specifications VisionTek

Product Code Name/Description
9002 Vision-Tek® Digital Microscope

Optics
Zeiss 2.5x EC Plan-Neofluar® NA 0.075
Zeiss 10x EC Plan Neofluar NA 0.3
Zeiss 20x EC Plan-Neofluar NA 0.5

Magnifications
Overview image 0.45x
Objective 2.5x
Objective 10x
Objective 20x
Digital 40x

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Illumination
Adjustable white LED, with Koehler illumination

XY Stage Automation
XY stage accommodates 4 standard microscope slides on a slide carrier and is controlled via software
(mouse)

Z Stage Autofocus
Mechanical high precision Auto-focus; motor controlled via software (mouse). Resolution 0.2 µm.
Infrared (IR) beam and image based autofocus mechanisms work together to focus automatically after
each XY movement

Slide Loading
VisionTek Slide Carrier accommodates 4 standard microscope slides

Image detection
Overview Camera:
CMOS; 5MP (2560x1920); Pixel size 2.2 µm x 2.2 µm; Resolution at 0.45x = 12um/pix
Live view and scanning camera:
CCD camera; Pixel size 5.5µm x 5.5 µm; Resolution at 2.5x = 2.2µm/pixel; at 10x = 0.55µm/pixel; at 20x
= 0.275 µm /pixel

Operation Modes
The Microscope Mode can be used to select slides for live review from a virtual slide tray. The live high
resolution image is displayed on a monitor and the computer mouse can be used to navigate, change
magnification, and to focus in real time. Other features within this mode include, multiple slide and
multiple slide tray review (virtual case), snap shot, user defined scan in multiple z planes, annotation &
measurements on live and captured images, image export and slide tray management.
The Scanner Mode* allows automated scanning of the slides by auto tissue/specimen detection or by
pre-defined scan area. Image view while scanning is possible.
The Digital Slide Gallery Mode allows the user to manage and view the scanned images.

Scan Speeds
3 minutes for 15 x 15 mm (at 0.275 µm /pixel)

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1. INTRODUCTION

Workstation
Operating system: Microsoft® Windows® 7, Ultimate 64 Bit
Computer: Processor: Intel® Core i7 or higher;
Hard Disk: 128GB SSD+1000GB 3.5; 100Base-T Ethernet Intel, Pro/1000PT server network card
Monitor: 24 inch, 1920x1200 pixel resolution; display port or DVI

Dimensions
Height: 17.9 in (45.5 cm)
Width: 15.9 in (40.5 cm)
Depth: 20.5 in (52.0 cm)
Weight: 77.2 lbs (35 kg)

Power Requirements
85 - 264VAC, 47-63Hz, single-phase
Power cord connector: IEC/EN 60320-1/C14
NOTE: Universal power supply.

Power Ratings
100V operation: 4 Amps
240V operation: 2 Amps

Environmental Requirements
Operating:
Temperature Range: 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25°C)
Relative Humidity: 10% to 75% (non-condensing)
Storage:
Temperature Range: 41 to 104°F (5 to 40 °C)
Relative Humidity: 5% to 85% (non-condensing)

Instrument Life Expectancy

7 years

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1.7 Safety Standards
Electrical Safety
For USA:
UL 61010-1 (2nd Edition)
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010.1-04
For Europe:
IEC 61010-1 (2nd Edition)
IEC 61010-2-101
Regulatory Information:
CE Certified in compliance with the requirements of EMC Directive,
LV Directive in Europe IEC 61326-1:2006
This device is tested to comply with FCC Rules Part 15.

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1. INTRODUCTION

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2. INSTALLATION
2.1 General Information
This section provides information on determining a location for and installing the VisionTek Digital
Microscope. Installation should be performed by a qualified instrument service representative only. The
VisionTek instrument must be installed correctly to ensure proper operation and service.
Read this operating manual carefully before attempting to operate the VisionTek instrument. Follow all
instructions carefully.

CAUTION: The VisionTek is precision instruments and must be handled accordingly. Rough handling
or dropping will damage internal components. Always handle the instrument with care.

2.2 Environmental Factors

As with all sensitive electronic equipment, avoid prolonged exposure to excessive temperature and
humidity. Temperature and humidity should be held relatively constant to obtain the highest degree of
operating stability. The ambient operating temperature range of the instrument is 15° to 25°C (59° to 77°F).
The ambient operating humidity range is 10% to 75% relative humidity, non-condensing.
Locate the instrument in a well-ventilated area, avoiding exposure to corrosive vapors, direct air currents,
or temperature extremes. Avoid proximity to direct sunlight, open windows, sinks, ovens, open flames, hot
plates, radiators, and dry ice baths. Locate the instrument away from any equipment that consumes a high
voltage or large current, including large refrigerators and ovens.
Do not cover or block the air intake of the fan. Maintain enough space to other objects behind the
instrument (about 4 inches / 100 mm), to allow adequate airflow.
Since the VisionTek is precision optical instruments, it must be installed on a very stable, solid tabletop.
The environment should be free from vibration and shock.
Be sure the instrument is located near a power source that meets the electrical requirements (voltage and
amperage) specified on the rating label located on the rear of the instrument. The power receptacle must be
grounded and should be a clean, noise-free, dedicated line.
Ensure that the selected installation site provides sufficient clearance to allow for proper operation of the
instrument, and to provide adequate ventilation.

2.3 Unpacking
WARNING: USE CAUTION WHEN LIFTING THE INSTRUMENT. AT LEAST TWO PERSONS SHOULD
LIFT, OR WHEN IN DOUBT, USE MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE.
CAUTION: Always lift the instrument carefully by its base when removing from the packaging (see
next picture). Do not put excessive force elsewhere on the housing. Avoid shock to the instrument.

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2. INSTALLATION

Unpack the delivered contents carefully, and retain the packing materials for future transport. Station the
instrument on a solid lab bench, with the PC preferably on the floor below and monitor nearby.

2.3.1 Delivery Contents

Description Quantity
VisionTek, including cables 1
PC 1
Monitor 1
Mouse 1
Keyboard 1
Accessories: Slide Carrier 2
Operating Manual 1

2.3.2 Work Surface

The VisionTek is very sensitive, high resolution microscope, and must be installed on a stable, vibration-free
work surface. For example, do not use tables which are on casters.

WARNINGS:
• DO NOT REMOVE THE INSTRUMENT HOUSING. THIS IS ONLY TO BE DONE BY AUTHORIZED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
• DO NOT REACH INTO THE DOOR OF THE INSTRUMENT WHEN IT IS IN OPERATION.

For optimal results when operating this precision instrument, please follow the operational details below:
• Avoid dust, fingerprints, and contamination on the slides
• Use slides and materials which are of high quality standards
• Ensure that slide preparation and staining methods are acceptable

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3. SYSTEM START
3.1 System Start
The following are instructions for starting the VisionTek Digital Microscope:
1. Turn on system PC.
2. Turn on instrument by pushing for two seconds on the POWER Button (1) on front panel.
• System will perform an internal validation drive: “Busy” light ON – (2)
• System is ready to use when green LED is turned ON, and red “Busy” light is OFF

1 2

3. Turn on VisionTek Software by clicking on icon shown below.

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3. SYSTEM START

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4. SYSTEM OPERATION
4.1 Slide Loading
The following are the instructions for loading slides into the VisionTek Digital Microscope:
• Slides are loaded onto a Slide Carrier as shown in display below
• If the Slide Carrier handle is being directed towards the user, slides have to be inserted with labels
directed to the left. Make sure the slides are properly inserted into their intended slot before loading the
Slide Carrier into the VisionTek

CAUTION: Heavy dust, finger prints, and air bubbles may affect the performance of the system.

Slide Carrier

Carrier Handle

4.2 Carrier Loading

The Slide Carrier is loaded into the front slot of the system. Should the front slot be closed and not
accessible, the user may eject Slide Carrier either by:
1. Pushing on the front panel EJECT button, if software is not active.
2. Clicking on the “EJECT/INSERT” button on the software main screen.

CAUTION: The EJECT button on the front panel is inactive if VisionTek Software is running, to
prevent wrongful ejection of the Slide Carrier during the automated scanning process.

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4. SYSTEM OPERATION
Once the Slide Carrier is inserted into the VisionTek, the prescan is activated by inserting the Slide Carrier
into the VisionTek (needs a firm push).
The Slide Carrier will be automatically inserted into the instrument. If the user is already s in the
“Microscope Mode” application (see Section 5, Startup Screen: Microscope Mode), prescan will
automatically start.

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
5.1 Software Operation for Single and Multiple Live Slide
Review
This section will instruct the user on the operation of the VisionTek Software for single and multiple slide
reviews for the VisionTek Digital Microscope.

5.1.1 Startup Screen

When the VisionTek Software is launched, the main screen offers three options on the top left menu bar;
“Microscope Mode”, “Scanner Mode”, or “Settings”. If a Slide Carrier is inserted, the instrument will
automatically default to “Microscope Mode”. Just by clicking on the appropriate icon, the options of
“Scanner Mode” or “Settings” can be selected.

5.1.2 Upper Tool Bar

At any time, it is possible to switch between the “Microscope Mode”, “Scanner Mode”, or “Settings”. The
current process will be aborted but there will be a warning to save current data.
To obtain information about the system, place the cursor over the Sakura VisionTek logo in the upper left
corner of the screen. See below.

The upper right corner displays the help menu icon. Access to an online help source is located here.
Minimize or close it by clicking on the standard Windows® “_” or “X” icons.

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

5.1.3 Startup Screen: “Microscope Mode”

When “Microscope Mode” is selected either by default or selection, there is an option for:
• “Live slide” in the Slide Carrier
• “Digital slide” from the Digital Slide Gallery
• “Eject/Insert” to remove the Slide Carrier

5.1.4 Slide Selection

When ready to operate the instrument in the “Microscope Mode”, the Slide Carrier is inserted into the
VisionTek with a firm push until “click” sound heard, then the system operations and prescan will
automatically be activated.
While the instrument is prescanning the slides, a “Please Wait” screen will be displayed, see below.

The instrument will then display an overview of all the slides on the virtual Slide Tray including their labels.
Slide access is available to the user as soon as the first slide is visible (1), or the user may choose to wait
until the full virtual Slide Tray is displayed (2) to start operations.

(1) (2)

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The system will display the following for each available slide
• Slide label
• Case ID
• Slide overview

Slide Label
The label default orientation can be set in the user settings (see Section 10, Display Tab).
The label can also be manually rotated by clicking on the label itself.

Case ID
The Case ID is defined as the identifier for the slide and can be manually entered or read using the barcode
engine.
• A slide label with a barcode identifier which has been recognized by the barcode engine will be
decoded and the information displayed in the Case ID tab with a green background

• A slide label without the barcode identifier or a barcode which cannot be read will display only the
slide position number (Slide_3) within the Case ID tab with a red background

• The information inside the Case ID tab can be manually edited and will appear within a white
background

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

To review a single slide, double click on the appropriate overview slide image.
To review multiple slides simultaneously, check the appropriate slide on the slide tray display, then [click]
“OK”.

5.1.5 Slide Navigation – Description of Mouse Wheel Settings

Zooming in/out of the view and focusing

Changing Magnification
There are two options for changing magnification:
1. Using mouse buttons

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 • Place mouse cursor on image
• [Left mouse click]: increases magnification (optical and digital)
• [Right mouse click]: decreases magnification (optical and digital)

2. Using magnification icons

• Using the mouse, select the appropriate magnification from the from the icons shown below

NOTE: When zooming in to increase magnification, the instrument will automatically center the area that
has been selected for the magnification view.

Focusing
[Click] on a live image and use the mouse scroll wheel to focus up and down in real time. (This feature is
not available for the overview image).

Coarse Focus
In the default mode, one wheel click will change the focal plane by the distance equivalent to the Depth of
Field (DOF) of the objective used.

Fine Focus
To use fine focusing, hold the [Crtl] key while scrolling the mouse wheel. In this context, one wheel click
will change the focal plane by 25% of the DOF of the objective used.

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

Navigating through the slide

Navigation within the slide may be done in 4 ways:
1. Place the mouse cursor on image, [left click and hold] and move the section in the desired direction.
The cursor will turn to the hand icon.

2. Place the mouse cursor on the image and press down on the mouse scroll wheel. The pan icon will
appear. To set the pan speed and direction move the icon in the direction desired to navigate. This
activates the Windows scroll function.

3. Place the cursor on the area of view indicator (green dot /rectangle) in the navigation window located in
the upper right corner of the screen. [Left click and hold] to grab the area of view and move it to the
desired location.

4. Use the keyboard arrow keys (right, left, up, down) to move the field by field in the direction of choice.
There is a small overlap between views in order not to miss any area of tissue/specimen while reviewing
the slide.

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5.1.6 Software Functions for Single and Multiple Slide Review

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
1. Autofocus Settings
The instrument is set to work with the Autofocus (AF) algorithm by default. Should the autofocus fail
because of a poor reflective index of the sample, the system will convert automatically to the Manual Focus
(MF) mode, enabling the user to focus the sample using the mouse wheel. Alternatively, for some specific
samples where the user would want to set the observation to a specific plane, the AF may be disabled by
switching to the MF mode. The reset button reverts the focal plane to the default set by the instrument, or
triggers the Autofocus again if the first attempt was unsuccessful.

2. Vignette Enlargement
By clicking on this icon, the navigation vignette enlarges to a more comfortable navigation size, suitable
especially in case of biopsy or small samples review.

3. Navigation Vignette
The navigation vignette is displayed at all times, in all scenes. It allows to locate the coordinates of the
objective on the microscopic slide. This position is saved on live views as well as digitized multi-scene
views.
User may click and hold the navigation locator (green dot/rectangle) and move it around within the vignette.
This action will move the microscope stage to the desired position on a live image. On a scanned image the
same effect is achieved by moving the navigation locator (green dot/rectangle) to the desired position.
Lens locator:
• Hold and drag to move around in
the sample.
• Click anywhere into the
navigation vignette to relocate to
a different position on the slide.

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4. Minimize
This icon minimizes (hides) the current Live Scene.
NOTE: To retrieve the minimized (hidden) scene, the user needs to open the Slide Tray and retrieve the
minimized hidden scene from the Slide Tray (see Section 9, Slide Information).

5. Full Screen Icon

This icon allows the user to maximize the image display to full screen. Activating this icon will result in “Hide
all other Views” feature, which will turn a scene into the primary view on the monitor. Side toolbar will
remain accessible to work with the primary view. Clicking on this icon while maximized will revert it to its
original view.

6. Close Scene
This icon closes the current Live Scene and will be permanently removed from the current “Slide Tray”.

7. Eject/Insert
This icon ejects or inserts the slide tray into and out of the microscope.
NOTE: All live views will be permanently discarded upon slide carrier ejection. Any open images from the
images gallery will remain and be saved.

8. Previous/Next slide position arrow

The two icons shown below are used to move from the current slide to either the next or previous slide in
the slide tray. By default, the back or next arrows are unavailable once the user reaches the first or the last
position on the tray. These settings can be changed in the “Quick settings” menu by selecting “Continuous
Viewing” which allows looping the stage positions (see Section 5, Quick Settings and Image Adjustment).

9. Add Live Slide

This feature enables simultaneous live review of up to 4 slides with focus, magnification and stage control.
This feature may be useful, when comparing multiple stains of serial sections (e.g. H&E and IHC).
• While viewing the current slide, click on “Add Live Slide” Icon
• This will show the prescan view image of the slides on the Slide carrier
• “Slide already selected corresponds to the Slide the user is currently viewing
• User may select one (or multiple) slides to view concomitantly by clicking on the checkboxes of the
selected slides, and then selecting “OK”
• The system will open with a new window showing a preview of the new slide selected
• The user may navigate the new slide as described previously, and move back and forth between all
displayed live views

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

10. Add Live Scene

This icon is used to clone multiple views of the same slide. This feature allows the user to be able to review
up to 16 different areas simultaneously and have live focus, XYZ stage movement, and magnification
control of each area.
Procedure to follow:
a. While reviewing a slide in the Live Mode, click on the “Add Live Scene” icon

b. A second slide preview will open on the main screen

c. Navigate and zoom through this second “scene” as described previously
d. Add Live Scene may be used repeatedly and up to 16 scenes of the same slides can be displayed at
the same time
This feature will allow the user to compare two or multiple areas of the same slide. This feature becomes
especially useful when reviewing a tissue microarray, permitting the comparison of live multiple cores, on a
single screen (while retaining focusing, magnification and XY control capabilities on all views).
The Add Live Scene and Add Live Slide features can be used concomitantly.
For example, when comparing two slides, multiple scenes of the first slide (H&E for instance) may be
compared with multiple scenes of the second slide (IHC for instance).

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11. Add Digital Slide
Add Digital Slide enables review of previously saved digital images from the digital slide gallery and can be
reviewed together with live slides and live scenes. By [Clicking] on “Add Digital Slide” the user is able to
retrieve and display a digital slide concomitantly with a live slide.

• The system will open the Digital Slide Gallery, allowing to select previously saved digital slides to be
opened
• Slide(s) to be opened can be checked accordingly, see (1)
• Once all digital slides to be opened have been selected, click “Open”, see (2)

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

The selected Digital Image will be displayed concomitantly to the Live Slide(s) Scene(s)

Important Information:
• All “Multi-Scene” features may be used concomitantly
• Multiple Live slides together with Multiple Scenes from a Single Live Slide
• Multiple Digital Images with Multiple Digital Scenes from a Single Digital Slide
• VisionTek allows the concomitant display and control of up to 16 images

12. Add Digital Scene

This feature is equivalent to the “Add Live Scene” described in (#10), but applies here to a digital slide from
the Digital Slide Gallery. On a single slide, a scene can be duplicated to allow subsequent comparisons of
different area of the same slide.

Procedure to follow:
a. While reviewing a slide in the Live Mode, [click} on the “Add Digital Scene”

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 b. A second scan preview will open on the main screen
c. Navigate and zoom in this second “scene” as described previously
This feature will allow you to compare two or multiple areas of the same slide from the Digital Slide Gallery.

13. Scan tool

This feature enables the user to record digital images, either as high-resolution field of view (FOV) screen
shots, or as high-resolution large scans.

14. Screenshot Tool

This icon allows capturing the field of view (FOV) displayed on the screen (or the active FOV in a multi-
scene/slide setting). A detailed procedure is described, see Section 6, The Screenshot: Saving images as
jpeg or bmp files for use in a different application.
After activating the command, a dialog window is displayed, allowing:
• To define whether the single active view or all views visible on the monitor, should be captured
• To select which information should be saved together with the picture
• To define the saving path/folder under which the information should be saved
• To define the file format to be used (jpeg, TIFF, bmp, png)
• A thumbnail preview of the picture as it will be saved

15. Export Tool

This tool allows exporting the current FOV as a high resolution image, directly into a different image file
format. The intent is to allow the user to use a FOV instantaneously in third party software, as for instance
an application for image analysis. The export icon opens a dialog window, showing a preview of the high
resolution image to be exported and prompts the selection of the following:
• The destination path to export the file to
• The file format of the exported high resolution image, currently:
o Standard TIFF, 96 DPI
o Modified TIFF (Visiopharm compatible)
o BigTIFF
o JPEG 2000
• The compression level (None/Weak/Heavy)
For more details on the Export tool, see Section 9.

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

16. Measurement Tools and annotation tools

A set of tools for measuring distances and areas and a tool box for annotation on live and captured images.
These tools can be operated on a live slide/scene, as well as on a digital slide/scene. However, annotations
and measurements applied to a live scene will be automatically discarded if no subsequent scanning is
performed.

a. Select the measurement tool to be used by clicking on one of four icons (circle, rectangle, free-
hand, or ruler)
b. Place the cursor on the image, [click left mouse button] and draw a line (or square/circle) from the
beginning to the end point (this function is similar to the drawing functions classically used in
Microsoft Office)
c. Once the object has been inserted (circle), it is automatically deselected.
d. To re-select the object place cursor on measurement (to reposition it for instance), press [shift +
left mouse click]

e. The free-hand tool allows area measurements of selected objects

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To edit measurement fonts and color place cursor on the object and [click left mouse button]. This action
will select the object and a clicking on right mouse button will open a context menu. Repeat same
procedure to open the context menu of a previously inserted annotation, or select the specific annotation
through the Slide Tray, see Section 8, Features for Single Microscope Slide Review.

Measurement tools can be used in a similar way for round or rectangular areas. Measurement tools may be
used on an overview image as well as on live scene at different magnifications
A similar set of tools is available to insert annotations:
• Geometric shapes (circle, square, free-hand)
• Arrows
• Text

NOTES:
• In the particular context of the text tool, the text might be typed directly into the text field, once the
text area has been defined
• [Enter/ESC] will terminate the editing mode (entering the text) and save the text as is.
• To edit existing text, select the text area with [Shift+LeftClick]
• Double click on text to be edited, or use F2 key (standard editing key in Windows Operating System):
the original text will be selected and may be deleted or edited
• The option “Optimal text box size” in the context menu allows to fit the text area to the entered text

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

There is an option to hide the entered text, should the text area prevent proper reading of the histological
features in the area:
a. To implement click on the Cherry Blossom Pinhead
b. Once hidden, the inserted text is displayed in a tool tip when user hovers over Remaining Pinhead
c. To unhide click on the corresponding Pinhead again

Summary of commands available:

• [Shift + left click]: select object
• [Shift + right click]: select object and open context menu concomitantly
• X (of context menu): close context menu
• [ESC]: escape annotation menu, deselect annotation

17. Superimpose Tool

This tool enables superimposing of two live or captured views. Setting the transparency percentage of each
view allows to compare staining of identical areas/cells across multiple sections.
• It is necessary to have at least two open views in order to be able to use the Superimpose function.
Clicking on the Superimpose Tool icon open a dialog window allowing the selection of the two views
to be overlaid

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 • First select the scene to be used as a reference scene by clicking on the appropriate view. A blue
checkmark will notify the selected scene. [Click] on the “Next” icon to reveal the overlaid view

• In the next step, select the scene to be superimposed to the reference scene
NOTE: Should the magnification of this second scene be different from the magnification of the reference
scene, a warning message will be displayed and the magnification of the second scene will automatically be
adjusted.
• The user may adjust the orientation/position of the two views, using the standard navigation tools
(magnification, rotation, displacement
• Important additional features and information:
o The vignette (1) displayed on the upper right corner reflects the view that is currently active (the
view that may be manipulated)
o The “Toggle” icon (2) allows the switching and moving between two overlaid images
o Degree of transparency of the active view may be altered using the transparency cursor (3). A
double-click on the cursor will revert the settings to the 50/50 default settings

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

o The screenshot icon (4) allows the saving of the superimposed result in a standard image file,
using the settings displayed on the screen

NOTE: On the superimpose dialog window, clicking on the “Previous” icon allows to go back to the scene to
superimpose selection. This feature is especially useful when an H&E stained slide needs to be compared to
several other special staining (IHC for instance). Once the first superimposition has been
completed/documented, the user may select another special stain to be superimposed to the H&E reference
scene.
• [Click] on the “Finish” icon to close the Superimpose Tool

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18. Counting Tool

The Counting Tool enables the user to manually identify and count features (or feature sets) in a defined
area of the tissue/specimen. If a profile has been previously entered in the “Settings”, the results obtained
on the reviewed samples may be normalized to a given area.
Defining a counting tool profile in the settings
Prior to using the Counting Tool, the user may define a counting tool profile. Select the “Settings” tab
followed by the “Counting Tool” tab.

In the example below, a profile is defined for establishing a breast mitotic index, and three brackets have
been entered (for information only). The numerical data have been derived from the operator’s personal
correlation table, using an optical microscope:

Important: The reference area, as calculated here, will be used to normalize the results in the live counting tool.

Using the counting tool in a live setting

Set the profile
• During the review of a sample, the counting tool may be activated and previously defined profiles may
be called up (1). Once defined, [Click] on “Next”
Define region of interest (ROI)

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
• The left hand view allows to navigate through the sample using the mouse or screen navigation tools
(2)
• The operator then defines an ROI (or multiple ROIs) in which the counting will occur: [click] the
“Select area of interest” (3) icon and define an area (or multiple areas) using the free-hand drawing tool.
• In case multiple ROIs are defined, the areas of all ROIs will be summed up (4)
• Once ROI is defined, [click] on “Next”
NOTES:
• [Click] on “Previous”, to return to previous screen and select a different profile, while the ROIs are
kept.
• To delete an ROI, select the ROI then [Ctrl+LeftClick] and [click] “Delete”.

Insert markers
On the subsequent screen, the user may select the marker’s shape and color to be used to identify the
desired feature.
• To insert a marker in the view, please use [Ctrl+LeftClick] at any place within the image

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 • To delete ALL markers, [click] the “Reset” icon
• To delete an individual marker, select the given marker with [Ctrl+LeftClick] and hit the “Delete”
button.

Markers selected to be
deleted

• The system will keep count of the number of markers inserted, and automatically normalize the count
to the reference area defined in the Profile Settings
IMPORTANT: Once the user is exiting the counting tool, it is important to note that results are NOT saved in
the Digital Slide Gallery. Once exiting the counting tool process, the counting results are DISCARDED.
If necessary, the measurement or annotations added onto a live slide (with the exception of the Overview
image) can be saved digitally, using the scanning function (“Mini Scan” for a single view, or “Scan” for a
larger area. Once saved, the corresponding image is displayed in a split window. The digital image may be
annotated further, and saved permanently through the save function within the Slide Tray.

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
19. Quick settings
Quick settings is used to manage the slide label display (hidden or visible; label size), when viewing live or
scanned slides.

20. Image adjustment

This menu includes illumination (light power; gamma correction) and image adjustment tools (color
shading, brightness & contrast), as well as three different sharpness filters to enhance the image.

The amplification filter is particularly useful for cytology samples, where its use will produce a “phase
contrast” like effect.

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 Without amplification

With amplification

21. Navigation Tool

The navigation tool is displayed in the active view only and combines several features:
Clicking on the displayed arrows enables to move FOV by FOV in any of the 4 directions. Thus feature is
useful if there is a necessity to screen the entire slide/sample, as it may be the case for cytology.
The red dot allows to rotate the field of view of the active scene, feature is useful to compare serial sections
having different original orientations on the slide. A double-click on the center of the tool will rest the view
to its original orientation

Rotation control

FOV by FOV
navigation control Rotation reset
(double click)

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW
22. Magnification Display and Selection
This icon displays the current magnification of the slide. Magnification changes can be operated either by a
left/right mouse click as described previously, or by selecting the appropriate magnification in the
magnification menu. The available magnifications are displayed for all active views, and the current
magnification is highlighted in the active view and/or displayed in inactive views.
Available magnifications and current magnification Set magnification in the
highlighted in the active view inactive view

Some magnifications may be disabled in digital images: should the scan area be smaller than the standard
area of a FOV at a specific magnification, the corresponding magnification will be disabled. In the example
below, the total scan area was smaller than the standard area of a 2.5x FOV, and therefore, all
magnifications below the next higher magnification are disabled.

23. Slide ID and scene number

This field identifies the Case ID corresponding to the displayed scene, and the Scene Number, as several
scenes from a single slide can be displayed simultaneously (see 6.1.3 Concomitant use of “Add Live
Scene”).
The Case ID displayed by default is the position in the Slide Carrier (arranged from bottom to top, in the
order of carrier loading). The Case ID can be automatically populated with the Case ID provided by the
barcode recognition engine, should this one have been customized accordingly (see Section 11, VisionTek
TeachIn application set up).
The background of the Slide ID is displayed as:
• Green for a live slides
• Various color shades if it is a captured or scanned image

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24. Scale
The scale bar for a specific view is displayed in the bottom left corner. This icon is highlighted when
hovered over with the mouse.

25. Slide Label

Visibility of the label within the slide view is set by default in the user settings, together with its standard
orientation and size. Quick and temporary modifications of the label display may be managed through the
Quick settings.

5.1.7 Single Slide Review Workflow

The single slide review workflow applies to low complexity pathology cases (up to four slides Fine Needle
Aspiration (FNA)/Frozens), and for complex cases (more than four slides). For complex cases the “virtual
case session”, see section 8, The Virtual Case Session.

For single slide review:

• Load slides and acquire overview image
• Select slide to be reviewed
• Select desired magnification
• Focus using the mouse wheel
• Navigate the slide by either panning with the mouse or using the navigation control
• User may compare two different areas of the same slide on the monitor (for instance, side by side
comparison of two different biopsy fragments) by opening a new Live Scene of the same slide see
5.1.6 #12. The user can navigate, focus and change magnification of the various scenes displayed on
the monitor
• Upon completion of the slide review user may move to the next slide on the slide carrier by clicking
on the “Next Live Slide” icon 5.1.6 #8

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5. MULTI-SLIDE REVIEW

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6. DIGITAL RECORDING OF IMAGES
6.1 Digital Recording of Images
This section will instruct the user on digital recording of images on the VisionTek M6 Digital Microscope.

6.1.1 The Screenshot: Saving images as jpeg or bmp files for use in a
different application
The Screenshot function captures or single image of the collage of images displayed on the screen and can
be saved as a jpeg or bmp file. The feature also allows the user to choose a single image from the collage to
be captured.

The “Screen shot” icon opens a dialog box, where the user can define the details to be captured with the
image (e.g. labels; annotations).An image preview in the dialog box will display the image file as it is being
captured.
The user may capture the single active view, or the multi-view of all images displayed on the monitor.

Active view
If there is only one Active view, the “multi-view” selection is disabled. The view, as displayed on the
monitor, reflects the image as it will be saved in the file, with the overlays as selected by the user. In the
example below, the user chose to select all the layers to save with the image.

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6. DIGITAL RECORING OF IMAGES

Multi-view
[Clicking] the Multi-view selection, enables the user to take a screen shot of all the views displayed.

The multi-view screen shot mode will capture all slide views displayed on the monitor.

6.1.2 High Resolution Scan in Microscope Mode

The scan function in the Microscope Mode enables capturing high resolution scans of single FOV or user
defined extended FOV in multiple z-planes.

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Scan

1. Select a slide to be scanned from Slide Tray and go to Live Mode.

2. [Click] on “Scan” to set up the area of interest magnification and z-planes settings.
3. The overview image of the slide will be displayed, allowing to define the scan area. The cross hair will
be centered on the last scene reviewed by the user (possibly region of interest).
4. The region to be scanned is defined by the user with the adjustable red rectangle and following the
prompts.
5. A menu section allows to define:
• The scan resolution to be used to record the digital image
• The number of z-planes to be saved
• The distance to be set between two planes

NOTE: The scan resolution (µm/pixel) is the important factor which determines the resolution of the image.
Once area and scan parameters have been set, [click] the “Next” icon.

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6. DIGITAL RECORING OF IMAGES
6. The system will then revert back to a live scene, using the 20x magnification. At this stage, the user
may correct the autofocus level if the autofocus of the instrument is assessed to be suboptimal. Once a
focal plane is set, [click] the “Next” icon.
7. Once all scan parameters have been set, the scan can be started.

8. The scanned image will be displayed as the image is built up tile by tile.
9. During the scan process:
• The user may click on the image and zoom into the image at any time during the scanning to verify
the quality of the image (arrow 1); if unsatisfactory, the scan may be cancelled at any time (arrow
3)
• The editable area (arrow 2) is displayed, for setting a name for the scan and entering a description.
This data will be saved together with the digital image, and subsequently accessible from the slide
tray - or to another user, should the image be exported for consultation

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 • If the scan is aborted during the scanning process (parameter wrongfully set, for instance), opening
a new scan dialog window on the same slide will restore the previously defined scan region

• Once the scan is completed, the saved image will be displayed in a new window (1), allowing the
user to add further annotations (measurements, text…) on the image

NOTE: To work with a manageable image maximize the scan on the monitor using the “Full Screen” feature
see 5.1.6 #5.

• Save the scan and the corresponding slide information using the “Save” button within the Slide
Tray (2) see Section 8

(2)

(1)

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6. DIGITAL RECORING OF IMAGES

6.1.3 High Resolution Mini Scan during Live Review

The VisionTek allows to capture a high resolution Mini Scan, saving only the live FOV displayed on the
screen. This image is added to the slide file folder, and stored in the Digital Slide Gallery.
When activating this feature, a dialog window similar to the window described in the previous section
(Scan) will pop-up. All parameters are defined as described previously except the focus for this function is
preset by the view on the screen.

6.1.4 Automated Scanning

1. To proceed with an automated scanning, insert one to four slides into the slide carrier, and insert the
slide carrier into the instrument.
2. On the startup screen select the Scanner mode (1).
3. On the subsequent screen, select the scan profile required for the loaded slides (2). Multiple slide
profiles may be defined in the Scanning Settings.
4. Start the scanning process (3).

(1) (3) (2)

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The system will proceed with detecting the presence and position of the slides. During the scan process,
the status is displayed on the screen:
1. The system will first proceed with a pre-scan of the label and the slide, and define a focus map with
various focus points (see arrows), the focus points being distributed randomly over detected
tissue/specimen present in the scan area.
2. The system will then perform an autofocus check for each point of the focal map:
• A successful focus point is displayed with a green dot
• A failed focus point is displayed with a red dot

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6. DIGITAL RECORING OF IMAGES

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7. VIEWING OF DIGITAL SLIDES
7.1 Opening of Digital Slides
The VisionTek Software can be used to access previously scanned images which reside in the Digital Slide
Gallery.
[Click] on the “Digital slide” icon to open the Digital Slide Gallery.

7.2 Selection of Slides in the gallery

The “Digital Slide” mode displays the Digital Slide Gallery. The user may select one or multiple slides to be
opened. Check the slides to be viewed and [click] “Open” or [double-click] on selected slides.

(1)

(2)

NOTE: Further description of the Digital Slide Gallery may be found in Section 9.

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7. VIEWING OF DIGITAL SLIDES

7.3 Features for Scanned Images

7.3.1 Same Features as for the Live Mode
The features available in the “Digital slide” mode are identical to the features available in the Live Mode, with
the exception of the “Next/Previous” feature allowing movement from one physical slide to the next, which
is not available in the “Digital Slide” mode (circle).

7.3.2 Annotations
All Digital Slides may be annotated using the measurement tools previously described, see 5.1.6 #11.

7.3.3 Addition of Live Slides Present in the Carrier

If necessary, live slides can then be added to the displayed scene, by using the regular “Add Live Slide” icon
see 5.1.2 #12. The instrument would then proceed to perform the standard prescanning of label and slides,
allowing the user to proceed with standard slide selection.

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7.3.4 Scan Information
The Digital Image displays a scale bar on the bottom right of the image, and the corresponding area surface
in a tool tip.
Additionally, the Digital Slide displays the scan resolution used to record the image on the bottom left
corner of the image. The information will be highlighted when user hovers over the areas.

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7. VIEWING OF DIGITAL SLIDES

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8. SLIDE TRAY
8.1 Slide Tray and Data

The Slide Tray is an important module of the VisionTek, allowing the user to easily manage all the views,
annotations, or any information related to the slides being reviewed. It serves the same purpose as the
pathologist’s desktop slide folder and will give the user a good overview of all slides needed to review in a
case.
The Slide Tray is folded in by default. To unfold the Slide Tray, hover the mouse cursor over the side tool
bar and the Slide Tray tab. The Slide Tray will automatically fold back in if user hovers away from it. To keep
the Slide Tray open [click] on the “Pin” icon in the upper left corner of the Slide Tray window (circle). The
Slide Tray can also be pinned open by default by selecting this option in the appropriate “Display Settings”
Tab, see below.

Display Tab

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8. SLIDE TRAY

8.1.2 General Slide Tray Features

The following section will describe all functions available in the Slide Tray, for live and/or digital slides.

Microscope Live Slide Section

This section of the Slide Tray will list all Live slides physically present in the Slide Carrier, and enables
management of all corresponding live views, and/or digital images and annotations saved during the current
session.

Microscope Digital Slide Section

This section of the Slide Tray will list all Digital slides open in the Slide Tray, and enables management of all
corresponding digital scenes, and their corresponding annotations and/or comments.

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Case ID
By default the slide position in the carrier will be saved, however, this field is editable (by clicking directly on
the field). A user can enter a specific name or patient ID to the slide. If the barcode recognition engine is
enabled this field will be populated automatically by the Case ID as defined in the barcode engine setup (see
VisionTek TeachIn application set up –see Section 11.

Slide Label Image and slide overview

• Each section of the Slide Tray is identified by the display of the slide label, and the corresponding
slide overview image allowing the user to identify the slide and the overall view of specimen on the
slide.
• The orientation of the slide label image can be temporarily changed during a review session from the
default settings, by clicking on the label in the Slide Tray. Each mouse click will rotate the label image
by 90° to the right in the Slide Tray and in the main scene.

Click

All views related to this slide may be displayed or hidden (fold/unfold function) by simply clicking on the
image overview.

Click

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8. SLIDE TRAY

Slide Scenes
All slide scenes related to a single slide are listed and displayed under their corresponding slide label and
overview (0 and 0 image).
Each scene is underlined with a tool bar displaying
• The scene number allowing user to properly identify the corresponding image on the main screen.
• A hide icon which allows hiding the corresponding scene in the main view; if hidden, this icon will
automatically toggle to the “unhide” icon.

Hide/unhide icon
Scene number

• If the user clicks on a specific thumbnail, this scene becomes active on the main screen and is
enlarged in the Slide Tray, to symbolize the active scene. Only the active scene will show the
magnification icons, (see below).

NOTE: Under a multi scene setting, if measurements or annotations are to be made on a particular image, it
is recommended to maximize the image using the “full screen” icon.

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The scenes are color coded. All scenes from a live slide will be displayed with a green shade background.
All scenes from a digital scan will be displayed with different color background. Each new scan is coded
with its individual color, and each additional scene for this same scan will be coded with the same color.

In the example to the right, this slide has 4

different scans linked to it.

There are four scenes opened for the dark blue

scan, and two scenes open for the purple scan

Upper Live Slide is

active

Scroll through the

available scenes by
using the mouse wheel

This Digital Slide is

inactive. All scenes are
displayed in a
checkerboard layout

Scenes will be grouped under the slide overhead either/or

• In a checkerboard display if slide is inactive
• In a linear way for an active slide; to scroll through active slide scenes, use the mouse wheel

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8. SLIDE TRAY

Close Slide
This icon allows closing a slide with all its corresponding scenes with one mouse click. If it is a digital slide
and any modifications were left unsaved, a prompt to save or not to save will be displayed.

Save Slide
This icon allows saving all changes made for a slide with a single mouse click (saves newly created scans,
annotations etc.).

Hide/Unhide All
This icon allows hiding or unhiding all scenes of a given slide, with a single mouse click.

Delete Slide
The icon below in the yellow circle allows deleting a given digital slide, with all its related scans, in a single
mouse click. All data will be permanently removed from the Digital Slide Gallery.

NOTE: To remove a single scan within a digital slide, [click] on the “Delete” icon circled below.

Diagnosis Code
Optional field to enter the diagnosis code for the case, once consult is finalized and digital records have
been made. The consult code is subsequently displayed in the database and allows easy filtering and case
search.

Expand/Collapse all
To facilitate the management of the Slide Tray, these icons will help the user to expand or collapse all views
present in the slide tray, independently of their individual status.

Virtual Case session

The virtual case session allows reviewing a complex case of multiple slides, and recording all relevant fields
of views for final review. The specific functioning of this mode is described in a separate paragraph see The
Virtual Case Session, in this section.

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Unhide All
[Clicking] the “Unhide all scenes” icon will display all images in the Slide Tray onto the main screen.

Close All
The “Close all” icon closes all slides with a single mouse click, and returns to the microscope mode start
screen.

8.1.3 Features for Single Microscope Slide Review

Annotation and Measurement
If an annotation and/or a measurement are added to a live or digital image, it will be listed in the legend field
of the appropriate image, as shown below.

Legend field

• A single click on the object in the legend field will re-center the object on the display
• A double click on the object in the legend field will allow to easily select the object in the image, for
instance to modify its properties in the context menu [hold shift + right click]
• A red outline for a text icon in the Slide Tray area illustrates a text currently hidden in the main View
• Hovering over the object in the legend field will display the name as set for the object in the context
menu

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8. SLIDE TRAY

Hiding/Unhiding Scenes

The “Hide All” icon hides all

scenes from a given slide with a
single mouse click

The “Hide” icon hides a scene in

the main screen, directly from of
the slide tray.

This icon automatically

toggles to its “Show”
counterpart

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Close Icons
The Close icon linked to each Slide removes
the corresponding slide from the Slide Tray.
The slide may be added back again using the
“Add Live Slide” see 5.1.6 #9 or “Add Digital
Slide” feature, see 5.1.6 #11.

The “Close” icon linked to each scene

permanently closes the corresponding scene
in the main view; the associated image
remains active in the Slide Tray.

Digital data saved during Live Microscope session

If scans have been recorded from a slide during the

Microscope Live review, a “Save” icon will be
displayed in the SlideTray toolbox on the
corresponding slide.
This icon is used to save the images to the gallery.

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8. SLIDE TRAY

8.1.4 Features for Digital Slide Review

Deleting scans or Entire Slides

The Slide Tray waste basket displayed in the

Slide Tool area will delete an entire slide from
the Digital Slide Gallery, independently of the
number of scans attached to it.

The waste basket displayed in the Scan legend

area will delete this specific scan, but will keep
all other meta information and additional scans
available in the Digital Slide Gallery.

Retrieving Scan Comments and Details

Click

[Clicking] on the “Scan scene” in the Slide Tray, will display comments entered by user during Live scan, or
default comment associated during autoscan process. The same text field area will display detailed scan
information such as scan date, area and number of z-planes.
To revert back to scene thumbnail, [click] on the “Text area” again.

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Editing Scan title and Scan Comments
Scan title and scan comments can be edited and modified by pointing to the field to be edited and [right
mouse click]: the text field then reverts to an editable field.

Right-click to edit

8.1.5 The Virtual Case Session

The Virtual Case Session enables to review and capture images from a case which may have more than four
slides. The user can go through multiple slides and capture all areas of interest, along the case reading. The
collection of images created can then be reviewed upon case completion and relevant images stored.
The Virtual Case Session is started by clicking on the “Virtual Case Session” icon. A virtual case session in
progress is symbolized by a green light activated in the icon.

Under the virtual case session, there are some fundamental changes to normal live review workflow.
During the review of the slides, if an image is captured using the “Mini Scan” the image will be displayed in
the screen and is automatically saved.

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8. SLIDE TRAY

The scene captured the Mini

Scan is automatically
minimized and saved

In the example below, the 4th slide of the case is being viewed, and several scenes of slide 1 through 3 of
this case have been captured and automatically saved.

Once the first set of four slides of the case have been reviewed, proceed with ejecting the Slide Carrier and
loading the four subsequent slides. Capture all interesting scenes, as desirable.
Upon reviewing of the last slide, and Slide Carrier ejection, all saved slides are still available on the Slide
Tray. All captured scenes can be unhidden with a single click, for global reviewing.

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Once review is completed, user may select to save some or all slides of interest (1), and assign them the
proper diagnosis code (2). Slides may also be automatically closed (3). All completed data will be
automatically saved in the Digital Slide Gallery.

(1)

(2)
(3

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8. SLIDE TRAY

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY
9.1 The Digital Slide Gallery
The Digital Slide Gallery allows managing all slides and data saved on the VisionTek Digital Microscope.
• The slides may be opened or deleted through the gallery
• A filter engine allows performing a detailed search for specific cases
• Saved slides/scans may be exported to be viewed on a different VisionTek instrument/Viewer
• Saved slides may be exported to be analyzed using a third party software
• The Digital Slide Gallery also allows importing digital data captured on a different instrument
The Digital Slide Gallery is divided into two sub-areas:
• The Master Table, upper part of the Gallery
• The Detailed View, lower part of the Gallery

NOTE: The size of the preview area can be modified by the user by moving the “splitter” icon up or down.

Master
Table

Splitter level adjustment

Detailed
View

9.1.1 Master Table

Master Table Information
The Master Table includes the following information:
• Case ID: as identified by the barcode engine or manually entered by the user; by default, if no Case ID
is automatically generated or entered, the Case ID displays the slot (1 through 4) in the Slide Carrier.
• Date created: date and time of digital recording

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY
• Created by: user of the original digital recording (linked to Windows log in)
• Number of scans: number of sub-regions digitally saved for a given slide
• File size: total file size of the digital slide (all sub-regions included)
• Modified by: user name of modifier, if the original scan is altered (linked to Windows log in)
• Date modified: date when the modifications were made

Table Customization
The column size, sequence and appearance may be customized by each user:
• Display all slides saved by the instrument or only slides associated with digital data
• The instrument records and keeps a trace of all physical slides reviewed with the instrument. This
record cannot be deleted by the user
• To display only slides associated with digital data, please check the appropriate checkbox on the
upper right corner of the Master Table

• The columns displayed in the table can be selected using the appropriate window dialog. This dialog
may be called up by clicking on the upper far right Icon of the table header.

• Sequence of the displayed columns may be customized by the classic “drag and drop” Windows
feature

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 “Click, Hold, Drag and drop”

• Some columns may be sorted in an ascending or descending order

• In the upper left corner, an information tool tip will display the amount of information displayed by
the Digital Slide Gallery

9.1.2 Detailed View

Slide information
For each slide highlighted in the Master Table, the lower part of the Digital Slide Gallery will display further
information.
• A thumbnail of the entire slide
• A thumbnail of the slide label
• Additional information: Diagnosis Code

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY

Editing in Digital Gallery

Some slide/scan information may be corrected or edited in the Digital Slide Gallery, without opening the
slide. The “Edit” icon will help highlight the fields authorized for editing.

• A thumbnail of the scan region and its individual file size

• Scan name and comments entered by the user

Scan Information
Using the same principle as for the Slides in the Master Table, further information of scans associated with
a given slide will be displayed in the lower part of the detailed view.
• For each selected scan, the approximate position of the scan region of interest (ROI) is displayed on
the slide overview thumbnail
• The following additional information are also displayed:
o A thumbnail of the related scan
o The original resolution used to record the digital image
o Scan name and scan comment, if available

• If only high-resolution screen shots (mini-scans) have been saved, the location of the original data
will be displayed by a dot on the overview thumbnail

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Scan and saved data details
Detailed information related to each scan can be found in the lower part of the Detail View table. All
annotation values are reported in this area.

Detailed scan information Detailed annotation information

Filtering Tools
The Digital Slide Gallery has various filtering options
• Displaying only slides with associated scans
The default setting will only display slides with associated scans. Should this parameter be
unchecked, the system will display all slides ever loaded into the instrument.
• Simple/Advanced filtering tool
In the upper right corner of the dialog window, the user will find a filtering box, allowing for various
settings.
o Simple filtering
A simple keyword search may be performed, which will apply to all columns available in the table.
The table will display all items containing the entered keyword.

1 2 3

o Advanced filtering
 An advanced filtering dialog may be unfolded by clicking on the appropriate arrow (see
above).
 The user may restrict the keyword search to specific fields, as displayed in the drop down
list. Additional filtering parameters may be added (up to 5 levels) through the (+) sign (see
arrow next picture).

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY

The search method is analog to a Boolean search (A type of search allowing users to combine keywords
with operators such as AND, NOT and OR to further produce more relevant results), and allows for
conditional filtering.

9.1.3 Exporting or Importing from Digital Slide Gallery

The VisionTek Software exports slides and images scanned on the instrument to another user database, or
to a different image format, for use with third party software.
• Checkmark the slide(s) or individual scan(s) to be exported
• If the slide selected is in the Master Table, all scanned sub-regions will be automatically selected and
exported at once (see below Example 1)
• Sub-regions may be exported individually by selecting them in the Detail View table (see below,
Example 1)

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 Example 1: the entire slide, with its 2 sub-regions, will be exported

Example 2: only the 2 nd sub-region will be exported, together with the slide metafile by default

[Click] on “Export” icon (see circled below) at bottom of screen.

A new dialog window will appear with the following displayed:

• On the left the export progress steps
• On the right, the export parameter selection including:
o The destination path for the export file
o The export file format
o The compression level to be used during the export
o (the default export path, default export format and default compression levels can be defined in
the user settings)

NOTE: Please refer to “Important information about file export” for further details.

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY

Available file formats are selectable in a drop down list, and a tool tip describes what exactly is exported.

1. [Click] “Next” icon.

2. The system will perform the prerequisite verification and check for:
a. Sufficient drive space in the export target
b. Potential pre-existing files with identical names. Should such a file exist, the user will be asked to
overwrite the existing file, skip the export or index the file name (s)
3. A window will display the export progress:
a. The Overall bar summarizes the overall export time to expect, if multiple slides have been selected
b. The process may be cancelled at any time
c. Once completed, a summary table will be displayed to show status of all exported files

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9.1.4 Import Function
1. [Click] on “Import”
2. Select the drive or folder, to import from
3. [Click] “Open”
4. Select the image or images to import

The imported slide will be inserted into the local database, and displayed in the Digital Slide Gallery list.

9.1.5 Important information on the Export/Import function tool

Identical Case IDs
All exported files are identified with a unique identifier (GUID), which differs from the original Case ID.
Should a slide with an identical Case ID be imported into the same database, it would be inserted as a new
object (due to a different GUID), and would therefore not overwrite the existing slide.

Data to be Exported
• VisionTek Software file format: This file will contain full slide information including label, overview
image, selected scans, annotations and meta data
• TIFF: Each scan will be exported as an individual file. In case of a z-plane scan, only the center layer
will be exported
• Big TIFF: Each scan will be exported as an individual file. In case of a z-plane scan, only the center
layer will be exported
• JP2: Each scan will be exported as an individual file. In case of a z-plane scan, only the center layer
will be exported

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9. DIGITAL GALLERY

File Sizes limitations

• Exporting to standard TIFF format is limited to 4 GB of data. Should the original file to be exported be
larger, the software will automatically export to the Big TIFF format
• Exporting to JPEG2000 (JP2) file format is limited to 16 GB for a 64-bit system and 1 GB for a 32-bit
system. Should the original file to be exported be larger, the software will automatically display an
error message
• Is the target drive in a “FAT32” drive format and the file size to be exported is larger than 4 GB, the
system will display an error message

Compression factor settings

Compression factors applied are different depending on the file format to export to (International Standard).
The compression levels are currently set as follows:
1. TIFF and Big TIFF file format:
• Weak: “z-lib”
• Heavy: JPEG [80%]
2. JP2 file format:
• Weak: “lossless”
• Heavy: JPEG2000 [80%]

9.1.6 Digital Gallery Useful shortcuts

• [Key Up/Down]: moves focus row up/down
• [Page Up/Down]: moves to the first/last displayed line
• [Space bar]: selects the current item in focus
• [Left click] on column head: allows to sort column in ascending/descending fashion
• [Shift+ Left click] on column head: adds another column to the ascending/descending sort option
• [Double click] onto table row: selects current row and opens all selected rows

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10. SETTINGS
10.1 Settings
“Settings” mode allow to predefine defaults options for some tools or functionalities of the VisionTek Digital
Microscope.

10.1.1 General Tab

General tab – General
The first category of this tab allows the user to define:
• The language to be used to operate the system (Note: this change requires the application to be re-
started to be effective)
• The preferred default path to export scanned slides (Scans or Mini-Scans)
• The preferred default Export format (for example: format to be used in third party Image analysis
software)
• The preferred default compression level, if any
• The preferred default path to export screenshot images

General tab – Label recognition

The second category of this tab allows to define:
• The profile to be used for the barcode recognition engine, if activated (--- means no profile is in use:
see VisionTek TeachIn application set up, Section 11.

General tab – Digital Gallery

The last category of this tab allows the user to define:
• The default layout in the Digital Slide Gallery: display all slides or only slides with associated scans.
NOTE: This change requires the application to be re-started to be effective.

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10. SETTINGS

10.1.2 Display Tab

Display tab - Display
The second category of this tab allows to define:
• Whether the slide label should be visible by default on all views
• The size of the label to be visible by default
• The cursor key overlap defines the amount overlapping Field of View pixels when the user navigates
through the tissue/specimen using the arrows on the keyboard (“Screening” mode, see Section 5)
• Scroll sensitivity defines the speed of image displacement if user decides to activate the scrolling
mode
• Pin Slide Tray: allows to pin Slide Tray in a folded out position by default
• Default label rotation angle defines the default angle to be used in the Scene screen (Vertical or
Horizontal)
 By clicking on the arrow, a drop down list is displayed allowing to select the default angle to be
used.

NOTE: It is to be noted that this display angle can also be changed temporarily during a microscope
sessions (Live or Digital) by clicking on the label itself in the Slide Tray, see Section 5

Display tab - Image Adjustments

The third category of this tab allows to define:
• The default image correction(s), brightness and contrast of the displayed images
• Applying a sharpening filter by default
• The settings to be applied to the sharpening filter by default

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NOTE: These settings can also be adjusted during image viewing by using the Live Image adjustment
function, see Section 5.

Display Tab – Screenshot Tool

Display tab - Annotations

The first category of this tab allows the user to define the standard colors, fonts and drawing characteristics
to be used as default.

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10. SETTINGS

10.1.3 Microscope Tab

This tab allows to define:

• Whether the system should go through a continuous slide viewing (i.e.: go back to position 1 once
last slide position has been read, see 5.1.6 #8.
• What the starting objective resolution should be (it is possible to skip the Overview image if
necessary).

10.1.4 Scan Tab

Live Scan
The first category of the “Scan” tab allows to define:
• The default resolution to be used when performing a scan during a live microscope slide session.
• The default Live Scan area dimensions (width x height) to be displayed by default in the Live Scan
dialog.

Auto-Scanner Mode
The second category of this tab allows to define the automated scanning parameters, by defining scan
profiles:
• Existing scan profiles may be selected using the drop down box
• Existing scan profiles may be deleted using the “Remove” icon
• New scan profiles may be created using the “Add” icon

General Fields
• The scan profile name allows editing of the name of the current profile selected
• Two editable fields to enter a default scan name and short description

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Scan area field
The scan area field allows to select between two types of automated scanning mode:
• Automatic tissue/specimen detection: the system will locate the tissue/specimen on the slide, and
scan only areas displaying tissue/specimen. Surrounding empty glass area will not be scanned. This
feature will provide scan files of minimal size and help reducing the total amount of storage space
needed to preserve the data.
• Fixed scanning area: the system will scan a defined area on the slide, whether this area contains
visible t tissue/specimen or not. Visible tissue/specimen will be used to determine the autofocus
plane as a primary step; should no tissue/specimen be visible on the slide, the system will revert to a
phase interface autofocus method, as a fallback position. The fixed scanning area is useful to scan,
for example, cytology spots (density of cells may be low and hardly recognized by the system).

Automatic tissue detection

• Working area: defines the area on the slide where the system has to search for tissue/specimen.
Reducing the area to the acceptable minimum will help reducing “Spam” (undesired information to be
scanned), which may occur if some printing or writing is present on the slide (“SuperFrost +” print,
for example). The working area can be set by simply modifying the size of the blue outline (click and
drag on rectangle corners).
• Minimum Object size: defines the minimal possible size of the objects to be detected. The lowest
threshold is defined as default: 1x1mm.

Fixed scanning area

• By enlarging or reducing the yellow outline on the slide, the user defines the area to be scanned for all
slides, independently of the presence of tissue/specimen.

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10. SETTINGS
• This feature is useful to scan, for instance cytology spreads or tissue arrays. With tissue arrays small
cores may be overlooked by the tissue recognition: using the fixed scan area will ensure that the
entire Tissue Array (TA) is properly scanned.

Autoscan settings: scan resolution and z-planes

• The Resolution drop-down box allows to define what default scan resolution should be used for this
particular profile; default scan resolution may be different for different applications and needs.
• The number of z-plane planes and distance between them may be set for each profile.
• The user is also able to define whether the slide carrier is to be ejected, upon scanning completion.

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11. TEACHIN APPLICATION
11.1 Introduction
The VisionTek TeachIn application is used to create image based barcode profiles that can be used by the
VisionTek software to read the 1D and 2D barcodes from slide labels. The TeachIn application executable
resides in the Program Files/ VisionTek 2.6 Live folder under, see image bellow. Pin the TeachIn
application to reside to the Taskbar by “Right Click and Pin to Taskbar”.

11.2 Application Workflow

11.2.1 Loading Labels into the TeachIn database
In order to create different barcode profiles within the TeachIn Application, images of the slide labels with
the 1D or 2D barcodes need to be added. This is achieved by:
• Load slides with labels containing the required barcode on to the Slide Carrier
• Insert Slide Carrier into the VisionTek /VisionTek M6
• Select all slides and open
• Eject Slide Carrier and exit the VisionTek software
• Open the TeachIn application
• The TeachIn application saves the images of the labels of the last 10 slides loaded on to the
VisionTek/ VisionTek M6

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11. TEACHIN APPLICATION

11.2.2 Create a New Profile, Open, or Delete an existing Profile

For any standard application, the user may open an existing profile or create a new one. An editable field
allows naming or renaming of the profile. Please consider the following restrictions:
• It is not possible to add a new profile if there are unsaved changes in the current profile
• It is not possible to select a different profile if there are unsaved changes in the current profile
• Should an existing profile be edited by the user and some doubts arise in terms of changes applied, it
is possible to revert to the initially set profile for this specific profile name, using the “Reset to saved
Profile” icon
• It is not possible to delete a profile with unsaved changes
• It is not possible to delete the profile currently selected in the main application

11.2.3 Select Label to be used as Template

1. [Click] on “Select Label”.

2. A gallery displays the last ten labels recently loaded onto the VisionTek. Select the appropriate label and
adjust the orientation if necessary (1).
3. If the barcode type is unknown, leave the Barcode engine profile set on “All” (2)

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 (1) (2)

(3)

4. Click on “Start recognition” (3) to read the label. The engine will display the enclosed data, as well as
the barcode type as identified by the engine. If necessary (should lab use multiple barcode sets, or
multiple type of barcodes on the same label), restrict the Barcode engine profile to the necessary
barcode type.

11.2.4 Select the Region of Interest in the Barcode

Should the slide label accommodate multiple barcodes (especially if multiple barcodes of the same type),
the user may restrict the reading region addressed by the engine. Simply clicking into the label and draw a
rectangle to roughly define the geographical location where the barcode of interest will be found.

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11. TEACHIN APPLICATION

11.3 Text Mapping

11.3.1 Basic Mapping
The most common mapping type will be to simply select the string of characters that needs to be
associated with the Slide ID, within all characters enclosed in the barcode.
• Add a Case ID field to the profile by clicking on the + sign (the application handles only one possible
recognition field)

• In the list of parameters to be considered for the Case ID, select “TOI position” (text of interest)

• Enter the position of the first character to be considered for the Case ID, as well as its length. The
result of the reading is displayed below the settings

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11.3.2 Add Fixed Text
Should a series of slides be assigned to a particular reading group, it is possible to add a fixed text area to
the barcode read. This can be particularly useful if the user is reading a set of slides belonging to a clinical
study, which need to be archived, but should not be archived under the standard routine numbering.
• After adding a case ID to the profile, select “Combine Fields” and [click] “+”

• Select “Fixed text” and [click] “+”

• Enter the desired text
• Add the next parameter, for instance TOI selection
• Enter the desired string location
• The end result is displayed at the top of the dialog window

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11. TEACHIN APPLICATION

11.4 Multi-Combination
In some instances, the result provided by the barcode is a string of characters, which may not correspond
exactly to the print on the label, customized differently. By using the combined field feature, one can
reproduce exactly what is represented on the label, by alternating fixed text and TOI selection.
Example: This label recognition turns a string of numbers, without any additional character.

By using the “Combined field” feature, the printed Case ID can be reproduced.

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11.5 Barcode Engine Activation and Results
11.5.1 Settings
The profile to be used for the barcode recognition is selected in the settings of the main application, under
the General Tab.

11.5.2 Live Slide Gallery

Once inserted, the slide barcode will be read and displayed as defined in the profile.
• A properly recognized barcode is displayed with a green background
• A failed read is displayed with a red background, and the classical “Slide X” ID
• Should the user enter something manually in the field, in the Gallery itself, the Case ID field
background will turn to white

NOTE: The label orientation can now be rotated directly in the Live Slide Gallery itself, just as it is in the
Journal/Slide Tray.

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11. TEACHIN APPLICATION

11.6 Auto Scanner Mode

Should slides be scanned using the Auto Scanner mode, a new dialog window will be displayed at the end
of the scan process. Before the scans get permanently saved, the user needs to acknowledge that the Case
ID has been recognized properly, and is given the ability to manually edit a Case ID directly into the dialog
window. Color coding is identical to that used for the virtual Slide Tray, see Section 5, Case ID.

Dialog window displayed upon auto-scanning completion

Editable field

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12. KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
12.1 Keyboard Shortcuts
12.1.1General Shortcuts
These are the keyboard shortcuts used in operating the VisionTek Digital Microscope. Currently, keyboard
shortcuts are set by default in the following manner:

Mouse wheel:
Coarse focus (change focal plane by DOF of active objective)

Ctrl+Mouse Wheel:
Fine focus (change focal plane by 25% of DOF of active objective)

Escape:
• Deselect all annotations in current scan/slide
• Leave full screen
• Leave edit mode in slide name control

Delete:
Deletes selected annotations in current scan/slide

Page Up/Down:
Change focus in current scene

Home/End:
Zoom in/out in current scene

Left/Right/Up/Down Arrows:
Move around in current scene

Shift-Clicks:
Shift+right click: Context menu
Shift+left click: Annotation selection

Ctrl-Click:
Toggle to full screen for current scene

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12. KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Alt-F4:
Leave application

12.1.2 Digital Gallery Shortcuts

Key Up/Down:
Moves focus row up/down

Page Up/Down:
Moves to the first/last displayed line

Space bar:
Selects the current item in focus

Left click on column head:

Allows the sorting of columns in ascending/descending order

Shift+ Left click on column head:

• Adds another column to the ascending/descending sort option

Double click onto table row:

• Selects current row and opens all selected rows

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13. RECOVERY PROCESS
13.1 Recovery Process
13.1.1 Overview
This section describes the recovery process for any operation that is suspended due to an error condition. If
an error occurs during operation of the VisionTek Digital Microscope, See “Section 15, Troubleshooting” for
specific troubleshooting procedures for a given error.
It is important to note that not all conditions causing an error are immediately recoverable. Some error
conditions require a service representative to diagnose the problem and may require service attention. In
this case, please contact the Sakura Technical Support Department as 800-725-8723, option 2 (U.S.
customers only) or contact the local Sakura Service Representative.

13.1.2 Actions for Recovering from an Error Condition

Error Message Displayed
When the instrument has detected an error during operation, a message window displays automatically.
When it appears, write the message down, for further communication with Service.
Instrument not powered on
If the VisionTek software application is launched while the instrument is off, an error message will appear
and only the View Mode will be available. Turn on the instrument, and re-launch the VisionTek Software.
The Slide Carrier is not inserted
An error message is seen when EJECT/INSERT is pressed, and no Slide Carrier is inserted. This error may
also be seen when the Slide Carrier is not properly inserted. Insert a Slide Carrier with slides to be analyzed.
Listen for the “click”.
Software freezes, does not respond to input
• Close the VisionTek software Application using the Windows Task Manager.
• Launch the VisionTek software Application anew.
If the condition persists:
• Shut down and re-start Windows.
• Launch the VisionTek software Application anew.
If the condition persists:
• Cycle the power of the VisionTek via the POWER button.
• Launch the VisionTek software Application anew.
If the condition persists:
• Check the connections between the VisionTek and the PC (reference the Troubleshooting section
below)

Error message during Automated Scan or high resolution scan within the “Microscope” Mode.
Errors may be caused by contamination on the slide, or if the slide composition/quality is not adequate.
Clean the slides and repeat.

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13. RECOVERY PROCESS

Page 100
14. CARE OF THE INSTRUMENT
14.1 General Information
This section provides information on how to care for and maintain the VisionTek Digital Microscope. The
system must be maintained correctly to ensure proper operation.
Read this section carefully before attempting to perform maintenance. Follow all instructions carefully.

NOTE: Depending on system use, it may be necessary to perform periodic maintenance procedures on a
more frequent basis than recommended.

14.2 Periodic Maintenance

MAINTENANCE ACTION FREQUENCY

Check fan filter Quarterly

14.3 Maintenance As Needed: Slide Carrier cleaning

The Slide Carrier must be kept clean to minimize ingress of dust and contamination into the VisionTek.
Clean by wiping them using a non-abrasive lint-free cloth, if necessary, use a mild detergent. Do not use
acids, caustics or chlorinated solvents. Ensure that the seating surface for the slides is free from
contamination.

14.4 Daily Maintenance: Exterior Cleaning

Keep the exterior of the cabinet free of dust and clutter. Generally, wiping with a clean cloth moistened with
water is all that is needed to keep the cabinet dust free. Do not use solvents of any kind on the front control
panel. If you must disinfect, wipe the cabinet down with 70% ~ 80% ethanol or isopropanol, and allow to air
dry.

14.5 Annual Maintenance

A yearly maintenance by Sakura Technical Service personnel is recommended.

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14. CARE OF THE INSTRUMENT

Page 102
15. TROUBLESHOOTING
15.1 General Troubleshooting Procedures
The following Troubleshooting Guide contains information regarding general issues that could occur during
operation of the VisionTek Digital Microscope. Recommended remedies are included.
Operator involvement may be needed in the following cases:

15.1.1 Instrument Not Operating

POSSIBLECAUSE
OPERATION SYMPTOMS POSSIBLE FAILURE INSTRUCTION
OF FAILURE

No image; frozen
Live Viewing/ No communication Check all cables and connections,
image, delayed Loose cables
Scanning between devices reboot instrument and PC
results

No image; frozen Corrupted

Live Viewing/ No communication
image: delayed firmware; Cable Call for maintenance
Scanning between devices
results damages

Warping leading
Unable to load slides;
Loading No image to incompatibility Call for customer support
cracked slide
with carrier

Partial image or Incorrect Orientation of

Loading poor focusing; no Slide (upside down, Operator error Retrieve slides, flip slide over
identification left/right orientation)

Slide falls from carrier Operator error,

Cracked/Broken
Loading while loading/ operator jostled Install instrument in low traffic area
slide
unloading instrument while loading

Setup UPS and power line conditioner;

Call for maintenance;
Unable to retrieve Power failure; system Power failure;
Unloading NOTE: carrier can be retrieved
slide from system failure system failure
manually by flipping front door open
and reaching to carrier handle

Unable to store or read Infected drive; Regular backup of data is

Computer Loss of data
file damaged drive recommended; Call for maintenance

No image to Unable to process Infected drive; Regular backup of data is

Computer
review image damaged drive recommended; Call for maintenance
Humidity; Regular backup of data is
Unable to store or read
Computer Loss of data Temperature; recommended; Use power line
file
power surge conditioner
Humidity; Regular backup of data is
No image to Unable to process
Computer Temperature; recommended; Use power line
review image
power surge conditioner
Component failure
Poor or distorted
Computer Improper color matrix or software driver Call for preventive maintenance
image colors
failure
Poor or distorted User error in PC
Computer Improper color matrix Call for customer support
image colors system settings

Poor or distorted
Monitor Improper color matrix Component failure Call for preventive maintenance
image colors

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15. TROUBLESHOOTING

Poor or distorted User error in PC

Monitor Improper color matrix Call for customer support
image colors system settings
Only HD image
available; poor
Overview Unable to capture
navigation Component failure Call for preventive maintenance
Camera image
capability and no
slide identification
HD image not Unable to capture
HD camera Component failure Call for preventive maintenance
available image

Overview Image of Dust

Noise on image Call for preventive maintenance
Camera suboptimal quality contamination

Image of Dust
HD camera Noise on image Call for preventive maintenance
suboptimal quality contamination
Jammed carrier;
limited slide
Incorrect Reboot instrument to reinitialize axis;
XY movement movement; Incorrect positioning
referencing of axis Call for preventive maintenance
incomplete slide
review or scan
Jammed carrier;
limited slide User proper handling of carrier.
carrier inserted
XY movement movement; Incorrect positioning Reboot instrument to reinitialize axis;
forcefully
incomplete slide Call for preventive maintenance
review or scan
Poor focusing or Incorrect Reboot instrument to reinitialize axis;
Z movement Incorrect positioning
lack of focusing referencing of axis Call for preventive maintenance

Incorrect Reboot instrument to reinitialize axis;

Z movement Broken slide Incorrect positioning
referencing of axis Call for preventive maintenance

Dust;
Lens Distorted image Cleanliness coverslipping glue Call for preventive maintenance
on lens

Dust/debris/glue
Gently wipe slide surface prior to
Lens Distorted image Cleanliness on the
loading
coverslip/side

Improper Improper selection of

Software Software glitch Call for customer support
magnification objective

Communication; Z-axis
Software Image not sharp Software glitch Call for customer support
failure

Software Fluctuation of Refocus manually; Rescan using

Image not sharp Invalid Algorithm input
Live/Scan reflective index power line conditioning
Improper
Improper calibration;
Software-Scan alignment of False image improper Call for preventive maintenance
sensor tiles positioning of XY
axis
Poor quality print
Software Use code types with error check or
Wrong barcode Wrong decoding of the (low contrast) and
barcode correction and should use labels with
information read barcode. low DPI and no
reading good contrast and >250 DPI.
error checking
Software Dark image or LED control not
Call for customer support
Illumination inadequate image LED not turning on working LED
control brightness malfunction

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16. SERVICE
16.1 When there is a Performance Issue
16.1.1 When there is a Problem with the Instrument
When a problem occurs during operation of the VisionTek Digital Microscope, refer to TROUBLESHOOTING,
to determine the most likely cause of the malfunction and to obtain recommended corrective actions. (Avoid
problems by carefully following the proper operation and maintenance procedures described in this
manual). If the problem cannot be solved and an instrument failure is apparent, our Technical Support
Department is available to assist you.

Before calling for instrument service, please have model number, installation date, and warranty period
ready for our Technical Support Representative. For your convenience and reference, record this
information in the blanks below.
VisionTek Serial Number ________________________
Installation Date _________________________________
Warranty Period _________________________________

16.1.2 Where to Call for Service

If located within the United States, contact the Technical Support Department of Sakura Finetek U.S.A.,
Inc. by calling toll free:
1-800-725-8723, Menu Option “2”

In countries other than the United States, contact the nearest authorized Sakura Finetek instrument
distributor or representative for service information and assistance.

16.2 Accessories/Parts
Product Code Description
9011 Slide Carrier (2 per order)
0007485-01 Operating Manual

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