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Aperio GT 450 DX System

Fast-Forward to Next Generation Imaging

The Aperio GT 450 DX is designed to scale up digital pathology operations by increasing throughput in high volume clinical pathology laboratories. The system uses innovative colour calibration technology to output consistent high-quality images enabling on-time, on-screen diagnosis. Aperio GT450 DX is an automated, high capacity digital pathology slide scanner that offers exceptional image quality, rapid delivery of cases and high-performance streamlined digital viewing built with the pathologist in mind.

  • Improve case turnaround with no touch scanning and continuous loading of the racks directly from the HistoCore SPECTRA Workstation (Stainer & Coverslipper)
  • Increase IT security and control with a dedicated Scanner Administrator Manager DX (SAM) server and software that allows you to set up and monitor multiple Aperio GT 450 DX scanners at a time. No more single workstations for each scanner
  • Ensure excellent image quality with Leica optics
Contact us to get a quote.

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use. The clinical use claims described for the products in the information supplied have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA or are not available in the United States.

Fast and Easy to Operate for Histotechnicians

The Aperio GT 450 DX is simple to operate and helps histotechnicians deliver rapid results with confidence. Complete scanning quickly and easily so you can focus on other tasks in the lab: 15 racks of 30 slides (450 slides total) can be loaded directly from HistoCore SPECTRA CV Coverslipper into the GT 450 DX. The slides are then automatically scanned at 81 slides per hour at 40x for a 15mm x 15mm area.

  • No touch continuous loading during scanning
  • Automated IQ checks during each scan to ensure quality
  • Assign priority cases
  • Every slide is calibrated with each scan
  • 450 slide capacity packed into a small size fits on the lab bench
  • 99.5% accurate tissue finder that allows you to adjust if needed*
  • 100% first-time barcode scan success rate*

*VP-0463 validation results

From the lab to the IT room to the office, the Aperio GT 450 DX was designed to scale up digital pathology operations for histotechnicians, IT professionals and pathologists.

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Fast and Easy to Operate
Aperio GT 450 DX can be loaded directly from HistoCore SEPCTRA CV Coverslipper

Secure, Scalable Architecture for IT Professionals

The Aperio GT 450 DX offers fast, secure, and flexible IT architecture. A centralised SAM server and dedicated software provides you with a data management solution that can remotely set up and monitor multiple Aperio GT 450 DX scanners at a time.*

  • HL7, and DICOM compatible for easy integration into LIS, LIMS or PACS
  • A centralised SAM server and dedicated software provides you with a data management solution that can remotely set up and monitor multiple Aperio GT 450 DX scanners at a time.
  • Comprehensive cyber security including encryption and login controls
  • Scalable set up for hub and spoke configurations
  • Supports dedicated logins for each Aperio GT 450 DX scanner

*See Resources > FAQ for more info on SAM

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Secure, Scalable IT Architecture

Excellent Image Quality for Pathologists

The Aperio GT 450 DX uses a high=performance objective manufactured by Leica Microsystems, renowned for producing world class optics since 1849. This historic craftmanship is now built into the today’s Aperio GT 450 DX, which is designed to rapidly deliver images with exceptional quality for Pathologists.**

  • Leica optics deliver exceptional image quality
  • Every slide is calibrated during scanning to ensure the best quality image
  • Automated image quality assessment so you don’t have to send slides back for re-scans
  • 99.5% accurate tissue finder finds faint tissue while excluding pen marks, dust, and residue

** See Resources > DICOM for more info on How it Works with the Aperio GT 450 DX Scanner

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Excellent Image Quality with Custom-Made Leica Objective
Custom-made Leica objective for next generation scanning,
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csm_GT_450_Image_for_website_a20f3ca405

Image Quality Tested by Pathologists for Pathologists

(for diagnostic review use Aperio Webviewer DX)

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Mitotic Events (Breast)
Mitotic Events (Breast)
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Intercellular Bridges
Intercellular Bridges
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Chromatin
Chromatin
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Nucleoli
Nucleoli

Precision, Potential to Scale, and Peace of Mind

Digital pathology scan speeds have not always been fast enough at 40x magnification to keep up with high-volume scanning (120k+ slides per year). Real-Time Focusing (RTF)** offers a potential solution to this problem. It’s a novel method to capture a digital image that combines an imaging line sensor and a focusing line sensor.

  1. While scanning, the focusing line sensor receives focusing data of the tissue.
  2. Proprietary algorithms determine the best focus value.
  3. Then, each best focus value is treated like a control loop with the mechanics, feeding the best focus value to the objective height on the fly.
  4. The positioning adjustments of the objective are performed continuously (in real time) in order to enable the imaging line sensor to capture the image at its best possible focus. Hence, real time focusing.

**US Patent no. 9,841,590

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Cellular Groves (Thyroid)
Cellular Groves (Thyroid)

Excellent Image Quality with Custom-Made Leica Objective

The high-performance objectives included with the Aperio GT 450 DX is specifically designed to maximise field of view for high speed digital pathology scanning. Most objectives are designed similarly to the human eye: round, which focuses light in the center and limits field of view. The objectives on the Aperio GT 450 DX includes an extra-wide flat field correction that enables a much larger field of view (1mm) that can accommodate extremely large digital images for fast scans and 0.26 um/pixel resolution at 40x magnification.

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Excellent Image Quality with Custom-Made Leica Objective

Product Specifications

IMAGING, CAPACITY & OPERATIONS

Magnification: 40x
Scan Speed: 32 sec/slide (@ 40x for 15mm x 15mm area)
Scan Throughput: 81 slides/hr (@40x for 15mm x 15mm area)*
Scan Resolution: 0.26 µm/pixel at 40x
Scan Output: DICOM compatible and SVS
Scanning Region: ≤ 23.6 mm x 58 mm
Field of View (FOV): 1mm
Objective Lens: Custom-made by Leica Microsystems

*VP-0450

Slide Capacity: 450 slides (15 racks of 30)
Slide Loading: Automatic Continuous Load up to 450 1-inch x 3-in (2.54 cm x 7.62 cm) slides
Racks Accepted: Leica Universal Rack (30-slide capacity), validated and recommended for use with HistoCore SPECTRA Workstation
  Sakura Prisma Stainer and Coverslipper Rack (20-slide capacity)

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

Dimensions (W x L x H): 52,83cm W, 71,12 cm D, 49,53cm H
Weight: 63.5 kg (140 lbs)

IT REQUIREMENTS & INTEGRATION

Network Bandwidth Requirements (Aperio GT 450 DX to SAM Server): 1 gigabits per second (Gbps)
Network Bandwidth Requirements (SAM Server to image repository/DSR): 10 gigabits per second (Gbps)
Image File Formats: DICOM compatible images, SVS, TIFF
Compatibility: HL7 and DICOM (for LIS, LIMS, PACS integration)

SECURITY FEATURES

SSL for SAM User Interface  
Assign User Specific PINs per Scanner  –includes automatic timeouts
Secure Sign-On to SAM Server Software  
Log Data & Events from Mirth Connect to File System  
Remote Access to Scanner Status  
Create User Groups and Assign Permissions  –password for client software and PIN for scanner

SLIDES, COVERSLIPS & LABELS

SLIDES  
General: The tissue/smear is embedded between supported slide and coverslip
Standard: 2.54 cm x 7.62 cm (1-inch x 3-inch) microscope slides. Measurements comply with ISO 8037/1.
Minimum Slide Size (W x L): 25 mm x 75 mm
Maximum Slide Size (W x L): 26 mm x 76 mm
Thickness: optimised for range of 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm, excluding coverslip
Special Instructions: The coverslip/label shall not protrude beyond the edge of the glass microscope slide. The entire coverslip and label must be glued to the glass microscope slide. There must be no lifted edges or parts of the coverslip/label. The outer surface of the slide must be dry. No liquid shall flow out of the specimen area.
Slide Preparation: Slides are prepared typically using:

  • Glass coverslip with mounting media, Eukitt or water
  • Film coverslip with integrated glue
Maximum Tissue/Smear Thickness: optimised for tissue thickness of 3-5 μm (including mounting media)
COVERSLIPS  
Coverslips Accepted: optimised for coverslip with thickness of .17 mm, made of typical coverslip material: Standard microscope cover glass or Cellulose Tri-Acetate film (microscope cover film).
LABELS  
Label Area (W x L): 25 mm x 25 mm. Handwritten/printed non-transparent, matt (paper-like reflecting) sticker.
Label Special Instructions: Labels shall not protrude beyond the edge of the slides or be lifted. Labels shall not be attached to the bottom of the slide, but only attached to the coverslip-side of the slide.
BARCODES  
Barcodes Engines: 1D and 2D Symbology
Barcodes Supported: NW7, QR Code, Data Matrix, Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 39, Code 128, PDF417, MicroPDF417

Downloads

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Aperio GT 450 DX
How many slides per hour can it scan?

81 slides per hour @ 40x (15mm x 15mm area).

What is the scan speed?

32 seconds at 40x for 15mm x 15mm area

Does it have a workstation?

No, Aperio GT 450 DX has a scalable IT architecture solution …where a centralized SAM server is used to set up and monitor multiple GT 450 DX scanners from the IT professionals' office.

What is a SAM server?

Scanner Administration Manager DX (SAM) is a high-performance server installed in the IT room that enables a centralized admin hub that is connected to multiple GT 450 DX scanners in the pathology lab. The GT 450 DX scanners stream DICOM files to the SAM server after which they are converted to an SVS file or remain as DICOM. SAM includes Mirth for data and event handling and HL7 for integration. SAM DX server client application software is loaded on the SAM DX server and enables IT professionals and lab directors to log in via secure network access and then set up and monitor GT 450 DX scanners in the lab, including dashboard status views, PIN controls for each scanner and log out times for each scanner.

Can I adjust the tissue finder?

Yes, in the rare case you need to adjust the tissue finder, the user can simply select “Scan Entire Slide” and the Aperio GT 450 DX will automatically scan the entire slide.

Do I need to perform pre-snaps?

No, this is automated with the Aperio GT 450 DX because it uses Real-Time Focusing.

Do I need to use calibrated monitor?

Yes, Aperio GT 450 DX images are designed to be viewed on calibrated monitors for the best possible viewing experience as it relates especially to color. The Aperio Viewer DX Stations, include monitors that are calibrated and haven been validated for use with the GT 450 DX images. The Aperio viewing station includes a proprietary image color correction (ICC) profile on the workstation that calibrates the monitor for use with GT 450 DX next generation images.

Is every slide calibrated during scanning?

Yes, during each scan, the scanning workflow includes a system calibration. This calibration is included in the 32 sec scan speed at 40x for a 15mm X 15mm area.

What is the resolution?

0.26 µm/pixel

Does it offer continuous loading while scanning?

Yes. This unique open face design allows up to 14 additional racks to be added or removed while scanning is in progress.

Are the Aperio GT 450 DX slide racks compatible with other devices from Leica Biosystems

Yes, these racks can be used across 3 of our devices, including Aperio GT 450 DX, HistoCore SPECTRA workstation ST Stainer, and HistoCore SPECTRA workstation CV Coverslipper.

DICOM
What is DICOM file format?

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard for medical image interchange that includes support for transmission and storage of medical image data.

How is DICOM used?

It can be used to transfer data from a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) into some other system, produced by any number of vendors who choose to implement that standard, or used to provide access to clinical data without granting that person access to the entire PACS, or to share medical image data with a patient or colleague, or for long-term archival purposes.

Why is DICOM important?

DICOM is an open, vendor-agnostic standard for medical image data. While many vendors participate in the creation of this standard, it is not controlled by any one vendor. As an open standard, it may be implemented by any vendor and enables interoperability between systems.

Is there a Universal DICOM file for Digital Pathology?

The DICOM standard provides a definition for Whole Slide Microscopy Images, commonly referred to as a “Supplement 145 image” (after the DICOM Supplement which initially defined the image) or “Working Group 26 image” (after the DICOM Working Group which produced Supplement 145). As this standard is intended to be usable by manufacturers of both tiling and line scanning systems, as well as different modalities (e.g. oil, fluorescence, brightfield), it provides vendors multiple ways to produce images that are conformant to the standard, but may not necessarily be compatible with a given vendor’s PACS or viewing software.

What does the Aperio GT 450 DX product family output?

The Aperio GT 450 DX outputs images as a series of Whole Slide Microscopy Image objects. As the Aperio GT 450 DX scanner is intended to operate as a networked device, it does so by outputting the images using standard DICOM network transfer protocols. The Aperio GT 450 DX scanner can transfer images directly into a customer PACS, which they can then export from their PACS to access the DICOM files.

Can I use Aperio GT 450 DX DICOM images?

If you are using a PACS capable of receiving and storing Whole Slide Microscopy Images and a viewer capable of presenting the images, then yes. However, not all PACS vendors support Whole Slide Microscopy Images, and due to the size of these images, not all PACS systems that do will do so with acceptable performance.

Similarly, due to the size of the images not all DICOM viewers will be capable of presenting the images correctly or with good performance. And, as with Aperio SVS file format, the Whole Slide Microscopy Images generated by the Aperio GT 450 DX product family consist of thousands of smaller image “tiles,” and not all DICOM viewers are capable of handling this type of image.

Does Leica Biosystems have a DICOM conformance statement?

Yes, Leica Biosystems Aperio DICOM Conformance Statement (MAN-0465) is intended to facilitate integration between the Aperio GT 450 DX product family scanners and other DICOM products. It includes detailed information about how the Aperio GT 450 DX produces DICOM files, DICOM functionality, and how that functionality integrates with other devices that support DICOM features.

What are my steps to using DICOM?

If you are interested in using DICOM images from the Aperio GT 450 DX product family, please contact your local Leica Biosystems sales representative. We will work with you to understand your organization’s needs, and how Aperio GT 450 DX DICOM can integrate into your PACS workflow.