
Our History
We created ARGOS® 6X, the world’s first robotic multi-scanner – Why? “It’s very simple: What we have built didn’t exist!”
In a small town called Vreden in Germany, within the walls of a modest but ambitious pathology laboratory, a revolution in digital pathology was quietly brewing. Dr. Ana Gebing and her team were confronted with a trend that defines the reality of histopathology laboratories: an ever-increasing number of patient samples and, at the same time, an ever-decreasing number of qualified pathologists and histotechnicians.
This is the story of ARGOS® Slide Scanner Systems, a company born out of the need to act on these growing and pressing challenges. A company with a dedicated team of visionary pathologists, IT specialists and robotics engineers who dared to dream of a future where scanning technology and optimized workflow would be seamlessly intertwined.
Our roots
Ana Gebing’s lab called PROdermpath® began life in 2015 as a small, traditional pathology lab, diligently analyzing an increasing number of tissue samples under the traditional microscope to provide critical diagnoses. However, as the medical landscape evolved and the demand for faster and more accurate diagnostic tools increased, the lack of qualified pathologists became a real problem. Ana and her husband Thomas, an entrepreneur and inventor, evaluated the market for a solution to digitize the growing slide workload. Although there were several digital scanning solutions available on the market, none of them came even close to meeting Ana’s demands. Thomas decided it was time to assemble a group of experts and embarked on a mission to revolutionize the field of digitization.
The birth of a vision
Driven by a shared passion for innovation and a commitment to enabling a solution for the laboratory, the ARGOS® team set out to create a solution that would redefine digital pathology. Countless hours were spent in research and development combining existing technologies in robotics, microscopes, and archiving processes. It was during these intense brainstorming and prototyping sessions that the idea for our very own digital pathology scanner was conceived.
Inventing the future
The development of the ARGOS® 6X was no easy feat and should become the ultimate scanning solution. Combining knowledge about imaging technology with robotics and advanced software development, our team meticulously designed a device capable of capturing high-resolution digital images while ensuring an optimal workflow for the lab technician and pathologist. The scanner not only replicated the meticulous work of a pathologist, but did so with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Each scanned image could be easily analyzed, annotated and shared, breaking the barrier of pathologist shortages as diagnosis could now be performed anywhere in Germany or even beyond. The development could be tested and verified 24/7 under real-world conditions in the Vreden lab. PROdermpath® currently employs 10 pathologists and offers the highest level of diagnostics thanks to the common use of digital slides in combination with daily consultations on difficult cases. ARGOS® 6X has successfully scanned over a million slides in the last 2 years at Vreden. However, the best result of digitalisation at Vreden is the fact that the number of pathologists volunteering to work at PROdermpath® is higher than is actually needed, while other laboratories are experiencing a shortage. Dr. Gebing says: “Those who do not invest in a complete digital workflow will not survive. Having a scanner does not mean you are digital. Laboratories are in serious need of an industrial solution like ARGOS® 6X and a suitable LIMS.”
A new era in pathology
Argos® officially introduces its digital pathology scanner to the world, ushering in a new era in digital pathology. Numerous pathology laboratories around the world are rapidly adopting our technology, recognising its potential to transform patient care.
Our commitment to Excellence
At ARGOS® our journey is far from over. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation. Our team of experts is always at the forefront of technological advancements and constantly looking for ways to improve our digital pathology solutions. We believe that every patient deserves the best possible care and we are dedicated to INNOVATIVE DIGITAL PATHOLOGY.