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US 12,429,493 B2Granted
Opposables incorporating onboard reagents and automated specimen processing systems
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Lawrence Donat, Timothy James Keller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to opposables including a body having a plurality of cavities disposed therein. Each cavity can be designed to contain one or more reagents, liquids, or fluids which may be applied to a specimen-bearing surface. In some embodiments, the cavities include one or more reagent chambers, the reagent chambers can have one or more seals such that the reagents, liquids, or fluids contained therein may be stored and released to the specimen-bearing surface.
Claims20
An opposable for specimen processing, comprising:
- a body having a fluid-manipulating surface, the body being configured to form a fluid-carrying gap between a portion of a central region of the fluid-manipulating surface and a corresponding portion of a central region of a specimen-bearing surface of a slide proximate the body;
- a plurality of first gapping elements arranged along a first side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the first plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding first side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- a plurality of second gapping elements arranged along a second side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the second plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding second side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- and
- a plurality of cavities disposed within the body of the opposable, each cavity having at least one reagent chamber, wherein the at least one reagent chamber is in fluidic communication with the fluid-manipulating surface.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- an opposable for specimen processing, comprising:
- a body having a fluid-manipulating surface, the body being configured to form a fluid-carrying gap between a portion of a central region of the fluid-manipulating surface and a corresponding portion of a central region of a specimen-bearing surface of a slide proximate the body;
- a plurality of first gapping elements arranged along a first side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the first plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding first side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- a plurality of second gapping elements arranged along a second side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the second plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding second side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- and
- a plurality of cavities disposed within the body of the opposable, each cavity having at least one reagent chamber;
- a slide;
- a platen configured to support the slide;
- and
- an actuator configured to rotate the opposable relative to the platen, to rotate the platen relative to the opposable, or both from a first end state to a second end state and through a range of intermediate states between the first and second end states in an axis of rotation,
- wherein
- in the first end state, the first and second spacers are configured to differentially space apart the first and second side portions of the fluid-manipulating surface from the first and second side portions of the specimen-bearing surface, respectively, so as to cause the fluid-carrying gap to volumetrically taper in a second direction, and
- in the second end state, the first and second spacers are configured to differentially space apart the first and second side portions of the fluid-manipulating surface from the first and second side portions of the specimen-bearing surface, respectively, so as to cause the fluid-carrying gap to volumetrically taper in a third direction different than the first direction.
10 more elements
A method for processing a specimen, comprising:
- forming a fluid-carrying gap between a fluid-manipulating surface of a body of an opposable and a specimen-bearing surface of a slide proximate the opposable, wherein the opposable body comprises a plurality of cavities, each cavity configured to house at least one reagent chamber, the at least one reagent chamber comprising a fluid for dispensing into the fluid-carrying gap;
- and
- changing a relative position of the opposable relative to the slide in an axis of rotation to advance a volume of fluid within the fluid-carrying gap over a processing path extending over a specimen at the specimen-bearing surface and to change a volumetric asymmetry of the fluid-carrying gap relative to a bisecting plane parallel to the axis of rotation,
- wherein the opposable comprises:
- a body having a fluid-manipulating surface, the body being configured to form a fluid-carrying gap between a portion of a central region of the fluid-manipulating surface and a corresponding portion of a central region of a specimen-bearing surface of a slide proximate the body;
- a plurality of first gapping elements arranged along a first side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the first plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding first side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- a plurality of second gapping elements arranged along a second side portion of the fluid-manipulating surface, the second plurality of gapping elements being configured to contact the slide at a corresponding second side portion of the specimen-bearing surface;
- and
- a plurality of cavities disposed within the body of the opposable, each cavity having at least one reagent chamber.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.