Back to results
US 12,546,790 B2Granted
Microscope slide processing systems, consumable stainer modules, and methods of using the same
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsStefano Begolo, Leanna M. Levine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen processing systems configured to use microfluidic slide processing modules to robotically process tissue specimens. The slide processing modules can include reagents and a flow cell with a reaction chamber for holding the tissue specimens and reagent.
Claims30
An automated staining system, comprising:
- a consumable microfluidic slide processing module configured to be installed in a staining instrument and including:
- a plurality of individually-actuatable reagent elements, wherein at least one of the individually-actuatable reagent elements includes
- a reagent reservoir holding a reagent,
- a pierceable element, and
- a piercing member positioned to pierce the pierceable element to release the reagent from the reagent reservoir when the at least one of the individually-actuatable reagent elements is depressed to move the pierceable element toward and against the piercing member;
- a plurality of one-way flow valves fluidly connected to and positioned in series along a fluid line such that all but one of the plurality of individually-actuatable reagent elements is positioned downstream of one or more of the plurality of one-way flow valves, wherein the plurality of one-way flow valves are positioned downstream of and spaced apart from the piercing member such that the released reagent flows sequentially past the piercing member and through the plurality of one-way flow valves via the fluid line, and wherein at least one of the plurality of one-way flow valves is configured to prevent backflow of the released reagent towards the pierceable element and into the emptied reagent reservoir, and
- backflow of reagent released from one or more individually-actuatable reagent elements located downstream of the at least one of the plurality of one-way flow valves;
- a flow cell connected to the plurality of individually-actuatable reagent elements by the fluid line and including:
- a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide, and
- a cover having a gasket positioned to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber that is between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface and surrounded by the gasket, and wherein when the consumable microfluidic slide processing module is installed in the staining instrument, the staining instrument is operable to cause the released reagent to flow through the plurality of one-way flow valves and be delivered to the reaction chamber;
- and
- one or more valves configured to allow the released reagent to be delivered into the reaction chamber and to be closed to inhibit the reagent from flowing out of the reaction chamber to increase a boiling point of the reagent within the reaction chamber.
9 more elements
A microfluidic slide processing module, comprising:
- a plurality of reagent elements, each including
- a blister,
- a chamber holding a reagent,
- a pierceable element, and
- a piercing member positioned outside of the chamber and configured to pierce the pierceable element to release the reagent from the chamber when the blister is actuated to move the pierceable element through the piercing member;
- a plurality of one-way flow valves fluidly connected in series by a single fluid line, and wherein each of the plurality of one-way flow valves is configured to
- allow a released reagent from one of the chambers positioned upstream of the one-way flow valve to flow therethrough, and
- prevent backflow of a released reagent from one of the chambers positioned downstream of the one-way flow valve back along the single fluid line into one of the chambers positioned upstream of the one-way flow valve;
- a flow cell connected to the plurality of reagent elements by the single fluid line, the flow cell including:
- a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide, and
- a cover having a gasket that contacts a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface, wherein the flow cell is configured to receive reagent from each one of the reagent elements and to deliver the received reagent to the reaction chamber;
- and
- one or more valves in fluid communication with the reaction chamber and configured to allow the reagent to be delivered into the reaction chamber and to be closed to inhibit fluid from flowing out of the reaction chamber to increase a boiling point of the reagent within the reaction chamber.
10 more elements
A microfluidic slide processing module, comprising:
- a plurality of reagent elements positioned in series along a fluid line, each including:
- a blister,
- a chamber holding a reagent,
- a pierceable element, and
- a piercing member positioned outside of the chamber and configured to pierce the pierceable element to release the reagent from the chamber when the blister is actuated to move the pierceable element through the piercing member, and
- a plurality of one-way flow valves positioned in series along the fluid line, wherein the released reagent flows from each of the chambers through a different group of the plurality of one-way flow valves, wherein the plurality of one-way flow valves are configured to prevent backflow of the released reagent into the chambers;
- and
- a flow cell fluidically connected to the plurality of reagent elements by the fluid line, wherein the flow cell includes:
- a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide, and
- a cover configured to contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface such that the flow cell receives reagent from each one of the reagent elements and delivers the received reagent to the reaction chamber.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.