Printing on microscope slides and histology cassettes

Abstract

Apparatus for applying information to a medical slide or histology cassette comprises print heads for applying a printing medium directly onto a surface portion of a slide or cassette to define an organized array of printed data. The printing medium is sealable onto said surface portion of the slide or cassette so that said organized array of printed data is proof against removal or damage during subsequent handling or treatment of the slide or cassette. The apparatus may comprise either or both of: (a) storage means for holding a multiplicity of slides onto which data is to be printed, and (b) storage means for holding a multiplicity of cassettes onto which data is to be printed; either or both of: (c) a printing station for applying data to a selected slide, and (d) a printing station for applying data to a selected cassette; and either or both of: (e) transport means for conveying a slide onto which data is to be printed from the slide storage means to the slide printing station and for conveying a slide onto which data has been printed from the slide printing station to a slide discharge location, and (f) transport means for conveying a cassette onto which data is to be printed from the cassette storage means to the cassette printing station and for conveying a cassette onto which data has been printed from the cassette printing station to a cassette discharge location. The apparatus may further comprise control means for selectively enabling conveyance of a slide or a cassette from the respective storage means to the respective discharge location, and means such as a keyboard for enabling input of data to be printed onto a selected slide or cassette during said conveyance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.