# US 2014/0154151 A1 · Automated developer for immuno-stained biological samples

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- Number: US 2014/0154151 A1
- Document ID: US20140154151A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/173,667
- Filed: 2014-02-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-22
- Assignees: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
- Applicants: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated
- Inventors: Michael P. Emery; Matthew C. Wallace; James E. Sinclair; Raymond J. Gonzales; Brian Grot; Sanjay Shivayogi Magavi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154151A1

## CPC

- G01N 1/31: Apparatus therefor
- B01L 3/0217: {of the plunger pump type}
- G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis}
- G01N 27/44721: {by optical means}
- G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing}
- G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)}
- G01N 35/10: Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)}
- B01L 2200/147: Employing temperature sensors
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2300/1822: using Peltier elements
- B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics
- G01N 2035/00425: {Heating or cooling means associated with pipettes or the like, e.g. for supplying sample/reagent at given temperature}
- Y10T 436/2575: Volumetric liquid transfer
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automated developer for immuno-stained biological samples, comprising:
a processor controlled rocking platform;
a processor controlled syringe pusher;
a processor controlled buffer pump;
wherein the processor is configured to control addition of antibody reagent to an incubation box by controlling the syringe pusher, and is configured to control addition of buffer the incubation box by controlling the buffer pump.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automated developer of claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to a user interface for programming operational timing of the syringe pusher and buffer pump.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automated developer of claim 1 further comprising a syringe housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The automated developer of claim 3 further comprising a processor controlled temperature control feature, wherein the processor is configured to control the temperature of a reagent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The automated developer of claim 4, wherein the temperature control feature is configured to control the temperature of a reagent within the syringe housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The automated developer of claim 3 further comprising a processor controlled stirrer, wherein the processor is configured to control the speed and timing of the processor controlled stirrer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The automated developer of claim 6, wherein the processor controlled stirrer comprises a magnetic stirrer and a magnetic field generator, wherein the magnetic field generator is located in the syringe housing, and is configured to control the magnetic stirrer when the magnetic stirrer is located within a syringe located in the syringe housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The automated developer of claim 1, wherein the incubation box is connected to the rocking platform, and wherein the processor is configured to agitate the incubation box by controlling the rocking of the rocking platform.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The automated developer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the duration and the intensity of the rocking of the rocking platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The automated developer of claim 1, wherein the incubation box comprises a waste port in fluid communication with a processor controlled pump, wherein the processor is configured to control flow out of the incubation box and through the waste port.