Automated slide processing systems, consumable stainer units, and related technologies
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsClaudia Gaertner, Holger Becker
Life of this patent
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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 an automated staining system that includes an instrument including an end effector and a stainer unit-receiving station that receives a stainer unit such that the end effector delivers reagent from the reagent reservoirs to a reaction chamber of the slide stainer unit. The stainer unit can carry fresh reagents, waste material, and components used to handle the reagents.
Claims31
An automated staining system, comprising:
- a slide processing cartridge including
- a flow cell having a slide-receiving region and a sealing ring, wherein the slide-receiving region is dimensioned to receive a microscope slide, wherein the sealing ring is configured to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber along the specimen-bearing surface,
- a plurality of closed reagent reservoirs,
- at least one dispenser, and
- a waste reservoir fluidly coupled to the flow cell;
- and
- an instrument including at least one end effector and a cartridge-receiving station that receives the slide processing cartridge such that the at least one end effector is capable of engaging the at least one dispenser to deliver reagent from a respective one of the reagent reservoirs to the reaction chamber.
A microfluidic microscope slide processing cartridge, comprising:
- a support base;
- a flow cell connected to the support base and including
- a slide engagement region having a surface, and
- a sealing member configured to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of a microscope slide to define a flow chamber between the surface of the slide engagement region and the specimen-bearing surface;
- a plurality of reagent reservoirs supported by the support base;
- and
- at least one dispenser operable to deliver reagent from each of the reagent reservoirs to the flow chamber.
-44. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.