Automated specimen deposition systems and associated methods

An automated specimen deposition system, comprising:

• a removable spray cartridge including a container for holding a cellular sample and a nozzle that is connected to the container such that the cellular sample flows from the container to the nozzle;
• a substrate configured to receive a monolayer of isolated cells of the cellular sample;
• a positioning structure configured to receive and align the removable spray cartridge with respect to a surface of the substrate;
• a controller, communicatively coupled to the positioning structure, programmed to:
• command the positioning structure to position and align the removable spray cartridge, and
• command a compressed air source to direct compressed air into the removable spray cartridge in a manner that sprays the cellular sample from the nozzle towards the substrate thereby resulting in the monolayer of isolated cells being deposited directly onto the surface of the substrate;
• and
• a database, communicatively coupled to the controller, configured to store executable instructions to the controller for one or more of specimen intake, spray deposition, substrate indexing, or specimen-bearing substrate processing.

A method of depositing a cellular sample, comprising:

• calibrating, based on a cell type of the cellular sample or a cell concentration of the cellular sample, an automated specimen deposition system that includes:
• a removable spray cartridge including a container for holding the cellular sample and a spray nozzle that is connected to the container such that the cellular sample flows from the container to the spray nozzle,
• a substrate configured to receive a monolayer of isolated cells of the cellular sample,
• a positioning structure configured to receive and align the removable spray cartridge with respect to a surface of the substrate,
• a controller communicatively coupled to the positioning structure, and
• a database, communicatively coupled to the controller, configured to store executable instructions to the controller for one or more of specimen intake, spray deposition, substrate indexing, or specimen-bearing substrate processing;
• and
• programming the controller to:
• command the positioning structure to position and align the removable spray cartridge, and
• command a compressed air source to direct compressed air into the removable spray cartridge in a manner that sprays the cellular sample from the spray nozzle towards the substrate thereby resulting in the monolayer of isolated cells being deposited directly onto the surface of the substrate.