Automated tissue assay using standarized chemicals and packages

A method for performing a plurality of independent analysis procedures simultaneously, each said procedure having a sample and at least one process step for operating on that sample, said method comprising

• selecting, at a plurality of times, a sample to be moved;
• directing a robotic arm to move said sample to be moved by interleaving the process steps of said plurality of independent analysis procedures;
• monitoring progress information for said procedures;
• and
• altering a sequence of said process steps in response to said progress information and in response to information from an operator;
• wherein said step of altering comprises the steps of (1) generating a possible new sequence of process steps from a time said altering occurs onward;
• (2) examining said possible new sequence for timing conflicts occurring before a known time value, (3) advancing said known time value from the time said altering occurs to an end of said possible new sequence, (4) selecting an exact time to start said first process step when a first process step is found to have a timing conflict with a second process step and said first process step has a range of times at which it may be started, (5) backtracking said known time value and altering said possible new sequence starting from said backtracked known time value to avoid said timing conflict, when a first process step is found to have a timing conflict with a second process step and said first and second process steps have exact times at which they may be started, and (6) signalling an error when said known time value is backtracked beyond the time said altering occurs;
• wherein at least one of said process steps comprises a bioassay workstation;
• a biomedical workstation;
• a chemical process workstation;
• a heat process workstation;
• an irradiation process workstation;
• a centrifuge, a diffusion device, a distillation device, a separation device;
• a DNA crosslinking device;
• an electroporator;
• a laser device, an optical device;
• a microwave device, a radioactive sample, a radiation source;
• an incubation oven, a heating unit;
• a refrigeration element, a cooling unit;
• or a workstation in which a process is to be performed comprising at least one of the following substances:
• an alcohol, an antibody, an antibody carrier, an antibody probe, benzene, cellulose nitrate, chloroform, a chromophore, a colored staining solution, a colormetric substrate, a counterstain, a dehydrating fluid, a DNA probe, an enzyme labeled detection system, eosin, epoxy resin, ester wax, ethanol, a fat solvent, a fixative for electron microscopy, a fixative for optical microscopy, a fluorescent chromagen, formaldehyde, formalin, glutaraldehyde, hematoxylin, a heavy metal salt, mercuric chloride, methacrylate, an organic reagent, osmium tetroxide, a paraffin type wax, picric acid, a plastic substance, a substance on which a selected enzyme is known to have a specified effect, a synthetic dye, toluene, a washing buffer, water, a water soluble dye, a wax, or a test suited to identify a specific chemical substance or enzyme within the tissue sample.

A method for performing a plurality of independent analysis procedures simultaneously, each said procedure having a sample and at least one process step for operating on that sample, said method comprising the steps of

• selecting, at a plurality of times, a sample to be moved, said step of selecting comprising the steps of (1) generating a plurality of possible sequences of process steps, less than all possible sequences, (2) determining statistical information about a time distribution of said plurality, (3) selecting a preferred one of said plurality with a desired total expected time, so as to substantially minimize a total time required to complete said procedures, and (4) selecting said sample to be moved in accordance with said preferred one of said plurality of possible sequences;
• directing a robotic arm to move said sample to be moved by interleaving the process steps of said plurality of independent analysis procedures;
• wherein at least one of said process steps comprises a bioassay workstation;
• a biomedical workstation;
• a chemical process workstation;
• a heat process workstation;
• an irradiation process workstation;
• a centrifuge, a diffusion device, a distillation device, a separation device;
• a DNA crosslinking device;
• an electroporator;
• a laser device, an optical device;
• a microwave device, a radioactive sample, a radiation source;
• an incubation oven, a heating unit;
• a refrigeration element, a cooling unit;
• or a workstation in which a process is to be performed comprising at least one of the following substances:
• an alcohol, an antibody, an antibody carrier, an antibody probe, benzene, cellulose nitrate, chloroform, a chromophore, a colored staining solution, a colormetric substrate, a counterstain, a dehydrating fluid, a DNA probe, an enzyme labeled detection system, eosin, epoxy resin, ester wax, ethanol, a fat solvent, a fixative for electron microscopy, a fixative for optical microscopy, a fluorescent chromagen, formaldehyde, formalin, glutaraldehyde, hematoxylin, a heavy metal salt, mercuric chloride, methacrylate, an organic reagent, osmium tetroxide, a paraffin type wax, picric acid, a plastic substance, a substance on which a selected enzyme is known to have a specified effect, a synthetic dye, toluene, a washing buffer, water, a water soluble dye, a wax, or a test suited to identify a specific chemical substance or enzyme within the tissue sample.