Automated molecular pathology apparatus having independent slide heaters
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Richards, Charles D. Lemme, Kimberly Christensen, Ethel R. Macrea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for automatically staining or treating multiple tissue samples mounted on microscope slides are provided. Individualized slide temperature control is accomplished by the heating system according to the present invention that has thermal platforms radially mounted to the carousel for heating the slides and sensing the temperature of each. The heating system also permits automated de-waxing if necessary.
Claims27
Apparatus for temperature control of biological materials comprising:
- a plurality of heating devices, each of said plurality of heating devices adapted to receive a slide and each of said plurality of heating devices including a heater and a sensor;
- a movable heating device support, each of said plurality of heating devices being located on said movable heating device support;
- and
- control electronics mounted to said movable heating device support and electrically connected to each said heater and each said sensor of said plurality of heating devices, said control electronics receiving data from each said sensor of said plurality of heating devices and independently controlling each said heater of each of said plurality of heating devices as a function of data from a respective one of each-said sensor of said plurality of heating devices and as a function of respective set point temperature data for a respective slide as stored in said control electronics.
Apparatus for temperature control of biological materials comprising:
- a plurality of thermal platforms, each thermal platform comprising a heater, a sensor, a slide support and a housing, each thermal platform adapted for receiving a slide on the slide support;
- a thermal platform support, the thermal platform support being movable, and each of the plurality of thermal platforms being located on the thermal platform support;
- and
- control electronics mounted on the thermal platform support and electrically connected to each of the plurality of thermal platforms and receiving temperature data from each said sensor and individually controlling the heater of each of the plurality of thermal platforms based upon temperature data from the sensor of each of the plurality of thermal platforms and based upon respective set point temperature data for each slide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.