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US 7,404,927 B2Granted
Automated molecular pathology apparatus having fixed slide platforms
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsCharles D. Lemme, William Richards, Wayne Showalter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for automatically staining or treating multiple tissue samples mounted on slides are provided, in which the slides and reagent bottles are held in fixed position, and the reagent and wash solutions brought to the slides.
Claims7
A method for processing a slide having a biological sample thereon comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a slide for biological treatment with a reagent;
- (b) moving a first reagent dispenser to a first reagent bottle;
- (c) aspirating a pre-selected volume of reagent from the first reagent bottle into the first reagent dispenser;
- (d) moving the first reagent dispenser to the slide;
- (e) dispensing the pre-selected volume of reagent from said first reagent dispenser onto the slide;
- (f) preparing a second slide for treatment with a reagent;
- (g) cleaning the first reagent dispenser;
- (h) moving a second reagent dispenser to a selected reagent bottle which may be the same or different from the first reagent bottle;
- (i) aspirating a pre-selected amount of reagent selected in the preceding step (h) into the second reagent dispenser;
- (j) moving the second reagent dispenser to said second slide;
- (k) dispensing said pre-selected volume of reagent from said second reagent dispenser onto said second slide;
- (l) cleaning the second reagent dispenser;
- and
- (m) repeating steps (h)-(l) while maintaining the slide in a fixed position, wherein the first reagent dispenser is cleaned while the second reagent dispenser is employed to dispense reagent onto a second slide, and vice versa.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.