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US 7,547,424 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for making partitioned slides
AssigneeVan Andel Research Institute
InventorsBrian Brummeler Haab, David Kruithoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for placing a hydrophobic barrier on an examination slide including a vessel, a printer block having a printing surface to form a hydrophobic barrier on the examination slide in a specified pattern, a slide holder, and a reversible actuator. The invention also includes a method for placing a hydrophobic barrier on an examination slide in a specified pattern.
Claims22
An apparatus for placing a hydrophobic barrier on an examination slide, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a vessel configured to contain a hydrophobic liquid;
- (b) a printer block having a printing surface configured to carry said hydrophobic liquid and configured to form a hydrophobic barrier on said examination slide in a specified pattern,
- (i) wherein the printer block is movable between a first position in which the printing surface of the printer block is in said hydrophobic liquid in the vessel, and a second position in which the printing surface of the printer block is out of the vessel;
- (c) a slide holder for holding said examination slide adjacent the printing surface of the printer block when the printer block is in the second position;
- and
- (d) a reversible actuator for moving the printer block between the first position and the second position.
3 more elements
A method of making an examination slide having defined sample areas, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining an examination slide, a hydrophobic liquid, and an apparatus for placing the hydrophobic liquid on the examination slide to define sample areas, wherein the apparatus includes
- (i) a vessel configured to contain the hydrophobic liquid,
- (ii) a printer block having a printing surface formed in a specified pattern, wherein the printer block is movable between a first position in which the printing surface of the printer block is in the hydrophobic liquid in the vessel, and a second position in which the printing surface of the printer block is out of the vessel;
- (iii) a slide holder for holding the examination slide adjacent the printing surface of the printer block when the printer block is in the second position;
- and
- (iv) a reversible actuator for moving the printer block between the first position and the second position;
- (b) placing the hydrophobic liquid in the vessel and the printer block in the first position;
- (c) placing the examination slide in the slide holder;
- (d) engaging the actuator to move the printer block from the first position to the second position, to carry the hydrophobic liquid on the printing surface of the printer block, and to transfer the hydrophobic liquid from the printing surface of the printer block to the examination slide in the specified pattern;
- and
- (e) removing the examination slide from the slide holder.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.