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US 8,524,172 B2Granted
Automatic calibration of a staining device
AssigneeLeica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
InventorsMarkus Berberich, Christian Wilke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor device (45) for calibrating a staining device (20) has a coupling unit (46) which is configured to be attachable to a transport device (22) of the staining device (20). A sensor unit (48) of the sensor device (45) is adapted to detect the presence of components of the staining device (20).
Claims6
A sensor device (45) for calibrating a staining device (20), the sensor device comprising:
- a coupling unit (46) configured to be attachable to a transport device (22) of the staining device (20) via a coupling member (44), the coupling member (44) configured to couple with the coupling unit (46) or a transport basket;
- and
- a sensor unit (48) carried by the coupling unit and adapted to detect the presence of movable components of the staining device (20);
- wherein the sensor unit (48) operates using acoustic, optical or tactile sensing techniques;
- wherein the sensor unit (48) includes a base element (49), a sensor lever (50) fixedly secured to the base element (49), and a sensor circuit (47) configured to detect a position of the sensor lever (50) or a force acting on the sensor lever (50).
2 more elements
A staining device (20) for staining samples, comprising:
- a sensor device for calibrating a staining device (20), the sensor device including:
- a coupling unit (46) configured to be attachable to a transport device (22) of the staining device (20));
- and
- a sensor unit (48) carried by the coupling unit adapted to detect the presence of movable components of the staining device (20);
- a transport device (22) attached to the sensor device (45);
- a plurality of components (20) arranged in the staining device (20);
- and
- a calibration unit (23) capable of driving the transport device (22) to move the sensor device (45) through or over the components in such a way that the sensor device (45) detects the presence of the components;
- a controller configured to control the transport device (22) to carry the coupling unit (46) in place of a transport basket.
6 more elements
A method for calibrating a staining device (20), the method comprising:
- attaching a sensor device (45) to a transport device (22) of a staining device (20) in place of a transport basket;
- moving the sensor device (45) through the staining device (20) by means of the transport device (22);
- and
- using the sensor device (45) to detect where predetermined movable components of the staining device (20) are located within the staining device (20).
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.