# US 8,784,735 B2 · Apparatus for automated processing biological samples > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,735 B2 - Document ID: US8784735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/964,562 - Filed: 2013-08-12 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-20 - Assignees: Dako Denmark A/S - Applicants: Lars Winther; Marc Key; Kristopher Buchanan; John Favuzzi; Benno Guggenheimer - Inventors: Lars Winther; Marc Key; Kristopher Buchanan; John Favuzzi; Benno Guggenheimer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784735B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/00732: {Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers} - G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis} - G01N 1/31: Apparatus therefor - G01N 1/312: {for samples mounted on planar substrates} - G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals} - G01N 35/0092: {Scheduling} - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 35/00712: {Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic} - G01N 2035/00039: {Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade} - G01N 2035/00089: {Magazines} - G01N 2035/00306: {Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)} - G01N 2035/00326: {Analysers with modular structure} - G01N 2035/00366: {Several different temperatures used} - G01N 2035/00376: {Conductive heating, e.g. heated plates} - G01N 2035/00435: {Refrigerated reagent storage} - G01N 2035/00881: {network configurations} - G01N 2035/00891: {Displaying information to the operator} - G01N 2035/009: {alarms, e.g. audible} - G01N 2035/0091: {GUI [graphical user interfaces]} - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - Y10S 901/02: Arm motion controller - Y10S 901/41: Tool - Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis - Y10T 436/112499: with sample on test slide - Y10T 436/113332: with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack - Y10T 436/114165: with step of insertion or removal from test line - Y10T 436/114998: with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.] - Y10T 436/25: including sample preparation - Y10T 436/2575: Volumetric liquid transfer - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention concerns an apparatus for automatic processing at least one biological sample accommodated on a carrier member, such as a slide by applying a predetermined amount of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, said apparatus comprising; a housing frame; at least one processing section for accommodating at least one slide, the at least one processing section is provided within the housing; a hood cover protecting the at least one processing section in said housing; wherein the hood cover completely encloses the processing section defining an interior space; and wherein the apparatus further comprises climate control device provided to control the environment within the interior space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for automatic processing of at least one biological sample accommodated on at least one carrier member, comprising: a housing frame; a plurality of carrier members; a plurality of carrier racks within the housing, each of the carrier rack being configured for supporting at least one of the plurality of carrier members; a robotic reagent dispensing head within the housing that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents; at least one sample processing section within the housing for accommodating at least one of the plurality of carrier racks; a cover for protecting said at least one sample processing section in said housing, said cover enclosing the sample processing section and defining an interior space between the housing and the cover; at least one climate control device for controlling the environment within said interior space defined by the cover; a sensor device for providing feedback signals to the climate control device; and a data processing device configured to control the at least one climate control device, wherein the data processing device comprises a processing protocol including instructions to apply a predetermined amount of reagents in a predetermined sequence on a first carrier member of the plurality of carrier members, wherein a first carrier rack is configured to permit the first carrier member supported by the first carrier rack, for which the processing is completed, to be removed from the apparatus without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents with the robotic reagent dispensing head, and wherein a second carrier rack is configured to permit a second carrier member supported by the second carrier rack to be inserted into the apparatus without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto the first carrier member, supported by the first carrier rack, with the robotic reagent dispensing head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is adapted to sense at least one climate parameter from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, humidity, airspeed and the presence of toxic elements in fume. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air inlet/outlet manifold, wherein the sensor device comprises external sensors located at or inside the air inlet/outlet manifold, in a laboratory facility accommodating the apparatus, or outside a building accommodating the laboratory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of covers arranged to cover a plurality of sections of the apparatus, wherein the plurality of sections includes the at least one sample processing section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of interior spaces of the apparatus is defined by said plurality of covers, each interior space being defined as the volume located between the cover and the housing, and each interior space including at least one section comprising at least one sample on the first carrier member and/or at least one section comprising at least one reagent in a container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one climate control device controls the climate of the at least one biological sample on the first carrier member in each interior space according to the processing protocol defined for that particular sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sensor device comprises internal sensors and external sensors, and wherein the at least one climate control device receives input signals from the internal and/or external sensors and controls the climate in each interior space according to the input signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the climate control device comprises a ventilation system with an exhaustion device having a plurality of ducts for exchanging the air in the interior space with a manifold in the housing frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ventilation system comprises a centrifugal blower in an air inlet opening in the manifold of the housing frame through which air may be exchanged. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising at least one air manipulation device with the air inlet opening for adapting the air temperature, pressure, air flow rate, and humidity of the inflowing air into the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the climate control device comprises an exhaustion device with an outlet for removing fumes from the interior space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the climate control device is a device for recycling air for humidity, temperature, and toxic control, a device for removing toxic elements from the air to be recycled, a device for supplying humidity to the air to be recycled, or a heater/cooling device for controlling the temperature of the air to be recycled. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing frame comprises at least one air inlet opening adapted to supply air into the interior space, and wherein the climate control device comprises an air manipulation device configured to adapt the inflowing air with predetermined characteristics, the air manipulation device being provided in the at least one air inlet opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air manipulation device comprises a humid filter device adapted to draw inflowing air through the humid filter device and provide high and uniform humidity in the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the air manipulation device sprays water droplets or has a water surface and thereby controls humidity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device registers one or more parameters of the air in interior space of the apparatus, said sensor device being arranged in a vicinity of the cover and/or in a vicinity of the at least one carrier member on the carrier rack. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for automatic processing of at least one biological sample accommodated on at least one carrier member, comprising: a housing frame; a plurality of reagent containers; a plurality of container racks within the housing, each of the container rack being configured for supporting at least one of the plurality of reagent containers; a robotic reagent dispensing head within the housing that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents obtained from the plurality of reagent containers; at least one sample processing section within the housing accommodating the at least one biological sample; at least one reagent section within the housing accommodating at least one of the plurality of carrier racks; a cover for protecting said at least one sample processing section and said at least one reagent section in said housing, said cover enclosing the sample processing section and the reagent section and defining an interior space between the housing and the cover; at least one climate control device for controlling the environment within said interior space defined by the cover; a sensor device for providing feedback signals to the climate control device; and a data processing device configured to control the at least one climate control device, wherein the data processing device comprises a processing protocol including instructions to apply a predetermined amount of reagents in a predetermined sequence to the at least one biological sample, wherein a first container rack is configured to permit a first reagent container supported by the first container rack, to be removed from the apparatus without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents with the robotic reagent dispensing head, and wherein a second container rack is configured to permit a second reagent container supported by the second container rack to be inserted into the apparatus without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents with the robotic reagent dispensing head. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor device is adapted to sense at least one climate parameter from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, humidity, airspeed and the presence of toxic elements in fume. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an air inlet/outlet manifold, wherein the sensor device comprises external sensors located at or inside the air inlet/outlet manifold, in a laboratory facility accommodating the apparatus, or outside a building accommodating the laboratory. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of covers arranged to cover a plurality of sections of the apparatus, wherein the plurality of sections includes the at least one sample processing section. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a plurality of interior spaces of the apparatus is defined by said plurality of covers, each interior space being defined as the volume located between the cover and the housing, and each interior space including at least one section comprising at least one sample on the at least one carrier member and/or at least one section comprising at least one of the plurality of reagent containers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one climate control device controls the climate of the at least one biological sample on the at least one carrier member in each interior space according to the processing protocol defined for that particular sample. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the sensor device comprises internal sensors and external sensors, and wherein the at least one climate control device receives input signals from the internal and/or external sensors and controls the climate in each interior space according to the input signals. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the climate control device comprises a ventilation system with an exhaustion device having a plurality of ducts for exchanging the air in the interior space with a manifold in the housing frame. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the ventilation system comprises a centrifugal blower in an air inlet opening in the manifold of the housing frame through which air may be exchanged. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising at least one air manipulation device with the air inlet opening for adapting the air temperature, pressure, air flow rate, and humidity of the inflowing air into the apparatus. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the climate control device comprises an exhaustion device with an outlet for removing fumes from the interior space. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the climate control device is a device for recycling air for humidity, temperature, and toxic control, a device for removing toxic elements from the air to be recycled, a device for supplying humidity to the air to be recycled, or a heater/cooling device for controlling the temperature of the air to be recycled. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the housing frame comprises at least one air inlet opening adapted to supply air into the interior space, and wherein the climate control device comprises an air manipulation device configured to adapt the inflowing air with predetermined characteristics, the air manipulation device being provided in the at least one air inlet opening. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said air manipulation device comprises a humid filter device adapted to draw inflowing air through the humid filter device and provide high and uniform humidity in the chamber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the air manipulation device sprays water droplets or has a water surface and thereby controls humidity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor device registers one or more parameters of the air in interior space of the apparatus, said sensor device being arranged in a vicinity of the cover and/or in a vicinity of the at least one carrier member on the carrier rack.