# US 9,040,284 B2 · Systems and methods of sample processing and temperature control

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- Number: US 9,040,284 B2
- Document ID: US9040284B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/625,115
- Filed: 2012-09-24
- Published: 2013-04-04
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-20
- Assignees: Dako Denmark A/S
- Applicants: DAKO Denmark A/S
- Inventors: Kristopher Buchanan; Marc Key; John Favuzzi; Rosanne Welcher; Benno Guggenheimer; Robert Clark; Michael Barber; Bob Lathrop
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040284B2

## 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

Systems and methods of sample processing and temperature control are disclosed. The invention may especially relate to temperature control, and may in some embodiments be methods of temperature control of an automated sample processing system and methods of automated sample processing. Specifically, the present invention provides temperature control in relation to sample processing systems and methods of processing samples, and in some embodiments provides temperature control in relation to sample carriers and processing materials such as reagents. Corresponding systems and devices are disclosed, including sample processing systems (1), sample carrier temperature regulation systems (60), reagent temperature regulation systems, sample processing control systems, and temperature regulation devices, among other embodiments. Scientific fields to which the present invention may have particular applicability include immunohistochemistry, hybridization, fluorescent in-situ hybridization, special staining, such as special staining of histological samples, microarray sample processing, and cytology, as well as potentially other chemical and biological applications.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for the automated processing of at least one sample on at least one carrier according to a processing protocol, comprising:
inserting at least one reagent container to a position within a reagent section where it remains until the at least one reagent container is exchanged;
inserting at least one carrier to a position in at least one carrier section where it remains until processing of the sample on the carrier is completed;
regulating the temperature of the at least one sample via an active temperature regulation element to a set point and within a tolerance specified by the protocol;
dispensing fluid on the at least one carrier via a moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol;
monitoring the at least one carrier;
controlling the moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol; and
exchanging the at least one reagent container and the at least one carrier during the processing protocol without interrupting the fluid dispensing of the robotic member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol includes immunohistochemistry processing steps.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol includes in-situ hybridization processing steps.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol includes automated fluorescent in-situ hybridization processing steps.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol includes automated microarray processing steps.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol includes target retrieval processing steps.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein the processing protocol is performed by an automated stainer processing system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein said active temperature regulation element comprises a temperature reduction element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The automated processing method of claim 8, wherein said temperature reduction element comprises a controlled active temperature reduction element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The automated processing method of claim 8, wherein said temperature reduction element maintains said sample at less than an ambient temperature.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein said active temperature regulation element comprises a temperature ramp up element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein said active temperature regulation element comprises a temperature ramp down element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The automated processing method of claim 1, wherein said active temperature regulation element causes both a regulated temperature increase and a regulated temperature decrease of said sample.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The automatic processing method of claim 7, further comprising establishing a network connection between the automated stainer processor system and at least one computer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The automatic processing method of claim 14, wherein the at least one computer is a server and wherein the stainer is a client of the server.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The automatic processing method of claim 14, further comprising establishing a network connection between the at least one computer and a second automated stainer processing system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The automatic processing method of claim 14, wherein the at least one computer is connected to a laboratory information system.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The automatic processing method of claim 14, wherein at least one of temperature values, historical actions, and particular timing activities are stored for remote access by the at least one computer.

### Claim 19

A method for the automated processing of at least one sample on at least one carrier according to a processing protocol, comprising:
inserting at least one reagent container to a position within a reagent section where it remains until the at least one reagent container is exchanged;
inserting at least one carrier to a position in at least one carrier section where it remains until processing of the sample on the carrier is completed;
regulating the temperature of the at least one sample via an active temperature regulation element to a set point and within a tolerance specified by the protocol;
dispensing fluid on the at least one carrier via a moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol;
monitoring the at least one carrier;
controlling the moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol; and
exchanging the at least one reagent container during the processing protocol without interrupting the fluid dispensing of the robotic member.

### Claim 20

A method for the automated processing of at least one tissue sample on a microscopic slide according to a processing protocol, comprising:
inserting at least one reagent container to a position within a reagent section of an automated stainer where it remains until the at least one reagent container is exchanged;
inserting at least one sample on a microscopic slide to a position within in at least one carrier section of the automated stainer where it remains until processing of the sample is complete;
regulating the temperature of the at least one sample via an active temperature regulation element to a set point and within a tolerance specified by the protocol;
dispensing fluid on the at least one microscopic slide via a moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol;
monitoring the at least one microscopic slide;
controlling the moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol; and
exchanging the at least one microscopic slide from the at least one carrier section in which it is positioned with a second at least one microscopic slide during the processing protocol without interrupting the fluid dispensing of the robotic member.