# US 9,435,723 B2 · In situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,435,723 B2
- Document ID: US9435723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/930,347
- Filed: 2015-11-02
- Published: 2016-02-25
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1999-07-08
- Applicants: Lee H. Angros
- Inventors: Lee H. Angros
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435723B2

## CPC

- 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 1/312: {for samples mounted on planar substrates}
- G01N 1/44: Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat
- G01N 33/52: Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper {and including single- and multilayer analytical elements (immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72)}
- G01N 33/521: {Single-layer analytical elements}
- G01N 33/53: Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N 33/5306: {Improving reaction conditions, e.g. reduction of non-specific binding, promotion of specific binding}
- G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)}
- G01N 35/00584: {Control arrangements for automatic analysers}
- B01L 9/52: {Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips}
- G01N 2035/00138: {Slides}
- G01N 2035/00346: {Heating or cooling arrangements}
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T 436/110833: Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape
- Y10T 436/111666: Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor
- Y10T 436/112499: with sample on test slide
- 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 436/119163: with aspirator of claimed structure
- 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)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. The reaction conditions for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automated apparatus for treating biological specimens positioned on microscope slides, comprising:
a first slide support element for supporting a first microscope slide and a second slide support element for supporting a second microscope slide, each of the first slide support element and the second slide support element being upwardly and downwardly movable independently of each other in a way that the first slide support element is movable to a treatment position, wherein a first biological specimen positioned on the first microscope slide is treated, while the second slide support element is in a treatment position, wherein a second biological specimen positioned on the second microscope slide is treated;
a first heating element corresponding to the first slide support element to heat the first microscope slide when in the treatment position thereof and a second heating element corresponding to the second slide support element to heat the second microscope slide when in the treatment position thereof such that the first heating element heats the first microscope slide independently of the heating of the second microscope slide by the second heating element; and
a microprocessor for controlling a treatment protocol performed on the first slide support element and the second slide support element, determining if one of the first biological specimen and the second biological sample has completed the treatment protocol, and causing the slide support element supporting the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol to be positioned for removal of the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the apparatus while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first slide support element and second slide support element are automatically movable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first slide support element and second slide support element movement are electromechanically controllable.