Slide analysis system
First Claim
1. A slide analysis system adapted to measure a characteristic of a sample fluid deposited on an analysis slide comprising:
- a) slide holding means for holding a plurality of slides to be used in the analysis;
b) incubator means including a a plurality of slide holders, spaced a predetermined distance from said slide holding means;
c) depositing means spaced from said slide holding means and said incubator means for depositing a sample fluid on selected ones of the slides to provide spotted slides;
d) transfer means for withdrawing individual ones of the slides from said slide holding means and for inserting the individually withdrawn slides in said incubator means, said transfer means including;
i) slide engaging means;
ii) means for rotating said slide engaging means to a first predetermined rotational position to align said slide engaging means with one of the slides in said slide holding means, and a second predetermined rotational position to align said slide engaging means with one of said slide holders in said incubator means; and
iii) means for displacing said slide engaging means when in said first predetermined rotational position to a first predetermined displaced position at said slide holding means to engage said one of the slides in said slide holding means and for displacing said slide engaging means away from said slide holding means with said one of the slides, and when said slide engaging means is in said second predetermined rotational position to a second predetermined displaced position at said incubator means to insert a slide in said one of said slide holders or remove a slide from said one of said slide holders and for displacing said slide engaging means, with or without a slide, away from said one of said slide holders.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The slide analysis system includes a slide holding module spaced from an incubator module. A slide transfer device or pick and place mechanism withdraws slides from the slide holding module and inserts them into the incubator module. A metering device deposits serum onto a slide that is held in a spotting position by the slide transfer device. The metering device is movable to a sampling position in the slide holding module to aspirate serum from a serum source on the slide cartridge in the slide holding module and is also movable to a spotting position to spot serum on the slide held by the slide transfer device. The slide transfer device has rotational as well as transverse movement and includes jaws for gripping onto the sides of slides to withdraw a single slide from a cartridge, transport it to the incubator, insert the slide in the incubator and thereafter remove it from the incubator. The metering device also has rotational as well as elevational movement and includes a built-in pipette tip ejector for discarding a used pipette tip.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A slide analysis system adapted to measure a characteristic of a sample fluid deposited on an analysis slide comprising:
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a) slide holding means for holding a plurality of slides to be used in the analysis; b) incubator means including a a plurality of slide holders, spaced a predetermined distance from said slide holding means; c) depositing means spaced from said slide holding means and said incubator means for depositing a sample fluid on selected ones of the slides to provide spotted slides; d) transfer means for withdrawing individual ones of the slides from said slide holding means and for inserting the individually withdrawn slides in said incubator means, said transfer means including; i) slide engaging means; ii) means for rotating said slide engaging means to a first predetermined rotational position to align said slide engaging means with one of the slides in said slide holding means, and a second predetermined rotational position to align said slide engaging means with one of said slide holders in said incubator means; and iii) means for displacing said slide engaging means when in said first predetermined rotational position to a first predetermined displaced position at said slide holding means to engage said one of the slides in said slide holding means and for displacing said slide engaging means away from said slide holding means with said one of the slides, and when said slide engaging means is in said second predetermined rotational position to a second predetermined displaced position at said incubator means to insert a slide in said one of said slide holders or remove a slide from said one of said slide holders and for displacing said slide engaging means, with or without a slide, away from said one of said slide holders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A slide analysis system adapted to measure a characteristic of a sample fluid deposited on an analysis slide comprising:
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a) a slide holding means for holding a plurality of slides to be used in the analysis; b) incubator means for the slides, spaced a predetermined distance from said slide holdings means; c) depositing means spaced from said slide holding means and said incubator means for depositing sample fluid on selected ones of the slides to provide spotted slides; d) transfer means for transferring slides from said slide holding means to said incubator means, said slide holding means and said incubator means located at predetermined angular positions with respect to said transfer means, said transfer means including; i) slide engaging means; and ii) moving means for rotating said slide engaging means between said predetermined angular positions of said slide holding means and said incubator means; and iii) displacing means for displacing said slide engaging means forwardly and rearwardly in the direction defined by said predetermined angular positions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification