Moving platform slide stainer with heating elements

• US 6,180,061 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cytologix Corporation
• Inventors: Loeffler, Herbert H., Bogen, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLENHORST, MAUREEN
• Application Number:
  US09/205,945
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 422/64, 422/65, 422/67, 422/104, 436/43, 436/46, 219/385, 219/386, 219/521, 219/477, 219/478, 219/480
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/007 being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0072 A valve member forming part of an outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1032 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1067 actuated by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0216 by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers B67D7/0255 takes precedence; for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/025 the pump being located directly adjacent the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/107 the opening normally being closed by a fixed element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0443 for reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]

Abstract

This invention describes a cartridge pump and dispensing assembly for applications where cartridges containing liquid reagents are interchanged often. The cartridge pump has a reagent reservoir which directly empties into a metering chamber. A valve is at each end of the metering chamber. The two valves are aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional liquid flow. The metering chamber is made of a compressible material, such as flexible tubing, so that when an external compression is applied to the chamber, the liquid contained therein is forcibly expelled. As the compression is removed, the metering chamber resumes its former shape and draws liquid into the chamber from the reagent reservoir. A dispensing assembly with electromechanical actuators for compression of the metering chamber and a sensor for sensing the amount of liquid contained within the reagent reservoir are also shown.

Claims

1. A microscope slide stainer with random access slide staining capability comprising:

a moving platform;

a plurality of heating stations moving, with the platform, each heating station adapted to support at least one microscope slide bearing a biological sample and comprising a heating element; and

electronic control for heating the heating stations.

2. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the heating stations supports a single microscope slide.

3. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing microscopic slide temperature.

4. A microscope slide stain er as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a thermocouple for sensing microscope slide temperature.

5. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heating elements underlie the slides.

6. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the heating elements arc resistive heating elements.

7. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 6 wherein the heating elements are integrally formed in the heating stations.

8. A microscope slide stainer with random access slide staining capability comprising:

a moving platform adapted to carry microscope slides, said moving platform moving the slides to a dispensing station for adding liquid reagent to said slides;

a first heating element positioned on the moving platform, said first heating element adapted to move with the platform and to be located immediately adjacent to at least one microscope slide and having a first electrical power connection;

a second heating element positioned on the moving platform, said second heating element adapted to move with the platform and to be located immediately adjacent to at least one microscope slide and having a second electrical power connection, separate electrical power connections being provided to said first and second heating elements;

a motor drive capable of indexing said microscope slides adjacent to said dispensing station; and

electronic control for heating the first and second heating elements.

9. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a first temperature sensor, said first sensor positioned in association with said first heating element for the purpose of sensing the temperature of said first heating element, and a second temperature sensor, said second sensor positioned in association with said second heating element for the purpose of sensing the temperature of said second heating element.

10. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a receptacle for each slide adapted to mechanically retain said microscope slide in a fixed position with respect to the moving platform.

11. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the first and second heating elements is integrally formed in a slide frame base which underlies the at least one microscope slide.

12. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the heating elements is below a surface which supports a single microscope slide.

13. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heating elements underlie the slides.

14. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first and second heating elements are resistive heating elements.

15. A microscope slide stainer as claimed in claim 14 wherein the heating elements are integrally formed in heating stations, each of which supports said at least one microscope slide.