Automated molecular pathology apparatus having fixed slide platforms

• US 7,378,055 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Campbell, Devon, Bryant, David, Showalter, Wayne, Richards, William, Reinhardt, Kurt, Lemme, Charles, Ghusson, Andrew, Rizzo, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon; Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20030203493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 422 63- 67, 422/68.1, 422/100, 436/46
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• 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 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for automatically staining or treating multiple tissue samples mounted on slides are provided, in which the slides and reagent bottles are held in fixed position, and the reagent, wash and coverslipping solutions brought to the slides. Alternatively, the slides are held in fixed position, while the reagent, wash and coverslipping solutions brought to the slides.

Claims

1. An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising:

(a) a slide support mounted in the apparatus, wherein the slide support is slidably mounted on rails to permit loading and unloading of slides in the slide support; and

(b) a reagent support, a nozzle support and a reagent dispenser all mounted in the apparatus vertically above the slide support,

wherein the slide support and the reagent support are operatively fixedly positioned, and the nozzle support is selectively rotatably movable relative to the slide support and the reagent support.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide support carries a plurality of spaced slide support platforms.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said slide support platforms include heaters and/or temperature sensors.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slide support includes at least one liquid drain.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slide support is vertically adjustably supported on a lift mechanism.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reagent dispenser is selectively moveable relative to the reagent support.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said reagent dispenser comprises robotic dispensing pipettes.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said robotic dispensing pipettes are vertically moveable between an operating position and a transport position.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said reagent dispenser comprises two spaced robotic dispensing pipettes.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet or jet drain.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180°

from a home position.

14. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said reagent dispenser is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 185°

from a home position.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a slide bar code reader carried on the nozzle support and/or carried with the reagent dispenser.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support, and the reagent dispenser.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a dispenser wash station mounted on the nozzle support.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, and comprising two dispenser wash stations mounted spaced from one another on the nozzle support.

19. An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising:

(a) a slide support mounted in the apparatus, wherein the slide support is slidably mounted on rails to permit loading and unloading of slides in said slide support; and

(b) a reagent support, a nozzle support and a reagent dispenser all mounted in the apparatus vertically above the slide support,

wherein the slide support is operatively fixedly positioned, and the nozzle support and reagent support are selectively independently movable relative to the slide support.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the slide support carries a plurality of spaced slide support platforms.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said slide support platforms include heaters and/or temperature sensors.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said slide support includes at least one liquid drain.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19, and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.

24. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said slide support is vertically adaptably supported on a lift mechanism.

25. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a reagent dispenser activator is selectively rotatably moveable relative to the reagent support.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said reagent dispenser activator is fixed to move in synchronization with said nozzle support.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said reagent dispenser activator comprises a hammer or piston.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet and/or jet drain.

29. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.

30. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180°

from a home position.

31. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said reagent support is rotatably moveable in either direction from a home position.

32. An apparatus according to claim 19, and further comprising a slide bar code reader carried on the nozzle support.

33. An apparatus according to claim 19, and further comprising a reagent bar code reader operatively positioned relative to said reagent support.

34. An apparatus according to claim 19, and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support and reagent dispenser.

35. An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising:

(a) a slide support mounted in the apparatus, wherein the slide support is slidably mounted on slides to permit loading and unloading of slides in the slide support;

(b) heating elements for heating the slides; and

(c) a nozzle support, a reagent support and a dispenser all mounted in the apparatus vertically above the slide support, wherein the nozzle support has nozzles for applying liquids, said nozzle support and said slide support moving relative to one another such that the nozzles may apply liquids to the slides; and

said reagent dispenser is operative to directly access the slide support.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the slide support carries a plurality of spaced slide support platforms.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein said slide support includes at least one liquid drain.

38. An apparatus according to claim 35, and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.

39. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said slide support is vertically adjustably supported on a lift mechanism.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said reagent dispenser is selectively moveable relative to the reagent support.

41. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said reagent dispenser comprises at least one robotic dispensing pipette.

42. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said robotic dispensing pipette(s) is/are vertically moveable between an operating position and a transport position.

43. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said reagent dispenser comprises two spaced robotic dispensing pipettes.

44. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet or jet drain.

45. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.

46. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180°

from a home position.

47. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said reagent dispenser is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 185°

from a home position.

48. An apparatus according to claim 35, and further comprising a slide bar code reader carried on the nozzle support and/or carried with the reagent dispenser.

49. An apparatus according to claim 35, and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support, reagent support and the reagent dispenser.

50. An apparatus according to claim 35, and further comprising a dispenser wash station mounted on the nozzle support.

51. An apparatus according to claim 35, and comprising two dispenser wash stations mounted spaced from one another on the nozzle support.