Information notification sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing

• US 7,400,983 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Welcher, Rosanne, Key, Marc, Favuzzi, John, Feingold, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee; Manuel L.
• Application Number:
  US10/538,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 702/31
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/30 Staining; Impregnating ; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00306 Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00376 Conductive heating, e.g. heated plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00435 Refrigerated reagent storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/009 alarms, e.g. audible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00712 Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 : Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/41 : Tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 : with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 : with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 : with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A sample processing system (101) that may be automated and methods are disclosed where samples) (198) are arranged on a carrier element (197) and a process operation control system (171) automatically processes the samples) perhaps robotically with an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor (402) or a data capture element (414). Significant process details as well as operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information may be monitored and an automatic notice element (404) may cause notification of a person at some display (415) that may be remote. Various people may be notified, such as an administrator, a supplier, or a manufacturer of an opportunity for some action such as reagent reordering or the like. A simulated motion display may be included to “watch” simulated operation in real time or long after completion of the actual processing.

Claims

1. A method of automated sample processing comprising the steps of:

establishing an automated sample processing system having an automated process operation capability that causes automated process operation events through robotic sample process functions;

scheduling a plurality of sample process operations;

systematically storing important details of a significant number of said plurality of sample process operations as such sample process operations occur;

automatically processing at least one biological sample arranged on a slide at least in part through operation of said robotic sample process functions sequencing through said scheduled plurality of sample process operations;

monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information, wherein said step of monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information comprises the step of monitoring replenishable supply information;

automatically notifying at least one person of a potential need for a replenishable supply in response to said step of monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information; and

replenishing said replenishable supply in real-time concurrently with sample processing.

2. A method of automated sample processing as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

automatically advance notifying at least one person of information at least in part in response to said step of monitoring replenishable supply information.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the replenishable supply comprises a buffer, a reagent, a stain, a target retrieval solution, an epitope retrieval solution, a deparaffinization fluid, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of automated sample processing comprising the steps of:

establishing an automated sample processing system having an automated process operation capability that causes automated process operation events through robotic sample process functions;

scheduling a plurality of sample process operations;

systematically storing important details of a significant number of said plurality of sample process operations as such sample process operations occur;

automatically processing at least one biological sample arranged on a slide at least in part through operation of said robotic sample process functions sequencing through said scheduled plurality of sample process operations;

accepting a prompt from a user to display at least a portion of said important details of a significant number of said plurality of sample process operations; and

providing information relative to said plurality of sample process operations to at least one person,

wherein said step of systematically storing important details of a significant number of said plurality of sample process operations as sample process operations occur comprises the steps of;

systematically storing time of occurrence data,

systematically storing substance identifier data,

systematically storing individual robotic movement data,

systematically storing subject sample data, and

systematically storing type of protocol data.

5. An automated sample processing system comprising:

a process operation control system configured to at least partially process at least one biological sample arranged on a slide;

a robotic motion system responsive to said process operation control system;

a multiple event scheduler to which said robotic motion system is at least in part responsive;

a systematic process detail capture element;

a significant process detail memory responsive to said systematic process detail capture element and configured to store at least some significant process data;

an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor comprising a replenishable supply information monitor configured to monitor replenishable supply information;

an automatic operator replenishable supply notice element that acts in response to said replenishable supply information monitor; and

wherein said process operation control system is configured to allow replenishing of said replenishable supply in real-time concurrently with sample processing.

6. An automated sample processing system according to claim 5, further comprising an automatic exteriorly-consequential information advance notice element configured to automatically advance notify at least one person of information at least in part in response to said replenishable supply information monitor.

7. An automated sample processing system as described in claim 6, wherein the replenishable supply comprises a buffer, a reagent, a stain, a target retrieval solution, an epitope retrieval solution, a deparaffinization fluid, or a combination thereof.

8. An automated sample processing system comprising:

a process operation control system configured to at least partially process at least one biological sample arranged on a slide;

a robotic motion system responsive to said process operation control system;

a multiple event scheduler to which said robotic motion system is at least in part responsive;

a systematic process detail capture element;

a significant process detail memory that is responsive to said systematic process detail capture element and that stores at least some significant process data;

an information access prompt element to which said significant process data is responsive; and

a significant process data transfer element,

wherein said systematic process detail capture element comprises;

a time of occurrence data capture element,

an individual robotic movement data capture element,

a substance identifier data capture element,

a subject sample data capture element, and

a type of protocol data capture element.