Slide cassette for fluidic injection

• US 20030129756A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zymark Corp. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zymark Corp. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thorne, Edward H. IV, Grubner, George
• Granted Patent: US 6,773,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/46
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1838 using fluid heat transfer medium
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00079 Evaporation covers for slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44756 Apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides
• 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 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

A system for holding a slide. The system includes a housing having a side wall and a top. The top includes a recess surrounded by an outer rim. The system also includes an inlet port in communication with the recess and an elevating mechanism capable of receiving the slide and for raising the slide toward the top of the housing to engage the slide with the outer rim to form an analytical cavity. Together these elements form an analytical cavity in which the assay may be performed.

Claims

1. A system for holding a slide, comprising:

a housing having a side wall and a top, the top having a recess surrounded by an outer rim;

an inlet port in communication with the recess; and

an elevating mechanism capable of receiving the slide and for raising the slide toward the top of the housing to engage the slide with the outer rim to form an analytical cavity.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a gasket disposed between the slide and the outer rim.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the outer rim limits upward movement of the slide toward the top of the housing.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the gasket projects downwardly beyond the outer rim such that when the slide moves toward to the top of the housing the slide engages the gasket before engaging the outer rim.

5. The system according to claim 2 wherein the top of the housing includes a peripheral groove for receiving the gasket.

6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for attaching the top to the housing.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein a fluid is introduced into the analytical cavity through the inlet port.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising an outlet port in communication with the recess for aspirating the fluid from the analytical cavity.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the top of the housing includes an output channel to facilitate a flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port.

10. The system according to claim 7 wherein the top of the housing includes an input channel capable of controlling a flow of the fluid into the analytical cavity.

11. The system according to claim 7 wherein the top of the housing includes a dam capable to redirect a flow of fluid in the analytical cavity.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the inlet port includes a valve.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the valve is a check valve.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the valve includes an input section, an output section, and an elastic septum.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the input section includes a convex surface over which the elastic septum may be stretched.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elevating mechanism includes means for lifting the slide into sealed engagement with the gasket.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elevating mechanism includes an elevator plate, a leaf spring having a first substantially sinusoidal shape, and a slide release having a second substantially sinusoidal shape complementary to the first substantially sinusoidal shape and capable of sliding in and out of an alignment relationship with the leaf spring to cause the elevator plate to move away or toward the top of the housing.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the elevator plate includes a stirrup that extends through a slot in the leaf spring so that the side release engages the stirrup and pulls the elevator plate away from the top of the housing when the slide release is withdrawn.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elevating mechanism includes an elevator plate and a slide release having a ramp-like profile such that when the slide release is inserted into the housing the elevator plate is forced toward the top of the housing.

20. The system according to claim 1 wherein the top of the housing comprises a lens.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the lens is substantially transparent.

22. The system according to claim 1 wherein the top is comprised of at least one of plastic, metal, ceramic, or fibrous composite.

23. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a viewing hole through which the assay may be observed.

24. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a probe for measuring characteristics of the assay.

25. The system according to claim 1 further comprising measurement means for measuring characteristics of the assay.

26. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elevator plate includes a gas injection port and a gas exhaust port.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein the gas injection port and the gas exhaust port is configured to allow a fluid to pass below the slide.

28. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elevator plate includes a beveled edge to facilitate slide insertion.

29. The system according to claim 1 further comprising mixing means for mixing fluids contained in the analytical cavity.

30. The cassette of claim 29, wherein the mixing means includes a fluctuating pressure applied to the housing.

31. The cassette of claim 29, wherein the mixing means includes a fluctuating pressure applied to the elevating mechanism.

33. The system according to claim 31 further comprising a gasket interposed between the slide and the outer rim.

34. The system according to claim 31 wherein the top of the housing includes an input channel capable of controlling a flow of liquid into the analytical cavity.

35. The system according to claim 31 wherein the top of the housing includes a dam capable of redirecting a flow of liquid in the analytical cavity.

36. The system according to claim 31 wherein the inlet port includes a valve.

37. The system according to claim 36 wherein the valve is a check valve.

38. The system according to claim 31 wherein the elevator plate includes a gas injection port and a gas exhaust port for heating or cooling the slide.

45. The system according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is formed to be substantially integral with the top of the housing.

46. The system according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is created by being molded into the top of the housing.

32. A system for holding an assay on a microscope slide comprising:

a housing having side walls and a top, the top having a recess surrounded by an outer rim;

an inlet port in communication with the recess capable of admitting the assay;

an outlet port in communication with the recess capable of aspirating the assay;

an elevating mechanism for raising the slide toward the top of the housing until the slide engages the outer rim to form an analytical cavity; and

a fluid disposed within the housing that flows from the inlet port to the outlet port.

39. A method for holding an assay on a microscope slide comprising:

placing a slide on an elevator plate in a lower position, the elevator plate being disposed inside a housing that includes sidewalls and a top, the top having a recess surrounded by an outer rim; and

raising the elevator plate to an elevated position so that the slide is pressed into engagement with the rim and into a sealed relation with a gasket interposed between the slide and the rim to form an analytical cavity.

40. The method according to claim 39 further comprising injecting a fluid into the analytical cavity.

41. A system for holding an assay on a slide comprising:

means for placing a slide on an elevator plate in a lower position, the elevator plate being disposed inside a housing that includes sidewalls and a top, the top having a recess surrounded by an outer rim; and

means for lifting the elevator plate to an elevated position so that the slide is pressed into engagement with the rim and into a sealed relation with a gasket interposed between the slide and the rim to form an analytical cavity.

42. The system according to claim 41 further comprising means for inserting a slide into the housing and on top of the elevator plate.

43. The system according to claim 41 further comprising means for injecting an assay into the analytical cavity.

44. The system according to claim 41 wherein the elevator plate includes temperature means for heating or cooling the slide.

47. A method for assembling a system for holding an assay on a slide comprising:

disposing a top on a housing;

placing a slide release in the housing;

placing an elevator plate in the housing; and

connecting the slide release to the elevator plate with an elevating mechanism for raising or lowering the elevator plate.

48. The method according to claim 47 wherein the placing the top on the housing includes bonding the top to the housing.

49. The method according to claim 47 further comprising interposing a gasket between the top and the elevator plate.