Automated molecular pathology apparatus having fixed slide platforms

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.

1 . An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a slide support;    (b) a reagent support;    (c) a nozzle support; and    (d) a reagent dispenser,    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 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted in the apparatus to permit loading and unloading of slides in the slide support.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted on rails.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said slide support is vertically adjustably supported on a lift mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said reagent dispenser is selectively moveable relative to the reagent support.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said reagent dispenser comprises robotic dispensing pipettes.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said robotic dispensing pipettes are vertically moveable between an operating position and a transport position.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said reagent dispenser comprises two spaced robotic dispensing pipettes.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet or jet drain.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180° from a home position.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said reagent dispenser is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 185° from a home position.  
     
     
         17 . 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.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support, and the reagent dispenser.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a dispenser wash station mounted on the nozzle support.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , and comprising two dispenser wash stations mounted spaced from one another on the nozzle support.  
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A method for processing a plurality of slides each having biological samples thereon comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a first slide for biological treatment with a reagent;    (b) moving a reagent dispenser to a selected reagent container;    (c) drawing a pre-selected volume of reagent from the reagent container into the reagent dispenser;    (d) moving the reagent dispenser to the first slide;    (e) dispensing said pre-selected volume of reagent from the reagent dispenser onto the first slide;    (f) preparing a second slide for treatment with a reagent;    (g) cleaning the reagent dispenser;    (h) moving a reagent dispenser to a selected reagent which may be the same or different from the reagent of step (b);    (i) drawing a pre-selected amount of reagent from the reagent container selected in step (h) into the reagent dispenser;    (j) moving the reagent dispenser to said second slide;    (k) dispensing said pre-selected volume of reagent selected in step (h) from the reagent dispenser onto said second slide;    (l) cleaning the reagent dispenser; and    (m) repeating steps (h)-(l).    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein two reagent dispensers are provided, and including the step of cleaning one of the reagent dispensers while the other reagent dispenser is employed to draw and dispense reagent onto a selected slide.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said reagent dispenser comprises a robotic syringe, and reagent is taken up by aspiration.  
     
     
         25 . An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a slide support;    (b) a reagent support;    (c) a nozzle support; and    (d) a reagent dispenser,    wherein the slide support is operatively fixedly positioned, and the nozzle support and reagent support are selectively independently movable relative to the slide support.    
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the slide support carries a plurality of spaced slide support platforms.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said slide support platforms include heaters and/or temperature sensors.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said slide support includes at least one liquid drain.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted in the apparatus to permit loading and unloading of slides in said slide support.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted on rails.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said slide support is vertically adaptably supported on a lift mechanism.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein a reagent dispenser activator is selectively rotatably moveable relative to the reagent support.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein said reagent dispenser activator is fixed to move in synchronization with said nozzle support.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein said reagent dispenser activator comprises a hammer or piston.  
     
     
         36 . An apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet and/or jet drain.  
     
     
         37 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.  
     
     
         38 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180° from a home position.  
     
     
         39 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said reagent support is rotatably moveable in either direction from a home position.  
     
     
         40 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , and further comprising a slide bar code reader carried on the nozzle support.  
     
     
         41 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , and further comprising a reagent bar code reader operatively positioned relative to said reagent support.  
     
     
         42 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support and reagent dispenser.  
     
     
         43 . A method for processing a plurality of slides each having biological samples thereon comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a first fixedly positioned slide for biological treatment with a reagent;    (b) moving a selected reagent dispenser to the first slide;    (c) dispensing a pre-selected volume of reagent from the reagent dispenser onto the first slide;    (d) preparing a second fixedly positioned slide for treatment with a reagent;    (e) moving a selected reagent dispenser which may be the same or different from the reagent dispenser of step (b) to the second slide;    (f) dispensing a pre-selected volume of reagent from the reagent dispenser onto said second slide; and    (g) repeating steps (d)-(f).    
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein a reagent dispenser activator is moved independently of said reagent dispensers.  
     
     
         45 . An automatic slide processing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a slide support;    (b) heating elements for heating the slides;    (c) a nozzle support having 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;    (d) a reagent support; and    (e) a reagent dispenser wherein said reagent dispenser is operative to directly access the slide support.    
     
     
         46 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the slide support carries a plurality of spaced slide support platforms.  
     
     
         47 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said slide support includes at least one liquid drain.  
     
     
         48 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted in the apparatus to permit loading and unloading of slides in the slide support.  
     
     
         49 . An apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein said slide support is slidably mounted on rails.  
     
     
         50 . An apparatus according to  claim 49 , and further including a damper for damping smoothing movement of the rails.  
     
     
         51 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said slide support is vertically adjustably supported on a lift mechanism.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said reagent dispenser is selectively moveable relative to the reagent support.  
     
     
         53 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said reagent dispenser comprises at least one robotic dispensing pipette.  
     
     
         54 . An apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein said robotic dispensing pipette(s) is/are vertically moveable between an operating position and a transport position.  
     
     
         55 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said reagent dispenser comprises two spaced robotic dispensing pipettes.  
     
     
         56 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one vortex air jet or jet drain.  
     
     
         57 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein the nozzle support carries at least one applicator for applying a cover fluid to the slide.  
     
     
         58 . (canceled)  
     
     
         59 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein the nozzle support is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 180° from a home position.  
     
     
         60 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said reagent dispenser is rotatably moveable plus or minus approximately 185° from a home position.  
     
     
         61 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , and further comprising a slide bar code reader carried on the nozzle support and/or carried with the reagent dispenser.  
     
     
         62 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , and further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the nozzle support, reagent support and the reagent dispenser.  
     
     
         63 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , and further comprising a dispenser wash station mounted on the nozzle support.  
     
     
         64 . An apparatus according to  claim 62 , and comprising two dispenser wash stations mounted spaced from one another on the nozzle support.  
     
     
         65 . (canceled)