EP0458138A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slide analysis system
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1991-05-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The slide analysis system (10) includes a slide holding module (12) spaced from an incubator module (14). A slide transfer device (18) or pick and place mechanism withdraws slides (28) from the slide holding module (12) and inserts them into the incubator module (14). A metering device (16) deposits serum onto a slide that is held in a spotting position by the slide transfer device (18). The metering device (16) is movable to a sampling position in the slide holding module to aspirate serum from a serum source on the slide cartridge in the slide holding module (12) and is also movable to a spotting position to spot serum on the slide held by the slide transfer device (12). The slide transfer device (12) has rotational as well as transverse movement and includes jaws (257) for gripping onto the sides of slides to withdraw a single slide from a cartridge (24), transport it to the incubator (14), insert the slide in the incubator and thereafter remove it from the incubator. The metering device (16) also has rotational as well as elevational movement and includes a built-in pipette tip ejector (430) for discarding a used pipette tip (70).
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander F. Kerr
- 👤 Edwin H. Mernyk
- 👤 George E. Zabetakis
- 👤 Uri Escoli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00029; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/2803; G01N2035/00039; G01N2035/00089; G01N2035/00099; G01N2035/00138; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00356; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00752; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/103; G01N35/1081; G01N35/1083; G01N2035/1086; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/08; G01N2201/082; G01N35/02; G01N35/025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A slide analysis system comprising: a. slide holding means for holding a plurality of slides, b. incubator means for said slides, spaced a predetermined distance from said slide holding means, c. depositing means spaced from said slide holding means and said incubator means for depositing test material on selected ones of said slides to provide spotted slides, d. transfer means for withdrawing individual ones of said slides from said slide holding means and for inserting said individually withdrawn slides in said incubator means, said transfer means including slide engaging means and moving means for moving said slide engaging means toward and away from said slide holding means and to a predetermined location at said depositing means and toward and away from said incubator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said slides have opposite sides a first predetermined distance apart and said slide engaging means includes: a. a pair of separable gripper members for engaging and gripping the opposite sides of said slide; b. means for separating said gripper members a first predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined distance between the opposite sides of said slides; and c. means for converging said gripper members to engage and grip the opposite sides of said slides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said gripper members include a pair of elongated jaws pivoted together to permit pivotal movement toward and away from each other, and biasing means on said jaws to normally urge said jaws to converge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said moving means include means for rotating said slide engaging means a selectable predetermined angular amount corresponding to a selectable angular direction and means for displacing said slide engaging means a selectable predetermined displacement amount in said predetermined angular direction, and further including means for coordinating the movement of said rotating means and said displacing means such that said rotating means and said displacing means are separately or simultaneously operable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said incubator means include a plurality of slide holders and said rotating means include means for rotating said slide engaging means to a second predetermined rotational position with respect to said incubator means to align said slide engaging means with one of said slide holders in said incubator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said displacement means includes means for displacing said slide engaging means, when in said second predetermined rotational position, to a second predetermined displaced position at said incubator to insert a slide in said one of said slide holders or remove a slide from said one of said slide holders and for displacing said slide engaging means, with or without a slide, away from said one of said slide holders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The slide analysis system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said rotating means include means for rotating said slide engaging means to a third predetermined rotational position with respect to said depositing means to permit spotting of a slide held in said slide engaging means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of analyzing slides comprising: a. storing a plurality of slides that have been pretreated for testing, in a slide holding device; withdrawing the slides one by one from the slide holding device; c. transferring selected ones of the withdrawn slides to a spotting position at a spotting device for spotting each of the selected ones of the withdrawn slides with a fluid sample; d. shifting the spotted slides to an incubator; e. inserting the spotted slides in the incubator for a predetermined period of incubation; f. performing an optical analysis of the slides in the incubator; g. removing the slides from the incubator for disposal after the analysis is completed; h. moving a single slide engaging device toward and away from the slide holder, the spotting device and the incubator to perform in succession the withdrawing, transferring, shifting, inserting and removing operations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A slide comprising a generally rectangular support member containing an examination area, said slide having a first pair of opposite sides of a first dimension, and a second pair of opposite sides of a second dimension, and wherein said first and second dimensions are dissimilar, said support member having four corners, one of said corners being dissimilar in shape from the other three corners.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cartridge for slides comprising: a. a housing; b. a generally rectnagular compartment section in said housing for accommodating a plurality of slides of complementary shape with respect to the compartment section; c. the compartment section having a first pair of opposite sides and a second pair of opposite sides, the distance between said first pair of opposite sides and said second pair of opposite sided being dissimilar, said compartment having four corners, one of said corners being dissimilar in shape from the other three corners.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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