Slide staining apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for staining slides comprising a staining chamber adapted to receive slides therein, said chamber having an open top and a lower passage communicating with a manifold, a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain reagents, valving means connecting each of said receptacles to said manifold, means for operating said valves to selectively allow a reagent from a receptacle to be delivered to said chamber and returned to its receptacle, a second chamber surrounding said staining chamber and adapted to catch any overflow therefrom, additional inlet valve means and outlet valve means, said inlet valve means adapted to connect said manifold to a fresh water tap supply, said outlet valve means connecting staining chamber to a drain, and conduit means connecting said second chamber to said drain.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manifold extends vertically from said staining chamber, a plurality of conduits extending radially from said manifold, said valving means selectively connecting each of said conduits to said manifold, each of said receptacles being connected to one of said conduits, said outlet valve positioned below said manifold, means for pressurizing said receptacles to deliver reagents therefrom to said chamber when its respective valve is opened, means for relieving pressure on said receptacles when fluid is not being delivered to said chamber so that when its respective valve is again opened the reagent will return to the chamber from whence it was delivered under the influence of gravity.

Claim 4

Tha apparatus of claim 1 further including means for sensing a predetermined level of fluid in said staining chamber, and means responsive to said sensing means for interrupting further introduction of reagent to said staining chamber.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for sensing a predetermined level of fluid in said staining chamber, means responsive to said sensing means for closing said selectively open valVing means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 further including control means for selectively operating said valving means and said pressuring means to serially introduce reagents into said chamber and drain reagents therefrom.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 further including means for setting the time of each reagent in said chamber.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 further including means for inhibiting operation of any of said valving means and eliminating any reagent from a staining operation.

Claim 9

Slide staining apparatus comprising an open top slide staining chamber having a bottom opening leading to a manifold, a plurality of conduits extending radially from said manifold in an essentially common plane, one of said conduits arranged to be connected to a fresh water tap supply, a first valve in said one conduit, a reagent receptacle connected to each of said other conduits, a valving means in each of said other conduits, a discharge drain conduit extending from said manifold and a drain valve therein, means for pressurizing said receptacles and selectively opening and closing said first valve, said other valves and said discharge valve to flood said chamber with a reagent, return the reagent to its receptacle, rinse said chamber with water, and discharge the water through said drain valve until a selected number of reagents have been introduced into said chamber and returned to their receptacles and an overflow chamber surrounding said staining chamber and a second drain conduit leading to said discharge drain conduit behind said drain valve whereby overflow from said staining chamber drains directly to discharge.

Claim 10

Slide staining apparatus comprising an open top slide staining chamber having a bottom opening leading to a manifold, a plurality of conduits extending radially from said manifold in an essentially common plane, one of said conduits arranged to be connected to a fresh water tap supply, a first valve in said one conduit, a reagent receptacle connected to each of said other conduits, a valving means in each of said other conduits, a discharge drain conduit extending from said manifold and a drain valve therein, means for pressurizing said receptacles and selectively opening and closing said first valve, said other valves and said discharge valve to flood said chamber with a reagent, return the reagent to its receptacle, rinse said chamber with water, and discharge the water through said drain valve until a selected number of reagents have been introduced into said chamber and returned to their receptacles and an overflow chamber surrounding said staining chamber and a second drain conduit leading to said discharge drain conduit behind said drain valve whereby overflow from said staining chamber drains directly to discharge.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 further including a baffle member overlying said chamber bottom opening and spaced upwardly therefrom.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for sensing a predetermined level of liquid in said staining chamber and removing pressure from said receptacles in response thereto.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for inhibiting operation of any of said valving means to eliminate any reagent from a staining operation.