Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Chemical analysis
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-13
2004-05-11
Wachsman, Hal (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Chemical analysis
C702S019000, C422S063000, C422S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06735531
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of medical lab equipment. In particular the present invention discloses a fully automated system for staining tissue specimens and cell preparations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often difficult to examine unstained cell and tissue preparations with a microscope due to a lack of contrast between individual cells and the background matrix, or between individual parts of cells. To improve the contrast, researchers have applied stains to cell and tissue specimens to be examined. The stains are absorbed differently by the various structures in cells such that the contrast between the different cell structures is improved.
Staining tissue specimens is a nontrivial time-consuming process. Often a number of different staining and rinsing stages are required. Each stage requires a specific amount of reagent or buffer and takes a specific amount of time. Thus, trained technicians are often employed to perform such operations. Furthermore, hospitals and laboratories must stain large numbers of tissue specimens. Thus, it is desirable to automate the tissue specimen staining process. By automating the process, expensive human labor is eliminated and the probability of an error occurring during the staining process is reduced. Accordingly, a few manufacturers have introduced equipment for the automated staining of tissue specimens on microscope slides.
Existing automatic staining devices are not very simple to use. Arcane programming commands and complicated procedures require extensive user training before such devices can be operated effectively. It would therefore be desirable to simplify the operation of an automatic staining device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an automatic staining apparatus coupled to a personal computer system running an operating system with a graphical user interface. The personal computer system includes an interface card that is used to control the automatic staining apparatus. An autostainer control program runs on the personal computer system. The autostainer control program allows a user to simply program the automatic staining apparatus using simple commands entered in the graphical user interface. The autostainer control program also includes a Stat function that allows the user to interrupt the routine staining of slides in order to prioritize processing of one or more slides that require immediate analysis. The invention simplifies the process of programming an automatic staining apparatus to include staining of stat slides.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4141312 (1979-02-01), Louder et al.
patent: 5073504 (1991-12-01), Bogen
patent: 5116759 (1992-05-01), Klainer et al.
patent: 5350564 (1994-09-01), Mazza et al.
patent: 5355439 (1994-10-01), Bernstein et al.
patent: 5425918 (1995-06-01), Healey et al.
patent: 5428690 (1995-06-01), Bacus et al.
patent: 5439649 (1995-08-01), Tseung et al.
patent: 5559032 (1996-09-01), Pomeroy et al.
patent: 5573727 (1996-11-01), Keefe
patent: 5595707 (1997-01-01), Copeland et al.
patent: 5650327 (1997-07-01), Copeland et al.
patent: 5654199 (1997-08-01), Copeland et al.
patent: 5654200 (1997-08-01), Copeland et al.
patent: 5696887 (1997-12-01), Bernstein et al.
patent: 5839091 (1998-11-01), Rhett et al.
patent: 5919553 (1999-07-01), Kavanaugh
patent: 5930461 (1999-07-01), Bernstein et al.
patent: 5948359 (1999-09-01), Kalra et al.
patent: 6045759 (2000-04-01), Ford et al.
patent: 6090630 (2000-07-01), Koakutsu et al.
patent: 6093574 (2000-07-01), Druyor-Sanchez et al.
patent: 6192945 (2001-02-01), Ford et al.
patent: 6296809 (2001-10-01), Richards et al.
patent: 6352861 (2002-03-01), Copeland et al.
patent: 6498037 (2002-12-01), Carey et al.
patent: WO9113335 (1991-09-01), None
patent: WO9201919 (1992-02-01), None
patent: WO 99/10763 (1999-03-01), None
patent: WO01/51909 (2001-07-01), None
patent: WO01/68259 (2001-09-01), None
BioGenex,Optimax TM Automated Cell Staining System, 4 pages. (No date).
Biotek TM Solutions,Automated Immunostaining Systems, 1993, 12 pages (No month).
Hamilton,MicrolabRTM SPE, 1 page (No date).
Leica,Automated Tissue Staining for Immunohistochemistry, Feb. 6, 1992, 8 pages.
Matrix Technologies Corporation,Automated Sample Handling, Sep. 1993, 4 pages.
Packard,MultiprobeRTM Robotic Liquid Handling, newsletter and pp. 8-9, (No date).
Rosys,Introduce a new philosophy into your laboratory, 1 page.
Sakura World Class Technology TM,RSG-61 Hematology Slide Stainer, 1995, 2 pages. (No month).
Shandon Cadenza RTM,Automated Immunostainer, 1989, pp. 1-8, (No month).
Tecan US, Inc.,Progressing as One in Laboratory Automation, brochure, 9 pages, (No date).
Ventana,Ventana in Situ Hybridization System, Rev-Mar. 31, 1994, 1 page.
Corl Mark V.
Le Ngoc Van
Rhett Norman K.
Takayama Glenn K.
Tseung Ken K.
Lab Vision Corporation
Wachsman Hal
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for automatic tissue staining does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for automatic tissue staining, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for automatic tissue staining will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3236068