Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-10-30
Edwards, Laura (Department: 1734)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C422S300000, C422S051000, C118S423000, C118S428000, C118S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309607
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a slide staining system, particularly an integrated slide based immunocytochemical staining system covering slide preparation, reagent application and removal, rinsing find drying for examination.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Present slide staining systems involve microscope slides being disposed horizontally along inserts at the base of a rectangular staining enclosure. These staining enclosures may be of plastic or metal construction. A small quantity of liquid is added to the box, which is subsequently covered. This forms the moist environment chamber where staining can take place each washing stage of a staining procedure necessitates removal of the slides to a vertical rack assembly and hence co a second vessel containing the wash fluid. Following washing, each slide is manually dried and replaced in the staining chamber. This is both time consuming and error prone. Alternative systems for specimen staining have been proposed These have not gained acceptance due to their high cost and requirement to adopt new procedures
The object of the present invention is to offer a low cost, modular, integrated system for specimen processing which is designed to be complimentary with established and standard laboratory practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a slide holder assembly for holding a plurality of slides, said assembly comprising a plurality of individual slide holders, each slide holder being adapted to rotate about a common axis of rotation and comprising a mounting portion adapted to receive one end of a slide, the slide holders being mounted within said assembly in spaced arrangement along said common axis for rotation about said common axis, such that the slide holders can rotate between a first position where all the slide holders are substantially aligned in a direction parallel to said common axis and a second position where each slide holder is offset by a predetermined angle from the adjacent slide holder.
Preferably the slide holder assembly further comprises a shaft extending along the common axis. Most preferably the slide holder assembly further comprises a base having a support member, wherein shaft is hollow and adapted to engage over the support member.
Preferably each slide holder contains a substantially planar axial portion having a thickness greater than said mounting portion and having an aperture therein.
Preferably the axial portion of each slide holder is adapted to rotate in slidable contact with the axial portion of an adjacent slide holder.
Preferably each slide holder is provided with means to limit the relative rotation of the slide holder with an adjacent slide holder.
Preferably the axial portion is provided wish a projection on a first face of the axial portion and a corresponding circumferential slotted groove in a second opposite face of the axial portion, adapted to receive the projection in the first face of the axial portion of the adjacent slide holder.
Preferably the slotted groove is positioned such that when the projection in the first face of the axial portion of the adjacent slide holder abuts a first end of the groove the mounting portion of the slide holder is aligned with that of the adjacent slide holder.
Preferably the slotted groove is positioned such that when the projection in the first face of the axial portion of the adjacent slide holder abuts a second end of the groove the mounting portion of the slide holder is offset from that of the adjacent slide holder by a predetermined angle.
preferably the predetermined angle selected so be 360°
, where n is the number of slide holders. The predetermined angle may be 36° where the assembly comprises 10 slide holders.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a slide system comprising a slide holder assembly according to the first aspect and a wash tank. The wash tank is preferably adapted to receive the holder assembly such that in use the slides held by the mounting means are vertical.
Preferably the assembly comprises a shaft oriented on said common axis of rotation of said slide holders and a shaft housing.
Preferably said wash tank has one or more bearing surfaces configured to support one or more surfaces of said shaft housing.
Preferably the shaft housing comprises upper and lower cylindrical members connected to said shaft, the slide holders being mounted on said shaft between said upper and lower cylindrical members.
Preferably the wash tank comprises two opposing walls, each wall having at its upper end a part cylindrical nearing surface adapted to receive one of said upper and lower cylindrical members.
Preferably the slide system further comprises a lid for the wash tank, the lid comprising two opposing walls, each wall having at its lower end a part cylindrical bearing surface adapted to be located on one of said upper and lower cylindrical members.
Preferably there is provided a slide staining system comprising one or more of the following:
a slide holder assembly according to the first aspect;
one or more application stations;
an environmental (moist) chamber;
an aqueous/solvent wash bath;
a vacuum device for removal of excess fluid;
a stirrer unit; and
a dryer unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4651671 (1987-03-01), Pedersen
patent: 4975250 (1990-12-01), Mordecki
patent: 6235241 (2001-05-01), Catt et al.
Johnston Robert John
Miller Ronald William
Edwards Laura
Ratner & Prestia
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