US 12,345,721 B2
Automated slide processing systems, consumable stainer units, and related technologies
Claudia Gaertner, Jena (DE); and Holger Becker, Jena (DE)
Assigned to Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/151,053.
Application 17/151,053 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2019/068809, filed on Jul. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/698,802, filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0172968 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/31 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00029 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 9/52 (2013.01); G01N 1/312 (2013.01); G01N 35/1002 (2013.01); G01N 35/1079 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/08 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0481 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00138 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00346 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated staining system, comprising:
a slide processing cartridge including
a flow cell having a slide-receiving region and a sealing ring, wherein the slide-receiving region is dimensioned to receive a microscope slide, wherein the sealing ring is configured to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber along the specimen-bearing surface,
a plurality of closed reagent reservoirs,
at least one dispenser,
a waste reservoir fluidly coupled to the flow cell,
at least one thermal element configured to generate thermal energy to heat reagent in the reaction chamber without substantially affecting temperatures of reagents in the plurality of closed reagent reservoirs,
a fluid circuit in fluid communication with the reaction chamber and including an inlet valve and an outlet valve, wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve each have an opened state and a closed state, wherein the outlet valve in the closed state prevents reagent flow out of the reaction chamber when a reagent is pressurized in the reaction chamber and heated by the at least one thermal element; and
an instrument including at least one end effector and a cartridge-receiving station that receives the slide processing cartridge such that the at least one end effector is capable of engaging the at least one dispenser to deliver reagent from a respective one of the reagent reservoirs to the reaction chamber, wherein the instrument is configured to engage the slide processing cartridge and to create positive pressure to cause the reagent to flow from a pipette tip, through the fluid circuit, and into the reaction chamber such that the positive pressure pressurizes the reaction chamber to substantially raise a boiling point of the reagent contained within the reaction chamber.