US 12,104,994 B2
Specimen processing systems and methods for holding slides
Luke Dyson-Holland, Hawthorn East (AU); Daniel C. Malberg, Hawthorn East (AU); Timothy B. McDonald, Hawthorn (AU); Donald M. Barnett, Tucson, AZ (US); Kevin D. Marshall, Tucson, AZ (US); John Douglas Willems, Jr., Tucson, AZ (US); Timothy Durrant, Camberwell (AU); Simon Spence, Hawthorn (AU); Benjamin James, St. Kilda (AU); Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Tucson, AZ (US); Matthew Ketterer, Oro Valley, AZ (US); and Brian Kram, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/667,541.
Application 17/667,541 is a continuation of application No. 15/971,761, filed on May 4, 2018, granted, now 11,274,998.
Application 15/971,761 is a continuation of application No. 14/737,320, filed on Jun. 11, 2015, granted, now 9,989,448, issued on Jun. 5, 2018.
Application 14/737,320 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2013/077192, filed on Dec. 20, 2013.
Application 14/737,320 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2013/077162, filed on Dec. 20, 2013.
Application 14/737,320 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2013/077177, filed on Dec. 20, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/798,238, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/799,098, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/799,497, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/746,089, filed on Dec. 26, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/746,091, filed on Dec. 26, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/746,085, filed on Dec. 26, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268673 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 21/36 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/31 (2006.01); G02B 21/34 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/312 (2013.01) [G02B 21/362 (2013.01); B01L 9/52 (2013.01); G02B 21/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated specimen processing system, comprising:
a slide staging device including—
a standby platform configured to receive a microscope slide and including a support surface configured to support a lower surface of the microscope slide; and
an alignment device having a first aligning member and a second aligning member configured to physically contact opposing sides of the microscope slide to slide the microscope slide along the support surface such that the microscope slide moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position; and
a transfer head configured to transport microscope slides from the standby platform to a specimen processing station, the transfer head having a head alignment feature configured to engage with at least one of a corresponding alignment feature of the slide staging device to maintain alignment of the transfer head with the microscope slide at the standby platform while the transfer head is moved toward and into physical contact with an upper surface of the microscope slide, which is supported by the support surface and located at the aligned position.