Dako Denmark A/s

Gordon Feingold

Marc E Key

John Favuzzi

Rosanne Welcher

Kristopher Scott Buchanan

Mark Richard Holbrook

James B Gilmartin

Bob Lathrop

Doug Sweet

Robert Lathrop

Lars Winther

Benno M Guggenheimer

John Van Bosch

Michael J Barber

Loren Bland

Robert Clark

Jonathan R Sweda

Merritt M Martin, Jr

Dawn M Rohrbacker

Jeffery L Rau

Douglas F Sweet

A sample processing system that may be automated and methods are disclosed where samples are arranged on a carrier element and a process operation control system automatically processes the samples perhaps robotically with an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor or a data capture element. Significant process details as well as operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information may be monitored and an automatic notice element may cause notification of a person at some display that may be remote. Various people may be notified, such as an administrator, a supplier, or a manufacturer of an opportunity for some action such as reagent reordering or the like. A simulated motion display may be included to 'watch' simulated operation in real time or long after completion of the actual processing.

Information notification sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing

A sample processing systemthat may be automated and methods are disclosed where a number of sample processing systems, such as stainer, may be connected to a number of separate full function computersthrough a stainer networkthat may be isolated from other communication traffic. A network configuration may permit scalability and addressability so that additional sample processing systems, additional separate full function computers, and additional other devices such as label printersmay be easily added to the system. One or more remote information linksmay be provided so that information transfer on a continuous or perhaps constant basis can be accommodated.

Isolated communication sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing

The present invention concerns an apparatus for staining tissue samples, said apparatus including a reagent section or reagent containers; at least one staining section or tissue samples, a robotic head or robotic element that may move reagent to a predetermined tissue sample, said robotic element being moveable above the reagent and the staining sections, a control element that may manage a staining process, a 2-D optical sensor to detect two-dimensional image data of a relevant property and that can feed the captured image data to the control element. By providing the robotic element with a 2-D optical sensor, a common image processor may be provided having multiple functions. By using a 2-D optical image processing system, the control system of the apparatus may easily be adapted to read various types of data presentations, just as actual images for sections of the apparatus may be identified in order to assess the condition of the apparatus. The optical sensor may be used to automatically identify the slides and the reagent containers present in the apparatus, just as the optical sensor may be used for checking if a slide is misplaced at or absent from a slide position, etc.

Method and apparatus for automatic staining of tissue samples

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention allow for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.

Systems and methods for the automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples

A sample processing systemthat may be automated and methods are disclosed where sample(s)are arranged on a carrier elementand a process operation control systemautomatically processes the sample(s) perhaps robotically according to an desired aggregation of event dictated by an input. Alteration of an initial aggregated event topology may be accepted while the system is processing an initial aggregation and varied-parameter robotic control simulation functionalitiesmay be accomplished to determine an enhanced sequence for processing. Suggested operator actions may be displayed that might further enhance the scheduling of the altered aggregated event topology together with an automatic operator need promptthat may inform an operator of a need for a particular action in order to accomplish the desired tasks. Reversibility to proposed changes may be made available so that an operator may avoid having to activate proposed changes if they cause a processing result that is not acceptable.

Enhanced scheduling sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing

The present invention concerns an apparatus () for staining tissue samples, said apparatus () including a reagent section () or reagent containers (); at least one staining section or tissue samples, a robotic head () or robotic element () that may move reagent to a predetermined tissue sample, said robotic element () being moveable above the reagent and the staining sections, a control element () that may manage a staining process, a 2-D optical sensor () to detect two-dimensional image data of a relevant property and that can feed the captured image data to the control element (). By providing the robotic element () with a 2-D optical sensor (), a common image processor may be provided having multiple functions. By using a 2-D optical image processing system, the control system of the apparatus may easily be adapted to read various types of data presentations, just as actual images for sections of the apparatus may be identified in order to assess the condition of the apparatus. The optical sensor may be used to automatically identify the slides and the reagent containers present in the apparatus, just as the optical sensor may be used for checking if a slide is misplaced at or absent from a slide position, etc.

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for automatic processing a biological sample on a carrier, perhaps robotically, by applying predetermined amounts of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, the processing including pre-treatment steps, under the control of an adaptive processing control system using a sample process parameter input that may be independent and an independent process parameter memory that does not interrupt process operation when being used, such that samples may be added or removed without interrupting the processing of other samples. Also included is an image capture function for sample and reagent identification and process monitoring, as well as temperature regulation and environmental control functions.

Method and apparatus for automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples

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Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Gordon Feingold