Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Kyle J Schleifer

Victor Lim

Andreas N Dorsel

Nicholas Michael Sampas

Debra A Sillman

Adrienne Mccampbell

Kristin Briana Bernick

Bo U Curry

Michael P Caren

Peter G Webb

Elecia White

Charles Ladd

Carol T Schembri

Christopher A Schantz

Richard Paul Tella

Jay K Bass

William D Fisher

Russ Klein

Young-Ping Hwung

The present disclosure is directed to an improved method for distinguishing tissue from an embedding medium, such as paraffin in a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sample. The method involves the use of fluorescence of naturally-occurring species in tissue to determine the location of the tissue in the embedded sample. An embedded sample is generally excited by light of a selected wavelength, and the fluorescence emission at an emitted wavelength is used to locate the boundary or location of the tissue in the embedded sample.

Preparation of tissue sections using fluorescence-based detection

This invention is based, at least in part, on use of a tissue collector that reduces or eliminates manual steps in collecting and transferring tissue sections from a microtome to a slide. This invention relates to apparatus and methods for automated tissue sectioning, including slicing and transferring a tissue section from a microtome. The invention also relates to automated systems and methods for slicing and transferring a tissue section onto a slide.

Apparatus and methods for transferring a tissue section

The present disclosure related to apparatus and methods for removing waste of debris from a microtome blade, a microtome blade holder, or both. The invention also relates to automated systems and methods for cleaning a microtome.

Microtome blade and/or microtome blade holder cleaning using adhesive material

A method, apparatus for executing the method, and computer program products for use in such an apparatus. The method includes scanning an interrogating light across multiple sites on an array package including an addressable array of multiple features of different moieties, which scanned sites include multiple array features. Signals from respective scanned sites emitted in response to the interrogating light are detected. The interrogating light power is altered for a first site on the array package during the array scan, based on location of the first site or on a determination that the emitted signal from the first site will be outside a predetermined value absent the altering (which allows for protecting a detector against expected overly bright sites), or is altered during the array scan based on the detected interrogating light power (which allows for compensating for light source drift during an array scan).

Interrogating multi-featured arrays

A method of fabricating an addressable array of biopolymer probes on a substrate according to a target array pattern using a deposition apparatus, and a deposition apparatus which can execute the method and computer program products for the apparatus. The deposition apparatus which, when operated according to a target drive pattern based on nominal operating parameters of the apparatus, provides the probes on the substrate in the target array pattern. The method includes examining at least one operating parameter for an error from a nominal value which error will result in use of the target drive pattern producing a discrepancy between the target array pattern and an actual array pattern deposited. When an error is detected deriving, based on the error, a corrected drive pattern different from the target drive pattern such that use of the corrected drive pattern results in a reduced discrepancy between the target and actual array patterns.

Methods of fabricating an addressable array of biopolymer probes

A maximum sensitivity optical scanning system is disclosed. It finds use in a variety of applications, including the reading of biopolymeric arrays. It operates by scanning sample at a setting selected to result in signal saturation for some, but not all available data. Subsequent scans of the same area are taken at lower sensitivity settings (in terms of detector gain and/or excitation light source gain or attenuation) and data from at least the previously saturated regions is obtained. If system sensitivity is set too low to produce useful results, optional features may adjust sensitivity upward and follow with an increased sensitivity scan as a remedial measure. Full signal sensitivity is better preserved as most needed in taking data for the weakest signals first with the high-level scan. Data for sample producing stronger signals that can better tolerate photobleaching is then taken in one way or another.

Maximum sensitivity optical scanning system

A drop deposition apparatus, and a method and computer program products using the drop deposition apparatus, for fabricating at least one addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate. The drop deposition apparatus has a drop dispenser unit and a sensing element. The method comprises includes for each of multiple addresses, dispensing droplets carrying the biopolymers or biopolymer precursors from a drop dispenser unit onto the sensing element, and onto the substrate so as to fabricate the array. Electrical signals resulting from dispensed droplets striking the sensing element are detected. A performance characteristic of the deposition apparatus is evaluated based on the detected signals.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Kyle J Schleifer