The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1992
Stanley N Lapidus, Bedford, NH (US);
Lewis T Polk, Jr, Bedford, MA (US);
Arlen M O'Lari, Chelmsford, MA (US);
Cytyc Corporation, Malborough, MA (US);
Abstract
A cartridge-like holder or carrier for automatic operation with a specimen processor has a frame for removable and replaceable alignment in operative engagement with the specimen processor and has multiple supports, each of which removably and replaceably supports an implement such as a container of a biological specimen having cellular particles suspended in a liquid, a filter device for use in collecting cellular particles from the liquid in the sample container, a viewing screen onto which the collected cellular particles can be transferred from the filter device and, further, an output container for receiving the viewing screen with the cellular particles thereon. A transfer mechanism on the apparatus is operable for the automatic transfer of the viewing screen from a support on the frame, where it received the cellular particles, to an output container at a further support on the frame. The cartridge apparatus brings to the specimen processor the sample and all disposable devices, i.e., sample contacting implements, and receives the final prepared specimen and all waste materials and disposables, thereby leaving the processor clean of contact with the sample and operative with successive samples, by way of separate cartridges, without inter-sample cleaning and without risk of inter-sample contamination.