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:
Oct. 14, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2003
Roy A. Ostgaard, Bolton, MA (US);
Lewis A. Capriccio, Westford, MA (US);
Theodore S. Geiselman, Bolton, MA (US);
Robert E. Jennings, Andover, MA (US);
Bruce Levkoff, Sharon, MA (US);
Edward O'connell, Medford, MA (US);
Douglas A. Tenney, North Reading, MA (US);
Hugh Vartanian, Littleton, MA (US);
Roy A. Ostgaard, Bolton, MA (US);
Lewis A. Capriccio, Westford, MA (US);
Theodore S. Geiselman, Bolton, MA (US);
Robert E. Jennings, Andover, MA (US);
Bruce Levkoff, Sharon, MA (US);
Edward O'Connell, Medford, MA (US);
Douglas A. Tenney, North Reading, MA (US);
Hugh Vartanian, Littleton, MA (US);
Cytyc Corporation, Marlborough, MA (US);
Abstract
An automated system for preparing a plurality of cytological specimens from a plurality of fluid samples in vials includes an apparatus for collecting a monolayer of cells from each sample and transferring the cells to a microscope slide for fixing, staining, and inspection. The system includes a first loading station for receiving the sample vials, a second loading station for receiving consumables such as filter membranes, a slide dispenser, and an unloading area for removing completed specimen slides. To maintain one-to-one correlation between the samples and specimens produced therefrom, the system includes a subsystem for identifying each sample and permanently marking each slide with corresponding indicia prior to transferring the specimen thereto.