Apparatus and method for processing biological samples

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for processing samples on a slide. [Solution] The capillary processing module has a crank for raising and lowering a slide, or a side inlet for applying fluid to the slide, or both. When the crank lowers the slide, a capillary gap is formed between the slide and the chamber floor of the capillary processing module. Due to capillary action, the fluid spreads through the capillary space across the processing area and comes into contact with the sample. When the crank raises the slide, the capillary gap disappears, and the fluid is drawn out of the processing area of ​​the slide.

Claims

1. A chamber having a chamber floor and one or more chamber side walls, The crank is positioned to raise and lower a part of the slide when it rotates. A capillary processing module equipped with the following features.

2. The crank extends from one or more chamber side walls and through the chamber floor. The capillary processing module according to claim 1, which is not present.

3. The aforementioned crank is (i) The crank is positioned to engage with and disengage from the slide as it rotates. The curved portion, the asymmetrical portion, or both, (ii) The drive end that engages with the gear and Having one or more of the above, and having one or more springs so as to seal the chamber from the surrounding environment However, the gear is positioned to apply force to the drive end, as per claim 1 or Capillary processing module as described in 2.

4. a) A cooling device positioned outside the chamber and below the chamber floor, b) A discharge port in the chamber, and a discharge mechanism connected to the discharge port with fluid, c) A barrier surrounding a part of the outlet, preferably the slide in the lowered position At some point, the opening in the barrier allows entry into the outlet, A barrier surrounding the front of the exit, d) A chamber cover that is movablely connected to the chamber, wherein the chamber cover is in the open position It is movable between and the closed position, preferably the fluid port on the chamber lid and the port The port plug is further configured to seal the port, and the port plug is preferred The chamber lid is made of an elastic material, and optionally has the port plug at its end. The device further comprises a plug arm, which moves the port plug toward and toward the port. A chamber lid configured as follows, e) A heater located on the chamber, on the chamber lid, or both thereof, The heater preferably has a heater track made of a resistance heating material, and the heater The track most preferably comprises one or more heated zones and one or more unheated zones. The heater is positioned to be fixed and Capillary treatment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one of the above. Science module.

5. The chamber lid is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The chamber cover is mounted on a frame, and preferably along the long axis of the chamber cover. The frame is attached by a plurality of fasteners positioned in this manner, and the frame is The chamber lid is moved in angular motion around the minor axis of the chamber lid, and the angular motion The fasteners closer to the axis allow for limiting the amount of movement, while the frame is connected to the channel. Attached to the lid, most preferably the capillary processing module is located within the hole in the frame. It has one or more washers, the rear washer having an inner portion with a cross-section smaller than the hole. The capillary processing module according to claim 4, comprising the lid having a portion.

6. The heater is further equipped with a temperature sensor, and optionally, the temperature measurement value is obtained from the temperature sensor. It is configured to receive and adjust the heater or cooling device based on the temperature measurement. Capillary processing module according to claim 4, further comprising the heater, a controller 。

7. The capillary processing module has an inlet in one or more chamber side walls. and, The one or more chamber side walls are connected to the chamber floor by a curved corner. and, The chamber has a first recess and a second recess separated by a processing area, The first recess is where the crank shaft is located, and the second recess is where the outlet is Being located inside and A capillary processing module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising one or more of the above.

8. The aforementioned chamber is Formed from surface-hardened stainless steel, Having one or more surfaces formed from stainless steel alloy SMO254, Having one or more surfaces that are hardened by a coal-stabilizing process, Having one or more surfaces with an inert, corrosion-resistant coating, and amorphous It has one or more surfaces coated with a barrier of silicon, oxygen, and carbon. A capillary processing module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising one or more of the following: Ru.

9. A tissue staining apparatus comprising a capillary processing module according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. a) One or more controllers connected to the capillary processing module, the one The above controller preferably includes (i) the crank, or chamber cover, or pump. , or one or more heaters or cooling devices, or configured for the operation of all of them (ii) The slides are programmed and processed according to the slide staining protocol. It includes one or more software programs, or the software program One or more controllers, including one or more that are configured to receive and execute 、 b) A pipette for dispensing fluid, wherein the capillary processing module is preferably 1 The chamber sidewall has an inlet, which receives fluid from the pipette. Pipetta is in a state of being, c) A robotic arm that grasps and moves the slide, d) One or more reagent viars, e) Apparatus for storing, transporting, or both reagent vials The tissue staining apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising the following:

11. A method for processing a biological sample on a slide, The slide is placed within the capillary processing module according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Toto, Rotating the crank to raise or lower a part of the slide, When the slide is in the lowered position, a capillary gap is formed between the chamber floor and the slide. Forming and A method that includes this.

12. The crank raises and lowers the first end of the slide, and during that time, the second end of the slide The end of the chamber remains on the chamber floor or on a slide support positioned on the chamber floor. The method according to claim 11.

13. The first end of the slide is such that the surface of the slide and the chamber floor are approximately 0.1 The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the object is raised to form an angle of 1 to approximately 25 degrees.

14. A certain amount of the first fluid, preferably about 2000 μL or less of the first fluid, is placed in the chamber. To supply to the floor, The first fluid is spread across the processing area of ​​the slide by capillary force, The method involves raising the slide by rotating the crank, The first fluid is withdrawn from the processing area by the upward movement of the slide, (i) The slide is repeatedly rotated by (i) the crank, optionally. Raise and lower the device to mix the fluid, or to prevent local depletion of the reagent, or To move or remove the bubbles, or all of them, the first fluid is extracted. (ii) to spread it open, and to raise the slide by rotating the crank. A mechanism that causes it to descend or both, and also provides suction at the outlet. By activating it, the first flow from the capillary processing module through the outlet The slide preferably includes one or more of the removal of the body, wherein the slide is the The first fluid passing through the outlet is lowered before the removal is completed. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising:

15. The slide has a first slide main surface and a second slide main surface, and the sample is Attached to the first slide main surface, the first slide main surface having the sample is in front The procedure further includes inserting the slide into the chamber so that it faces the chamber floor. The method described in any one of the requests 11 to 14.

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