Automated Specimen Processing Using Capillary Liquid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing biological specimens for analysis, such as microscopy and immunohistochemical staining, face challenges including inconsistent processing due to manual techniques, contamination, excessive reagent usage, and slow diffusion of reagents into tissue, leading to inefficient and costly procedures with high waste generation.
Innovation Solution
A specimen processing system that uses opposable elements to manipulate and deliver liquids across slides via capillary action, controlling temperature and reagent volume to ensure consistent and efficient processing, reducing waste and evaporation losses, while maintaining uniform temperature profiles for improved reagent effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual techniques are used to apply dyes or reagents to specimens, then flexibility in processing is maintained, but processing consistency deteriorates due to individual techniques among technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical application of reagents with an automated liquid delivery system that uses capillary action through opposable elements. This substitution eliminates human technique variation while maintaining processing flexibility through programmable control of the automated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposable elements utilize capillary action to automatically draw and distribute liquids across the specimen surface without external pumping or forcing mechanisms. The system serves itself by leveraging the inherent capillary properties of the materials to achieve consistent liquid distribution.
2Productivity
If dip and dunk automated machines are used to immerse specimens in liquids, then processing speed is improved, but liquid contamination and reagent degradation worsen due to carryover between containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the specimen from the liquid bath environment entirely. Instead of immersing slides in open baths, the system delivers liquids directly to the specimen through opposable elements in a controlled, contained manner, eliminating carryover contamination between processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposable elements act as intermediaries between the liquid reservoir and the specimen. They transfer liquids through capillary action without requiring open baths, preventing direct contact between specimens and large volumes of liquid that could cause contamination or degradation.
3Reliability
If excessive volumes of liquids are used in open containers, then specimen cross-contamination is reduced, but processing cost worsens due to reagent oxidative degradation and evaporative losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses thin capillary channels within the opposable elements to contain and deliver liquids. This thin-film approach minimizes the volume of reagents exposed to air, reducing oxidative degradation and evaporation while maintaining effective coverage of specimens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the volume parameter of liquid reagents from excessive amounts in open containers to precisely controlled small volumes delivered through capillary elements. This parameter change reduces reagent waste and degradation while maintaining processing effectiveness.
4Productivity
If high concentrations of conjugate are used to increase stain rate, then processing time is reduced, but background staining worsens due to non-specific binding
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the concentration parameter of conjugate from high to low levels. By using low concentrations with the capillary delivery system, sufficient staining is achieved without excessive non-specific binding, improving staining quality while maintaining reasonable processing speed through optimized delivery kinetics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves consistent and efficient specimen processing with reduced reagent usage and waste, enhancing the speed and accuracy of analysis by optimizing liquid delivery and temperature control, thereby improving the quality of biological specimen preparation.
Implementation Method 1
A distance separating a non-planar (e.g., curved), wetted surface of the opposable and a slide carrying the specimen is sufficient to form a liquid meniscus layer between the wetted surface and the slide. The meniscus layer contacts at least a portion of the biological specimen and is moved across the slide using capillary and other manipulative action.
Implementation Method 2
The slide holder platen is configured to heat a liquid on a slide at the slide support region
Implementation Method 3
A replenishing rate is determined based on an evaporation rate of the liquid. A supplemental liquid is delivered based on the replenishing rate to substantially compensate for evaporative losses of the liquid.
Data Source
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AI summary
A specimen processing system is capable of processing specimens carried on slides. The specimen processing system can sequentially deliver slides and opposables to specimen processing stations. The specimen processing stations can use the opposables to apply a series of liquids to the specimens. The applied liquid can be moved along the slide using capillary action while the specimen processing stations control the processing temperatures.