Slide Staining Assembly Sealed Reaction Chamber Hydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated sample staining systems face issues with sample dehydration, leading to the need for constant hydration and additional treatment steps, which can result in inefficient reagent application and sample deterioration due to calibration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A sample processing assembly with a closure body that forms a reaction chamber with a substrate, utilizing guides, biasing means, and a compressible cover member to maintain a sealed environment, ensuring consistent reagent application and minimizing dehydration, along with a thermo module for temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robotic reagent dispensation system is used to constantly hydrate tissue samples, then sample dehydration is compensated, but the availability of robotic dispensers for substantive treatment steps is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the reaction chamber into a sealed environment that maintains its own humidity, separating the hydration function from the reagent dispensing function. This allows the robotic dispenser to focus on substantive treatment steps while the sealed chamber maintains sample hydration independently
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed reaction chamber with lid acts as an intermediary between the sample and the environment, maintaining humidity through physical containment rather than requiring active reagent dispensing for hydration
2Quantity of substance
If wicking action is used to draw reagents into the reaction chamber, then reagent flow is achieved, but precise calibration is required to avoid missing the wicking target
Solution Approach 1:
The wicking material automatically draws reagents into the chamber through capillary action without requiring precise robotic positioning or calibration. The system self-regulates reagent flow based on the material's inherent wicking properties rather than requiring external control
Solution Approach 2:
The wicking material can be a disposable component that is replaced rather than calibrated, eliminating the need for precision alignment and calibration procedures while ensuring consistent reagent flow
3Reliability
If a sealed reaction chamber is formed with a cover member, then sample dehydration is reduced, but the complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member acts as a flexible or thin sealing element that forms a sealed chamber when engaged with the base, creating a humidity-retentive environment with minimal structural complexity. The thin film or flexible shell design maintains simplicity while achieving the sealing function
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 solution effectively reduces sample dehydration, enhances reagent application consistency, and improves staining efficiency by maintaining a controlled environment, reducing the need for frequent calibration and additional hydration steps.
Implementation Method 1
a closure body configured to releasably retain a cover member, the closure body being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position. When a substrate is placed in the assembly and the closure body is in the substantially closed position while retaining a cover member, a reaction chamber is formed for processing a sample
Implementation Method 2
utilizing guides, biasing means, and a compressible cover member to maintain a sealed environment
Implementation Method 3
along with a thermo module for temperature control
Data Source
AI summary
A sample processing assembly for treatment of a sample on a substrate includes a mounting surface for the substrate and a closure body configured to releasably retain a cover member. The closure body is movable between an open position and a substantially closed position. When a substrate is placed in the assembly and the closure body is in the substantially closed position while retaining a cover member, a reaction chamber is formed for processing a sample. A cover member for use with the sample processing assembly is also provided.