Tissue Processing System Slide Carriage Manifold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated tissue processing systems for laboratory slides face challenges in efficiently delivering and managing reagents, waste fluid, and processing parameters, leading to potential human error, inefficiency, and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A tissue processing system with a slide carriage, manifold, and reagent cartridge design that allows precise control over fluid delivery, waste management, and processing parameters, using a slide holder with a waste fluid exit port and a cartridge with individually encoded wells for automated reagent dispensing based on printed codes, enabling efficient and accurate processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated tissue processing systems are used to reduce human error and improve efficiency, then processing reliability and speed are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a slide carriage for holding and positioning slides, a manifold for fluid distribution, multiple cartridges containing different reagents, and individual wells for specific processing steps. Each module operates independently but coordinates through the control system, allowing the complex automation task to be broken into manageable segments that improve reliability while containing complexity in modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold serves multiple functions by distributing different fluids (reagents, wash solutions, mounting media) through a single centralized component. The slide carriage can hold multiple slides and position them sequentially. The control system manages multiple cartridges and wells, coordinating their operations to perform various processing steps. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, managing device complexity while maintaining high automation capability.
2Productivity
If multiple reagents and fluids are managed manually, then flexibility is maintained, but human error increases and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives feedback from sensors that monitor the positions of the slide carriage, manifold, and cartridges, as well as the status of individual wells. This feedback allows the system to automatically adjust operations, ensure proper alignment, verify reagent delivery, and detect any anomalies. The feedback mechanism eliminates manual monitoring and adjustment, thereby reducing human error while maintaining high processing efficiency through automated coordination of multiple reagents and fluids.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise control over fluid delivery is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each well in the cartridge system is designed with specific local characteristics to control fluid delivery precisely. The manifold has individually addressable outlets that can deliver fluids to specific wells with precise positioning. The slide carriage can be positioned at exact locations to align slides with specific well outlets. This localized control approach allows precise fluid delivery to each processing step without requiring complex system-wide control mechanisms, as each component has specialized local control capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue processing system for processing a laboratory slide includes a slide holder for holding the slide, an outlet port positioned to direct a fluid stream onto the slide, and a device for moving the slide holder relative to the outlet port, or vice versa, to adjust a point on the slide at which the fluid stream is delivered onto the laboratory slide. The slide holder includes an absorbent pad configured to be positioned between one wall of the plurality of walls and a free edge of the slide for absorbing fluid travelling along the slide. A manifold of the system includes a first outlet port that directs a first fluid stream from a first fluid passageway onto the slide, and a second outlet port that directs a second fluid stream from a second fluid passageway onto a location of the slide that differs from the first fluid stream.