Automated staining system and reaction chamber

Abstract

A processor assembly including a core module operable to expose a sample on a slide; a staining module operable to apply a stain to the exposed sample; and a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the core module to the staining module. Also, an apparatus including a rectangular body having an open rear end and an opposite front end; a flange having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the flange is coupled to the front end of the body; and a pair of legs extending from second side of the flange, wherein the pair of legs are operable to engage opposite side edges of a slide. A method comprising: exposing a sample on a slide in a core module of a processor assembly; robotically transferring the slide from the core module of the processor assembly to a staining module of the processor assembly; applying a reagent to the exposed sample in the staining module by a thermal inkjet printing process; and after applying the reagent, robotically transferring the slide back to the core module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A processor assembly comprising:
 a core module operable to expose a sample on a slide;   a staining module operable to apply a stain to the exposed sample; and   a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the core module to the staining module.   
     
     
         2 . The processor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the staining module comprises:
 a reagent cartridge comprising a reagent and a thermal inkjet print head; and   a processor including non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to direct application of the reagent from the thermal inkjet print head in a staining area in the staining module.   
     
     
         3 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core module or the staining module comprises an imager operable to capture an image of the sample and the processor includes non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to determine a target location on the sample based on the captured image for application of the reagent from the thermal inkjet printhead of the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge is positioned in a staining area and the staining module comprises a storage station operable to store a plurality of cartridges, wherein prior to directing application of the reagent from the thermal inkjet print head, the instructions cause the cartridge to be retrieved from the storage station and coupled to a printing assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a humidor station in the staining module operable to store the slide, wherein the processor includes non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed caused the slide to be removed from the humidor and aligned with the thermal inkjet print head of the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an antigen retrieval station in the staining module operable to expose antigenic sites on the sample utilizing pressure, wherein the processor includes non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed caused the slide to be transported to the antigen retrieval station and, after an antigen retrieval process, transported to the staining area. 
     
     
         7 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core module comprises a dehydration station, wherein, after staining, the processor includes non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed caused the slide to be transported to the dehydration station. 
     
     
         8 . The processor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the core module comprises a baking station and a dewaxing station. 
     
     
         9 . The processor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the core module comprises an identification station comprising an identifier operable to identify label information on the slide. 
     
     
         10 . The processor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein in the core module, the slide is in a basket operable to contain a plurality of slides and the robotic transfer mechanism is operable to transfer the basket from the core module to the staining module and the processor assembly further comprises a processor including non-transitory machine-readable instructions that when executed cause the slide to be removed from the basket for a printing operation in the staining module. 
     
     
         11 . The processor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge is a single use cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a rectangular body having an open rear end and an opposite front end;   a flange having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the flange is coupled to the front end of the body; and   a pair of legs extending from second side of the flange,   wherein the pair of legs are operable to engage opposite side edges of a slide.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of the pair of legs has an inwardly facing groove comprising a dimension to engage a side edge of a slide in the groove. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of legs are separated from one another a distance such that a face of a slide engaged by the pair of legs is visible. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 exposing a sample on a slide in a core module of a processor assembly;   robotically transferring the slide from the core module of the processor assembly to a staining module of the processor assembly;   applying a reagent to the exposed sample in the staining module by a thermal inkjet printing process; and   after applying the reagent, robotically transferring the slide back to the core module.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein prior to applying the reagent, the method comprises exposing antigenic sites of the exposed sample in the staining module. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein exposing a sample on a slide in the core module comprises placing a basket containing the slide in at least one of a baking station and a dewaxing station. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein robotically transferring the slide from the core module to the staining module comprises robotically transferring a basket containing the slide, the basket having a volume to contain a plurality of slide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein prior to applying the reagent to the exposed sample, the method comprises removing the slide from the basket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein removing the slide from the basket comprises placing a cap on the slide and removing comprises removing the slide by the cap. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein prior to applying the reagent to the exposed sample, the method comprises placing the slide in a humidor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein after robotically transferring the slide back to the core module, the method further comprises dehydrating the sample. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein prior to robotically transferring the slide to the staining module, the method comprises capturing identification information from the slide in the core module.