Patent ID: 7998408
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: G01N,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for automatic execution of different treatment operations in connection with staining of tissue specimens on microscope slides, wherein the apparatus comprises an assembly of vessels for receiving different liquids for staining of the tissue specimens, a loading station for microscope slides, a conveyor for transfer of carriers with microscope slides from vessel to vessel in accordance with a treatment program, an unloading station for treated microscope slides, and a control unit for controlling the treatment operations in accordance with a data program, wherein the apparatus comprises separate levels (I, II) having associated units for execution of the relevant treatment operations, a first level (I) comprising the loading station and the assembly of said vessels with the appurtenant conveyor, and a second level (II) comprising a station for application of cover glasses on the stained microscope slides, a succeeding station for drying of the cover-slipped microscope slides, and the unloading station, a means being provided for gripping and transfer of carriers with stained microscope slides from the first level (I) to the cover-slipping station on the second level (II), the vessels being arranged in a single rectilinear row from the loading station to a dedicated area for transfer of carriers with stained microscope glasses from the first to the second level, the conveyor comprising a carrier-lifting means arranged to carry out an xz-movement, i.e. movements only in a horizontal x-direction and a vertical z-direction, and the cover-slipping station, the drying station and the unloading station being arranged in succession in a direction which is opposite to the direction from the loading station to the means for transfer of carriers from the first (I) to the second (II) level.