Patent ID: 8257968
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: G01N,G16H,Y02A,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automatic staining apparatus comprising: at least one removable reagent container positioned on a reagent rack within a reagent section; at least one slide positioned within a slide section; wherein a robotic element is configured to move above the reagent section and above the slide section during a staining process and wherein the reagent rack is removable below the plane of the robotic element; wherein the reagent section is situated to enable the at least one removable reagent container to be added to or removed from the apparatus without interrupting the movement of the robotic element during dispensing of at least one reagent during the staining process; wherein the robotic element comprises an optical sensor configured to automatically identify new slides and reagent bottles loaded into the apparatus during the staining process; and a control element to which the robotic element is responsive, the control element configured to monitor insertion or removal of the at least one removable reagent container during the staining process and to continue movement of the robotic element and dispensing of at least one reagent during insertion or removal of the at least one removable reagent container.