Patent ID: 8663978
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
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; a robotic element configured to move above the reagent section and above the slide section during a staining process, wherein the reagent rack is removable below the plane of the robotic element and 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; an optical sensor associated with the robotic element; and a control element, the control element configured to establish communication with a server; direct operation of the robotic element; direct operation of the optical sensor to obtain data; communicate the data obtained by the optical sensor to the server; and 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.