Abstract:
A system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides, having a stainer ( 1 ) and a coverslipper ( 3 ) that are arranged next to one another. A transfer device ( 2 ), which transports racks with specimen slides from the stainer ( 1 ) to the coverslipper ( 3 ), is provided between the stainer ( 1 ) and the coverslipper ( 3 ). Transport is automated so that operation by the user is substantially reduced.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims priority of the German patent application 101 44 042.1 filed Sep. 7, 2001 which is incorporated by reference herein.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention concerns a system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides. The invention concerns in particular a system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides using a stainer and a coverslipper that are arranged next to one another.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    WO 95/20176 discloses an instrument for automatic deposition of coverslips. The pickup head possesses suction cups, facing outward from the longitudinal axis of the pickup head, to which a vacuum can be applied individually. A piston that is mechanically preloaded downward with a spring is provided between the suction cups. In order to pick up a coverslip, the pickup head is pressed onto the coverslip stack until the suction cups are in contact with the topmost coverslip. The adhesion between the topmost coverslip and the coverslips below it is overcome by means of a shearing motion. The specimen slides that are to be equipped with coverslips are deposited in a drawer. This does not result in any automation of the apparatus, since the user him- or herself must reload specimen slides.  
           [0004]    An automatic stainer and coverslipper are two separate units. According to the existing art, after the staining operation the specimen slides needed to be manually removed from the stainer and inserted into the coverslipper in order to start the process of covering them with coverslips (see Leica brochure CV 5000). Despite the automation of the individual units, manual loading of the coverslipper is necessary. Smooth operation requires that laboratory personnel occupy themselves, at very short intervals of a few minutes, with removing racks from the stainer and loading the coverslipper.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is the object of the invention to create a system intended to guarantee handling of specimen slides in as automatic a fashion as possible. The intervention of an operator during staining and subsequent coverslipping of the specimen slides is intended to be minimized.  
           [0006]    This object is achieved by means of a system which is characterized in that a transfer device is provided between the stainer and the coverslipper. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The subject matter of the invention is depicted schematically in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the Figures, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a stainer in which the charging station is embodied as a drawer;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a coverslipper;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a transfer device that transfers specimen slides from the stainer to the coverslipper;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a side view in which the transfer device is connected to a side wall of the stainer;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 schematically depicts the system according to the present invention, the individual elements being separated from one another and only one side wall of the stainer being depicted; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 schematically depicts the system according to the present invention, the individual elements being assembled. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    It is evident from FIG. 1 that a transport device  4 , which conveys specimen slides to the various processing stations  9 , is provided in stainer  1 . Also provided is a charging station  6  for loading specimens to be treated or racks  5  carrying specimens to be treated. For removing racks  5  from the stainer, a removal station  7  is provided from which racks  5  can be manually conveyed by a user into a downstream element.  
         [0015]    Both charging station  6  and removal station  7  are charged by way of transport device  4 . The specimen slides present in charging station  6  can thus be removed and delivered to the actual processing stations  9  using transport device  4 . After the last processing station  9 , racks  5  are conveyed into removal station  7  so that they are (together) removable therefrom. Removal is accomplished once again automatically by way of the transport device, or the specimen slides can be conveyed directly from a processing station  9  into a transfer position  30  (FIG. 3) of the downstream further element of the system. In the exemplary embodiment selected here, transport device  4  is embodied as a robot arm  8 . An opening  33 , through which racks  5  with specimen slides  5   a  can be conveyed to a downstream station or into transfer position  30 , is configured in a side wall  32  of stainer  1 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a coverslipper  3 . Coverslipper  3  comprises a housing  11  that has on one side wall  13  multiple attachment elements  13   a  that coact with attachment elements on the corresponding side wall  22  of transfer device  2 . Side wall  13  also comprises an opening  14  through which specimen slides are conveyed by transfer device  2  into coverslipper  3 . The individual specimen slides are arranged in special racks (not depicted). The interior of coverslipper  3  is covered by a pivotable hood  15 . Front wall  16  of the coverslipper comprises a first drawer  17  in which is configured a further opening  17   a  into which a user interface (not depicted) can be inserted. Provided next to first drawer  17  for the user interface and the access to the electronics of coverslipper  3  is a detachable panel  18  through which-the user once again gains access to the interior of coverslipper  3 . An output tray  19  for specimen slides equipped with coverslips is also provided on coverslipper  3 . Coverslipper  3  can be switched on with a switch  12 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 discloses an element (transfer device  2 ) of the system according to the present invention that creates communication between stainer  1  and coverslipper  3 . Transfer device  2  is provided between stainer  1  and coverslipper  3 , and thus connects stainer  1  to coverslipper  3 . Transport device  4  of stainer  1  places rack  5  with the stained specimen slides  5   a  onto a transfer position  30  of transfer device  2 . For that purpose, transfer device  2  has a passage  20  that is defined by a cutout  21  in first side wall  22  and a cutout  23  in second side wall  24 . Transfer device  2  possesses a front panel  25  through which access to the interior of transfer device  2  is possible. Transfer device  2  is followed by coverslipper  3 . Opening  14 , in a side wall  13  of coverslipper  3  opposite second side wall  24  of transfer device  2 , is configured so that transfer device  2  can transfer racks  5  with specimen slides  5   a  into coverslipper  3  and can remove racks  5  without specimen slides from coverslipper  3 . Communication between coverslipper  3  and stainer  1  occurs as follows: stainer  1  queries whether it can place a rack  5  in coverslipper  3 . The response from coverslipper  3  can be “yes” or “no.” If “no,” the query is repeated at periodic intervals. If “yes,” the rack is put in place and a “rack transferred” message is generated. Coverslipper  3  responds “rack received.” This procedure eliminates long waiting times for the rack in the transfer position. A quick transfer is advantageous because the specimen slides usually sit in a bath of solvent (often xylene), and wet specimen slides that were just recently stored in solvent exhibit considerably better flow behavior for the coverslip adhesive.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of transfer device  2 , which is connected to one side wall  32  of stainer  1 . For simplicity&#39;s sake, only side wall  32  of stainer  1  is depicted. Attachment elements  26 , which are provided with corresponding attachment elements (not depicted) on side wall  32  of stainer  1 , are again provided on first side wall  22  of transfer device  2 . Attachment elements  26 , which coact with attachment elements  13   a  on side wall  13  of coverslipper  3 , are also provided in second side wall  24  of transfer device  2 . Transfer device  2  comprises a housing  27  that has a bottom  28 , a front panel  25 , a back wall  29  opposite front panel  25 , and the first and the second mutually opposite side wall  22  and  24  already mentioned. Also configured in transfer device  2  is a passage  20  that is defined substantially by a first and a second cutout  21  and  23  in first and second side wall  22  and  24 . Transfer position  30  for racks  5  is provided in the region of first cutout  21  in first side wall  22 . Cutout  21  in first side wall  22  is arranged opposite an opening  33  in side wall  32  of stainer  1 . Through the opening in side wall  32  of stainer  1 , racks with specimen slides are transferred out of stainer  1  to the transfer device. The transfer once again occurs through cutout  21  in first side wall  22  of transfer device  2 . Transfer device  2  is additionally equipped with a covering hood  34  so as thereby to offer protection against contamination.  
         [0019]    As depicted in FIG. 5, the elements of the system are shown separated from one another for better clarity. In operation, stainer  1  (only one side wall  32  shown here), transfer device  2 , and coverslipper  3  are connected to one another. Stainer  1  possesses lateral opening  33 , through which transport device  4  of the stainer can pass. Specifically, transport device  4  is used on the one hand to accept racks with specimen slides from other processing stations and to transfer racks with specimen slides for transfer to transfer device  2 . Transfer device  2  comprises passage  20 , which is constituted by a cutout  21  in first side wall  22  and a cutout  23  in second side wall  24 . A transport apparatus  35 , which passes out through cutout  23  in second side wall  24  and extends into coverslipper  3 , is provided in transfer device  2 . Transport apparatus  35  extends through opening  14  in side wall  13  of coverslipper  3 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 schematically depicts the system according to the present invention in which the individual elements are assembled. Stainer  1 , transfer device  2 , and coverslipper  3  are here connected to one another and form a system substantially closed off externally.  
         [0021]    The invention has been described with reference to a particular exemplary embodiment. It is nevertheless self-evident that changes and modifications can be made without thereby leaving the range of protection of the claims below.  
         [0022]    Parts List  
         [0023]    [0023] 1  Stainer  
         [0024]    [0024] 2  Transfer device  
         [0025]    [0025] 3  Coverslipper  
         [0026]    [0026] 4  Transport device in coverslipper  
         [0027]    [0027] 5  Racks  
         [0028]    [0028] 5   a  Specimen slides  
         [0029]    [0029] 6  Charging station  
         [0030]    [0030] 7  Removal station  
         [0031]    [0031] 8  Robot arm  
         [0032]    [0032] 9  Processing station  
         [0033]    [0033] 11  Housing  
         [0034]    [0034] 12  Switch  
         [0035]    [0035] 13  Side wall of coverslipper  
         [0036]    [0036] 13   a  Attachment element  
         [0037]    [0037] 14  Opening  
         [0038]    [0038] 15  Pivotable hood  
         [0039]    [0039] 16  Front wall  
         [0040]    [0040] 17  First drawer  
         [0041]    [0041] 17   a  Opening  
         [0042]    [0042] 18  Detachable panel  
         [0043]    [0043] 19  Output tray  
         [0044]    [0044] 20  Passage  
         [0045]    [0045] 21  Cutout  
         [0046]    [0046] 22  First side wall  
         [0047]    [0047] 23  Cutout  
         [0048]    [0048] 24  Second side wall  
         [0049]    [0049] 25  Front panel  
         [0050]    [0050] 26  Attachment elements  
         [0051]    [0051] 27  Housing  
         [0052]    [0052] 28  Bottom  
         [0053]    [0053] 29  Back wall  
         [0054]    [0054] 30  Transfer position  
         [0055]    [0055] 32  Side wall of stainer  
         [0056]    [0056] 33  opening  
         [0057]    [0057] 34  Covering hood  
         [0058]    [0058] 35  Transport apparatus