Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20090117611?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=5,545,531
Timestamp: 2014-12-26 02:07:47
Document Index: 354144626

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 102', 'art 2', 'arts 47', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 50', 'arts 47', 'art 50', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 80', 'art 60', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 60', 'art 80', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 80', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60']

Patent US20090117611 - Device and method for wetting objects - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe invention relates to a device and a method for wetting objects with a liquid by means of a system for carrying a specimen slide that is disposed at a distance from a platform. To reduce liquid consumption, the specimen slide is raised or lowered relative to the platform by means of a system....http://www.google.com/patents/US20090117611?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20090117611 - Device and method for wetting objectsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20090117611 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/352,356Publication dateMay 7, 2009Filing dateJan 12, 2009Priority dateApr 24, 2002Also published asDE10218988C1, US7476543, US7635453, US20060239858, WO2003091705A1Publication number12352356, 352356, US 2009/0117611 A1, US 2009/117611 A1, US 20090117611 A1, US 20090117611A1, US 2009117611 A1, US 2009117611A1, US-A1-20090117611, US-A1-2009117611, US2009/0117611A1, US2009/117611A1, US20090117611 A1, US20090117611A1, US2009117611 A1, US2009117611A1InventorsHorst Dieter Becker, Xaver EinsleOriginal AssigneeTexogene International GmbhExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManClassifications (10), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetDevice and method for wetting objectsUS 20090117611 A1Abstract The invention relates to a device and a method for wetting objects with a liquid by means of a system for carrying a specimen slide that is disposed at a distance from a platform. To reduce liquid consumption, the specimen slide is raised or lowered relative to the platform by means of a system.
1. A method of wetting objects on a specimen slide with a liquid that contains one of an analytical reagent and a substance to be isolated, the method comprising:
providing a platform; supporting said specimen slide on a support system to be disposed at a distance from said platform to form an interspace between said platform and said specimen slide for receiving said liquid; and relatively adjusting an angular position between said platform and said specimen slide with respect to each other to distribute said liquid in the interspace between said platform and said specimen slide when the platform and the specimen slide are brought from a first angular position into a second angular position relative to each other, and to remove the liquid from the interspace between the platform and the specimen slide when the platform and the specimen slide are brought from said second angular position into said first angular position relative to each other. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein relatively adjusting the angular position between said platform and said specimen slide includes adjusting the angular position of said specimen slide relative to said platform.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein relatively adjusting the angular position between said platform and said specimen slide includes adjusting the angular position of said platform relative to said specimen slide.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeatedly adjusting the angular position between the platform and the specimen slide.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein repeatedly adjusting the angular position between the platform and the specimen slide includes mixing different liquids within the interspace between said specimen slide and said platform.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein relatively adjusting the angular position between said platform and said specimen slide includes adjusting said angular position through 10 to 25�.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein relatively adjusting the angular position between said platform and said specimen slide includes adjusting said angular position through 8� to 10�.
8. A device for wetting objects on a specimen slide with a liquid containing one of an analytical reagent and a substance to be isolated, the device comprising:
a platform disposed a distance from said specimen slide; and an adjustment system that adjusts a relative angular position between the platform and the specimen slide with respect to each other at least between a first angular position and a second angular position such that movement from the first angular position to the second angular position distributes the liquid over a predetermined area between said platform and said specimen slide. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein movement from said second angular position to said first angular position removes said liquid from the predetermined area between said platform and said specimen slide.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the angular position of said platform is adjustable relative to said specimen slide.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the angular position of said specimen slide is adjustable relative to said platform.
12. The device of claim 8, wherein the angular position between said specimen slide and said platform is repeatedly adjustable.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein different liquids are mixable in said predetermined area between said specimen slide and said platform by repeatedly adjusting said angular position between the specimen slide and the platform.
14. A device for wetting objects on a specimen slide, the device comprising:
a platform disposed a distance from the specimen slide; and an adjustment system that adjusts angularly the position of one of the platform and the specimen slide relative to the other of the platform and specimen slide between a first angular position and a second angular position such that movement from the first angular position to the second angular position distributes the liquid over an area between said platform and the specimen slide. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein movement from said second angular position to said first angular position removes said liquid from the predetermined area between the platform and the specimen slide.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the angular position of said platform is adjustable relative to the specimen slide.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein the angular position of the specimen slide is adjustable relative to the platform.
18. The device of claim 14, wherein a relative angular position between the specimen slide and the platform is repeatedly adjustable.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/512,355 filed 7 Jul. 2005, which claims the benefit of PCT/EP2003/04192 filed 23 Apr. 2003, which claims priority to German Application No. 102 18 988.9 filed 24 Apr. 2002. These related applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention refers to a device and a method for wetting objects, particularly materials, with a liquid that may contain an analytical reagent or a substance to be isolated, by use of a system for carrying a specimen slide that is disposed at a distance from a platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The device can be used for detection, for example by use of staining, hybridization, nucleic acid-protein binding or protein-protein binding methods, as well as for the isolation of structures and/or constituents of biological materials.
The claimed device is intended for wetting, particularly for staining or hybridizing, biological materials such as tissues, DNA/RNA, biochips etc, with a liquid. The device is fitted with a system for carrying the specimen slide that is disposed at a distance from the platform. With a system that is integrated with the device for wetting, it is made possible to raise or lower the specimen slide relative to the platform or the platform relative to the specimen slide. In the raised position of the specimen slide, the required amount of liquid can be introduced into the device. When the specimen slide is lowered, the introduced liquid is uniformly distributed in the interspace between the platform surface and the underside of the specimen slide. Repeated raising and lowering of the specimen slide makes it possible to mix different liquids with one another. In the lowered position of the specimen slide, the wetted tissue present between the platform surface and the underside of the specimen slide can be examined microscopically.
Another preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the end of the plat-form disposed in the region of the support system is tapered to a point and/or rounded. During the raising and lowering of the specimen slide, this configuration of the end of the platform makes it possible for the liquid to run off or be completely removed from the interspace between the platform surface and the underside of the specimen slide.
Another preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the end of the plat-form disposed in the region of the support system is provided with at least one drain or suction hole. Through this hole, the liquid can be aspirated when needed. The hole preferably has a diameter of 0.5 to 3 mm. The hole can be used not only to remove, but also to supply the liquid. The supplying and removal of the liquid is preferably carried out in the raised position of the specimen slide. The hole can also be disposed outside the platform, namely somewhat below the platform.
A preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that, during the raising and lowering, the specimen slide is swiveled through 1 to 25� and particularly through 8 to 10�. In the course of studies concerning the present invention, these swiveling angles were found to be particularly advantageous.
On the surface of platform 7 are present three elevated support points 11, 12 and 13. Support point 11 is disposed on a rounded end 15 of platform 7. The two support points 12 and 13 are disposed on a rounded end 18 of platform 7, said rounded end being located opposite rounded end 15. The rectangular surface 8 extends between the two rounded ends 15 and 18 of platform 7. On one short side of reaction surface 8, about halfway in-between, is located support point 11. On the opposite short side of reaction surface 8 are located the two support points 12 and 13, each at the end of the corresponding side.
At the rounded end 18 of platform 7 there is formed an essentially semicircular projection 20 that fits into suction hole 21 which extends at an angle through platform 7. The purpose of suction hole 21 is to draw off the liquid from reaction surface 8.
At rounded end 18, on platform 7, there is provided a step 23 which becomes a pipetting surface 25. Pipetting surface 25 is provided with an essentially rectangular base surface the ends of which that face away from step 23 are rounded. Moreover, pipetting surface 25 is tilted toward platform 7. A supply opening 27 for the liquid is provided at the upper end of pipetting surface 25.
From the enlarged cut-out presented in FIG. 2, it is quite evident that pipetting surface 25 is limited by an enclosing wall 32 which, as seen from the top, is essentially U-shaped. From the ends of enclosing wall 32 extend straight connecting walls 33 and 34 which are disposed parallel to the short sides of the rectangular reaction surface 8. The free ends of connecting walls 33 and 34 are bent in rectangular manner and run parallel to the long sides of rectangular reaction surface 8. The bent ends of connecting walls 33 and 34 form support surfaces 35 and 36 for a specimen slide during raising and lowering. Support surfaces 35 and 36 are at the most as high as support points 12 and 13. Moreover, at the bent ends of connecting walls 33 and 34 there are formed stopping surfaces 37 and 38 for a specimen slide during raising and lowering said surfaces pre-venting an undesirable displacement of the specimen slide during raising and lowering.
It can be seen from FIG. 1 that at the rounded end 15 of platform 7 there is present a bar 40 for the reinforcement of frame 3. On the side of bar 40 facing away from platform 7, which bar is disposed at an angle to frame 3, a through-hole 41 is hollowed out in bottom 5. Through-hole 41 makes it possible for a striker 44 to pass through, said striker being able to be driven and actuated to move back and forth in the lower part 2. At the free end of striker 44 there is provided a punctiform support surface 45 for one end of a specimen slide (not shown). The purpose of striker 44 is to raise a specimen slide resting on support points 11 to 13 of platform 7.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the manner in which coupling parts 47 and 48 provided on lower part 2 are coupled with upper part 3. In upper part 1 is always provided an insertion part 50 which can enter a complementary opening 51 of coupling parts 47, 48. Both the insertion part 50 and opening 51 are slightly conical in shape to ensure a liquid-tight connection between the two parts in the assembled condition.
In upper part 1′ represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, not only one reservoir, but several reservoirs 52, 53, 54 and 55 for different liquids are provided in the vicinity of pipetting surface 25. Reservoirs 52 and 55 are disposed laterally next to pipetting surface 25. On the side of pipetting surface 25 facing away from platform 7 is located a mixing cup 57 wherein different liquids can be mixed with one another before they are applied to pipetting surface 25. Reservoirs 53 and 54 are disposed to the side of mixing cup 57. In the reservoirs are stored prepared, measured amounts of, for example, labeled ISH [in-situ hybridization] probes or antibodies that are removed by the pipetting robot only when needed for actual use.
For the embodiments represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, reaction surface 8 is somewhat smaller than a specimen slide. In the lowered position, the specimen slide (not shown) rests on support points 11 to 13 that protrude from the surface of platform 7. In both the raised and the lowered position, the specimen slide rests with one short side on stop surfaces 37 and 38, the specimen slide protruding slightly beyond the corresponding platform end. The opposite end of the specimen slide protrudes further beyond the corresponding end of platform 7. In the lowered position, the further protruding end of the specimen slide is disposed above striker 41. When the specimen slide is not in the raised position, support points 11 to 13 bear the specimen slide.
When striker 44 (see FIG. 1) is moved out of lower part 2, the punctiform support surface 45 of striker 44 touches the underside of the specimen slide. Further movement of striker 44 at first raises the specimen slide from support point 11 at one end of platform 7. When striker 44 is moved even further out of lower part 2, the specimen slide lifts from support points 12 and 133 as well and comes to rest on support surfaces 35 and 36 which at the most are as high as support points 12 and 13. In the raised position of the specimen slide, the liquid present on the platform can pull back as far as suction hole 21 and can thus be completely removed by suction.
Suction hole 21 can also be used as a supply hole. Moreover, to the left or right of suction hole 21 there can be provided one or more holes performing the functions of �filling� or �draining�. For tissue staining, it is particularly advantageous if in addition to suction opening 21 there is provided another hole in platform 7 through which dewaxing solutions can be supplied or removed. Separate removal of dewaxing solutions is of particular advantage because normally the paraffin present in the dewaxing liquid after dewaxing will plug up the suction hoses. Suction hole 21 could also be plugged by the dewaxing liquid which would prevent further treatment of the tissue section.
On the sides of and protruding from upper part 60 are provided two gripping strips 75 and 76. Upper part 60 is made as a single piece from a plastic material, for example by injection molding.
FIG. 10 shows a view in perspective of lower part 80 corresponding to upper part 60 represented in FIGS. 8 and 9. Lower part 80 is shaped as a square plate on the center of which is disposed a heating plate 81. Besides heating plate 81, two strikers 83 and 84 are provided in lower part 80, said strikers being movable back and forth. Strikers 83 and 84 are disposed on one side and at the corners of heating plate 81. On the opposite side of heating plate 81 are provided two supports 86 and 87 for the specimen slide during raising and lowering. On supports 86 and 97, there are provided horizontally disposed support surfaces 88 and 89 for a specimen slide during raising and lowering. Moreover, on supports 86 and 87 are provided vertically disposed stop surfaces 90 and 91 for the specimen slide.
FIG. 11 shows upper part 60 and lower part 80 in the assembled condition. Upper part 60 is disposed so that platform 61 is located above the heating plate. Upper part 60 is fastened to lower part 80, for example by means of a snap-on connection.
FIG. 12 shows a specimen slide 94 resting on the device represented in FIG. 11. In the lowered position, specimen slide 94 rests only on support points 66 to 68 of platform 61. When strikers 83 and 84 raise the specimen slide, said slide lifts off the support points 66 to 68 and comes to rest on the support surfaces 88 and 89 provided on supports 86 and 87.
FIG. 13 shows another embodiment with an upper part 60′ similar to that represented in FIG. 12. Upper part 60′ is disposed on a rectangular lower part 80′. Lower part 80′ is rectangular and both longer and wider that specimen slide 94. On lower part 80′ there are disposed two U-shaped carrier elements 95 and 96 each with two branches. On the two branches of the U-shaped carrier elements 95 and 96 there are provided support tracks 97 constituting support surfaces for the ends of specimen slide 94. The two U-shaped carrier elements 95 and 96 are disposed on both sides of upper part 60′ and thus at a distance from one another such that specimen slide 94 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction. The displaceability of specimen slide 94 on carrier elements 95 and 96 ensures that different segments of specimen slide 94 can be disposed above upper part 60′. Specimen slide 94 can thus be displaced on the platform of upper part 60′.
FIGS. 17 to 19 show different views of the upper part of another embodiment of the device of the invention. The upper part has a platform 170 above which a specimen slide can be disposed. The interspace between platform 170 and the underside of the specimen slide (not shown) can be supplied with a liquid by means of a pipetting surface 175. The liquid can be applied to pipetting surface 175 either with the aid of a pipette or through a supply opening 177 provided in pipetting surface 175. Pipetting surface 175 is inclined toward platform 170, the end of pipetting surface 175 that faces platform 170 being disposed slightly below the platform surface. Between pipetting surface 175 and platform 170 is a groove 179 in the center of which is provided an opening 180 for the removal of the liquid. Removal opening 180 has a diameter of about 1 mm. The advantage of the disposition and of the shape of removal opening 180 is that the liquid to be removed can be removed without the use of an additional pump.
When the device shown in FIGS. 20 to 23 is operating, an automatically guided pipette removes the required reagent, for example from a reagent strip disposed on the long side of the platform, and transports it to a pipetting channel 230 disposed at the end of plat-form 220 that is tapered to a point. The pipette (not shown) or the pipetting needle dips slightly into pipetting channel 230 and releases the reagent. At the same time, by the downward movement of the pipetting needle during the immersion into pipetting channel 230, swiveling arm 224 of platform 220 is pressed downward, namely toward specimen slide 203, by a pin (not shown) attached to the pipetting arm. As a result, by means of hinge 211, 212, 215, 216 platform 220 tilts upward and is thus placed in a crosswise position. The liquid reagent pipetted in remains between the top side of specimen slide 203 and the lower end of pipetting channel 230 until the pipetting needle is displaced upward and the pin is at the same time displaced from swiveling arm 224 of platform 220. As a result of its inherent weight or by the action of an additional spring system, platform 220 then moves downward. Subsequently, the liquid reagent spreads out between the upper side of specimen slide 203, which is in the down position, and the fastened tissue or some other biological material and the complete underside of platform 220 so that the object to be studied is wetted.
The chambers are constructed so that they may be used for various applications. For some of these applications, particularly for in-situ hybridization or even general hybridization of, for example, microarrays, the chambers must be heated and cooled. This is true particularly for the in-situ polymerase chain reaction [PCR] or for biochips, for which the generally known PCR cycles must be used. This means, for example, that within a few seconds it is necessary to cool from 94� C. to 72� C., and then to reheat to 94� C. Other temperature levels are, for example, 55� C. or 23� C. For applications in the field of immunohistochemistry, the possibility of heating to 45� C. will suffice. If the ambient temperature does not exceed 25� C., active cooling is not necessary. Heating gives the best results in terms of acceleration of the biochemical process. An active increase in temperature could be omitted if one is prepared to wait for the completion of the process over a longer period of time. In general, the use of special stains requires no increase in temperature. For such uses, the provision of a heating/cooling mechanism could therefore be omitted.
Before the chambers are sold, different reagents are placed into the chamber reservoirs which are then sealed. The sealing can be accomplished in different ways, for example by means of films or in some other air-tight manner. During the actual use, these reagents must be removed from the reservoirs and applied to the pipetting surface in a certain order. This is preferably accomplished by piercing the reservoir seal with the tip of the pipette using a conventional pipette arm and aspirating the reagent liquid into the tip of the pipette. The pipette is then transported to the pipetting surface and the liquid is released. Such pipetting platforms are obtainable in the usual manner and are programmable as needed.
Classifications U.S. Classification435/40.5, 435/309.1International ClassificationC12M1/00, G01N1/30, G01N1/28, G01N1/31Cooperative ClassificationG01N1/312, G01N1/2813European ClassificationG01N1/31B, G01N1/28FLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 4, 2013SULPSurcharge for late paymentDec 4, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 2, 2013REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google