Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8034292?dq=6,418,462
Timestamp: 2017-01-24 16:37:41
Document Index: 469860139

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 06076973', 'Application No. 08013740', 'Application No. 10177826', 'Application No. 98951995', 'Application No. 98951995', 'Application No. 10177888', 'Application No. 02773621', 'Application No. 02773621', 'Application No. 02773621', 'Application No. 98951995', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004']

Patent US8034292 - Apparatus and methods for automated handling and embedding of tissue samples - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality...http://www.google.com/patents/US8034292?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8034292 - Apparatus and methods for automated handling and embedding of tissue samplesAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS8034292 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 13/047,053Publication dateOct 11, 2011Filing dateMar 14, 2011Priority dateSep 26, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2491999A1, CA2491999C, CN1668908A, CN1684772A, CN100439894C, CN100518940C, CN101435753A, CN101435753B, EP1552266A1, EP1552266A4, EP1552266B1, EP2322938A1, EP2322938B1, EP2998721A1, US7722810, US8734735, US8999270, US9194779, US20050226770, US20100129859, US20110165615, US20110182783, US20140255986, US20150198509, WO2004029584A1Publication number047053, 13047053, US 8034292 B2, US 8034292B2, US-B2-8034292, US8034292 B2, US8034292B2InventorsDouglas P. Allen, Dominic P. DiNovo, George A. Keller, Rebeccah P. Quam, Thomas J. Ward, Warren P. Williamson, IVOriginal AssigneeBiopath Automation LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (167), Non-Patent Citations (34), Classifications (21), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus and methods for automated handling and embedding of tissue samples
Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, an automated machine 10 constructed in accordance with the invention includes a housing 12 having a main door 14 on its front side. When open as shown in FIG. 1, main door 14 exposes an input door 16 and four separate output trays 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d which are removable for purposes to be described below. Tray 18 c is shown partially pivoted outwardly along its lower edge and ready to be lifted out of the machine 10. Doors 14 and 16 also pivot outwardly from their lower edges, however, doors 14 and 16 are attached to housing 12 by respective hinges 14 a, 16 a. The front side of housing 12 includes openings 20 which allow relatively cool room air to be drawn into thermal electric cooling devices as described below. Housing 12 includes a control panel 22 for operating the machine 10, a paraffin input opening 24 on its top side, and caster wheels 26 on its lower side. A lower inside portion 27 of housing 12 includes the various control components necessary to operate machine 10 as will be described below. As further shown in FIG. 2, paraffin input 24 leads to a container 28 for holding the liquid paraffin. Container 28 is heated to maintain the liquid paraffin at the proper temperature of about 60° C. As generally shown in FIG. 2, input door 16 leads to a cassette and frame assembly dispenser 30 while output trays 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d (FIG. 1) include individual cassette and frame assembly receivers 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d inside housing 12. Each receiver 32 a-d has two vertical rows of spring-biased slots, each slot retaining a single cassette and frame assembly after the embedding operation is complete The machine 10 is loaded with cassette and frame assemblies each containing one or more tissue samples, in cassette and frame assembly dispenser 30. The cassette and frame assemblies or, more broadly speaking, the microtome sectionable supports, may take any suitable form. Preferably, these supports are generally of a form as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,032, and further described below. The tissue samples are embedded in paraffin using the components and methods to be described below before being individually placed within the respective cassette and frame assembly receivers 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d. Referring now to FIG. 3, a pick and place robot 40 includes a pick and place head 42 which is movable along three axes. Specifically, a base 44 rides left and right on rails 46, 48 along a horizontal x-axis as viewed from the front of machine 10. Pick and place head 42 further rides on rails 56, 58 along a horizontal y-axis, that is, toward and away from the front of machine 10. A vertical support 50 carries pick and place head 42 and rides up and down on rails 52, 54 along a vertical z-axis. To achieve these respective movements, three separate motor and drive screw assemblies 60, 62 and 64 are provided. Motor 60 a and drive screw 60 b move base 44 along rails 46, 48. Motor 62 a and drive screw 62 b move pick and place head 42 vertically along rails 52, 54. Motor 64 a and drive screw 64 b move pick and place head 42 in opposite directions along rails 56, 58. Although belt driven screws are shown, it will be appreciated that direct drives or any other types of motive devices may be used instead. For all of the various electrical wiring that is necessary for the motors and control components, flexible conduits 66, 68, 70 are provided to facilitate the various movements of the pick and place robot 40.
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