Patent ID: 7476362

Claim:
An apparatus for treating microscope slides, comprising: a slide support assembly comprising a first slide support element for supporting a single first microscope slide and at least one second slide support element for supporting a single second microscope slide, wherein the first slide support element and the at least one second slide support element are each independently movable relative to each other and wherein each first slide support element and each at least one second slide support element is movable by tilting; a first heating element in the first slide support element for heating the first microscope slide and a second heating element in the at least one second slide support element for heating the second microscope slide and wherein the first heating element can heat the first microscope slide independently of the heating of the second microscope slide by the second heating element; a treatment chamber able to contain the first slide support element having the first microscope slide disposed thereon and able to contain the at least one second slide support element having the second microscope slide disposed thereon; a first reagent dispenser for dispensing a first reagent to the first microscope slide from a position above the first microscope slide disposed on the first slide support element and a second reagent dispenser for independently dispensing a second reagent to the second microscope slide disposed on the at least one second slide support element from a position above the second microscope slide; and electromechanical means for controlling application of a first treatment protocol to the first microscope slide and application of a second treatment protocol to the second microscope slide and for controlling movement of the first slide support element into or out of the treatment chamber while the second treatment protocol is being applied to the second microscope slide within the treatment chamber and for controlling movement of the at least one second slide support element into and out of the treatment chamber while the first treatment protocol is being applied to the first microscope slide within the treatment chamber.