Systems and methods for the automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples

US7603201B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DAKO DENMARK A/S · DK

Inventors

• Gordon Feingold · Lompoc, US
• James B. Gilmartin · Lompoc, US
• Mark Richard Holbrook · Fort Collins, US
• John Favuzzi · Lompoc, US
• Marc Key · Ventura, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 23, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 13, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 3, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/2575
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods allowing for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.