Method and apparatus for automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples

US7875245B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DAKO DENMARK A/S · DK

Inventors

• John Favuzzi · Lompoc, US
• Kristopher Buchanan · Fort Collins, US
• Michael T. Barber · Conshohocken, US
• Loren Bland · Lompoc, US
• Dawn M. Rohrbacker · Fort Collins, US
• Robert M. Clark · Liberty, US
• Gordon Feingold · Lompoc, US
• Benno Guggenheimer · Fort Collins, US
• Marc Key · Ventura, US
• Merritt M Martin · Fort Collins, US
• Robert L. Lathrop, Jr. · San Jose, US
• Jeffery L. Rau · Fort Collins, US
• Jonathan Sweda · Copenhagen, DK
• Douglas F. Sweet · Lompoc, US
• John Van Bosch · Ventura, US
• Lars Winther · Haslev, DK
• Rosanne Welcher · Ventura, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2005
• Grant date: Jan 25, 2011
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2028

Classification

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

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for automatic processing a biological sample on a carrier, perhaps robotically, by applying predetermined amounts of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, the processing including pre-treatment steps, under the control of an adaptive processing control system using a sample process parameter input that may be independent and an independent process parameter memory that does not interrupt process operation when being used, such that samples may be added or removed without interrupting the processing of other samples. Also included is an image capture function for sample and reagent identification and process monitoring, as well as temperature regulation and environmental control functions.