Slide staining assembly and cover member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11635356-B2
Application number	US-202016910368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2020
Priority date	Nov 1, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A sample processing assembly for treatment of a sample on a substrate includes a mounting surface for the substrate and a closure body configured to releasably retain a cover member. The closure body is movable between an open position and a substantially closed position. When a substrate is placed in the assembly and the closure body is in the substantially closed position while retaining a cover member, a reaction chamber is formed for processing a sample. A cover member for use with the sample processing assembly is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slide staining assembly comprising:
a mounting surface configured to retain a substrate;
a closure body configured to retain a cover member; and
a heater configured to vary a temperature of a reaction chamber,
wherein the closure body is configured to move between a substantially closed position and an open position,
wherein the closure body is further configured to, at the substantially closed position and in a case where both the substrate is retained by the mounting surface and also the cover member is retained by the closure body, form the reaction chamber between the substrate and the cover member, and
wherein the closure body is further configured to, at the open position, retain a latching of tabs, extended from the closure body, latched onto the cover member in a manner in which the cover member is both removed from the substrate and is also releasably attachable to the closure body.

2. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the cover member retained in the closure body.

3. The slide staining assembly according to claim 2 ,
wherein the cover member comprises:
a first side;
a second side opposing the first side;
a void on the first side, the void forming a reaction chamber when the cover member contacts a substrate; and
at least one notch; and
a coupling means for releasably coupling the cover member with a closure body of the sample processing assembly,

wherein the cover member is configured for releasable engagement with the closure body and the at least one notch is shaped to cooperate with a corresponding protrusion on one of a mounting surface of the slide staining assembly and the closure body such that when in use, the notch and protrusion guide the cover member into position in the assembly to form the reaction chamber with the substrate.

4. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cover member is manufactured at least in part from a material selected from the group including: polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (acetal), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylenes including high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), Teflons including Teflon PE and polypropylenes including fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC).

5. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cover member comprises at least one biasing arm configured such that when in use in the slide storing assembly, the biasing arm abuts a reference member on the closure body and, during final closure of the closure body, urges the cover member toward the protrusion on the assembly.

6. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cover member comprises the tabs, and the tabs are configured to release the coupling means and thereby the cover member from the closure body.

7. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the coupling means is adapted for slidable coupling of the cover member and the closure body.

8. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cover member further comprises a release member on the first side, configured to aid separation of the cover member from the substrate.

9. The slide staining assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cover member further comprises a reservoir configured to receive and store a quantity of fluid sufficient for a plurality of treatment steps, and a fluid inlet port for ingress of fluid from the reservoir into the reaction chamber.

10. The slide staining assembly according to claim 9 ,
wherein the reservoir includes an inclined internal wall configured to direct fluid into the fluid inlet port.

11. The slide staining assembly according to claim 9 ,
wherein thicker wall portions are located more distal of the void than are thinner wall portions.

12. The slide staining assembly according to claim 9 ,
wherein the cover member comprises a fluid flow port for fluid communication between the reaction chamber and a fluid source couplable with the fluid flow port.

13. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one first guide configured to limit movement of the substrate in at least a first direction during mounting of the substrate on the mounting surface.

14. The slide staining assembly according to claim 13 ,
wherein the at least one first guide is a protrusion on the mounting surface.

15. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 ,
further comprising at least one of:
a closing biasing means configured to apply a biasing force such that the closure body is biased in the substantially closed position, and
an opening biasing means configured to apply an opening biasing force.

16. The slide staining assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a detention arm comprising a detent and a bearing surface disposed toward one end of the detention arm, such that when an opening force is applied to the bearing surface, the detent is released from a recess in the closure body and the closure body moves to the open position.

17. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a force distribution member configured to distribute a force applied to the closure body.

18. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the closure body includes a first fluid flow path configured for fluid communication with a fluid port in the cover member when retained by the closure body, and
wherein in use the first flow path permits fluid transfer between the reaction chamber and a fluid source associated with the sample processing assembly.

19. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heater is mounted to the mounting surface.

20. The slide staining assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one recess in the mounting surface and arranged co-linearly with at least part of an interior wall of the cover member when retained by the closure body in the substantially closed position,
wherein the at least one recess is configured to facilitate cleaning of a reagent from at least part of the cover member wall.

Assignees

• Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty

Inventors

• Ng Kenneth Heng-Chong
• Dockrill Mark Brian
• Toogood Peter
• Limon Martin
• Dobrogorsky Daniel
• Wilcock Mark
• Boyes Greg
• Rodgers Brendyn
• Bagnato Stephen John
• Perera Ashan Chiranga

Classifications

• G01N1/312 Primary

  for samples mounted on planar substrates · CPC title

• B01L2300/043

  Hinged closures · CPC title

• G01N1/31

  Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• B01L2300/0809

  rectangular shaped · CPC title

• B01L2300/0609

  Holders integrated in container to position an object · CPC title