Abstract: An assembly for forming a microchamber for an inverted substrate is disclosed. The assembly can include a body having a chamber formed therein. A dispensing cavity can be provided to supply a reagent to the chamber. A slide support structure can be configured to support the slide such that the tissue sample faces the chamber when the slide is mounted to the slide support structure. The chamber and the slide support structure can be dimensioned such that, when the reagent is supplied to the dispensing cavity, the reagent is drawn to the chamber by way of capillary forces acting on the reagent.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a microchamber for an inverted substrate is disclosed. The assembly can include a body having a chamber formed therein. A dispensing cavity can be provided to supply a reagent to the chamber. A slide support structure can be configured to support the slide such that the tissue sample faces the chamber when the slide is mounted to the slide support structure. The chamber and the slide support structure can be dimensioned such that, when the reagent is supplied to the dispensing cavity, the reagent is drawn to the chamber by way of capillary forces acting on the reagent.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a microchamber for an inverted substrate is disclosed. The assembly can include a body having a chamber formed therein. A dispensing cavity can be provided to supply a reagent to the chamber. A slide support structure can be configured to support the slide such that the tissue sample faces the chamber when the slide is mounted to the slide support structure. The chamber and the slide support structure can be dimensioned such that, when the reagent is supplied to the dispensing cavity, the reagent is drawn to the chamber by way of capillary forces acting on the reagent.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.

Abstract: An automated dispensing assembly includes a base, and a shuttle mounted in the base and movable under automated control between a loading position and a dispensing position. The shuttle includes a cavity configured to carry an object, such as cover. The depth of the cavity in the shuttle is approximately the same (or less) as the thickness of one of the objects. A storage module is mounted proximate the shuttle. The storage module is configured to store a plurality of objects and includes an opening exposing the next object to be dispensed. The cavity is positioned adjacent the opening in the storage module in the loading position and an edge of the cavity separates the object to be dispensed from the other objects in the storage module as the shuttle moves to the dispensing position.

Abstract: An automated dispensing assembly includes a base, and a shuttle mounted in the base and movable under automated control between a loading position and a dispensing position. The shuttle includes a cavity configured to carry an object, such as cover. The depth of the cavity in the shuttle is approximately the same (or less) as the thickness of one of the objects. A storage module is mounted proximate the shuttle. The storage module is configured to store a plurality of objects and includes an opening exposing the next object to be dispensed. The cavity is positioned adjacent the opening in the storage module in the loading position and an edge of the cavity separates the object to be dispensed from the other objects in the storage module as the shuttle moves to the dispensing position.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for dewaxing wax-embedded biological specimens prior to histochemical analysis. The compositions and methods provided can effectively remove wax or improved wax-based embedding materials, particularly paraffin-based, from specimens during preparation for histochemical or other diagnostic analyses, while minimizing danger to users, achieving compatibility with automated use, and maintaining compatibility with downstream histochemical analyses, particularly immunostaining. Compositions of the invention comprise a paraffin-solubilizing organic solvent, a polar organic solvent, and a surfactant. Compositions can further comprise water. The method involves contacting a wax-embedded specimen with the dewaxing composition to solubilize the wax impregnating the specimen prior to histochemical analysis.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for dewaxing wax-embedded biological specimens prior to histochemical analysis. The compositions and methods provided can effectively remove wax or improved wax-based embedding materials, particularly paraffin-based, from specimens during preparation for histochemical or other diagnostic analyses, while minimizing danger to users, achieving compatibility with automated use, and maintaining compatibility with downstream histochemical analyses, particularly immunostaining. Compositions of the invention comprise a paraffin-solubilizing organic solvent, a polar organic solvent, and a surfactant. Compositions can further comprise water. The method involves contacting a wax-embedded specimen with the dewaxing composition to solubilize the wax impregnating the specimen prior to histochemical analysis.

Abstract: A device and methods for the automated histotechnological processing of a specimen are disclosed. The device comprises a microwave unit and a specimen positioning device which transports the specimen into a tank within the microwave unit where automated heating takes place. Preferably the microwave unit is controlled by a real-time microwave processor that permits control of the temperature within the microwave tank. Automated methods of dewaxing, antigen retrieval, nucleic acid retrieval, and hematoxylin and eosin staining which can be used in conjunction with the device are also provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided for simultaneous dewaxing and antigen retrieval; solutions useful for this method are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated staining apparatus including an arm (30) moveable in three dimensions, and a hollow tip head (70) located on the arm including integral reagent tip head (40), wash tip (41) and blow tip (42) for selectively dispensing gas and liquid onto microscope slides. Also disclosed are various sub-components of the apparatus that are specifically adapted to the processing of specimens on slides.

Abstract: Releasing the embedding medium from an embedded histochemically reactive tissue specimen is provided by contacting the embedded tissue specimen with a releasing composition under conditions sufficient to release a sufficient portion of the embedding medium associated with the histochemically reactive tissue specimen to permit analysis without substantial adverse effect on the histochemical reactivity of the specimen.

Abstract: Non-nucleotide reagents capable of forming oligomers with nucleotide units are disclosed, together with intermediates for synthesizing such non-nucleotide reagents, oligomers incorporating such reagents, kits containing such reagents and methods for their use in forming oligomers with nucleotide units.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated staining apparatus including an arm moveable in three dimensions, and a hollow tip head located on the arm including integral reagent tip head, wash tip and blow tip for selectively dispensing gas and liquid onto microscope slides. Also disclosed are various sub-components of the apparatus that are specifically adapted to the processing of specimens on slides.

Abstract: Reagents capable of forming branched oligomers with monomeric units are disclosed, together with oligomers incorporating such reagents, kits containing such reagents and methods for use of such reagents in forming oligomers with monomeric units. The present reagents can advantageously be used to introduce multiple labels or reporter molecules onto oligomers such as oligonucleotides and oligopeptides. In particular, non-nucleosidic phosphoramidites based on 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)cyanuric acid are disclosed. Multiply-labeled, branched DNA oligomer probes constructed using these phosphoramidite reagents showed increased signal intensity relative to singly-labeled oligomer probes.

Abstract: A method for restoring immunoreactivity of a tissue, particularly decalcified tissue, fixed width an aldehyde fixative agent and embedded in an embedding medium, usually comprising celloidin, the method comprising the steps of contacting the tissue with an aldehyde releasing reagent solution comprising a solvent and an aldehyde releasing reagent and removing aldehyde released by the aldehyde releasing reagent from contact with the tissue by reacting the aldehyde in a substantially irreversible manner to form a non-aldehyde derivative, and removing excess base from the tissue. A preferred solution for celloidin-embedded decalcified tissue comprises methanolic sodium hydroxide at about one-third saturation.

Abstract: Aqueous polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) compositions and processes employing aqueous PVP, for use in mounting hematological, cytological and histological specimens on microscope slides.

Abstract: An automated microscope-slide-staining apparatus, having a supporting framework; an arm moveable in three dimensions attached to the framework; apparatus for moving the arm; a hollow tip head located on the arm; apparatus for alternatively supplying positive or negative gas pressure to the hollow tip head; a removable wash/blow tip having an exit slit, the wash/blow tip being adapted to be removably attached to the hollow tip head by a preselected movement of the arm; a wash/blow tip holder at a first fixed location on the framework; a reagent application tip holder at a second fixed location on the framework for holding a reagent application tip, the reagent application tip being adapted to be removably attached to the hollow tip head by a preselected movement of the arm; a reagent container holder at a third fixed location on the framework; a microscope slide holder at a fourth fixed location on the framework, the microscope slide holder being adapted to removably contain the microscope slide; and control a