Abstract: A fluid-containing cartridge for a tissue processing apparatus includes a body defining a plurality of discrete fluid passageways, and a plurality of fluid-containing wells that are disposed on the body, wherein each fluid passageway of the body defines a fluid path between one of the fluid-containing wells and a fluid exit port that is configured to dispense fluid onto a laboratory slide.

Abstract: A tissue processing system includes a plurality of processing stations. Each processing station includes a plurality of tissue receiving areas that are each configured to accommodate a tissue sample as well as physically isolate that tissue sample from other tissue samples at other receiving areas of the same processing station. Each processing station is configured to separately and individually process the tissue sample at each receiving area to either reduce or eliminate any potential for cross-contamination between the tissue samples undergoing processing at the same processing station. For each receiving area of each processing station, the system is configured to immerse a tissue sample at a particular receiving area in processing fluid for a pre-determined time according to a pre-defined protocol that is based upon parameters of that tissue sample.

Abstract: A slide stainer and a method for operating the slide carrier is disclosed. The slide stainer includes a slide carrier that carries one or more laboratory slides; a vessel that is capable of carrying fluid for staining the laboratory slides and that is sized to accommodate the laboratory slides; a slide transporter that moves the slide carrier into and out of the vessel; and a spring loaded pin that engages with a surface of the slide stainer to limit free-fall translation of the slide carrier in an event of a power loss. Additionally, during an agitation phase of a slide staining process, the slide transporter is configured to translate the slide carrier in an upward direction to a pre-determined height that is set by a user of the slide stainer, and the slide transporter translates the slide carrier in a downward direction back into the vessel.

Abstract: A configurable tissue processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of configurable tissue processing stations, each station configured to receive tissue samples and selectively configurable to heat, agitate and apply either a positive pressure or a vacuum pressure to the received tissue samples; a transport mechanism that is configured to transport the tissue samples between the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations; and a control unit coupled to the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations and to the transport mechanism, the control unit controlling the transport mechanism to selectively position the tissue samples in the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations, and the control unit configuring each of the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations to heat, agitate and apply either a positive pressure or a vacuum pressure to the received samples. Also disclosed is a method of configuring the plurality of tissue processing stations.

Abstract: A slide stainer and a method for operating the slide carrier is disclosed. The slide stainer includes a slide carrier that carries one or more laboratory slides; a vessel that is capable of carrying fluid for staining the laboratory slides and that is sized to accommodate the laboratory slides; a slide transporter that moves the slide carrier into and out of the vessel; and a spring loaded pin that engages with a surface of the slide stainer to limit free-fall translation of the slide carrier in an event of a power loss. Additionally, during an agitation phase of a slide staining process, the slide transporter is configured to translate the slide carrier in an upward direction to a pre-determined height that is set by a user of the slide stainer, and the slide transporter translates the slide carrier in a downward direction back into the vessel.

Abstract: A configurable tissue processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of configurable tissue processing stations, each station configured to receive tissue samples and selectively configurable to heat, agitate and apply either a positive pressure or a vacuum pressure to the received tissue samples; a transport mechanism that is configured to transport the tissue samples between the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations; and a control unit coupled to the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations and to the transport mechanism, the control unit controlling the transport mechanism to selectively position the tissue samples in the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations, and the control unit configuring each of the plurality of configurable tissue processing stations to heat, agitate and apply either a positive pressure or a vacuum pressure to the received samples. Also disclosed is a method of configuring the plurality of tissue processing stations.