CA2402060C

CA2402060C - Slide heater

Info

Publication number: CA2402060C
Application number: CA002402060A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Brian H. Kram
Original assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Inc
Current assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Inc
Priority date: 2001-09-11
Filing date: 2002-09-09
Publication date: 2007-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-09
Also published as: DK1291637T3; EP1291637A2; EP1291637B1; JP2003211005A; DE60236712D1; JP4150560B2; US7425306B1; CA2402060A1; EP1291637A3; ATE471508T1

Abstract

A slide heater for use in a slide processing apparatus in which an interface surface between the slide heater and the slide has a plurality of slots or channels terminating in an edge thereof, for gathering and venting gas bubbles.

Description

t SLIDE HEATER

3 The present invention relates to slide processing apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in heaters for slides for biological reaction analysis slide processing systems.
BACKGROUND ART
6 Immunostaining and in situ DNA analysis are useful tools in histological diagnosis and 7 the study of tissue morphology. Immunostaining relies on the specific binding affinity of 8 antibodies with epitopes in tissue samples, and the increasing availability of antibodies which 9 bind specifically with unique epitopes present only in certain types of diseased cellular tissue.
Immunostaining requiring a series of treatment steps conducted on a tissue section mounted on a 11 glass slide to highlight by selective staining certain mophological indicators of disease states.
12 Typical steps include pretreatment of the tissue section to reduce non-specific binding, antibody 13 treatment and incubation, enzyme labeled secondary antibody treatrrierit and incubation, substrate 14 reaction with the enzyme to produce a fluorophore or chromophore highlighting areas of the _ tissue section having epitopes binding with the antibody, counterstaining, and the like. Each of 16 these steps is separated by multiple rinse steps to remove unreacted residual reagent from the 17 prior step. Incubations typically are conducted at around 40°C., while cell conditioning steps 18 typically are conducted at somewhat higher temperatures, e,g. 90-100°C. In-situ DNA analysis 19 relies upon the specific binding affinity of probes with unique nucleotide sequences in cell or tissue samples and similarly involves a series of process steps, with a variety of reagents and 21 process temperature requirements.

1 Automated systems have been proposed to introduce cost savings, uniformity of slide 2 preparation, and reduction of procedural human errors. Stross, W, et al, J.
Clin. Pathol. 42: 106-3 112 ( 1989) describes a system comprising a series of baths positioned under the circumference of a circular, rotatable disc from which slide trays are suspended. The disc is lifted to lift slide trays from their baths, turned to position the slide trays above the next consecutive bath, and lowered 6 to immerse the slide trays in the baths. This operation can be automated with suitable timers and 7 s4vitches. This system exposes each of the slides to the same treatment and relies on dipping for 8 application of reactants and rinsing.
9 Stark, E. et al, J. Immunol. Methods. 10?: 89-92 (1988) describes a microprocessor controlled system including a revolving table or carousel. supporting radially positioned slides. A
11 stepper motor rotates the table, placing each slide under one of the stationary syringes positioned 12 above the slides. A predetermined volume of liquid, determined by a dial, is delivered to a slide :3 from each syringe. Microprocessor controls are provided.
14 ';'osgrove, R. et al, ACL. pp 23-27 (December, 1!89) describe an immunostaining appararas for auto-pipetting reagents into a slide well from a carousel holding up to 18 reagent 16 vials. Below each well, a coverplate spaced from the surface of each slide provides cover and 17 defines a reagent flow channel. The slides are suspended at a steep angle.
Reagent from the well 18 flows downward over the slide surface. A row of slides are suspended for sequential treatment.
19 Washing is accomplished by a 3 to 4 minute continuous running wash over the sample, yielding an estimated 20:1 wash/reagent ratio.
21 Brigati, D. et al, J. Histotechnology 11: 165-1$3 (1988) and Unger, E.
Brigati, D. et al, et 22 al, J. Histotechnology. 1 l: 253-258 ( 1988) describe the Fisher automated work station using 1 capillary gap technology. A coverplate is placed over the, slide, forming a capillary gap. Liquid is 2 introduced into the capillary gap by placing the lower edge of the plate-slide pair in a liquid.
3 Liquid is removed by placing the lower edge of the plate-slide pair on a blotter. The system is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,020, 41,798,706 and 4,801,131. The previously known S devices are listed in their performance and unable to satisfy the needs for automated, high 6 precision immunohistology.
7 The foregoing discussion of the prior art derives in large part from U.S.
Patent No.
8 S,6S4,200 to Copeland et al., who describe an automated biological processing system 9 comprising a reagent carousel cooperating with a sample support carousel to apply a sequence of t o preselected reagents to each of the samples with interposed mixing, incubating, and rinsing steps 11 cooperating therewith. This patented automated biological processing system, which is available 12 from Ventana Medical Systems. Inc. of Tucson, Arizona includes a slide support carousel having 13 a plurality of slide supports thereon and drive means engaging the slide support carousel for 14 consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in a reagent receiving zone. The i s reagent carousel has a plurality of reagent container supports thereon and drive means engaging 16 the reagent carousel for rotating this carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support and associated reagent container in a regent supply zone. The apparatus has a reagent 18 delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container 19 support in the reagent supply zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a 20 slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.

i Fig. 1, which largely corresponds to Fig. 3 of L1.S. Patent No. 5,654,200 is a partial 2 exploded isometric view of an automated biolo~,ical processing system, with the cabinet, liquid 3 and air supply tubing and electrical wiring omitted in the drawings for the purposes of clarity.
The apparatus has an upper section '?, intermediate section 4 and lower section 6. In the upper section 2, reagent bottle support carousel 10 is mounted for rotation about its central axis 6 on upper support plate 8. Reagent bottles 12 required for the immuno-histochemical reactions to 7 be conducted during slide treatment cycle are supported by the carousel 10, mounted in reagent 8 bottle receptors 11. These receptors 11 are configured to receive volumetric pump outlet tubes 9 (not shown). The receptors 11 are preferably edually spaced in a circular pattern axially concentric with the carousel axis. The number ~of receptors 11 provided should be sufficient to 1 ~ accommodate the number of different reagent bottles 12 required for a cycle or series of cycles.
12 The carousel 10 is rotated by the stepper motor 14 and drive belt 16 to a position placing a 13 selected reagent bottle 12 in the reagent delivery position under an a:r cylinder reagent delivery 14 actuator 18 over a slide to be treated with reagent. Reagent tray motc;r driver 20 is connected to stepper motor 14.
16 The intermediate section 4 comprises support plate 22 upon which the slide support 17 carousel 24 is rotatably mounted. The carousel 24 suppo;:-ts slide supports 26. In the intermediate 18 section 4, a stepper motor 48 rotates the slide support carousel 24, engaging drive belt 25 19 engaging the perimeter of the slide support carousel 24. Splash guard 50 is a wall which 2o surrounds the sides, back and pan of the front of the carousel 24, and contains liquid spray and 21 droplets produced in the processing. Splash guard 50 extends upward from the intermediate 22 plate 22 to a position adjacent the upper plate 8, leaving an air flow gap between the upper edge 1 of the splash guard 50 and the underside of the plate 8. Lower section 6 includes slide carousel 2 stepper motor driver 72 and relay 74, power supplies 76 and 78, and control systems all mounted 3 on plate 40.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, slide support 26 comprises a molded plastic base 80 on which is mounted a metal plate 82. An electrical resistance heater shown in phantom at 84 is mounted 6 in direct contact to the underside of metal plate 82. Corner pins 86 locate a specimen carrying 7 glass slide 88 on the surface of metal plate 82. Metal plate 82 has a top surface that is essentially 8 flat and smooth. Flatness and smoothness facilitates glass plate position stability and thermal 9 conduction uniformity.
l0 In practice, water and other fluids employed in the slide processing may spill over the 11 edges of the slides. and work their way under the slides where the fluids may boil, causing the 12 slides to "pop" or dislocate. Moreover, since heater sur:~aces are not perfectly flat, in order to 13 insure good thermal contact bet<xreen metal plate $2 and glass slide 88, a thin layer 90 of oil may 14 be applied to the top surface of metal plate 82. However, using oil as an interfacial heating medium, may exacerbate the problem of slide popping or dislocation due-to gas formation from 16 water or other fluid getting under the slide, mixing with the oil and then boiling off in an 17 uncontrolled fashion. Dislocation of a slide may cause that slide to set up on a post, thereby 18 compromising the processing of that one slide, or in a worse case scenario result in a domino or 19 train wreck effect where the one dislocated slide hits a neighboring slide causing that slide to 2o dislocate, and so forth.

2 The present invention overcomes the aforesaid and other disadvantages of the prior art, 3 by patterning the slide heater upper surface and,'or the glass slide underside surface with ridges or slots, whereby gas bubbles generated by boiling of water trapped between the slide heater and the slide may be channeled, to edges of the slide heater, where the gas may escape or vent 6 without lifting or otherwise dislocating the glass slide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TF(E DRAWINGS
8 Further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following 9 detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
to Fig. 1 is a partial exploded isometric view of a prior art automated slide processing 11 apparatus;
t2 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a prior art sl;de support and heater;
13 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a prior art slide support and heater;
1~ Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a slide support heater made in accordance with a first t5 embodiment of the present invention;
16 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, in cross-section., of a slide support heater of Fig. 4;
t7 Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, in cross-section, of a portion of the slide heater of Fig.
18 5;
t9 Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing details of an alternative slide support heater in 2o accordance with the present invention;
21 Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the slide support heater of Fig. i;
22 Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the slide support heater of Fig. 8;

1 Figs. 10 and 11 are views, similar to Fig. 9, of yet other embodiments of slide support 2 heaters made in accordance with the present invention;
3 Figs. 12 - 14 are views similar to F'ig. 4 of yet other embodiments of slide support heaters made in accordance with the present invention;
Figs. 15 - 17 are views similar to Figs. 4 - 6, respectively, of still another alternative of 6 the present invention; and 7 Figs. 18 and 20 and 19 and 21, are views similar to Figs. 6 and 17, respectively, of still 8 other alternative of the present invention.
9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODI1~IENTS
The present invention is based on the discovery that ridges or slots formed on the upper 11 surface of the slide heater and/or on the lower surface of the slides serve to route or channel ~ 2 bubbles formed by the boiling of water or other fluid trapped between the slide heater and slide, 13 to edges of the slide, where the bubbles may vent without dislodging the slide. As mentioned 14 supra, heater surfaces are not perfectly flat. Thus, slight variations in surface heaters may result is in a bias or pooling of gas, i.e., steam bubble migration to low areas, and/or in the case of a slide 16 having an interfacial layer or oil, into and through regions of deeper oil.
In the case of prior art 1'7 slide heaters, the migrating gas could pool to a vapor pocket which could "pop" the slide. The 18 present invention takes advantage of the phenomena of gas bubble migration by creating 19 channels for the gas which terminate at open edges of the slide heater. Gas bubbles forming on 2o the surface of the heater migrate to the channels, displace any oil present in the channels, and run 2 t to the ends of the channels, where the migrating gas bubbles vent harmlessly from the slide 22 heater edges without dislodging the slide.

1 An important feature and requirement of any slide heater is to provide substantially 2 uniform heating across a slide since non-uniformity of heating could result in unreliable 3 analytical results. Thus, the general wisdom has been to rmake heater surfaces and slide surfaces as smooth as possible, i.e., so as to achieve ma~cimum contact or match.
Unexpectedly, it has been found that up to about 50% of the slide heater upper surface and/or glass slide may be 6 removed, i.e., by patterning with channels or slots, without adversely affecting thermal 7 conduction uniformity and temperature uniformity distribution across the interface between the 8 slide heater and the glass slide. In other words, provided about at least 50% of the slide heater 9 and glass slide facing surfaces are retained, there is sufficient thermal conduction uniformity to between the heater and the slide to mediate slight thermal differences between the low and high 11 parts of the slots or channels resulting in substantially uniform heating of the slide.
az The slots or channels may be formed b r machining, casting or etching, and should be 13 spaced close enough together so that nucleating gas bubbles do not have to travel too far before m reaching a slot or channel. Typically, the slots or channels are spaced about 2 to 5 millimeters on center, preferably about 3 to 4 millimeters. Spacing the slots or channels more than about 10 16 millimeters apart, on center, may permit gas bubble pooling and thus may not provide sufficient m glass slide stability. On the other hand, forming slots or channels closer than about 3 W millimeters, on center, may result in removal of a greater percentage of the surface than ideal for 19 uniform thermal conductivity, depending on the width of the slots or channels. Also, placing the 2o slots or channels too close together, and/or forming a large number of narrow slots or channels, 21 adds to initial fabrication costs and may make cleaning more difficult;
and, making the channels 22 or slots overly narrow could restrict free venting of gas.

1 Preferably the slots or channels are similar in size and shape, and run parallel or near 2 parallel to one another, and preferably run from side edge to side edge of the heater. The aspect 3 ratio of the slots or channels per se appears to have little affect on the ability to gather and vent nucleating gas bubbles. Nor does the cross-sectional shape of the slots or channels significantly affect the ability to gather and vent nucleating gas bubbles provided the slots or vents are not 6 overly narrow. As a practical matter, rounded or square edge slots or channels, which could be 7 formed simply by machining, are preferred. Alternatively, the slots or channels can be cast.
8 Referring now to Figs. 4-6, there is shown a first embodiment of slide heater made in 9 accordance with the present invention. (For clarity, details other than the heater surface have 1o been omitted). The heater 100 has an upper surface 102 in which are formed 15 substantially 11 parallel grooves 104. Slots or channels I04 have a rounded bottom of about 0.4 millimeter 12 radius, and run from side to side of the heater 10;). T'he slots or channels 104 are approximately 13 0.25 millimeter at their deepest point, and are spaced at about 3 millimeters on center.
1~. Referring to Figs. 7-9, where there is sho<<<n an alternative slide heater made in is accordance with the present invention. The Figs. 7-9 embodiment differs from the embodiment 16 of Figs. 4-6 in that the slots or channels are "v" shaped.
m In yet another embodiment illustrated in Hig. I0, the slots or channels are rectilinear in 18 shape, and have a depth-to-width ratio of about 0.2 to 2, preferably about 0.3 to 0.5. Fig. 11 is 19 similar to Fig. 10, in which the slots or channels have a different depth-to-width ratio.
20 Various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and 21 scope thereof. For example, as shown in Fig. I2, the slots or channels may be formed blind at 22 one end.

1 It also may be possible to orient the slots or channels to run the length rather than the 2 width of the heaters (Fig. 13), or at a diagonal (Fig. 14). However, doing so increases the length 3 of the slots or channels, and could result in pooling of gas bubbles in an individual slot or channel, as well as increased transit time to the edges of the slots or channels before the gas could be vented. Accordingly, for optimization purposes, it is preferred that the slots or channels 6 are made as short as possible and run side to side with no interconnections from slat to slot, i.e.
7 the slots should not intersect. In yet another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 15-8 17, slots or channels 200, similar in arrangement to slots or channels 104, may be provided on 9 the underside of a glass slide 202, and provide similar function.
l0 Yet other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the 11 invention. For example, instead of machining or casting referring to Figs.
18 - 21, slots in 12 channels in the interface surface of the heater or the glass slide, spaced raised regions 300 may 13 be formed on the interface surface of the hearer 302 on the glass slide 304 by applying a 14 thermally conductive decal much as a patterned metal foil 306, or by printing with a thermally conductive ink or coating 308 or the like, so as define slots or channels therebetween.

Claims

1. A slide heater for use in a slide processing apparatus in which a thermal conduction transfer interface surface between an upper surface of the slide heater and a slide carried thereon has a plurality of slots or channels running to an edge thereof, wherein the slots or channels occupy up to about 50% of the upper surface area of said slide heater, and have a depth-to-width ratio of about 0.2 to 2, said slots or channels permitting venting of bubbles formed by boiling of fluid as may be trapped between the slide heater and a slide carried thereon.

2. A slide heater according to claim 1, wherein the slots or channels run from edge to edge.

3. A slide heater according to claim 1, wherein the slots or channels run parallel to one another.

4. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels have a rounded bottom.

5. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are v shaped in cross-section.

6. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are rectilinear in cross-section.

7. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said slots in channels have a depth-to-width ratio of about 0.3 to 0.5.

8. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are blind at one end.

9. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are spaced about 2 to 5 millimeters apart, on center.

10. A slide heater according to claim 9, wherein the slots or channels are spaced about 3 to 4 millimeters, on center.

11 11. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are formed by machining.

12. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are formed by casting.

13. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the slots or channels are formed by etching.

14. A slide heater according to any one of claims 1-3, where the slots or channels are formed between raised regions on the heater interface upper surface.

15. A slide heater according to claim 14, wherein the slots or channels are defined between raised regions.

16. A slide heater according to claim 15, wherein said raised regions are formed by a thermally conductive patterned decal.

17. A slide heater according to claim 15, wherein said raised regions are defined by a patterned foil.

18. A slide heater according to claim 15, wherein said raised regions are defined by a thermally conductive ink or coating.

19. A glass specimen slide for use in a slide processing apparatus having a slide heater, said slide having a specimen supporting surface and a slide heater interface surface opposite the specimen supporting surface, wherein the slide heater interface surface has a plurality of slots or channels formed therein, and terminating in an edge of the slide, wherein the slots or channels occupy up to about 50% of the upper surface area of said slide heater, and have a depth-to-width ratio of about 0.2 to 2, said slots or channels permitting venting of bubbles formed by boiling of fluid as may be trapped between the slide heater and a slide carried thereon.

20. A glass specimen slide according to claim 19, wherein the slots or channels run from edge to edge.

21. A glass specimen slide according to claim 19, wherein the slots or channels run parallel to one another.

22. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels have a rounded bottom.

23. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are v shaped and in cross-section.

24. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are rectilinear in cross-section.

25. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein said slots or channels have a depth-to-width ratio of about 0.3 to 0.5.

26. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are blind at one end.

27. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are spaced about 2 to 5 millimeters apart, on center.

28. A glass specimen slide according to claim 27, wherein the slots or channels are spaced about 3 to 4 millimeters, on center.

29. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are formed by machining.

30. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are formed by casting.

31. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are formed by etching.

32. A glass specimen slide according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the slots or channels are formed between raised regions on the slide interface surface.

33. A glass specimen slide according to claim 32, wherein the slots or channels are defined between raised regions.

34. A glass specimen slide according to claim 33, wherein said raised regions are formed by a thermally conductive patterned decal.

35. A glass specimen slide according to claim 33, wherein said raised regions are defined by a patterned foil.

36. A glass specimen slide according to claim 33, wherein said raised regions are defined by a thermally conductive ink or coating.