Diagnostic detection chip device designs that reduce cost of fabrication and assembly are described herein. Such chip device designs include features that facilitate use of the chip within a chip carrier device with integrated fluid flow control features and compatibility with conventional sample cartridges and sample processing systems. Associated methods of manufacture and assembly of the chip devices are also provided herein.

A digital dispense system and method for preparing samples for analysis. The system includes a fluid droplet ejection system housed in a compact housing unit. The fluid droplet ejection system contains a fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge containing one or more fluids to be dispensed, a cartridge translation mechanism for moving the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction; and a sample holder translation mechanism for moving a sample back and forth beneath the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction. A digital display device is attached to the fluid droplet ejection system for displaying fluid volume information to a user. The fluid volume information is selected from relative fluid volume, absolute fluid volume, and a combination of relative and absolute fluid volumes.

A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.

A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus has a support frame; a cartridge magazine actuator assembly connected to the support frame; a subframe; a plurality of vibration isolators connecting the support frame to the subframe; an XYZ drive connected to the subframe; and an optical stage connected to the subframe. In some embodiments the assembly further includes a cartridge gripper connected to said XYZ drive. In some embodiments, the cartridge magazine actuator assembly includes an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input element and the output element, with the transfer assembly configured to linearly advance the output element upon linear depression of the input element.

A reagent dispensing system, in an example, may include a processing device, a data storage device coupled to the processing device, a plurality of swappable reagent modules, each swappable reagent module comprising a plurality of reagent dispensing cartridges, and a module frame coupling the reagent cartridges to one another.

Methods and apparatus that enable drying and curing a plurality of specimens carried by a plurality of microscope slides. Slide carriers are positioned at a first position while the slide carrier holds the microscope slides. Each of the specimens can be carried by one of the microscope slides. The slide carrier can be robotically moved to move the slide carrier into a circulation loop defined by a heater apparatus. The specimens and/or microscope slides can be convectively heated while the slide carrier is located in the circulation loop.

A stuck slide determination system is provided that determines if a slide (e.g., glass slide), positioned on a scanning stage at the start of the scanning process, gets stuck and does not move along with the scanning stage after the scanning process commences. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a transmitter and receiver that are relatively positioned to detect the presence of the stage or a slide or the absence of the stage or a slide. When the scanning stage begins to move at the start of the scanning process, a processor monitors a signal from the sensor and determines if the slide is improperly positioned after the scanning process has commenced. If the slide is improperly positioned, the processor stops movement of the scanning stage in order to protect the slide from damage.

A fixed reference edge system that guides a glass slide from a slot of a slide rack onto a scanning stage and guides the glass slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. In an embodiment, the fixed reference edge has a first side that is parallel to a side of the slot of the slide rack. The system comprises an assembly that includes a push bar configured to push the slide from the slot onto the scanning stage, and a pull bar configured to pull the slide from the scanning stage into the slot of the slide rack. When the slide is pulled into the slide rack, the long edge of the slide is pressed against the first side of the fixed reference edge to maintain a parallel orientation between the slide and the slot of the slide rack.

Assay systems including assay apparatus and handheld assay devices for use therewith for obtaining diagnostic information of a bodily specimen. Assay devices include a cartridge housing snugly accommodating a specimen slide intended for elevation from an initial lowermost specimen introduction position to a final uppermost specimen examination position in which a bodily specimen is compressed between a cartridge housing top face and a specimen slide. Assay devices preferably include a liquid reagent dispensing arrangement for dispensing liquid reagent on a specimen slide for reacting with a bodily specimen.

A coverslipping machine (1) is embodied to be connected to an electrical power grid in order to be supplied with electrical energy as an electrical load; and removes specimen slides (4), having samples present thereon, from a specimen slide magazine (5) and respectively carries out a coverslipping process in which a mounting medium (7) and then a coverslip (8) are applied onto each specimen slide (4); and deposits the coverslipped specimen slides (4) in the specimen slide magazine (5) or in a further specimen slide magazine (55). The coverslipping machine (1) has an electrical energy reservoir (12) and an electronic control apparatus (13). The electronic control apparatus (13) detects disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switches over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the electrical energy reservoir (12), and carries out a safety routine that includes at least the safety steps of completing the coverslipping of specimen slides (4) already equipped with the mounting medium (7), and then depositing them in the specimen slide magazine (5) or in the further specimen slide magazine (55).