TREATMENT DEVICE FOR TREATING HISTOLOGICAL OR CYTOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Abstract

A treatment device (1) for treating histological or cytological samples has a plurality of containers (6) for different treatment agents and a detection apparatus (2) for detecting a code which unequivocally identifies a type of a treatment agent or a type of a group of treatment agents from a package or replacement container of a treatment agent or group of treatment agents. The device furthermore has an evaluation apparatus (18) that, based on a detected code, ascertains which of the containers is or are to be replenished or replaced, and an indicating apparatus (4) which communicates to a user the ascertained container (6) or containers (6) that is or are to be replenished or replaced. The indicating apparatus may include a display (5) presenting a schematic image of the plurality of containers (6) with image(s) of each ascertained container being marked, and/or a light source (15) that illuminates each ascertained container.

Claims

1. A treatment device (1) for treating histological or cytological samples, the treatment device comprising: a plurality of containers (6) for different treatment agents; a detection apparatus (2) for detecting a code from a package or from a replacement container of a treatment agent or a group of treatment agents, wherein the code unequivocally identifies a type of the treatment agent or the group of treatment agents; an evaluation apparatus (18) configured to ascertain, based on the detected code, which of the plurality of containers (6) is or are to be replenished or replaced; and an indicating apparatus (4) configured to communicate to a user the ascertained container (6) or containers (6) that is or are to be replenished or replaced.

2. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) comprises a memory.

3. The treatment device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to store in the memory a. which type of treatment agent is located in which of the plurality b. a plurality of types of treatment agents and a separate treatment agent identifier associated with each of the plurality of types of treatment agents; c. the type of treatment agent present in at least one of the plurality of containers (6) and a separate treatment agent identifier associated therewith; and/or d. the type of treatment agent present in at least one of the plurality of container (6) and a container identifier associated therewith.

4. The treatment device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to: a. associate with the detected code at least one treatment agent identifier from a plurality of previously stored treatment agent identifiers; and/or b. associate with the detected code at least one of a plurality of previously stored treatment agent identifiers and then read out from the memory, on the basis of the associated treatment agent identifier, a container identifier stored in the memory, the container identifier corresponding to one of the plurality of containers (6) which contains the type of treatment agent corresponding to the associated treatment agent identifier.

5. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the detection apparatus (2) is configured to detect, as the code, a barcode and/or a QR code and/or a machine-readable imprint and/or a transponder code and/or an RFID transponder code.

6. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein several among the plurality of containers (6) are present for the same treatment agent.

7. The treatment device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to ascertain at least one of the several containers (6) as the container (6) to be replaced or replenished.

8. The treatment device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to ascertain, as the container to be replaced or replenished, that one of the several containers (6) which has a lowest fill level of the treatment agent; and the indicating apparatus (4) communicates that one container (6) of the several containers (6) to the user.

9. The treatment device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to ascertain a sequence for the filling or replacement of at least two of the several containers (6), and the indicating apparatus (4) indicates those at least two containers, as well as the sequence, to the user.

10. The treatment device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation apparatus (18) is configured to ascertain the sequence in consideration of respective fill levels and/or respective ages of the treatment agents already present in the containers (6), and/or in consideration of an expected consumption of the treatment agents already present in the containers (6).

11. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the indicating apparatus (4) comprises a display (5).

12. The treatment device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the indicating apparatus (4) indicates on the display (5) a schematic image of the plurality of containers (6) in particular in their actual physical arrangement.

13. The treatment device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the image of the plurality of containers (6) is a photograph or a drawing.

14. The treatment device (1) according to claim 12, wherein: a. an image of each ascertained container (6) to be replenished or replaced is marked in the displayed image of the plurality of containers (6); or b. an image of each ascertained container (6) to be replenished or replaced is marked in treatment-agent-specific fashion in the displayed image of the plurality of containers (6); or c. the indicating apparatus (4) marks in the displayed image of the plurality of containers (6), in chronological succession, an image of each containers (6) to be replaced or replenished, and at the same time respectively indicates which of the treatment agents of the group of treatment agents is or are to be introduced into each container (6) whose image is marked, or which of the replacement containers is to be used for each container (6) whose image is marked.

15. The treatment device (1) according to claim 14, wherein the image of each container (6) to be replaced or replenished is, with respect to images of the containers (6) that are not to be replaced or replenished, a. marked by way of a color difference, and/or b. marked by way of a brightness difference, and/or c. marked by way of a different image sharpness, and/or d. marked by way of a flashing signal, and/or e. marked by way of an advisory symbol, and/or f. displayed, while the containers (6) that are not to be replaced or replenished are blanked out.

16. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the indicating apparatus (4) directly indicates the container (6) or containers (6) that are to be replaced or replenished.

17. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates each container (6) to be replaced or replenished by illuminating each such container (6) with light; and/or b. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates, by sequential illumination of a respective one of the plurality of containers (6) with light, which of the containers (6) is to be replenished with which of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected, or which container (6) is to be replaced with which replacement container having treatment agent of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected; or c. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates the containers (6) which are to be replaced or replenished, into which the treatment agent of a group of treatment agents is to be introduced, or which are to be replaced with the replacement containers of a group of treatment agents, by illumination with light; and the indicating apparatus (4) simultaneously respectively indicates that one of the treatment agents of the group of treatment agents with which the currently illuminated container (6) is to be replaced, or that one of the replacement containers of the group of treatment agents with which the currently illuminated container (6) is to be replaced.

18. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates each container (6) to be replaced and/or replenished by activation of a light source arranged on the container (6) or by activation of a light source arranged in the region of such container (6) or by activation of a light source associated with such container (6); or b. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates the containers (6) to be replaced or replenished by activation of light sources that are arranged respectively on one of the containers (6) and/or arranged respectively in the region of one of the containers (6) and/or associated with one of the containers (6); or c. the indicating apparatus (4) indicates the containers (6) which are to be replaced or replenished, into which the treatment agent of a group of treatment agents is to be introduced, or which are to be replaced with the containers of a group of treatment agents, by sequential activation of the light sources that are arranged respectively on one of the containers (6) and/or arranged respectively in the region of one of the containers and/or associated with one of the containers (6); and the indicating apparatus (4) simultaneously respectively indicates that treatment agent of the group of treatment agents with which the container currently marked by means of the respective light source is to be replenished, or that replacement container of the group of treatment agents with which the container (6) currently marked by means of the respective light source is to be replaced.

19. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a. each container (6) comprises a different identification symbol; or a different identification symbol is associated with each container (6); and b. the indicating apparatus (4) communicates the container (6) that is to be replaced or replenished by reproducing the identification symbol.

20. The treatment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the treatment device (1) is an automatic stainer or a processor.

21. A treatment agent product that contains a treatment agent or a group of treatment agents having a machine-readable code unequivocally identifying a type of the treatment agent or a type of the group of treatment agents for use in a treatment device (1) according to claim 1.

22. The treatment agent product according to claim 21, wherein the treatment agent is a staining agent for staining histological or cytological samples; or the group of treatment agents is a staining kit for staining histological or cytological samples.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

[0062] The subject matter of the invention is depicted schematically and by way of example in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the Figures, identical or identically functioning elements usually being labeled with the same reference characters even in different exemplifying embodiments. In the drawings:

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device that is embodied as a processor;

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device according to the present invention that is embodied as an automatic stainer;

[0065] FIG. 3 is a detail view of the second exemplifying embodiment;

[0066] FIG. 4 shows the display of the second exemplifying embodiment;

[0067] FIG. 5 shows the display of the second exemplifying embodiment for the case in which the detected code relates to a group of treatment agents; and

[0068] FIG. 6 is a detail view of a third exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] FIG. 1 shows an exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device 1 according to the present invention for treating histological or cytological samples, which comprises a plurality of containers 6 (not visible in this Figure) for different treatment agents.

[0070] Treatment device 1 possesses a detection device 2 that is embodied as a barcode reading device 3, for detecting a code, which characterizes in unequivocally identifiable fashion the type of a treatment agent or the type of a group of treatment agents, from a package or from a replacement container of a treatment agent or of a group of treatment agents.

[0071] Treatment device 1 furthermore comprises an evaluation apparatus 18, such as a programmed computer or processor, that ascertains, in consideration of a detected code, which container 6 is to be replenished with the treatment agent the code of whose package was detected, or which container is to be replaced with a replacement container having a treatment agent the code of which, or of whose package, was detected, or which of containers 6 is to be replenished with which of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected, or which container 6 is to be replaced with which replacement container having a treatment agent of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected.

[0072] The treatment device furthermore comprises an indicating apparatus 4, namely a display 5. Indicating apparatus 4 serves to communicate to the user the ascertained container that is to be replenished or replaced, or to communicate to the user which of the ascertained containers is to be replenished with which of the group of the treatment agents whose code was detected, or is to be replaced with which replacement container of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected.

[0073] Treatment device 1 is configured as a processor for treating histological or cytological samples.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device 1 according to the present invention for treating histological or cytological samples. Treatment device 1 is configured as an automatic stainer, and comprises a plurality of containers 6 for different treatment agents. Containers 6 are not visible in FIG. 2; they are shown in FIG. 3.

[0075] Treatment device 1 possesses a detection apparatus 2 which is configured as a barcode reading device 3, for detecting a code, which characterizes in unequivocally identifiable fashion the type of a treatment agent or the type of a group of treatment agents, from a package or from a replacement container of a treatment agent or of a group of treatment agents.

[0076] Treatment device 1 furthermore comprises an evaluation apparatus 18, such as a programmed computer or processor, that ascertains, in consideration of a detected code, which container 6 is to be replenished with the treatment agent the code of whose package was detected, or which container 6 is to be replaced with a replacement container having a treatment agent the code of which, or of whose package, was detected, or which of containers 6 is to be replenished with which of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected, or which container 6 is to be replaced with which replacement container having a treatment agent of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected.

[0077] Treatment device 1 furthermore comprises an indicating apparatus 4, namely a display 5. Indicating apparatus 4 serves to communicate to the user the ascertained container 6 that is to be replenished or replaced, or to communicate to the user which of the ascertained containers 6 is to be replenished with which of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected, or is to be replaced with which replacement container of the group of treatment agents whose code was detected.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows the plurality of containers 6 for different treatment agents, as well as two transport apparatuses 7 by means of which the samples to be treated are transported to the containers and from one container to another.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows display 5 of indicating apparatus 4 of the second exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device 1 according to the present invention, which display communicates to the user the ascertained container 6 that is to be replenished or replaced. Concretely, display 5 indicates to the user a schematic image 8 of all the containers 6 in their actual physical arrangement. In the displayed image 8 of all containers 6, image 9 of container 16 that is to be replenished or replaced is marked with an arrow 10. In addition, image 9 of container 6 that is to be replenished or replaced is furthermore marked by a brightness difference.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows display 5 for the case in which the detected code relates to a group of treatment agents. In this case images 11, 12 of those containers 6 which are to be replaced or replenished are marked by means of arrows 10. At the same time, an indication is given to the user, by way of a first symbol 13 and second symbol 14, as to which of the group of treatment agents is to be introduced into which of the depicted images 11, 12 of the ascertained containers 6, or which of the replacement containers of the group of treatment agents with which of containers 6 whose images 11, 12 are marked in schematic image 8 of all containers 6.

[0081] FIG. 6 is a detail view of a third exemplifying embodiment of a treatment device 1 according to the present invention that comprises a plurality of containers 6 as well as transport apparatuses 7.

[0082] In this third exemplifying embodiment, indicating apparatus 4 comprises a light source 15 that indicates to the user, by illumination with a light beam 17, containers 16 that are to be replaced or replenished.

PARTS LIST

[0083] 1 Treatment device

[0084] 2 Detection apparatus

[0085] 3 Barcode reading device

[0086] 4 Indicating apparatus

[0087] 5 Display

[0088] 6 Container

[0089] 7 Transport apparatus

[0090] 8 Schematic image of all containers 6

[0091] 9 Image of container to be replenished or replaced

[0092] 10 Arrow

[0093] 11 Image

[0094] 12 Image

[0095] 13 First symbol

[0096] 14 Second symbol

[0097] 15 Light source

[0098] 16 Container to be replaced or replenished

[0099] 17 Light beam

[0100] 18 Evaluation apparatus