JP-2026076206-A - Automated biological specimen preparation system and method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an automated system and method for collecting a biological sample from a liquid sample container and distributing the sample onto an analytical element such as a sample slide, and an automated system and method for obtaining aliquots of a sample for additional testing. [Solution] An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container comprises an automated tool head configured to rotate around a first axis and move along a second axis different from the first axis, an analytical element positioner having an analytical element holder configured to hold an analytical element in a releasable manner, and a sample transfer device mounted on the tool head. The tool head is configured to automatically position the working end of the sample transfer device by either or both rotation of the tool head around the first axis and/or movement of the tool head along the second axis to acquire a sample from a sample container held in a sample container holder and transfer the acquired sample to an analytical element held in an analytical element holder. [Selection Diagram] Figure 10

Inventors

• ハント，バリー，エフ．
• ジェノスキ，レイモンド
• オリヴァ，ライアン
• コルデイロ，マイケル
• グライムス，エリック

Assignees

• ホロジック， インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20260114

Priority Date

20170309

Claims (1)

1. The invention described herein.

Description

This disclosure generally relates to the preparation of biological specimens, and more specifically to automated systems and methods for collecting biological specimens from liquid specimen containers and distributing them onto analytical elements such as specimen slides, as well as automated systems and methods for obtaining aliquots of specimens for additional testing. Cytology is a branch of biology that deals with the study of cell formation, structure, and function. As applied in the laboratory, cytologists, cytotechnologists, and other medical professionals make medical diagnoses of a patient's condition based on a visual examination of a patient's cell specimen. A typical cytological technique is a "cervical cytology," in which cells are scraped from a woman's cervix and analyzed to detect the presence of abnormal cells that may be precursors to cervical cancer. Cytological techniques are also used to detect abnormal cells and diseases in other parts of the human body. Cytological techniques are widely used because the collection of cell samples for analysis is generally less invasive than conventional surgical pathology procedures such as biopsies. In this case, solid tissue specimens are excised from the patient using specialized biopsy needles, such as spring-loaded movable stylets or fixed cannulas. Cell samples can be obtained from the patient by various techniques, including, for example, scrubbing or wiping a certain area, or by aspirating bodily fluids from the pleural cavity, bladder, spinal canal, or other suitable area using a needle. The obtained cell samples are usually placed in a preservation solution, then removed from the solution and transferred to a glass slide. A fixative is applied to the cell sample to ensure that the cells remain in place on the glass slide, facilitating subsequent staining and examination. Generally, it is desirable that the cells on the slide have an appropriate spatial distribution so that individual cells can be examined. Typically, a single layer of cells is preferred. Therefore, to prepare a sample from a liquid sample containing many cells (e.g., tens of thousands), it is usually necessary to first separate the cells from each other by mechanical dispersion, liquid shearing, or other techniques, collect a thin single layer of cells, and arrange it on the slide. In this way, the cytotechnologist can more easily identify the presence of abnormal cells in the patient's sample. Furthermore, the cells can be counted to confirm that the appropriate number of cells have been evaluated. Specific methods and apparatus for generating a thin, monolayer of cells from a liquid sample container and then transferring this thin layer to a “sample slide” favorable for visual examination are disclosed in U.S. Patents 5,143,627, 5,240,606, 5,269,918, 5,282,978, 6,562,299, 6,572,824 and 7,579,190. These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. According to one method disclosed in these patents, patient cells in a preservation solution in a sample container are dispersed using a rotating sample collector positioned therein. A controlled vacuum is applied to the sample collector to draw the liquid through a screen filter until a desired amount of cells and spatial distribution are collected in the filter. The sample collector is then removed from the sample container, and the filter portion is pressed against a glass slide to transfer the collected cells to the slide in substantially the same spatial distribution as at the time of collection. Devices manufactured in accordance with one or more of the teachings of these patents, such as the ThinPrep® 2000 processor (for processing individual sample slides from patient samples) and the ThinPrep® 5000 processor (for processing sample slide batches from patient samples), manufactured and sold by HoloGic, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, have achieved commercial success. See also U.S. Patents 7,556,777 and 7,771,662. These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Once the specimen slide is prepared, the specimen is typically magnified and visually examined by a cytotechnologist, with or without various lighting sources. Additionally or alternatively, an automated slide imaging system may be used to assist the cytological examination process. For example, an automated slide imaging system can capture images of all or substantially all cells captured on the slide and use image processing techniques to perform a preliminary assessment of the cells, guiding the cytotechnologist to potentially the most relevant cells on the slide for further examination. Examples of such imaging systems are disclosed in U.S. Patents 7,587,078, 6,665,060, 7,006,674, and 7,590,492. These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Whether examining the actual specimen slide magnified or examining magnified images of the specimen, the specimen is typically classified by the cyt