Automated smear making apparatus
An automated smear making apparatus used to prepare and smear samples on glass slides. In one embodiment, there is provided a smearing subsystem that generally includes a smear cartridge having: an input reel; at least one roll bar; a take-up reel; and a smearing tape. The smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel and into the take-up reel. The smearing tape may include a plurality of perforations formed therein. The smearing tape may then be wrapped around the roll bar such that each of the plurality of perforations forms a blade that extends from the smearing tape to expose a smear surface as the smearing tape is drawn into the take-up reel. Alternatively, the smearing tape may be bent such that an edge of the smearing tape forms a smear surface between two roll bars. A slide transport surface is also provided to move a slide across the smear surface.
1. A smearing subsystem for use in an automated slide preparation apparatus, the smearing subsystem comprising:
a smear cartridge including
an input reel;
a take-up reel;
a smearing tape having a plurality of perforations formed therein, wherein the smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel into the take-up reel, and
a deflection component configured to deflect each of the plurality of smearing tape perforations to create a blade that extends from the smearing tape to expose a smear surface as the smearing tape is drawn into the take-up reel; and
a slide transport surface configured to move a slide across the exposed smear surface.
2. The smearing subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the blade forms an acute angle with the slide when the slide transport surface brings the slide in contact with the exposed smear surface.
3. The smearing subsystem of claim 2 , further comprising an angle-control mechanism to adjust the acute angle formed between the blade and the slide.
4. The smearing subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the deflection component with respect to the input reel.
5. The smearing subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the deflection component with respect to the take-up reel.
6. The smearing subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the angle-control mechanism includes a step motor configured to adjust the deflection component.
7. The smearing subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the input reel with respect to the deflection component.
8. The smearing subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the take-up reel with respect to the deflection component.
9. The smearing subsystem of claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 60 degrees.
10. The smearing subsystem of claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 45 degrees.
11. The smearing subsystem of claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 30 degrees.
12. The smearing subsystem of claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 15 degrees.
13. The smearing subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the deflection component comprises a roll bar.
14. The smearing subsystem of claim 13 , wherein the smearing tape is wrapped around the roll bar between the input reel and the take-up reel.
15. The smearing subsystem according to claim 1 , wherein the deflection component is a sprocketless deflection component.
16. A smearing subsystem for use in an automated slide preparation apparatus, the smearing subsystem comprising:
a smear cartridge including
an input reel;
a first and a second deflection component;
a take-up reel;
a smearing tape, wherein the smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel into the take-up reel, and wherein the smearing tape is disposed around the first and the second deflection components between the input reel and the take-up reel such that an edge of the smearing tape forms a smear surface between the first and second deflection components; and
a slide transport surface configured to move a slide across the smear surface.
17. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the first and second deflection components bend the smearing tape such that an acute angle is formed between the smearing tape and the slide when the slide transport surface brings the slide in contact with the smear surface.
18. The smearing subsystem of claim 17 , further comprising an angle-control mechanism to adjust the bend of the smearing tape between the first and second deflection components.
19. The smearing subsystem of claim 18 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of one of the first and second deflection components.
20. The smearing subsystem of claim 18 , wherein the angle-control mechanism is configured to adjust the position of both the first and the second deflection components.
21. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the first and second deflection components are parallel to one another.
22. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the movement of the slide transport surface is perpendicular to the smearing tape.
23. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 60 degrees.
24. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 45 degrees.
25. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 30 degrees.
26. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the acute angle is less than about 15 degrees.
27. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the first deflection component comprises a roll bar.
28. The smearing subsystem of claim 16 , wherein the second deflection component comprises a roll bar.
29. The smearing subsystem of claim 27 , wherein the smearing tape is wrapped around the roll bar between the input reel and the take-up reel.
30. The smearing subsystem of claim 28 , wherein the smearing tape is wrapped around the roll bar between the input reel and the take-up reel.
31. The smearing subsystem according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second deflection components are sprocketless deflection components.