1-64. (canceled)
65. A method for processing a sample in an anatomical pathology laboratory comprising:
providing a host controlling at least one instrument in the anatomical pathology laboratory, said host being configured to have at least one local data element and at least one global data element and said host being configured to identify samples in the laboratory using radio frequency identification labels associated with the samples, said at least one global data element having a common data definition and data value used by said host and at least one other host connected to said host, said at least one local data element having a data definition and data value used only by said host, at least one of said data elements being used by said host in connection with processing performed by said at least one instrument;
receiving one of said samples associated with a radio frequency identification label;
preparing a set of one or more slides from said sample;
preparing a radio frequency identification label for each of said one or more slides in the set;
performing one or more processing steps in said laboratory to each slide; and
writing to said radio frequency identification label of said each slide by encoding said radio frequency identification label with information related to at least one of said one or more processing steps as said each slide is processed, at least one of said processing steps including performing processing of said each slide using said at least one instrument.
66. The method of claim 65, wherein said information written to said radio frequency identification label of said each slide includes at least one of patient information, hospital accession information, test information, and batch information used to identify at least one other slide and said each slide as being from a same processing batch.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein said information includes test information about at least one test performed on said each slide in one of the processing steps in the anatomical pathology laboratory.
68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:
reading said test information from said radio frequency identification label of said each slide in connection with a test to be performed to said each slide as a step in laboratory processing prior to performing said test for verification that said step is to be performed.
69. The method of claim 68, further comprising:
writing to said radio frequency identification label of said each slide by encoding said radio frequency identification label with additional information about said test, said additional information including at least one of: time, date, test parameters, filename, test results, information about a reagent used in testing, information about a technician performing a processing step, and information about an instrument used to process said each slide.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein said filename identifies an image file.
71. The method of claim 69, further comprising:
reading at least a portion of said additional information;
determining a diagnosis in accordance with said portion; and
encoding said radio frequency identification label of said each slide with data about said diagnosis.
72. The method of claim 66, wherein said information includes batch information, and the method further comprising:
determining a plurality of slides belonging to a same group in accordance with said batch information encoded on radio frequency identification labels of said plurality of slides.
73. The method of claim 65, further comprising:
dividing said sample into one or more blocks;
for each of said one or more blocks, preparing a portion of said one or more slides, and wherein said preparing a radio frequency identification label for each slide includes preparing said radio frequency identification label as a slide label for each of said one or more slides by encoding said radio frequency identification label with a unique slide identifier, information identifying a block associated with said each slide, and information identifying said each slide as being associated with said sample.
74. The method of claim 65, wherein one of the processing steps includes staining said each slide, and the method further comprising:
writing information to said radio frequency identification label of said each slide in the anatomical pathology laboratory at a processing point when said staining is performed to said each slide.
75. The method of claim 65, further comprising:
receiving, by a radio frequency identification label associated with a first slide, an interrogator signal;
transmitting, by said radio frequency identification label associated with the first slide in response to said interrogator signal, an electromagnetic response signal including at least a first portion used by said host for uniquely identifying said first slide.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein said electromagnetic response signal is produced using information encoded in said radio frequency identification label associated with said first slide.
77. The method of claim 76, further comprising:
determining a location of said first slide in said anatomical pathology laboratory in accordance with said electromagnetic response signal.
78. The method of claim 65, further comprising:
receiving, by said radio frequency identification label associated with said sample, an interrogator signal;
transmitting, by said radio frequency identification label associated with said sample in response to said interrogator signal, an electromagnetic response signal including at least a first portion used by said host for uniquely identifying said sample.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1.-12. (canceled)
13. A burner insertion aid for a burner, comprising:
a funnel-shaped component, wherein the funnel-shaped component comprises foamed polymer and an outer edge for mounting on a burner support unit and an inner funnel region for introducing a burner mouth.
14. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein recesses for burner fastening screws are provided in the outer edge of the funnel-shaped component.
15. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the funnel-shaped component comprises foamed polyolefins.
16. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 15, wherein the polyolefins comprise foamed andor expanded polyethylene or polypropylene.
17. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the funnel-shaped component has the shape of a circular ring.
18. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the funnel-shaped component comprises one or more circular ring segments.
19. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the circular ring segments are connected, wherein the funnel-shaped component comprises one or more intended fracture points for separation of the component after the component has been used.
20. The burner insertion aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the funnel-shaped component has a further recess in the outer edge for receiving a seal of the burner support unit.
21. A method for inserting a burner into a burner support unit, comprising:
providing a burner insertion aid comprising a funnel-shaped component with foamed polymer;
introducing a burner mouth into a burner support unit using the burner insertion aid; and
removing the burner insertion aid.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the burner insertion aid is arranged on the burner support unit in a first step.
23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the burner insertion aid is mounted on burner fastening screws.
24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the burner mouth is guided by an inner funnel of the burner insertion aid when introducing the burner mouth into the burner support.
25. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the burner insertion aid is separated reversibly andor irreversibly for a removal of the burner insertion aid.