Other

Leica Biosystems Richmond, Inc.

Pelam, Inc.

Sakura Finetek U.s.a., Inc.

Leica Biosvstems St. Louis LLC

James B McCormick

Ilia Borisovitch Izvoztchikov

Valery Abramovitch Khokhlov

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a mold is provided for receiving a tissue specimen and molten embedding material that improves the ease of withdrawing the embedded tissue specimen. The mold has a barrier coating intimately bonded to one or more surfaces of the mold that repels the attraction of the embedding material to the one or more mold surfaces and produces a positive meniscus of the embedding material in the mold. The barrier coating permits the mold to be re-used without needing to manually re-apply a release agent to the mold before using the mold. Further, the barrier coating permits the use of more aggressive draft angles than conventional molds by reducing the frictional engagement between the embedding material and the mold cavity surfaces.

Biological specimen handling apparatus and method

A histological specimen retaining device for processing tissue. The histological specimen retaining device comprises a foldable permeable sheet having edges and a permeable target disposed on the foldable permeable sheet within the edges of said sheet thereby providing extended flap portions. The extended flap portions are foldable to overlap the target. The histological specimen retaining device also comprises a malleable securing strip attached to the permeable sheet of a length sufficient to secure said folded flap portions overlapping said target.

Histological specimen retaining device

The present invention is directed to a card member for receiving a tissue specimen to be processed for histological examination including an absorbent portion for maintaining the tissue specimen in engageable contact with the card member, and a generally non-adhesive portion for allowing separation of the tissue specimen from the card member, where the card member provides the specimen with a known, consistent orientation throughout processing.

Card member for receiving a tissue specimen to be processed for histological examination

A microtome includes a histological cassette support member that is adapted and configured to allow the microtome to be used in connection with relatively thin histological cassettes. A method of reversibly altering a microtome for use with different size histological specimen cassettes includes exchanging the cassette support member of the cassette holding assembly of the microtome with another cassette support member without altering other portions of the cassette holding assembly. A method is also disclosed that includes providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp, providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp, securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp, and securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.

Microtome and method of reversibly altering a microtome

A histological specimen cassette for use in connection with a larger histological specimen cassette, wherein each histological specimen cassette has an internal chamber that includes a receptacle and a lid, the receptacle having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, opposite front and back walls, and an internal chamber or cavity, where the internal chamber or cavity is positioned between the sidewalls, the front and back walls and partially bound by the bottom wall, having a plurality of apertures that extend through the bottom wall and that create fluid passageways into the cavity, the lid having a plurality of apertures that extend through the lid and that create additional fluid passageways into the cavity, the histological specimen cassette being dimensioned such that the histological specimen cassette can fit entirely within the void of the larger histological specimen cassette when the lid is in the closed position.

Histological specimen cassette

Method for processing tissue samples in preparation for histological examination

The present invention is directed to a method for processing a tissue specimen in situ prior to histological examination by providing a tissue specimen having a predetermined examination face, disposing the specimen on a tissue positioning member for removably maintaining the tissue specimen with the examination face in a desired orientation thereon, processing the tissue specimen while maintaining the examination face in the desired orientation on the positioning member throughout processing, separating the tissue specimen from the tissue positioning member by application of a separation force, and maintaining the orientation of the examination face after the specimen is removed from the tissue positioning member wherein processing of the specimen includes contacting the specimen with fluids for dehydrating and clearing the specimen and subsequent casting of the specimen in an embedding material for forming a specimen-containing mold portion having the tissue specimen contained therein in desired orientation.

Method for processing a tissue specimen in situ prior to histological examination

The present invention is directed to an assembleable unit of cassettes for containing specimens for histological examination. The cassettes are each designed for stacking relation one to another by snap locking means which are preferably configured to provide an audible sound and 'click' feeling when stacked. A cover is provided to complete a stack, thereby providing an integral unit for case management. The unit is so integrated that it can be handled and will not disengage the stacked cassettes in the usual handling process in the laboratory. It is also readily processed in a paraffin bath for preparing the contained specimens for microtomy. Thus, a stabilized unit is provided for multiple specimens from a single source and maintaining them in sequential order without individual handling.

Apparatus and method for preparing tissue samples for histological examination

The present invention is directed to a system for use in the preparation in situ of tissue specimens for histological examination. The system includes a cassette, a specimen mounting card and a base mold. The invention also is directed to a method of processing a tissue sample for histological examination which does not require re-orienting the selected cutting plane in the specimen transfer step. Instead, the tissue sample remains oriented in a desired position throughout processing.

System for in situ processing of a tissue specimen

The device for processing and infiltration of histological specimens according to the invention applied for comprises a rotating means consisting of a ring of containers for cassettes with histological specimens which is mounted on a horizontal rotation axis in the vertical plane. The inner diameter of the ring is 2-4 times the width of a cassette for histological specimens. The rotating means is located in a case, which is connected to tanks for processing and infiltration fluids and to a vacuum pump through branch pipes. The rotating means is connected to a means for rotating it at variable rate.

Device for the processing and infiltration of histological specimens

The present invention is directed to a cassette for use in the preparation of small specimens for histological examination. While the cassette of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with small specimens, it is equally suitable for use in the processing of large specimens. The cassette includes an open container having a bottom wall, two side walls, a front wall and a back wall. The bottom wall has a plurality of first apertures disposed in the wall for passage of fluid through the cassette in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the bottom wall. At least two of the other walls also have a plurality of second apertures for the passage of fluid through the cassette in a direction parallel to the plane of the bottom wall. Each of the back wall, side walls and front wall are disposed at an angle outwardly from the bottom wall. All of the apertures of the cassette bottom, top and inner side walls have a longest dimension no greater than about 0.5 mm. Each of the first apertures and the second apertures can be any suitable shape such as round, oval, square or rectangular so long as the longest dimension of the aperture is less than about 0.5 mm. Another feature of the invention is that the walls comprising the apertures of the bottom wall are disposed at an angle inwardly from the interior floor of the bottom wall.

Apparatus and method for preparing small tissue samples for histological

The present invention is directed to a system for providing an embedded tissue specimen subsequent to fluid treatment of the specimen and preparatory to histological examination. The system includes the combination of a cassette for use in the preparation of tissue specimens for histological examination and an embedding mold having a first cavity for receiving the treated specimen and a second cavity for receiving the cassette. The system includes means for dispensing a predetermined amount of molten wax into the embedding mold.

Apparatus for embedding tissue samples

A method and apparatus for cutting tissue sections from an organic tissue specimen to generate multiple tissue ribbons having any desired section sequencing. A three-dimensional microtome which allows relative movement between the tissue specimen and the cutting blade in three dimensions is used to generate the tissue ribbons. Preferably, the three-dimensional microtome also includes an advanceable cutting blade capable of being conveniently advanced in the direction along its length to provide a fresh cutting edge to the cutting area of the microtome.

Multi-dimension microtome sectioning device

The present invention is directed to a system for providing an embedded tissue specimen subsequent to fluid treatment of the specimen and preparatory to histological examination. The system includes the combination of a cassette for use in the preparation of tissue specimens for histological examination and an embedding mold having a first cavity for receiving the treated specimen and a second cavity for receiving the cassette in an interlocked position overlying the first cavity.

Disclosed is an apparatus for slicing tissue sections from a frozen specimen for microscopic analysis or the like without allowing tissue debris or dust to become airborne and thereby transport bacteria or viruses from one specimen to other specimens or to an operator. This is achieved by slicing the specimen while submersed in a subzero dielectric liquid and passing a conveyor, such as a statically charged web or film, adjacent the point of sectioning so that the tissue sections and associated tissue debris generated therewith are attracted to the web and adhere thereto. The conveyor transports the tissue sections, and associated debris adhering thereto, through a sterilizer and staining tanks whereafter the tissue is transferred to a slide for microscopic examination.

Growing community of inventors

Lincolnwood, IL, United States of America

James B McCormick