Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh

Markus Berberich

Christian Wilke

Hermann Ulbrich

Ralf Eckert

Florian Böhl

Jürgen Tenhaef

Karin Flieger

Roland Walter

Tobias Trump

Stella Louise Knorr

Benjamin Siehl

Andrew Guy

Michael Eberhard

Markus Wittman

The invention relates to a method for embedding a tissue sample into an embedding medium. In a first step the tissue sample is held in an intended orientation in a container by means of a holding element that presses the tissue sample against a base of the container. In a further step a liquid embedding medium that has a temperature above 64 degrees Celsius, in particular in the range from 65 degrees Celsius to 67 degrees Celsius, or a temperature of 66 degrees Celsius, is poured into the container, and the base of the container is cooled. In a further step a separating motion is executed by way of which the tissue sample and the holding element move away from each other, those layers of the embedding medium through which the holding element moves during the separating motion having, during the separating motion, temperatures in the range from 54 degrees Celsius to 64 degrees Celsius, in particular of 60 degrees Celsius, and/or those portions of the embedding medium which are directly adjacent to the holding element having, during the separating motion, a temperature in the range from 54 degrees Celsius to 64 degrees Celsius, in particular of 60 degrees Celsius.

Method and automatic machine for embedding a tissue sample into an embedding medium

A method () for fixing at least one tissue sample () is carried out using a tissue processor (). The tissue sample () is introduced at a first temperature level and a first pressure level into a fixing reagent () containing at least one nitrogen-containing compound capable of pressure- and/or temperature-dependent release of at least one aldehyde. The tissue sample () is left in the fixing reagent () for a fixing time period during which the fixing reagent () is brought to a second temperature level above the first temperature level and/or to a second pressure level above the first pressure level. A concentration in the fixing reagent () of the nitrogen-containing compound is ascertained using at least one concentration measuring device () of the tissue processor (), and a signal is outputted on the basis of a measured value of the at least one concentration measuring device ().

Fixing tissue samples using nitrogen-containing compounds that release aldehydes

A method of producing thin sections using a microtome is disclosed. A hand wheel () is manually driven for producing a first thin section, and wherein the rotational movement of the hand wheel () is detected by an encoder (), and a profile of the rotational movement is determined. The determined profile is stored and selected for production of at least a second thin section. A motor () is driven for generating a cutting movement between a cutting unit () and a sample holder () in accordance with the respective stored profile selected for producing the second thin section. A microtome () to carry out this method is also disclosed.

Method and microtome for producing thin sections with a section profile recording mode

An automated embedding machine includes at least a conveyor, a pouring station, and a cooling station. The conveyor is embodied and arranged to receive casting molds each having at least one histological sample arranged therein, and to transport them to the pouring station which fills each casting mold with an embedding medium heated to above its melting point, and then to the cooling station which cools the embedding medium of each casting mold to below its melting point. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for embedding a histological sample.

Automated embedding machine, and methods for embedding a histological sample

The invention relates to a melting apparatus () for melting paraffin (), having: a melting container () for receiving paraffin () to be melted; a storage container () for storing molten paraffin (); having a melting container heating device () for heating the melting container (), having a storage container heating device () for heating the storage container (), having a fluid connection () fluidically connecting the melting container () and the storage container; the melting container (), the storage container (), and the fluid connection () being arranged so that molten paraffin () flows out of the melting container () into the storage container ().

Melting apparatus for metered melting of paraffin

A sample cooling device for histological samples is connectable to a power network for supplying electrical voltage to the device. The sample cooling device comprises a measuring apparatus for measuring a magnitude of an input line voltage present at the sample cooling device, and a transformer having a primary coil that comprises at least three coil pickoffs, and a secondary coil. The sample cooling device further comprises a switching means that connects two of the coil pickoffs to the power network as a function of the magnitude of the input line voltage, so that a magnitude of an output voltage present at the secondary coil has a predefined or predefinable voltage value irrespective of the magnitude of the input voltage. A corresponding method for supplying electrical power to a sample cooling device for histological samples is also disclosed.

Sample cooling device for histological samples

The invention relates inter alia to an automated stainer for staining, in particular for hemalum-eosin (HE) staining, of a histological sample, the automated stainer exposing the sample to the action of at least one stain using at least one staining parameter. The automated stainer is notable for the fact that the automated stainer comprises an input means with which a staining parameter is definable, in particular is inputtable or is selectable from a plurality of possible staining parameters; and that a control apparatus is present which, upon application of the defined staining parameter, ascertains the prospectively expectable outcome of an action and displays it to the user with a display apparatus, before the automated stainer actually stains the sample.

Method for staining a histological sample, and automated stainer

The present invention relates to a holding apparatus () for receiving specimen slides (), having a holder () for handling the holding apparatus () and having at least two identification units () that make available different information items to enable characterization of the orientation of the holding apparatus () in a stainer or coverslipper.

Holding apparatus for receiving specimen slides

Automated embedding machine, and method for embedding a histological sample

The disclosure relates to a processor for processing histological samples. The processor comprises an inlet for insertion of a closed fixing container having the samples present therein.

Processor for processing histological samples

The invention relates to a processing apparatus () for processing tissue samples, having a control unit () configured to control at least one apparatus function of the processing apparatus (); and a communication device () configured to read at least one information item from a user identification unit () and convey the at least one information item to the control unit (). The control unit () is configured to control the at least one apparatus function of the processing apparatus () based on the at least one information item conveyed.

Processing apparatus for processing tissue samples having a reading device for user identification units

An apparatus () for handling specimen slides comprises a first module receiving region () in which a coverslipping module (), for coverslipping thin sections arranged on the specimen slides with a coverslipping medium and a coverslipping element, is receivable. A first electrical interface is provided in the first module receiving region () for attachment of a coverslipping module (), this interface being embodied so that by way of it, both a glass coverslipping module () for coverslipping with glass wafers and a tape coverslipping module () for coverslipping with tapes is attachable. The first module receiving region () is furthermore embodied in such a way that a tape coverslipping module () or a glass coverslipping module () is selectably receivable in it.

Apparatus for handling specimen slides having selectably receivable glass or tape coverslipping modules

The present invention relates to a coverslipping machine () including: a hollow needle () for applying mounting medium onto a specimen slide (); a transparent container () to be filled with a liquid; a light source () for radiating measurement light in a principal radiating direction (A) into the container (); and a light sensor (') for detecting the measurement light, the light source () being arranged with respect to the container () in such a way that the radiated measurement light is refracted by a liquid in the container whose fill level exceeds a fill level limit, the light sensor (&#x2032;) being arranged with respect to the container () in such a way that only measurement light refracted by the liquid or only measurement light not refracted by the liquid is detected.

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Heidelberg, Germany

Markus Berberich