Histological specimen treatment
First Claim
1. A process for preserving a specimen comprising:
- using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes;
successively and azeotropically vaporizing off the formed azeotropes, the first formed azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure, followed by raising temperature to form the second azeotrope, the second azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure, followed by raising temperature to form the third azeotrope, and the third azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure;
wherein a first azeotrope is formed between one or more components of the dissolving compound and specimen-supplied water, a second azeotrope is formed between different components of the dissolving compound, and a third azeotrope is formed between different components of the dissolving compound, the third azeotrope being different from the second azeotrope; and
impregnating the specimen with a support medium.
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Abstract
A single dissolving compound forms plural azeotropes, which can be azeotropically vaporized off at various stages of the treatment process, thus maintaining predictable concentrations of the chemicals present. The treatment process can be performed in the absence of formalin or related compounds which can interfere with the preservation of genetic material. A process for preserving a specimen includes using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes, at least one azeotrope being formed between one or more components of the dissolving compound and specimen-supplied water, and at least one azeotrope being formed between different components of the dissolving compound; successively and azeotropically vaporizing off formed azeotropes; and impregnating the specimen with a support medium.
82 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A process for preserving a specimen comprising:
- using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes;
successively and azeotropically vaporizing off the formed azeotropes, the first formed azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure, followed by raising temperature to form the second azeotrope, the second azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure, followed by raising temperature to form the third azeotrope, and the third azeotrope being vaporized off by reducing pressure;
wherein a first azeotrope is formed between one or more components of the dissolving compound and specimen-supplied water, a second azeotrope is formed between different components of the dissolving compound, and a third azeotrope is formed between different components of the dissolving compound, the third azeotrope being different from the second azeotrope; and
impregnating the specimen with a support medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12)
- using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes;
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6. A process for preserving a specimen comprises:
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dissolving and removing cellular solutes in the specimen using a dissolving compound; partially removing the dissolving compound by forming two or more different azeotropes, at least two of the different azeotropes being formed with at least two component agents of the dissolving compound, and azeotropically vaporizing off the two or more different azeotropes, a first of the two or more different azeotropes being vaporized off by reducing pressure, followed by raising temperature to form a second of the two or more different azeotropes, the second of the two or more different azeotropes being vaporized off by reducing pressure; and replacing the solutes with an impregnated support medium. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14)
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Specification