Apparatus and methods for automated handling and embedding of tissue samples
First Claim
1. An automated machine for embedding tissue samples on respective microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
- an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation;
an output member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation;
a plurality of cooling units each configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation;
a motorized carrier assembly mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports and move the one support from said input member to one of said cooling units to said output member; and
a dispenser operating to dispense an embedding material respectively onto the microtome sectionable supports and at least one tissue sample carried by each of the microtome sectionable supports during the embedding operation.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation. A cooling unit is configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation. A motorized carrier assembly is mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports. The carrier assembly moves the support from the input member to the cooling unit and, finally, to the output member. A dispensing device dispenses an embedding material onto the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the microtome sectionable support during the embedding operation.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. An automated machine for embedding tissue samples on respective microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
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an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation;
an output member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation;
a plurality of cooling units each configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation;
a motorized carrier assembly mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports and move the one support from said input member to one of said cooling units to said output member; and
a dispenser operating to dispense an embedding material respectively onto the microtome sectionable supports and at least one tissue sample carried by each of the microtome sectionable supports during the embedding operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automated machine for embedding tissue samples on respective microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
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a perforate input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation, said perforate input member further constructed for receipt in a tissue processing machine and capable of resisting degradation from procedures used to fix and process the tissue in the tissue processing machine;
an output member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation;
a cooling unit configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation;
a motorized carrier assembly mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports and move the one support from said input member to said cooling unit to said output member; and
a dispenser operating to dispense an embedding material respectively onto the microtome sectionable supports and at least one tissue sample carried by each of the microtome sectionable supports during the embedding operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An automated machine for embedding tissue samples on respective microtome sectionable supports, wherein each microtome sectionable support is received within a frame and is movable between a first position within the frame and a second position in which the tissue sample is exposed for sectioning in a microtome, the automated machine comprising:
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an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation;
an output member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation;
a plurality of TEC units each configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation;
a motorized carrier assembly mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports and move the one microtome sectionable support from said input member to one of said cooling units to said output member; and
a staging device mounted for movement between said cooling units and including a setting head operative to move the support from the first position to the second position and a dispenser operating to dispense an embedding material respectively onto the microtome sectionable supports and at least one tissue sample carried by each of the microtome sectionable supports during the embedding operation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
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loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device, serially unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier, using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds, introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds, hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports contained in frame members, comprising:
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loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device, serially unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier, using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds, staging the microtome sectionable supports into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample contained thereon through the frame such that the tissue sample is at least partially exposed outside of the frame, introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds, hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
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loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device, serially unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier, using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds, staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame, introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds, cooling the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
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loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device, serially unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier, using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds, using a motorized staging device to move to the respective molds and stage the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame, introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds, cooling the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
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loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into a perforated input basket, serially unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input basket using gripping fingers on a motorized carrier, using the gripping fingers to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds, moving a motorized staging/filling device adjacent to the respective molds, staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds with the staging/filling device by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame, introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds from the staging/filling device, cooling the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A cassette for holding a tissue sample, comprising:
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a body including a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending upwardly with respect to said bottom wall to define an interior space for receiving the tissue sample; and
a sensing element associated with said body and configured to allow an automated sensing system to determine at least one characteristic of the cassette. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification