APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING AND HANDLING TISSUE SAMPLES FOR BIOPSY ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for:
- histological examination, comprising;
placing a tissue sample on a microtome sectionable support;
immobilizing the tissue sample on the support;
subjecting the microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample to a process for replacing fluid in the tissue sample with a hardenable material;
embedding the microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample in an additional quantity of the hardenable material;
curing the hardenable material into a block; and
slicing the block with a microtome into thin slices of the hardenable material, the microtome sectionable support, and the tissue sample.
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Abstract
A sectionable cassette for use in a process for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy analysis is disclosed. In the procedure, a tissue biopsy sample is placed on a tissue trapping and supporting material that can withstand tissue preparation procedures and which can be cut with a microtome. The tissue is immobilized on the material and the material and the tissue are held in the cassette and are subjected to a process for replacing tissue fluids with wax, and then the tissue and the supporting material are sliced for mounting on slides using a microtome. Harvesting devices and containers using the filter material are disclosed. An automated process is also disclosed. One embodiment has the tissue trapping and supporting material porous and another embodiment includes a tissue supporting material that is not easily microtomed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for:
- histological examination, comprising;
placing a tissue sample on a microtome sectionable support;
immobilizing the tissue sample on the support;
subjecting the microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample to a process for replacing fluid in the tissue sample with a hardenable material;
embedding the microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample in an additional quantity of the hardenable material;
curing the hardenable material into a block; and
slicing the block with a microtome into thin slices of the hardenable material, the microtome sectionable support, and the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- histological examination, comprising;
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10. An automated machine for preparing one or more tissue samples in a microtome sectionable support, comprising:
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a loading device operating to place the microtome sectionable support into a position;
a dispensing device operating to dispense an embedding material onto both the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the support; and
an unloading device operating to remove the microtome sectionable support after embedding of the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:
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orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation;
immobilizing the oriented tissue sample in a support structure having a porous top, porous bottom and porous sides surrounding the oriented tissue sample; and
processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous top, porous bottom and porous sides into the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:
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orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation relative to a porous support;
immobilizing the oriented tissue sample on the porous support using an immobilization media; and
processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous support into the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:
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orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation;
immobilizing the oriented tissue sample on a porous support structure;
processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous support structure into the tissue sample; and
sectioning the tissue sample and the support structure with the tissue sample in the desired orientation following processing.
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20. A method for embedding and sectioning a tissue sample comprising:
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positioning the tissue sample above a planar, perforated element that is positioned on and forms a portion of an embedding support structure that has all portions of the planar, perforated element lying below the tissue sample, said planar perforated element defining a reference plane with respect to the tissue sample;
embedding the tissue sample and at least a portion of said support structure in an embedding medium to form an integral embedded unit with the tissue sample remaining above the planar, perforated element; and
,sectioning the integral embedded unit in at least one plane that passes through the embedded tissue sample and is in registered relationship to said reference plane. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for embedding and sectioning a tissue sample for microtome sectioning comprising:
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positioning the tissue sample above a planar, perforated element that is positioned on and forms a portion of support structure that has all portions thereof lying below the tissue sample, said planar perforated element defining a reference plane with respect to the tissue sample;
embedding the tissue sample and at least a portion of the support structure in an embedding medium to form an integral embedded unit with the tissue sample remaining above the planar, perforated element;
mounting the integral embedded unit on a microtome with the reference plane parallel to a cutting plane of the microtome; and
,sectioning the embedded tissue sample with the microtome. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of automating a tissue sample processing and embedding procedure performed prior to histological examination, comprising:
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providing at least one tissue sample support member having a machine readable portion, electronically reading tracking information related to the tissue sample from the machine readable portion, and storing the tracking information in a computer readable form. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification