Microwave heating apparatus for rapid tissue fixation
First Claim
1. Microwave heating apparatus for fixating tissue, said apparatus comprisingan electrically conductive waveguide structure having opposite first and second walls each having a longitudinal centerline;
- source means for producing conduction currents in said waveguide structure;
a body of non-magnetic dielectric material inside said waveguide structure and which bridges said first and second walls at said centerline;
a pocket extending through a wall of said waveguide structure into said body and for receiving a tissue holder, said pocket having an entrance in the form of a narrow slot in a wall of the waveguide structure which does not appreciably interrupt conduction currents produced in the waveguide structure by the source means, anda tissue holder in said pocket, said tissue holder containing contents namely a tissue sample and a fixation solution, said holder and contents having a composite dielectric constant which closely matches the dielectric constant of said body.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Microwave heating apparatus for fixating tissue comprises an electrically conductive waveguide structure having opposite first and second walls each of which has opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal centerline. A body of non-magnetic dielectric material inside the waveguide structure bridges the first and second walls preferably at their centerlines. A pocket extends through a wall of the waveguide structure into the body and a tissue holder containing contents, namely a tissue sample and a fixation solution, is arranged to be received in the pocket. The dielectric constant of the body is selected to closely match the composite dielectric constant of the tissue holder and its contents so that when microwave power is delivered into the waveguide structure for heating a succession of samples, variations in the dielectric properties of the different samples will not significantly affect the tuning of the waveguide structure. A radiometric sensor may be coupled to the waveguide structure so that the temperature of the tissue sample may be monitored non-invasively for temperature control and display purposes.
93 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Microwave heating apparatus for fixating tissue, said apparatus comprising
an electrically conductive waveguide structure having opposite first and second walls each having a longitudinal centerline; -
source means for producing conduction currents in said waveguide structure; a body of non-magnetic dielectric material inside said waveguide structure and which bridges said first and second walls at said centerline; a pocket extending through a wall of said waveguide structure into said body and for receiving a tissue holder, said pocket having an entrance in the form of a narrow slot in a wall of the waveguide structure which does not appreciably interrupt conduction currents produced in the waveguide structure by the source means, and a tissue holder in said pocket, said tissue holder containing contents namely a tissue sample and a fixation solution, said holder and contents having a composite dielectric constant which closely matches the dielectric constant of said body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Microwave heating apparatus for fixating tissue contained in a tissue holder, said apparatus comprising
an electrically conductive waveguide structure having opposite first and second walls each of which has opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal centerline, and opposite third and fourth walls connecting said first and second walls; -
a body of non-magnetic dielectric material inside said waveguide structure and which extends between said first and second walls at said centerlines; a pocket extending through a wall of said waveguide structure into said body and for receiving said tissue holder; source means for delivering microwave power into said waveguide structure for heating said sample when the tissue holder is received in said pocket, and a tissue holder containing contents namely a tissue sample and a fixation solution, said holder and contents having a composite dielectric constant and arranged to be received in said pocket, the dielectric constant of said body being closely matched to said composite dielectric constant. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification