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Apparatus for high quality, continuous throughput, tissue fixation-dehydration-fat removal-impregnation

  • US 6,586,713 B2
  • Filed: 12/15/2000
  • Issued: 07/01/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for continuous processing of tissue specimens comprising:

  • (a) a microwave processor unit which sequentially fixes, dehydrates, and defats said tissue specimens with a series of non-aqueous solutions in a vessel, and agitates and heats said vessel of the processor and its contents by microwave energy;

    wherein sources for the non-aqueous solutions are fluidly coupled to said vessel of the processor to expose tissue specimens to said series of non-aqueous solutions and to drain said vessel of the processor; and

    (b) an impregnator unit which sequentially impregnates said processed tissue specimens with a series of paraffin solutions in a vessel, and heats said vessel of the impregnator and its contents under less than atmospheric pressure during impregnation;

    wherein processing of a later tissue specimen in said microwave processor unit is initiated before impregnation of an earlier tissue specimen in said impregnator unit has been completed.

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