# US 11,906,398 B2 · Automated tissue section transfer system with high throughput > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,398 B2 - Document ID: US11906398B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/866,725 - Filed: 2022-07-18 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-08 - Assignees: Clarapath, Inc. - Applicants: Clarapath, Inc. - Inventors: Baris Yagci; Eric Feinstein; Partha P. Mitra; Janak Sewkarran; Cong Zhang; Robert Shusko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906398B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/06: providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome - B01L 3/508: {Rigid containers without fluid transport within} - G01N 1/36: Embedding or analogous mounting of samples - B01L 2300/043: Hinged closures - B01L 2300/046: Function or devices integrated in the closure - B01L 2300/069: Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid - B01L 2300/0809: rectangular shaped - G01N 1/42: Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation - G01N 2001/065: {Drive details} - G01N 2001/315: {Basket-type carriers for tissues} - G01N 2001/366: {Moulds; Demoulding} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract There is provided an automated system for preparing tissue samples that comprises one or more microtomes, a hydration system, and a processor, the processor being programmed to initiate facing, by one or more microtomes, of a first tissue block comprising a first tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, and cause the first tissue block to be hydrated by the hydration system for a first predetermined time, and initiate facing, by one or more microtomes, of a second tissue block while the first tissue block is being hydrated, the second tissue block comprising a second tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, and cause the second tissue block to be hydrated by the hydration system for a second predetermined time, and to initiate the one or more microtomes to begin sectioning of the first tissue block while the second tissue block is being hydrated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: processing a first tissue block, wherein the processing of the first tissue block comprises one or more of: facing, by one or more microtomes, the first tissue block; hydrating the first tissue block by a hydration system; and sectioning, by the one or more microtomes, the first tissue block; and processing a second tissue block, wherein the processing of the second tissue block comprises one or more of: facing, by the one or more microtomes, the second tissue block; hydrating the second tissue block by the hydration system; and sectioning, by the one or more microtomes, the second tissue block, wherein the first tissue block and the second tissue block are processed simultaneously. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the one or more microtomes comprise a plurality of microtomes; facing and sectioning of the first tissue block is performed by a first microtome; and facing and sectioning of the second tissue block is performed by a second microtome. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: facing, by a first microtome, the first tissue block; facing, by the first microtome, the second tissue block while the first tissue block is hydrating; and sectioning, by a second microtome, the hydrated first tissue block while the second tissue block is being hydrated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: facing, by a first microtome, the first tissue block; sectioning, by the first microtome, the hydrated first tissue block; facing, by a second microtome, the second tissue block; and sectioning, by the second microtome, the hydrated second tissue block, wherein at least one of the facing, the hydrating, and sectioning of the second tissue block is performed in parallel to the facing, hydrating, and sectioning of the first tissue block. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring one or more sections from the first tissue block and the second tissue block to one or more slides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the first tissue block and the second tissue block between the one or more microtomes and the hydration system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: hydrating the first tissue block for a first predetermined time; and hydrating the second tissue block for a second predetermined time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrating the first tissue block or the second tissue block at the one or more microtomes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving, by a tissue block handler, the first tissue block and the second tissue block from the one or more microtomes to the hydration system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring, by one or more transfer medium units, one or more sections sectioned from the first tissue block and the second tissue block from the one or more microtomes to one or more slides. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: initiating, by a processor, facing, by one or more microtomes controlled by the processor, of a first tissue block comprising a first tissue sample embedded in an embedding material; causing, by the processor, the first tissue block to be hydrated; and initiating, by the processor, facing, by the one or more microtomes, a second tissue block while the first tissue block is being hydrated, the second tissue block comprising a second tissue sample embedded in an embedding material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first tissue block is hydrated for a predetermined time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising initiating, by the processor, sectioning, by the one or more microtomes controlled by the processor, of the first tissue block. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: causing, by the processor, the second tissue block to be hydrated; and initiating, by the processor, sectioning, by the one or more microtomes, of the first tissue block while the second tissue block is being hydrated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising moving by a tissue block handler in communication with the processor, the first tissue block and the second tissue block from the one or more microtomes to a hydration system for hydration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring, by one or more transfer medium units in communication with the processor, one or more sections sectioned from the first tissue block and the second tissue block from the one or more microtomes to one or more slides. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: initiating, by a processor, facing, by one or more microtomes controlled by the processor, of a first tissue block comprising a first tissue sample embedded in an embedding material; causing, by the processor, the first tissue block to be hydrated; and initiating, by the processor, sectioning, by the one or more microtomes, of the first tissue block while a second tissue block is being hydrated, the second tissue block comprising a second tissue sample embedded in an embedding material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first tissue block is hydrated for a first predetermined timed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the second tissue block is hydrated for a second predetermined time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising initiating, by the processor, facing, by the one or more microtomes, of the second tissue block. ### Claim 21 An automated system for preparing tissue samples, the automated system comprising: one or more microtomes; a hydration system; and a processor, the processor being programmed to: control a processing of tissue blocks, wherein the processing comprises one or more of: facing, by the one or more microtomes, the tissue blocks; hydrating the tissue blocks by the hydration system; and sectioning, by the one or more microtomes, the tissue blocks, wherein the processor controls the processing of the tissue blocks such that a plurality of tissue blocks are processed simultaneously.