Integrated system for preparation of pathology samples

A method, comprising:

• automatedly embedding a tissue sample into an embedding material to prepare a tissue block at a tissue embedding module;
• automatedly transporting the tissue block from the tissue embedding module to a sectioning and slide creating module where one or more tissue sections are automatedly removed from the tissue block and placed onto one or more slides;
• automatedly transporting the one or more tissue sections on the one or more slides from the sectioning and slide creating module to a staining module where the one or more tissue sections on the one or more slides are stained;
• and
• automatedly transporting one or more stained tissue sections from the staining module to a cover-slipper module where a cover is placed onto the one or more stained tissue sections, wherein:
• the automatedly transporting comprises moving, with a pick-and-place robot, an output from at least one of the tissue embedding module, the sectioning and slide creating module, or the staining module, to at least one of the sectioning and slide creating module, the staining module, or the cover-slipper module;
• and
• the tissue embedding module, the sectioning and slide creating module, the staining module, and the cover-slipper module are positioned radially around the pick-and-place robot.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of modules configured to:
• embed a tissue sample into an embedding material to prepare a tissue block;
• remove one or more tissue sections from the tissue block and place the one or more tissue sections onto one or more slides;
• stain the one or more tissue sections on the one or more slides;
• and
• place a cover onto the one or more stained tissue sections;
• a pick-and-place robot configured to integrate the plurality of modules, wherein the plurality of modules are positioned radially around the pick-and-place robot in a star-shaped structure;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of modules and being programmed to:
• instruct the plurality of modules to implement a processing protocol for the tissue sample;
• and
• track the tissue sample through the plurality of modules.