Method and apparatus for automated reprocessing of tissue samples
OwnerDavid Baunoch, Richard Jonesinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of automatically reprocessing a specimen for microscopic examination is disclosed. Processing of a specimen for microscopic examination involves fixation of the specimen and preparation of the embedded specimen from the fixed specimen. There are instances where, once a specimen has been processed, it is necessary to reprocess the specimen due to contamination of reagents during processing or inadequate fixation. The system automatically reprocesses a specimen by removing residual embedding material from the specimen with a clearing agent, removing the clearing agent with a dehydrating agent, and removing the dehydrating agent with an aqueous fluid.
Claims18
An apparatus for automatically reprocessing a specimen from an infiltrating medium to an aqueous fluid comprising in combination:
- a processing chamber for holding a specimen;
- means for regulating flow of fluid to the processing chamber;
- at least one container of a clearant agent, at least one container of a dehydrant agent and at least one container of an aqueous fluid, the containers of clearant, dehydrant and aqueous fluid being connected to the processing chamber via means for regulating flow of fluid to the processing chamber;
- and
- a control device having a processor and a memory device, the processor controlling the means for regulating flow of fluid in order to automatically and sequentially connect the processing chamber with the container of clearant agent, the container of dehydrant agent and the container of aqueous solution in order to reprocess the specimen.
A computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer having a user interface comprising means for input, an output driver for connections to at least one valve, the valve being connected to at least one container of a clearant agent, at least one container of a dehydrant agent and at least one container of an aqueous fluid, the set of instructions comprising:
- an initiating routine operatively associated with said user interface for permitting a user to initiate reprocessing via the means for input, said means for input being associated with a reprocessing program accessible to said computer;
- a run routine for implementing said reprocessing program selected by the user, the reprocessing program controlling the output drive to the valve in order to automatically and sequentially connect the valve to the container of clearant agent, the container of dehydrant agent and the container of aqueous solution for reprocessing of a specimen.
Method for automatically reprocessing a specimen using a specimen reprocessing machine having processor for controlling the exposure of the specimen to a clearing agent, a dehydrating agent and an aqueous fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the specimen which is infiltrated with an infiltrating medium;
- indicating to the specimen reprocessing machine that the specimen is to be reprocessed;
- exposing the specimen to a clearing agent via the processor to remove the infiltrating medium from the specimen;
- thereafter
- exposing the specimen to a dehydrating agent via the processor to remove the clearing agent;
- and thereafter
- exposing the specimen to an aqueous fluid via the processor to remove the dehydrating agent from the specimen.
Method for reprocessing a specimen which is infiltrated with an infiltrating medium using a specimen reprocessing system having a processing chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
- inputting a final step in reprocessing the specimen;
- subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure to a clearant;
- determining whether the step of subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure of clearant is the final step in reprocessing the specimen;
- subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure to a dehydrant if the step of subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure of clearant is not the final step in reprocessing the specimen;
- determining whether the step of subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure of dehydrant is the final step in reprocessing the specimen;
- and
- subjecting the specimen to an aqueous fluid if the step of subjecting the specimen to at least one exposure of dehydrant is not the final step in reprocessing the specimen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.