Apparatus and method for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy analysis

An automated machine for preparing one or more tissue samples in a microtome sectionable support, comprising:

• a loading device operating to place the microtome sectionable support into a position;
• a dispensing device operating to dispense an embedding material onto both the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the support;
• and
• an unloading device operating to remove the microtome sectionable support after embedding of the tissue sample.

A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:

• orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation;
• immobilizing the oriented tissue sample in a support structure having a porous top, porous bottom and porous sides surrounding the oriented tissue sample;
• and
• processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous top, porous bottom and porous sides into the tissue sample.

A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:

• orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation relative to a porous support;
• immobilizing the oriented tissue sample on the porous support using an immobilization media;
• and
• processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous support into the tissue sample.

A method for preparing a tissue sample for analysis, comprising:

• orienting the tissue sample in a desired orientation;
• immobilizing the oriented tissue sample on a porous support structure;
• processing the immobilized tissue sample with tissue processing fluid by allowing the tissue processing fluid to flow through the porous support structure into the tissue sample;
• and
• sectioning the tissue sample and the support structure with the tissue sample in the desired orientation following processing.

A method for embedding and sectioning a tissue sample comprising:

• positioning the tissue sample above a planar, perforated element that is positioned on and forms a portion of an embedding support structure that has all portions of the planar, perforated element lying below the tissue sample, said planar perforated element defining a reference plane with respect to the tissue sample;
• embedding the tissue sample and at least a portion of said support structure in an embedding medium to form an integral embedded unit with the tissue sample remaining above the planar, perforated element;
• and,
• sectioning the integral embedded unit in at least one plane that passes through the embedded tissue sample and is in registered relationship to said reference plane.

A method for embedding and sectioning a tissue sample for microtome sectioning comprising:

• positioning the tissue sample above a planar, perforated element that is positioned on and forms a portion of support structure that has all portions thereof lying below the tissue sample, said planar perforated element defining a reference plane with respect to the tissue sample;
• embedding the tissue sample and at least a portion of the support structure in an embedding medium to form an integral embedded unit with the tissue sample remaining above the planar, perforated element;
• mounting the integral embedded unit on a microtome with the reference plane parallel to a cutting plane of the microtome;
• and,
• sectioning the embedded tissue sample with the microtome.