Tissue cassette with retractable member

An apparatus for holding a tissue sample comprising,

• a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface;
• a base having a second tissue engaging surface;
• at least one biasing element which moveably attaches at least one of the retaining member to the first tissue engaging surface and the base to the second tissue engaging surface;
• and
• a retracting member connected to at least one of the retaining member or the base and configured,
• wherein the base and the retaining member are configured to engage each other to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, and
• the at least one biasing element urges at least one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area, and
• the retracting member retracts at least one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface and compresses the biasing element

An method for holding a tissue sample comprising,

• placing the tissue sample in a retaining member having an first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element such that the first tissue engaging surface is moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element, and a base comprising a second tissue engaging surface;
• engaging the base to the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other;
• urging the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area;
• processing the tissue sample with a fixing agent;
• filling the base with a paraffin to form a first layer of paraffin adjacent to the base and a second layer of paraffin above the first layer of paraffin,
• holding the base against a chilling surface to cool the first layer of paraffin,
• retracting the first tissue engaging surface by compressing the biasing element to form a gap between the tissue sample and one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface;
• holding the first tissue engaging surface away from the second tissue engaging surface until the second layer of paraffin cools;
• removing the base from the retaining element to expose the tissue sample embedded in the paraffin.