Facing and Quality Control in Microtomy

A method for facing a tissue block comprising:

• progressively removing one or more sections from a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material;
• imaging the one or more sections removed from the tissue block to generate imaging data associated with the one or more sections;
• and
• determining, based on the imaging data, when a sufficient number of the one or more sections have been removed from the tissue block to expose the tissue sample to a predetermined criteria.

A method for facing a tissue block comprising:

• removing, from a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, a thickness of the embedding material configured to expose the tissue sample to a predetermined criteria;
• subsequently to removing the thickness, progressively removing one or more sections from the tissue block;
• imaging the one or more sections removed from the tissue block to generate imaging data associated with the one or more sections;
• and
• confirming, from imaging data, that the tissue sample has been exposed to the predetermined criteria.

A histology system comprising:

• a microtome configured to progressively remove one or more sections from a tissue block, the tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material;
• and
• a vision system associated with the microtome and comprising:
• an illumination system configured to illuminate the tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material;
• an imaging system configured to image the tissue block to generate imaging data associated with the tissue block;
• and
• a processor in communication with the vision system, the processor being programed to receive the imaging data and determine, based on the imaging data, when the tissue block has been sufficiently faced by the microtome.

A vision system comprising:

• an illumination system configured to illuminate a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material;
• an imaging system configured to image the tissue block to generate imaging data of the tissue block;
• and
• a processor in communication with the imaging system, the processor being programed to receive the imaging data and determine, based on the imaging data, an exposure of the tissue sample to a predetermined criteria.