Tissue freezing apparatus

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) each of said first and second platforms being operably connected to a cryogenic system in such a manner as to allow said cryogenic system to selectively reduce the temperature of said first and second surfaces, when in the engaging position thereof whereby the specimen is rapidly cooled from opposite sides thereof;
• e) said first and second surfaces being associated with a first and a second disc supported by said first and second platforms respectively;
• f) each of said discs having an internal chamber that is flow connected to said cryogenic system so as to receive cryogenic liquid in each of said chambers;
• and
• g) each of said discs chambers being flow connected to a gas conduit so as to allow evaporated cryogenic liquid to be conveyed from said chamber as a gas.

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) each of said first and second platforms being operably connected to a cryogenic system in such a manner as to allow said cryogenic system to selectively reduce the temperature of said first and second surfaces, when in the engaging position thereof whereby the specimen is rapidly cooled from opposite sides thereof;
• e) a cryogenic liquid storage tank;
• f) said cryogenic system including a liquid delivery tube flow connecting the liquid tank to each platform for cooling said surfaces;
• g) a gas return tube flow connecting between said platforms and said tank;
• and
• h) a vacuum pump operably flow positioned along said return tube such that during operation of said vacuum pump, liquid is drawn from said tank to said platforms for cooling and evaporated gas is drawn from said platforms and returned to said tank to pressurize said tank such that liquid is urged from said tank both due to the vacuum pump drawing a vacuum on the return tube and by gas being returned to and pressurizing said tank.

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) said first platform being a rotating motion platform and said second platform being a linear motion platform;
• and
• b) a central rotating column;
• said column being joined to said rotating motion platform by an arm structure.

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) a side support panel located near one end of each of said first and second platforms;
• and
• e) a stop located on said side support panel;
• said stop having a first surface positioning said first platform when in the covering position thereof and said stop having a second surface positioning said second platform in a stop position when said second platform is in the specimen engaging position thereof.

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) frame structure connected to said second platform;
• e) said linear movement mechanism being supported by said frame structure and connected to said second platform;
• and
• f) said second platform having an aperture therethrough;
• said linear movement mechanism including a post slidingly received in said aperture and allowing movement of said platform linearly along an axis associated with said post.

An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens for medical study comprising:

• a) a first platform having a first surface for receiving a specimen;
• b) a second platform having a second surface for operably engaging the specimen;
• said first and second platforms being rotatable relative to one another between a first open position wherein the first and second platforms are sufficiently spaced to allow positioning of the specimen on said first platform surface and a second covering position wherein the second platform is positioned directly over said first platform and in spaced relationship thereto;
• c) linear movement mechanism cooperating with said first and second platforms;
• said linear movement mechanism including a latch device to prevent linear movement until said second platform is in the covering position thereof and a linear biasing device for urging said first and second platform toward one another into a position wherein both of said first and second platforms engage the specimen with said respective first and second surfaces from opposite sides of the specimen;
• d) a pivot bar pivotally mounted on said frame;
• e) a first arm swingably connected to said second platform;
• and fixedly joined to said bar;
• f) a second arm fixedly joined at one end to said bar and having a distal end;
• and
• g) a latch mounted on said frame and selectively engaging said second arm distal end such that, when engaged, said second platform is prevented from moving toward said first platform and when not engaged said second platform moves to the engaging position thereof.

An apparatus for freezing a tissue specimen utilizing cryogenic fluids comprising:

• a) a platform having a tissue specimen receiving surface;
• said platform being constructed of a heat transferable material in a region thereof near said surface;
• said platform including a chamber beneath said surface for receiving a cryogenic liquid;
• b) a liquid tank for containing cryogenic liquid;
• c) a liquid delivery tube having a first end flow connected to a liquid containing level of said tank and having a second end flow connected to said chamber;
• d) a return tube flow connected to said chamber at one end and to said tank at an opposite end for returning gas evaporated from the cryogenic liquid to said tank;
• e) a vacuum pump flow positioned along said return tube and being adapted to draw gas from said chamber to create a negative pressure therein to urge cryogenic liquid from said tank to said chamber and to return gas to said tank under pressure to help pressurize the liquid in said tank and thereby further urge liquid to flow from said tank through said delivery tube to said chamber.

A cryogenic freezing platform for relatively quick freezing of a specimen placed on the platform;

• said platform comprising:
• a) a cylindrically shaped disc constructed of a relatively high heat transferable material;
• said disc having a generally planar surface adapted to receive a tissue specimen for freezing;
• b) said disc including first and second inner chambers;
• c) said first chamber being located in close proximity to said surface;
• d) said first chamber being adapted to flow connect to a source of cryogenic liquid;
• e) said second chamber being opposite said first chamber relative to said surface;
• f) said disc including a conduit for flow connecting between said first and second chambers;
• and
• g) said second chamber being adapted to be flow connected to a gas discharge tube.

A cryogenic freezing platform for relatively quick freezing of a specimen placed on the platform;

• said platform comprising:
• a) a cylindrically shaped disc constructed of a relatively high heat transferable material;
• said disc having a generally planar surface adapted to receive a tissue specimen for freezing;
• b) said disc including first and second inner chambers;
• c) said first chamber being located in close proximity to said surface;
• d) said first chamber being adapted to flow connect to a source of cryogenic liquid;
• e) said second chamber being opposite said first chamber relative to said surface;
• f) said disc including a conduit for flow connecting between said first and second chambers;
• g) said second chamber being adapted to be flow connected to a gas discharge tube;
• h) a plurality of distribution bores extending radially between said first chamber and near the radial exterior of said disc;
• i) a plurality of collection bores radially extending between said second chamber and near the outside of the disc;
• and
• j) said conduits flow connecting said collection bores with said distribution bores.

In an apparatus for treating a tissue specimen wherein said apparatus includes a platform having a surface thereon for receiving the specimen;

• the improvement comprising:
• a) a disc mounted in said platform and supporting said surface;
• b) a channel generally encircling said surface located in said platform;
• c) a sleeve constructed of insulative material generally surrounding said disc and operably located between said disc and said channel so as to insulate said disc from said channel;
• and including
• d) a vacuum pump flow connected to said channel so as to operably draw gases from said channel.

In an apparatus for treating a tissue specimen wherein said apparatus includes a platform having a surface thereon for receiving the specimen;

• the improvement comprising:
• a) a disc mounted in said platform and supporting said surface;
• b) a channel generally encircling said surface located in said platform;
• c) a vacuum pump flow connected to said channel so as to operably draw gases from said channel;
• d) said disc and surface are generally circular;
• and including:
• e) an insulating sleeve located between said disc and said channel;
• f) said channel being a first channel and said vacuum pump being a first vacuum pump;
• and
• g) a second channel closely spaced from said first channel and a second vacuum pump flow connected to said second channel operably drawing gases therefrom.

In an apparatus for treating a tissue specimen having a frame and a first platform for engaging the specimen, the improvement wherein:

• a) said first platform is a rotary motion platform pivotally connected to said frame;
• and including
• b) a linear motion platform;
• said rotary motion platform being positionable in a non covering position relative to said linear motion platform and being operably moveable to a covering position relative to said linear motion platform by rotating said rotary motion platform;
• c) said linear motion platform having at least first and second spaced positions relative to said rotary motion platform when the rotary motion platform is in the covering position thereof;
• said linear motion platform being closer to said rotary motion platform in said second position as compared to said first position;
• and
• d) a biasing mechanism for urging said linear motion platform between said first and second positions thereof without substantial lateral or angular motion.

A method of preparing a tissue specimen with a non planar side for slicing comprising the steps of:

• a) placing the side of the specimen on a planar receiving surface;
• b) covering the specimen with a flexible plastic sheeting;
• c) withdrawing gas from between the sheeting and said receiving surface so as to draw said sheeting toward the surface and flatten against said receiving surface;
• d) covering the specimen with a second covering surface;
• e) cooling said receiving and covering surface so as to freeze said specimen utilizing cryogenic fluid to cool said specimen;
• and
• f) moving said covering surface into engagement with said specimen with substantially only a linear motion.