Means and method for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy analysis
AssigneeBioPath Automation, L.L.C.
InventorsWarren P. Williamson, IV, Stephen P. Whitlach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tissue biopsy sample is placed on a tissue trapping and supporting material that can withstand tissue preparation procedures and which can be cut with a microtome. The tissue is immobilized on the material and the material and the tissue are subjected to a process for replacing tissue fluids with wax, and then the tissue and the supporting material are sliced for mounting on slides using a microtome. Harvesting devices and containers using the filter material are disclosed. An automated process is also disclosed. One form of the invention has the tissue trapping and supporting material porous and another form of the invention includes a tissue supporting material that is not easily microtomed.
Claims35
A means for supporting histologic tissue biopsy samples comprising:
- a microtome sectionable tissue supporting means for supporting tissue samples during tissue processing, embedding and microtomy including
- (1) means for permitting said tissue supporting means to be successfully sectioned in a microtome,
- (2) means for resisting histological stains,
- (3) means for resisting degredation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain the tissue and
- (4) means for maintaining said tissue supporting means non-distracting during tissue processing and slide preparation.
A means for supporting histologic tissue biopsy samples including
- a microtome sectionable tissue supporting means for supporting tissue samples during tissue processing, embedding and microtomy including
- (a) means for permitting said tissue supporting means to be successfully sectioned in a microtome,
- (b) means for resisting histological stains,
- (c) means for resisting degredation from solvents and chemicals used to process and stain the tissue, and
- (d) means for maintaining said tissue supporting means non-distracting during tissue preparation and slide preparation;
- and
- a supporting means for supporting the sample for microscopic examination.
A means for supporting histologic biopsy samples comprising:
- a microtome sectionable tissue supporting means for supporting tissue samples during tissue processing, embedding and microtomy wherein said tissue supporting means is formed of a material which can be microtomed without significantly dulling the microtome blade and which resists histological stains and which resists degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue samples and which is non-distracting with respect to the tissue samples during microscopic examination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.