Tumor tissue microarrays for rapid molecular profiling

An apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• a donor block holder for holding a tissue donor block in a donor position;
• and
• a first reciprocating punch positioned in relation to the holder to punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• and
• a recipient block holder for holding a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array of receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the first reciprocating punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the first reciprocating punch into a receptacle in the preselected position;
• and
• a second reciprocating punch capable of being positioned relative to the recipient block for punching the array of receptacles in the recipient block, wherein the second reciprocating punch is different than the fist reciprocating lunch positioned to punch the specimen from the tissue donor block;
• and
• a recorder for recording coordinate positions of the receptacles in the recipient block.

An apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• a donor block holder for holding a tissue donor block in a donor position;
• and
• a first reciprocating punch positioned in relation to the holder to punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• and
• a recipient block holder for holding a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array of receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the first reciprocating punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the first reciprocating punch into a receptacle in the preselected position;
• and
• a second reciprocating punch capable of being positioned relative to the recipient block for punching the array of receptacles in the recipient block, wherein the second reciprocating punch is different than the first reciprocating punch positioned to punch the specimen from the tissue donor block;
• and
• a sectioning device for sectioning the recipient block into sections that can be subjected to different analyses.

An apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• a donor block holder for holding a tissue donor block in a donor position;
• and
• a first reciprocating punch positioned in relation to the holder to punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• and
• a recipient block holder for holding a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array of receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the it reciprocating punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the first reciprocating punch into a receptacle in the preselected position;
• and
• a second reciprocating punch capable of being positioned relative to the recipient block for punching the array of receptacles in the recipient block, wherein the second reciprocating punch is different than the first reciprocating punch positioned to punch the specimen from the tissue donor block;
• and
• a reference slide positioner that includes at least one slide that extends between opposing walls of the donor block holder.

A device for preparing biological material arrays, comprising:

• a platform that includes at least one guide for positioning a tissue donor block holder or a recipient block holder;
• and
• a punch apparatus that includes it guide surface, a punch base slidably mounted on the guide surface, an a punch received within the punch base that can he aligned with the tissue block holder or the recipient block holder;
• and
• a reference slide positioner interposed between the platform and the punch apparatus.

An integrated apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• a donor block holder that can hold a tissue donor block in a donor position;
• a first reciprocal punch positioned in relation to the donor block holder that can punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• a recipient block holder that can hold a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array or receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the first reciprocal punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the first reciprocal punch into a receptacle in the preselected position;
• and
• a second reciprocal punch capable of being positioned relative to the recipient block for punching the array of receptacles in the recipient block, wherein the second reciprocal punch is different than the first reciprocal punch positioned to punch the specimen from the tissue donor block;
• and
• a positioner that can position over the donor block a reference slide that includes at least one structure of interest to align the at least one structure of interest in the reference slide with corresponding tissue specimen regions in the donor block.

An apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• an x-y positioning platform;
• a donor block holder for holding a tissue donor block in a donor position, the donor block holder being disposed on the x-y positioning platform;
• a reciprocating punch positioned in relation to the donor block holder to punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• a recipient block holder for holding a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array of receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the reciprocating punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the reciprocating punch into a receptacle in the preselected position, the recipient block holder being disposed on the x-y positioning platform;
• a sectioning device for sectioning the recipient block into sections that can be subjected to different analyses;
• and
• z-direction positioning means for the reciprocating punch.

An apparatus for preparing specimens for parallel analysis of sections of biological material arrays, comprising:

• an x-y positioning platform;
• a donor block holder for holding a tissue donor block in a donor position, the donor block holder being disposed on the x-y positioning platform;
• a reciprocating punch positioned in relation to the donor block holder to punch a tissue specimen from the tissue donor block when the donor block is in the donor position;
• a recipient block holder for holding a recipient block in a recipient position, wherein the recipient block comprises an array of receptacles, each of which is positionable in a preselected position in relation to the reciprocating punch to deliver a tissue specimen from the reciprocating punch into a receptacle in the preselected position, the recipient block holder being disposed on the x-y positioning platform;
• a recorder for recording coordinate positions of the receptacles in the recipient block;
• and
• z-direction positioning means for the reciprocating punch.