Biopsy Orientation Device Using Biasing Lid and Resilient Cellular Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue sample handling and processing in histopathology is labor-intensive, prone to human error, and challenging for small, elongated samples like skin biopsies and core biopsies, which require precise orientation and embedding to maintain diagnostic quality.
Innovation Solution
A microtome sectionable tissue cassette with a biasing lid and resilient cellular material to securely hold and orient small, elongated tissue samples, ensuring they remain flat and in the correct plane throughout processing, using tabs and channels to prevent migration and maintain origination information, and a tissue orientation device for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional manual handling and embedding procedures are used, then flexibility in processing different tissue types is maintained, but labor intensity increases and human error becomes more prevalent
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue sample support device is designed to automatically maintain sample orientation and position throughout processing without requiring continuous manual intervention. The biasing lid and resilient cellular material self-adjust to keep samples flat and oriented, eliminating the need for constant technician adjustment and reducing labor intensity while maintaining processing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device with biasing lid and resilient cellular material is designed to accommodate multiple types of tissue samples (small, elongated, irregularly shaped) within a single system. The universal design handles various tissue types through the same mechanism, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and procedures while maintaining flexibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual orientation and holding of tissue samples is performed, then sample positioning can be adjusted, but the risk of human error and inconsistency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of technician-held forceps with an automated mechanical system consisting of a biasing lid and resilient cellular material. This substitution eliminates human variability in sample positioning while maintaining precise orientation through consistent mechanical biasing forces that flatten and orient samples uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient cellular material changes its physical state from compressed to expanded as it biases the sample, dynamically adjusting to maintain optimal sample orientation and flatness throughout processing. This parameter change ensures consistent sample positioning without requiring manual adjustment, improving both precision and reliability.
3Productivity
If small, elongated tissue samples are processed without specialized support, then processing speed is maintained, but sample migration and orientation loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing lid and resilient cellular material are designed to pre-position and flatten tissue samples before processing begins. This preliminary action ensures samples are correctly oriented and secured in advance, preventing migration during subsequent processing steps and maintaining both speed and precision throughout the workflow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces human error, improves handling efficiency, and ensures high-quality tissue sections by maintaining sample orientation and preventing artifacts, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and throughput in histopathology labs.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient cellular material to bias the tissue sample towards the inside bottom surface of the tissue support
Implementation Method 2
the processing machine immerses the tissues samples in a bath of a hardenable material such as molten paraffin (i.e., a form of wax) so that the interstices in the tissue are replaced with paraffin
Implementation Method 3
The molten paraffin is then rapidly cooled on a refrigerated plate, which may be a thermal electric cooler (TEC), to partially solidify the paraffin
Data Source
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AI summary
Tissue orientation devices (10) include a perforated tissue support (12) with at least one perforated channel (30a-d) for receiving a tissue sample (100), and a plurality of tabs (18) configured to extend along and into the channel to retain the tissue sample during processing and embedding. Tissue orientation devices (200) include elongated legs (204, 206, 208, 210) coupled together for holding one or more biopsy tissue samples therebetween. Associated methods include using the cassettes (12) and orientation devices (200) to hold and orient tissue samples for processing, embedding and microtome sectioning.