1,3-Dioxolane Tissue Processing Reagent for Fixation and Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue processing methods for producing thin sections from biological samples are inefficient, particularly in fixation, dehydration, clearing, and embedding, as they require extensive processing times and may not effectively prevent tissue degradation or enhance penetration of fixatives and embedding agents.
Innovation Solution
A composition including 1,3-dioxolane, an acetal solvent, is used for fixation, dehydration, clearing, and infiltration, which can be combined with other agents like alcohols or xylene, and used in conventional or microwave-assisted tissue processors to improve processing efficiency and penetration, facilitating the production of high-quality microscopic slides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional tissue processing methods are used for fixation, dehydration, clearing, and embedding, then the tissue can be processed into thin sections, but the processing time is extensive and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the processing reagents by using 1,3-dioxolane as a key component in the fixation, dehydration, clearing, and embedding reagents. This chemical parameter change enables significantly reduced processing times while maintaining effective tissue processing, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a multi-functional reagent system where 1,3-dioxolane serves multiple purposes across different processing stages: fixation, dehydration, clearing, and embedding. This universal approach consolidates multiple separate processing steps into a more integrated workflow, reducing overall processing time and improving efficiency
2Reliability
If conventional fixatives are used, then tissue fixation can be achieved, but penetration into thick tissue sections is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the fixation reagent by incorporating 1,3-dioxolane, which changes the diffusability and penetration characteristics. This parameter change enables faster penetration into thick tissue sections while maintaining reliable tissue preservation through effective fixation
Solution Approach 2:
1,3-dioxolane acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the penetration of fixative agents into thick tissue sections. It serves as a carrier medium that enhances the diffusion rate and distribution of the fixation reagent throughout the tissue, resolving the contradiction between reliable fixation and fast penetration
3Productivity
If traditional dehydration and clearing agents are used, then water can be removed and tissue can be prepared for embedding, but the process requires multiple steps and extended time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate processing steps (dehydration, clearing, and embedding) into a more integrated process using a unified reagent system containing 1,3-dioxolane. This combining approach reduces the number of discrete processing steps and extends processing time, directly improving productivity while simplifying the overall process complexity
4Reliability
If standard embedding agents like paraffin are used, then tissue can be embedded for sectioning, but infiltration is incomplete without optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the embedding reagent by incorporating 1,3-dioxolane, which improves the infiltration characteristics and efficiency. This parameter change enables complete and rapid infiltration of the embedding agent into the tissue, enhancing both embedding quality and infiltration efficiency simultaneously
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
The use of 1,3-dioxolane as a dehydrating, clearing, and infiltration agent significantly reduces processing time, enhances tissue preservation, and improves the quality of thin sections, allowing for rapid and effective preparation of biological samples for microscopic analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The use of 1,3-dioxolane as a dehydrating, clearing, and infiltration agent significantly reduces processing time, enhances tissue preservation, and improves the quality of thin sections
Implementation Method 2
Following dehydration, the tissue is cleared. 'Clearing' consists of removal of the dehydrant and some of the lipids with a substance that will be miscible with the embedding medium (e.g., paraffin)
Implementation Method 3
Once cleared, the tissue is infiltrated with an embedding agent such as paraffin. The use of 1,3-dioxolane as a dehydrating, clearing, and infiltration agent significantly reduces processing time, enhances tissue preservation, and improves the quality of thin sections
Implementation Method 4
A purpose of fixation is to preserve tissues permanently in as life-like a state as possible by altering structures of proteins such that degradation by autolysis does not occur
Implementation Method 5
This may be done with a series of alcohols at different concentrations (e.g., 70 percent to 95 percent to 100 percent)
Implementation Method 6
The most common clearing agent is xylene
Data Source
AI summary
A method including placing a biological sample taken from a body into a chamber; adding a composition including an acetal solvent to the chamber; and fixating the biological sample. A method including placing a tissue from a body into a chamber; and contacting the tissue with a composition including an acetal solvent as a fixating process.