Frozen Tissue Processor with Magnetic Stirring for Reagent Homogeneity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The standard frozen section procedure for examining human tissues during surgery faces challenges such as poor microscopy image quality, operator skill dependence, temperature and reagent homogeneity issues, lack of standardization, and environmental influences, leading to unreliable diagnostic results, especially for fatty tissues like breast tissue.
Innovation Solution
A method and processor for processing frozen tissue slices using a carrier with magnetic stirring, where the slices are immersed in a fixative solution at a controlled temperature above room temperature, followed by automated staining, dehydration, and clearing steps, ensuring consistent and repeatable results independent of operator skill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual immersion in reagents at room temperature is used, then the procedure is simple to operate, but the microscopy image quality is poor and cytological detail is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical immersion with an automated processing system that uses magnetic stirring to circulate reagents through the tissue section. This substitution of manual operation with an automated mechanical system resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of operation (automated) and improved image quality (through controlled reagent circulation and magnetic stirring)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic magnetic stirring to create movement and circulation of reagents rather than static immersion. This dynamic approach improves reagent penetration and uniformity, thereby enhancing cytological detail and microscopy image quality while maintaining operational simplicity through automation
2Ease of operation
If static immersion without stirring is used, then the procedure is easy to perform, but temperature gradients and reagent non-homogeneity occur along the vertical axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces magnetic stirring to transform the static immersion process into a dynamic one. The magnetic stirring creates continuous circulation that eliminates temperature gradients and ensures reagent homogeneity throughout the vertical axis, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and compositional stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses magnetic stirring as an intermediary mechanism to mediate between the reagent solution and the tissue section. This intermediary action ensures uniform temperature distribution and reagent concentration without requiring complex manual intervention, maintaining both ease of operation and compositional homogeneity
3Device complexity
If manual timing estimation is used, then the procedure requires minimal equipment, but the process cannot be standardized and documentation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual timing estimation with an automated processing system that includes programmable timing control. This substitution eliminates the need for operator skill and experience, enables precise standardization of the protocol, and facilitates documentation, while the overall device complexity remains manageable through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automated timing control with documentation capabilities that provide feedback on process parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent timing for each processing step, enabling standardization and reliable documentation without requiring complex equipment or manual intervention
4Adaptability or versatility
If laboratory room temperature variations are allowed, then the procedure adapts to environmental conditions, but the results cannot be standardized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reliance on ambient laboratory temperature with an automated temperature-controlled processing system. This substitution ensures that the tissue section is exposed to consistent, controlled temperatures throughout the processing steps, enabling result standardization while the system can be deployed in various environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements controlled temperature parameters in the automated processing system, maintaining constant temperature conditions regardless of laboratory variations. This parameter control resolves the contradiction by ensuring standardized results while the system adapts to different environmental settings through its controlled environment
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
This approach enhances the quality of frozen section results, reduces the need for second surgeries by providing sharper morphological details and standardizing the protocol, allowing for precise documentation and improved diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier comprises a magnetic stirring means being rotary attached to the frame and which is driven by an external magnetic drive
Implementation Method 2
immersing the frozen tissue slices in a fixative solution (preferably an alcohol based fixative, more preferred a fixative having the composition of FineFIX), preferably at a temperature preset above room temperature
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for processing frozen slices of tissue of biospecimens mounted on or adhered to glass slides, i.e. forming a frozen section (2), and arranged on a carrier (1), the tissue slices preferably having a thickness of between 1µm and 50µm, more preferred between 2µm and 10µm, the method comprising the following steps: a.) immersing the frozen tissue slices in a fixative, preferably an alcohol based fixative, more preferred a fixative having the composition of FineFIX, b.) staining the tissue slice, c.) dehydrating the tissue slice, and d.) optionally clearing the tissue slice, wherein steps a.) to d.) are performed by automatically transferring the frozen sections (2) on the carrier (1) between and into and out of at least a container (C1) holding a fixative, preferably an alcohol based fixative, more preferred a fixative having the composition of FineFIX, at least one or optionally more, preferably two containers (C3, C5) holding a staining solution, a container (C6, C7) holding a dehydrating solution, and optionally a container (C8) holding a clearing solution, and wherein the transfer and the time duration during which the tissue slices are in said containers (C) is controlled by a control unit controlling an actuator (10) holding the tissue slices.