Pathology Grossing Tool with Depression Plate for Uniform Tissue Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pathology grossing tools and methods face challenges in preparing tissue specimens of standardized thickness and ensuring user safety, as they often result in non-uniform tissue samples and risk personal injury due to knife slippage.
Innovation Solution
A pathology grossing tool with forceps and plates, including a flat-cutting surface and a tissue-receiving depression, allows for clamping and cutting of tissue samples to a prescribed thickness, while a cassette with adjustable chamber depth standardizes tissue processing and includes features like knife stops to prevent injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional pathology grossing tools are used, then tissue specimens can be prepared, but the thickness is non-uniform and personal injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A plate with a depression is introduced as an intermediary between the knife and the tissue. The depression guides the knife blade and prevents slippage, while also defining the specimen thickness. This mediator structure eliminates the direct harmful interaction between the uncontrolled knife and the user's hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The depression in the plate is pre-formed to the desired depth before the cutting process. This preliminary structuring of the cutting surface ensures that the knife will naturally cut to the correct thickness and prevents slippage before the cutting action begins.
2Manufacturing precision
If standardized tissue specimen thickness is required, then specialized tools with depressions are needed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grossing tool is segmented into separate functional components: forceps for holding tissue, a plate with depression for thickness control, and a knife for cutting. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while the combination achieves standardized thickness preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate serves multiple functions: it provides a cutting surface, defines specimen thickness through its depression depth, guides the knife blade, and prevents slippage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
3Manufacturing precision
If tissue samples are held firmly for cutting, then cutting precision improves, but tissue damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are designed to apply clamping force locally at the tissue edges while leaving the cutting surface area free and accessible. This localized gripping provides sufficient holding stability without compressing or damaging the tissue at the cutting site.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pathology grossing tool and board are provided for the preparation from a gross tissue of a uniformly thin tissue specimen, which is suitable for processing for histology, histochemistry, antibody binding, genetic analysis, or the like. A tissue cassette for receiving the tissue sample, providing a flat-cutting surface along its upper edge, and holding the thin tissue specimen is also provided. Methods for their use are provided.