Paraffin-Based Sample Treatment Composition for Single-Step Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating biological, cytological, and histological samples require multiple steps and large volumes of solvents, are time-consuming, and often incompatible with automated processors, posing health risks and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising paraffin, alcohol, and specific hydrocarbons (naphtha, isoparaffin, or limonene) is used for simultaneous dehydration, clarification, and infiltration in a single step, eliminating ketones and ensuring compatibility with automated processors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple successive steps with ethanol solutions and xylene are used for dehydration and clarification, then the water is effectively removed and compatibility with paraffin is increased, but the processing time increases to about 14 hours and large quantities of solvents (40-45 liters per 1000 samples) are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate treatment steps (dehydration with ethanol, clarification with xylene, and paraffin infiltration) into a single integrated composition. This composition simultaneously performs all three functions in one bath, reducing processing time from 14 hours to a few hours while eliminating the need for multiple solvent transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment composition is designed to be multi-functional, serving as a universal reagent that performs dehydration, clarification, and paraffin infiltration all at once. This eliminates the need for separate specialized reagents for each step and simplifies the overall processing workflow.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple successive steps with ethanol solutions and xylene are used for dehydration and clarification, then the water is effectively removed and compatibility with paraffin is increased, but the quantity of solvents used increases to 40-45 liters per 1000 samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate treatment steps (dehydration with ethanol, clarification with xylene, and paraffin infiltration) into a single integrated composition. This composition simultaneously performs all three functions in one bath, reducing processing time from 14 hours to a few hours while eliminating the need for multiple solvent transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need to discard and replace multiple different solvents (ethanol, xylene) by using a single reusable composition. The treatment medium serves all purposes throughout the process, eliminating solvent waste and the environmental hazards associated with multiple chemical transitions.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional dehydration and clarification protocols are used, then the sample is properly prepared for paraffin infiltration, but the process is incompatible with automated processors and poses health risks due to solvent exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment composition is designed to be multi-functional, serving as a universal reagent that performs dehydration, clarification, and paraffin infiltration all at once. This eliminates the need for separate specialized reagents for each step and simplifies the overall processing workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the treatment medium by using a hydrocarbon-based composition with specific solubility characteristics that enable it to perform multiple functions. The composition's unique chemical properties allow it to dehydrate, clarify, and infiltrate simultaneously, making it compatible with automated processing systems.
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 solution reduces processing time to 1-3 hours, significantly cuts solvent use, and ensures safe handling and environmental sustainability while maintaining sample quality for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The purpose of these steps is to remove water from the sample to allow its subsequent infiltration in paraffin, which is a hydrophobic substance
Implementation Method 2
which is able to remove the alcohol and to clearly increase the compatibility with paraffin, in terms of hydrophobicity
Implementation Method 3
The purpose of the various steps of the dehydration treatment (with ethanol solutions) is to replace the water inside the tissue with solutions of increasing hydrophobicity to make possible the penetration of paraffin, which is a completely hydrophobic substance
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition for treating biological, cytological, histological and autopsical samples, in particular to a composition capable of merging reagents for the dehydration, clarification and paraffin infiltration treatments of the sample, and to its use in the preparation of samples for analysis.