Resilient Cellular Tissue Support for Microtome Sectioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for handling and embedding tissue samples for pathological analysis are inefficient, particularly for smaller samples, leading to increased handling time and potential human error, and result in inconsistent quality of embedded tissue slices.
Innovation Solution
A microtome sectionable tissue support device utilizing a resilient cellular material, such as open cell foam, that is resistant to solvents and chemicals, allowing infiltration of processing fluids and embedding materials while retaining the tissue sample in place during processing and embedding, and enabling successful sectioning in a microtome.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional manual handling methods are used for tissue samples, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but handling time increases and human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue support device is designed to automatically guide itself through the embedding process without requiring manual intervention. The resilient cellular material self-adjusts to accommodate tissue samples of different sizes and shapes, eliminating the need for manual positioning and handling by histotechnicians throughout the embedding and microtoming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient cellular material acts as an intermediary between the tissue sample and the embedding medium. It provides a compliant interface that allows automated embedding systems to handle tissue samples without direct mechanical contact, reducing human error while maintaining sample integrity.
2Reliability
If resilient cellular material is used to retain tissue, then tissue retention is improved, but material compatibility with processing chemicals must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient cellular material is specifically selected for its chemical inertness and resistance to degradation by common tissue processing chemicals and embedding media. The material's physical and chemical parameters are optimized to maintain its resilient properties throughout the entire processing sequence from fixation to microtoming.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue support device utilizes composite construction combining the resilient cellular material with compatible structural components. This composite design ensures that all materials used in the device are chemically resistant to processing fluids while maintaining the necessary mechanical and retention properties.
3Productivity
If manual embedding of each tissue sample is performed, then precision in tissue orientation is maintained, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient cellular material is designed to automatically orient and secure tissue samples through its elastic properties. When placed in the embedding apparatus, the material self-adjusts to accommodate the tissue in the correct orientation without requiring manual positioning, thereby maintaining precision while increasing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient cellular material provides dynamic adaptation during the embedding process. Its elastic properties allow it to conform to tissue samples of varying orientations and positions, automatically correcting misalignment and ensuring proper orientation before embedding occurs.
4Stability of the object's composition
If rigid embedding materials are used, then structural stability is improved, but tissue sample accessibility for microtoming is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient cellular material provides different mechanical properties in different locations within the embedding block. The material remains resilient and compliant in the region where the tissue sample is positioned, facilitating easy access for microtoming, while providing sufficient structural stability in the surrounding embedding medium to maintain block integrity during processing.
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 solution reduces handling time, minimizes human error, and enhances the consistency and quality of embedded tissue samples, improving the efficiency and reliability of the tissue processing and embedding procedure.
Implementation Method 1
The porosity of the resilient cellular material allows infiltration of the solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue
Implementation Method 2
The resilient cellular material has a thickness that is compressible and configured to engage and retain tissue in place during processing and embedding
Implementation Method 3
The resilient cellular material is a three dimensional, microtome sectionable, deflectable structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A histologic tissue sample support device includes a tissue support (12) formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue (40). A resilient cellular material (20) is coupled to the tissue support (12) and is configured to engage and retain tissue (40) in place during processing and embedding. The resilient cellular material (20) is also capable of successful sectioning in the microtome and porous to allow infiltration of the solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue, and of embedding material (50) used to embed the tissue (40) while the tissue (40) is retained by the resilient cellular material (20).