Tissue Processor With Isolated Cassette Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue processors face challenges with cross-contamination of tissue samples during processing, as all samples are immersed in a large reagent pool, leading to skewed analysis results.
Innovation Solution
A tissue processing system with multiple isolated processing stations and carriers, where each station can accommodate different numbers of cassettes and dispense processing fluids individually, reducing or eliminating cross-contamination by using a small amount of fluid per cassette and collecting fluid runoff for disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all tissue samples are immersed in a large reagent pool for processing, then processing efficiency is improved, but cross-contamination between samples occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system divides the sample handling into individual cassette units, each containing a specific tissue sample. Multiple cassettes are processed simultaneously in separate well-defined areas within the processing chamber, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining batch processing efficiency. The reagent distribution system delivers reagents to each cassette independently through separate delivery mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If processing fluid is dispensed to individual cassettes to eliminate cross-contamination, then cross-contamination is reduced, but fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system collects and recovers processing fluids after they have been used on individual cassettes. A fluid collection mechanism retrieves spent reagents from each cassette position, allowing them to be reused in subsequent processing cycles. This recovery system significantly reduces overall fluid consumption while maintaining the individualized processing approach that prevents cross-contamination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers with different numbers of cassettes are accommodated, then system versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system employs a universal carrier interface design that can accommodate multiple carrier types with different numbers of cassettes (e.g., 6-carrier, 12-carrier, 24-carrier configurations). The reagent distribution mechanism and carrier positioning system are designed to work with various carrier formats through standardized interfaces, allowing the system to handle different sample loads without requiring separate processing lines for each carrier type.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue processing system includes a plurality of processing stations. Each processing station includes a plurality of tissue receiving areas that are each configured to accommodate a tissue sample as well as physically isolate that tissue sample from other tissue samples at other receiving areas of the same processing station. Each processing station is configured to separately and individually process the tissue sample at each receiving area to either reduce or eliminate any potential for cross-contamination between the tissue samples undergoing processing at the same processing station. For each receiving area of each processing station, the system is configured to immerse a tissue sample at a particular receiving area in processing fluid for a pre-determined time according to a pre-defined protocol that is based upon parameters of that tissue sample.