Method for processing and embedding tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9052256-B2
Application number	US-201414204580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2015
Grant date	Jun 9, 2015

Abstract

A method for treating a tissue sample including placing at least one tissue sample on an cassette which has: a retaining member, a base and at least one biasing element; placing the at least one tissue sample in the tissue cassette; attaching the base and the retaining member to retain the tissue sample; processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents; and embedding the tissue sample in a paraffin to form an portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, wherein the embedding comprises adding molten paraffin to the interior area of the tissue cassette and allowing the paraffin to become solid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating a tissue sample, comprising
providing a tissue retaining cassette, comprising:
a retaining member having an first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element, and

a base comprising a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other;
placing the at least one tissue sample on one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface;
attaching the base and the retaining member to cause the biasing element to urge first tissue engaging surface towards the second tissue engaging surface, such that the tissue sample is held between the tissue engaging surfaces;
processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents; and
embedding the tissue sample in paraffin while the tissue is in the tissue cassette.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising.
detaching the base from the retaining member such that the portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded remains attached to one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the material in which the tissue sample is embedded is a wax.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of embedding the tissue sample in the paraffin comprises:
retracting one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface away from the tissue sample after a portion of the paraffin has solidified and allowing a remaining portion of the paraffin to solidify.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising placing the tissue cassette on a cooling plate during the embedding and retracting steps.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after detaching the base from the retaining member, slicing a layer of paraffin from the portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded to create a tissue section.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising placing the tissue section on a substrate.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising placing a frame around the base and attaching the frame to the retaining member.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising applying a label to at least one of the retaining member, the base and the frame.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the label comprises a computer readable ID tag.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising encoding the computer readable ID tag with information unique to the tissue sample.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the information unique to the tissue sample includes one or more of patient identification information, sample collection site location information, collection temperature, collection time, and collection conditions.

13. A method for treating a tissue sample, comprising
providing a tissue cassette, comprising:
a retaining member having an first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element, and
a base comprising a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the upper and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other;

placing the at least one tissue sample on one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface;
attaching the base and the retaining member to cause the biasing element to urge first tissue engaging surface towards the second tissue engaging surface, such that the tissue sample is held between the tissue engaging surfaces; and
processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising,
embedding the tissue sample in a paraffin to form a portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, wherein the embedding comprises adding molten paraffin to the interior area of the tissue cassette and allowing the paraffin to become solid.

15. A method for treating a tissue sample, comprising
placing at least one tissue sample on a cassette having a base and a retaining member,
processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents,
embedding the tissue sample in paraffin to form a portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, and
slicing the tissue sample which is embedded in the paraffin into layers to create a tissue section,
wherein in the processing, embedding, and slicing steps are preformed while the tissue sample is attached to at least one of the base and the retaining member.

16. A method for treating a tissue sample, comprising
providing a tissue cassette comprising:
a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface;
a base having a second tissue engaging surface; and
at least one biasing element,
at least one of the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface is moveably attached to at least one of the retaining member and the base by said biasing element, and
the base and the retaining member are configured to engage each other to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other,

attaching the base and the retaining member to cause the biasing element to urge first tissue engaging surface towards the second tissue engaging surface, such that the tissue sample is held between the tissue engaging surfaces; and
processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising,
embedding the tissue sample in a paraffin to form an portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, wherein the embedding comprises adding molten paraffin to the interior area of the tissue cassette and allowing the paraffin to become solid.

Assignees

• Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh

Inventors

• Knorr Stella
• Guy Andrew
• Eckert Ralf
• Tarbet Fiona
• Dias Fernando
• Ryan Chris
• Sanut Neil

Classifications

• G01N1/36 Primary

  Embedding or analogous mounting of samples · CPC title

• B01L3/502

  with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures · CPC title

• B01L2300/0609

  Holders integrated in container to position an object · CPC title

• B01L3/50855

  using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells · CPC title