Method and devices for the cross-referencing of identification of object supports for microtomised analytical samples and for the generation of said identification

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and devices for the cross-referencing of identification ( 1 ) of object supports ( 2 ), for microtomised analytical samples still to be mounted thereon, with identification information ( 3 ) for a support ( 4 ) of a tissue sample ( 5 ) which is not yet microtomised. The conventional problem of cross-referencing is improved in a simple manner, whereby the identification information ( 3 ) for the support ( 4 ) is automatically generated during the very allocation in the microtome ( 6 ) and an identification ( 1 ), corresponding thereto, is automatically transferred to at least one object support ( 2 ) and that finally said object support ( 2 ), provided with the identification ( 1 ) is given for the application of the microtomised tissue sample at the moment when a microtomised tissue sample must be applied to an object support ( 2 ).

1 - 29 . (cancelled).  
     
     
         30 . A method for allocating an identification to microtomised sample tissue holders presented to a technician working on a microtome and manually mounting a microtomised sample tissue onto the sample tissue holder, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) assigning identification information to a support of a tissue sample prior to complete microtomisation thereof;    b) automatically detecting said identification information during disposal of said support in the microtome;    c) automatically transferring at least a portion of said identification information to at least one sample tissue holder; and    d) providing, following step c), only those sample tissue holders having said automatically transferred identification information to the technician at a time during which the micromotised tissue sample is to be manually mounted to said tissue holder.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein, for each production of a microtomised tissue sample, said identification information is detected and said tissue holder is provided with said identification information.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said identification information transferred to said at least one tissue holder is identical to said identification information on said sample support.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said identification information on said sample support contains further information in addition to an identification of an origin of the tissue sample.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said further information is allocated by means of an information distribution key, said further information individualizing a microtomised tissue sample of a particular sample holder.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said further information contains processing instructions for the microtomised tissue sample of said tissue holder.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said further information is evaluation information for the microtomised tissue sample on said tissue holder.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said further information characterizes said information distribution key.  
     
     
         38 . A device for allocating an identification to microtomised sample tissue holders presented to a technician working on a microtome and manually mounting a microtomsed sample tissue onto the sample tissue holder, the device comprising: 
 means for assigning identification information to a support of a tissue sample prior to complete microtomisation thereof;    means for detecting said identification information during disposal of said support in the microtome;    means for transferring at least a portion of said identification information to at least one sample tissue holder; and    means for providing only those sample tissue holders having said automatically transferred identification information to the technician at a time during which the microtomised tissue sample is to be manually mounted to said tissue holder.    
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein said transferring means comprises an identification means for providing said tissue holder with an identification label following information transfer between said detecting means and said identification means, wherein said providing means comprises a delivery means installed at the work place of the microtome for removal, by the technician working on the microtome, of tissue holders having said identification label prior to manually mounting of the microtomised tissue sample.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein said detecting means detects the identification information after positioning said support in the microtome to effect identification of at least one tissue holder.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein, when a microtomised tissue sample is produced, a command is issued to said identification means to label said tissue holder.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a data carrier for storing said identification information, wherein said identification information is associated with said support via an identfication code.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein said identification information is located on an information carrier which is physically connected to said support.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein said delivery means interrupts provision of said tissue holder having said identification label when a new tissue support is placed into the microtome.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a controller for carrying out identification of said tissue holder.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said controller comprises a command input for determining a type and/or number of identifications.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a depot for non-labelled tissue holders.  
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said controller predetermines a number of tissue holders to be provided with said identification.  
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein said controller manually increased said number of tissue holders to be provided with said identification.  
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said controller extracts information about a number and/or type of labelling from said identification information.  
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a display means for displaying information and/or processing steps.  
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 43 , further comprising means for holding said support, wherein said detecting means, said support and said support holding means are disposed and structured such that said detecting means can read said identification information from a read field disposed on said support.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein said support and said support holding means cooperate such that clamping jaws of said support holding means are located outside of said read field of a clamped said support.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein said assigning means comprises means for producing said identification information on an information carrier associated with said support, said identification information containing identification as to origin of the tissue sample, an information distribution key, and information which provides an individual information content for identification of several tissue holders having microtomised tissue samples which are derived from a same, not yet microtomised tissue sample.  
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein said means for producing said identification information loads said identification information onto a separate data carrier and provides same and said information carrier of said support with an identification code for mutual allocation.  
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein said means for producing said identification information and said information carrier are designed such that said information carrier can be loaded with a entire amount of said identification information.  
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein an information content of said tissue holder comprises processing instructions for the microtomised tissue samples.  
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein an information content of said tissue holder contains evaluation instructions for the microtomised tissue samples.  
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein an information content of said tissue holder comprises device control instructions which can be automatically detected and processed.