Specimen storage apparatus

Abstract

A storage and organizing apparatus for microscopy specimens is disclosed that includes a base with a top surface upon which are a plurality of slidable attachment tongues. A plurality of storage trays, each having a slidable attachment groove on a bottom surface thereof, is adapted to slidably engage one of the slidable attachment tongues of the base. Each tray further includes a plurality of specimen receiving means so that a plurality of specimens may be retained thereby. The specimen receiving means are adapted for receiving either a block specimen of tissue embedded in a resin block, a semi-thin section specimen of tissue mounted to a glass slide, a grid-mounted thin section, or any combination of these one, two, or three types of specimens. A cover may be included to slidably engage and capture each tray, whereby specimens held within the tray are prevented from falling out of the tray if the tray is inverted or jarred. The base further includes a card storage slot formed partially within the base and having an open end proximate to a top rear edge of the base so that a data card with information corresponding to the specimens may be stored therewith.

1 . A specimen storage apparatus, comprising: 
 a generally cuboidal base, the base including a plurality of slidable attachment tongues on a top surface thereof, and    a plurality of generally cuboidal storage trays, each tray including a slidable attachment groove on a bottom surface thereof, each slidable attachment groove adapted for slidably engaging and capturing one of the plurality of slidable attachment tongues of the base, each tray further including a plurality of specimen receiving means.    whereby a plurality of specimens may be retained by the specimen receiving means on one of the storage trays,    wherein at least a portion of the specimen receiving means of each of the plurality of storage trays is adapted for receiving a block specimen of tissue embedded in a resin block,    wherein at least a portion of the specimen receiving means of each of the plurality of storage trays is adapted for receiving a semi-thin section specimen of tissue mounted to a glass slide,    wherein at least a portion of the specimen receiving means of each of the plurality of storage trays is adapted for receiving a grid-mounted thin section specimen of tissue.    
   
   
       2 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base further includes a card storage means formed partially within the base, whereby a paper card with data regarding the specimens may be retained within the card storage means concurrently with the specimens.  
   
   
       3 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the card storage means is an elongated slot on the top surface of the base proximate to and generally parallel with a top rear edge of the base, the slot extending partially through the base.  
   
   
       4 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 3  wherein each storage tray is of a size such that, when fully engaged with the base in a stored position, each tray fully covers the elongated slot, whereby a card stored within the card storage means is prevented from falling out of the card storage means.  
   
   
       5 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the specimen receiving means of the plurality of storage trays adapted for receiving a grid-mounted thin section specimen of tissue further includes, an elongated slot hole through proximate to one corner of said cube, said slot hole being generally orthogonal to a top surface thereof, facilitating removal of said grid-mounted specimen from the tray.  
   
   
       6 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specimen receiving means of each of the plurality of storage trays is adapted for receiving multiple block specimens, multiple semi-thin section specimens, and multiple grid-mounted thin section specimens arranged in an array.  
   
   
       7 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each tray further includes a cover adapted to slidably engage and capture the tray to prevent specimens from falling out of the specimen receiving means thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the each of the slidable attachment tongues and each of the slidable attachment grooves are shaped as elongated trapezoids.  
   
   
       9 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the specimen receiving means of the plurality of storage trays adapted for receiving a grid-mounted thin section specimen of tissue further includes, a clip proximate to the top surface of the tray at each of said specimen receiving means adapted for receiving the grid-mounted thin section specimen, the clip removably attached to the tray manually, whereby the grid-mounted thin section specimen retained by the specimen receiving means cannot become dislodged from the specimen receiving means until the clip is manually removed from the base.  
   
   
       10 . The specimen storage apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the specimen receiving means adapted for receiving the grid-mounted thin section specimen is formed as a grid holding depression and the clip is a small flexible plastic rod that fits into a pair of clip depressions on either side of the grid holding depression.  
   
   
       11 . A specimen storage tray, comprising: 
 a base, and    a tray mountable on the base having a block depression for receiving a block, a grid depression for receiving a grid and a slot formed in the block depression, the slot for receiving a semi thin section, wherein the block depression is shaped to receive both a block or a semi thin section.    
   
   
       12 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 11  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a locking clip manually removable and attached to the grid depression opening that holds a grid-mounted thin section specimen inside the grid depression until the locking clip is manually removed.  
   
   
       13 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 11  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a locking clip manually removable and attached to the grid depression opening that holds a grid-mounted thin section specimen inside the grid depression until the locking clip is manually removed, wherein the clip is a small flexible rod that fits into a pair of clip depressions on either side of the grid depression.  
   
   
       14 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 11  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a forcep hole along the side of the grid depression opening and the grid depression, wherein the forcep hole allows an inserted forcep to grab only the edge of the grid, but not touch the middle of the grid where a specimen is usually mounted.  
   
   
       15 . A specimen storage tray, comprising: 
 a base, and    a tray mountable on the base having a block depression for receiving a block, and a grid depression for receiving a grid.    
   
   
       16 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 15  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a locking clip manually removable and attached to the grid depression opening that holds a grid-mounted thin section specimen inside the grid depression until the locking clip is manually removed.  
   
   
       17 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 15  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a locking clip manually removable and attached to the grid depression opening that holds a grid-mounted thin section specimen inside the grid depression until the locking clip is manually removed, wherein the clip is a small flexible rod that fits into a pair of clip depressions on either side of the grid depression.  
   
   
       18 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 15  wherein the grid depression forms a grid depression opening and further includes a forcep hole along the side of the grid depression opening and the grid depression, wherein the forcep hole allows an inserted forcep to grab only the edge of the grid, but not touch the middle of the grid where a specimen is usually mounted.  
   
   
       19 . The specimen storage tray, of  claim 15  wherein the grid depressions are formed in a channel having a clip groove retaining clips between channel walls, wherein clip grooves allow clip rotation from a first locked position to a second unlocked position. The first position covers the opening as shown in  FIG. 13 , and the second position.