Apparatus and methods for automated handling and embedding of tissue samples

Abstract

An automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation. A cooling unit is configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation. A motorized carrier assembly is mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports. The carrier assembly moves the support from the input member to the cooling unit and, finally, to the output member. A dispensing device dispenses an embedding material onto the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the microtome sectionable support during the embedding operation.

1 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds,   introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable supports and the liquid embedding material in the molds,   after applying the heat, hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microtome sectionable supports further comprise first and second microtome sectionable supports having different configurations and the molds further comprise first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable supports, and the method further comprises:
 detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable supports as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable supports, and   loading the microtome sectionable supports into the first or second mold depending on the detected configuration.   
     
     
         3 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable supports in the input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds,   introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds,   hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         4 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable supports into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample contained thereon through the frame such that the tissue sample is at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable supports and the liquid embedding material in the molds,   after applying the heat, hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microtome sectionable supports further comprise first and second microtome sectionable supports having different configurations and the molds further comprise first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable supports, and the method further comprises:
 detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable supports as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable supports, and   loading the microtome sectionable supports into the first or second mold depending on the detected configuration.   
     
     
         6 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports, each having a tissue sample thereon, into an input device,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable supports in the input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable supports into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable support and the tissue sample contained thereon through the frame such that the tissue sample is at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds,   hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         7 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes and the liquid paraffin in the molds,   after applying the heat, cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the microtome sectionable cassettes further comprise first and second microtome sectionable cassettes having different configurations and the molds further comprise first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable cassettes, and the method further comprises:
 detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable cassettes as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable cassettes, and   loading the microtome sectionable cassettes into the first or second mold depending on the detected configuration.   
     
     
         9 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes in the input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds,   cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         10 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   using a motorized staging device to move to the respective molds and stage the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes and liquid paraffin in the molds,   after applying the heat, cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the microtome sectionable cassettes further comprise first and second microtome sectionable cassettes having different configurations and the molds further comprise first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable cassettes, and the method further comprises:
 detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable cassettes as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable cassettes, and   loading the microtome sectionable cassettes into the first or second mold depending on the detected configuration.   
     
     
         12 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into an input device,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes in the input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input device using a motorized carrier,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   using a motorized staging device to move to the respective molds and stage the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds,   cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples.   
     
     
         13 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into a perforated input basket,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input basket using gripping fingers on a motorized carrier,   using the gripping fingers to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   moving a motorized staging/filling device adjacent to the respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds with the staging/filling device by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds from the staging/filling device,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes and the liquid paraffin in the molds,   after applying the heat, cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microtome sectionable cassettes further comprise first and second microtome sectionable cassettes having different configurations and the molds further comprise first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable cassettes, and the method further comprises:
 detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable cassettes as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable cassettes, and   loading the microtome sectionable cassettes into the first or second mold depending on the detected configuration.   
     
     
         15 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable cassettes contained in frame members, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes, each having a tissue sample contained therein, into a perforated input basket,   applying heat to the microtome sectionable cassettes in the input device,   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes from the input basket using gripping fingers on a motorized carrier,   using the gripping fingers to load the microtome sectionable cassettes into a plurality of respective molds,   moving a motorized staging/filling device adjacent to the respective molds,   staging the microtome sectionable cassettes into the respective molds with the staging/filling device by moving each microtome sectionable cassette and the tissue sample contained therein through the frame such that the tissue sample and a portion of the cassette are at least partially exposed outside of the frame,   introducing liquid paraffin into the respective molds from the staging/filling device,   cooling and hardening the liquid paraffin in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable cassette contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples from the molds into an output device configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable cassettes and embedded tissue samples.   
     
     
         16 . An automated method of embedding tissue samples on microtome sectionable supports, comprising:
 loading a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports into an input device, each microtome sectionable support having a tissue sample thereon, wherein the microtome sectionable supports include first and second microtome sectionable supports having different configurations,   unloading the microtome sectionable supports from the input device using a motorized carrier,   detecting the configurations of the microtome sectionable supports as at least either the first or second microtome sectionable supports,   using the carrier to load the microtome sectionable supports into a plurality of respective molds, the molds including first and second molds having configurations corresponding to the first and second microtome sectionable supports, wherein loading the microtome sectionable supports into the first or second mold depends on the detected configuration,   introducing liquid embedding material into the respective molds,   hardening the liquid embedding material in each mold with the tissue sample and associated microtome sectionable support contained at least partially therein, and   unloading the microtome sectionable supports and embedded tissue samples from the molds.   
     
     
         17 . A cassette for holding a tissue sample, comprising:
 a body including a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending upwardly with respect to said bottom wall to define an interior space for receiving the tissue sample; and   a sensing element associated with said body and configured to allow an automated sensing system to determine at least one characteristic of the cassette.   
     
     
         18 . The cassette of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing element further comprises one or more holes. 
     
     
         19 . The cassette of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing element is machine readable. 
     
     
         20 . The cassette of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing element comprises machine readable indicia.