Apparatus for producing elongated sample elements

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for forming high-yield tissue microarray blocks capable of producing 1,000 or more replicate slides. In one embodiment, a plurality of donor tissue samples are minced and suspended in separate molten liquid carriers to form a plurality of separate two-phase mixtures of solid minced tissue and molten wax. Each of the two-phase mixtures is preferably formed into elongated columns and transferred into a separate well of a microarray block. A method and apparatus are provided for forming the elongated molten wax columns with minced tissue evenly distributed along the length of each column. The apparatus for forming the array includes an extrusion mechanism for transferring the columns of two-phase mixtures into the deep wells of the microarray block. The two-phase mixture may alternately be cooled and allowed to solidify before being transferred into the microarray block. An alternate embodiment is provided wherein cell cultures are utilized as starting material as opposed to solid donor tissue samples.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for forming elongated columns made of a meltable carrier and having minced solid tissue samples embedded or suspended in and distributed throughout said meltable carrier, comprising: a housing, an elongated passageway formed in said housing and extending through said housing, hopper means formed in said housing and in communication with said passageway for feeding minced solid tissue samples into said passageway, heating means for heating said housing and said elongated passageway, heating control means for sensing and controlling said heating means, and means for transferring said minced solid tissue samples embedded in said meltable carrier out of said elongated passageway. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said elongated passageway is horizontally disposed and said hopper means is above said elongated passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein a plurality of hoppers is formed in said housing, and wherein each of said hoppers is in fluid communication with an elongated passageway. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein each of said elongated passageways extend downwardly from one of said hoppers through the bottom of said housing. 
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)