Tissue sample container and methods

Abstract

A tissue sample container including a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation and are demarcated by section walls; and a lid configured to sealingly engage the base. The sample holding sections are sized and shaped to correspond to a specific tissue sample size and shape such that the base in cooperation with the section walls, maintain the given orientation and identity of the tissue samples within respective sample holding sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A core biopsy tissue sample container comprising:
 a base having a sample holding section, which is configured to receive a plurality of biopsy core samples, and hold the plurality of biopsy core samples such that each of the biopsy core samples is substantially aligned with at least one adjacent biopsy core sample in a planar orientation, such that the plurality of biopsy core samples are non-overlapping when viewed from at least one angle;   and a lid configured to engage and substantially seal the base.   
     
     
         2 . The core biopsy tissue sample container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sample holding section comprises a plurality of sections, each section configured to receive one of the plurality of biopsy core samples.   
     
     
         3 . The core biopsy tissue sample container according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the sample holding sections are differently sized and shaped to correspond to respective differently sized and shaped tissue samples.   
     
     
         4 . A tissue sample container, comprising:
 one or more inserts having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation, said sample holding sections being demarcated by section walls;   a base configured to receive the one or more inserts that can be selectively placed in the base; and   a lid configured to at least partially cover the sample holding sections and, in cooperation with the inserts, maintain the given orientation of the tissue samples within the respective sample holding sections, and sealingly engage the base   herein the inserts are sized according to the tissue specific samples and selectively placed in the base.   
     
     
         5 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 , wherein the inserts are removable such that the inserts are sized according to one of the tissue specific examples and can be placed into the tissue sample container to hold one of the tissue specific examples. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 , further comprising a fluid dispensing mechanism which is fluid communication with the inside of the tissue sample container for dispensing a fluid inside the tissue sample container while the lid and the base are engaged. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 , further comprising a label containing information identifying the tissue sample container and being, attached to at least one of the lid, the base, and one of the plurality of sample holding sections. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 , further comprising an identifier containing information identifying one of the plurality of tissue samples and being attached to at least one of the plurality of sample holding sections. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the section walls prevent the plurality of tissue samples from passing between respective sample holding sections.   
     
     
         10 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the sample holding sections are differently sized and shaped to correspond to respective differently sized and shaped tissue samples.   
     
     
         11 . A tissue sample container, comprising:
 a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation, said sample holding sections being demarcated by boundary ribs;   a retaining member configured to at least partially cover the sample holding sections and, in cooperation with the boundary ribs, maintain the given orientation of the tissue samples within the respective sample holding sections; and   a lid configured to sealingly engage the base and in cooperation with the boundary ribs, maintain the given orientation and identity of the tissue samples within respective sample holding sections.   
     
     
         12 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 11 , wherein a least one of the retaining member and the base is configured to urge against the plurality of tissue samples. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 12 , farther comprising a biasing element,
 wherein the retaining element is attached to the retaining member by the at least one biasing element configured to provide relative movement of the retaining element with respect to the retaining member.   
     
     
         14 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of retaining elements, each of the plurality of retaining elements configured to urge against one of the plurality of tissue samples. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the sample holding sections are differently sized and shaped to correspond to respective differently sized and shaped tissue samples.   
     
     
         16 . A tissue sample container, comprising:
 a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation;   a retaining member configured to at least partially cover the sample holding sections and, a lid configured to sealingly engage the base,   wherein at least one of the base or the retaining member is configured, in cooperation with the other, to urge towards the plurality of tissue samples to maintain the given orientation of the tissue samples within the respective sample holding sections.   
     
     
         17 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of sample bolding sections of the base have a plurality of second tissue engaging surfaces which are configured to receive the plurality of tissue samples in the tissue sample container. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 17 , wherein the retaining member includes a frame portion and a retaining element attached to the frame portion by at least one biasing element configured to provide relative movement of the retaining element with respect to the frame portion, the retaining element having an first tissue engaging surface that is urged against the plurality of tissue samples such that the tissue samples are retained between the first tissue engaging surface and the plurality of second tissue receiving surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 18 , wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of said retaining elements connected to the frame portion by respective biasing elements, each of the plurality of retaining elements corresponding to one of the plurality of tissue samples, wherein each of the plurality, of retaining elements are movable with respect to the frame portion independently of other retaining elements. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 19 , wherein the biasing element is substantially S-shaped including first and second end portions, one end portion being connected to the frame portion and the other end portion being connected to the tissue retaining element. 
     
     
         21 . A tissue sample container according to  claim 16 , wherein the base has at least one mold having a second tissue engaging surface, which is configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples,
 wherein the retaining member includes a frame portion and a tissue retaining element attached to the frame portion by at least one biasing element configured to provide relative movement of the tissue retaining element with respect to the frame portion, the tissue retaining element having a first tissue engaging surface that is urged against the plurality of tissue samples such that the tissue samples are retained between the first tissue engaging surface and the second tissue engaging surface of the at least one mold of the base.   
     
     
         22 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 16 , further comprising a fluid dispensing mechanism which is fluid communication with the inside of the tissue sample container for dispensing a fluid inside the tissue sample container while the lid and the base are engaged. 
     
     
         23 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 22 , wherein said sample holding sections are in fluid communication with each other. 
     
     
         24 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 16 , further comprising a label containing information identifying the tissue sample container and being attached to at least one of the lid, the base, and one of the plurality of sample holding sections. 
     
     
         25 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 16 , further comprising a label containing information identifying one of the plurality of tissue samples and being attached to at least one of the plurality of sample holding sections. 
     
     
         27 . A tissue sample container, comprising:
 a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation, said sample holding sections being demarcated by boundary ribs;   a retaining member configured to at least partially cover the sample holding sections and, in cooperation with the boundary ribs, maintain the given orientation of the tissue samples within the respective sample holding sections; and   a lid configured to sealingly engage the base and in cooperation with the boundary ribs, maintain the given orientation and identity of the tissue samples within respective sample holding sections,   wherein the retaining member further comprises a plurality of retaining elements each having a section perimeter,   wherein the section perimeters are positioned over the boundary ribs to maintain the given orientation of the tissue samples within the respective sample holding sections.   
     
     
         28 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 27 , further comprising a fluid dispensing mechanism which is in fluid communication with the inside of the tissue sample container for dispensing a fluid inside the tissue sample container while the lid and the base are engaged. 
     
     
         29 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 28 , further comprising an identifier containing information identifying one of the plurality of tissue samples and being attached to at least one of the plurality of sample holding sections. 
     
     
         30 . The tissue sample container according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the sample holding sections are differently sized and shaped to correspond to respective differently sized and shaped tissue samples.