Sectionable cassette and embedding frame with tissue immobilizing separable lid, and methods for preparing biopsy tissue samples

Abstract

A histologic tissue sample support device includes a tissue cassette a frame, and a lid. The tissue cassette has a recess including a body with at least one side wall and a bottom wall and is formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue. The tissue cassette is movably coupled to the frame. The lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
 a tissue cassette having a recess including at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;   a frame including an interior and a bottom edge; and   a lid, wherein the lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position within the interior of the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome, and wherein the lid is sized and configured to snap fit to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is configured to retain a tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         3 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tissue cassette is formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome, and being resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix and process the tissue sample during a histologic procedure; and   the frame is formed from a second material different from the first material.   
     
     
         4 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lid bears against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 4 , wherein tabs of the lid bear against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lid fits within the recess of the cassette to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient structure located under the lid to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         9 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers or a foam material. 
     
     
         10 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1  wherein the frame further includes at least one cassette positioning element to hold the tissue cassette and the lid to the frame in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette, lid and frame are molded from a single material. 
     
     
         12 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette is formed of a first material and the lid and the frame are formed of a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
         13 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
 a tissue cassette having a recess including an opening surrounded by at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;   a frame including an interior and a bottom edge; and   a lid, wherein the lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position within the interior of the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome, and wherein the lid includes an outer perimeter portion and the tissue cassette includes a flange portion proximate the upper opening, the outer perimeter portion bearing against the flange portion as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the lid is configured to retain a tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         15 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the tissue cassette is formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome, and being resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix and process the tissue sample during a histologic procedure; and   the frame is formed from a second material different from the first material.   
     
     
         16 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the lid snap fits to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein tabs of the lid bear against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the lid fits within the recess of the cassette to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , further comprising a resilient structure located under the lid to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         21 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers or a foam material. 
     
     
         22 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the frame further includes at least one cassette positioning element to hold the tissue cassette and the lid to the frame in the second position. 
     
     
         23 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the cassette, lid and frame are molded from a single material. 
     
     
         24 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 13 , wherein the cassette is formed of a first material and the lid and the frame are formed of a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
         25 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
 a tissue cassette having a recess including an opening surrounded by at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;   a frame including an interior and a bottom edge; and   a lid, wherein the lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position within the interior of the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome, and wherein the frame further includes at least one cassette positioning element to hold the tissue cassette and the lid to the frame in the second position.   
     
     
         26 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the lid is configured to retain a tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         27 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the tissue cassette is formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome, and being resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix and process the tissue sample during a histologic procedure; and   the frame is formed from a second material different from the first material.   
     
     
         28 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the cassette positioning element is flexible and hollow. 
     
     
         29 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein tabs of the lid bear against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         30 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         31 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the lid fits within the recess of the cassette to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         32 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , further comprising a resilient structure located under the lid to engage a tissue sample against the bottom wall. 
     
     
         33 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 32 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         34 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         35 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the cassette, lid and frame are molded from a single material. 
     
     
         36 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the cassette is formed of a first material and the lid and the frame are formed of a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
         37 . The histologic tissue sample support device of  claim 25 , wherein the lid includes an outer perimeter portion and the tissue cassette includes a flange portion proximate the upper opening, the outer perimeter portion bearing against the flange portion as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         38 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
 a tissue cassette having a recess including an opening surrounded by at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;   a frame including an interior and a bottom edge; and   a lid, wherein the lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position within the interior of the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome, and wherein:   (i) the lid includes an outer perimeter portion and the tissue cassette includes a flange portion proximate the upper opening, the outer perimeter portion bearing against the flange portion as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position;   (ii) the frame further includes at least one cassette positioning element to hold the tissue cassette and the lid to the frame in the second position; and   (iii) the lid snap fits to the frame.   
     
     
         39 . A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for histological examination using a histologic tissue sample support device, comprising:
 placing a tissue sample in the tissue cassette;   closing the lid when the tissue cassette is received within the frame and in the first position relative to the frame;   snap fitting the lid to the frame; and   moving the lid and the tissue cassette into a second position within the frame such that a portion of the tissue cassette extends beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 subjecting the tissue cassette and the tissue sample to a process that replaces fluid in the tissue sample with a hardenable material before or after moving the lid and the tissue cassette into the second position;   embedding the tissue cassette and the tissue sample in an embedding material when the lid and the tissue cassette are in the second position;   hardening the embedding material into a block; and   slicing the block with a microtome into thin slices of the embedding material, the tissue cassette, and the tissue sample.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising retaining the tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising engaging the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein engaging the lid against the tissue cassette further comprises engaging tabs of the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising moving the lid within the recess of the cassette to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising engaging the tissue sample with a resilient structure located under the lid to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers or a foam material. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising holding the tissue cassette and the lid in the second position using at least one cassette positioning element of the frame. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the lid includes an outer perimeter portion and the tissue cassette includes a flange portion proximate the upper opening, and the method further comprises engaging the outer perimeter portion against the flange portion as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         50 . A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for histological examination using a histologic tissue sample support device, comprising:
 placing a tissue sample in the tissue cassette;   closing the lid when the tissue cassette is received within the frame and in the first position relative to the frame; and   moving the lid and the tissue cassette into a second position within the frame such that a portion of the tissue cassette extends beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome, wherein the lid includes an outer perimeter portion and the tissue cassette includes a flange portion proximate the upper opening, and the method further comprises engaging the outer perimeter portion against the flange portion as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 subjecting the tissue cassette and the tissue sample to a process that replaces fluid in the tissue sample with a hardenable material before or after moving the lid and the tissue cassette into the second position;   embedding the tissue cassette and the tissue sample in an embedding material when the lid and the tissue cassette are in the second position;   hardening the embedding material into a block; and   slicing the block with a microtome into thin slices of the embedding material, the tissue cassette, and the tissue sample.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising retaining the tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising engaging the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein engaging the lid against the tissue cassette further comprises engaging tabs of the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising moving the lid within the recess of the cassette to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising engaging the tissue sample with a resilient structure located under the lid to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers or a foam material. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising holding the tissue cassette and the lid in the second position using at least one cassette positioning element of the frame. 
     
     
         60 . A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for histological examination using a histologic tissue sample support device, comprising:
 placing a tissue sample in the tissue cassette;   closing the lid when the tissue cassette is received within the frame and in the first position relative to the frame;   moving the lid and the tissue cassette into a second position within the frame such that a portion of the tissue cassette extends beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome; and   holding the tissue cassette and the lid in the second position using at least one cassette positioning element of the frame.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 subjecting the tissue cassette and the tissue sample to a process that replaces fluid in the tissue sample with a hardenable material before or after moving the lid and the tissue cassette into the second position;   embedding the tissue cassette and the tissue sample in an embedding material when the lid and the tissue cassette are in the second position;   hardening the embedding material into a block; and   slicing the block with a microtome into thin slices of the embedding material, the tissue cassette, and the tissue sample.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising retaining the tissue sample in the recess of the tissue cassette against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising engaging the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein engaging the lid against the tissue cassette further comprises engaging tabs of the lid against the tissue cassette when the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the second position is located at a predetermined depth within the frame. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising moving the lid within the recess of the cassette to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising engaging the tissue sample with a resilient structure located under the lid to engage the tissue sample against a bottom wall of the tissue cassette. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the resilient structure further comprises a plurality of fingers or a foam material. 
     
     
         69 . A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for histological examination using a histologic tissue sample support device, comprising:
 placing a tissue sample in the tissue cassette;   snap fitting the lid to the frame when the tissue cassette is received within the frame and in the first position relative to the frame;   moving the lid and the tissue cassette into a second position within the frame by engaging an outer perimeter portion of the lid against a flange portion of the tissue cassette as the lid and the tissue cassette move from the first position to the second position such that a portion of the tissue cassette extends beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome; and   holding the tissue cassette and the lid in the second position using at least one cassette positioning element of the frame.