Methods and systems for preparing a medium-embedded-sample-block. The method comprises obtaining a frame having a plurality of sample wells arranged as a two-dimensional array, the frame having an open face for accessing the sample in the sample wells; placing embedding medium in the sample wells such that the embedding medium immerses the samples in the plurality of sample wells; allowing the embedding medium to form a block of embedding medium including the samples embedded therein; and separating the frame from the block of embedding medium to obtain the medium-embedded-sample-block.

An apparatus for providing pressure to a sample. The apparatus comprises a housing having a cavity, an elastomer within the cavity, and a means for providing pressure to the elastomer within the cavity. The housing and the elastomer are configured to allow a sample to be inserted into the cavity, such that the sample is surrounded by the elastomer and such that the elastomer and the sample together fill the cavity.

An apparatus for providing pressure to a sample. The apparatus comprises a housing having a cavity, an elastomer within the cavity, and a means for providing pressure to the elastomer within the cavity. The housing and the elastomer are configured to allow a sample to be inserted into the cavity, such that the sample is surrounded by the elastomer and such that the elastomer and the sample together fill the cavity.

The present invention addresses the problem of a tissue piece treating apparatus in which drying in an inside of a treating tank is promoted, compared with conventional tissue piece treating apparatuses, and the gas in the inside of the treating tank is discharged so that a risk of inflammation can be prevented. As a solution, a tissue piece treating apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes: a treating tank (18) in which a tissue piece is housed, and immersion of the tissue piece is performed by a chemical solution being supplied thereto; a communication passage (34) that is connected to the treating tank (18); one or a plurality of chemical solution bottles (24) that are connected to the treating tank (18) through the communication passage (34), and store chemical solutions to be supplied to the treating tank (18); and a pump (60) that causes an inside of the treating tank (18)to be a negative pressure to supply the chemical solution from the chemical solution bottle (24) to the inside of the treating tank (18), and causes the inside of the treating tank (18) to be a positive pressure to discharge the chemical solution from the inside of the treating tank (18) to the chemical solution bottle (24), in which the communication passage (34), which partially branches, includes an outside air port (42) that communicates with an outside air, and is thus configured to be able to supply and discharge the outside air to and from the inside of the treating tank (18) by receiving an action of the pump (60).

The present invention addresses the problem of a tissue piece treating apparatus in which drying in an inside of a treating tank is promoted, compared with conventional tissue piece treating apparatuses, and the gas in the inside of the treating tank is discharged so that a risk of inflammation can be prevented. As a solution, a tissue piece treating apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes: a treating tank (18) in which a tissue piece is housed, and immersion of the tissue piece is performed by a chemical solution being supplied thereto; a communication passage (34) that is connected to the treating tank (18); one or a plurality of chemical solution bottles (24) that are connected to the treating tank (18) through the communication passage (34), and store chemical solutions to be supplied to the treating tank (18); and a pump (60) that causes an inside of the treating tank (18)to be a negative pressure to supply the chemical solution from the chemical solution bottle (24) to the inside of the treating tank (18), and causes the inside of the treating tank (18) to be a positive pressure to discharge the chemical solution from the inside of the treating tank (18) to the chemical solution bottle (24), in which the communication passage (34), which partially branches, includes an outside air port (42) that communicates with an outside air, and is thus configured to be able to supply and discharge the outside air to and from the inside of the treating tank (18) by receiving an action of the pump (60).

A cryostat chuck is disclosed. The disclosed chuck may be configured for use in a frozen-sectioning device, such as a cryostat, or other suitable host equipment. The disclosed chuck may include a tab portion configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to provide a means for gripping the chuck by hand (e.g., human or robotic) or by a tool or other desired interfacing element. The tab portion may serve to distance a user's hand or piece of gripping equipment from the sharp microtome of the host cryostat, reducing the opportunity of sustaining bodily injury or equipment damage. Moreover, the tab portion may provide a means by which the cryostat chuck may be manipulated when inserting, adjusting, or removing the chuck prior to, during, or after engagement by the cryostat (or other suitable host equipment).

A cryostat chuck is disclosed. The disclosed chuck may be configured for use in a frozen-sectioning device, such as a cryostat, or other suitable host equipment. The disclosed chuck may include a tab portion configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to provide a means for gripping the chuck by hand (e.g., human or robotic) or by a tool or other desired interfacing element. The tab portion may serve to distance a user's hand or piece of gripping equipment from the sharp microtome of the host cryostat, reducing the opportunity of sustaining bodily injury or equipment damage. Moreover, the tab portion may provide a means by which the cryostat chuck may be manipulated when inserting, adjusting, or removing the chuck prior to, during, or after engagement by the cryostat (or other suitable host equipment).

Paraffin-embedded tissue is prepared removing paraffin from the tissue. The paraffin is removed by generating an electric field effective to produce plasma and direct charged species of the plasma to the paraffin, thereby rendering the paraffin responsive to the electric field. The electric field may move the paraffin out from the tissue due to electrostatic force. Movement of the paraffin may be assisted by moving an electrode utilized to generate the electric field relative to the paraffin. Movement of the paraffin also may be assisted by applying a solvent and/or heat energy to the tissue.

The invention relates to a device and method for determining a property of a sample that is to be used in a charged particle microscope. The sample comprises a specimen embedded within a matrix layer. The device comprises a light source arranged for directing a beam of light towards said sample, and a detector arranged for detecting light emitted from said sample in response to said beam of light being incident on said sample. Finally, the device comprises a controller that is connected to said detector and arranged for determining a property of said matrix layer based on signals received by said detector.

There is provided an automated system for preparing tissue samples that comprises one or more microtomes, a hydration system, and a processor, the processor being programmed to initiate facing, by one or more microtomes, of a first tissue block comprising a first tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, and cause the first tissue block to be hydrated by the hydration system for a first predetermined time, and initiate facing, by one or more microtomes, of a second tissue block while the first tissue block is being hydrated, the second tissue block comprising a second tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, and cause the second tissue block to be hydrated by the hydration system for a second predetermined time, and to initiate the one or more microtomes to begin sectioning of the first tissue block while the second tissue block is being hydrated.