The present invention refers to an apparatus (100) for identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue that are grouped in a batch (200), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a working area (110) for receiving the batch (200) of at least two tissue carriers (210); a presence sensor (120) for detecting the presence of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); an identification device (130) for detecting a unique identifier (220) of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); and a control unit (140, 141, 142) being configured to identify positions of the working area (110), at which a tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present but no unique identifier (220) is detected and/or at which a unique identifier (220) is detected but no tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present, as identified positions. The present invention further refers to a system (300) as well as a method for tracking and identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue.

An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

A gripping device for handling sample containers is presented. The gripping device comprises a number of rigid fingers having non-gripping surfaces adapted to reduce adhesion between the non-gripping surfaces and labels. The number of rigid fingers collectively grip a sample container. Each finger comprises a gripping surface to contact the sample container while the sample container is gripped by the gripping device. The non-gripping surface of each finger is different from the gripping surface. The non-gripping surface of at least one of the fingers is at least partially corrugated. A sample container processing system comprising such a gripping device is also presented.

A printer for printing on histology-laboratory consumable articles (16) includes an optical reading device (13), which reads an image pattern of a histology-laboratory consumable article (16) to be printed on by means of the printing device (4), generates analog or digital image-pattern image signals with regard to the read image pattern and transfers the image-pattern image signals to a control device (8) of the printer, and/or which reads an overprint (18) printed onto a histology-laboratory consumable article (16) by the printing device (4), generates analog or digital overprint image signals with regard to the read overprint (18) and transfers the overprint image signals to a control device (8) of the printer, which control device determines at least one quality parameter with regard to the overprint (18).

A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

A test tube labeling apparatus including a seating portion for test tubes; a rotation driving unit that rotates the seating portion; a rotatably fixed contact sensor that detects contact with a test tube seated in the seating portion; an angle sensor for measuring rotation angle information of the rotation driving unit; a label attaching device; and a processor, wherein the contact sensor generates a contact signal when the test tube contacts the contact sensor, the angle sensor generates rotation angle information of a rotation angle of the rotation driving unit, the processor receives the rotation angle information, identifies outer diameter information of the test tube, identifies the test tube by comparing the identified outer diameter information with the test tube identification information, identifies the labeling information corresponding to the identified test tube, and controls the labeling apparatus so that a label is attached to the identified test tube.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facing a tissue block. In some embodiments, a method is provided for facing a tissue block that includes imaging a tissue block to generate imaging data of the tissue block, the tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, estimating, based on the imaging data, a depth profile of the tissue block, wherein the depth profile comprises a thickness of the embedding material to be removed to expose the tissue sample to a pre-determined criteria, and removing the thickness of the embedding material to expose the tissue to the pre-determined criteria.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facing a tissue block. In some embodiments, a method is provided for facing a tissue block that includes imaging a tissue block to generate imaging data of the tissue block, the tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, estimating, based on the imaging data, a depth profile of the tissue block, wherein the depth profile comprises a thickness of the embedding material to be removed to expose the tissue sample to a pre-determined criteria, and removing the thickness of the embedding material to expose the tissue to the pre-determined criteria.

A test tube preparation device uses a labeling device to include a linking module to link a positioning unit, and the positioning unit can be used to place a tube body and finely adjust a position of the tube body relative to the label generating module of the surface treating device to complete the label generation, label conveyance, tube labeling and tube delivery, and provide a preparation device for effectively integrating the label and applying to the tube body before and after the labeling of the tube body, so as to improve the quality of the generation of the tube body and the label. Further, the present invention further provides a test tube preparation method.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for tracking and printing within a histology system. In some embodiments, a system is provided that includes an information reader configured to read identifying data associated with a tissue block, a microtome configured to cut one or more tissue sections from the tissue block, one or more slides for receiving the one or more tissue sections, and a printer configured to receive the identifying data and print, after the one or more tissue sections are cut from the tissue block, one or more labels for the one or more slides, the one or more labels comprising information associating the one more tissue sections on the one or more slides with the tissue block.