A container comprising: a first panel; a second panel opposing the first panel; a first side; a second side opposing the first side; a third side; a fourth side opposing the third side; wherein each of the sides joins the first panel and the second panel; a chamber defined by the four sides, the first panel, and the second panel, wherein the chamber is configured to receive a biological specimen; a port defined in the first side; a plug inserted into the port; an opening defined in the second side; and a closure element coupled to the opening, wherein the chamber is leak proof.

A stack of histology cassettes configured to be inserted into a hopper of a printer, wherein each histology cassette in the stack includes a bottom face, a top face opposite the bottom face, a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first lateral face and a second lateral face opposite the first lateral face. The top face of the histology cassette is open to allow a sample to be received within the histology cassette. The histology cassettes have substantially the same orientation within the stack. The histology cassettes in the stack are arranged with a first histology cassette at the bottom of a stack, and each subsequent histology cassette in the stack up to a last histology cassette in the stack is arranged with its bottom face positioned on the top face of a preceding histology cassette in the stack.

A tissue piece treating apparatus including a storage container in which a tissue piece is operable to be housed, and a treating tank in which the storage container is housed, the storage container includes a plurality of through holes, the treating tank is disposed to a main body part by being inclined relative to a horizontal direction, and the storage container is housed by being inclined at the same angle as the treating tank.

A method of operating a tissue processor for processing tissue samples. The tissue processor includes at least one retort for receiving tissue samples, at least one container for storing a reagent, and at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent. The method includes conducting reagent from the at least one container or the at least one retort to the at least one sensor, automatically measuring a measured purity level of the reagent, checking whether the measured purity level meets a predetermined purity level of the reagent associated with the at least one container, and thereby automatically determining whether the reagent is suitable for processing tissue samples in the tissue processor. Also, a tissue processor for processing tissue samples and a container for storing tissue samples.

The invention discloses a hard tissue slice anti-falling pretreatment device which comprises a box and a slice frame, a buffer plate is arranged in the box, and a plurality of small holes are evenly formed in the buffer plate; the bottom of the box is communicated with a liquid discharge pipe through a liquid outlet, and the liquid discharge pipe is provided with a valve; the slice frame is arranged on the buffer plate and comprises two longitudinal support frames and a plurality of layers of transverse support frames fixed between the two longitudinal support frames; each layer of transverse support frame comprises a plurality of first support rods, the gradient of each first support rod relative to the horizontal plane is 0-15 degrees.

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.

A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagable by a microscope through the window of the base member.

A tissue sample that has been removed from a subject can be properly fixed for evaluation using the disclosed transporter assembly for carrying a tissue sample and method for fixing an unfixed tissue sample. In one embodiment, the disclosed assembly includes a transport container, a fixative in the transport container, and a cooling device that reduces and/or maintains the temperature of the fixative to perform a pre-soaking process at a temperature of less than about 7° C. The pre-soaking process can, for example, be performed during sample transport or during extended periods of storage, such as over a weekend.

A tissue sample that has been removed from a subject can be properly fixed for evaluation using the disclosed transporter assembly for carrying a tissue sample and method for fixing an unfixed tissue sample. In one embodiment, the disclosed assembly includes a transport container, a fixative in the transport container, and a cooling device that reduces and/or maintains the temperature of the fixative to perform a pre-soaking process at a temperature of less than about 7° C. The pre-soaking process can, for example, be performed during sample transport or during extended periods of storage, such as over a weekend.

An apparatus including a receptacle including a slot for receiving a basket; a push bar disposed in the receptacle, the push bar having an end to contact an edge of a single slide of a plurality of slides in a basket, the push bar including a first position below a bottom surface of a base of a basket that is received in the slot and a second position in the slot; and a sensor focused in a direction of the slot operable to acquire information from a slide in a received basket. A method including placing a slide basket into a slot of a receptacle; individually raising one or more slides from a respective position in the basket; using a sensor, acquiring information from the raised slide in the basket; and after acquiring information, lowering the raised slide.