Tissue Cassette/Block File Position Flag and Method Related Thereto

Abstract

The present invention describes a flag, or marker for identifying the locations of a plurality of FFPE tissue blocks once removed from their storage locations within a tissue cassette/block storage system. The invention comprises a molded polymer rectangular cuboid body member with rectangular front, rear, top, left, right, and bottom surface, which follows the shape of a tissue cassette with an attached paraffin embedded medical tissue sample. The flag body member has a recessed groove to accept one tissue block index marker card for recording the patient's case information, or other relevant information, and offers hard surfaces for recording additional identification modalities, which additionally provides a support structure for the neighboring tissue blocks contained within said storage location.

Claims

1. A Tissue cassette/block file position flag comprise: (a) A body member having a front and opposing parallel rear surfaces spaced apart equal to a predetermined plurality thickness of stacked tissue cassettes with corresponding mounted tissue specimens, whereby the front and rear surface maintain the correct spacing within the void created when a plurality of tissue blocks are removed from a tissue block filing storage system, with the left and right surfaces providing support to the front and rear surfaces, (b) A body member here described is best defined as a rectangular cuboid block as it follows the inherent shape of tissue cassettes, with other geometric shapes providing the same opposing surfaces to fill voids created from withdrawn tissue blocks within a storage system, including cylinders, elongated spheres, rounded cubes, or any other physical form, (c) Within the body member provisions are incorporated into the front surface to receive one tissue block index card where the index card is visible on the front surface, (d) Other identification mechanisms may be incorporated into, or onto, the physical surfaces of the body member, which includes integrated writing surfaces, all forms of permanent or removable labels, bar codes, RFID devices, memory chips, or other electronic identification apparatus as desired,

2. The tissue block file position flag of claim 1 in which the body member's front and parallel rear surfaces are proportioned to equal the length and width of the corresponding tissue blocks that the body member will replace once removed from the tissue block storage system. Each of flag body members displays the corresponding number of cassettes with molded specimens that each body member's thickness represents, this number can be embossed, engraved, or surface labeled. An example, the number 25 would be displayed on all flag body members that measure the same thickness as 25 tissue cassettes with mounted specimens,

3. The tissue block file position flag of claim 1 and claim 2, body member can be manufactured of multiple materials, including (but not limited too) 3D printed polymers, injection molded polymers, other plastics, paperboard, cardboard, metal, glass, sand, cement, and other materials that will hold the body member's form.

4. A method of use of the tissue block file position flag comprise the steps of: (a) Providing a device to be utilized when interacting with a tissue block slide filing storage systems with detailed and accountable record management modalities, whereas when a plurality of tissue blocks containing previously mounted specimens are removed from said storage, the void created within said storage is infilled with the present invention, (b) Providing a means by where a representation (the invention) of said removed tissue blocks will allow the librarians to differentiate the location of the withdrawn tissue blocks without having to re-index the entire storage location against the other or remaining tissue blocks contained therein, by providing a convenient and integrated location for devices such as a block index card or some other notation devices which is attached to or embedded within the present invention, to allow the librarian to record pertinent information pertaining to the tissue blocks removed which will remain with the invention held in the storage location, (c) The present invention will be offered in a multitude of colors and variations in sizes and thicknesses, (equal to a predetermined number of cassettes and mounted specimens), to be useful in the daily management of tissue blocks held within a complex tissue block storage facility.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of two tissue block file position flags in use within a representative tissue block storage cabinet and drawer.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention adjacent to a tissue specimen block for a size comparison.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the drawer of FIG. 1 taken along line 6.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating two embodiments of the tissue block file position flag's body member that incorporates a wedged surface (22) into the bottom (12) and rear surfaces (14).

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a embodiment of the present invention (10), positioned upon its back surface, with a comparable stack of tissue blocks (24) to show the thickness of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating variations of the present invention that incorporates differences into the body member surfaces (10).

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating variations of the handle (19) elements for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to the drawings, numeral (10) designates one embodiment of one tissue block file position flag or the present invention (10) comprise a unitary molded polymer rectangular cuboid block that measures longer in length than one tissue cassette, narrower in width than one tissue cassette, with the depth equal to the thickness of a specified plurality of tissue base cassettes and corresponding molded biopsy specimens, an integrated handle, and a recessed slot or groove for one block index card.

[0017] In FIG. 1 the tissue block file position flags (10), or the present invention are illustrated in combination with a tissue block filing cabinet (25), positioned within a tissue block filing drawer (26), and the surrounding tissue blocks (24) contained therein. The bodies (10) of the present invention are inserted to fill the void created when a group of Patient's tissue blocks are removed from their storage locations as part of the continuing medical care.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the tissue block file position flags (10) hereto pictured as the embodiment of the invention is illustrated adjacent to a tissue specimen block (24) for a size comparison. The present invention (10) hereto pictured as the embodiment with a preferably rectangular top surface (11), a rectangular bottom surface (12), parallel and spaced apart from the top surface (11), a rectangular front surface (13), a rectangular rear surface (14), parallel to and spaced apart from the front surface (13), a rectangular left surface (15) a rectangular right surface (16), wherein the left surface (15) is parallel and spaced apart from the right surface (16), The front surface (13) has a rectangular area (17) displaced parallel to the front surface (13) forming the inner surface (17). Extending outwardly from opposite outer edges of the inner surface are three substantially identical mirrored ends (18) forming channels with the front surface (13), whereby these channels (20) slidably receive a tissue index marker card (23) within the slot or groove, where the top surface (11) incorporates a handle (19) extending above the flag body (10) for grasping the present invention, or tissue block file position flags (10).

[0019] Referring to FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tissue block storage drawer (26), from the tissue block filing cabinet (25) in FIG. 1, following along line (6), showing generally the contents of the tissue block file drawer, which denotes a plurality of tissue blocks (24) arranged in rows in a front to back orientation, whereby the tissue block file position flags (10) are engaged with and supporting the surrounding tissue blocks (24). The tissue block file position flag (10) is capable of such positioning as it is not dependent upon the agreed classification systems utilized to file the tissue blocks within the storage system. The corresponding patient's information is recorded upon the block index marker card (23) which is inserted into the groove (20) on the tissue block file position flag's body (10), for the represented removed tissue blocks.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 4 illustrates variations in two embodiments of the present invention (10), whereby the tissue block file position flag represented on the left, incorporates the wedged surface (22) into the bottom surface (12), which allows the invention's body (10) to recline backward slightly. This recline is similar to the natural tendencies of unsupported blocks to recline held within a drawer structure. The wedged surface (22) would follow this tendency to recline backwards thus preventing damage to the valuable tissue blocks. In the illustration, the representation of the invention's body (10) on the right has a wedged surface (22) incorporated into the rear surface (14), the addition of the wedged surface (22) reduces the bottom surface (12) allowing the tissue block file position flag's body (10) to be inserted into voids where the surrounding tissue blocks have moved within the storage drawer/box reducing the overall space or gap within the drawer. The wedged surface (22) allows the invention's body (10) to push against the remaining tissue blocks correcting the required spacing.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention (10), positioned upon its back surface (14), adjacent to a representation of corresponding stacks of three tissue blocks (24) to provide a reference that the tissue block file position flag (10) is equal to a set number of like tissue blocks (24). Each tissue block file position flag (10) is embossed, engraved, or labeled with a number designating the thickness of tissue blocks represented by the body of the present invention.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 6 the present invention (10) is shown in a plurality of forms where the entire body member of the tissue block file position flag (10) is reduced to the front surface (13), rear surface (14), bottom surface (12), recessed surface (17), groove (20) for the slide index card (23), and the handle (19). The remaining have been reduced to minimal proportions, but remain to provide structural elements to the remaining surfaces. The three variations represented are example modifications and may not be reflected in the final embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates four variations of the present invention, or body members of the tissue block file position flag (10), with modifications to the handle (19) member utilized when inserting and removing the body member from a specimen microscope slide file location. The four examples shown are only a few of the conceivable variations to the handle (19) member possible, and may not reflect upon the final embodiment.

[0024] Today, the universal use of FFPE tissue blocks are utilized in multitudes of uses, functions, and is well beyond the scope of the present invention. It is the intent for the tissue block file position flag (10) to fulfill the role in which it has been described and detailed herein. Although the aforementioned interpretation of the present invention will be offered with variations in its design and function, the final embodiment, without departing from the spirit and scope, will universally provide a means whereby persons utilizing this invention might ultimately ease their daily routines when interacting with tissue block storage systems with the use of the tissue block file position flag (10) as hereinafter claimed.