Tissue specimen handling device

Abstract

A tissue specimen handling device comprising a tissue processing cassette.

Claims

1. A tissue processing cassette for processing small tissue specimens comprising: a base frame; a lid frame; said base frame and said lid frame each including a central opening and a face; each abutting face of said base frame and said lid frame in registered relationship in a closed position; a porous screen spanning said central opening of said base frame and said central opening of said lid frame; said screen spaced apart when said cassette is closed, whereby said base frame, said lid frame, and said screen define an enclosed area for holding a tissue specimen during preparation for histological examination; a funnel shaped design on said porous screen having three dimensional angles; wherein said funnel shaped design of said porous screen does not protrude below said base; said funnel shaped design is an inverted pyramid.

2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said porous screen permit processing fluids to flow through said enclosed area, but resists entry of particulate contaminants into said enclosed area, and also resists outflow of small tissue specimens from said enclosed area during processing.

3. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette reduces surface tension thus promoting increased fluid exchange within said enclosed area to hold said tissue.

4. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said funnel shape design facilitates filtration of biopsies from fixation fluids to capture said biopsies and allow fluids to flow unrestricted through said screens.

5. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said enclosed area has an interior perimeter surface that includes no sharp corners that trap a small specimen.

6. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said base frame is rectangular in shape to fit standard tissue specimen molds and microtomes.

7. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said base frame has a substantially larger area than said central opening for supporting said base frame.

8. The cassette of claim 1 wherein there are spaces between said screen structures.

9. The cassette of claim 8 wherein said spaces minimize surface tension, thus promoting increased fluid exchange and causing said cassette to sink within a fluid rather than float.

10. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said lid frame is supported by a web extending inwardly from a larger outer inner lid frame.

11. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said lid frame is rectangular shaped.

12. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette further comprises a mechanism for releasably maintaining the cassette in a closed position.

13. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said porous screen is fabricated from a woven material.

14. The cassette of claim 13 wherein said woven material is a nylon material.

15. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette eliminates need to create a capillary action to have flow through said cassette.

16. The cassette of claim 1 further comprising an angled inner chamber that eliminates surface tension.

17. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette eliminates formation of air bubbles under said cassette.

18. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette will not float.

19. A tissue processing cassette for processing small tissue specimens comprising a cassette comprising an inner chamber lid having a web; outside said inner chamber lid there is no web; an outer base frame having an inner wall chamber that has an interior perimeter surface; said outer base frame comprising an inner chamber having within it a funnel shaped design and a web; wherein said funnel shaped design of said porous screen does not protrude below said base; said funnel shaped design is an inverted pyramid; between said inner chamber wall and the outer base frame there is no web.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a bottom open view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a top open view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a top open view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the tissue specimen handling device 10.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 10.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 10. The device 10 has an inner chamber lid 12 having a web 14. Outside the inner chamber lid 12 there is no web.

(11) Outer base frame 16 has within it an inner wall chamber 18 having an interior perimeter surface 20. The outer base frame 16 has an inner chamber 26 having within it a funnel shaped design 24 and a web 22. Between the inner chamber wall 18 and the outer base frame 16 there is no web.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the tissue specimen handling device 50.

(13) FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the tissue specimen handling device 50.

(14) FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 50. The device 50 has an inner chamber lid 52 having a web 54. Outside the inner chamber lid 52 there is no web.

(15) Outer base frame 56 has within it an inner wall chamber 58 having an interior perimeter surface 60. The outer base frame 56 has an inner chamber 66 having within it a funnel shaped design 64 and a web 62. Between the inner chamber wall 58 and the outer base frame 56 there is no web.

(16) FIG. 7 shows a further side view of FIG. 6.

(17) The porous screen 80 is found is FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7.