Abstract: Containers that are suitable for long-term and efficient storage, tracking, and manual or robotic manipulation of cryopreserved biological materials, in particular human tissue samples, are disclosed herein along with systems comprised of multiple containers and methods of using such. According to one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a container may include a receptacle and a plurality of projections. The receptacle may include a lower wall and a side wall. The side wall may have an inner surface. The plurality of projections may extend upward along and outward from the inner surface of the side wall. The plurality of projections may define a region for receiving a sample having an orientation and may be shaped and arranged to inhibit a change in the orientation of the sample when stored in the container.

Abstract: An instrument for generating a tissue microarray includes a coring tool for coring and removing a sample core from the tissue sample contained in the donor block. An image capture device for capturing a histologic image of a fixed section of tissue sample, corresponding to the tissue sample contained in the donor block, from a sample slide is further provided. A processor is coupled to the image capture device and can receive the histologic image of the fixed section of tissue sample from the image capture device. A display is coupled to the processor for displaying the histologic image. A user interface is coupled to the control system to allow a user to select from the displayed histological image a location for coring and removing a sample core.

Abstract: Containers that are suitable for long-term and efficient storage, tracking, and manual or robotic manipulation of cryopreserved biological materials, in particular human tissue samples, are disclosed herein. According to one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a container may include a receptacle and a plurality of projections. The receptacle may include a lower wall and a side wall. The side wall may have an inner surface. The plurality of projections may extend upward along and outward from the inner surface of the side wall. The plurality of projections may define a region for receiving a sample having an orientation and may be shaped and arranged to inhibit a change in the orientation of the sample when stored in the container.