Abstract: A method (100) for fixing at least one tissue sample (1) is carried out using a tissue processor (10). The tissue sample (1) is introduced at a first temperature level and a first pressure level into a fixing reagent (2) containing at least one nitrogen-containing compound capable of pressure- and/or temperature-dependent release of at least one aldehyde. The tissue sample (1) is left in the fixing reagent (2) for a fixing time period during which the fixing reagent (2) is brought to a second temperature level above the first temperature level and/or to a second pressure level above the first pressure level. A concentration in the fixing reagent (2) of the nitrogen-containing compound is ascertained using at least one concentration measuring device (14) of the tissue processor (10), and a signal is outputted on the basis of a measured value of the at least one concentration measuring device (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area.

Abstract: A method of producing thin sections using a microtome is disclosed. A hand wheel (32) is manually driven for producing a first thin section, and wherein the rotational movement of the hand wheel (32) is detected by an encoder (38), and a profile of the rotational movement is determined. The determined profile is stored and selected for production of at least a second thin section. A motor (24) is driven for generating a cutting movement between a cutting unit (16) and a sample holder (12) in accordance with the respective stored profile selected for producing the second thin section. A microtome (10) to carry out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A biopsy tissue sample transport device and method of using thereof including a tissue storage assembly having a sample container, having a holding structure to hold a tissue sample, the holding structure having a sample access opening formed in a sidewall; a housing that receives the tissue storage assembly, the housing comprising an assembly insertion opening through which the tissue storage assembly is inserted into the housing; a sealing member configured to engage and substantially seal the sample access opening of the holding structure of the sample container of the tissue storage assembly; and a lid to engage and substantially seal the assembly insertion opening of the housing.

Abstract: A biopsy tissue sample transport device and method of using thereof including a tissue storage assembly having a sample container, having a holding structure to hold a tissue sample, the holding structure having a sample access opening formed in a sidewall; a housing that receives the tissue storage assembly, the housing comprising an assembly insertion opening through which the tissue storage assembly is inserted into the housing; a sealing member configured to engage and substantially seal the sample access opening of the holding structure of the sample container of the tissue storage assembly; and a lid to engage and substantially seal the assembly insertion opening of the housing.

Abstract: A treatment device (1) for treating histological or cytological samples has a plurality of containers (6) for different treatment agents and a detection apparatus (2) for detecting a code which unequivocally identifies a type of a treatment agent or a type of a group of treatment agents from a package or replacement container of a treatment agent or group of treatment agents. The device furthermore has an evaluation apparatus (18) that, based on a detected code, ascertains which of the containers is or are to be replenished or replaced, and an indicating apparatus (4) which communicates to a user the ascertained container (6) or containers (6) that is or are to be replenished or replaced. The indicating apparatus may include a display (5) presenting a schematic image of the plurality of containers (6) with image(s) of each ascertained container being marked, and/or a light source (15) that illuminates each ascertained container.

Abstract: A tissue sample container including a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation and are demarcated by section walls; and a lid configured to sealingly engage the base. The sample holding sections are sized and shaped to correspond to a specific tissue sample size and shape such that the base in cooperation with the section walls, maintain the given orientation and identity of the tissue samples within respective sample holding sections.

Abstract: A tissue sample container including a base having a plurality of sample holding sections, which are configured to receive a plurality of tissue samples in a given orientation and are demarcated by section walls; and a lid configured to sealingly engage the base. The sample holding sections are sized and shaped to correspond to a specific tissue sample size and shape such that the base in cooperation with the section walls, maintain the given orientation and identity of the tissue samples within respective sample holding sections.

Abstract: An automated embedding machine includes at least a conveyor, a pouring station, and a cooling station. The conveyor is embodied and arranged to receive casting molds each having at least one histological sample arranged therein, and to transport them to the pouring station which fills each casting mold with an embedding medium heated to above its melting point, and then to the cooling station which cools the embedding medium of each casting mold to below its melting point. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for embedding a histological sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a melting apparatus (100) for melting paraffin (1), having: a melting container (110) for receiving paraffin (1) to be melted; a storage container (190) for storing molten paraffin (4); having a melting container heating device (120) for heating the melting container (110), having a storage container heating device (191) for heating the storage container (190), having a fluid connection (113) fluidically connecting the melting container (110) and the storage container; the melting container (110), the storage container (190), and the fluid connection (113) being arranged so that molten paraffin (4) flows out of the melting container (110) into the storage container (190).

Abstract: A sample cooling device for histological samples is connectable to a power network for supplying electrical voltage to the device. The sample cooling device comprises a measuring apparatus for measuring a magnitude of an input line voltage present at the sample cooling device, and a transformer having a primary coil that comprises at least three coil pickoffs, and a secondary coil. The sample cooling device further comprises a switching means that connects two of the coil pickoffs to the power network as a function of the magnitude of the input line voltage, so that a magnitude of an output voltage present at the secondary coil has a predefined or predefinable voltage value irrespective of the magnitude of the input voltage. A corresponding method for supplying electrical power to a sample cooling device for histological samples is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to an automated stainer for staining, in particular for hemalum-eosin (HE) staining, of a histological sample, the automated stainer exposing the sample to the action of at least one stain using at least one staining parameter. The automated stainer is notable for the fact that the automated stainer comprises an input means with which a staining parameter is definable, in particular is inputtable or is selectable from a plurality of possible staining parameters; and that a control apparatus is present which, upon application of the defined staining parameter, ascertains the prospectively expectable outcome of an action and displays it to the user with a display apparatus, before the automated stainer actually stains the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in the preparation of samples for microscopic examination onto which a coverslip is applied. The method is notable for the fact that the coverslipping quality is checked automatically and at least partly optically. The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method, and to an apparatus for checking the coverslipping quality of samples onto which a coverslip is applied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a holding apparatus (10) for receiving specimen slides (1), having a holder (3, 4, 5) for handling the holding apparatus (10) and having at least two identification units (2a, 2b) that make available different information items to enable characterization of the orientation of the holding apparatus (10) in a stainer or coverslipper.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating histological samples, in particular for detaching and/or isolating a histological sample that, in particular after an infiltration operation, is adhering to another sample and/or to the inside of a cassette (1), having a sample receiving chamber (2) which is embodied and intended to be filled at least partly with a liquid (3), in particular with liquid paraffin. The apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a displacement means (5) is provided that is introducible into the liquid (3), in particular under open- and/or closed-loop control, in order to elevate the fill level height (6) of the liquid (3), and/or that a displacement means (5) is provided whose volume is increasable, in particular under open- and/or closed-loop control, in order to elevate the fill level height.

Abstract: A transport device (100) for samples (310) in a microtome having a transport arm (112) that is mounted longitudinally movably, has an entraining element (114) mounted pivotably on the transport arm. The entraining element is movable into a first position in which it entrains a sample present on a transport path, and into a second position in which it does not entrain a sample present on the transport path. The transport device has a positioning mechanism for the entraining element having a positioning element and a gate (130) with two tracks (131, 132) extending alongside one another for the positioning element. The entraining element is obligatorily located in the first position when the positioning element is moved in a first (131) of the two tracks, and the entraining element is obligatorily located in the second position when the positioning element is moved in a second (132) of the two tracks.