Abstract: A sample holder (100) of a microtome is described, including a basic body (110) and an alignment component (120). A first actuatable retaining means (140) can be configured to permit a relative motion between the alignment component (120) and the basic body (110) in an actuated state, and configured to inhibit the relative motion between the alignment component (120) and the basic body (110) in a deactuated state. A clamping subassembly (130) can be arranged on the alignment component (120), and comprise two clamping components (131, 132). A second actuatable retaining means (180) can be configured to open the clamping subassembly (130) in an actuated state, and configured to close the clamping subassembly (130) in a deactuated state. An actuation mechanism can be configured to respectively actuate and deactuate the first actuatable retaining means (140) and the second actuatable retaining means (180).

Abstract: A staining device for staining samples has a heating device including a first heating element and a second heating element. A switch arrangement allows the two heating elements to be connected in parallel or in series. A power connection supplies power to the heating elements. A sensor is designed and located to detect a current supplied to the heating elements. A switching unit is coupled to the sensor and determines a voltage causing the current. Depending on the voltage, the switching unit connects the heating elements in parallel or in series.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for execution upon processing of at least one histological sample that is arranged, in particular after an infiltration process, in a closed cassette (2). The method is characterized in that prior to opening of the cassette (2), the sample is detached from the cover of the cassette (2) and/or isolated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a processor for processing histological samples. The processor comprises an inlet for insertion of a closed fixing container having the samples present therein.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for fixing a histological sample, in which a target fixing time for the sample is defined and the sample is exposed to the action of a fixative, the exposure start time being stored in a memory associated with the sample. The sample is no longer exposed to the fixative when an action time of the fixative on the sample is equal to or greater than the target fixing time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing histological sections by means of a microtome are suggested. A histological section of predefined thickness is produced with a microtome from a block comprising a tissue sample. A carrier material is applied with an application apparatus onto the block prior to before production of the histological section. To ensure that the histological sections do not roll up, and to enable improved downline processing of the histological sections as compared with a carrier material embodied in the form of an endless strip and that the carrier material is cut out prior to application to a size and/or a shape that corresponds substantially to the cross-sectional area of the block; and that the cut-out carrier material is then applied onto the block. The suggested apparatus is designed to apply the carrier material onto a histological section to be prepared by a microtome.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detaching and/or isolating a histological sample that is adhering to another sample and/or to the inside of a cassette, for example as a result of solidification of an embedding medium within a cassette. The sample is immobilized in a sample receiving chamber above a first fill level of a liquid that is suitable for counteracting the adhesion; and that the fill level of the liquid is then elevated at least until said level reaches the sample. An apparatus according to the present invention that can be used for carrying out the method comprises a sample receiving chamber and an adjusting chamber, the adjusting chamber being connected to the sample receiving chamber in such a way that a change in the fill level height of the liquid in the sample receiving chamber is producible by changing the pressure existing in the adjusting chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for handling specimen slides (32, 78, 80) has at least one coverslipping module (14) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on specimen slides (32, 78, 80). The apparatus (10) further encompasses a drying unit (16, 70, 90) for extracting solvent from the mounting medium applied onto the specimen slides (32, 78, 80). The drying unit (16, 70, 90) has an air delivery unit (40) for delivering an air flow to the specimen slides (32, 78, 80).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripper device for transporting a rack (3) for microscope slides (4), in particular in systems for preparing tissue samples for histological examinations, the gripper device having a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping arms (2), whose ends are configured as gripping sections (7) for gripping the rack. In order to provide a gripper device which can be used in a versatile manner in automated stainers and coverslippers and contributes to reducing the cost of manufacture, it is proposed that the gripping sections (7) be provided with first profiles (17) for gripping the rack (3) in a vertical position and second profiles (18) for gripping the rack (3) in a horizontal position.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for isolating histological sections produced with a microtome and a microtome are suggested. A previously and currently produced histological section are connected to form a section strip. In order to simplify isolating the previously and currently produced histological sections from each other a nozzle device is provided by means of which the histological sections when positioned on a blade holder are subjected to an air stream of adjusted direction and intensity so that the previously produced histological section of the section strip is separated from the currently produced histological section that is positioned on the blade holder and is removed from the blade holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing specimen slides (38) has a specimen slide holder (42) holding specimen slides (38), each specimen slide (38) comprising an identification code. The specimen slides (38) are arranged inside the specimen slide holder (42) on a lifting element (50) in a lifted position. The apparatus includes a reading apparatus (40) for reading out the identification code, and a positioning apparatus that moves the specimen slide holder (42) with the specimen slides (38) relative to the lifting element (50) so that the specimen slides (38) drop successively from the lifted position on the lifting element (50). As one of the specimen slides (38) drops, the identification code of the specimen slide (38) or of the subsequent specimen slide (38) becomes readable for the reading apparatus (40). A triggering apparatus (67, 68) triggers the reading apparatus (40) to read the identification code.

Abstract: The invention relates, in accordance with one aspect, to a portable device for transporting at least one histological sample or at least one cassette containing a histological sample. The device is attachable to a processing station for processing 5 histological samples. In the attached state, energy for cooling the histological sample is transferred from the processing station to the device or vice versa. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a processing station for processing a histological sample is provided, which station is embodied for releasable attachment of a portable device. The processing station is further embodied to transfer energy 10 for cooling to, or receive it from, an attached device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for execution upon processing of at least one histological sample that is arranged, in particular after an infiltration process, in a closed cassette (2). The method is characterized in that prior to opening of the cassette (2), the sample is detached from the cover of the cassette (2) and/or isolated.

Abstract: An automated processing machine, in particular an automated coverslipper or an automated stainer used for processing samples placed on slides and having an output device for outputting slides that have been processed by the automated processing machine. The output device includes an extensible and retractable drawer unit. The drawer unit includes at least one receiving channel for receiving a plurality of holders for slides. Holders received in any position in the receiving channel can be removed therefrom when the output device is in the open position. The automated processing machine is designed such that holders intended for output are inserted into the at least one receiving channel.

Abstract: A microtome for producing sections of a specimen having a knife for sectioning the specimen and a cooling apparatus for cooling a gaseous coolant cooling the specimen. A database stores data of various tissue types and target temperatures that are allocated to these various tissue types. A reading unit is adapted to read a code from a specimen or from a specimen carrier unit allocated to the specimen and a control unit is adapted to determine the tissue type of the tissue of the specimen by the code that has been read. The control unit is adapted to read the target temperature of the specimen to be sectioned for controlling the cooling apparatus and setting this target temperature and is adapted to control the cooling apparatus such that the cooling power is controlled to preset target temperature.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing thin sections of a sample by means of a microtome is described, in which a camera acquires at least one image of a surface generated by sectioning of the sample. With the aid of an evaluation device, the image of the surface is evaluated in terms of predefined characteristic values of a section quality. As a function of the characteristic values that are identified, a decision is then made as to whether the section of the sample is accepted or not.

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 apparatuses for turning racks (1) for specimen slides (4), having a rack receptacle for at least one rack, the rack (1) being oriented in the rack receptacle horizontally in a first position such that specimen slides in the rack are arranged vertically next to one another relative to a longitudinal axis of the rack, and the rack receptacle being pivotable around a rotation axis (8) into a second position in which the rack (1) is oriented vertically. The rotation axis (8) of the rack (1) extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (5) of the horizontally oriented rack (1), so that the rack (1) can be pivoted back and forth between the first and the second position by means of a 180-degree rotation around the rotation axis (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a knife holder (100) having a blade changing apparatus (102). The knife holder has a first blade receptacle (111) defining a cutting position, a securing means (130, 141, 142) for securing a blade (201) received in the first blade receptacle (111), a second blade receptacle (112) defining an output position, and an ejection means (141, 143, 144a) for ejecting a blade (201) received in the first blade receptacle (111) out of the first blade receptacle (111). The first and the second blade receptacles are arranged in the knife holder in such a way that a blade ejected from the first blade receptacle (111) can travel by gravity into the second blade receptacle (112).

Abstract: A blade dispenser (100) has a blade supply container (110), a blade disposal container (120), and a detachable and reconnectable connecting means (130, 131, 132) that is embodied to connect the blade supply container (110) and blade disposal container (120) detachably to one another. The blade supply container (110) has a blade supply container upper side and a blade supply container underside, and is embodied to receive a blade stack (111) made up of multiple mutually abutting blades (112, 115). The blade supply container (110) also has a removal opening (116) through which at least one blade (112, 115) of the blade stack (111) is removable from the blade supply container (110). The blade disposal container (120) has a blade disposal container upper side and a blade disposal container underside, and is embodied to receive blades (120) to be disposed of.