Abstract: A sample container for use in imaging includes a bottom portion and a wall portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion. The lid overlies the cavity when in the closed position, and a plurality of latches are coupled to the lid and extend substantially orthogonally from the lid. A plurality of recesses are coupled to the wall portion, each recess of the plurality of recesses being adapted and configured to receive one of the plurality of latches. A first alignment structure is within the cavity and is adapted and configured to align a sample lengthwise and widthwise within the cavity such that the sample is aligned relative to an imaging system when the sample container is engaged with the imaging system. A second alignment structure is at least partially within the cavity, and is adapted and configured to align the sample height wise within the cavity.

Abstract: Provide herein is an ink that can be coated onto a substrate such as a glass slide. The use of at least two distinct wax treated silica powders with different porosities provides the multipurpose functionality of thermal and inkjet printing onto an ink coated substrate for purposed, for example, of labeling.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for automating laboratory protocols utilizing cooperative efforts between differing components including fluidics, agitation and thermal control for processing a wide variety of disparate laboratory protocols are provided. In one aspect, a sample processing module is provided, including a housing configured to accommodate a pre-identified sample process, a temperature input capable of interfacing with a temperature controller, a fluid input capable of interfacing with an input fluid controller, a fluid output capable of interfacing with an output fluid controller, and a standardized agitation connector capable of interfacing with an agitator. A control system interfaces with the temperature input, fluid input, fluid output, and agitation connector to enable the system to perform laboratory protocols that require complex, sequential fluidic steps in association with the temperature and agitation control.

Abstract: The present invention provide for solutions of a defined composition useful in a staining protocol, such as a hematoxylin and eosin staining protocol, when used at certain points of the staining protocol. The formulations of these defined solutions are such that carry-over of the solutions will not negatively impact, or preferably, will stabilize or favorably modify staining reagent solutions coming in contact with the solutions. In certain embodiments of the invention, solutions are buffered to maintain a specific pH that when carried-over—such as carried-over into hematoxylin—will not significantly influence the pH of the next staining reagent.

Abstract: A temperature control device and method are provided for an analytical system for performing laboratory protocols. The device includes a well within a housing configured to receive a biological specimen according to a predetermined sample process. The specimen is suspended by a holding device in the well. A thermal element is provided in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well. A temperature sensor is located in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by rocking motion of fluid in the well. A controller, in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and an agitation system, is operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature data, for example, peak temperature data, from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provide for solutions of a defined composition useful in a staining protocol, such as a hematoxylin and eosin staining protocol, when used at certain points of the staining protocol. The formulations of these defined solutions are such that carry-over of the solutions will not negatively impact, or preferably, will stabilize or favorably modify staining reagent solutions coming in contact with the solutions. In certain embodiments of the invention, solutions are buffered to maintain a specific pH that when carried-over—such as carried-over into hematoxylin—will not significantly influence the pH of the next staining reagent.

Abstract: A histological specimen retaining device for processing tissue. The histological specimen retaining device comprises a foldable permeable sheet having edges and a permeable target disposed on the foldable permeable sheet within the edges of said sheet thereby providing extended flap portions. The extended flap portions are foldable to overlap the target. The histological specimen retaining device also comprises a malleable securing strip attached to the permeable sheet of a length sufficient to secure said folded flap portions overlapping said target.

Abstract: The present invention provide for solutions of a defined composition useful in a staining protocol, such as a hematoxylin and eosin staining protocol, when used at certain points of the staining protocol. The formulations of these defined solutions are such that carry-over of the solutions will not negatively impact, or preferably, will stabilize or favorably modify staining reagent solutions coming in contact with the solutions. In certain embodiments of the invention, solutions are buffered to maintain a specific pH that when carried-over—such as carried-over into hematoxylin—will not significantly influence the pH of the next staining reagent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a card member for receiving a tissue specimen to be processed for histological examination including an absorbent portion for maintaining the tissue specimen in engageable contact with the card member, and a generally non-adhesive portion for allowing separation of the tissue specimen from the card member, where the card member provides the specimen with a known, consistent orientation throughout processing.

Abstract: A microtome includes a histological cassette support member that is adapted and configured to allow the microtome to be used in connection with relatively thin histological cassettes. A method of reversibly altering a microtome for use with different size histological specimen cassettes includes exchanging the cassette support member of the cassette holding assembly of the microtome with another cassette support member without altering other portions of the cassette holding assembly. A method is also disclosed that includes providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp, providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp, securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp, and securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.

Abstract: A histological specimen cassette for use in connection with a larger histological specimen cassette, wherein each histological specimen cassette has an internal chamber that includes a receptacle and a lid, the receptacle having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, opposite front and back walls, and an internal chamber or cavity, where the internal chamber or cavity is positioned between the sidewalls, the front and back walls and partially bound by the bottom wall, having a plurality of apertures that extend through the bottom wall and that create fluid passageways into the cavity, the lid having a plurality of apertures that extend through the lid and that create additional fluid passageways into the cavity, the histological specimen cassette being dimensioned such that the histological specimen cassette can fit entirely within the void of the larger histological specimen cassette when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: A histological specimen retaining device for processing tissue. The histological specimen retaining device comprises a foldable permeable sheet having edges and a permeable target disposed on the foldable permeable sheet within the edges of said sheet thereby providing extended flap portions. The extended flap portions are foldable to overlap the target. The histological specimen retaining device also comprises a malleable securing strip attached to the permeable sheet of a length sufficient to secure said folded flap portions overlapping said target.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing a tissue specimen in situ prior to histological examination by providing a tissue specimen having a predetermined examination face, disposing the specimen on a tissue positioning member for removably maintaining the tissue specimen with the examination face in a desired orientation thereon, processing the tissue specimen while maintaining the examination face in the desired orientation on the positioning member throughout processing, separating the tissue specimen from the tissue positioning member by application of a separation force, and maintaining the orientation of the examination face after the specimen is removed from the tissue positioning member wherein processing of the specimen includes contacting the specimen with fluids for dehydrating and clearing the specimen and subsequent casting of the specimen in an embedding material for forming a specimen-containing mold portion having the tissue specimen contained therein in desired orientation

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an assembleable unit of cassettes for containing specimens for histological examination. The cassettes are each designed for stacking relation one to another by snap locking means which are preferably configured to provide an audible sound and “click” feeling when stacked. A cover is provided to complete a stack, thereby providing an integral unit for case management. The unit is so integrated that it can be handled and will not disengage the stacked cassettes in the usual handling process in the laboratory. It is also readily processed in a paraffin bath for preparing the contained specimens for microtomy. Thus, a stabilized unit is provided for multiple specimens from a single source and maintaining them in sequential order without individual handling.