Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for condensing vapors for use inside a microwave cavity. The cooling in the apparatus is provided by gas flow ventilation with air being the most convenient gas for use as a coolant. The apparatus has two ports, one port for connecting with a sample vessel and a second port for connecting with a pressure control device. The pressure control device has valves for operating a vacuum line and a feeding line. The disclosed apparatus enables a plurality of chemical digestion reactions, reflux reactions and dehydrations to be carried out simultaneously or sequentially within a microwave radiation field.

Abstract: This invention relates to the processing of organic tissues to prepare them for further investigation such as by light microscopy, electron microscopy, microwave staining, immunostaining, decalcification, hybridisation etc.The present invention discloses a process for processing organic tissue, which comprises the steps of fixing an organic sample to be processed, dehydrating and clearing the sample and subsequently infiltrating and embedding the sample in a supporting medium to prepare it for further examination wherein the steps of dehydrating and clearing are carried out simultaneously by applying a mixture of a dehydration agent and an essentially lipophilic agent simultaneously to the sample.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a microwave heated chemical process is disclosed. Time varying concentrations of some chemical substances within fumes in the microwave oven are monitored to detect concentration variations for which responses are known. Responses to the detected variations are initiated to control the chemical process without terminating the process. Examples of responses include varying microwave radiation energy, initiating safety systems, increased venting of the microwave oven, and so forth.