Abstract: A microtome blade guard including a first arm operable to be coupled to a first side of a cutting mechanism of a microtome; a second arm operable to be coupled to a second side of a cutting mechanism; a lateral support member disposed between the first arm and the second arm; and a staff coupled to the lateral support member and operable to extend therefrom to engage a blade positioned in the blade slot. A microtome including a blade guard and a method including placing a blade in a blade slot of a blade block of a microtome; engaging the blade with a staff coupled to a blade guard that is coupled to the blade block; and moving the blade with the staff.

Abstract: A sectionable tissue sample support structure including a gel compound formed into a self supporting geometric shape for retention and orientation of at least one tissue sample during a histopathology process including processing, embedding and microtome slicing of the tissue sample. A method of orienting, processing, embedding and microtome slicing a tissue sample using a gel compound preformed into a self supporting geometric shape. A combination including the sectionable tissue sample support structure and a package containing the sectionable tissue sample support structure.

Abstract: Handheld forceps comprising: a body comprising trunk and a first arm and a second arm extending from a base of the trunk coupled at one end and separated from one another at a second end; a rod disposed in the body, the rod comprising a first end positioned in the first arm and a second end positioned in the second arm and forming an apex in the trunk; a compression spring disposed around the apex of the rod in the trunk; and a button coupled to the apex of the rod and protruding through an opening in the trunk. Also a method of using the handheld forceps.

Abstract: A processor assembly including: an exposure station operable to expose a sample on a slide; a print station operable to apply a reagent to the exposed sample through a thermal inkjet process; and a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the exposure station to the print station. Also, a reagent cartridge including: a body defining a container having a volume therein; a nonmetallic bag in the container operable to contain a reagent; and a printhead at a base of the body, the printhead coupled to an outlet of the bag. Further, a method including exposing a sample on a slide in a processor assembly; robotically transferring the slide to a printing station of the processor assembly; and applying a reagent to the exposed sample at the printing station by a thermal inkjet printing process.

Abstract: A processor assembly including a core module operable to expose a sample on a slide; a staining module operable to apply a stain to the exposed sample; and a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the core module to the staining module. Also, an apparatus including a rectangular body having an open rear end and an opposite front end; a flange having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the flange is coupled to the front end of the body; and a pair of legs extending from second side of the flange, wherein the pair of legs are operable to engage opposite side edges of a slide.

Abstract: Apparatuses for measuring sample materials (such as tissue samples) and associated methodologies and instrumentation involve a spectroscopy system or device configured with a sample measuring device (e.g., an attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) sample measuring device) including a crystal defining a sample receiving surface/interface operatively connected to an IR source and an IR detector. The sample receiving surface/interface facilitates assessing presence (and optionally, amount) of a fixative (e.g., formaldehyde) in sample materials, tissue samples for example. Measurements are taken at one or multiple locations within a sample placement structure/area, which can be provided in the form of a probe or a raised piercing structure containing one or more ATR-IR (or other) sample measuring devices.

Abstract: A microtome blade guard including a first arm operable to be coupled to a first side of a cutting mechanism of a microtome; a second arm operable to be coupled to a second side of a cutting mechanism; a lateral support member disposed between the first arm and the second arm; and a staff coupled to the lateral support member and operable to extend therefrom to engage a blade positioned in the blade slot. A microtome including a blade guard and a method including placing a blade in a blade slot of a blade block of a microtome; engaging the blade with a staff coupled to a blade guard that is coupled to the blade block; and moving the blade with the staff.

Abstract: An apparatus including a reagent cartridge and a reaction chamber, the reagent cartridge having a reagent capsule removably positioned therein for dispensing of a reagent onto the reaction chamber. A system including a linearly translatable mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting stations dimensioned to receive at least one fluid dispensing cartridge, a linearly translatable bulk reagent dispensing assembly having a plurality of bulk reagent dispensing nozzles coupled thereto and a receiving assembly positioned beneath the mounting assembly and the bulk reagent dispensing assembly, the receiving assembly including a plurality of reaction stations.

Abstract: A method including placing a biological sample taken from a body into a chamber; adding a composition including an acetal solvent to the chamber; and fixating the biological sample. A method including placing a tissue from a body into a chamber; and contacting the tissue with a composition including an acetal solvent as a fixating process.

Abstract: An apparatus including a first and a second imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module operable to transport at least one slide; and a controller operable to direct transport of the at least one slide by the transport module into the first imaging module and into the second imaging module. A method and a machine-readable medium including program instructions to cause a controller to perform a method including transporting at least one slide to a first imaging module using an automated transport module; capturing by the first imaging module of an image of a specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a second imaging module in response to a request for capturing an image in addition to the image captured by the first imaging module.

Abstract: Handheld forceps comprising: a body comprising trunk and a first arm and a second arm extending from a base of the trunk coupled at one end and separated from one another at a second end; a rod disposed in the body, the rod comprising a first end positioned in the first arm and a second end positioned in the second arm and forming an apex in the trunk; a compression spring disposed around the apex of the rod in the trunk; and a button coupled to the apex of the rod and protruding through an opening in the trunk. Also a method of using the handheld forceps.

Abstract: An apparatus including a reagent cartridge and a reaction chamber, the reagent cartridge having a reagent capsule removably positioned therein for dispensing of a reagent onto the reaction chamber. A system including a linearly translatable mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting stations dimensioned to receive at least one fluid dispensing cartridge, a linearly translatable bulk reagent dispensing assembly having a plurality of bulk reagent dispensing nozzles coupled thereto and a receiving assembly positioned beneath the mounting assembly and the bulk reagent dispensing assembly, the receiving assembly including a plurality of reaction stations.

Abstract: An apparatus including a receptacle including a slot for receiving a basket; a push bar disposed in the receptacle, the push bar having an end to contact an edge of a single slide of a plurality of slides in a basket, the push bar including a first position below a bottom surface of a base of a basket that is received in the slot and a second position in the slot; and a sensor focused in a direction of the slot operable to acquire information from a slide in a received basket. A method including placing a slide basket into a slot of a receptacle; individually raising one or more slides from a respective position in the basket; using a sensor, acquiring information from the raised slide in the basket; and after acquiring information, lowering the raised slide.

Abstract: A sample sectioning device including a cutting mechanism that is operable to cut sections from a sample, a sample holder operable to move relative to the cutting mechanism, the sample holder having a first side and a second side, the first side faces the cutting mechanism and is dimensioned to receive a sample, a light source coupled to the sample holder, wherein the light source is operable to emit a light from the first side of the sample holder and through a sample positioned on the first side, and a generator operable to generate an electrical energy for providing power to the light source.

Abstract: A specimen slide for holding tissue specimens, and a method of loading tissue specimens on the specimen slide are described. The specimen slide can be printed with control and patient information corresponding to respective control and patient tissue specimens mounted on the specimen slide. The control and patient information can be printed at different times. The control information may be printed before loading the control tissue specimen on the specimen slide, and the patient information can be printed after loading the control tissue specimen on the specimen slide. The control and patient information may be encoded in a first barcode and a second barcode, respectively. The barcodes can have different configurations, such as different barcode types or different orientations. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A sectionable tissue sample support structure including a gel compound formed into a self supporting geometric shape for retention and orientation of at least one tissue sample during a histopathology process including processing, embedding and microtome slicing of the tissue sample. A method of orienting, processing, embedding and microtome slicing a tissue sample using a gel compound preformed into a self supporting geometric shape. A combination including the sectionable tissue sample support structure and a package containing the sectionable tissue sample support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus including a receptacle including a slot for receiving a basket; a push bar disposed in the receptacle, the push bar having an end to contact an edge of a single slide of a plurality of slides in a basket, the push bar including a first position below a bottom surface of a base of a basket that is received in the slot and a second position in the slot; and a sensor focused in a direction of the slot operable to acquire information from a slide in a received basket. A method including placing a slide basket into a slot of a receptacle; individually raising one or more slides from a respective position in the basket; using a sensor, acquiring information from the raised slide in the basket; and after acquiring information, lowering the raised slide.