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: 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 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: 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 microtome including a microtome housing having a base portion, a front portion and a top portion, a microtome storage member associated with the top portion of the microtome housing, and a sample sectioning assembly associated with the front portion of the microtome housing, the sample sectioning assembly operable to cut sections from a sample.

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 sample sectioning device including a housing having a base member, a cutting mechanism positioned on the base member and operable to cut sections from a sample, a sample holder dimensioned to hold a sample and operable to move with respect to the cutting mechanism during a cutting operation, and a waste removal assembly positioned below the cutting mechanism and the sample holder, the waste removal assembly having a first member and a second member that are dimensioned to remove waste produced during the cutting operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and system including an apparatus to identify an identifier on a tissue cassette in an assembly of a plurality of tissue cassettes including a light source operable to illuminate a plurality of tissue cassettes; a sensor operable to automatically capture an identifier on an individual tissue cassette or an image of the plurality of tissue cassettes in the assembly; and where the sensor is operable to capture reflected light from the light source of an image of the plurality of tissue cassettes, a converter to convert image data into an electronic signal. The system may include a processor operable to compare an identifier with a tissue processing protocol. A method including sensing identifiers on tissue cassettes each containing a tissue sample in an assembly comprising a plurality of tissue cassettes; and determining or verifying a tissue processing protocol of a tissue sample based on the sensed identifier.

Abstract: A microtome chuck including a mounting portion having a mating surface operable to removably attach the mounting portion to a sample sectioning device, and an electrical contact operable to electrically connect the mounting portion to a power source. The chuck further including a sample receiving portion coupled to the mounting portion, the sample receiving portion having a sample receiving surface dimensioned to receive a sample, a light source coupled to the sample receiving portion, the light source operable to emit a light from the sample receiving surface and through a sample positioned along the sample receiving surface, and circuitry electrically connecting the light source to the electrical contact of the mounting portion.

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: 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 microtome including a microtome housing having a base portion, a front portion and a top portion, a microtome storage member associated with the top portion of the microtome housing, and a sample sectioning assembly associated with the front portion of the microtome housing, the sample sectioning assembly operable to cut sections from a sample.

Abstract: A microtome chuck including a mounting portion having a mating surface operable to removably attach the mounting portion to a sample sectioning device, and an electrical contact operable to electrically connect the mounting portion to a power source. The chuck further including a sample receiving portion coupled to the mounting portion, the sample receiving portion having a sample receiving surface dimensioned to receive a sample, a light source coupled to the sample receiving portion, the light source operable to emit a light from the sample receiving surface and through a sample positioned along the sample receiving surface, and circuitry electrically connecting the light source to the electrical contact of the mounting portion.