Abstract: A basin (1) for cleaning a tool used during a histology procedure such as a grossing procedure. The basin (1) comprises: a cleaning chamber (10) delimited by a side wall (11) extending from a bottom (12); an inlet conduit (30) arranged to deliver a cleaning liquid via an outlet opening (31) into the cleaning chamber (10), wherein the inlet conduit (30) extends through the side wall (11) and/or the bottom (12); and a liquid conditioning conduit (50) arranged to subject the cleaning liquid to a venturi effect and/or to cavitation upstream of the outlet opening (31).

Abstract: The invention refers to a container (100, 300, 400) for collecting, transporting and storing a biological tissue sample of a human or animal, wherein the container (100, 300, 400) comprises a tag (10) with a receiver (12.1) for receiving data relating to the biological tissue sample, a non-volatile memory (11) for storing the data received by the receiver (12.1), and a transmitter (12.2) for transmitting the data stored by the memory (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (1) for mounting to a surface (2) and for use in a flow path, which flows through said surface (2), for permitting flow in said flow path in a first direction and for preventing flow in said flow path in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. The valve (1) comprises: one or more ports (21) defined by a plurality of lips (22), wherein each lip (22) is resiliently deformable from a first position, in which the lips (22) are in contact with one another in order to close the respective port (21), to a second position, in which the respective port (21) is opened in order to permit flow in the first direction, and one or more contacting structures (30) arranged to mechanically contact the surface (2), when the valve is mounted to the surface (2), such that the one or more contacting structures (30) bias the lips (22) into the first position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue processor (100) for automatically processing histological tissue specimens, the tissue processor (100) comprising a plurality of containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) each being provided for a respective histological process for processing at least one tissue carrier, a robotic arm (9) for handling a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for being processed in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and a control unit for controlling the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and for controlling the robotic arm (9), wherein the control unit is configured such that the robotic arm (9) handles a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) while the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) continues in an uninterrupted fashion, so that the execution of the process for each tissue carrier is independent from the loading order and/or process duration of other tissue carriers being proc

Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus (100) for identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue that are grouped in a batch (200), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a working area (110) for receiving the batch (200) of at least two tissue carriers (210); a presence sensor (120) for detecting the presence of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); an identification device (130) for detecting a unique identifier (220) of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); and a control unit (140, 141, 142) being configured to identify positions of the working area (110), at which a tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present but no unique identifier (220) is detected and/or at which a unique identifier (220) is detected but no tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present, as identified positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

Abstract: A switching device including a switching unit having one or more electric poles and including, for each electric pole, a first power contact and a second power contact along which a line current can circulate and one or more solid-state switches; and a supporting frame adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and including, for each electric pole, a third power contact and a fourth power contact along which said line current can circulate. The switching unit is reversibly movable, with respect to said supporting frame, between an insertion position and a withdrawn position. The switching unit includes, for each electric pole, at least a hydraulic circuit along which a cooling fluid can circulate to remove heat generated by said solid-state switches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (1) for mounting to a surface (2) and for use in a flow path, which flows through said surface (2), for permitting flow in said flow path in a first direction and for preventing flow in said flow path in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. The valve (1) comprises: one or more ports (21) defined by a plurality of lips (22), wherein each lip (22) is resiliently deformable from a first position, in which the lips (22) are in contact with one another in order to close the respective port (21), to a second position, in which the respective port (21) is opened in order to permit flow in the first direction, and one or more contacting structures (30) arranged to mechanically contact the surface (2), when the valve is mounted to the surface (2), such that the one or more contacting structures (30) bias the lips (22) into the first position.

Abstract: A switching device including a switching unit having one or more electric poles and including, for each electric pole, a first power contact and a second power contact along which a line current can circulate and one or more solid-state switches; and a supporting frame adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and including, for each electric pole, a third power contact and a fourth power contact along which said line current can circulate. The switching unit is reversibly movable, with respect to said supporting frame, between an insertion position and a withdrawn position. The switching unit includes, for each electric pole, at least a hydraulic circuit along which a cooling fluid can circulate to remove heat generated by said solid-state switches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus (100) for identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue that are grouped in a batch (200), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a working area (110) for receiving the batch (200) of at least two tissue carriers (210); a presence sensor (120) for detecting the presence of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); an identification device (130) for detecting a unique identifier (220) of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); and a control unit (140, 141, 142) being configured to identify positions of the working area (110), at which a tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present but no unique identifier (220) is detected and/or at which a unique identifier (220) is detected but no tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present, as identified positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue processor (100) for automatically processing histological tissue specimens, the tissue processor (100) comprising a plurality of containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) each being provided for a respective histological process for processing at least one tissue carrier, a robotic arm (9) for handling a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for being processed in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and a control unit for controlling the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and for controlling the robotic arm (9), wherein the control unit is configured such that the robotic arm (9) handles a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) while the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) continues in an uninterrupted fashion, so that the execution of the process for each tissue carrier is independent from the loading order and/or process duration of other tissue carriers being proc

Abstract: Measuring apparatus (1) for tracking human and/or animal tissues comprising: a working area (2) for receiving a tissue; a detecting unit (5) configured to detect a unique tissue code provided with the tissue placed on the working area (2); a measuring unit (9) configured to automatically measure quantitative properties of the tissue placed on the working area (2); and a processing and storing unit (22) configured to automatically link the quantitative properties with the tissue code and to automatically store the so linked quantitative properties and tissue code such that the quantitative properties can be retrieved based on the tissue code.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus (1) for tracking human and/or animal tissues comprising: a working area (2) for receiving a tissue; a detecting unit (5) configured to detect a unique tissue code provided with the tissue placed on the working area (2); a measuring unit (9) configured to automatically measure quantitative properties of the tissue placed on the working area (2); and a processing and storing unit (22) configured to automatically link the quantitative properties with the tissue code and to automatically store the so linked quantitative properties and tissue code such that the quantitative properties can be retrieved based on the tissue code.

Abstract: A method for processing frozen slices of tissue of biospecimens mounted on or adhered to glass slides, i.e. forming a frozen section (2), and arranged on a carrier (1), has the following steps: a.) immersing the frozen tissue slices in a fixative, b.) staining the tissue slice, c.) dehydrating the tissue slice, and d.) optionally clearing the tissue slice. Steps a.) to d.) are performed by automatically transferring the frozen sections (2) on the carrier (1) between and into and out of at least a container (C1) holding a fixative, at least one or optionally more, preferably two containers (C3, C5) holding a staining solution, a container (C6, C7) holding a dehydrating solution, and optionally a container (C8) holding a clearing solution. The transfer and the time duration during which the tissue slices are in said containers (C) are controlled by a control unit controlling an actuator (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vessel (1), comprising a recess (6) at the underside of said vessel (1), a radio frequency identification component (10) provided within said recess (6), wherein the radio frequency identification component (10) comprises a radio frequency identification tag (12) embedded into a metal housing (11), and a corrosion protection layer (8) sealing said recess (6). The present invention further relates to a system (30) for performing chemical analysis and using the data stored on the radio frequency identification tag (12) for adapting the processing steps.