Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bonding block of paraffin having cellular material embedded at one end thereof with an additional amount of paraffin are disclosed, including a method comprising placing the paraffin block in a well of a mold with the paraffin-embedded cellular material positioned on a support structure that elevates the cellular matter from a bottom surface of the well; heating the mold to thereby soften and at least partially melt and blend together the embedding paraffin and additional paraffin located in the well, the support structure sized such that some of the additional paraffin flows on the bottom surface of the well at least partially surrounding the support structure; and cooling the mold to thereby bond the additional paraffin to the embedding paraffin and re-solidify the paraffin block, wherein the retained cellular matter is spaced apart from an end of the re-solidified paraffin block defined by the bottom surface of the well.

Abstract: A bubble point of a combination of a filter and a liquid is calibrated by applying an initial back pressure through the filter toward the liquid; taking a first plurality of measurements of the level of the liquid in the container; calculating a first variance of the first plurality of measurements; and comparing the first calculated variance with a known threshold variance. Then a second plurality of measurements of the level of the liquid in the container is taken; a second variance of the second plurality of measurements is calculated; and the second calculated variance is compared with a known threshold variance. The above described steps are repeated at incrementally increased back pressures until the first and second calculated variances are each greater than or equal to the known threshold variance, which is about 0.01. The bubble point is determined to be the back pressure at that point. If the determined bubble point is less than or equal to the known threshold bubble point, which is about 0.

Abstract: A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well.

Abstract: A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. An interventional system (20) is used to operate the invasive medical device (30) and produces spatially-based information relating to the activity of the invasive medical device (30). The spatially-based information from the interventional system (20) is merged into the three dimensional ultrasonic image data to produce a live three dimensional image of the invasive medical device (30) or its activity. In one embodiment the locations where the activity of the invasive medical device (30) is performed is recorded and displayed in the three dimensional ultrasonic image. The three dimensional ultrasonic image may be shown as an anatomical volume rendered image or as a wire frame model (130) of the anatomy. In another embodiment an integrated three dimensional ultrasonic imaging and invasive device system is described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bonding block of paraffin having cellular material embedded at one end thereof with an additional amount of paraffin are disclosed, including a method comprising placing the paraffin block in a well of a mold with the paraffin-embedded cellular material positioned on a support structure that elevates the cellular matter from a bottom surface of the well; heating the mold to thereby soften and at least partially melt and blend together the embedding paraffin and additional paraffin located in the well, the support structure sized such that some of the additional paraffin flows on the bottom surface of the well at least partially surrounding the support structure; and cooling the mold to thereby bond the additional paraffin to the embedding paraffin and re-solidify the paraffin block, wherein the retained cellular matter is spaced apart from an end of the re-solidified paraffin block defined by the bottom surface of the well.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. The invasive medical device (30) is shown in a detailed ultrasonic image and the balance of the volumetric region (120) in which the device is located is shown in a wide field of view. The detailed and wide fields of view may be displayed separately or overlapping in spatial alignment on an image display (18). The wide field of view may be shown in two or three dimensions. A quantified display may be shown together with the wide and detailed anatomical displays. The detailed view may also be shown in an enlarged or zoomed format.

Abstract: A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well.

Abstract: A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well.

Abstract: A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether one or more slides are loaded properly within a cassette. Each slide includes one or more transparent regions and one or more non-transparent regions. The slides are between a light source and a sensor. The light source generates light that is directed towards the sensor through the slides. If the sensor is able to detect light from the light source, then the slides are properly loaded in the cassette. Slides are not properly loaded if the light is blocked by a non-transparent region before reaching the sensor. The sensor or a separate controller can generate a signal or data to provide an indication to a user or to processing equipment that the slides are or are not properly loaded. For example, a speaker or an indicator light can be used to provide an indication to the user. The signal or data can also be used for other functions, such as displaying a message on a screen indicating whether the slides are properly loaded.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. The appearance of the invasive device (30) in the three dimensional ultrasonic image is enhanced to be more readily observable by a clinician. The enhancement is produced by transmitting a greater ultrasonic beam density in a subvolumetric region including the invasive device (30) than in the surrounding portion of the volumetric region (120). The beam density may be uniformly high in the subvolumetric region and uniformly low in the surrounding region, or may taper from a relatively high beam density around the invasive device (30) to a minimum beam density at distances removed from the invasive device (30).

Abstract: This invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for collecting cells or tissue samples from the cervix of a patient for medical testing.

Abstract: A system for preparing biological specimen slides comprises a slide preparation apparatus for preparing the specimen slides; a processor configured to control the slide preparation apparatus; and a data retrieval device coupled to the processor and configured to retrieve information from a storage device associated with the slide preparation apparatus or a component used by the slide preparation apparatus, wherein the processor selectively enables operation of the slide preparation apparatus based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for collecting cells or tissue samples from the cervix of a patient for medical testing.

Abstract: An instrument for automated processing of sample vials are provided. The instrument causes an aliquot chamber within the vial to be filled with the fluid contained within the vial.

Abstract: A microscope control device comprises a coarse focus control, a manual navigation control, and a fine focus control. The microscope control device also includes a clutch configured to alternatively activate one of the coarse focus control and manual navigation control. The fine focus control, coarse focus control, manual navigation control, and clutch are configured and arranged for manual manipulation by a single hand of an operator without changing a general position of the hand.

Abstract: A configurable slide imaging system includes a plurality of slide cassettes, each cassette configured for accessibly storing a plurality of specimen slides, a plurality of imagers, each operatively coupled with one or more processors for processing images obtained of respective specimen slides retrieved from the storage cassettes, and a slide transport system including a movable arm having a slide engagement mechanism, the slide transport system configured for retrieving slides from the slide cassettes and positioning them on a slide stage of a respective-imager, and for retrieving slides from a slide stage of an imager and transporting them to a respective storage cassette. The number of imagers may be selected, and their operation synchronized, so as to minimize down time of the extendable arm 204.

Abstract: A composite three dimensional ultrasound image containing position or image information of an invasive medical device (30) is provided. The three dimensional ultrasound image data can be combined with position or image information of the invasive medical device (30) either prior to or subsequent to volume rendering. the three dimensional ultrasound image data and the interventional system data are oriented and sealed to a common frame of reference and then combined. The volume rendering can be performed either on the ultrasound system (12), on the interventional system (20), or separately on both before combining.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. An interventional system (20) is used to operate the invasive medical device (30) and produces spatially-based information relating to the activity of the invasive medical device (30). The spatially-based information from the interventional system (20) is merged into the three dimensional ultrasonic image data to produce a live three dimensional image of the invasive medical device (30) or its activity. In one embodiment the locations where the activity of the invasive medical device (30) is performed is recorded and displayed in the three dimensional ultrasonic image. The three dimensional ultrasonic image may be shown as an anatomical volume rendered image or as a wire frame model (130) of the anatomy. In another embodiment an integrated three dimensional ultrasonic imaging and invasive device system is described.