U.S. patent application number 14/696096 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-16 for system and method for mounting a specimen on a slide.
The applicant listed for this patent is Alessi Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Vincent Alessi.
Application Number | 20170329119 14/696096 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45064280 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170329119 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Alessi; Vincent |
November 16, 2017 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A SPECIMEN ON A SLIDE
Abstract
One embodiment includes a system for mounting a specimen on a
slide, the system having an immersion chamber, a stage, and a pump.
The immersion chamber is configured to hold a liquid and comprises
at least one wall, a closed bottom, and an open top. The stage is
configured to support the slide, and the stage is arranged within
the immersion chamber such that the specimen may be supported
substantially above the stage by the liquid. The pump is configured
to draw the liquid from the immersion chamber such that the level
of liquid in the immersion chamber decreases and the specimen is
dispensed onto the slide.
Inventors: |
Alessi; Vincent; (Ann Arbor,
MI) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Alessi Technologies, LLC |
Ann Arbor |
MI |
US |
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|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150226951 A1 |
August 13, 2015 |
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|
Family ID: |
45064280 |
Appl. No.: |
14/696096 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13153049 |
Jun 3, 2011 |
9042013 |
|
|
14696096 |
|
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61351180 |
Jun 3, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 21/30 20130101;
G02B 21/26 20130101; G02B 21/28 20130101; G02B 7/008 20130101; G02B
21/34 20130101; Y10S 359/90 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 21/34 20060101
G02B021/34; G02B 21/30 20060101 G02B021/30; G02B 21/28 20060101
G02B021/28; G02B 7/00 20060101 G02B007/00 |
Claims
1. A system for mounting a specimen on a slide, the system
comprising: an immersion chamber configured to hold a liquid; a
stage configured to support the slide and arranged within the
immersion chamber, wherein the specimen is supported above a
portion of the stage by the liquid in a first operation mode; a
liquid level modulator that enables modulation of a level of liquid
in the immersion chamber, wherein in a second operation mode, the
liquid level modulator reduces the level of liquid in the immersion
chamber and the specimen is dispensed onto the slide; and a filter
configured to filter debris from the liquid.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stage is configured to
support the filter such that the filter is arranged on top of the
stage and the slide is arranged above the filter.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature control
unit configured to modify a temperature the liquid within the
immersion chamber.
4. The system of claim 0, wherein the temperature control unit
receives an input from a user and modifies the temperature of the
liquid based upon the input.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a baffle arranged
substantially within the immersion chamber and configured to reduce
motion of the liquid substantially proximal to a surface of the
liquid.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the baffle comprises a series of
fins arranged radially relative to a cylindrical wall of the
immersion chamber.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein a liquid level modulator
comprises a pump coupled to a manifold, and wherein the pump draws
the liquid from the immersion chamber through the manifold.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid level modulator
comprises a valve, positioned on a wall of the immersion chamber,
that allows the liquid to leave the immersion chamber, thereby
reducing the level of liquid in the immersion chamber in the second
operation mode.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support structure
configured to position the stage within the immersion chamber.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the support structure is
integrated with a vertical wall of the immersion chamber.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir
configured to hold liquid released from the immersion chamber by
the liquid level modulator.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid level modulator
comprises a pump configured to pump liquid from the reservoir into
the immersion chamber.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the stage includes at least one
hole in its geometry such that the hole permits the liquid to pass
from one side of the stage to the other side of the stage.
14. A system for mounting a specimen on a slide, the system
comprising: an immersion chamber configured to hold a liquid; a
stage situated within the immersion chamber and configured to
support the slide, wherein the specimen is supported above a
portion of the stage by the liquid in a first operation mode; and a
valve configured to release the liquid from the immersion chamber
in a second operation mode, such that a level of liquid in the
immersion chamber decreases and the specimen is dispensed onto the
slide.
15. The system of claim 114, further comprising a filtering module
in communication with the liquid of the immersion chamber and
configured to separate debris from the liquid.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the filter is superior to the
stage and the slide is superior to the filter.
17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a temperature
control unit configured to modify a temperature of the liquid in
the immersion chamber.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the temperature control unit is
configured to receive an input from a user and modifies the
temperature of at least a portion of the liquid based upon the
input.
19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a baffle arranged
substantially within the immersion chamber and configured to reduce
motion of the liquid substantially proximal to a surface of the
liquid.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the baffle comprises a series
of fins arranged radially relative to a cylindrical wall of the
immersion chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/152,049, filed on 8 Aug. 2011, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/351,180 filed 3
Jun. 2010, which are each incorporated in its entirety by this
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to the biological research
field, and more specifically to a new system and method for
mounting a specimen on a slide.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is commonly desirable in biological laboratories to mount
tissue sections, or `specimens`, to slides for purposes of
examining the tissue sections using a microscope, treating the
tissue sections with a stain or dye, and for other purposes. As
shown in FIG. 1, conventional systems and methods for mounting
specimens onto slides comprise placing tissue sections in a tall
Petri dish filled with water; the specimens typically float on the
surface of the water. The broad side of a slide is then rested on
the rim of the Petri dish and the slide is angled down into the
Petri dish such that the slide is partially submersed in the water.
Subsequently, a small brush or glass capillary tube is used to
manipulate a tissue section onto the slide. Typically, the slide is
gradually drawn out of the water as additional tissue sections are
arranged on the slide. Oftentimes, tissue is embedded in paraffin
wax, sliced with a microtome, and then selected sections of the
tissue are transferred to a hot water bath. The hot water bath
partially melts the paraffin from around the specimens, and a glass
slide treated with adherents is then used to scoop the tissue
sections out of the hot water bath; the wax may help the tissue
sections adhere to the slide. Conventional methods of mounting
specimens on slides are thus difficult, time-consuming, and
labor-intensive.
[0004] Therefore there is a need in the biological research field
for a new system and a new method for mounting specimens onto
slides. This invention provides such a system and method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing prior art systems and
methods for mounting specimens onto slides; and
[0006] FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are illustrations of a system for
mounting specimens onto slides according to various embodiments of
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] The following description of preferred embodiments of the
invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred
embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to
make and use this invention.
[0008] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the system for mounting a
specimen 5 onto a slide 40 includes an immersion chamber 10 that
holds a liquid 15; a stage 30 that locates a slide 40; and a device
that draws the liquid 15 from the immersion chamber 10, which can
be a pump 60 (shown in FIG. 3), a valve 100 (shown in FIG. 4), or
any other suitable device. The system may also incorporate a
manifold 50 (shown in FIG. 3) that allows liquid 15 to be drawn
from the immersion chamber 10 from a plurality of locations, such
as at two points at the bottom of the immersion chamber 10 or from
one point at the bottom and one point in the middle of the
immersion chamber 10. A support structure 20 that locates the stage
30 may also be included in the system. The system preferably
incorporates a reservoir 70 that functions to contain liquid 15
drawn from the immersion chamber 10 (shown in FIG. 3). Furthermore,
the system may incorporate a temperature control unit 80 that
modifies or maintains the temperature of the liquid in or drawn
from the immersion chamber 10 (shown in FIG. 3). Preferably, the
system includes a filter 90 that separates debris, such as wax or
pieces of the specimen 5, from the liquid so that the quality of
the liquid in the system can be maintained (shown in FIGS. 3 and
4). Finally, the system may also incorporate a baffle 110 that
minimizes motion of the liquid tangent to the surface of the liquid
15, specifically at or near the surface of the liquid (shown in
FIG. 5).
[0009] The method of mounting the specimen on the slide comprises
several steps: The first step of the method is to place a slide 40
(or plurality of slides) on top of a stage 30 that is arranged
substantially within an immersion chamber 10, wherein the stage 30
is substantially above the bottom of and substantially below the
top of the immersion chamber 10. The immersion chamber is then
filled with a liquid, preferably deionized water, such that at
least a portion of the slide 40 is immersed in the liquid and the
surface of the liquid is below the top of the immersion chamber 10.
At this point, the specimen 5 (or a plurality of specimens) is
placed in the liquid such that the specimen is arranged above at
least a portion of the slide 40; because the liquid is preferably
denser than the specimen 5, the specimen 5 floats on the surface of
the liquid. The liquid is then drawn from the immersion chamber 10,
such as by a pump 60 or by gravity through a valve 100. As the
liquid is drawn from the immersion chamber 10, the surface of the
liquid lowers within the immersion chamber 10, and the specimen 5,
which is still floating on the surface of the liquid, approaches
the slide 40. Once the surface of the liquid lowers beyond the
slide 40, the specimen 5 is deposited on slide 40. The portion of
the slide 40 on which the specimen 5 is mounted may be drawn from
the liquid, and an additional specimen may be deposited on the
slide in like manner but on a different portion of the slide 40.
Once an appropriate number of specimens are mounted on the slide
40, the slide 40 with mounted specimen(s) may be removed from the
immersion chamber 10 and allowed to dry. This process may then be
repeated for a new slide and specimen(s).
[0010] The system preferably incorporates an immersion chamber 10
configured to hold a liquid. The density of the liquid is
preferably more than the density of the specimen 5 so that the
specimen 5 will float on the liquid. The liquid is preferably
deionized water, but any other suitable liquid may be chosen such
that the density of the liquid is more than the density of the
specimen 5. However, additives may also be mixed into the liquid in
order to alter the density of the liquid such that the specimen 5
will float on or be suspended in the liquid. Alternatively, a gas
may also be bubbled into the liquid in order to reduce the density
of the liquid.
[0011] The immersion chamber 10 of the preferred embodiment
functions to hold the liquid. The liquid is retained within the
immersion chamber 10 by a cavity defined by at least one side, a
top that is preferably open, and a bottom that is preferably
closed. The height of the immersion chamber 10 is preferably
greater than its diameter (or width). For example, the immersion
chamber 10 may be approximately ten inches tall and approximately
six inches in diameter (or width). The immersion chamber 10 is
preferably approximately circular, which promotes laminar (or
non-turbulent) fluid flow of the liquid when the liquid is drawn
from the immersion chamber 10. Laminar fluid flow promotes
efficient deposition of the specimen 5 onto the slide 40 while also
minimizing any possible damage to the specimen 5. One end of the
immersion chamber 10 is preferably flat and completely sealed,
while the other end is preferably completely open. The immersion
chamber 10 may, however, have any suitable shape and may have any
suitable height-to-width ratio. The immersion chamber 10 may also
incorporate a plurality of partitions into each of which one or
more specimens may be placed over one or more slides. In this
embodiment, the partitions may aid in guiding the specimen 5 onto
the slide 40 as the liquid is drawn from the immersion chamber 10.
Alternatively, the immersion chamber 10 may be one of an assembly
of multiple immersion chambers arranged such that the immersion
chambers are linked with fluid passages. In this alternative
embodiment, the liquid may be drawn from or added to the plurality
of immersion chambers concurrently, and a specimen 5 may be mounted
on a slide 40 in each immersion chamber 10, thus increasing the
throughput of the system per unit of time.
[0012] The stage 30 of the preferred embodiment functions to locate
the slide 40 during preparation of the specimen 5 onto the slide
40. The stage 30 is preferably arranged within the immersion
chamber 10 such that the stage 30 is substantially above the bottom
of and substantially below the top of the immersion chamber 10.
Preferably, the stage 30 supports the slide in a substantially
angled orientation, wherein an angled orientation is defined from
horizontal and horizontal is defined as parallel to the surface of
the liquid when the liquid is placed in the immersion chamber 10.
This arrangement of the stage 30 permits the slide 40 to rest on
the stage 30 at an angle such that only a portion of the slide 40
may be immersed in the liquid. Preferably, the slide 40 rests flat
on a surface of the stage 30, wherein the stage is supported at an
angle between seven and fifteen degrees from horizontal.
Alternatively, the stage may be supported such that a significant
portion of the stage 30 is parallel to the surface of the liquid in
the immersion chamber, wherein the stage 30 incorporates features
that support the slide at an angle between seven and fifteen
degrees from the horizontal. However, the stage 30 may support the
slide 40 at any other angle and by any other means. The stage 30 is
preferably circular in geometry and composed of plastic. However,
any other material, such as stainless steel or glass, may comprise
the stage 30, and the stage 30 may be of any other geometry, such
as rectangular or octagonal. Furthermore, the circumference of the
stage 30 may extend substantially close to the wall (or walls) of
the immersion chamber 10 or alternatively may be offset from the
wall (or walls) of the immersion chamber 10 by some appreciable
distance. The stage 30 preferably incorporates geometry that
permits the liquid to pass from one side of the stage 30 to the
opposite side of the stage 30. Preferably, the liquid passes from
one side of the stage to the opposite side of the stage via a path
that is sufficiently normal to at least one side of the stage. In a
first example, the stage 30 may comprise an annular ring defining a
central hole, such as a five-inch outer diameter ring with a
four-inch diameter central hole. In a second example, the stage 30
may further define a number of small holes situated radially about
a larger central hole and arranged at approximately equal intervals
about the annular stage 30. In a third example, the stage 30 is
comprised of a porous material, such as a fine mesh screen or foam,
wherein the liquid can pass through the porous stage 30. However,
the stage 30 may be of any other suitable geometry and of any other
suitable material or combination of materials. In a preferred
embodiment of the stage 30, the stage 30 further comprises an
indexing latch that permits a user to raise the slide 40 from the
immersion chamber 10 at specified height intervals, thus aiding the
user in mounting multiple specimens to the slide 40 at specified
intervals along the slide. The indexing latch may be incorporated
such that the position of the stage 30 relative to the immersion
chamber 10 does not change when the slide 40 is raised;
alternatively, the indexing latch may raise the stage 30, thus
raising the slide 40, which rests on the stage 30. The indexing
latch may be a step block and pawl, a screw-driven platform, or any
other suitable device. However, the function of the indexing latch
may be achieved by lowering the height of the liquid in the
immersion chamber 10 by a specified amount after each subsequent
mounting of a specimen 5 on the slide 40.
[0013] The support structure 20 of the preferred embodiment
functions to locate the stage 30 within the immersion chamber 10
such that when the stage 30 rests on the support structure 20 and
the slide 40 rests on the stage 30, the slide 40 is at least
partially submersed in the liquid without the liquid overflowing
past the top of the immersion chamber 10. The support structure 20
may be integral to the immersion chamber 10. For example, the
immersion chamber 10 may be comprised of a circular glass container
including three equally-spaced dimples about the circumference of
the cylindrical wall of the immersion chamber 10 and protruding
from the cylindrical wall toward the center of the container,
wherein the dimples are arranged above the bottom of and below the
top of the immersion chamber 10 (shown in FIG. 3). In this example,
the dimples are of a size and geometry such that the stage 30 rests
on the dimples and is suitably located when placed in the immersion
chamber 10. Alternatively, the support structure 20 may be separate
from the immersion chamber 10. In a first example, the support
structure may be a stand comprising three adjustable-length legs
that rest upon the bottom of the immersion chamber 10 and which
support the stage 30 (shown in FIG. 4). In this example, a user may
adjust the support structure 20 to a preferred height such that the
stage 30, resting upon the support structure, is suitably located
within the immersion chamber 10. In a second example of a support
structure 20 that is independent of the immersion chamber 10, the
support structure 20 may comprise a hook that loops over a wall of
the immersion chamber 10 and extends from the edge of the wall down
into the immersion chamber where the support structure incorporates
a geometry configured to support the stage 40 in a suitable
location. Alternatively, the support structure 20 may be integral
with the stage 30. For example, the stage 30 may incorporate a
structure that extends upward toward the edge of a wall of the
immersion chamber 10, then over the wall, forming a hook that
locates the stage 30 at a suitable location within the immersion
chamber 10. Furthermore, the system may not include a support
structure 20 for the stage 30, but rather the stage 30 may be
integral to the immersion chamber. For example, the immersion
chamber 10 may be a rectilinear container comprised of folded and
welded stainless steel sheet, and the stage 30 may also be
comprised of stainless steel sheet welded to the interior walls of
the container. However, the stage 30 may be suitably located within
the immersion chamber 10 by any other method or structure.
[0014] In a first preferred embodiment, the system incorporates a
pump 60 that functions to draw liquid from the immersion chamber
10. In an exemplary method of using this preferred embodiment, once
the slide 40 is placed on the stage 30, the immersion chamber 10 is
filled with liquid such that the liquid level is above the slide
40, and a specimen 5 is floated on the surface of the liquid. Then
the pump 60 may be driven such that the level of liquid within the
immersion chamber 10 lowers and the specimen approaches the slide
40. Once the specimen 5 is dispensed onto the slide 40 and is thus
mounted on the slide 40, the pump 60 may be stopped so that liquid
is no longer drawn from the immersion chamber 10. The pump 60 may
be of any suitable type, such as a centrifugal pump, a
flexible-impeller pump, a diaphragm pump, a gear pump, a
rotary-vane pump, a bellows pump, or a syringe-type device. The
pump 60 may also be powered by any suitable means, for example,
with an electric motor, a gasoline-powered engine, or human power.
Furthermore, the pump 60 may be located fully external to the
immersion chamber 10, fully within the immersion chamber 10, or a
combination of within and external to the immersion chamber. In a
first example, the pump 60 is a centrifugal pump powered by an
electric motor and arranged fully within the immersion chamber 10
such that the pump 60 rests on the bottom of the immersion chamber
10 and the inlet of the pump 60 is substantially below the slide
40. In this example, a flexible tube may be connected to the outlet
of the pump 60 and arranged to pass over the top edge of a wall of
the immersion chamber 10 such that the liquid may be pumped through
the flexible tube and out of the immersion chamber 10. In a second
example, an outlet is incorporated near the bottom of the immersion
chamber 10; a nipple is fitted to the outlet and a flexible tube
connects the nipple to a hand-powered bellows pump. In this second
example, a user may operate the pump 60 to draw the liquid from the
immersion chamber 10. However, the system may incorporate any other
type of pump and any other configuration such that liquid may be
drawn from the immersion chamber 10. The system may further
incorporate a plurality of pumps. Preferably, the pump 60 operates
at a plurality of speeds selectable by a user, and preferably at
least one of these speeds produces a volume of flow substantially
minimal to limit motion of the liquid in the immersion chamber 10
in a direction tangent to the surface of the liquid, particularly
near the surface of the liquid. In one variation of the pump 60,
the pump 60 may operate in two directions such that liquid can be
both drawn from the immersion chamber 10 and pumped into the
immersion chamber 10 by the same pump. Alternatively, the system
may include a plurality of pumps wherein at least one pump
functions to draw liquid from the immersion chamber 10 and at least
one other pump functions to pump liquid into the immersion chamber
10.
[0015] In a second preferred embodiment, the system incorporates a
valve 100 that functions to release liquid from the immersion
chamber 10. In essence, the pump of the first preferred embodiment
is replaced by a valve and gravitational force in the second
preferred embodiment. In an exemplary method of using this
preferred embodiment, once the slide 40 is placed on the stage 30,
the immersion chamber 10 is filled with liquid such that the liquid
level is above the slide 40, and a specimen 5 is floated on the
surface of the liquid. Then the valve 100 may then be opened so
that liquid may pass through the valve 100, the level of liquid
within the immersion chamber 10 lowers, and the specimen approaches
the slide 40. Once the specimen 5 falls onto the slide 40 and is
thus mounted on the slide 40, the valve 100 may be closed so that
liquid is no longer released from the immersion chamber 10. The
valve 100 may be of any suitable type, such as a globe valve, a
ball valve, a gate valve, a diaphragm valve, or a butterfly valve.
In the variation of the system that uses a valve 100 to release
liquid from the immersion chamber 10, an outlet may be arranged on
the immersion chamber 10 such that the outlet is below the slide 40
when the slide 40 is placed on the stage 30. The valve 100 may be
installed directly on the immersion chamber 10 at the outlet, but
it may also be arranged substantially remote from the immersion
chamber 10. For example, a tube may connect the outlet of the
immersion chamber 10 to the valve 100. The tube may be a flexible
hose or a hard line, and the tube may be permanently connected to
the immersion chamber 10 (such as by a weld or braze) or
temporarily connected to the immersion chamber 10 (as in a flexible
tube coupled to a nipple installed in the outlet). However, the
valve may be of any other type, arranged in any other location, and
connected to the immersion chamber 10 by any other suitable method.
There also may be any number of valves, and the system may
incorporate both a valve 100 and a pump 60.
[0016] The reservoir 70 of the preferred embodiment functions to
contain the liquid drawn from the immersion chamber 10 by the pump
60 or released from the immersion chamber 10 by the valve 100. The
reservoir 70 may be arranged substantially remote from the
immersion chamber 10, or the reservoir 70 may be a separate section
or portion of the immersion chamber 10. In the first variation that
incorporates a remote reservoir 70, the reservoir 70 is preferably
connected to the immersion chamber 10 by a conduit, such as a tube,
hose, or hard line, which permits the liquid to pass from the
immersion chamber 10 to the reservoir 70. Furthermore, for the
first embodiment (which incorporates the pump 60), the pump may be
arranged substantially within the immersion chamber 10 and a
conduit may connect on one end to the outlet of the pump 60 and on
the other end to the remote reservoir 70. Alternatively, the pump
may be arranged between the immersion chamber 10 and the reservoir
70 such that a first conduit connects the pump 60 to the immersion
chamber 10 and a second conduit connects the pump 60 to the
reservoir 70. Finally, the pump 60 may be arranged within or on the
reservoir 70 and a conduit may connect the pump 60 to the immersion
chamber. In the second embodiment (which incorporates the valve
100), at least a portion of the reservoir 70 is preferably arranged
substantially below the outlet of the valve so that gravity may
draw liquid out of the immersion chamber 10 via the valve 100 and
into the reservoir 70. The system may optionally include a conduit
to guide the liquid from the valve 100 into the reservoir 70.
[0017] In the second variation that incorporates the reservoir 70
as a separate section of the immersion chamber 10, the reservoir 70
may be arranged below, above, or next to the cavity comprising the
immersion chamber 10. For example, the immersion chamber 10 and
reservoir 70 may be comprised of folded and welded stainless steel
sheet, wherein a rectilinear container includes a welded and sealed
partition that defines the immersion chamber 10 on one side and the
reservoir 70 on the other side. In the embodiment that incorporates
a pump 60, the pump 60 may be located substantially within the
immersion chamber 10, substantially within the reservoir 70,
substantially between the immersion chamber 10 and the reservoir
70, or substantially remote from the immersion chamber 10 and/or
the reservoir 70. However, any other arrangement of the reservoir
70, immersion chamber 10, and pump 60 and/or valve 100 may be used.
Any number of reservoirs, valves, and/or pumps may also be used.
Preferably, the reservoir 70 is arranged such that liquid contained
in the reservoir 70 can be pumped or dumped back into the immersion
chamber 10, such as by a pump or by a conveyer-bucket system,
respectively.
[0018] Liquid may pass through the manifold 50 as the liquid is
drawn from the immersion chamber 10 by the pump 60 or released from
the immersion chamber 10 by the valve 100 (shown in FIG. 3). The
manifold 50 of the preferred embodiments functions to reduce motion
of the liquid in a direction tangent to the surface of the liquid
in the immersion chamber 10, primarily at or near the surface of
the liquid. By reducing such motion, the specimen 5 will be less
likely to move along the surface of the liquid and away from the
location in which the specimen 5 was placed by the user of the
system. Specifically, the user of the system may place the specimen
5 substantially directly over slide 40, and if the liquid is
induced to move near the surface of the liquid, the specimen 5 may
be disturbed such that the specimen 5 is guided away from
substantially directly over slide 40. This could result in poor or
improper mounting of the specimen 5 on the slide 40 at the end of
the mounting process. Therefore, the manifold 50 preferably has a
plurality of inlets, wherein the arrangement of the inlets may
reduce turbulence in the liquid moving toward the pump 60 or valve
100 and/or may reduce swirling of the liquid when the liquid is
removed from the immersion chamber 10. However, the manifold 50 may
function in other ways to limit motion of the liquid in the
immersion chamber 10 in a direction tangent to the surface of the
liquid and substantially proximal to the surface of the liquid.
Preferably, the manifold includes at least one outlet connected to
the pump 60 and/or valve 100. Several methods may be used to
connect the manifold 50 to the pump 60 and/or valve 100: a separate
conduit (for example, a hose or tube) may connect the elements; the
manifold 50 may mate directly to the pump 60 (or pumps) or valve
100 (or valves) without the need for additional conduit; or the
manifold 50 may be integral with the pump 60 or valve 100. However,
any other arrangement or geometry of the manifold 50 may be
used.
[0019] The baffle 110, which is arranged substantially within the
immersion chamber 10, functions to reduce motion of the liquid in a
direction tangent to the surface of the liquid, primarily at or
near the surface of the liquid. By reducing such motion, the
specimen 5 will be less likely to move along the surface of the
liquid and away from the location in which the specimen 5 was
placed by the user of the system. Specifically, the user of the
system may place the specimen 5 substantially directly over slide
40, and if the liquid is induced to move near the surface of the
liquid, the specimen 5 may be disturbed such that the specimen 5 is
guided away from substantially directly over slide 40. This could
result in poor or improper mounting of the specimen 5 on the slide
40 at the end of the mounting process. In a first example, the
baffle 110 comprises a series of fins arranged radially within a
circular immersion chamber 10; at least a portion of the fins are
immersed in the liquid when at least a portion of the slide 40 is
submersed in the liquid (see FIG. 5), and preferably the fins
extend below the lowest part of the slide 40. In a second example,
the baffle 110 comprises a screen located within the immersion
chamber 10, below the slide 40 and above the inlet of the pump 60,
the inlet of the valve 100, and or the inlets of the manifold 50.
In a third example, the baffle 110 is in the form of a
substantially wide nozzle incorporating a screen and arranged over
an inlet through which the liquid is drawn from the immersion
chamber 10. However, the baffle 110 may be of any other arrangement
or geometry, and a plurality of baffles of similar and/or
dissimilar geometries may be arranged within the immersion chamber
10.
[0020] The temperature control unit 80 functions to maintain or
modify the temperature of the liquid in the system. In producing a
specimen 5, oftentimes a relatively large mass of tissue is encased
in wax (or another binding agent) to improve rigidity when the
tissue is sliced with a microtome. Once the tissue mass is sliced
and a specimen 5 is thus created, the wax may offer additional
support to the specimen 5, which may improve the likelihood that
the specimen 5 will lie flat on the slide once mounted thereon;
thus it may be advantageous to limit the temperature of the liquid
in the system so that the wax does not melt out of the specimen 5
when placed in the immersion chamber 10. Alternatively, is may be
desirable to melt the wax out of the specimen 5 after the slicing
process, such as to improve the ability of the specimen 5 to absorb
a dye; this may be achieved by raising the temperature of the
liquid in the system so that the wax melts out of the specimen 5
when placed in the immersion chamber 10. Therefore there may be an
ideal temperature of the liquid used to mount the specimen 5 to the
slide 40. The temperature control unit 80 may be preset for a
single temperature and thus maintain the liquid in the system at
this temperature. Alternatively, the temperature control unit 80
may receive an input from a user and maintain the liquid in the
system at a plurality of temperatures, wherein the temperature is
based upon the input. Finally, a computer or processor that
operates the system may select the desired temperature and
communicate this information to the temperature control unit 80,
which in turn modifies the temperate of at least a portion of the
liquid in the system based upon the desired temperature. In a first
example, the temperature control unit 80 may comprise a heating
and/or cooling plate upon which the immersion chamber 10 is
arranged. In a second example, the temperature control unit 80 may
include a heating element disposed substantially within the
immersion chamber 10 and/or the reservoir 70. In a third example,
the temperature control unit 80 may incorporate a heating and/or
cooling element inline with at least a portion of the conduit
between the immersion chamber 10 and the reservoir 70, pump 60, or
valve 100. The temperature control unit 80 may incorporate a
feedback mechanism, wherein the temperature control unit 80
measures the temperature of at least a portion of the liquid in the
system and adds or removes heat from at least a portion of the
liquid based upon this measurement. The temperature control unit 80
may achieve this measurement with a temperature probe, wherein the
temperature probe is arranged substantially within the immersion
chamber 10, substantially within the reservoir 70, or substantially
within any other element of the system. Alternatively, the
temperature probe may be an infrared or laser temperature sensor
located substantially remote from the immersion chamber 10 or
reservoir 70.
[0021] The filter 90 (i.e., a semi-permeable membrane) functions to
separate debris from the liquid in the system. Debris may include a
portion of the specimen 5, wax from the specimen 5, or any other
contaminant. The filter 90 may be a paper filter, a screen filter,
a sand filter, a charcoal filter, or any other type of filter
through which the liquid may pass. In a first example, the filter
90 is a paper filter placed between the stage 30 and the slide 40
before the immersion chamber 10 is filled with liquid. In this
example, when the immersion chamber 10 is filled with liquid, the
liquid rises up to the stage 30, through the filter 90, and over
the slide 40; when the liquid is removed from the immersion chamber
10 after the specimen 5 is floated on the surface of the liquid
over the slide 40, the liquid lowers past the slide 40 and the
filter 90, wherein the filter 90 catches debris and prevents the
debris from passing below the stage 30. After the specimen 5 is
mounted on the slide 40 and the slide-specimen assembly is removed
from the immersion chamber 10, the filter 90 may be removed and,
with it, the debris. In a second example, a first pump draws liquid
from the immersion chamber 10 and into a the reservoir 70, and a
second pump draws liquid from the reservoir 70, pumps it through a
charcoal filter 90, and deposits the liquid in the reservoir 70;
the charcoal filter 90 thus prevents debris from flowing back into
the immersion chamber 10. The charcoal filter 90 may be cleaned or
replaced at some interval. However, any suitable type, arrangement,
or number of filters may be used.
[0022] The system may be controllable via a control system such as,
for example, a computer. Alternatively, or additionally, the system
may be controllable using manual controls affixed to one or more
components of the system.
[0023] As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the
previous detailed description and from the figures and claims,
modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments
of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention
as defined in the following claims.
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