Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus
Patent
1996-03-29
1998-10-13
Beisner, William H.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
4353071, 422 99, 422102, C12M 116
Patent
active
058211152
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a cartridge for treating samples in liquids, in particular for a subsequent embedding in histological paraffin. This embedding is used for preparing samples to be cut into slices for microscope examination.
The standard method which is customary today involves treating the sample by means of multiple chemical fixing in buffered aldehyde and/or formalin solutions. The aim of this is to ensure that the sample is dewatered. After the dewatering, paraffin is infiltrated into the sample for the purpose of stabilization.
For chemical fixing and dewatering, the sample is introduced into a cartridge provided with openings. Individual cartridges or a plurality of cartridges are treated in a special container--histoprocessor--with the appropriate reagents. The treatment is preferably carried out by constantly pumping the appropriate liquid around in the container. The movement of the liquid in the container is intended to shorten the duration of treatment of the sample and at the same time to achieve a good depth of penetration of the liquid into the sample.
It has been found, when treating the samples, that the duration of treatment and the depth of penetration can be optimized if the liquids do not flow evenly across the surface of the sample, and if instead swirling occurs on the surface of the sample.
Known cartridge systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,396, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,252 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,246, for example. These cartridges have a rectangular main body with a bottom and side walls, with openings in the form of bores or slots being provided in the bottom and/or in the side walls. The cartridges are in some cases designed so that they can be stacked on top of one another, and they are closed off by a lid which is likewise provided with openings. The cartridges described in the abovementioned documents have proven themselves in practice only to a qualified extent, since the liquid being pumped around flows past the samples as a continuous stream. As a result of this, not only does a longer duration of treatment occur, but also a relatively poor depth of penetration of the liquid into the sample. In the case of relatively large samples, the degree of chemical treatment may even be completely inadequate, as a result of which the sample is unserviceable for the subsequent slicing.
A cartridge which optimizes the duration of treatment and the depth of penetration is known from EP 0 471 534 A2 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,869.
In both documents, a stackable cartridge system is described in which slot-shaped openings are arranged in the bottom and in the side walls of a rectangular container. The openings in the side walls are arranged obliquely in relation to the respective walls. By means of this measure, a swirling of the liquid on the surface of the sample and consequently an optimized duration of treatment and depth of penetration are achieved. A lid with slots is provided for closing the cartridge, the openings in the bottom and lid being arranged in parallel above one another and extending perpendicularly through the lid surface and bottom surface.
Since cartridges of this type have very small dimensions (e.g. 2.5 cm * 3.5 cm) and are preferably made of plastic, it has been found in practice that precision manufacture of such cartridges is made very difficult by the large number of openings and is associated with a large amount of waste material. It has also been found, during practical application of the cartridge, that as a result of the large number of openings provided in the bottom, lid, and side walls, the cartridge has become unstable with respect to mechanical deformations. Thus, in addition to the limited stackability, difficulties also arise when closing the cartridge with the plastic lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention, starting from the known prior art, to guarantee the optimized flow of the respective reagents inside the cartridge and in so doing to ensure, in add
REFERENCES:
patent: 3674396 (1972-07-01), McCormick
patent: 4220252 (1980-09-01), Beall et al.
patent: 4421246 (1983-12-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 5080869 (1992-01-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 5127537 (1992-07-01), Graham
Beisner William H.
Leica Instruments GmbH
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