Claims
- 1. A method of preparing a tissue specimen for histology comprising:
(a) fixing the tissue specimen, (b) dehydrating the tissue specimen, (c) removing fat from the tissue specimen, and (d) impregnating the tissue specimen; wherein the tissue specimen is fixed, dehydrated, and fat is removed in non-aqueous solutions and the tissue specimen is thereby prepared for histology in two hours or less.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the non-aqueous solutions is a first solution comprising a fixative and a dehydrating agent.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first solution contains a volume ratio of alcohol to ketone between 1 and 3.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first solution further comprises polyethylene glycol.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first solution further comprises a surfactant.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the surfactant is dimethyl sulfoxide.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the non-aqueous solutions is a first solution comprising acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and polyethylene glycol.
- 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the tissue specimen is incubated in the first solution for less than 25 minutes.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising clearing the tissue specimen.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tissue specimen is fixed, dehydrated, fat is removed, and cleared in non-aqueous solutions.
- 11. The method as in claim 10, wherein at least one of the non-aqueous solutions is a second solution comprising a clearant.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the clearant is xylene.
- 13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the non-aqueous solutions is a third solution comprising isopropyl alcohol and xylene.
- 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the tissue specimen is cleared and impregnated in at least one of the non-aqueous solutions which is a fourth solution.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fourth solution comprises a clearant and an impregnating agent.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the clearant is xylene.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the impregnating agent is paraffin.
- 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the tissue specimen is cleared in 10 minutes or less.
- 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated with a wax solution.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wax solution comprises degassed paraffin.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the wax solution further comprises low viscosity mineral oil.
- 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated with wax at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.
- 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated with wax in less than 15 minutes.
- 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen is prepared for histology in less than 90 minutes.
- 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen is prepared for histology in less than one hour.
- 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen is prepared for histology in less than 45 minutes.
- 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen has a thickness of 3 millimeters or less.
- 28. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue specimen has a thickness of 1-2 millimeters.
- 29. The method of claim 20, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated in paraffin that is substantially maintained at a negative pressure of about 640 mm/Hg.
- 30. A method of clearing and impregnating a tissue specimen comprising incubation of the tissue specimen in a solution comprised of a clearant and degassed paraffin.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the clearant is xylene.
- 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising embedding the tissue specimen in degassed paraffin.
- 33. A method of impregnating a tissue specimen in wax comprising incubation of the tissue specimen in a solution comprised of low viscosity mineral oil and degassed paraffin.
- 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated in wax at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.
- 35. The method of claim 33, further comprising embedding the tissue specimen in degassed paraffin.
- 36. The method of claim 33, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated in less than about 15 minutes.
- 37. The method of claim 33, wherein the tissue specimen is impregnated in paraffin that is substantially maintained at a negative pressure of about 640 mm/Hg.
- 38. A method of for the substantially continuous processing, in series, of a plurality of a tissue specimens for histology comprising:
(a) providing a plurality of sets of tissue specimens, each said set including at least one tissue specimen; (b) fixing the tissue specimens of a first set of said plurality of sets of tissue specimens, (c) dehydrating said first set of tissue specimens, (d) removing fat from said first set of tissue specimens, and (e) impregnating the first set of tissue specimens; (f) repeating steps (b)-(e) for each additional set of tissue specimens until said plurality of sets of tissue specimens have all been processed, said step (b) being initiated for each set of tissue specimens before step (e) for the preceding set has been completed, wherein each set of tissue specimens is prepared for histology substantially in two hours or less.
- 39. The method of claim 38, wherein said the tissue specimens are fixed, dehydrated, and fat is removed in non-aqueous solutions.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
1. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 60/056,102, filed Aug. 20, 1997, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60056102 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09136292 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09736388 |
Dec 2000 |
US |