Sectionable cassette and embedding frame with connectors, and methods for preparing biopsy tissue samples
A histologic tissue sample support device includes a tissue cassette, a frame, and a lid. The tissue cassette has a recess including at least one side wall and a bottom wall and is formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue. The lid is coupled to the frame and includes a platen configured to be received within the recess of the tissue cassette. The tissue cassette is movably coupled to the frame by a frame-cassette connector. The lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in a microtome.
1 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
a tissue cassette including a recess with at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;
a frame formed of a second material different from the first material and more rigid than the first material, the frame including:
a frame peripheral portion, and
a bottom edge;
a lid including:
a lid peripheral portion with a central opening, the central opening including a surrounding edge portion, the lid peripheral portion coupled to the frame peripheral portion, and
a lid central portion including:
a platen located generally in alignment with the central opening and configured to be received within the recess of the tissue cassette, and
a plurality of biasing members, each of the biasing members including one portion coupled to the platen and another portion coupled to the surrounding edge portion of the central opening, the plurality of biasing members thereby mounting the platen to the lid peripheral portion and arranged to bias the platen toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in a closed configuration; and
a frame-cassette connector including:
a first retaining structure formed integrally with the frame from the second material, and
a second retaining structure formed integrally with the cassette from the first material;
wherein the lid peripheral portion, the lid central portion and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame when the lid is in the closed configuration, and in the second position, the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome,
wherein the tissue cassette is coupled to the frame by the frame-cassette connector,
wherein the first retaining structure extends through the second retaining structure, and
wherein the tissue cassette is capable of being decoupled from the frame by separating the frame-cassette connector.
2 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally helical arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
3 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally perpendicular arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
4 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the platen comprises a plurality of tines extending toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in the closed configuration.
5 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue cassette includes a cassette closure element and the lid includes a lid closure element, the cassette closure element and the lid closure element configured to secure the lid to the tissue cassette when the lid is in the closed configuration, and
one of the cassette closure element and the lid closure element comprises a first connector disposed on a first extending arm and the other of the cassette closure element and the lid closure element comprises a second connector, the first connector engaging the second connector to secure the lid to the tissue cassette.
6 . The support device of claim 5 , wherein the lid closure element comprises the first connector disposed on the first extending arm and the cassette closure element comprises the second connector.
7 . The support device of claim 6 , wherein the lid closure element further comprises a third connector disposed on a second extending arm, the first extending arm and the second extending arm projecting generally downwardly from the lid when the lid is in a closed configuration on the cassette, the first extending arm and the second extending arm disposed on the lid in an opposed arrangement such that the first connector faces towards the third connector, and
the second connector is oriented generally laterally and is arranged to engage the first connector and the third connector.
8 . The support device of claim 6 , wherein the lid closure element further comprises a third connector disposed on a second extending arm, the first extending arm and the second extending arm projecting generally downwardly from the lid when the lid is in a closed configuration on the cassette, the first extending arm and the second extending arm disposed on the lid in a spaced-apart, opposed arrangement such that the first connector faces away from the third connector, and
the cassette closure element further comprises a fourth connector arranged to engage the third connector, the second connector and the fourth connector being generally laterally oriented.
9 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of outer walls extending generally upward from the bottom edge and at least one of the plurality of outer walls includes a frame closure element,
the frame peripheral portion is coupled to one of the plurality of outer walls by a hinge and the frame peripheral portion includes a frame peripheral portion closure element, and
the frame closure element and the frame peripheral portion closure element are configured to secure the frame peripheral portion to the plurality of outer walls when engaged in a closed configuration.
10 . The support device of claim 9 , wherein one of the frame closure element and the frame peripheral portion closure element includes a latch disposed on an extending arm and the other of the frame closure element and the frame peripheral portion closure element includes a flange, the latch engaging the flange to secure the frame peripheral portion to the plurality of outer walls when the lid is in the closed configuration.
11 . The support device of claim 10 , wherein the frame peripheral portion closure element includes the latch disposed on the extending arm and the frame closure element includes the flange.
12 . The support device of claim 11 , wherein the extending arm projects generally downwardly from the frame peripheral portion in the closed configuration and the flange is oriented generally laterally.
13 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises at least one cassette positioning element formed integrally with the frame,
wherein when the lid and the tissue cassette are moved from the first position to the second position, the cassette positioning element secures the lid and the tissue cassette in the second position.
14 . The support device of claim 13 , wherein the cassette positioning element comprises a tab configured to elastically deform when the lid and the tissue cassette are moved from the first position to the second position with respect to the frame.
15 . The support device of claim 13 , wherein the lid further comprises at least one retention flange configured to engage the cassette positioning element when the lid and the tissue cassette are moved from the first position to the second position with respect to the frame.
16 . The support device of claim 15 , wherein the cassette positioning element secures the lid and the tissue cassette in the second position by engaging the retention flange.
17 . The support device of claim 13 , wherein the frame further comprises at least one stop,
wherein when the lid and the tissue cassette are moved from the first position to the second position, the stop prevents the lid and the tissue cassette from moving beyond the second position.
18 . The support device of claim 17 , wherein, when in the second position, the lid and the tissue cassette are secured in the second position between the cassette positioning element and the stop.
19 . The support device of claim 13 , wherein the cassette positioning element extends generally downward toward the bottom edge of the frame.
20 . The support device of claim 13 , wherein the cassette positioning element is generally located in a corner of the frame.
21 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of biasing members elastically deform when the lid is in the closed configuration.
22 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the platen is perforated.
23 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the platen further comprises an outer wall extending generally from the platen towards the lid peripheral portion,
wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the outer wall to the lid peripheral portion.
24 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the platen to the lid peripheral portion.
25 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
a tissue cassette including a recess with at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of a material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;
a frame including a frame peripheral portion, and a bottom edge, the tissue cassette being movably coupled to the frame, and
a lid including:
a lid peripheral portion with a central opening, the central opening including a surrounding edge portion, the lid peripheral portion coupled to the frame peripheral portion, and
a lid central portion including:
a platen located generally in alignment with the central opening and configured to be received within the recess of the tissue cassette, and
a plurality of biasing members, each of the biasing members including one portion coupled to the platen and another portion coupled to the surrounding edge portion of the central opening, the plurality of biasing members thereby mounting the platen to the lid peripheral portion and arranged to bias the platen toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in a closed configuration; and
wherein the lid peripheral portion, the lid central portion and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame when the lid is in the closed configuration, and in the second position, the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome.
26 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally helical arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
27 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally perpendicular arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
28 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the platen comprises a plurality of tines extending toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in the closed configuration.
29 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of biasing members elastically deform when the lid is in the closed configuration.
30 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the platen further comprises an outer wall extending generally from the platen towards the lid peripheral portion,
wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the outer wall to the lid peripheral portion.
31 . The support device of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the platen to the lid peripheral portion.
32 . The support device of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of tines are configured to prevent undesired movement of tissue against the bottom wall of the tissue cassette.
33 . A histologic tissue sample support device comprising:
a tissue cassette including a recess with at least one side wall and a bottom wall, the tissue cassette formed of a material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue;
a frame including a frame peripheral portion, and a bottom edge, the tissue cassette being movably coupled to the frame, and
a lid including:
a lid peripheral portion with a central opening, the central opening including a surrounding edge portion, the lid peripheral portion coupled to the frame peripheral portion, and
a lid central portion including:
a perforated platen located generally in alignment with the central opening and configured to be received within the recess of the tissue cassette, and
a plurality of biasing members, each of the biasing members including one portion coupled to the platen and another portion coupled to the surrounding edge portion of the central opening, the plurality of biasing members thereby mounting the platen to the lid peripheral portion and arranged to bias the platen toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in a closed configuration; and
wherein the lid peripheral portion, the lid central portion and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame when the lid is in the closed configuration, and in the second position, the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome.
34 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally helical arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
35 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the biasing members are disposed in a generally perpendicular arrangement between the platen and the lid peripheral portion.
36 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the platen comprises a plurality of tines extending toward the bottom wall of the recess when the lid is in the closed configuration.
37 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the plurality of biasing members elastically deform when the lid is in the closed configuration.
38 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the platen further comprises an outer wall extending generally from the platen towards the lid peripheral portion,
wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the outer wall to the lid peripheral portion.
39 . The support device of claim 33 , wherein the plurality of biasing members extend from the platen to the lid peripheral portion.