RECEPTACLES FOR STAINING AND/OR RINSING SAMPLES AND METHODS OF THEIR USE
Disclosed herein are receptacles for use in staining and/or rinsing samples. In some embodiments, a receptacle includes a container and a container top. A container may be sized and shaped to contain fluid and a sample submerged in the fluid. The fluid may be, for example, staining agent solution or rinsing solution. In some embodiments, a kit is provided that includes a first receptacle that includes a container partially filled with staining agent solution and a second receptacle that includes a container partially filled with rinsing solution. In some embodiments, a receptacle includes a container and a basket that is positionable in the container. A basket may include a permeable sample holding element that is permeable to fluid in a container so that samples can be sufficiently stained or rinsed. In some embodiments, a receptacle is a single-dose receptacle that is used intraoperatively (e.g., in an operating room).
1 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . A method of staining a sample, the method comprising:
providing a freshly resected tissue sample;
providing a receptacle, the receptacle comprising a container no more than 60% filled with staining agent solution;
submerging the tissue sample in the staining agent solution in the container for a period of time, thereby staining the tissue sample; and
removing the tissue sample from the container
wherein the method is performed intraoperatively.
31 . (canceled)
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the method is performed in an operating room.
33 . (canceled)
34 . The method of any one of claim 30 , wherein the receptacle comprises a removable basket and the method comprises:
placing the tissue sample in the basket; and
positioning the basket in the container thereby submerging the tissue sample in the staining agent solution.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein a sample submersion retention element of the basket prevents the tissue sample from surfacing in the staining agent solution during the submerging.
36 . The method of claim 34 , comprising:
providing a second receptacle comprising a second container no more than 60% filled with rinsing solution;
removing the basket from the receptacle;
positioning the basket in the second container thereby submerging the tissue sample in the rinsing solution; and
removing the basket from the second container after a period of time of no more than 30 seconds.
37 . The method of any one of claim 30 , comprising unsealing a container top from the container prior to disposing the tissue sample in the container.
38 . The method of any one of claim 30 , wherein the tissue sample has a volume of at least 2 mL and no more than 300 mL and the volume of staining agent solution in the container is at least 3 mL and no more than 300 mL.
39 . The method of claim 30 , comprising autoclaving the receptacle before submerging the tissue sample.
40 . The method of claim 30 , comprising imaging the tissue sample after the staining.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the sample is not fixed prior to imaging.
42 - 45 . (canceled)
46 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the period of time during which the tissue sample is submerged is at least 10 seconds and no more than 1 minute.
47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the submerging stains a surface layer of the tissue sample to a penetration depth in a range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm.
48 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the container is no less than 10% filled with the staining agent solution.
49 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the tissue sample has a volume of at least 2 mL and no more than 8 mL.
50 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the tissue sample has a volume of at least 100 mL and no more than 300 mL.
51 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the container has a fillable volume that is in a range from 100 mL to 750 mL.
52 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the tissue sample is a freshly resected breast tissue sample.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the container has a fillable volume that is in a range from 250 mL to 500 mL.