Granted Patent B2

US 12,644,805 · App. 17/779,891 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Kenneth F. Defreitas (Patterson, NY); Tim Stango (Marlborough, MA); Tom Farbizio (Patterson, NY)

Assignee: Hologic, Inc.

G01N1/40A61B10/0096

Abstract

Claims (26)

1 . A tissue holder assembly comprising:

a base, the base comprising a bottom member, a central hub extending upwardly from the bottom member along an axis, and a circumferential sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom member radially spaced apart from the hub, the circumferential sidewall surrounding the hub and defining an interior region configured for accommodating a cylindrical tissue holder;

the base further comprising a raised platform spaced upwardly apart from the bottom member, an upper portion of the central hub extending through a central opening of the platform, wherein the hub is configured for supporting the tissue holder, wherein the platform at least partially defines a platform opening extending circumferentially around the axis, the platform opening further defined by the hub on a radially inner side and the circumferential sidewall on a radially outer side;

the bottom member, the hub and the circumferential sidewall collectively defining an annular fluid channel underlying the platform, the fluid channel being in fluid communication with the platform opening;

wherein the fluid channel extends around the hub from the platform opening to a fluid exit port in the circumferential sidewall, to thereby provide unidirectional fluid flow around the hub of the base.

2 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flow comb below the platform opening, the flow comb extending inside the fluid channel.

3 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow comb has an arcuate shape.

4 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow comb has a length that is longer than a dimension of the platform opening measured along a longitudinal axis of the fluid channel.

5 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plenum, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the plenum.

6 . A method of removing fluid from a tissue holder, the method comprising:

receiving, by the tissue holder, a tissue sample and fluid, wherein the tissue holder comprises a bottom with a filter, and wherein the tissue holder is rotatably coupled to a base of a tissue holder assembly, the base having a bottom member, a hub extending upwardly from the bottom member along an axis, and a circumferential sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom member radially spaced apart from the hub, the circumferential sidewall surrounding the hub and defining an interior region that accommodates the tissue holder, the base further including a raised platform spaced upwardly apart from the bottom member, an upper portion of the central hub extending through a central opening of the platform and supporting the tissue holder, the platform at least partially defining a platform opening extending circumferentially around the axis, the platform opening further defined by the hub on a radially inner side and the circumferential sidewall on a radially outer side;

applying suction to remove the fluid from the bottom of the tissue holder via the platform opening, wherein the suction is applied through a fluid channel that is under the platform of the tissue holder assembly below the tissue holder and defined by the bottom member, the hub, and the circumferential sidewall; and

transporting the removed fluid via the fluid channel, wherein the removed fluid is transported by the fluid channel around the hub of the base in a unidirectional manner.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the removed fluid is transported to a plenum.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising breaking up the fluid via a flow comb.

9 . The method of claim 8 , the flow comb is below the platform opening and extends within the fluid channel.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the fluid is transported between the bottom member and the platform.

11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the removed fluid is transported along an arc path.

12 . The method of claim 6 , the tissue holder assembly comprising a cover with a tissue entry port, wherein the method further comprises delivering the tissue sample via the tissue entry port onto the tissue holder at a location that is above the platform opening.

13 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow comb comprises a plurality of flow channels.

14 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow comb comprises a hydrophobic coating.

15 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow comb comprises an anti-coagulant coating.

16 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plenum has a height that is greater than a height of the circumferential sidewall of the base.

17 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel is configured to provide the unidirectional fluid flow around the hub through an angular range that is at least 30°.

18 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 17 , wherein the fluid channel is configured to provide the unidirectional fluid flow around the hub through an angular range that is 300°.

19 . The tissue holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub of the base comprises a spindle configured to receive the tissue holder, and wherein the platform extends circumferentially around at least a majority of a space between the hub and the circumferential sidewall.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (273)