FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device, and method, for use in histological processes, and 0 more particularly to a device used to support a microscope slide during the mounting of a tissue section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mounting a tissue section on a microscope slide is an essential step in the histological f · process. In said process a tissue section which has been cut and isolated, must be placed on a microscope slide.

Tissue sections are usually first moved from a storage container into a petri dish, which will be used to isolate the section for mounting on to the microscope slide. The end of the f ⁰ slide is usually placed into the dish, and the sections are drawn onto the slide with the use of an applicator, such as a brush.

Alternatively, another method involves completely submerging a slide beneath the suspended sections, in the buffer solution. The slide is slowly raised until making contact f · with the section, where after it is lifted out of the solution as the remaining fluid drains from the edges of the slide. The idea being that the sections come to rest gently on the slide surface without being damaged.

These traditional tissue mounting methods are very time consuming. The finely sliced sections of the tissue are prone to folding, breaking, or tearing when an attempt to mount the sections is made.

Few attempts have been made to develop a process or create a device for facilitating the mounting of such sections. Often the process of mounting tissue sections takes place 7 · over multiple attempts, which ultimately results in wastage of sections and a loss of time.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the current invention to address the above mentioned problems, at least to a degree, by providing a device and method which facilitates the mounting of tissue sections onto the surface of a slide in a manner where wastage is minimised. A further object of the invention is to create a convenient cost effective device to provide such a solution which is sufficiently robust and reliable.

^® SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device for use in mounting a tissue section, which includes;

a container, designed to retain a volume of fluid;

a lifting arrangement, coupled with the container; and

f · at least one platform located within the container in a contactless manner and designed to hold a receiving element, which is engageable with the lifting arrangement, wherein;

the platform is movable relative to the container by actuating the lifting arrangement.

The lifting arrangement may include a connector for engaging with the platform and for 'i ⁰ providing pivotal movement of the platform relative to the horizontal, further the connector may pivot the platform within the range of 0 to 25 degrees.

The platform may be engageable with the lifting arrangement at an angle to the horizontal; further the angle may be within the range of 0 to 25 degrees; further still where Ί · angle may be 20 degrees.

The platform may include a recessed area to hold the receiving element, further the recessed area may include a groove along a portion thereof.

Ί ⁰ The platform may include a plurality of apertures which extend through a major surface of the platform.

The container may include a base and at least one side wall which extends from the base, further at least a portion of the sidewall may be formed of a transparent material.

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The lifting arrangement may be actuated to move the platform between above and below a fluid level line.

The device may include a control member, for actuating the lifting arrangement; further 7° the control member may be housed in a portion of the sidewall; further still where manipulation of the control member may actuate the lifting arrangement. There is further provided that the device comprises a plurality of platforms, interchangeable with the device.

There is further provided that the lifting arrangement may be a scissor jack type arrangement; further where the scissor jack type arrangement may be actuated to raise or lower the platform ; further still where manipulation of the control member may actuate the scissor jack arrangement.

'i · The receiving element may be a microscope slide.

The invention goes further to provide a method for mounting a tissue section which includes the steps of;

a) providing a device comprising a container, having a base and at least one sidewall

X o which extends from the base, coupled to a lifting arrangement;

b) providing a control member, such that manipulation of the control member will actuate the lifting arrangement;

c) providing a platform designed for holding a receiving element, and engaging the platform to the lifting arrangement at an angle of between 0 to 20 degrees relative to x . the horizontal, wherein the platform is movable relative to the container by actuation of the lifting arrangement;

d) providing a recessed area across a surface of the platform for holding a receiving element;

e) placing a receiving element in the recessed area;

f) placing a suitable buffer solution in the container to partially submerge the platform and receiving element;

g) placing one or more tissue sections in the buffer solution;

h) mounting one or more sections onto a surface of the receiving element;

i) repeating steps g) and/or h) as desired;

. j) manipulating the control member to actuate the lifting arrangement and move the platform and the receiving element;

k) providing a plurality of apertures through the platform to drain excess buffer solution;

L) allowing excess buffer solution to drain from the platform back into the container; m) repeating steps g) and/or h) as desired;

TO n) manipulating the control member to actuate the lifting arrangement and move the platform and receiving element above the surface of the buffer solution; o) allowing excess buffer solution to drain from the platform back into the container; and p) removing the receiving element from the platform ; or i. providing a groove in the recessed area, for inserting a lifting tool to pry a receiving element from the platform which was not removable in step p).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent by the following description of the embodiment, which is made by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Ί . Figure 1 : shows a perspective view of the device for use in mounting tissue sections in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2: shows a front view, in perspective, of the device of Figure 1 without the sidewall;

Figure 3: shows a front view, in perspective, of the lifting arrangement

X o of the device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4: shows a perspective view of a driving means of the lifting arrangement of the device of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5: shows a side view, in partial cross section, of the device of

Figure 1 displaying a further lifting arrangement in x . accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, which shows a device 10 for use in mounting a tissue section in accordance with the invention. The device includes a container 12, a platform 14 for holding a receiving element, and a lifting arrangement 16 for moving the platform relative to the container.

The container 12 includes a base 18 and a sidewall 20. The sidewall extends away from the base and terminates at an upper end 22.

. The container 12 includes an inner volume 24, created by the sidewall 20. The volume is designed to receive a fluid and, ideally, receive said fluid without leaking. The upper end 22 of the container is left open to provide access to the volume. The container may include a lid compatible to fit over the upper end for sealing the volume.

The container 12, in the current embodiment, is substantially cuboidal in shape, wherein the sidewall 20 may include a pair of ends 26 and 28, respectively, and a pair of sides 30 and 32, respectively. The sides 30 and 32 may be further designated as the‘back’ side 30 and the‘front’ side 32.

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The device 10 is designed to provide a preferred working area 34, which in the current embodiment would be directed toward the front side 32 of the device. To better facilitate the use of the device a transparent portion 36 replaces part of the sidewall 22. The transparent portion allows a user to have a substantially unobscured view of the working i ⁰ area.

The container may take any shape, and as such the sidewall may have any number of sides, ends, etc., it is merely preferred that the transparent portion 36 is generally located near the working area 34 to provide the unobscured view.

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Located within container 12 in a contactless manner is platform 14. The platform may be substantially planer in shape and include a major surface 40 delimited by a pair of short sides 42 and 44 respectively, and a pair of long sides 46 and 48 respectively.

The platform 14, when located within the container 12, is engaged with the lifting arrangement 16. In one embodiment of the invention the lifting arrangement will include a connector for engaging the platform with the arrangement. The connector provides for pivotal movement of the platform, relative to the container and relative to the horizontal.

7 · The degree of pivotal movement of the platform 14 is usually restricted to between 0 to 25 degrees, when measured against the horizontal.

In a further embodiment of the invention the platform 14 is engaged directly to the lifting arrangement 16, generally at an angle between 0 to 25 degrees to the horizontal, and 7° preferably at 20 degrees to the horizontal. In the current embodiment the platform has been angled at 20 degrees to the horizontal, as being the ideal angle for use. Additionally, the platform 14 includes a recessed area 50 across the major surface 40. The area holds a receiving element when in use of the device 10 and is generally flanked by bevelled edges along the long sides 46 and 48. Transversing area 50 is a groove 52. The groove is depressed into the area surface.

Positioned toward the short sides 42 and 44, and away from the recessed area 50 are a plurality of apertures 54, which extend through the platform. The apertures allow fluid, placed within the volume 24, to drain from above to below the platform, when in use. · In addition, the base 18 may include a plurality of corner posts, designated 38A, 38B, 38C and 38D, respectively. Each of the corner posts may hold and support the sidewall 20 and provide rigidity in the device construction. Alternatively or additionally, each corner post may include a seat designed to receive a portion of the sidewall, thus also providing rigidity.

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Situated beneath each of the corner posts 38, and engaging a supporting surface when in use, may be one or more footpads (not shown). The footpads ideally engage with the surface in a non-slip fashion and provide steadiness to the device when in use. · Figures 3 and 4 show the lifting arrangement 16 in accordance with the current embodiment of the invention. The arrangement, in this embodiment, consists of two parts - the scissor jack part 56 (Figure 3) and the driving means part 58 (Figure 4).

The arrangement 16 serves to move the platform 14 relative to the container 12, when in use of the device 10. The movement is typically an up and down motion, i.e. away from, and toward to, the base 18. The movement is shown by arrows 60 in Figure 2.

In this embodiment the movement of the platform is controlled by actuation of control member 60, which happens to be a pinion associated with a gear 62, which in turn is · connected to power screw 64.

The scissor jack part 56 is threadedly engaged with power screw 64, in the typical fashion of a scissor jack. By manipulating the control member 60 (pinion) the power screw is rotated along its axis, which in turn actuates the crossbeams of the scissor jack. The° movement of the crossbeams results in the up and down movement of the arrangement and by extension, the up and down movement of the platform 14. The lifting arrangement 16 may take different forms in embodiments of this invention, such as the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 shows an arrangement 16, which includes a plurality of driven links 66 and a 0 single driving link 68. Each of the links 66 and 68 respectively, are engaged with the platform 14.

The control member 60 is associated with the driving link 68, such that rotation of the member causes the driving link to move from a contracted position, as in Figure 5A, to an 1 · extended position, Figure 5B. Similar movements of the driven links 66 occur due to their engagement with the platform. In this instance the platform 14 has been raised, relative to the container 12, by the degree to which the extended position of the driving link 68 is greater than the contracted position. i ⁰ The invention as described herein, has been designed to better facilitate the placement of delicate tissue sections onto a receiving element, where once safely placed on the element, the tissue section may be viewed and studied. In this embodiment a receiving element may refer to a microscope slide, such that the tissue section is mounted on the slide and covered with a cover slip. The section may now be preserved and studied under · a microscope.

As mentioned above, the process in mounting the tissue sections is a tricky process. The finely sliced sections of the tissue are prone to folding, breaking, or tearing when an attempt to mount the sections is made. A great degree of care is required, but even this is f ⁰ sometimes not enough.

Tissue sections are usually moved from a buffer solution in a petri dish, where they are stored prior to mounting, to the slide, by placing an end of the slide in the dish and drawing the section up on to the slide. Techniques to limit the chances of damage are 7 · employed, such as pre-wetting the slide with buffer solution (to decrease the frictional resistance) or to scooping up sections with the slide and allowing the buffer solution to drain off the slide edges. These, and other techniques, have not proven adequate.

The current invention provides that a receiving element (microscope slide) is placed on 7° the major surface 40 of the platform 14. The slide is held within the recessed area 50 of the platform between the bevelled edges of long sides 46 and 48. The recessed area 50 is oversized. This allows for a greater variety of slides to be received within the area, i.e. most microscope slides sizes have been accommodated.

Typically, the lifting arrangement 16 is fully down, i.e. toward to the base 18, in the 0 container 12 when the device 10 is first in use. Thus, by extension the platform is at its lowest position.

The user may then pour a fluid, typically the buffer solution, into the volume 24 of the container 12. The container is filled to any point as required by the user, but usually that i · the slide will be partially submerged, leaving part the of slide below the fluid surface, and part above the surface.

Fluid trapped above the platform when filling, or in use, may drain into the container 12, through apertures 54. This way the fluid level may be substantially maintained during use. o

Added with the buffer solution when filling the container, or added subsequent thereto, will be the tissue sections. Each section is preferably undamaged, unfolded, and is suspended in the buffer solution.

'ί · A user may then gently draw the sections onto the surface of the slide using one or more applicators. Typically, such an applicator may be a brush and using the soft bristles the section is engaged and drawn through the solution and onto the surface of the slide. The positioning of the section generally requires that only a small portion engages with a non- submerged portion of the slide. The friction between the slide and section gently holds the section in place.

By having the platform 14 angled to the horizontal, it becomes possible for a user to mount a section in the manner described. Without such an angle, each section would have to be positioned above the slide whilst suspended in solution. The frictional bind 7 · between the sections and the slide would likely not be possible.

Raising the platform in this instance could result in sections being washed off and falling back into the volume 24. Thus, the angle of the platform provides a distinct advantage, when compared to platforms, and/or slides, substantially parallel with the horizontal, when 7° attempting to mount sections. If however, the angle of the platform was too great the frictional bind would be too weak to hold the section in place. The sections may then tear or fall back into the solution and become damaged. Multiple sections, as suspended in the buffer solution, may be drawn onto the slide in this fashion. By repeating this process the user will in effect create a‘row’ of sections along the fluid line of the solution and the slide. Once the desired number of sections have been drawn onto the slide, or the‘row’ is full, the mounting process will be paused.

The user must now lift the platform out of the solution. This is achieved by manipulating the control member 60. Rotation of the member will actuate the lifting arrangement 16 and cause the arrangement to move upward, i.e. away from the base 18. This movement upward will accordingly also move the platform 14, relative to the container 12, up and i · away from the base.

As the platform raises, so the buffer solution will drain from the surface of the slide and run down the slide (and platform) back into the volume 24. The buffer solution, in, around and possibly beneath, each section will drain back into the volume. Excess solution may additionally drain through apertures 54. The frictional engagement of a portion of the section holds the section to the slide while the buffer solution drains away. As the platform is lifted so the sections will gently come to rest on the slide surface, hence mounting the slides without folding, breaking or tearing. f · The upward movement of the platform is continued until the first‘row’ of sections are moved above the fluid line. The user may then repeat the process of mounting a portion of the sections below the first ‘row’ to begin creating a second ‘row’ of sections. Depending on the width of the slide and/or the size of the sections this process may be repeated as many times as desired by the user.

The drainage of the solution is aided in part by the angle of the platform 14. By having the platform angled, relative to the horizontal, the solution runs off the platform and slide and back into the volume 24. A platform which is substantially parallel with the horizontal will not easily allow solution to drain off and, may retain standing solution.

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Furthermore, the angle of the platform also prevents sections from floating above the slide on top of the standing solution, which sections may likely drain with the solution back into the volume when the platform is lifted. The angle of the platform therefore aids to the use and functionality of the device.

TO

Once the mounting of sections has come to an end, the slide must be removed from the platform 14 for further use. The slide may be lifted up and off from the recessed area 50 by a user using their hands. There are occasions where buffer solution which has passed between the recessed area and the back of slide causes a suction to occur. In these instances lifting the slide is difficult - and forcing the slide could result in a slip of the finger and possibly damage the 0 sections.

When a slide is stuck against the recessed area the user may have to options;

A fist option would be, to push the slide, along the area 50, toward one of the bevelled i · edges which run alongside the long sides 46 and 48 of the platform. The bevelled edges provide a wedge beneath the slide which may break the suction and allow air to enter between the slide and area 50, thus breaking the suction. The slide may then be lifted as normal.

1 ⁰ The second option may involve the user inserting an item into the groove 52, and between the slide and recessed area 50. The item may then be used to pry the slide away from the area.

Once the slide has been removed the device 10 may then be used to mount additional f · sections on a new slide. The control member 60 is manipulated in a manner different to that discussed above wherein the platform 14 is lowered to, or move toward to, the base 18, and a new slide is placed on the platform 14 to be held by recessed area 50.

In a further embodiment the entire platform 14 may be dis-engaged form the lifting arrangement 16. A new platform may then be engaged with the lifting arrangement, wherein the process discussed above would then be repeated in much the same fashion. This process may also be repeated as desired. This type of ‘platform rotation’ may become useful in certain scenarios, such as when it would be preferable to allow a slide and sections to perfectly dry before attempting to remove the slide form the platform .

A further object of the invention is to provide the above described solution at a reasonable cost, while simultaneously proving a sufficiently robust and reliable device. The device, ideally designed to be a bench top device, should be sufficiently rigid and robust, but not be overly expensive.

TO

To meet these objectives a possible method of manufacture may be to form the device and most of, if not all of the parts, from a plastics material. Such plastics may include Polyacetic Acid Plastic (PLA), or any other plastics material which may be used in 3D- printers. Additionally, the device may be formed through injection molding processes. The use of oxidising members, such as screws and bolts, are kept to a minimum, and if necessary, are selected from non-oxidising metallic materials.

⁰ The device may be formed from a variety of materials, through various different processes, what is preferred is that the final device be sufficiently robust, rigid and affordable.

As may be seen, and has been briefly discussed, various embodiments of the device 10 i · are available. The mentioned embodiments are not deemed to be limiting in this respect and are provided as a means of example only.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations may be made to the above described invention or features thereof, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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