BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention relates to an automated system and method for advancing a tape to transport cut tissue sections from a microtome and for transferring the cut tissue sections to slides.

Description of Related Art

Traditional microtomy, the production of postage-stamp sized, micron-thin tissue sections for microscope viewing, is a delicate, time consuming manual task. In the process, a microtome cuts a tissue block consisting of tissue sample, enclosed in a supporting block of embedding material such as paraffin wax. The microtome holds a blade aligned for cutting slices from one face of tissue block—the block cutting face. A common type, the rotary microtome, linearly oscillates a chuck holding the block with the cutting face in the blade-cutting plane. Combined with incremental advancement of the block cutting face into the cutting plane, the microtome successively shaves thin tissue sections off the block cutting face. For sections with paraffin wax embedding medium, an operator carefully picks up these tissue sections and floats them on warm water. The water gently de-wrinkles and reduces deformation from cutting. Finally, an operator moves the sections from water onto microscope slides for further processing.

In addition, recent advancements in the digital imaging of tissue sample sections have made it desirable to slice blocks of specimen very quickly. By way of example, where tissues are sectioned as part of clinical care, time is an important variable in improving patient care. Every minute that can be saved during sectioning of tissue for intra-operative applications of anatomic pathology, for example in examining margins of lung cancers to determine whether enough tissue has been removed, is of clinical value. To create a large number of sample sections quickly, it is desirable to automate the process of cutting tissue sections from a specimen block by a microtome blade and facilitating the transfer of cut tissue sections to an adhesive tape without reducing section quality.

Additionally, the large number of tissue sample sections cut from the block need to be transferred to slides for evaluation. As can be appreciated, if the process of cutting the samples is automated, but the transfer to slides is performed manually, then not all of the advantages of automation are achieved.

Therefore it would be advantageous to automate one or more of these transfer functions. That is, in addition to an automated system of transferring the cut tissue sections to a continuously fed tape, an automated system that also transfers tissue sections to slides would even further enhance sample integrity and improve consistency. Additionally, such automation could decrease the need for dedicated technician time and less training time for technicians, therefore reducing costs and allowing a greater number of samples to be transferred to the slides than if performed manually.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an automated system and method for cutting tissue sample sections from a sample block, transferring the cut tissue sample sections to tape and transferring the sections to slides.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an automated tape transfer (advancement) apparatus is provided having a feed mechanism that feeds a continuous length of an adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus, a tape applicator that applies the adhesive tape to a cutting face of a sample block, wherein the adhesive tape supports the cutting face for cutting a section of the sample block and wherein the section is adhered to the adhesive tape after the cutting and a slide station that transfers the section from the adhesive tape to a slide.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an automated tape transfer (tape advancement) apparatus is provided, comprising a tape feed mechanism that feeds a continuous length of an adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus, a tape applicator that applies the adhesive tape to a cutting face of a sample block, wherein a section of the sample block is adhered to the adhesive tape after cutting, the section from the sample block and a slide station that transfers the section from the adhesive tape to a slide.

In some embodiments, the adhesive tape covers the entire cutting face during cutting the section of the sample block.

In some embodiments, the tape applicator includes a roller member coupled to a linear actuator member, wherein an extension of the linear actuator member causes the roller member of the tape applicator to apply the adhesive tape to the cutting face. In some embodiments, the tape applicator further includes a spring member that causes the roller member to apply a force to the cutting face that is normal when the linear actuator member is extended.

The apparatus can include in some embodiments, a take-up mechanism that takes up the adhesive tape after the adhesive tape has exited the slide station.

In some embodiments the feed mechanism includes a controllable motor that controls properties of the feeding of the adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus. The properties can include for example one or more of a speed of the feed through the automated tape transfer apparatus, an acceleration of the feed, a jerk of the feed, and a slack of the adhesive tape within the automated tape transfer apparatus.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a controller that controls the motor, wherein the controller receives inputs from sensors that are included in the automated tape transfer apparatus.

In some embodiments, the section is cut by a microtome and the automated tape transfer apparatus is coupled to the microtome.

In some embodiments, the paraffin block face could be cooled down and humidified. Cooling down the paraffin block helps increase the hardness of the medium Harder paraffin blocks can be cut at a given thickness more consistently. Humidification of the tissue and the paraffin blocks helps to avoid tissue crumbling.

In some embodiments, a heating mechanism is provided to heat one of a blade of the microtome, the sample block or the adhesive tape, wherein the heating causes an embedding medium of the sample block to enter a plastic state prior to the blade of the microtome cutting the section.

In some embodiments, the apparatus sends a signal to the microtome when the section is ready to be cut.

In some embodiments, a strength of an adhesive material of the adhesive tape is decreased after the transfer of the section to the slide by one or more of heating the adhesive material, cooling the adhesive material or exposing the adhesive material to an ultra-violet (UV) light source.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a method is provided comprising a) applying a first portion of a continuous length of an adhesive tape to a first cutting face of a sample block; b) moving the first portion of the adhesive tape away from the sample block after a first section has been cut from the sample block, wherein the first section is adhered to the first portion of the adhesive tape and the cutting exposes a second cutting face of the sample block; c) applying a second portion of the continuous length of the adhesive tape to the second cutting face of the sample block; d) moving the second portion of the adhesive tape away from the sample block after a second section has been cut from the sample block, wherein the second section is adhered to the second portion of the adhesive tape; e) moving the first and second portions of the continuous length of the adhesive tape that include the corresponding first and second sections to a slide station; and f) transferring the first section to a first slide.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transferring the second section to a second slide.

In some embodiments a distance between the first portion and second portion of the adhesive tape is controlled. In some embodiments one or more of a speed, acceleration and jerk of each of the moving operations is controlled.

In some embodiments, the adhesive tape has properties that provide a support structure for the cutting face when the section is cut.

In some embodiments, the applying operations include pressing a roller member that holds the adhesive tape in a direction that is normal to the cutting face throughout an entire length of the cutting face. In some embodiments, the applying operations include melting a hot melt adhesive layer of the adhesive tape and cooling the hot melt adhesive layer to adhere the adhesive tape to the first and second cutting faces of the sample block.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises melting the hot melt adhesive layer in the first and second portions of the adhesive tape after the first and second section have been cut and prior to transferring the first and second sections to the corresponding slide or alternatively during transferring the first and second sections to the corresponding slide.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an automated tape transfer apparatus is provided comprising a tape feed mechanism feeding a continuous length of an adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus and a tape applicator applying the adhesive tape to a cutting face of a sample block, wherein the tape applicator is movable from a first retracted position to a second position to move the adhesive tape into contact with the cutting face and apply a pressure against the tape and sample block to adhere the adhesive tape to the cutting face.

In some embodiments, the tape applicator includes a roller engageable with the tape and movable along the adhesive tape along a length of the cutting face. In some embodiments, the tape applicator is movable initially in a linear direction toward the sample block and subsequently in a direction along the sample block.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a tape applicator apparatus is provided comprising a roller member or a cam that is in contact with an adhesive tape; and a linear actuator member coupled to the roller member, wherein the linear actuator member extends a first distance in a first direction causing the roller member to contact a cutting face of a sample block, wherein the roller member applies the adhesive tape to the cutting face.

In some embodiments, the linear actuator member extends a second distance in the first direction causing the linear actuator member to rotate about a first axis, wherein as the linear actuator member rotates about the first axis, the roller member moves to apply the adhesive tape to an entire length of the cutting face and wherein the linear actuator member retracts causing the roller member to lose contact with the cutting face.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an automated tape transfer system is provided comprising a) a feed mechanism that feeds a continuous length of tape through the automated tape transfer system, the tape having an adhesive portion; b) a tape applicator that applies the adhesive portion of the tape to a sample block; c) a cutting mechanism to cut a section from the sample block for transfer to the adhesive portion; and d) a slide station that transfers the cut section of the sample from the adhesive portion to a slide.

In some embodiments, the adhesive portion is separated from the tape prior to transport to the slide station. In other embodiments, the adhesive portion extends continuously along the tape.

The system can include in some embodiments, a plurality of spaced apart adhesive portions along the tape.

The system in some embodiments can include a guide movable from a first position to a second position to change the angle of the tape relative to the sample.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an automated apparatus for transferring cut sections from a sample block to slides is provided comprising a feed mechanism, A continuous tape fed by the feed mechanism, the continuous tape having a plurality of regions (or sections), each region carrying a cut section from the sample block, a slide station supporting a plurality of slides, wherein the continuous tape is movable to the slide station wherein the cut sections are aligned with slides and a movable transferring portion movable from a first position to a second position to move the continuous tape and cut sections into engagement with the slides for transfer of the cut sections to the slides.

In some embodiments, a conveyor belt is provided for transferring slides to the slide station. In some embodiments, the transferring portion includes a roller or alternatively a cam. In some embodiments, the slide station includes a UV source.

