Methods, apparatus and systems for production, collection, handling, and imaging of tissue sections

摘要

Methods, apparatus and systems for collecting thin tissue samples for imaging. Thin tissue sections may be cut from tissue samples using a microtome-quality knife. In one example, tissue samples are mounted to a substrate that is rotated such that thin tissue sections are acquired via lathing. Collection of thin tissue sections may be facilitated by a conveyor belt. Thin tissue sections may be mounted to a thin substrate (e.g., by adhering thin tissue sections to a thin substrate via a roller mechanism) that may be imaged, for example, by an electron beam (e.g., in an electron microscope). Thin tissue sections may be strengthened before cutting via a blockface thinfilm deposition technique and/or a blockface taping technique. An automated reel-to-reel imaging technique may be employed for collected/mounted tissue sections to facilitate random-access imaging of tissue sections and maintaining a comprehensive library including a large volume of samples.

主权项

1. A system for processing a tissue sample, the system comprising:
a cutting portion including:
a cutting surface for contacting the tissue sample so as to liberate a thin tissue section that includes at least a portion of the tissue sample, anda water bath constructed and arranged to contain water having a surface for supporting the thin tissue section; and a collecting portion including:
a conductive support tape for collecting the thin tissue section from the surface of the water on to the support tape, wherein the support tape is adapted for electron microscopy, anda conveyor device upon which the support tape is disposed for automatically guiding the support tape and the thin tissue section toward a collection region; wherein the water disposed within the water bath provides a sole region of contact between the cutting portion and the collecting portion.