Patent ID: 6586713
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for continuous processing of tissue specimens comprising:(a) a microwave processor unit which sequentially fixes, dehydrates, and defats said tissue specimens with a series of non-aqueous solutions in a vessel, and agitates and heats said vessel of the processor and its contents by microwave energy; wherein sources for the non-aqueous solutions are fluidly coupled to said vessel of the processor to expose tissue specimens to said series of non-aqueous solutions and to drain said vessel of the processor; and (b) an impregnator unit which sequentially impregnates said processed tissue specimens with a series of paraffin solutions in a vessel, and heats said vessel of the impregnator and its contents under less than atmospheric pressure during impregnation; wherein processing of a later tissue specimen in said microwave processor unit is initiated before impregnation of an earlier tissue specimen in said impregnator unit has been completed.