Patent ID: 8673588
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of disposing a tissue sample at a supporting surface of a tissue handling device, the method comprising the steps of: applying an orientating composition to the surface; applying the tissue sample to the surface or to the orientating composition, wherein the tissue sample is applied before or after the orienting composition is applied such that the tissue sample is affixed relative to the surface in a specific orientation; wherein the orientating composition comprises at least one organic solvent, a gelling agent and water, said composition being substantially liquid at room temperature; wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 1,2 propanediol, 1,2 butanediol, 1,3 butanediol, 1,4 butanediol, dimethylformamide, formamide, dimethylsulfoxide and a combination thereof, and the gelling agent is a carbohydrate polymer selected from the group consisting of agarose, agarose derivatives, modified agarose, low melt agarose, hydroxyethylagarose, low molecular weight agarose, cross-linked chitosan, and a combination thereof, whereby the amount of water is selected such that the orientating composition is sufficiently viscous to hold the tissue sample for orientation, yet sufficiently flexible to allow fine alignment of the tissue sample; and exposing the orientating composition to an aqueous environment such that the orientating composition contains sufficient water to become sufficiently solid to fix the tissue sample in the specific orientation.