Systems and methods for supporting and positioning body tissue samples in a microscope

A stage apparatus is disclosed for supporting and positioning a body tissue sample in a microscope. The stage apparatus has (a) an elongated base mount having a longitudinal body extending between a first end and a second end, (b) means for attaching the first end of the base to a mount or platform associated with the microscope, (c) a tissue mount having a tissue well attached to an elongated mount stem, the tissue well of sufficient size and shape to store the body tissue sample, and (d) means for attaching the second end of the base mount and the tissue mount, the tissue mount being removable and separable from the base mount.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to microscopy, and more particularly, to a stage apparatus and method for supporting and positioning a body tissue sample in a microscope.

BACKGROUND

Body tissue samples can be analyzed by placing on a support stage that can be used with a microscope. Typically a tissue sample can be mounted to a support stage using dental gum to secure the sample to the top of a support stage, which can often be troublesome and inconsistent. Mounting tissue samples in agarose can be used to preserve the sample during scanning. However, this can reduce scanning resolution and make it difficult to study capillaries and other small structures, but is often necessary to keep the tissue preserved.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a stage apparatus designed to support and position a body tissue sample in a microscope

One embodiment, among others, can be summarized as an apparatus having a microscope and a stage apparatus with body tissue sample therein. The stage apparatus has an elongated base mount and a tissue mount. The base mount has a longitudinal body extending between a first end and a second end. The first end of the base is attached to a mount associated with the microscope. The second end has an opening extending inwardly into the longitudinal body. The tissue mount has a tissue well attached to an elongated mount stem. The tissue well stores a body tissue sample. The mount stem extends into the opening of the second end of the base mount. The tissue mount is removable and separable from the base mount.

Another embodiment, among others, is a stage apparatus for supporting and positioning a body tissue sample in a microscope. The stage apparatus has (a) an elongated base mount having a longitudinal body extending between a first end and a second end, (b) means for attaching the first end of the base to a mount or platform associated with the microscope, (c) a tissue mount having a tissue well attached to an elongated mount stem, the tissue well of sufficient size and shape to store the body tissue sample, and (d) means for attaching the second end of the base mount and the tissue mount, the tissue mount being removable and separable from the base mount.

Other embodiments, methods, apparatus, features, and advantages of the present invention of this disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional embodiments, methods, apparatus, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for supporting and positioning body tissue samples in a microscope. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a stage apparatus comprising a base mount and a tissue mount that is designed to support and position a body tissue sample (e.g., small brain matter samples) in a microscope.

FIG. 1illustrates an example of a prior art microscope100that is used to analyze body tissue samples. The stage apparatus of the present disclosure can be used with the microscope100to analyze the body tissue sample, as can be appreciated. The microscope can be any type of microscope including a Bruker Micro CT.

FIG. 2illustrates an example of a prior art support stage for mounting body tissue samples. In particular, an existing method to mount a tissue sample involves using dental gum202to secure the sample to the top of a support stage200, which can often be troublesome and inconsistent.FIG. 3illustrates an example of a known method300for mounting brain tissue to a known stage apparatus. Mounting the brain tissue in agarose can be used to preserve the sample during scanning. However, this reduces scanning resolution and makes it difficult to study capillaries and other small structures, but is often necessary to keep the tissue preserved.

The use of the dental gum202with the existing stage design200results in inconsistent analysis from sample to sample due to the variation in sample placement each time. Moreover, if the sample is not mounted in agarose, then the tissue will dehydrate and shrink, presenting further issues during scanning. In order to mitigate these issues, an alternative method of mounting the sample is needed.

The stage apparatus and methods of mounting the body tissue using the stage apparatus of the present disclosure can mitigate the above noted issues.FIG. 4illustrates a perspective view of an example stage apparatus400according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The stage apparatus400of the present disclosure can mount into the existing mounting location of a microscope100, such as the Bruker Micro CT microscope. The stage apparatus400can include a base mount402and a tissue mount404. The base mount402comprises a longitudinal body extending between a first end403and a second end405. The first end403of the base mount is configured to attach to a microscope mount412(FIGS. 6A and 6B) associated with the microscope100. The second end405of the base mount402comprises an opening407extending inwardly into the longitudinal body.

The tissue mount404comprises a body410coupled to an elongated mount stem408. The body410can comprise a tissue well406of sufficient size and shape to store a body tissue sample. The mount stem408is configured to extend into the opening407of the second end405of the base mount402for consistent placement. According to various embodiments, the tissue mount404is removable and separable from the base mount402.

FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate example embodiments of the tissue mount404according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example,FIG. 5Aillustrates an example of a tissue mount404acomprising an elongated body410awith sides. The elongated body410agenerally has a rectangular shaped cross section with a rectangular shaped internal chamber406afor storing the body tissue sample. The elongated body410ais coupled to a mount stem408used consistent placement.

FIG. 5Billustrates an example of a tissue mount404bcomprising a cylindrical body410bwith a cylindrical internal chamber406bfor storing the body tissue sample. The cylindrical internal chamber406bis defined by a circular internal side wall411of the tissue mount404b. The elongated body410bis coupled to a mount stem408used to insert the tissue mount404bin the base mount402. Although the tissue mounts404a,404bofFIGS. 5A and 5Bare generally rectangular-shaped and cylindrical-shaped, respectively, it should be noted that the shape of the tissue mount body is not limited to a rectangular or cylindrical cross section.

FIG. 6Aillustrates a first embodiment of the stage apparatus400aof the present disclosure which includes a tissue mount404aofFIG. 5Aattached to a base mount402, the base mount402being attached to a microscope mount412.FIG. 6Billustrates a second embodiment of a stage apparatus400bof the present disclosure which includes a tissue mount404bofFIG. 5Battached to a base mount402, the base mount402being attached to a microscope mount412. In this embodiment, the tissue mount404bis generally larger than the tissue mount404aofFIG. 6A.

As previously stated, the tissue mount404secures and seals the tissue sample for scanning. To seal the tissue sample, the tissue (not shown) is placed into the tissue well406and sealed on the open end with a sealing agent. The sealing agent can comprise a generally clear poly acrylic material, such nail, for example nail polish, and/or any other type of sealing agent as can be appreciated. This sealing agent is applied by placing a thin layer of the sealing agent on the exposed area, which does not interfere with scanning resolution.

This stage apparatus400and its parts can be fabricated by any of the standard practices known in industry including but not limited to machining, injection molding, and three dimensional (3D) printing. The manufacturing material can comprise a polycarbonate material and/or any other type of material as can be appreciated that does not interfere with the scanning functionality associated with the microscope.

The stage apparatus400of the present disclosure has at least the following features/benefits: (a) places sample in the same position every single time; (b) positions the sample in the center of the stage consistently for highest scanning resolution; (c) multiple tissue mounting designs are available; (d) seals the tissue sample to keep it from dehydrating; (e) testing has demonstrated an increase in scanning resolution from ˜5 microns to ˜500 nanometers (nm); (f) a stencil can be used to “cookie cut” the tissue sample, providing reproducibility; (g) the tissue mount404can be disposable; and (h) the base mount402is reusable.

In some examples, the tissue mounts404can be disposable.FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate perspective views of multiple disposable tissue mounts404organized on a rack415according to various embodiments.FIGS. 7 and 8further illustrate a method of manufacturing the tissue mounts404showing that multiple tissue mounts404can be removeably attached on a rack415. The tissue mounts404ofFIGS. 7 and 8correspond to pre-production prototypes that have been designed and tested. These prototypes have also been designed for manufacturability. The base mount402can remains reusable while the tissue mounts404can be broken off the rack415, used, and discarded (or reused if desired).FIG. 7illustrates the tissue mount404aofFIG. 5AandFIG. 8illustrates the tissue mount404bofFIG. 5B.