Patent ID: 8867803

Claim:
A system for preparing a specimen of biological tissue for optical imaging comprising the following: a. a microfluidics device having at least one substantially transparent facet through which the specimen of biological tissue in the microfluidics device can be optically imaged, the microfluidics device comprising a specimen chamber connected to a specimen channel, said specimen channel having a channel access point through which the specimen of biological tissue is introduced into the device, said channel access point sized to accept a needle aligned with the specimen channel, said specimen channel arranged to accept and preserve an elongated shape of the specimen of biological tissue in the needle, said specimen chamber having at least one interface arranged to pass fluid through said specimen chamber, said specimen channel and said specimen chamber arranged to preserve the elongated shape of the specimen of biological tissue when the specimen of biological tissue is in said specimen channel and said specimen chamber, wherein said specimen channel is a tubular lumen, said channel access point is on a proximal end of said tubular lumen, and a distal end of said tubular lumen has an orientation and size corresponding to said channel access point; b. a means for moving the specimen of biological tissue having the preserved elongated shape within the specimen channel to the specimen chamber; and c. a fluid exchange means for passing chemical or particulate matter through the specimen of biological tissue having the preserved elongated shape in said specimen chamber of the microfluidics device, wherein said passing increases an imaging contrast of the specimen of biological tissue.