Patent ID: 7722811

Claim:
A tissue processor comprising: a retort for processing histological samples with different reagents; a plurality of reagent reservoir vessels each including a vessel opening; a conduit system communicating between the plurality of vessels and the retort, the conduit system including a plurality of suction conduits each projecting into a respective one of the plurality of vessels through the vessel opening for reagent withdrawal; a closure system for closing the vessel openings, the closure system including a plurality of externally-tapered closure plugs each received by a respective vessel opening, each of the plurality of closure plugs having a cavity extending through the closure plug, wherein the suction conduit associated with the vessel is guided through the cavity of the respective closure plug and the cavity of each of the plurality of closure plugs has an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the suction conduit guided therethrough, and an annular opening is defined between the outside diameter and the inside diameter; and wherein the closure system further includes a plurality of bellows and each of the plurality of closure plugs is joined to a respective one of the plurality of bellows; a control device including a pump system for delivering reagents out of the reagent reservoir vessels and into the retort by way of the conduit system.