Patent Document ID: 8676509
Application ID: 10294996
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for tracking and processing biological tissue samples, comprising: at least one central database configured to receive and store information relating to a biological tissue sample; wherein the information comprises: processing steps to be carried out on the biological tissue sample at different workstations; last known location of the biological tissue sample; processing history of the biological tissue sample; and reagent lot numbers used to process the biological tissue sample; wherein each biological tissue sample that will be processed is associated with at least one unique bar code identifier, the biological tissue samples to be processed being of unknown diagnosis, wherein the unique bar code identifier represents a sequence of letters, numbers, symbols or combinations thereof, generated by a unique identifier algorithm or is assigned sequentially, wherein the at least one central database is configured to communicate with a grossing workstation, the grossing station being configured to produce the biological tissue samples of unknown diagnosis, and at least one workstation chosen from shipping workstations, receiving workstations, management workstations, accessioning workstations, microtome workstations, automated stainer workstations, automated microscope workstations, and review workstations, wherein the grossing workstation and the at least one workstation are configured to read the unique bar code identifier and to access, from the central database, workstation-specific tissue processing steps associated with the unique bar code identifier, and a printer at the grossing workstation that is configured to automatically receive information from the central database, to automatically generate the unique bar code identifier for the biological tissue sample, and to enable the unique bar code identifier to be affixed to a tissue cassette at the grossing workstation.