GB2434865A

GB2434865A - Apparatus for producing tissue arrays

Info

Publication number: GB2434865A
Application number: GB0614842A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Metzner; Roland Walter
Original assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH; Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
Current assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH; Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
Priority date: 2005-09-01
Filing date: 2006-07-26
Publication date: 2007-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-26
Also published as: GB0614842D0; CN1924541A; DE102005041782A1; GB2434865B; JP2007061098A

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a tissue array is described. At least one receiver block (1), and at least one donor block (2) that comprises tissue (3) to be investigated, are provided, a first hollow needle (4) for creating a cavity in the receiver block (1), and a second hollow needle (5) for removing a sample from the tissue (3) and introducing the sample (3) into the cavity of the receiver block (1), being present. A pantograph (6) is provided for positioning the first and/or the second hollow needle (4; 5) above the receiver block (1).

Description

1 2434865

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TISSUE ARRAYS

The invention concerns an apparatus for producing tissue arrays, according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Tissue arrays, also called tissue microarrays (TMAs), contain a plurality of different tissue samples in a single receiver block or paraffin block. The receiver block is sectioned in the usual manner with a microtome, and the section is applied onto a specimen slide. The specimen slide then contains a plurality of different tissue samples. Because of the large number of tissue samples on a single specimen slide, it is possible to stain or process all the samples under the same conditions. As a result, even very complex and expensive staining methods, for example those derived from immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in-site hybridization (IHS) for revealing DNA or RNA, can be applied effectively.

The production of tissue arrays is very time-consuming, however, since a plurality of different samples (up to 1,000) are arranged next to one another in one receiver block. From the various tissue or sample blocks, a tissue core is punched out with a hollow needle and transferred into a correspondingly prepared receiver block.

Before a tissue core is removed from a sample block, the corresponding site on the sample block must be located and marked. It has proven useful for this purpose, in practice, first to produce usual microtome sections from a sample block, apply them onto specimen slides, stain them using a standard method, and have them inspected by a pathologist. The pathologist then selects the sites of interest on the specimen slide, and marks that site directly on the specimen slide.

The laboratory worker producing the tissue arrays then has the task of locating, on the tissue block or donor block, the sites marked on the specimen slide, and removing a tissue core at the corresponding sites.

Punched-out portions or paraffin cores are also removed, using a hollow needle, from the receiver block, which as a rule is made of paraffin. The tissue cores are then introduced into the cavity thus created. As mentioned, as many as 1,000 tissue cores --depending on the application -can be arranged to form an array on one paraffin block. From these dimensions alone, it is apparent that the diameters of the tissue cores are less than 1 mm, and reliable and simple transfer of the tissue cores into the punched hole in the paraffin block is therefore possible only with special equipment.

An apparatus for producing a tissue array is known from US 6,103,518. This apparatus is characterized in that the receiver block is arranged in stationary fashion, and possesses beyond that a pivotably mounted needle holder for two hollow needles. The needle holder is aligned onto the receiver block by way of an X-Y micrometer displacement device. The two needles --one for punching out the receiver block, the other for removing the tissue core -can be brought alternately into the working position.

For removal of the tissue core from the tissue block, the latter is placed manually, together with a U-shaped frame, above the paraffin block and aligned onto the hollow needle.

With this apparatus, it has proven difficult to locate, on the tissue block, the site marked on the specimen slide, and furthermore to ensure reliable introduction of the tissue core into the paraffin block.

An automated device for producing tissue arrays is known from US 6,383,801 Bi. Here both multiple paraffin blocks and multiple tissue blocks are arranged on an X-Y scanning stage.

Also provided are two hollow needles operating independently of one another, of which one makes the punched holes in the paraffin block and the other is responsible for tissue core removal.

This device is very complex and moreover does not solve the problem of easily locating a marked site on the tissue block.

It is the object of the present invention to improve a manually operating apparatus for producing tissue arrays in such a way that simple and reliable introduction of the tissue core into the paraffin block becomes possible.

This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by the features desciibed in the characterizing portion of Claim 1. Further advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention is characterized in that a pantograph is provided for positioning the first and/or the second hollow needle above the receiver block. The pantograph ensures that all movements of the hollow needle take place in one plane, and the tissue core can be reliably positioned above the receiver block and introduced.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the pantograph comprises two scissor arms joined to one another, so that a specific conversion ratio can be implemented by way of different dimensions of the scissor arms. Very accurate positioning of the hollow needles above the tissue block or the paraffin block can thereby be achieved.

In a development of the invention, the scissor arms are rotatably mounted at their intersection point.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first scissor arm comprises a receptacle for the first and/or the second hollow needle, and the second scissor arm comprises a receptacle for a detent pin.

In a development of the invention, the detent pin has a positioning array associated with it, so that positioning of the detent pin on the positioning array causes that position to be transferred via the pantograph to the hollow needle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the positioning array comprises multiple markings and/or detent holes, and the latter defining the position of the first and/or the second hollow needle above the receiver block. It is thereby easily possible to transfer a corresponding map of the positioning array onto the paraffin block. By exchanging the positioning array for a different array having more or fewer markings or detent holes, different tissue arrays can be produced without major modification.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the receiver block is arranged on a turntable so that the receiver block is positionable, via the turntable, below the hollow needle.

In a development of the invention, the first and the second hollow needle are arranged next to one another on a needle holder, and the needle holder is embodied rotatably. The two different needles can thus be positioned successively above the receiver block, in order on the one hand to make the necessary punched hole in the receiver block and on the other hand to place the tissue core in the punched hole of the receiver block. The one end of the scissor arm carries a punching lever for actuation of the hollow needle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in addition to the receiver block at least one donor block is arranged on the turntable. This ensures that operations occur in the same plane in terms of the punched holes or tissue removal, and tissue core placement.

In a development of the invention, multiple first and multiple second hollow needles, having different diameters, are arranged circularly next to one another on the needle holder, so that differently dimensioned tissue arrays are also producible. This also ensures that the diameter of the first hollow needle for punching out the receiving block or paraffin block is larger than the diameter of the second hollow needle for removing the sample.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment,.

with the aid of the schematic drawings in which: FIG. I is a view of the apparatus having the pantograph; FIG. 2 is a detail view of the apparatus having a needle holder.

FIG. 1 is a view of the apparatus for producing a tissue array, having a receiver block or paraffin block 1 and a donor block or tissue block 2 that contains tissue 3 to be investigated.

Donor block 2 and receiver block 1 are arranged on a turntable 13. Also provided is a pivotably embodied needle holder 14 that carries a first hollow needle 4 and a second hollow needle 5. First hollow needle 4 serves to create a punched hole in receiver block 1, and second hollow needle 5 is provided in order to remove a tissue core from tissue 3.

The apparatus comprises a pantograph 6, mounted via a rotary shaft 16, having two scissor arms 7 and 8 joined to one another, the end of first scissor arm 7 carrying a receptacle 9 for a punching lever 15 for selectable actuation of first and second hollow needles 4; 5. The end of second scissor arm 8 is equipped with a detent pin 10 that has associated with it a positioning array 11 having individual detent holes 12.

The position of detent pin 10 on the positioning array is transferred via the rotatably mounted pantograph to receptacle 9 for punching lever 15. Needle holder 14 is joined in positively engaged fashion (FIG. 2) to first scissor arm 7, and thereby follows the movement of punching lever 15. Selection of the corresponding hollow needle is accomplished by a pivoting motion of needle holder 14 about rotary shaft 16. For punching, receiver block I is positioned via turntable 13 below the corresponding first hollow needle 4; first hollow needle 4 is then driven by punching lever 15 into receiver block 1 and makes a punched hole therein. Removal of a tissue core from donor block 2, and introduction of the tissue core into the punched hole in receiver block 1, are accomplished analogously. Pantograph 6 and positioning array 11 ensure that the positions of first and second hollow needle 4; 5 are precisely maintained.

It is of course within the scope of the invention to immobilize the respective positions of the turntable by way of additional detents in order to ensure simple and rapid operation, or also to arrange multiple donor blocks and/or receiver blocks simultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of needle holder 14, which is mounted rotatably and displaceably about rotary shaft 16. Needle holder 14 comprises a groove 18 into which a cam 17 positively engages. Cam 17 is joined to first scissor arm 7. A movement of scissor arm 7 is transferred via cam 17 and groove 18 to needle holder 14.

Precise removal of a tissue core is depicted and described in the parallel Application submitted simultaneously.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for producing a tissue array, comprising at least one receiver block, at least one donor block which comprises tissue to be investigated, a first hollow needle for creating a cavity in the receiver block, a second hollow needle for removing a sample from the tissue and introducing the sample into the cavity of the receiver block, and a pantograph for positioning at least one of the needles above the receiver block.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pantograph comprises two interconnected scissor arms.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scissor arms are mounted to be

rotatable.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first scissor arm has a receptacle for at least one of the needles and the second scissor arm has a detent pin.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detent pin is associated with a positioning array.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the positioning array comprises multiple markings and/or detent holes defining the position of at least one of the needles above the receiver block.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver block is arranged on a turntable.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first and second needles are arranged adjacent to one another on a movable needle holder, the first scissor arm having a receptacle for a punching lever for actuating the respective needle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the at least one donor block is arranged

on the turntable.

10. Apparatus for producing a tissue array according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein multiple first and multiple second hollow needles having different diameters are arranged circularly adjacent to one another on the needle holder.

11. A method of producing a tissue array by apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, compnsing the steps of creating a cavity in the receiver block by the first needle, and removing a sample from the tissue of the donor block and introducing the sample into the cavity by the second needle.