Patent US3733768A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3733768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage of histology specimens
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-12
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A storage tray for histology specimens which is formed as a rectangular sheet having rows and columns of compartments within the face of the sheet. The thickness of the sheet is selected to provide for compartment depths sufficient to receive the specimens. The floors of the compartments are porous to permit melted wax to flow through the compartments. The method of transferring the specimens from their wax embedments and to the compartments thus includes the steps of placing embedments above each compartment, melting the wax forming the embedments to permit it to flow through the tray but retain the specimens on the compartment floors. Subsequent cooling causes a residual layer of wax to harden to secure the specimens in position.
Inventors
- 👤 B Carls
- 👤 P Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:45
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5025; G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/30; G01N1/31; G01N2001/315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A specimen tray having compartments for the storage of histology specimens which are provided in substantially uniformly sized wax embedments with the specimen adjacent the surface of each embedment, wherein: a. said tray is formed as a sheet-like member having an upper face and a bottom surface and a thickness between these surfaces selected to provide a compartment depth sufficient to retain a specimen therein; b. said compartments are open at the upper face of the sheet and are of a size sufficient to permit at least a portion of an embedment to be placed in each compartment; c. a porous floor for each compartment adjacent to the aforesaid bottom surface constructed and arranged to permit melted wax to drain through the compartment, whereby an embedment may be placed in selected compartments of a tray, the tray and embedments then heated to melt the wax to permit the wax to flow through the floor of the compartment with the specimen remaining on the floor thereof; and d. a series of histology specimens in a plurality of compartments of said tray, said specimens being adhered to said porous floor by wax.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A specimen tray having compartments for the storage of histology specimens which are provided in substantially uniformly sized wax embedments with the specimen adjacent the surface of each embedment, wherein: a. said tray is formed as a sheet-like member having an upper face and a bottom surface and a thickness between these surfaces selected to provide a compartment depth sufficient to retain a specimen therein; b. said compartments are open at the upper face of the sheet and are of a size sufficient to permit at least a portion of an embedment to be placed in each compartment; c. a porous floor for each compartment adjacent to the aforesaid bottom surface constructed and arranged to permit melted wax to drain through the compartment, whereby an embedment may be placed in selected compartments of a tray, the tray and embedments then heated to melt the wax to permit the wax to flow through the floor of the compartment with the specimen remaining on the floor thereof; and d. a series of histology specimens in a plurality of compartments of said tray, said specimens being adhered to said porous floor by wax.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a tray as defined in claim 1, wherein: said tray is formed as a generally rectangular member suitable for storage; and wherein said compartments are formed as an array of rows and columns in said tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a tray as defined in claim 2, wherein: said tray provides strips at the upper face between said compartments, said strips in at least one dirEction of said tray having a sufficient width for the placement of indicia identifying the specimen in the corresponding compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a tray as defined in claim 3, wherein: said embedments are carried by rings having a flange at each end; and said indicia placement strips have a width corresponding to the length of said flanges, whereby a series of rings may be placed on the top of the tray with the flanges of adjacent rings in overlapping relation on said strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a tray as defined in claim 1, wherein said tray is formed as a laminate including: a main body wherein said compartments are formed; and a layer of a porous, sheetlike material attached to the undersurface of the main body to provide said compartment floors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a tray as defined in claim 5, wherein: said porous sheeting is a cloth-like material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a tray as defined in claim 6, wherein: said sheeting is a woven fabric of acetate fiber threads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a tray as defined in claim 1, including: a lid adapted to be fitted over the upper face of the tray to facilitate retention of specimens within their compartments when the tray is being stored.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for the transfer of histology specimens from wax embedments and into the compartments of a flat tray for storage wherein said compartments are proportioned to receive the portion of the corresponding embedment containing the specimen and wherein the floor of the compartment is porous, including the following steps: a. placing a series of embedments into the compartments of a tray with the portion containing the specimen within a compartment; b. heating the tray and embedments thereon to a temperature sufficient to melt the wax forming the embedments; c. permitting the melted wax to flow through the corresponding compartment floor and away from the tray; and d. cooling the tray and specimens carried therein, whereby to permit a residual layer of wax to solidify and secure the specimens to the porous floor of the compartments.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for the transfer of histology specimens from wax embedments and into the compartments of a flat tray for storage wherein said compartments are proportioned to receive the portion of the corresponding embedment containing the specimen and wherein the floor of the compartment is porous, including the following steps: a. placing a series of embedments into the compartments of a tray with the portion containing the specimen within a compartment; b. heating the tray and embedments thereon to a temperature sufficient to melt the wax forming the embedments; c. permitting the melted wax to flow through the corresponding compartment floor and away from the tray; and d. cooling the tray and specimens carried therein, whereby to permit a residual layer of wax to solidify and secure the specimens to the porous floor of the compartments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a method as defined in claim 9, including: collecting the wax flowing through said compartment floors for reuse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a method as defined in claim 9, wherein: said embedments are carried by rings having a flange at each end; said compartments are arranged in rows and columns and are separated by strips, said strips in at least one direction having a width corresponding to the length of said flanges; and said rings are placed on the top of said tray with said embedments extending into said compartments and the flanges of adjacent rings in overlapping relation on said strips.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |