| abstract |
Aspects of the present invention relate to laboratory systems for processing tissue samples and specimens within a laboratory. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for automating sample processing, comprising handling and analysis of tissue specimens with laboratory and/or medical diagnostic equipment. In one form the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sample processing tissue specimens for histological and/or pathological laboratory analysis involving procedures or tasks such as, for example, tissue processing, embedding, staining, coverslipping and imaging. In a laboratory system utilizing aspects of the present invention there is provided at least one workcell and at least one conveyer in which tissue samples may be routed. Accordingly, there is provided therewith a first module for tissue sample processing adapted for operative association with a second module by the at least one conveyer for selectively accommodating and transporting at least one tissue sample container between the first and second module where the conveyor is adapted to engage a plurality of configurations of tissue sample containers and wherein each of the plurality of configurations of tissue sample containers corresponds to at least one particular tissue sample processing task. |