Tissue Microarrays:Tissue Microarrays:OverviewOverview

Small cylindrical tissue samples (cores) are taken from donor formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and placed into a recipient paraffin block in a gridded array.Resulting histologic sections can contain up to many hundred tissue samples (tissue spots)

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Beecher Instruments:Beecher Instruments:Manual Tissue Microarray ApparatusManual Tissue Microarray Apparatus

Hollow needles: Hollow needles: punch holes in punch holes in

donor & recipient blocksdonor & recipient blocks

Needle holder: Needle holder: slides up & downslides up & downto collect & depositto collect & deposittissue corestissue cores

Holds recipient Holds recipient block steady during block steady during TMA manufactureTMA manufacture

Stage to supportStage to supportdonor block duringdonor block duringtissue samplingtissue sampling

Calipers: move the Calipers: move the needle holder in needle holder in precise increments precise increments in the x & y in the x & y directions to form directions to form the TMA gridthe TMA grid

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

A hole is made into the recipient block at a predetermined positionA hole is made into the recipient block at a predetermined positionBack to home page

Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

The stage is placed over the recipient block. A donor block is placed on the The stage is placed over the recipient block. A donor block is placed on the stage. The guide slide is positioned on the block to best match the contours stage. The guide slide is positioned on the block to best match the contours of the tissue. Note that the guide slide has been circled to indicate the of the tissue. Note that the guide slide has been circled to indicate the position of the target tissue.position of the target tissue.

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

With the guide slide placed in the best approximation with the tissue in the block, With the guide slide placed in the best approximation with the tissue in the block, the donor block is moved such that the circled area of target tissue is immediately the donor block is moved such that the circled area of target tissue is immediately under the needleunder the needle

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

Note that the maker of the TMA is guided solely by the gross visual Note that the maker of the TMA is guided solely by the gross visual examination of tissue contours and the circled area. No microscopic examination of tissue contours and the circled area. No microscopic assessments are made during this phase of TMA manufacture.assessments are made during this phase of TMA manufacture.

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

The slide is removed, and the needle is driven into the donor block.The slide is removed, and the needle is driven into the donor block.

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

The needle, containing the tissue sample, is withdrawn from the donor block, and The needle, containing the tissue sample, is withdrawn from the donor block, and the stage and the donor block are removed. The tissue-containing needle is the stage and the donor block are removed. The tissue-containing needle is lowered over the previously-made hole in the recipient block. lowered over the previously-made hole in the recipient block.

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Review of TMA manufactureReview of TMA manufacture

The tissue core is inserted into the recipient block by pressing on the stylus.The tissue core is inserted into the recipient block by pressing on the stylus.

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Tissue core in recipient blockTissue core in recipient block

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The tissue cores sizes, their spacing, and their arrangement in the block are at the The tissue cores sizes, their spacing, and their arrangement in the block are at the discretion of the designer of the TMA.discretion of the designer of the TMA.

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Increasing magnification of a TMAIncreasing magnification of a TMA

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