Design of a compact tissue processor for a research lab

• Main Author: Houti, Nadia
• Other Authors: Marcos
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering; Tissue processing; Prototype
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/177587
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Tissue processing plays an instrumental role in histological research, necessitating extensive chemical treatments for optimal sample preparation. Traditional large-scale automated tissue processors, while efficient for clinical settings, pose challenges for research laboratories with lower throughput and diverse sample requirements as well as space constraints. This research paper addresses these challenges by outlining the design of a compact tissue processing machine tailored for research settings. The proposed machine, a response to size constraints, leverages modular 3D printing for efficient assembly. The 3D design was conceptualized using Autodesk Fusion360 and the mechatronics system was developed in conjunction with the Arduino IDE using C++ programming. The design focuses on four essential tissue processing steps: fixation, dehydration, clearing and infiltration with paraffin wax. The machine accommodates lower sample throughputs to enhance space optimization and reduce chemical usage, making it appropriate for laboratories with much lower and more irregular processing frequencies. By introducing innovative features such as a user-friendly control panel and configurability of processing parameters, the design aims to enhance accessibility and adaptability in research labs. This research paper also explores the replacement of xylene with the less-toxic alternative isopropanol for the clearing step of tissue processing to enhance the safety of the designed machine. A functional prototype was developed and tested to analyze its ability to produce sectionable tissue samples to obtain tissue ribbons for histological analysis.