AUTOMATIC TISSUE PROCESSOR

1st DEFINITION:- Devices that automates the

fixation , dehydrates, clearing and infiltration
of tissue specimen to help preserve the
integrity of their cellular components for light
or electron microscopy.
2nd DEFINITION:- An automated system used
to process tissue specimen for examination
through fixation , dehydration and
infiltration.
• It is an automatic tissue processor with 12 beakers which are
thermostatically controlled.

• These beakers contain different grades of alcohol , clearing agents

and molten wax in wax bath. There is a timing disc.

• After fixation small piece of tissue are placed in tissue processing

baskets . These are perforated metal container.
• This equipment automatically dehydrates , clears &
impregnate tissues.
• Hence it saves time , manpower and reduce human errors.
• It also minimise the variation in time from one batch of
tissue to the next.
• The decrease in processing time is due to constant agitation
,which the tissue undergoes.
 PRINCIPLE
• 1. The general working principle of all the
models used are similar while the tissue is
being processed on electric motor , agitate
the baskets either by means of slowly
rotating it or by up and down movement.
• 2. This stops while the tissue is being
transferred from one container to the
next. The basket on being submersed in
the fresh fluid , continue to agitate.
 PRINCIPLE- CONTD....
• 3. The length of time and basket in each
reagent is determined by notch which are
cut in a 24 hrs clock disc.
• 4. These are pulled out at the required
transferred time with the tab key which is
provided in the machine.
 COMPONENTS
• 1. A timer Clock
• 2. Basket carrier in a circular structure.
• 3. Receptacle and Receptacles (stainless steel
or plastic capsule)
• 4. Circular deck which holds the reagent
beaker and paraffin bath.
 WORKING procedure
• 1. Small blocks of tissue are enclosed in the
perforated capsule and the capsule are placed in
the baskets.
• 2. The baskets is attached to one of the 12 yokes in
the supra structure while it is in raised position.
• 3. The entire superstructure descend immersing the
basket in the first solution and sealing the other
reagent beakers to prevent evaporation.
• 4. To move the baskets from reagent to the next in
the processing sequence the entire superstructure
ascends and descends at schedule intervals
controlled by the time clocks.
 WORKING OF HISTOKINETTE-
CONTD....
• 5. During immersion in the fluid the basket oscillate
up and down in a reciprocal motion to keep the
tissue and reagent in a state of controlled in a state
of controlled agitation which significantly increase
the speed of penetration.
• 6. After Prescribe amount of time in the last Paraffin
wax bath, the tissue remain there until removed
manually.
• 7. It takes about 16 hours for routine Processing.
Hence the machine is set in the afternoon/evening
and the processed material is taken out on the
following morning for embedding.
 REQUIREMENT
• 1. Alcohol solution of various Concentration
• 2. Xylene
• 3. Paraffin Wax
• 4. Tissue
• 5. Automatic Tissue Processor
 PROCEDURE
• 1. Place the solution and Paraffin in
respective beaker of the equipment.
• 2. After these steps follows:-
 PROCEDURE – CONTD.....
After these steps follows:-
STEPS Timing Solution Period

1 Starting 80% alcohol 0 hours

2 4:30 – 6:30 PM 80% alcohol 2 hours

3 6:30- 7:30 PM 95% alcohol 1 hours

4 7:30- 8:30 PM 95% alcohol 1 hours

5 8:30- 9:30 PM 100% alcohol 1 hours

6 9:30- 10:30 PM 100% alcohol 1 hours

7 10:30- 11:30 PM 100% alcohol 1 hours

 8 11:30 – 12: 30 Xylene 1 hours

9 12:30 – 2: 30 Xylene 2 hours

10 2:30 – 4: 30 Paraffin 2 hours

11 4:30 – 6: 30 Paraffin 2 hours

12 6:30 – 8: 30 Paraffin 2 hours

.
 Place the solution & Paraffin in respective beakers of the
equipment.
 The timing lever is set at zero & machine is started at 4:30
PM ( so that the tissue processing is complete during night
hours )
 The basket with the cassettes automatically changes position
& takes a bath different reagent kept in the beaker in order to
accomplish,
a. dehydration
b. clearing
c. infiltration
The final dip is in the warm paraffin.
 Cassettes are opened next day morning for embedding .
 CARE OF AUTOTECHNICON
• 1. The care of autotechnicon is extremely
important.
• 2. Paraffin should be kept in Paraffin bath and
removed from all other areas of the
instruments with soft cloth soaked in
Xylene.