Frozen Section Stainer

Ground-up design and prototyping
of an economical (yet feature-rich)
semi-automatic frozen section stainer
for use in histological laboratories.

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Synopsis ::

Descher was selected to champion the design and prototyping of a new Frozen Section Stainer (FSS) for use in preparing & staining slide-mounted tissue samples in histological laboratories.

Semi & full automatic operation with continuous and timed dip modes
Stepper-driven gear & cam walking-beam assembly
Servo-driven unload stager
H₂O trough & controls for sample irrigation & drainage
Integral fume capture & exhaust system
Injected molded slide carriers and irrigation wells
Thermoformed housing with ingrained mold texture
Acetate control pad overlays with embossed buttons and LED windows

The FSS was required to compete with products already on the market, with a focus on offering a feature-rich alternative to the customer's competitors. Design for manufacturability and (of course) cost considerations were also critical project drivers. The skinning and user interface were required to dovetail with the customer's existing product line.

Solution ::

Descher worked with the customer to indentify existing products in the marketplace and develop a feature-focused competitor matrix. From there, Descher worked with the customer's engineering staff to champion the FSS' mechanical design and collaborate on its controls development, from board-level electronics to the custom user interface. After the project design, Descher launched the FSS prototyping phase, augmenting in-house capabilities with laser-cutting, rapid prototyping, and thermoforming shops to build out a five-unit pilot program.