The Process

Tispa Medical to launch revolutionary break-through in Tissue Processing

Alcohol – CO₂ – Paraffin. That’s it, that’s all. And a full cycle within 3 hours.

Tispa Medical introduces the first novel approach to tissue processing in decades. A fast cycle to provide same day diagnosis, small batches to avoid workload peaks and naturally, solvent-free.

These features are obtained using supercritical CO₂ as intermediate between alcohol dehydration and paraffin impregnation. The CO₂ acts as expellant of the dehydrant and as a very efficient carrier for the paraffin impregnation. The method was developed and patented by the University Medical Centre Groningen (NL) and the scientific CO₂ application developers of Feyecon Weesp (NL). The general results are indistinguishable from traditionally processed samples, while the results on fatty tissues (like breast) are far superior.

The tissue samples are cut to the same sizes you are used to. Stored in fixative, they can be processed in batches of up to 50 standard cassettes. The Tispa processor dehydrates and impregnates in 2.5 hours. There is no need for a fixation run in the process. There is no need for cleaning runs. The supercritical CO₂ readily dissolves any surplus paraffin and carries it out of the reactor. Outside the reactor the CO₂ is de-pressurised to the gas phase, leaving clean paraffin for re-use. Each processor can contains two 50 cassette reactors.. This offers you an even workflow with a positive effect on personal well-being and reduced risk of errors or mistakes. Since there is by definition no contamination of the alcohol by organic compounds, the alcohol is easily recycled.

The Tispa processor does not require in-cycle fixation, uses no solvents, recovers the paraffin, the used alcohol is free of organic solvent contamination and the two 50 cassette reactors finish a full cycle in 2.5 hours.
These features offer you a combination of benefits that where up till now unimaginable.
Same day diagnosis, no staff exposure to toxic solvents, even workflow, lower consumption of alcohol and paraffin, lower chemical waste, no cleaning cycles, improved results on fatty tissues, same sample sizes and cassettes.