Cell Disk: Tool for Faster, More Efficient Biopsy Processing
Cell Disk™ is a novel device for performing cytological and histological processing of patient biopsies that uses a removable bottom cap to concentrate the cell pellet and results in more efficient reading of slides developed from the pellet.
Technology Overview
Researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine have developed Cell DiskTM, a novel device for processing cell samples taken during fine needle aspirate biopsies. Cell Disk features an innovative design that minimizes cell loss throughout the process of creating the cell block.
The technology features a removable cap section with a concave area to concentrate the cells out of suspension. Located at the bottom of the tube, the fins in the cap allow for controlled supernatant draining leaving the cell pellet intact and easy to remove.
This compact cell pellet produces a slide that requires less manipulation, improving efficiency and accuracy in analyzing the sample.
Fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies are a commonly accepted method for extracting tissue specimen. The tissues or cells are collected and fixed to produce a cell block for histological and cytological testing.
Current methods for collecting a cell block requires draining the excess liquid after centrifuging by pouring it out the top of a standard centrifuge tube. This process often creates a separated cell pellet that has to be scraped out of the tube or a limited amount of sample for analysis.
The resulting slide usually requires the user to move the slide around to view the entire slice created from the cell pellet and may not provide sufficient data for analysis. This result can produce subsequent, and sometimes costly, testing or inaccurate diagnoses.
- A prototype has been designed and tested on surgical pathology specimens in Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Cytopathology laboratory.
- Shaozhou Ken Tian, MD, Department of Pathology
- Kim R. Geisinger, MD, Department of Pathology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical Center
Start a Conversation
John Druga, MS, MBA
Licensing Director, Technology Commercialization
+1.336.716.4421
jdruga@wakehealth.edu