Arrayit TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayers provide the market’s finest solutions for high-speed automated preparation of tissue microarrays from many patients including 5 µm positional accuracy, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mm tip sizes, two CCD cameras, LED illumination, 10 donor blocks, two recipient blocks, and touch screen computer control. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) possess significant advantages over traditional histological approaches including the analysis of many patient samples simultaneously, complete automation, conservation of precious tissue samples, improved internal experimental control, reduced consumption of antibodies and other reagents, and wide applicability to many molecular techniques including mRNA and protein expression analysis, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, FISH and in situ PCR.

TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer Specifications and Features

• Automated Tissue Microarrayers
• Analysis of many patient tissue samples simultaneously
• Conserves tumors, biopses and other precious biological samples
• Conserves antibodies and other expensive reagents
• Improves assay precision through sample and patient multi-plexing
• Applicable to mRNA and protein expression analysis
• Miniaturize and automate immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, FISH, and in situ PCR
• High-speed preparation of tissue microarray blocks
• Maintains tissue integrity during embedding
• Up to 300 tissues slices per donor block
• Standardized block configuration simply image analysis
• Prepare up to 240 tissue cores per hour
• Core placement success rate >99%
• Tissue preparation cycle time of 15-18 secs
• Positional accuracy of 5 µm at donor blocks
• Fully automated 5 axis computer control
• Rotary print tip control
• Three print tip sizes of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mm (TMM)
• Four print tip sizes of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm (TMMP)
• New 500 µm (0.5 mm) Print Tip Option prints into 20 x 16 (320 well) recipient blocks
• Donor block capacity of 10 blocks
• Recipient block capacity of 2 blocks
• Recipient blocks contain 320 x 0.5 mm wells (20 x 16), 120 x 1 mm wells (12 x 10), 60 x 2 mm wells (6 x 10) and 30 x 3 mm wells (5 x 6)
• Number of CCD cameras: Two, full color
• TMM CCD camera chips: 1,280 x 1,024 pixels (higher resolution for TMMP)
• TMM CCD camera pixel size: 2.2 x 2.2 µm
• Camera resolution: 5 µm at recipient block and 30 µm at donor block
• Number of LED illumination modules: Two
• Complete line of recipient blocks and consumables available
• Personal computer control with Intel Dual Core 2.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM and 160 GB HD
• TMM computer operating system and software: Windows XP PRO and Microsoft Excel
• TMMP computer operating system and software: Windows 7 and Microsoft Excel
• Computer monitor: touch screen LCD with 15" and 1,024 x 768 pixel display
• Voltage requirements: 100-120 VAC or 200-240 VAC
• Power requirements: 1 kilowatt, 10 amps at 110 volts or 5 amps at 220 volts
• Nominal frequency: 50-60 Hertz
• Maximum allowable voltage fluctuation: ±10%
• TissueMax™ instrument weight: 148 kg (325 lbs)
• TissueMax™ Personal instrument weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
• TissueMax™ instrument dimensions (W x D x H): 95 x 70 x 61 cm (37 x 28 x 24”)
• TissueMax™ Personal instrument dimensions (W x D x H): 75 x 60 x 60 cm (30 x 24 x 24”)
• Operational temperature range: 10-35°C (50-95°F)
• Transportion and storage temperature range: 5-55°C (41-131°F)
• Maximum operational humidity: 80% RH
• Indoor use only
• Standard approvals: UL, CE and ISO

Figure 1. TissueMax™ Personal Automated Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMMP) instrument featuring the most advanced automation technology for the preparation of tissue cores for tissue microarrays in a compact instrument footprint. TMMP uses a personal computer and screen (included) to control the instrument operations. The new 0.5 mm Print Tip Option (Cat. TMT500) allows the printing of 500 µm tissue cores into 20 x 16 (320) well recipient blocks.

Table 1. Maximum Number of Cores per Donor Block.

TissueMax™ Printing Tip Size	Number of Cores per Donor Block	Maximum Number of Cores per Donor Block
0.5 mm	1-12	12
1.0 mm	1-8	8
1.5 mm	1-5	5
2.0 mm	1-3	3
3.0 mm	1-2	2

Arrayit TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayers (Cat. TMM) and Automated Personal Tissue Microarrayers (Cat. TMMP) have the number of cores per donor blocks possible with each printing tip and the maximum number of core samples per donor block shown in this table. Exceeding the maximum number of cores per block can result in donor block facturing and poor printing quality. Please follow these specifications when using the TMM and TMMP instruments.

Figure 2. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMM) instrument featuring the most advanced automation technology for the preparation of tissue cores for tissue microarrays. TMM uses an integrated computer and flat panel display to control the instrument operations.

Figure 3. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer removing a tissue core from the tissue donor block. TissueMax™ has a 10 donor block and 2 recipient block capacity, and a 240 core per hour fully automated manufacturing throughput.

Figure 4. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer placing a tissue core into a tissue recipient block. TissueMax™ has a 10 donor block and 2 recipient block capacity, and a 240 core per hour fully automated manufacturing throughput.

Figure 5. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer tissue core recipient block, containing 30 x 3 mm tissue cores arranged in a 5 x 6 array.

Figure 6. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer rotary tissue core sampler containing 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm diameter core print tips arranged on a high precision, computer-controlled rotary arm.

Figure 7. Tissue core recipient blocks for the TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer with 1 mm diameter wells in a 120 well 10 x 12 array (left), 2 mm diameter wells in a 60 well 6 x 10 array (center), and 3 mm wells in a 30 well 5 x 6 array (right). Recipient blocks containing the tissue cores are fitted onto an Arrayit Microtome for sectioning.

Figure 8. Arrayit TissueMax™ Semi-Automatic Rotary Microtome (Cat. MTM) is a companion instrument for our TissueMax™ Tissue Microarrayers for research and clinical laboratories. The Arrayit Microtome combines tissue sectioning efficiency with a compact footprint and ergonomic design to provide high quality tissue sections from TissueMax™ recipient blocks as well as parafin tissue blocks from histology and pathology laboratories. A motorized precision feed system ensures fast, safe and smooth recipient block sectioning and a solid base provides optimum stability during use. The integrated precision hand wheel is lockable in 360 degrees and the vertical guide is equipped with cross-roller bearings to prevent operational backlash. An integrated switch panel contains a multi-functional LCD display and precision stepper motors guide coarse recipient block movements by 500 µm and fine recipient block movements from 1-25 µm. Section thickness range is 0.25-50 µm and trimming section thickness range is 1-500 µm. Horizontal and vertical recipient movements are 30 mm and 64 mm, respectively. The recipient block clamp is rotatable in 360 degrees and a quick release system provides convenience and ease-of-use. Arrayit Microtome size dimensions are (L x W x H) 21” x 15” x 11” (53 x 38 x 28 cm), weight 66 lbs (29.8 kg), and 115-230 volts at 50-60 Hz.

Figure 9. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMM) instrument shown in the Arrayit Corporation manfacturing facility (Sunnyvale, CA).

Figure 10. TissueMax™ Automated Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMM) instrument rotary print tips, donor blocks and recipient blocks.

Figure 11. TissueMax™ Automated Personal Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMMP) yellow donor block with 5 donor core positions demarcated with a white donor core marking pen. The donor block is mounted in position number 1 in the donor block tray. The use of yellow donor block cassettes (rather than other colors) is essential for proper donor core recognition by the TMMP digital camera and printing module. Please use yellow donor block cassettes at all times when operating Arrayit TissueMax™ Tissue Microarrayers.

Figure 12. TissueMax™ Automated Personal Tissue Microarrayer (Cat. TMMP) white polymer recipient block inserted in the recipient block cassette and mounted in the top position (position A) in the recipient block tray. The recipient block (Cat. TMX120) has a capcity of 120 x 1.0 mm tissue cores configured in a 12 x 10 microarray pattern. Arrayit recipient blocks (Cat. TMX30, TMX60, TMX120 and TMX320) are essential for high quality tissue microarray printing and must be used at all times when operating Arrayit TissueMax™ Tissue Microarrayers.