LYNX II Automated Tissue Processor for Histology and Microscopy

LYNX II is designed to be superior to the Lynx Tissue Processor, with many improvements along with the ability to handle larger size specimens for Histology. The Lynx II Automated Tissue Processor for Histology and Microscopy is a cutting-edge tissue processor that can work with any plastic resin or paraffin wax.

The Lynx II has an ability to hold 24 reagent vials for EM processing. HP (Histology processing) is optional and can be achieved with 12 larger size reagent vials. Lynx II has two independently operated heating/cooling stations in both EM and HP modes.

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Operational Overview of Lynx II

Lynx II is a tissue processing system that operates in batch mode. Tissues may be prepared for EM or HP. Both types of tissues are handled in the same way: The sample arm is loaded with samples, and the reagent carousel is loaded with reagents. The Lynx II rotates the reagent carousel depending on the software chosen by the user until the selected reagent station is at the designated location.

The specimen is immersed in the reagent at the processing station. Based on the agitation and vacuum settings, the Lynx II periodically moves the sample arm to provide agitation and applies vacuum when agitation is not active. When the timer in a given reagent runs out, the sample is lifted and the processing station is rotated to the next reagent.

By using the program numbers, the user will pick the processing for EM or HP. Programs 1–10 are for EM processing, and programs 11–20 are for HP processing. In addition to selecting the correct program number, it is the end user's duty to use the correct carousel positions and the appropriate form of reagent vials depending on the choice of EM vs. HP processing. After properly configuring the machine for EM or HP processing, the operator loads the reagent carousel and samples, selects the desired program, and begins the run.

The sample is stored in the last reagent at the end of the run before the user removes it.

Features 

• 12 reagent vials for HP processing, each 125mL volume
• 24 reagent vials for EM processing, each 25mL volume
• 10 Programs for EM and 10 programs for Histology
• Two independently controlled heating/cooling stations
• Easy replacement of reagent carousel
• Paraffin processing
• Sample agitation
• Vacuum infiltration during processing
• Choice of plastic and metal containers for improved chemical compatibility and heat transfer
• Optional external media based interface to a PC for ease of programming and allowing for the editing of programs on a PC and the transfer of programs between the Lynx II and the PC
• Built-in fume extraction and ability to connect the discharge hose to lab exhaust system
• Internal battery back-up during power fail to protect the samples
• Ability to continue run after power interruption
• User Friendly Operator Interface
• Optional external UPS for continued processing during longer power outages

Functional Specifications 

System Configuration
1. Lynx II is designed with the following functional modules.

• Rotary mechanism to rotate the reagents
• EM and HP reagent carousel
• Up/Down mechanism to move the sample in and out of the reagent as well as to provide the agitation
• EM and HP Sample arms
• Tight seal for all reagent containers except for the one at the processing station.
• Vacuum pump and a pressure sensor or a switch
• Two Peltier operated heating/cooling station with independent temperature sensors and controls
• Fume extraction fan and air flow sensor

2. Reagent Carousel 

A reagent carousel, either a 24-position one for EM reagents or a 12-position one for HP reagents, can be mounted. The EM carousel accommodates tubular vials that are approximately 30.4mm in diameter and 63.5mm wide, while HP vials are approximately 55.8mm in diameter (to accommodate 44.4mm x 30.4mm cassette flat) and 63.5mm tall. The diameter of the carousel is approximately 304.8mm. For easy handling, each vial has a flange. Plastic and aluminum vials are also available. For some types of manufacturing, the vials on a given carousel can be mixed and balanced between metal and plastic vials.

Before starting a run, the Lynx II has a built-in sensor for detecting if the correct reagent vial types (EM vs. HP) are mounted on the device. It is sufficient to be able to detect only one of the two vial varieties.

3. Sample Arm
The sample arm is equipped with either an EM sample holder mechanism or an HP sample holder mechanism. Each sample holder mechanism is intended to be mounted on the arm at a position that will center the samples in their respective reagent containers. To fit various samples, the top of the Sample Arm can be modified.

4. Agitation and Vacuum
If the sample is in the reagent tube, the arm provides gentle agitation (approximately 5 mm up and down travel at a rate of 2.5 mm per second or one up/down agitation per second). Five agitation strokes are performed in 5 seconds and are performed every 45 seconds. If vacuum infiltration is chosen, agitation will be applied for 5 seconds, followed by 40 seconds of vacuum. These agitation-only or agitation-vacuum cycles will be continued for the remainder of the station period.

A connection on the sample holder assembly allows you to connect the vacuum hose from the vacuum pump. 

5. Heating-Cooling Stations

The Lynx II has two separate and similar heating/cooling stations (HCS). Each HCS will have its own temperature sensor and is heated or cooled by a Peltier module. One HCS is at the sample processing station, and the other is one place ahead of it near the processing station. This arrangement enables reagent pre-heating or pre-cooling for a program in which the reagents are organised sequentially and contiguously.

Each HCS can be set to a temperature ranging from 4 to 65 degrees Celsius. The actual temperature would be accurate to 2 degrees Celsius when measured on the surface of the Heating – Cooling station. The set point at the HCS surface is achieved in 7 minutes after the reagent arrives at the station.

6. Fume Control
The Lynx II comes with a fume extraction fan that directs fumes from the reagent/ sample area to an exhaust outlet. An external pipe may be attached to the device and routed to a fume hood or laboratory exhaust system. The fume extraction system keeps fumes clear from electronics and mechanism parts.

7. Lid/Cover
The fume system includes an acrylic cover with a latch. The system's sensor will detect whether or not the cover is latched. A run cannot begin (and will pause) if the cover is not locked. However, there is a software override that allows the device to run without locking the cover.

8. Seal for the Reagent Vials
Except for the one underneath the processing station, all reagent vials have a tight seal.

Reagents Used
During the processing, the materials used in the various components and subsystems of the Lynx II are compatible with the reagents mentioned below.

HP Processing

• Formalin
• Alcohol
• Xylene
• Xylene Substitutes
• Water
• Paraffin
• 10% bleach solution (to wipe clean the system)

EM Processing

• Buffers
• Osmium Tetroxide
• Ethyl Alcohol
• Acetone
• Propylene Oxide
• Epoxy/acrylic resins

9. Operation During Power Outage
To protect the sample during a power failure, the Lynx II has a small internal battery (capable of shifting the sample from up to down position and moving the carousel to the next reagent place at least three times without being re-charged). When the Lynx II's sensors detect that the A/C power is about to fail, it will switch off the power to the Peltier elements at both heating/cooling stations.

It will then ensure that the samples are placed in a reagent vial. If the samples are not in a reagent vial (because Lynx II was about to move the carousel towards the next reagent location or was in the center of the rotation), the carousel will be moved forward by one position, and the samples will be lowered into the reagent at the processing station. The time the power failure alert was triggered will be registered, and the device will enter standby mode.

Lynx II can restart the run once power is restored and sustained for at least 30 seconds. As Lynx II restarts, the station timer will not restart until the heating/cooling stations have met the appropriate temperatures. If the temperature at the processing station or the previous station was above 55 degrees Celsius during an HP cycle, the station timer does not start for an extra 60 minutes. This function ensures that the paraffin at each of the two stations fully melts before going on to the next station.

Specifications:

Lynx II accessories and spare parts
L12610 Histology Kit
(Histo Sample Holder, Histo Sample Arm, Histo Carousel, Power Cord, Operator Manual, Histo Aluminium Containers (24), Histo Plastic Containers (36), Plastic Caps (36), Exhaust Hose, Small Cassettes (100), 2 Sample Record Note Pads, Spare Fuses.

L12612 Electron Microscopy Kit
(EM Sample Holder, EM Sample Arm, EM Carousel, Loading Jig, Power Cord, Operator Manual, Aluminium Containers (24), Plastic Containers (72), Plastic Caps (72), Exhaust Hose, Small Baskets (100), Large Baskets (100), Basket Lids (100), 2 Sample Record Note Pads, Spare Fuses.

L12655 EM Reagent Vials, Bag of 72
L12656 EM Regent Vial Cap, Bag of 72
L12657 HP Reagent Vials, Bag of 36
L12658 HP Reagent Vial Cap, Bag of 36
L12659 EM Aluminium Container (Box of 24)
L12660 HP Aluminium Container (Box of 12)
L13154 EM Sample Holder Assembly (Basket Stem Assembly)
L12663 HP Cassette Holder Assembly
L12661 Vacuum Pump Tubing (1 each)
L12662 Vial Seal Assembly
L12995 EM Sample Arm Seal
L12996 HP Sample Arm Seal
L12952 EM Carousel (Without Aluminium Containers)
L12953 HP Carousel (Without Aluminium Containers)
L12664 Replacement Back-up Battery
L12665 Lynx II Operator Manual
L12667 Lynx II Service Manual

The Lynx II for Microscopy comes with: EM Sample Holder, EM Sample Arm, EM Carousel, Loading Jig, Power Cord, Operator Manual, Aluminium Containers (24), Plastic Containers (72), Plastic Caps (72), Exhaust Hose, Small Baskets (100), Large Baskets (100), Basket Lids (100), 2 Sample Record Note Pads, Spare Fuses.

The Lynx II for Histology comes with: Histo Sample Holder, Histo Sample Arm, Histo Carousel, Power Cord, Operator Manual, Histo Aluminium Containers (24), Histo Plastic Containers (36), Plastic Caps (36), Exhaust Hose, Small Cassettes (100), 2 Sample Record Note Pads, Spare Fuses.

The Lynx II for Microscopy and Histology comes with everything found in both units.

All of the above accessories may be purchased separate or in the kit.