title: A novel tissue microarray instrumentation: the HT-1 tissue microarrayer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tissue microarray (TMA) is a novel and useful tool to efficiently analyze gene expression in histological tissues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cost-efficient and easy to use automated tissue arrayers will provide a better instrumentation to generate TMAs. Thus, we designed and produced our tissue microarrayer to meet these needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HT-1 tissue microarrayer we designed and manufactured consists primarily of four parts, including an instrument to make array pores for the recipient paraffin blocks, a punch needle, an instrument for negative-pressure embedding, and a special manipulator. By using the HT-1, 14 different TMAs were made to accommodate 312 cases of tissues and TMA sections were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expand: Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the tissue cylinders were similar, even, and in order on the slides. Most importantly, the HT-1 microarrayer can make array pores in the recipient paraffin block with a single application in seconds. The HT-1 also contains a unique negative pressure system for embedding TMA blocks. In addition, HT-1 can make tissue cylinders with the same levels and depth for equally embedded and sectioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HT-1 tissue microarrayer is a device that is simple, economical and easy to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Second Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mingjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Baoshan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: AnJing
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*