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TMA Grand Master 2.1 – User's Guide
1 Intended Use
TMA Grand Master is a software-controlled electronic laboratory device that automates the creation
of tissue microarrays (TMAs) and also the process of PCR sampling.
The creation of TMA blocks (by taking tissue core samples from donor blocks and inserting them into
recipient blocks) and the insertion of extracted tissue cores into PCR tubes is controlled by using a
graphical user interface. The built-in digital camera units of TMA Grand Master give you a clear image
of each donor block, so you can aim the puncher more accurately; an additional camera takes
pictures of the block labels. You can also save an image of each donor block with markers showing
the positions from where the tissue cores have been extracted.
You can export block-related data to different types of files (.xls, .xlsx, .ods, .csv, and .xml) through the
TMA Grand Master software application to track associations between recipient block positions and
the ID of the donor block from which the core tissue was inserted into the recipient block.
1.1 Main Features of TMA Grand Master
It has a robust and stable mechanical main unit.
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It has an intuitive operation control via the keyboard and the mouse of a PC connected to
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the main unit.
The device measures the height of donor blocks (the value is displayed next to the donor
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block thumbnail image) based on which the software calculates the depth of punch, drill,
and insertion. Thus, embedded cores are placed correctly into the recipient block resulting
in an even surface level.
It makes image creation possible when a TMA block is created either for reference or for
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archiving during a research project.
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Block identifiers are stored in a database from which each block data within a Project is
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automatically loaded after the ID is entered, furthermore the whole project assembly data
can be restored after exiting and restarting the software without saving any project data.
Maximum TMA handling capacity:
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It is capable of receiving 6 PCR cassettes with a holding capacity of 10 PCR tubes. The
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software allows you to transfer four cores into each tubes, so a maximum number of 240
tissue samples can be collected in 6 PCR cassettes during a project if not interrupted.
April 8, 2014 – Rev. 1
For donor block: locations where core tissue was extracted from.
For recipient block: various stages of filling it with core tissue.
Up to twelve recipient blocks and 60 donor blocks at same time.
3DHISTECH Ltd.
1 Intended Use
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