Vacuum-Assisted Microwave Processing of Animal Tissues for Electron Microscopy

Microwave (MW) technology has found a permanent niche in the world of surgical pathology, biomedical research, and allied disciplines, for a few simple reasons: It can reduce the processing times for tissue samples destined for evaluation by light, scanning, or electron microscopy (EM); it is relatively inexpensive; and it is applicable to a wide range of applications that extend beyond tissue processing. MW-assisted processing of tissue samples, sections, or slides is a new tool in the way the art and science of tissue processing is approached. Understanding of the technology and how to apply it are probably the two most critical factors in determining overall individual success or failure. This report may provide a better understanding of the methods of MW-assisted processing, and introduce a new methodology for tissues being processed for evaluation by EM.