Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- The Cytyc Thin Prep Cell Processor, also known as Beta Unit is used for preparing cytological (cervical) specimens for the detection of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. Accessories include three instruments for collecting cervical cells, a wooden Aylesbury Spatula, a plastic and rubber Cervix "broom", and a Cytology brush, a rectangular red plastic slide box which contains sixteen glass slides including one with a "normal" pathological specimen and two cables.
- The original Pap test developed over seventy years ago by George Nicolas Papanicolaou, M.D. (1883-1962), has been a routine component of women’s yearly gynecological exams.
- When cervical cells are collected other material such as mucus and blood are collected as well making it difficult to count the cells, and increasing the chances of a false/positive diagnosis. In the late 1980’s Stanley Lapidus and Dean Kamen tackled the problem of developing an efficient and accurate way of separating and counting cells. They developed a new method of liquid based cytology which revolutionized the way cervical cells are examined for abnormalities.
- Description
- Entrepreneur Stanley Lapidus established the Cytyc Corp. in 1987, with the aim of developing an improved alternative to the conventional Pap test for detecting cervical cancer. Dean Kamen, inventor and entrepreneur, helped with this endeavor. The ThinPrep Cell Processor, the firm’s first important product, was introduced in 1990. The Cytec Corp. later moved from Boxborough to Marlborough, Ma.
- Ref: Stanley Lapidus, et. al., “Method and Apparatus for Preparing Cells for Examination,” U.S. Patent 5,143,627 (Sept. 1, 1992), assigned to Cytec Corp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Daniel Lapen
- 1991
- after 1991
- ID Number
- 2012.0029.02.1
- accession number
- 2012.0029
- catalog number
- 2012.0029.01
- patent number
- 5143627
- model number
- 0100001/6
- serial number
- 501228
- Object Name
- cell processor
- Cell Processor
- Measurements
- overall: 64.5 cm x 68 cm x 39.7 cm; 25 13/32 in x 26 25/32 in x 15 5/8 in
- place made
- United States: Massachusetts, Marlboro
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- National Museum of American History
- general subject association
- Health Care
- Women's Health
- Gynecology
- Record ID
- nmah_1415809
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-8d17-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
