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Transforming Histopathology: Fully Automated Tissue Preserving Solutions for Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy
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Transforming Histopathology: Fully Automated Tissue Preserving Solutions for Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy

byZEISS Microscopy 31 July 2025 5 min read
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Introduction

Transforming Histopathology: Fully Automated Tissue Preserving Solutions for Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy

In the ever-evolving field of histopathology, the demand for efficient and accurate diagnostic methods is paramount, as they form the cornerstone of effective patient care and treatment planning. Traditional histopathological techniques, while foundational, often involve labor-intensive processes that can be prone to human error and variability. This has spurred the development of innovative solutions aimed at transforming the landscape of tissue analysis.

LIMAA Technologies

Enhancing Efficiency and Accuracy in Tissue Analysis

LIMAA Technologies Berlin, a spin-off from Charité, is advancing pathology with the world’s first fully integrated end-to-end platform, bringing together novel reagents, state-of-the-art hardware, and intelligent software in a unified platform.

The company offers a fully automated tissue preserving histopathology solution that leverages state-of-the-art microscopy and intelligent sample preparation techniques. 

The Challenge of Traditional Histopathology

Traditional histopathology involves a labor-intensive process of tissue fixation, embedding, slicing, and staining, often leading to tissue loss and limited diagnostic information. Pathologists frequently analyze only representative 2D sections, which can obscure critical insights into the underlying pathology.

As the number of samples increases and the availability of experienced pathologists declines, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions that can streamline workflows and enhance diagnostic capabilities.

Bruno Märkle | University Hospital Augsburg

As a pathologist, I have always struggled with the limitations of traditional histopathology methods, especially the manual processes that often result in tissue loss and longer turnaround times. Integrating LIMAA's fully automated, tissue-preserving histopathology solution into our workflow will transform it remarkably. Overall, LIMAA's innovative technology is not just a step forward; it's a leap into the future of histopathology.

Prof. Dr. Bruno Märkl Director of the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Augsburg
ZEISS Lightsheet 7 | Blood (red) and lymphatic vessels (green) in healthy human skin.
ZEISS Lightsheet 7 | Blood (red) and lymphatic vessels (green) in healthy human skin.

Blood (red) and lymphatic vessels (green) in healthy human skin.

Blood (red) and lymphatic vessels (green) in healthy human skin.

Improving Diagnostic Capabilities

LIMAA's approach integrates the ZEISS Lightsheet 7 microscopy system with a fully automated workflow, allowing for the visualization of entire tissue samples in three dimensions. This revolutionary method eliminates the need for physical sectioning, thus preserving the integrity of the samples and enabling the analysis of every single cell within the tissue.

The integration of 3D pathology into clinical practice has the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve personalized treatment plans, and facilitate better collaboration between pathologists and other healthcare professionals by offering a more holistic view of pathological findings.

Profound Understanding of Disease Progression

With 3D pathology, researchers and clinicians can gain deeper insights into the progression of diseases, such as cancer, by examining the morphology and architecture of tissues in a more detailed and interactive manner.
  • ZEISS Lightsheet 7 | Blood vasculature in healthy and tumor lung tissue samples

    Blood vasculature in healthy and tumor lung tissue samples

    Top line: control area; bottom line: tumor area

     

    Fluorescent H&E staining refers to the observation of fluorescence in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue sections, allowing for simultaneous examination of tissue morphology and additional fluorescence-based analysis.

     
René Hägerling | LIMAA Technologies

Thanks to our sample preparation methods and advanced light-sheet microscopy, we can visualize entire tissue samples in 3D without physically sectioning them. Our ability to perform rapid optical sectioning and obtain thousands of digital images in seconds or minutes has significantly increased our throughput.

Dr. Dr. René Hägerling Co-Founder of LIMAA Technologies

Key Features of the LIMAA Technology

  • Automatic Sample Detection

    LIMAA's process begins with fixed tissues, which are stained in their entirety rather than sliced into sections. This method significantly reduces preparation time and prevents tissue loss.

  • Optical Clearing and Imaging

    After staining, the samples undergo optical clearing, making them transparent to allow for effective light penetration. This enables the capture of hundreds or thousands of optical sections in mere minutes, facilitating comprehensive 3D reconstruction.

  • Nanobody Technology

    Unlike traditional IgG antibodies, LIMAA utilizes nanobodies—small, highly specific antibodies that penetrate tissues rapidly. This innovation allows for efficient staining of biomarkers, drastically reducing the time required for 3D immunofluorescence staining from several weeks to below one hour.

  • Digital Integration

    The entire process is digital from the outset, eliminating the need for additional slide scanning. Pathologists can access and analyze digital images remotely, enhancing flexibility and collaboration.

  • Comprehensive Data Analysis

    LIMAA's software solutions support advanced data analysis, including AI-powered decision support tools that aid in patient stratification and treatment planning.

3D Pathology in Action

Unlike traditional sectioning, which involves cutting tissue into thin slices and can lead to the loss of important structural information, light-sheet microscopy allows for imaging without the need for physical sectioning, thus preserving the integrity of the tissue sample.

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    Optical sections from a healthy lung fine needle biopsy. Fluorescent H&E staining.

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    Spatial visualization of entire fine needle biopsy from lung cancer

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    Optical sections from a healthy lung fine needle biopsy. Fluorescent H&E staining.

Nanobody Multiplexing

Nanobodies offer enhanced tissue penetration and stability in 3D pathology, enabling rapid staining, precise targeting and visualization of entire human tissue samples for improved diagnostic accuracy.

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    Visualization of human dermal blood vessels

Advancing Diagnostic Workflows

By adopting LIMAA's fully automated tissue preserving histopathology, laboratories can expect a significant reduction in turnaround times leading to a 200% sample throughput. This innovative platform not only addresses the current challenges faced by pathologists but also positions them to meet future demands in diagnostics.

In conclusion, LIMAA Technologies is setting a new standard in histopathology, combining automation, cutting-edge sample preparation methods, advanced imaging, and intelligent data analysis to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. As the field continues to evolve, embracing such innovative solutions will be essential for laboratories aiming to stay ahead in the competitive landscape of medical diagnostics.

In Brief

  • Traditional histopathology is characterized by a labor- and time-intensive process that includes tissue fixation, embedding, slicing, and staining. These steps often lead to tissue loss and limit the diagnostic information available to pathologists, who typically analyze only representative 2D sections. As the number of samples increases and the availability of experienced pathologists declines, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to streamline workflows and enhance diagnostic capabilities.

  • LIMAA Technologies offers a fully automated tissue preserving histopathology solution that integrates advanced microscopy and intelligent sample preparation techniques. Key improvements include rapid sample preparation without physical sectioning, optical clearing for effective imaging, and the use of nanobody technology for efficient staining. This allows for the visualization of entire tissue samples in 3D, significantly increasing throughput and preserving sample integrity.

  • By adopting LIMAA's fully automated solutions, laboratories can expect a significant reduction in turnaround times, with a reported increase in sample throughput by up to 200%. This technology not only addresses current challenges but also prepares pathology departments to meet future diagnostic demands, enhancing overall efficiency and accuracy in tissue analysis.
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