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Herz, C.* ; Weiß, N.* ; Mümmler, C. ; Gerckens, M. ; Kneidinger, N.* ; Behr, J.* ; Haas, N.A.* ; Nagel, M.*

Development and technical evaluation of a reusable 3D-printed cytospin funnel for enlarged cytospin generation.

BMC Res. Notes 19:366 (2026)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI PMC
Open Access Gold
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
OBJECTIVE: Cell fixation on a microscope glass slide is a standard technique for evaluating cellular morphology in a wide range of biosamples. Cytofunnels are used in a cytocentrifuge to direct cells onto the glass slide and generate a "cytospin". Commercial cytofunnels have a fixed design with limited cytospin areas, being mostly single-use and are costly. The goal of this study was to design and manufacture a 3D-printed, customized cytofunnel that is cost-efficient, reusable and generates a larger cytospin area. We used an iterative design process using computer-aided design (CAD) software and stereolithography (SLA) printing with biocompatible resin. The funnel prototypes were subjected to a technical evaluation using two independent human pleural effusion specimens, as well as through repeated exposure to two commonly used disinfectants. RESULTS: The 3D-printed cytospin funnel featured larger outlet diameters, increasing the cytospin area approximately threefold with a total manufacturing time of 24 h. The presented reusable funnel design enabled enlarged cytospin areas and increased practical cell-loading capacities under the tested conditions and may support future digital cytology and high-throughput analysis workflows. The published STL file may provide an accessible, sustainable alternative for laboratories, especially in resource-limited settings and may serve as a basis for further customization.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords 3d Printing ; Cytology ; Cytospin ; Effusion Cytology ; Funnel
e-ISSN 1756-0500
Journal BMC Research Notes
Quellenangaben Volume: 19, Issue: 1, Pages: , Article Number: 366 Supplement: ,
Publisher Springer
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI)