CA1264117A - Apparatus for microscopic examination - Google Patents
Apparatus for microscopic examinationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1264117A CA1264117A CA000482292A CA482292A CA1264117A CA 1264117 A CA1264117 A CA 1264117A CA 000482292 A CA000482292 A CA 000482292A CA 482292 A CA482292 A CA 482292A CA 1264117 A CA1264117 A CA 1264117A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- sample
- examination
- microscope
- stage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/00009—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M41/00—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation
- C12M41/30—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of concentration
- C12M41/36—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of concentration of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
- Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
- Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Glass Compositions (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus for examining microscopic bodies, more especially for enumerating micro-organisms which have been visualised by the direct fluorescent staining technique which is the subject of British Patent No.
1,503,828, uses a travelling flexible tape of plastics material, such as polyester, to which smears of a sample are applied. The sample is fixed to the tape which is then passed through a sequence of treatment, normally staining, and washing steps, finally dried and presented to a microscope for continuous examination under U.V.
excitation.
Apparatus for examining microscopic bodies, more especially for enumerating micro-organisms which have been visualised by the direct fluorescent staining technique which is the subject of British Patent No.
1,503,828, uses a travelling flexible tape of plastics material, such as polyester, to which smears of a sample are applied. The sample is fixed to the tape which is then passed through a sequence of treatment, normally staining, and washing steps, finally dried and presented to a microscope for continuous examination under U.V.
excitation.
Description
APPARATVS F(;)R MI CROSCOPI C EXAMI NATI ON
~ his invention relates to apparatus for the e~aminatlon of microscopic bodies using a microscope.
Particularly, but not exclusively, thls invention relates to apparatus for the examination of micro-organisms in samples of, for example, food and body fluidæ.
Our ~ritish Patent No. 1,503,828 describee and claims a method of enum~rating miaro-organisms by staining same with a fluorescent stain after treatment with a phosphate in order to enhance the fluorescence.
Numerous examples of chemical treatment techniques ~or enhancement of the fluorescence of the stained micro-organisms are given. The present invention may utilise the staininy techniques described in Patent No. 1,503,828 but is not restricted thereto. Reference is directed to Patent No. 1,503,828 for details of staining techniques suitable for use in this invention.
DE-A-1 900 808 discloses apparatus for applying a biological sample ln the form of a dispersion in a solvent to a tape which may be a 35 mm safety film.
Following evaporation of the solvent, the tape is driven over an optical microscope stage in a controlled manner to allow examination of the dried sample. This document indicates that the sample may be treated with chemical fixatives or colouring reagents before application to the tape and suggests same may also be done afterwards.
US-A-3 871 895 describes apparatus and a method of preparing a smear of biological fluid substance on a tape substrate which may be made of polyester "Mylar" T.M.
Fluid is deposited on a first ribbon driven in an interrupted pattern counter to and in contact with the advancing tape substrate. The tape i5 passed first under a blower to dry the smear then through staining, buffer and wash baths, dried once more and cut into short lengths for subsequent examination under a microscope.
An ob~ect of this invention is to provide apparatus for use in the automated examination and enumeration of microscopic bodies such as, but not exclusively, micro-organisms.
~ ccording to the present invention there is provided apparatus for the microscopic examination of microscopic bodies, comprising an elongate flexible tape of a material such as synthetic plastics which has a surface capable of bearing a series of samples for examination, means for moving the tape through the said apparatus, means for applying to a surface of the tape a quantity of liquid sample for axamination thereof, means for treating the applied sample, a microscope stage and means for locating the said tape in a position corresponding with the microscope's stage area 60 aB to permit microscopic examination of an applied sample and further permitting travel of the said tape over said stage area wherein said apparatus comprises means for heat-fixing and drying the applied sample on the tape prior to examination thereof.
The means for treating the sample with treatment liquid may be a liquid-holding bath having therein a plurality of tape-guide rollers permitting immersion of the travelling sample-carrying tape in the liquid. In a more preferred embodiment, the means may have a form substantially the same as the wash/dry unit described hereinafter.
The means for heat-fixing the sample to the tape may be a heating block over the surface of whiah th~ tape passes.
The apparatus may also include means for examining the sample as it passes under the microscope. Such means ~2~
may include a photomultiplier tube for detecting bxightl,v illuminated fluorescing microscopic bodies.
The elongate flexlble taps is conveniently of plastics material such as a polyester.
The tape used in this invention may be provided with a gen~rally c~ntrally disposed dark, preferably black, stripe to provide a dark background, the tape being otherwise transparant. It may be desirable to apply the said stripe in situ by means of an ink-applying pad, brush, roller or the like.
The means for applying the sample to the tape may be a motor-driven syringe or micropipette having a chisel point so as to smear the sample as a band on to the moving tape. The apparatus may also include means fox sampling sequentially a plurali.ty of discrete specimens, for example, a turntable or travelling band arrangement which presents a plurality of specimen tubes sequentially to an automatically operating sampling device which withdraws a sample of each ~pecimen from the specimen tube and delivers it to the syringe or micropipette sample applicator and hence to the moving tape.
Once the smear of sample has been applied the sample is fixed to the tape by the application of heat.
In this respect a heating block having a shallow channel thereon for the tape may be provided. The heating block is preferably heated electrically. ~he sample is fixed to the tape by the heat without the addition to the sample of a quantity of fixing agent, such as alcohol, to the sample before it is applied to the tape.
After fixation the sample may be subjected to one or more treatment and wash/dry steps. The apparatus of this invention may therefore include one or more units for effecting these steps. Each such unit may be a bath h~ving therein a serl~s of rollers enabling the tape to travel through the bath in serpentine fashion and be immersed in and the sample treated by liquid in the bath.
The sample may be washed and dried in a wash/dry unit, which may also, preferably, be used for the treatment steps, which includes a block having a channel with a perforate floor and a drainage channel below. The tape travels atop the perforate floor and jets of wash liquid or treatment liquid ars delivered on to the sample.
Excess liquid runs off the tape and through the perforate floor into the drainage channel whence it may be drawn away by suction to drain or recirculated. It may be advantageous to provide a multiple unit incorporating a plurality of treatment and wash/dry stages. The final drying of the sample may be effected by delivery on to the tape of a stream of warm air or in a second heating block of the type used for fixing the sample.
The fixed, treated dry sample~bearing tape passes across a specially adapted microscope stage which includes means for holding the sample in the plane of focus of the microscope. Preferably the microscopes incorporate an automatic focusing facility. The microscope stage has a shallow tape-carrying channel and a pair of rows, transverse to the tape, of apertures, suction being applied to the apertures to draw the tape into tight contact with the floor of th~ channel on to which the microscope is focused.
The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
'7 Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus of this invention;
Fig. 2A shows the wash/dry or treatment unit shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2B iS a cross-6ection thereof;
Fig. 3 is a detail of the adapted microscope stage indicated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a cassette arrangement containing various parts of the apparatus and will be describea later.
Referring now to Fig. 1, apparatus for examining microscopic bodies 1, has a tape dispenser 2 having a dispensing reel 3, a take-up spool ~ and means, not shown, for winding a tape 5 from reel 3 to spool 4 through various intermediate stages of the apparatus 1.
On leaving reel 3, the tape 5 passes below a sample applicator 6 which is a motor or otherwise driven syringe 7 which dispenses liquid sample on to the tape 5 via a chisel-tipped needle 8 positioned so as to deliver a band or smear of sample on to the tape 5.
Between the dispensing reel 3 and the applicator 6 there may be provided means (not shown) for applying a dark ink stripe on to the tape. The sample is then applied on to the stripe.
The tape 5 then passes over a heating block 9 where the sample is heat-fixed to the tape 5.
The tape 5, carrying the fixed sample, then passes through one or more treatment stages: one is shown at 10 in Fig. 1. Treatment stage 10 i8 an immersion bath 11 for holding a liquid such as a biological staining medium, having a series of rollers 12, 12' (etc.) around which the tape 5 passes in serpentine fashion while immersed in the treatment liquid. The residence time of the tape in the bath 11 is determined not only by its speed but a].so by the number of times it folds back and forth around the rollers.
Following the treatment bath 11, or more than one of suah baths, the ~ape 5 is washed and dried in wash~dry unit 13 (shown in detail in Fig. 2). The tape may also be washed and/or dried between baths when more than one is used.
The treatment stage 10 described above ma~ be replaced by a treatment unit o generally similar construction to the wash/dry unit 13 which will be described in detail later.
After washing and drying, the tape passes below the microscope 14 for examination and hence on to take~up spool 4. As the tape passes below the microscope it lies in a shallow channel on the microscope stage 15 and is pulled into tiyht contact with the stage by means of a pair of transverse rows of apertures through which suction is applied to the tape to draw it on to the floor of the channel. A sub-stage 16 allows fine adjustment of the position of the tape below the lens of the microscope to centre the sample in the field of view.
Fig. 2 shows the wash/dry unit 13, which may also be used as a treatment stage, in more detail. A block of plastics material 131 has a channel 13~ with shoulder 133. A first perforate plate 134 and second perforate plate 135 locate upon the shoulder 133. A drainaye channel 136 is formed below the perforate plates 134 and 135 and the floor of channel 132. A top closure device 137 of generally similar construction fits on to the block 131. Perforate plate 138 within the top closure 137 has a pair of side by side longitudinal protrusions 139 which, in use come into contact with the edges of the tape, leaving a central channel 140 through which the - 7 -~
sample-bearing portion passes. Wash liquid, normally water or treatment liquid such as stain or buffer solution is pumped under pressure on to the fixed sample.
The used liquid is drained away via channel 136 in the base unit.
Fig. 3 shows the microscope stage lS. It is a block of material 151 having a channel 152 for guiding the tape. A pair o~ rows of apertures 153 extend transverseJ.y across the direction of travel of the tape.
Suction is applied to these two rows of apertures 153 to draw the tape flat on to the floor of channel 152. The stage 15 is located such that the area between ths rows of apertures 153 is in the field of view of the microæcope which i6 then focused on to the sample.
Fig. 4 shows a cassette unit which is a flat plastics container 20 having a receæs 21 for locating the sample applicator and heating block (6,9). The container also contains a reel of tape 22. The lower end of container 20 provides a treatment bath 11 with its associated rollers 12, 12~ etc., the tape being threaded around these rollers. A wash/dry unit 13 may be provided ~ithin the cassette or an aperture in each wall may permit such unit to be inserted.
The apparatus of this invention is intended for counting micro-organisms which have been visualised using the fluorescent staining technique which is the subject of British Patent No. 1,503,828 in which numerous examples of fluorescent staining techniques for various micro-organisms are disclosed and to which refer~nce is directed.
However, this invention is of much wider application than the counting of fluorescing micro-organiæms. For example, by using available techniques for size, shape and colour discrimination the system may be ussd to identlfy and snumerate specific micro-o.rganisms in the presence of others, conduct particle size analysis and similar measurements. The bodies being examined need not be fluorescent.
The following Examples illustrate various chemical staining procedure~ but many systems are available for use i.n respect of different microscopic bodies. Many suitable procedures are given in our British Patent No.
1,503,828.
~m~
To a sample of urine for bacteriological examination a small amount of surfactant wa~ added. A portion of the sample was then applied to a travelling tape which was then passed, as desoribed hereinbefore through the following steps.
(a) Fixation on the heating unit at 120'C
(b) Staininq with 0.1% aqueous acridine orange (AO) buffered to pH 3.0, for 2 to 5 seconds.
(c) Washed for 1 to 5 seconds in the wash/dry unit (d) Drvinq on a second heating unit.
Example 2 As ~xample 1 with an addition of an extra wash with 0.005 to l.OM aqueous calcium chloride for 0.5 to 5 seconds prior to the washing step (b) of Example 1.
Exam~le 3.
Sample was stained with 0.1% W/V of AO in 0.05M
diethanolamine/hydrochloric acid pH 9.0 buffer for about
~ his invention relates to apparatus for the e~aminatlon of microscopic bodies using a microscope.
Particularly, but not exclusively, thls invention relates to apparatus for the examination of micro-organisms in samples of, for example, food and body fluidæ.
Our ~ritish Patent No. 1,503,828 describee and claims a method of enum~rating miaro-organisms by staining same with a fluorescent stain after treatment with a phosphate in order to enhance the fluorescence.
Numerous examples of chemical treatment techniques ~or enhancement of the fluorescence of the stained micro-organisms are given. The present invention may utilise the staininy techniques described in Patent No. 1,503,828 but is not restricted thereto. Reference is directed to Patent No. 1,503,828 for details of staining techniques suitable for use in this invention.
DE-A-1 900 808 discloses apparatus for applying a biological sample ln the form of a dispersion in a solvent to a tape which may be a 35 mm safety film.
Following evaporation of the solvent, the tape is driven over an optical microscope stage in a controlled manner to allow examination of the dried sample. This document indicates that the sample may be treated with chemical fixatives or colouring reagents before application to the tape and suggests same may also be done afterwards.
US-A-3 871 895 describes apparatus and a method of preparing a smear of biological fluid substance on a tape substrate which may be made of polyester "Mylar" T.M.
Fluid is deposited on a first ribbon driven in an interrupted pattern counter to and in contact with the advancing tape substrate. The tape i5 passed first under a blower to dry the smear then through staining, buffer and wash baths, dried once more and cut into short lengths for subsequent examination under a microscope.
An ob~ect of this invention is to provide apparatus for use in the automated examination and enumeration of microscopic bodies such as, but not exclusively, micro-organisms.
~ ccording to the present invention there is provided apparatus for the microscopic examination of microscopic bodies, comprising an elongate flexible tape of a material such as synthetic plastics which has a surface capable of bearing a series of samples for examination, means for moving the tape through the said apparatus, means for applying to a surface of the tape a quantity of liquid sample for axamination thereof, means for treating the applied sample, a microscope stage and means for locating the said tape in a position corresponding with the microscope's stage area 60 aB to permit microscopic examination of an applied sample and further permitting travel of the said tape over said stage area wherein said apparatus comprises means for heat-fixing and drying the applied sample on the tape prior to examination thereof.
The means for treating the sample with treatment liquid may be a liquid-holding bath having therein a plurality of tape-guide rollers permitting immersion of the travelling sample-carrying tape in the liquid. In a more preferred embodiment, the means may have a form substantially the same as the wash/dry unit described hereinafter.
The means for heat-fixing the sample to the tape may be a heating block over the surface of whiah th~ tape passes.
The apparatus may also include means for examining the sample as it passes under the microscope. Such means ~2~
may include a photomultiplier tube for detecting bxightl,v illuminated fluorescing microscopic bodies.
The elongate flexlble taps is conveniently of plastics material such as a polyester.
The tape used in this invention may be provided with a gen~rally c~ntrally disposed dark, preferably black, stripe to provide a dark background, the tape being otherwise transparant. It may be desirable to apply the said stripe in situ by means of an ink-applying pad, brush, roller or the like.
The means for applying the sample to the tape may be a motor-driven syringe or micropipette having a chisel point so as to smear the sample as a band on to the moving tape. The apparatus may also include means fox sampling sequentially a plurali.ty of discrete specimens, for example, a turntable or travelling band arrangement which presents a plurality of specimen tubes sequentially to an automatically operating sampling device which withdraws a sample of each ~pecimen from the specimen tube and delivers it to the syringe or micropipette sample applicator and hence to the moving tape.
Once the smear of sample has been applied the sample is fixed to the tape by the application of heat.
In this respect a heating block having a shallow channel thereon for the tape may be provided. The heating block is preferably heated electrically. ~he sample is fixed to the tape by the heat without the addition to the sample of a quantity of fixing agent, such as alcohol, to the sample before it is applied to the tape.
After fixation the sample may be subjected to one or more treatment and wash/dry steps. The apparatus of this invention may therefore include one or more units for effecting these steps. Each such unit may be a bath h~ving therein a serl~s of rollers enabling the tape to travel through the bath in serpentine fashion and be immersed in and the sample treated by liquid in the bath.
The sample may be washed and dried in a wash/dry unit, which may also, preferably, be used for the treatment steps, which includes a block having a channel with a perforate floor and a drainage channel below. The tape travels atop the perforate floor and jets of wash liquid or treatment liquid ars delivered on to the sample.
Excess liquid runs off the tape and through the perforate floor into the drainage channel whence it may be drawn away by suction to drain or recirculated. It may be advantageous to provide a multiple unit incorporating a plurality of treatment and wash/dry stages. The final drying of the sample may be effected by delivery on to the tape of a stream of warm air or in a second heating block of the type used for fixing the sample.
The fixed, treated dry sample~bearing tape passes across a specially adapted microscope stage which includes means for holding the sample in the plane of focus of the microscope. Preferably the microscopes incorporate an automatic focusing facility. The microscope stage has a shallow tape-carrying channel and a pair of rows, transverse to the tape, of apertures, suction being applied to the apertures to draw the tape into tight contact with the floor of th~ channel on to which the microscope is focused.
The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
'7 Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus of this invention;
Fig. 2A shows the wash/dry or treatment unit shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2B iS a cross-6ection thereof;
Fig. 3 is a detail of the adapted microscope stage indicated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a cassette arrangement containing various parts of the apparatus and will be describea later.
Referring now to Fig. 1, apparatus for examining microscopic bodies 1, has a tape dispenser 2 having a dispensing reel 3, a take-up spool ~ and means, not shown, for winding a tape 5 from reel 3 to spool 4 through various intermediate stages of the apparatus 1.
On leaving reel 3, the tape 5 passes below a sample applicator 6 which is a motor or otherwise driven syringe 7 which dispenses liquid sample on to the tape 5 via a chisel-tipped needle 8 positioned so as to deliver a band or smear of sample on to the tape 5.
Between the dispensing reel 3 and the applicator 6 there may be provided means (not shown) for applying a dark ink stripe on to the tape. The sample is then applied on to the stripe.
The tape 5 then passes over a heating block 9 where the sample is heat-fixed to the tape 5.
The tape 5, carrying the fixed sample, then passes through one or more treatment stages: one is shown at 10 in Fig. 1. Treatment stage 10 i8 an immersion bath 11 for holding a liquid such as a biological staining medium, having a series of rollers 12, 12' (etc.) around which the tape 5 passes in serpentine fashion while immersed in the treatment liquid. The residence time of the tape in the bath 11 is determined not only by its speed but a].so by the number of times it folds back and forth around the rollers.
Following the treatment bath 11, or more than one of suah baths, the ~ape 5 is washed and dried in wash~dry unit 13 (shown in detail in Fig. 2). The tape may also be washed and/or dried between baths when more than one is used.
The treatment stage 10 described above ma~ be replaced by a treatment unit o generally similar construction to the wash/dry unit 13 which will be described in detail later.
After washing and drying, the tape passes below the microscope 14 for examination and hence on to take~up spool 4. As the tape passes below the microscope it lies in a shallow channel on the microscope stage 15 and is pulled into tiyht contact with the stage by means of a pair of transverse rows of apertures through which suction is applied to the tape to draw it on to the floor of the channel. A sub-stage 16 allows fine adjustment of the position of the tape below the lens of the microscope to centre the sample in the field of view.
Fig. 2 shows the wash/dry unit 13, which may also be used as a treatment stage, in more detail. A block of plastics material 131 has a channel 13~ with shoulder 133. A first perforate plate 134 and second perforate plate 135 locate upon the shoulder 133. A drainaye channel 136 is formed below the perforate plates 134 and 135 and the floor of channel 132. A top closure device 137 of generally similar construction fits on to the block 131. Perforate plate 138 within the top closure 137 has a pair of side by side longitudinal protrusions 139 which, in use come into contact with the edges of the tape, leaving a central channel 140 through which the - 7 -~
sample-bearing portion passes. Wash liquid, normally water or treatment liquid such as stain or buffer solution is pumped under pressure on to the fixed sample.
The used liquid is drained away via channel 136 in the base unit.
Fig. 3 shows the microscope stage lS. It is a block of material 151 having a channel 152 for guiding the tape. A pair o~ rows of apertures 153 extend transverseJ.y across the direction of travel of the tape.
Suction is applied to these two rows of apertures 153 to draw the tape flat on to the floor of channel 152. The stage 15 is located such that the area between ths rows of apertures 153 is in the field of view of the microæcope which i6 then focused on to the sample.
Fig. 4 shows a cassette unit which is a flat plastics container 20 having a receæs 21 for locating the sample applicator and heating block (6,9). The container also contains a reel of tape 22. The lower end of container 20 provides a treatment bath 11 with its associated rollers 12, 12~ etc., the tape being threaded around these rollers. A wash/dry unit 13 may be provided ~ithin the cassette or an aperture in each wall may permit such unit to be inserted.
The apparatus of this invention is intended for counting micro-organisms which have been visualised using the fluorescent staining technique which is the subject of British Patent No. 1,503,828 in which numerous examples of fluorescent staining techniques for various micro-organisms are disclosed and to which refer~nce is directed.
However, this invention is of much wider application than the counting of fluorescing micro-organiæms. For example, by using available techniques for size, shape and colour discrimination the system may be ussd to identlfy and snumerate specific micro-o.rganisms in the presence of others, conduct particle size analysis and similar measurements. The bodies being examined need not be fluorescent.
The following Examples illustrate various chemical staining procedure~ but many systems are available for use i.n respect of different microscopic bodies. Many suitable procedures are given in our British Patent No.
1,503,828.
~m~
To a sample of urine for bacteriological examination a small amount of surfactant wa~ added. A portion of the sample was then applied to a travelling tape which was then passed, as desoribed hereinbefore through the following steps.
(a) Fixation on the heating unit at 120'C
(b) Staininq with 0.1% aqueous acridine orange (AO) buffered to pH 3.0, for 2 to 5 seconds.
(c) Washed for 1 to 5 seconds in the wash/dry unit (d) Drvinq on a second heating unit.
Example 2 As ~xample 1 with an addition of an extra wash with 0.005 to l.OM aqueous calcium chloride for 0.5 to 5 seconds prior to the washing step (b) of Example 1.
Exam~le 3.
Sample was stained with 0.1% W/V of AO in 0.05M
diethanolamine/hydrochloric acid pH 9.0 buffer for about
2 to 5 seconds followed by calcium chloride and water washes as described in Examples 2 and 3 above.
Claims (5)
1. Apparatus for the microscopic examination of microscopic bodies, comprising an elongate flexible tape of a material such as synthetic plastics which has a surface capable of bearing a series of samples for examination, means for moving the tape through said apparatus, means for applying to a surface of the tape a quantity of liquid sample for examination thereof, means for treating the applied sample, a microscope stage and means for locating the said tape in a position corresponding with the microscope's stage area so as to permit microscopic examination of an applied sample and further permitting travel of the said tape over said stage area wherein said apparatus comprises means for heat-fixing and drying the applied sample on the tape prior to examination thereof.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 in which the means for fixing the sample to the tape comprises a heating block.
3. The apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the means for treating the sample comprises a bath for holding a treatment liquid which is provided with a plurality of tape guide rollers permitting immersion of the moving sample-bearing tape in a treatment liquid contained in the bath.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tape is formed of polyester.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises means for applying a dark stripe to the tape in a generally central position prior to application of a sample thereto.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8413425 | 1984-05-25 | ||
| GB848413425A GB8413425D0 (en) | 1984-05-25 | 1984-05-25 | Microscopic examination |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1264117A true CA1264117A (en) | 1990-01-02 |
Family
ID=10561508
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000482292A Expired - Lifetime CA1264117A (en) | 1984-05-25 | 1985-05-24 | Apparatus for microscopic examination |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0185698A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61502279A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4407085A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1264117A (en) |
| DK (1) | DK31886A (en) |
| FI (1) | FI860358A0 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB8413425D0 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO860266L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1985005691A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB8602682D0 (en) * | 1986-02-04 | 1986-03-12 | Univ Strathclyde | Sample processing unit |
| JP5764970B2 (en) * | 2011-02-25 | 2015-08-19 | 東亜ディーケーケー株式会社 | Dust meter |
| EP3282262A1 (en) * | 2016-08-10 | 2018-02-14 | CytoScience SA | Cassette for a microscope, microscope with such a cassette and method of microscoping with such a microscope |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1900808A1 (en) * | 1969-01-08 | 1970-08-20 | Tetronics Res And Dev Company | Examination device for a test substance stream as well as examination procedures |
| US3824393A (en) * | 1971-08-25 | 1974-07-16 | American Express Invest | System for differential particle counting |
| US3989591A (en) * | 1973-01-15 | 1976-11-02 | Liotta Lance A | Test method for separating and/or isolating bacteria and tissue cells |
| US3871895A (en) * | 1973-06-29 | 1975-03-18 | Technicon Instr | Method for preparing smears of biological liquids |
| GB1503828A (en) * | 1976-06-22 | 1978-03-15 | Univ Strathclyde | Method of enumerating bacteria |
-
1984
- 1984-05-25 GB GB848413425A patent/GB8413425D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-05-24 CA CA000482292A patent/CA1264117A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-05-28 WO PCT/GB1985/000227 patent/WO1985005691A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1985-05-28 AU AU44070/85A patent/AU4407085A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1985-05-28 EP EP85902595A patent/EP0185698A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1985-05-28 JP JP60502456A patent/JPS61502279A/en active Pending
-
1986
- 1986-01-22 DK DK31886A patent/DK31886A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1986-01-24 NO NO860266A patent/NO860266L/en unknown
- 1986-01-24 FI FI860358A patent/FI860358A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0185698A1 (en) | 1986-07-02 |
| NO860266L (en) | 1986-01-24 |
| DK31886D0 (en) | 1986-01-22 |
| WO1985005691A1 (en) | 1985-12-19 |
| GB8413425D0 (en) | 1984-07-04 |
| FI860358A (en) | 1986-01-24 |
| AU4407085A (en) | 1985-12-31 |
| FI860358A0 (en) | 1986-01-24 |
| JPS61502279A (en) | 1986-10-09 |
| DK31886A (en) | 1986-01-22 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4043292A (en) | Microscope slide staining apparatus having temperature control | |
| US3261668A (en) | Chemical analyzer tape | |
| JP3486416B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for processing human or animal cell samples | |
| US3260413A (en) | Automatic chemical analyzer | |
| JP2509693B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for facilitating the processing of thin samples on a surface | |
| US5784193A (en) | Microscope slide with removable layer and method | |
| US4883642A (en) | Means to automatically hold, process, store and analyze biological samples | |
| US3368872A (en) | Automatic chemical analyzer | |
| JPH05240748A (en) | Method for treating thin piece sample on surface by capillary flow | |
| JP2000508423A (en) | Method and apparatus for processing human or animal cell samples | |
| US3331665A (en) | Sample dispenser for automatic chemical analyzer | |
| US11579053B2 (en) | Specimen processing systems, pipette assemblies and methods for preparing reagents | |
| JP2003510571A (en) | A high-throughput system for assessing the clinical utility of molecular targets in tissue samples | |
| CA1264117A (en) | Apparatus for microscopic examination | |
| US3871895A (en) | Method for preparing smears of biological liquids | |
| US3991705A (en) | Apparatus for preparing smears of biological liquids | |
| JP3226178B2 (en) | Pup analysis method and apparatus | |
| WO2014009067A1 (en) | Device and method for incubating patient samples | |
| WO2010112016A1 (en) | Method and device for treating carrier-bound material | |
| O'neill et al. | Multispot immunofluorescence: a simple semi-automatic method of processing large numbers of tests. | |
| US20020114742A1 (en) | Test chamber | |
| JP3212560B2 (en) | Skin keratinocyte staining method | |
| MACHINE | Apparatus for Automatic Preparation and Scanning in Cervical Cytology | |
| CN111356912A (en) | Non-contact mixing using modulated gas jets | |
| US20230236211A1 (en) | Systems and methods for coverslipping slides |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |