CN86107563A

CN86107563A - Improvements in cryostatic microtomes

Info

Publication number: CN86107563A
Application number: CN86107563.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 布伦·劳伦斯·扎克森; 菲利普·帕克
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-04
Filing date: 1986-10-03
Publication date: 1987-10-07
Also published as: DK284487D0; EP0302054A1; DK284487A; GB8524530D0; CN1008479B; JPS63501820A; KR880700257A; WO1987002130A1

Abstract

The invention provides a kind of improvements in cryostatic microtomes, its primary structure is installed in the low-temperature (low temperature) vessel outside, can reduce the heat load of low-temperature cooling system like this, also be convenient to the purification and the sterilization of equipment, the present invention also provides the direct cooling of sample chuck and this invention has been comprised a novel sample case system.

Description

Improvements in cryostatic microtomes

The present invention belongs to improvements in cryostatic microtomes, and said microtome is to be designed for low temperature environment.The improvements in cryostatic microtomes of Zhi Zaoing is to be made of a microtome that is contained in the refrigeration container for many years.The problem of this microtome at first is that whole equipment all must be lowered the temperature; Secondly whole equipment must keep clean, and will carry out disinfection in time after for example doing to have infected viral pathological section, and this needs very long scavenging period.

An improvements in cryostatic microtomes according to the present invention comprises a refrigeration container, and this refrigeration container has the cooling device of the temperature that reduces container and content thereof; A pedestal is installed in the slicer of the outside of container, and its specimen mounting and cutter are contained in internal tank; Also be useful on minimizing via the slicer parts and on every side at the device that enters the heat that imports at the container place.

Cutter or specimen mounting can both be installed on the corresponding thermal insulation element directly or indirectly.Cutter or specimen mounting, can also the two by the member supports of passing the hole on the chamber wall accordingly, preferably around the hole of each parts by chamber wall, establish sealing device.Sealing device is made up of one or more deformable barrier films.

The present invention also comprises following any slicer, reciprocating parts are wherein arranged, these parts can be cutter or specimen holder gripping arm, these parts move in a plane that deviates from apparatus main frame, thereby sample holder wall or cutter can be pierced into from two orthogonal right-angle sides that are square or rectangle refrigeration container substantially.As can be seen, the pedestal of microtome is L-shaped from the plan view of embodiments of the invention.

Advantage of the present invention at first is the pedestal of microtome and the outside that whole mechanical device all is fixed on low-temperature (low temperature) vessel.Secondly, have only specimen mounting and cutter to be fixed on low-temperature (low temperature) vessel inside, this equipment simply is easy to clean and sterilization.The 3rd, relatively little part size in addition can reduce the power of chilling unit.The 4th, be applicable to that low-temperature (low temperature) vessel of the present invention is that stainless steel jointless container by commercially available deep drawn constitutes, its big I is held specimen mounting and cutter.The present invention provides the anchor clamps of sample on the other hand, and these anchor clamps have a carriage, is used to hold a thin plate that is freezing sample.Can guarantee express sample refrigeration like this, reduce the damage of sample tissue when freezing accordingly.Dull and stereotyped cheap, can be stored in freezing sample band flat board together in the suitable low temperature environment.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings.

Wherein:

Fig. 1 is corresponding to microtome of the present invention structural plan schematic diagram;

Fig. 2 is used for the embodiment microtome shown in Figure 1 general layout perspective view of part in addition;

Fig. 3 is the view of embodiment on arrow 3 directions shown in Figure 1, in order to express clearlyer, has carried out broken section;

The partial view of the reciprocating motion specimen mounting that Fig. 4 is Fig. 1 to the slicer shown in Figure 3;

Accompanying drawing 4a is a specimen holder gripping arm sketch that the remodeling of cooling device is housed, and it is identical with Fig. 4 projecting direction.

Fig. 5 is the specimen holder sketch that is used on the slicer corresponding to of the present invention.

Cryotome shown in the figure comprises a microtome 1, and this slicer and its specimen mounting and slicer are installed in the low-temperature (low temperature) vessel 2.Only indicate among the figure that those can clearly express the necessary in addition part of the present invention,, expressed very clearly for the skilled person how with concrete correct being installed on the equipment of part in addition that does not show among the figure.In the following description, slicer is " front " near the part of cutting zone, and the limit of its opposition is " back ".

Can be clearly seen that from Fig. 1 slicer 1 is mounted on the microscler pedestal 3, a bracing frame 4 of erectting is arranged on it, the bracing frame upper support one group of tool parts 5.Apart from support 4 base ends upper surfaces far away a horizontal platform 6 is housed, this platform guarantees the rigidity of platform from a side Shen Chu And of pedestal.First supports other part 7, and its length is identical with land lengths, and is hinged with the rear end face of platform by phosphor-copper hinge 8, and second other part 9 of rotating support is to be hinged on other front, part 7 top by high phosphorus copper hinge 10.Reciprocating arm 11 is being supported in the front of part 9 in addition, and it supports sample chuck 12 by the intermediate 13 of a thermal insulation, and detailed structure is seen Fig. 4.The action of microtome is finished by the Motor Drive rotation by two other parts 7 and 9.In addition part 7 is to move by driving the control lever 14 that is connected with nut by leading screw, and this control lever is hinged on the leading edge of other part 7 by phosphor-copper hinge 15, and control lever is positioned at pedestal Zhi Shang And and is parallel to pedestal.Effect lower control arm 14 at leading screw travels forward at the length direction that is parallel to pedestal, thereby cause that other rotates around hinge 8 by part 7, so in addition the last face forward of part 7 is to motion; And and make other part frame tangential section blade insert 5 directions advance, control lever 14 also can make sample that the device that sample is withdrawn is being provided between the working angles continuously.

The reciprocating motion of arm 11 is to drive the axle of stretching from pedestal 3 16 by gear 17 to transmit.Axle 16 links to each other with " L " shape control lever by eccentric part 18, and " L " shape control lever is through being pivotally connected to heat insulating member 13.Parts 13 are that foursquare central shaft 13b forms by hollow garden tube 13a and a cross section of one section front end sealing as can be seen from Figure 4.With pin 20 central shaft 13b is coupled together with the terminal of " L " type control lever 19.So when axle 16 rotates, cause in the vertical plane of arm 11 on hinge 10 lines and swing, thereby cause the shear action of

device.Part

7 and 9 be synchronized with the movement the sample chuck marched forward, chuck withdrawal before each backhaul in addition before each cutting continuously.Though do not express among the figure, illustrated embodiment is owing to microprocessor-controlIed stepper motor turns round.

The slicer system that will have low-temperature (low temperature) vessel below is further described.Container is the stainless cylinder of steel 21 of the standard of a deep drawn, in its bottom one leakage fluid dram 22 is arranged.Encircling 23 near being pressed into a garden on the chamber wall 24 of slicer pedestal 3, the locus of garden ring is to be positioned on the vertical plane.Open a slotted hole vertical with its major axis 25 on adjacent rear wall, jar 21 is fixed on the fluting place 26 of the top board spare 27 of shell (not shown).Make right-hand member suspention below top board 27 of pedestal 3 by two suspensions 28, and the adiabatic garden shape boss 29 of the front end of pedestal by the centre is fixed on reliably on the sidewall of cylinder body 21.On the both ends of the surface of boss 29,

punch

30,31 respectively so that construction bolt, bore corresponding hole, garden on week in the garden in wall 24 cross sections 23 of container 21.Be arranged in the bolt 30 of hole 30 and 31 ' and 31 ' simultaneously be used for fixing on wall 24 outer surfaces boss 29 and at the endless metal flange 32 of tank body 21 inside, avoid support 4 to contact with container 21 inner direct heat.Toolframe 33 adjustable grounds are contained on the flange 32 in order to the cutting angle of normally regulating with respect to specimen mounting.

A coolant tubes (not shown) is installed in the outside of container 21, and it is used for controlling its temperature inside, makes it to reach the temperature that needs.On the outer surface of container and coolant tubes surface, be coated with the heat-insulating foam of last layer 4 cm thicks.In order to make low-temperature (low temperature) vessel adiabatic fully, 25 places, hole that enter container rear wall at sample add a collet.The sleeve 34 of the thermoplastic materials hole 25 that tightly reclines.Dig inner groovy at its outer surface 36,37 places, so as to make silicon rubber cover 36 ', 37 ' block from the outside, their inner edge then is stuck in the end of adiabatic apparatus 13.Under the temperature of equipment operation, this temperature can reach-80 ℃ sometimes, cover 36 ' and 37 ' pliability reciprocating part 11 can freely-movable can the operation of assurance equipment the time, but in addition the thermal insulation, the sleeve 34 that provide of part 13 and be looped around rubber cover 36 on the arm ', 37 ' formed double-layer seal can prevent the loss of convection current, these some measures with other can stop part and the heat transmission on every side thereof in addition through microtome together, making the temperature of low-temperature (low temperature) vessel reach the temperature ， And that needs very soon makes this temperature keep reliably.

Fig. 4 a represents a specimen holder gripping arm through remodeling, and the cooling device that can guarantee sample low temperature and regulate temperature is housed on this arm.Digital identical on the numeral that marks on Fig. 4 a and the preceding several accompanying drawings.The sample clamping limb is a copper rod 11a in the structure of Fig. 4 a, and it installs among the heat guard shell 11b, and shell 11b is made by the polyvinyl chloride of rigidity, and 11b itself is again by part 9a and parts 7 hinged (figure sees before).Sample chuck 12 is installed on the metal bar 11a by Peltier heat pump 44, and this heat pump passes to the heat on the sample chuck 12 on the excellent 11a.The upper surface that rod 11a stretches outside low-temperature (low temperature) vessel is installed two Peltier heat pump 45a, 45b, and this heat pump to heat abstractor 46, makes the heat absorption of metal bar heat remove here by the sharp draft from the ventilation blower (not shown).Control the operation of Peltier pump according to embedding platinum resistance thermometer (not shown) in the sample chuck 12, become possibility with regard to the absolute temperature that makes better control workpiece like this.Although excellent in the present embodiment 11a can import heat into, PVC sleeve 11b and sealing gasket 36 ', 37 ' still can reduce the heat that enters into container.

Referring to Fig. 5, a specimen holder that is designed for Fig. 1 to the microtome of Fig. 4, these anchor clamps comprise an aluminium body 38 that is used for pinning specimen mounting, and there is a flange 39 its free end top, there is a spring-loading claw 40 in bottom, and the motion of claw 40 is by knob 41 controls.Sample is chilled on the thin aluminum sheet 42, and the dismountable main body 38 Qian Mian And that are stuck in of this aluminium sheet are between flange 39 and the claw 40.The surface of plate 42 do some is coarse so that adhere to sample, leader 43 is arranged when plate is manufactured, flooded one deck plastic foil on it.In use, because the temperature of plate 42 is very low, workpiece can be chilled on the plate 42 rapidly, so just can reduce the freezing loss of sample, and this plate also is quite cheap when depositing sample in a large number at low temperatures.

From illustrated embodiment, particularly referring to Fig. 1, can estimate the advantage of improvements in cryostatic microtomes of the present invention rapidly, though the volume of low-temperature (low temperature) vessel has only 32 * 30 * 20cm, but can be installed or dismantle sample and levelling fully or change cutter head And and internal tank seems very neat by its container head of opening, because same reason, this container is easy to cleaning and disinfection timely, owing to do not drive other part in the container, interior available highly corrosive agents of container or disinfectant can not damage machine yet.

The present invention can be applied to widely in the equipment, and there is not any restrictive condition in illustrated embodiment, and for example the present invention can carry out the ultra-thin section operation under cryogenic conditions.

Claims

1, a kind of improvements in cryostatic microtomes system, it comprises a low-temperature (low temperature) vessel that has chiller, this chiller can make container and the cooling of inner part in addition thereof; Microtome (1) is characterised in that its pedestal (3) is installed on the surface of container (2), specimen holder (12) and cutter (33) are fixed on internal tank, be provided with in addition be used to reduce by slicer in addition around part or its at the device that enters the heat that imports at the container place.

2,, it is characterized in that cutter (33) are installed on the heat insulating member (29) according to the improvements in cryostatic microtomes system of claim 1.

3,, it is characterized in that sample chuck (12) is installed on the heat insulating member (13) according to the system of the described improvements in cryostatic microtomes of claim 1.

4, according to the improvements in cryostatic microtomes system of claim 2 or 3, it is characterized in that heat insulating member and mounted thereto any one in addition part directly contact.

5, according to the improvements in cryostatic microtomes system of the arbitrary claim in front, it is characterized in that cutter (33) or sample chuck (12) be by the device by the hole on the chamber wall (23,25) (30 ', 31 ', 13) support.

6, according to the system of the described improvements in cryostatic microtomes of claim 5, it is characterized in that cutter (33) and sample chuck (12) all be by separately in addition part (30 ', 31 ', 13) supporting, these in addition part by the one or more holes on the chamber wall (23,25).

7,, it is characterized in that seal (36 ', 37 ') is around each part in addition by the hole on the chamber wall according to the improvements in cryostatic microtomes system of claim 5 or 6.

8,, it is characterized in that seal is to be made of the film of one or more flexibilities (36 ', 37 ') according to the improvements in cryostatic microtomes system of claim 7.

9, according to the microtome system that is used for improvements in cryostatic microtomes of arbitrary claim noted earlier, it is characterized in that moving back and forth other part, is to move in deviating from the plane of apparatus main frame.

10,, it is characterized in that the plan view of pedestal (3) of microtome (1) is L-shaped according to the microtome system of claim 9.

11,, it is characterized in that the sample chuck is equipped with chiller according to the microtome system or the microtome of the arbitrary claim in front.

12, according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 11, it is characterized in that the sample chuck is mounted on the heat transfer element (11a), this heat transfer element is used for absorbing the heat of sample chuck, yet back to back element is adiabatic, can make the heat that enters low-temperature (low temperature) vessel reduce to minimum like this.

13,, it is characterized in that absorption heat pump (44) is installed between sample chuck (12) and the heat transfer element (11a) according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 12.

14,, it is characterized in that two other absorption heat pump (45a, 45b) is used for absorbing the heat of heat transfer element (11a) according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 12 or 13.

15,, it is characterized in that any absorption heat pump is a thermoelectric device according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 13 or 14.

16, according to the microtome system or the microtome of arbitrary claim in the claim 12 to 16, (46) auxiliary heat dissipation that it is characterized in that heat abstractor is arranged.

17,, it is characterized in that heat transfer element (11a) is a metal bar according to the microtome system or the microtome of arbitrary claim in the claim 12 to 16.

18,, it is characterized in that metal bar (11a) is in insulated shell (11b) according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 17.

19,, it is characterized in that insulated case (11b) has constituted the operation part that links to each other with microtome (1) according to the microtome system or the microtome of claim 18.

20, according to the microtome system of the arbitrary claim in front or the sample chuck of microtome, it is characterized in that chuck (38-41) can hold thin plate (42), sample can be chilled on this thin plate.