EP0530186B1 - Drop plate for wet or damp preparations, e.g. blood - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drop plate (10) for wet or damp preparations, e.g. chemical or biological preparations like blood, consisting of a first plate preferably of transparent material, especially transparent plastic, with several fittings (18) on the surface (14) for the preparations in which there is a second plate (20) which may be placed on the first (12), the surface of which is such that, with the surface (22) of the fittings (18) of the first plate (12), it forms a plane or slightly curved superficially extending gap (30) of such a width that the volume of the preparation substantially fills that of the gap. To show whether the plates have been used, either they have a locking device or the use of the plate is made clear by the use of existing marks. To this end it is possible to use either locking devices or capillary incisions (56, 156) running from the fitting surface.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a slide for wet or moist preparations, consisting of a plate made of preferably transparent material, in particular made of transparent plastic, with a plurality of receptacles for the preparations carried by the surface, a second plate which can be placed on the first plate being provided Surface is designed so that it forms with the surface of the receptacles of the first plate in each case a flat or slightly curved, area-extending gap space with such a gap width that the volume of the preparation essentially fills the volume of the gap space, the slide being a locking device has, which is effective when used for the first time and thereby forms a lock against further use.

STATE OF THE ART

Slides of the type mentioned are already known from US-A-4721679. It is a plate of box-like construction with numerous depressions arranged at the bottom of the box for receiving test liquid, and another plate which is intended to cover the depressions, this plate having downwardly extending edges which have a flat surface which are equipped with a pressure sensitive adhesive. When the plate forming the cover is put on, this adhesive layer firmly connects the cover to the cover Test liquid-carrying box construction and prevents both a lateral displacement of the two plates to each other as well as a vertical movement and prevents the loss of test liquid from the individual recordings or the contamination of the content of one recording by the content of another recording. This also prevents infection of personnel due to leakage of the test liquid.

Due to the existing locking device in the known arrangement, which firmly glues the two plates of the slide together when used for the first time, so that a lock against further use is formed, it is possible, on the one hand, to make deliberate manipulations of the test result more difficult, on the other hand, to prevent by reusing already used plates as a result of residues of previous preparation and test liquids or test materials, the test is falsified. It also ensures that the operating personnel are protected from the test liquids. As a result of the transparent material, a microscopic examination of the contents of the individual samples is also made possible in the prior art.

A disadvantage of the prior art, however, is that the protective cover (second plate) which can be placed on one (first) plate is provided with an adhesive layer for the purpose of locking, which firmly connects the two plates to one another after the second plate has been placed on the first plate , so that both a vertical and a lateral movement of the two plates to each other is prevented.

From DE-A-31 07 964 the use of two flat plates lying in a frame is known, with which several liquid samples can be examined side by side at the same time. The substances dissolved in test liquid drops can be mixed by rhythmically changing the distance between the plates. According to this publication, the frame should serve to fix the minimum and maximum distance between the two plates, because if the distance is too small, the analysis liquids are pressed out of their analysis area and can mix with other areas, on the other hand, if the distance is too great, the drops tear off and this interferes with the optical analysis. This document contains no (permanent) locking or latching between individual plate pairs.

It is already known from EP-A-0146654 to irreversibly change test plates.

From DE-A-35 18 047 a sample carrier for carrying out chemical analyzes is known, which also consists of two plates, which can be placed congruently with one another, the places where increases when collapsing the two plates meet equally strong depressions , which are preferably made of elastic material. The two plates can also be designed as a frame, but there is no provision for a frame to be designed such that the plates can be inserted into it. This elastic material allows the plates to be moved vertically to one another within a certain distance. The publication then deals with the fact that the two plates can be formed identically.

A sample carrier is known from DD 224 410 A1 (or DE 35 18 047 A1), in which the aim is to enable the two plates making up the sample carrier to be produced as inexpensively as possible. The focus of this document is to design the border of the sample carrier so that it is mutually aligned Such a position cause the elevations and depressions of the opposing plates to be exactly aligned.

In this publication DD 224 410 A1 reference is made to another publication, namely to DD 107 783, according to which the sample carrier consists of two plates, on which bodies for sealing the sample-bearing areas of the two plates and for their horizontal position and vertical fixation Distance limitation are located, these bodies are made of elastic material in order to be able to move the plates vertically within a certain distance. A disadvantage is the inaccurate alignment due to the grooves and their complicated manufacture.

Furthermore, reference is made to EP 0018435 B1, according to which a horizontal position fixation and vertical distance limitation of two sample plates is carried out by means of a special frame.

A further development of this frame is described in accordance with the explanations of DD 224 410 A1 in the already mentioned DE 31 07 964 A1. Here two opposing profile strips, each with three profile edges, are used for horizontal position fixing and for setting a defined vertical distance.

In both technical solutions (according to EP 0018435 B1 and DE 31 07 964 A1), the two plates with the areas carrying the samples are placed in the frame. It is pointed out as a disadvantage that the two technical solutions have a complicated technical structure of the frame and mean increased technological requirements and that no means are provided which ensure that the sample-carrying areas are sealed off from the outside, even for the analysis in the microliter range.

Then it is emphasized in DD 224 410 A1 that in all known technical solutions the sample carrier is formed from two non-identical plates, which according to this DD 224 410 A1 has the disadvantage that two different plates have to be produced, which is particularly the case with an injection molding technique Realization would cause additional costs for the second tool required. Even when using the sample holder in the laboratory, the handling of two different plates has a disadvantageous effect.

It is also mentioned briefly that the execution of the surface configuration is possible as a frame in which the areas structured with the specimen carrying areas can be inserted. However, no further details are given.

The material from which the panels are to be made is plexiglass according to DD 224 410 A1.

How the sample-bearing areas of the two plates are designed is not described in detail in DD 224 410 A1. However, examples of this can be found in DD 107 783, see FIGS. 1 and 2 in this publication. The problem of mixing the sample substance with the test agent is also addressed in cases in which very small reaction spaces and the resulting adhesive forces between the Sample and the test agent on the one hand and the plates on the other hand, so that a vibrator is required to carry out the mixing. In order to solve this problem, it is proposed to produce the plates from optical media and to arrange them at a defined distance from one another, their being the Sample-bearing areas are separated from the other areas. The offset arrangement enables the setting and adherence to a more precise, reproducible sample thickness and the production of optically transparent samples and sample carriers, which enables immediate observation and detection of the reactions between the sample and the test medium as well as their immediate photometric evaluation without the interposition of filter paper, as is the case with older state of the art was necessary. When using the sample holder according to DD 107 783, the samples are applied to the designated areas of one plate and the test agents are placed on the remote areas of the other plate, the plates are brought together with their surfaces carrying the reagents and the samples with the test agent by repeated slight Changing the distance between the two plates mixed by hand. The short distance also provides protection against rapid evaporation of the samples. The plates can also be in the form of a film, in which case spacers could then be omitted because the plates are flexible enough so that the areas carrying the samples can be moved against one another.

According to DD 107 783, the evaluation can be carried out subjectively by visual observation or objectively with analysis measuring devices or analysis machines.

EP 0018435 B1, already mentioned, deals with a device for performing microanalyses and describes in this connection various prior art in detail. The delimitation of the sample areas takes place here by the application of water-repellent substances in such a way that a certain number of circular areas remain free. Mixing is also achieved here by changing the distance between the plates. The plate movement is carried out by a magnet and by springs, the effect of the magnet are opposite.

DE 31 07 964 A1, already mentioned, originates from the same inventor as this EP 0018435 B1 and in this respect represents a further development of EP 0018435 B1. Figure 9 of DE 31 07 964 A1 shows frames in order to "microscope" on this sample plate. The frames are essentially used for fixation when optically examining the samples.

Moreover, the accuracy of the measurement method is questioned in this document if the two plates, which carry individual samples, are held and moved with the aid of a frame. There is also talk of the danger of "drying up". Then two improved racks are described, with which one can microscope several small slides next to one another, with which one can more precisely maintain the smallest and the largest plate spacing and which should be easier to manufacture and to handle.

The described construction is still quite cumbersome to handle and costly.

Mention should also be made of DE 25 27 770 C3, which is a slide for carrying out aglutination reactions, this publication essentially dealing with a rotating plate made of glass with mirroring on the back.

Furthermore, reference is made to OE-PS 17 08 98, which deals with a shaking frame and which can be regarded as the forerunner of microtiter technology. Finally, DD 96 784 should be mentioned, which describes a method and a device for measuring enzymatic reactions using plates in which a greater number of depressions are provided for receiving test liquids, these areas being separated from one another by grooves in order to prevent the test liquid from overflowing from one test area to the other test area.

From the essay: A "Sandwich" Technique, by F. Stratton, Brit. Med. J., 1955, p.201, a fast method for R _H determination is known, in which a mixture of erythrocytes and serum is held between two slides.

On the other hand, the test methods described, which (advantageously) use very small amounts of preparation and test agent and therefore enable a given number of test liquids and quantities of preparation (such as blood) to carry out a significantly higher number of tests than previous test methods, the risk is relatively high that only small amounts of foreign matter can deliberately or unintentionally falsify the test result. For example, when working with reusable plates, as with most prior art arrangements, residues of previous preparation and test liquids or test materials that could not be removed cleanly enough could falsify the test result of a subsequent test. It is also possible with relatively little effort to change the test result through deliberate manipulation.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve the arrangement described above in such a way that it no longer has these disadvantages and, in particular, no test falsifications by test plates already used, which, for. B. were not cleaned sufficiently, results, and the test result can not be changed by manipulation, without this z. B. would be visible to a controller.

In addition, the new arrangement should not affect the versatility of the application and the inexpensive manufacture.

It should also be possible to achieve a high degree of standardization through sera that have already been applied, and further training should be possible in which the documentation of the test results is facilitated. In particular, however, the arrangement should be such that, after the tests have been carried out, the test materials do not get back into the free environment through washing processes and lead to contamination or even infection there.

The above-described task or the complex of tasks is solved in that, according to the characterizing part of the main claim, the locking devices allow a limited movement of the plates perpendicular to the plane of the plate against spring force to change the gap volume, but no complete separation of the plates from each other, and thereby in that the locking devices are formed by latching devices formed by two opposing plates, and in that the plates are inseparably connected to one another by the latching devices.

These measures ensure that, at least not unintentionally, the already used plate is reused, which could lead to false readings due to dirt effects for the two microtiter test methods in question here. It is also ensured that plates that have already been used are recognizable as such and therefore (for example in the case of dangerous preparation or test substances) there is no risk that they will be disposed of in an unsuitable manner, for example by cleaning attempts.

There are numerous favorable configurations of the invention Slide. Thus, the movement of the plates for generating the mixing process can be generated by pressure against spring force, which spring force can be supplied by means of flexible approaches protruding in one piece from the plate material, for example by means of projections which start from the plate or by, as in the prior art the plate edges the plate levels are kept at a certain distance from each other, which distance can be reduced by pressure on the plates. This pressure can be exerted by an operator's hand, but also by mechanical means.

As a result of the adhesion, the liquid test material does not run away in an undesired manner, so that this problem of overflowing, as is still discussed in the prior art, is no longer present here.

It has proven to be advantageous to make the plates insertable into the frame in such a way that an increase and / or reduction in the gap volume compared to the preparation volume by at least a factor of 2 is made possible by mounting and movement perpendicular to the plate plane.

The receptacles can be designed differently, for example by means of column-like projections starting from a substrate. The projections can have been created by making intersecting grooves in a plate. This plate would therefore be made of solid material.

If the slide is to be designed as a disposable article, which is the aim here, however, it is more economical in terms of material consumption to form the receptacles of bulges pressed out from a base plate made of thin plastic material. These bulges can be a concave, convex or flat surface for the Form the receptacle, while the second plate has correspondingly shaped bulges, which are also pressed out of a plate made of thin plastic material. If the bulges of the first plate are flat, it may be sufficient if the second plate has no bulges, but is a simple flat plate.

Such plates, which preferably consist of transparent plastic (the one plate also consisting of opalised plastic, which sometimes has microscopic advantages), can also be designed in a simple manner so that the first and / or the second plate in the region of the (respective) receptacle forms lens-like thickening, so that even very small test quantities can be observed so well with the naked eye, for example, that an exact check of the test result is possible without the need to use a microscope.

As already mentioned, the slide can preferably be designed in such a way that it can be inserted into a (reusable) frame. The slide can then be made from even thinner material because the frame can take on the mechanical loads that occur when handling (e.g. transporting, centrifuging, etc.). This further reduces the material consumption for the (discarded) slide. The frame can then be designed in such a way that it is able to hold several slides at the same time, in which case the slide only has as many exposures as, for example, require a normal blood test.

It is expedient to design the frame in the form of a snap frame with an upper and a lower part, which two parts can be pivotally connected to one another at one edge by a joint. In one of those Folding frames can then be provided for several adjacent receptacles for strip-shaped plates. These strip-shaped plates can then again each form a plurality of receiving surfaces arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the strip, for preparation and / or test liquid or ready-applied test agent.

Alternatively, two superimposed strip-shaped plates on one edge, z. B. narrow edge connected by a hinge and form a locking device on its opposite edge. Instead of the joint, a second latching device could also be provided, so that two strip-shaped plates lying one above the other form a latching device on at least two opposite edges, such as their two narrow edges.

The one (for example lower) strip-shaped plate could form a flag-like approach on at least one of its narrow sides in order to provide a marking or labeling area, for example for the manufacturer's specification of a permanently applied test agent or for user labeling for specifying patient data or preparation data.

• a)
  Einbringen der Präparate in die Aufnahme(n) der ersten Platte,
• b)
  Einbringen von Testmittel in oder auf die mit den Präparaten versehenen Aufnahmen nahe der oder zu dem Präparat in der ersten Platte oder in oder auf eine korrespondierende Aufnahme der zweiten Platte;
• c)
  Aufsetzen der zweiten Platte zur Bildung des Spaltvolumens und Aufsaugen von Präparat und Testmittel in das Spaltvolumen;
• d)
  optische Begutachtung des Präparats durch das durchsichtige Material der ersten und/oder zweiten Platte hindurch, wobei während oder nach dem Verfahrensschritt c) die beiden Platten unlösbar miteinander verriegelt werden.

With the arrangement according to the invention it is possible to create a method for testing preparations which are arranged in receptacles according to one of the device claims, this method consisting of the following method steps:

• a)
  Introduction of the preparations into the holder (s) of the first plate,
• b)
  Introducing test agents into or onto the preparations provided receptacles near or to the preparation in the first plate or in or on a corresponding receptacle of the second plate;
• c)
  Placing the second plate to form the gap volume and absorbing the preparation and test agent into the gap volume;
• d)
  optical inspection of the preparation through the transparent material of the first and / or second plate, the two plates being locked inseparably during or after method step c).

This known sequence of processes is improved according to the invention in that the plate (s) are / are arranged in a frame, that after step c) the gap volume is changed cyclically by moving the plates perpendicular to their planes, thereby mixing the preparation and mixing with the test agent, and that the cyclical changing of the gap volume takes place by moving the two frames towards each other.

The plates can also be arranged in a frame before step a).

After process step d), the two interlocked panels can be removed from the frame and replaced with new panels.

By locking the two plates, they can no longer be reused, but must be disposed of in the closed state after step d). This has the advantage that, for. B. infectious test material until disposal of the plates remains enclosed and operating personnel are not endangered, and attempts at recycling are frustrated. According to a further embodiment of the method, the frame is a snap frame and the new plates can be used to lock the opened frame. Subsequently, sample or test liquids can be applied and then the snap frame can be folded together by locking the plates, whereupon mixing then takes place by moving the frame parts towards one another. Before or after the assessment of the frames, they are then opened again in order to examine and / or to mark and / or to mark and / or to replace the locked panels remaining in the one frame part with new panels.

The advantage of a frame is that it is possible to design the two plates so that only as many pictures are available as is usually the case for a test, e.g. B. blood test are necessary, e.g. B. 6, 8, 10 or 12 shots.

As in the prior art, it is advantageous to arrange the recordings in a certain grid, for example in an orthogonal grid (in which the recordings are arranged in rows and columns), or in a polar coordinate grid (in which the recordings are in concentric circles with one another lie). Another alternative would be a spiral arrangement. This grid-like arrangement facilitates machine inspection by, for example, successive scanning by means of an automatic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine erste Ausführungsform eines Objektträgers mit säulenartigen, runden Querschnitt aufweisenden Aufnahmen mit ebener Aufnahmefläche und teilweise dargestellter zweiter Platte;

Fig. 2

eine andere Auführungsform eines Objektträgers, bei dem die Aufnahmen durch Einbringen von sich kreuzenden Nuten in einem Substrat entstanden sind und dadurch ebenfalls ebene Aufnahmeoberflächen bilden, mit einer angedeuteten zweiten Platte und angedeuteter optischer Abtasteinrichtung für die einzelnen Aufnahmen;

Fig. 3

in zwei Teilfiguren einen Objektträger, der ebenfalls eine ebene Aufnahmeoberfläche besitzt, wobei jedoch die zweite Platte eine an diese Objektträgerform angepaßte Oberfläche besitzt, wobei die Platten entweder aus massivem Material gefertigt sind, (linke Teildarstellung) oder aus dünnwandigem Material durch Bilden von Ausbeulungen entstanden sind (rechte Darstellung);

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht längs der Linien IV-IV der Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in einer ähnlichen Ansicht wie Fig. 3 eine Ausführungsform, bei der die Oberfläche der Aufnahme gekrümmt ist, wobei die Krümmung der einen Seite konkav und die der anderen Seite konvex ist, wobei beide Platten wahlweise als eigentliche Objektträgerplatte und die jeweils andere Platte als zweite Platte verwendbar ist;

Fig. 6

in einer Schnittansicht eine an sich bekannte, mehrere Aufnahmen aufweisende Objektträgerplatte, wobei die Aufnahmen relativ großes Volumen aufweisen, wobei hier die äußere Bodenfläche dieses bekannten Objektträgers als zweite Platte aufgesetzt ist;

Fig. 7

ein Objektträger mit großräumigen Aufnahmekapazitäten verschiedener Form, wie an sich im Prinzip bereits bekannt und aus dem Stand der Technik hervorgehen;

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch einen Objektträger gemäß Fig. 7, bei der jedoch die zweite Platte so ausgebildet ist, daß sie die Objektträgerhohlräume weitgehend füllt und dadurch erfindungsgemäß den dünnen Spaltraum bildet, wiederum ggf. unter gleichzeitiger Erzeugung einer Linse;

Fig. 9, 10, 11, 12 und 13

schematisch verschiedene Möglichkeiten, die beiden Platten gegen Federkraft zueinander zu bewegen;

Fig. 14

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen hier mit flacher Oberfläche versehene Aufnahmen, die eine kapillarartige Einsenkung oder Spalt zur Markierung der erfolgten Benutzung aufweist;

Fig. 15

in einer perspektivischen Ansicht zwei mit jeweils fünf Aufnahmevorrichtungen versehene streifenartige Platten, die aneinanderpassen und miteinander untrennbar sind;

Fig. 16

einen vergrößerten Teilschnitt durch die Platten gemäß Fig. 14;

Fig. 17

in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen Rahmen zur Aufnahme von z. B. mehreren Streifen gemäß Fig. 14, alternativ zur Einbringung von Platten mit nur je einer Aufnahme oder von Platten mit z. B. Doppelt- oder Dreifachstreifen, wobei der Rahmen entweder nur ein Unterteil oder auch ein an das Unterteil angelenktes Deckelteil aufweisen kann, wie hier zu erkennen ist; und

Fig. 18A, B und C

in einer Draufsicht, Seitenansicht mit vergrößerten Detaildarstellungen und in einer Frontansicht eine praktische Ausführungsform eines Streifenunterteils (untere streifenförmige Platte), der beispielsweise aus Polyamid gespritzt ist und an beiden Schmalseiten Verriegelungseinrichtungen besitzt und mit zehn Aufnahmeflächen für Präparate sowie mit einer Markierungsfahne ausgestattet ist;

Fig. 19A, B und C

in entsprechenden Darstellungen das zugehörige Streifenoberteil, das in das Unterteil gemäß Fig. 18 einrastbar ist;

Fig. 20A, B, C und D

eine Draufsicht sowie eine Ansicht von oben bzw. von rechts gemäß Fig. 20A sowie eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Eckbereichs von einem Rahmenunterteil, wiederum z. B. aus Polyamid, in den mehrere (hier sechs) Streifen gemäß den Fig. 18 und 19 eingelegt werden können;

Fig. 21A, B, C und D

entsprechende Ansichten bezüglich des Rahmenoberteils, das auf den Rahmenunterteil aufsetzbar ist und mit diesen über ein Scharnier verbindbar sein kann;

Fig. 22A, B

perspektivische Ansichten einer möglichen Scharnierverbindung zwischen den beiden Rahmenteilen, einmal im aufgeklappten Zustand und einmal im zugeklappten Zustand;

Fig. 23A bzw. 23B

entsprechende Darstellungen in Form einer Querschnittsansicht.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of a specimen slide with columnar, round cross-section recordings with a flat receiving surface and partially shown second plate;

Fig. 2

another embodiment of a slide, in which the recordings were created by introducing intersecting grooves in a substrate and thereby also form flat recording surfaces, with an indicated second plate and an indicated optical scanning device for the individual recordings;

Fig. 3

in two partial figures a slide, which also has a flat receiving surface, however, the second plate has a surface adapted to this slide shape, the plates are either made of solid material (left partial view) or of thin-walled material by forming bulges (right representation);

Fig. 4

a sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in a view similar to FIG. 3, an embodiment in which the surface of the receptacle is curved, the curvature of one side being concave and that of the other side being convex, both plates optionally being the actual slide plate and the other plate being the second plate is usable;

Fig. 6

a sectional view of a slide plate known per se and having a plurality of receptacles, the receptacles having a relatively large volume, the outer bottom surface of this known slide being placed as a second plate;

Fig. 7

a slide with large capacity of various forms, as already known in principle and emerging from the prior art;

Fig. 8

a section through a slide according to FIG 7, but in which the second plate is designed so that it largely fills the slide cavities and thus forms the thin gap space according to the invention, again possibly with the simultaneous production of a lens.

9, 10, 11, 12 and 13

schematically different ways to move the two plates against each other against spring force;

Fig. 14

in an enlarged view a here provided with a flat surface recordings, which has a capillary-like depression or gap to mark the use made;

Fig. 15

in a perspective view two strip-like plates, each provided with five holding devices, which fit together and are inseparable from one another;

Fig. 16

an enlarged partial section through the plates of FIG. 14;

Fig. 17

in a perspective view a frame for receiving z. 14, as an alternative to the introduction of plates with only one receptacle or of plates with z. B. double or triple strips, wherein the frame can either have only a lower part or a hinged to the lower part of the cover, as can be seen here; and

18A, B and C

in a top view, side view with enlarged detail representations and in a front view a practical embodiment of a lower strip part (lower strip-shaped plate), which is injection-molded from polyamide, for example, and has locking devices on both narrow sides and is equipped with ten receiving surfaces for preparations and with a flag;

Figures 19A, B and C

in corresponding representations the associated upper strip part, which can be snapped into the lower part according to FIG. 18;

Figures 20A, B, C and D

a plan view and a view from above or from the right according to FIG. 20A and an enlarged view of a corner region of a lower frame part, again z. B. made of polyamide, in which several (here six) strips can be inserted according to Figures 18 and 19.

21A, B, C and D

corresponding views with respect to the upper frame part, which can be placed on the lower frame part and can be connected to it via a hinge;

22A, B

perspective views of a possible hinge connection between the two frame parts, once in the opened state and once in the closed state;

23A and 23B, respectively

corresponding representations in the form of a cross-sectional view.

BEST WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Fig. 1, a slide 10 for wet or moist preparations, for. B. chemical or biological preparations, such as blood, for which a blood group determination is to be carried out, consisting of a plate 12 made of plastic, with a plurality of columnar projections 16 extending from the surface 14, each of which forms a receptacle 18 for the preparation, that can be dripped onto the flat surface of the receptacle 18 with conventional devices, for example with pipettes, as is also indicated schematically in FIG. 8.

Also recognizable is a second plate 20 which can be placed on the first plate 12, the surface 22 of which is designed (namely flat overall here) in such a way that it each has a surface 24 with the surfaces 24 of the receptacles 18, which are also flat (here also flat), areally extending gap space 30 with such a gap width 26 that the volume of the preparation, which is designated 28 in FIG. 8, for example, essentially fills the gap space 30. In this way, the (liquid) material is held in the gap space, even if the two plates are now handled in some form, for example placed in an evaluation device. Even when the two plates are held at an angle, the material thus remains in the area of the receiving space 18 and does not flow into the area of other recordings.

This also applies if the distances between the individual receptacles 18, which are relatively large according to FIG. 1, are significantly smaller, as is the case in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, where a plate 112 can be seen whose surface 114 is divided by introducing intersecting grooves 32, 34 and thereby the individual receiving areas 118 are formed, on the surfaces 124 of which preparation agents and, if necessary, test agents can be dropped on in the manner already described. A second plate 20, which here also only forms a flat surface, is then placed, again the capillary action causes the preparation liquid to spread out on the surface 124 on the one hand, mix it on the other hand, and thirdly also to hold it in this area so that the danger does not exist that residual liquid passes from one receiving surface 118 to an adjacent receiving surface.

The embodiment according to FIG. 2 is particularly space-saving because empty spaces lying between the individual receiving surfaces 127 are small. The arrangement is also particularly well suited to enable automatic scanning of various samples, for example in that an optical evaluation device 36 scans the individual recording areas 118 individually in rows or columns, as indicated, for example, by the directional arrows 38.

By means of an illuminating device 40 arranged below the plate 112, sufficient light can be radiated from below through the plate 112 for observation purposes.

In FIG. 9, a side view, for example, again shows plate 112 and plate 20, with a gap width 26 shown here in a greatly exaggerated manner. This gap width can be defined, for example, by projections 42, which are preferably close to the edge of one or both Plates. If you now press the two plates against each other, the distance 26 can be reduced, for example due to the resilience of the plate material, which also means the gap volume the recordings 118 decreases. If you let go again, the distance increases and the gap volume increases. As a result of this movement of the plates perpendicular to and away from the plate plane, see also arrows 44, the preparation liquid (possibly including the test liquid) is spread out in the gap space volume and contracted again, spread out again and contracted again, which causes an extraordinarily strong mixing action.

Appropriate stop devices, for example also in the form of projections 42, can thereby ensure that the change in gap volume complies with a favorable measure, for example it will be favorable if the gap space volume can be increased and / or reduced by approximately a factor of 2 compared to the preparation volume.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, it is somewhat difficult to carry out the gap volume change and thus the mixing process in all the receptacles 118 distributed over the area simultaneously and equally large, if this is necessary at all (e.g. it could be that only a few of the Recordings 118 are loaded). If a gap volume change that is as uniform as possible is desired, an embodiment can be carried out, for example, according to FIGS. 10 to 13, the spring force not being achieved by the plate material, but by special spring-like projection devices 142 or 242, FIGS. 13 or 12, or by metal springs, e.g. B. as a leaf spring 343 (Fig. 10) or coil springs 443 (Fig. 11). These are preferably arranged near the edge and connect the two plates in a suitable manner, an arrangement such. B. could serve as a hinge (142. Fig. 13) and the other as a hinged closure, and which are designed so that they allow a substantially parallel movement of the two plates to each other.

In the projections 242 shown in Fig. 12, the configuration is such that the projecting lugs 242 can withdraw into corresponding recesses 243, so that the two plates can come directly to each other in their edge regions, in which position a preferred volume size for the gap volume could be provided.

Incidentally, guide devices (e.g. pin 443 in FIG. 11), connecting devices and the like. Ä. Conceivable between the two plates, also stackable arrangements, as it is described in more detail in the prior art, so that further explanations are omitted.

1 and FIG. 2 may consist essentially of solid injection molded plastic, but may also be pourable and grindable from glass, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the receptacles 218 are made of a thin plastic material existing base plate 212 pressed bulges are formed. This embodiment saves material and is particularly suitable as a disposable item. The second plate 220 can in turn consist of a flat plate, as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, or, as shown in FIG. 3, of a plate which in turn has bulges but is congruent with the bulges of the plate 212, see right side of FIG. 3. Such an embodiment can also be used in reverse, in which the plate 220 forms the receptacle (as a depression) and the plate 212 represents the second plate which forms the gap space 230 when placed on the first plate forms. The construction shown has the advantage that a mutual guidance between the two plates automatically results in that the protruding expressions or bulges of the plate 212 are encompassed by the recessed expressions of the plate 220.

On the left side of FIG. 3, the two plates are shown as solid plates, an embodiment which is also possible and of which a sectional view along lines IV-IV is shown in FIG. 4. 4 (or according to the left half of FIG. 3) has a preparation 28 and a test liquid separated from it dripped onto the receptacle 318 according to FIG. 4, and if necessary also one (or more) further test liquid 48 (see FIG. 8) could be dripped on, or a test preparation already manufactured by the manufacturer, e.g. B. is applied as a gelatin layer.

In some test arrangements, it is necessary to keep the different liquids separate at first, because they react very quickly, so that the arrangement according to the invention should (and can also according to the invention) be handled so that two or more than two liquid components are initially separated the receptacle 118 are dripped on, then the second plate is placed, the entire arrangement is brought under the observation device and only then is the mixing process triggered by moving the two plates toward one another and thus the reaction being initiated, the reaction process then being observable with continuous observation.

5 shows an arrangement in which the gap space 330 is curved in a view similar to FIG. 3, the receiving surface being able to form a concave curvature or a convex curvature depending on the position of the two plates.

6 shows an arrangement in which the one of the plates, namely the second plate 420, represents an arrangement known per se, which, however, is used here "inappropriately", namely in such a way that the receiving spaces are not used in this way, but rather the usually unused outer surfaces of the floor form the cover for the receptacle 418 for the preparation, that of a The first plate 412 or 512 can be formed, the plate 512 forming a lens-like device in the area of the receptacle 418, by means of material thickening 48. The advantage of this arrangement is that devices that are already commercially available can be used once for regular tests, in which the receiving space 50 is used with its large volume, as previously, or, as shown in FIG. 6, arranged in reverse and used with an additional plate 412 or 512 to create the gap space 418 , with the associated advantages of the substantially lower material consumption, the improved and possibly the mixture to be carried out later and possibly the improved optical monitoring by z. B. lens effect, reference number 48.

Conventional, large-volume specimen slides as well as specimen slides as shown in FIG. 7, which can also have receiving openings 50 with conventional round bottoms, 150 with flat bottoms or 250 with a tapered shape, alternatively or in combination, can also be used in this way 8: First, the preparation (e.g. 28) is entered into the receiving space 50, which is shown here with a round bottom, then a test agent 46, possibly another test agent 48, every two or three substances z. B. can be introduced by means of conventional pipettes 52, then the second plate 620 is then placed, which has such a shape in the manner already described that there is a gap 30 in which the preparation 28, optionally with mixing with test liquid 46th , 48 with simultaneous mixing, as shown in Fig. 8, center. Optical devices, indicated schematically by the lens 54, which in turn can be formed by a thickening 148 of the plate 620 itself, see left in FIG. 8, then an observation of the preparation 30 by the Material of the plate 620 possible.

A part of a plate 12 can be seen in FIG. 14, with a projection 16 which builds on it and forms a receptacle 18. A lateral or annular capillary-like depression or gap 56 or 156 arranged near the edge of the receiving surface 24 emanates from this receptacle, which may also have a different shape, but must be arranged in such a way that samples applied to the receiving surface 18 - or test material has the opportunity to penetrate to a small extent into this gap or this depression 56, 156 as a result of capillary action, in such a way that a remainder remains in this gap even when it dries out or is washed out. If the gap is appropriately fine and the capillary action is correspondingly large, this can easily be achieved. Since the material 16 is preferably transparent, material that has entered the slit 56, even if it is also transparent and colorless, changes the refraction ratios within the slit 56 such that the presence of this material can be seen by the eye or optical devices. This is particularly true when the material adhering in the gap 56 is colored, such as blood, which causes a red marking in this gap 56 as a result of the red blood cells, so that it can be seen immediately that the projection 16 with its receptacle 18, for example, for Blood tests have already been used. With a larger number of such projections 16, as shown for example in FIG. 1, it can therefore be seen which of these several projections have already been used and should not be used again.

Instead of an unintended reuse of recording facilities for e.g. B. To prevent blood tests by such a marking, there is another construction, as will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16.

FIG. 15 shows a lower plate 712, which can be designed similarly to the plate 212 according to FIG. 3, and an upper plate 714, which can be configured quite analogously, that is to say again how the plate 212 according to FIG. 3 can be shaped. The plate, as shown in FIG. 15, has five receptacles 718 lying next to one another, each with a flat surface here, locking and / or guiding devices being carried at both ends of this strip-like structure, which on the one hand move the two up and down Allow plates 712, 714 similar to the type described in FIGS. 9 to 13, but at the same time lock the two plates 712, 714 together in such a way that they cannot subsequently be taken apart and used again.

These devices 742, 743 can be configured differently on the left and on the right side of the strip-like plate 712 and 714, for example, twice on one side and only one on the other side, as can be seen in FIG. 15 is, or also be designed differently in some other way, so as to ensure that the two plates 712, 714 can, if necessary, be placed one on top of the other in only one orientation. This is necessary, for example, when the plate 712 with its receptacles 718 has to take five different blood samples, for example, while the counterplate 714 may have to take different test materials on its corresponding receptacles, and these test materials are each assigned to very specific samples on the other strip 712 should, so that a rotation of the strip 714 with respect to the strip 712 must not occur.

The handling of the strips according to the invention can be simplified even further if the strip or plate, for example comprising several recordings, has another Has area that can be used for identification, for example to identify the patient belonging to the blood sample.

The arrangement according to FIG. 15 can be seen in an enlarged partial sectional view in FIG. 16, a special embodiment of the locking and guide devices 742 and 743 being shown here: The locking takes place here in that a U-shaped receiving space of plate 712 is provided with protrusions 68, which lie behind recesses 70, which is formed by an arrow-like protrusion 743 of plate 714. This arrow-like projection tapers and can also have an incision 72, so that the penetration of this arrow-like projection 763 into the U-shaped space 742 is made possible.

The plates 712 and 714 can still have stiffeners at the edge, for example by flanging 74.

In order to make the material of this disposable arrangement according to FIG. 15 even thinner and thereby reduce the use of material without making handling more difficult, a further embodiment in the form of a frame arrangement is conceivable according to FIG. 17, consisting of a base frame 76 and optionally a cover frame 78, the two frames 76, 78 being able to be connected by means of a hinge 80 if desired, so that the two frames 76, 78 can be opened and closed in a convenient manner. The base frame 76 either forms receiving spaces 82, 84 and 86 for test plate arrangements of different sizes which are of the same design or, as here, also have different designs. A frame 76 according to FIG. 17 without intermediate walls 88 would, for example, be suitable for receiving a test plate 12 according to FIG. 1, either with a plate 20 already attached, possibly locked according to FIGS. 15, 16, or in the manner that the plate 20 is received by the cover frame 78, so that only when the two frame parts 76, 78 (see arrow 90) are closed do the plate 12 and the plate 20 come together and possibly lock, whereby the mixing could then take place in that the two frame parts 76, 78 are pressed against each other instead of the plates 12, 20 themselves. Of course, the frames 76, 78 are designed in such a way that the optical assessment can take place without hindrance, for which purpose the frames 76, 78 either consist of transparent material themselves again, or there are corresponding openings in the frame base 290 or cover base 94. Alternatively, additional trough-like, elongated receiving spaces 84 can be provided next to one another, for example to accommodate strip-shaped plates or plate combinations, as are shown in FIG. 15. Again, one plate could be accommodated in frame 76, the other plate in frame 78.

It is also conceivable to accommodate wells for only one sample at a time, in the form as shown by reference number 612 in FIG. 8, in the individual receiving spaces 86 according to FIG. 17, the frame 76 being able to include all of such receiving spaces 86.

The bottom 92 could also be designed by means of pin-like projections in such a way that such cups or bowls are nonetheless held in place without intermediate walls 88, while differently designed strip-shaped receptacles, for example the shape of FIG. 15, are also held by such projections 76 so that with a single frame structure according to FIG. 76 optionally large-area recordings, or strip-shaped recordings or individual cup-shaped or cup-shaped recordings can be securely held, while the upper frame 78 then has the matching recording devices, for example an individual part 620 according to FIG. 8, so that the sample 28 obtains the desired flat spread within a capillary space 30.

The lens-like device 54 could then also be carried by the frame 78.

The strap parts 76, 78 are reusable, even if the receptacles used therein, for example for blood samples, are disposable items according to FIG. 15.

The following FIGS. 18 to 23 then show in various views and representations a possible practical embodiment of a slide which can be inserted in a frame. 18A, 18B and 18C show in a top view, a side view and a view from the right a first (lower) strip-shaped plate 812, pressed from approx. 1 mm thick plastic material (such as polyamide), the strip 812 here being a total of 10 Adjacent receptacles 818 of square shape here, which are formed similarly to the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 and 16 by material pushed upwards. To reinforce it, the strip 812 has raised edges 875, 877, 879 which surround the receiving surfaces 818 in a box-like manner. Flag-like projections 881, 883 also emanate from the end face edge regions 877 and 879, which on the one hand facilitate handling, and on the other hand can serve as a marking area for patient data, sample data, and also for the dispensing of any test chemicals that may be present. From these edges 877, 879, lugs 885, 887 protrude inwards, with which lugs corresponding lugs 889, 890 of the second (upper) plate or strip shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C can hook, so that the two strips to lock together in their superimposed position. In the locked position, the receiving surfaces 814 of the strip 812 are aligned with the corresponding receiving surfaces 818 of the strip 814. The dimensions are chosen here so that the strip 818, which also has a box-like stiffening by the edges 891, 893, 895, also this box shape can be inserted into the box formed by the strip 812. Here, too, approaches 882, 884 are present, which on the one hand serve as alignment and locking means when inserting this strip into the corresponding frame 878 according to FIG. 21A, see the depressions 982 there, but on the other hand also serve for marking purposes in the manner already described can. To prevent the strip 814 from coming off the (upper) frame 878 can fall out again after insertion, serves a resiliently attached nose 896 on the two ends of the strip 814, which lies with its surface 897 behind a corresponding surface 997 of a projecting edge 996 of the frame 878 and thereby after the Inserting the strip into the two recesses 982 of the frame 878 and locking the strip by means of these lugs 296 behind the strip 996, the strip is firmly connected to the frame and can no longer fall out, even if, for example, this upper frame is folded down as it is can be seen, for example, in FIG. 22B.

The frame consists essentially of solid material, preferably again plastic, which can also be transparent, the construction details being shown in the figures.

Strips and frames are each constructed so that they cannot be mixed up, i.e. that is, a bottom strip cannot be placed in the top frame. For this purpose, a depression 1082 is provided in the lower frame, see Figs. 20A-D, which is wide enough to accommodate the corresponding tab-like extension 883 of the lower strip 812, while the corresponding extension 884 of the upper Stripe 814 does not fit here and is therefore immediately recognizable that the wrong strip is inserted. This also applies conversely to the lower frame, in which only the lower strip fits, while the upper strip cannot be inserted here.

As can be seen from FIGS. 18A and B, the lower strip 812 also has a locking projection 898 in order to fix the strip in the lower frame accordingly, for which purpose it has a projecting strip 1096 with a lower contact surface 1097, see FIG. 20B. The lower strip protrusion 898 is shaped differently from the corresponding one Projection 896 of the upper strip, the design being selected such that the holding force in the frame for the lower strip is slightly less than the holding force of the upper strip within the upper frame. This allows the following to be achieved: First, the lower strip is placed in the lower frame, the strip being jammed in the frame with the aid of the projections 898 to such an extent that it can no longer fall out of its own accord, and then the upper strip 814 becomes in the upper one The frame is inserted at the corresponding point aligned with the lower strip and clamped by means of the projection 896, it being possible for the frame 876 or 878 to lie flat on the work surface in this insertion position according to FIG. 22a. The samples are then applied to the receptacles 818 of, for example, the lower strip, and a test liquid is applied to the corresponding receptacles on the upper strip, if this does not already contain a factory-applied test substance, whereupon the upper frame is placed on the lower frame ( 22B), as a result of which the two strips with their receptacles 818 come together and interlock and lock with one another with their projections 887 and 890. Now the sample substance and test substance react with one another and give, for example, a precipitate that is visible through the transparent strip material surface. After completing the tests, the upper frame is removed from the lower frame again, for example by opening it again, whereupon the interlocked strips come loose from one of the frames, for example here from the lower frame, so that the interlocked strips remain in the upper frame and either with this to z. B. Control purposes are kept or removed from them and disposed of.

The connection of the two frame parts 876, 878 by means of a joint is explained in more detail in FIGS. 23a and 23b.

FIG. 23A shows a frame consisting of the frame parts 876 and 878 with a joint 880, the frame part 876 at its end carrying the joint 880 merging into an attachment 802 which is U-shaped in cross section and which opens at its open end is directed to the outer surface 803 of the frame part 876 and, with its closed end 804, projects beyond the inner surface 805 receiving the test strips to form a pivot bearing for the other frame part 878. In the inner end of the U, which forms a semicircular inner surface, there is inserted a bearing pin or pin 806 which can be slidably and rotatably received and which is fastened at both ends to a retaining tab 807 or merges into one which in turn laterally adjoins the (upper according to FIG 23B) frame part 878 is fastened, for example screwed by means of screws 808. The bearing pin 806 has a radial depression 809 near each of its two ends (there may be further recesses in between), which is oriented such that it points towards the open end of the U when the frame is closed and towards a pin or a screw 811 is aligned, which in the position shown in FIG. 23B extends close to the circumferential surface of the bearing pin 806, but does not extend into the depression 809 in the rest position of the frame. The bearing pin 806 is held in the position shown by a spring element 813, which is present, for example, in the form of a spiral spring placed around the pin 811, which is supported on the one hand on a locking strip 815 for the U-profile, on the other hand on the peripheral surface of the bearing pin 806 or on an intermediate piece slidably placed on this peripheral surface, not shown. If pressure is exerted on the lower and upper frame part 876, 878, the upper frame part 878 with the shaft 806 moves downward within the U-shaped profile 802 against the force of the spring 813 in the direction of the pin 811, in which case the pin 811 penetrates into the depression 809 so that the movement of the two frame parts 876, 878 towards and away from each other in their collapsed state is not affected by the presence of the pin 811.

This movement is used for mixing, for example, as already described.

In order to obtain a defined mixing movement of the same kind in all inserted specimen strips, it is expedient if the movement path of the two plates from one another and from one another is limited, for example in the present case by striking the shaft 806 on the bottom of the U-profile 802 ( Movement of the frame parts away from each other), on the other hand by the provision of stops between the two surfaces 805 and 817 of the frame parts facing each other in the closed position. These stops can be formed by the surfaces 805, 817 themselves, or by additionally attached stop projections or tabs 819 on one or both opposite surfaces 805, 817 of the frame parts 876, 878.

The construction described allows a stable guidance and alignment of the two frame parts 876, 878 to one another, so that it is ensured that, even in the case of very small receiving areas, the preparation liquid (on e.g. the lower frame part) and the test liquid (on z. B. the upper frame part) is ensured.

The design also ensures that a uniform parallel guidance is achieved when the two frame parts move with respect to one another, and that an identical stroke is achieved with all sample strips and thus also with all opposing individual samples, so that the mixing processes are the same for all samples are and z. B. meet a certain standard, so that it is ensured that different results do not result from different mixing intensities, which do not come about due to differences in preparation.

The construction described is also designed in such a way that it does not lead to canting when folded, since the compression of the two frame parts in the direction of arrows 823 is only possible when the two frame parts have reached the closed position, as shown in FIG. 23B . Previously, misalignment of bore 809 with pin 811 prevents shaft 806 from escaping the U-shaped end of part 802. These measures prevent the frame parts from being inadvertently moved towards one another in the region of their articulation during folding, which leads to an oblique alignment, so that the closing process is disturbed or other canting occurs.

The arrangement of a frame in which a large number of individual sample strips, each with a larger number of individual samples in turn, can be accommodated, also enables automation which is expedient in many cases. So the frame could be placed in a device that accomplishes the mixing process by, for example by magnetic devices or by pneumatic drive, the lifting movement of the two frame parts is forced towards each other, for example at a frequency of two lifting movements per second, so that at a stroke rate of about 50 to 60 for a thorough mix the total treatment time would be about 1/2 minute.

With a larger number of samples, the pressure to be applied is relatively large, so that a 50-fold lifting movement with the hands is larger for some operators Efforts required, so that a mechanical drive would also be useful for this reason.

A mechanical drive would also enable an even more uniform application of pressure, although an arrangement of compression spring devices 821 in the area of the stops 819, for example, could also remedy this. Such spring devices 821 could, for example, be attached to all four corners of the frame. If their compressive force does not significantly exceed that of the spring 813, so that the influence of the spring 813 is not negligible, such springs could only be arranged at the end facing away from the joint, in particular this applies if their compressive force would correspond approximately to that of the springs 813, so that ultimately a uniform distribution of the back pressure exerted by the springs at the four corners of the frame parts and then the overall springs would result. This uniform pressure at all four corners of the frame facilitates a uniform movement of the frame parts 876, 878 towards one another if this is carried out by hand, whereas in the case of mechanical operation, corresponding devices can be provided in the drive device which automatically do this. So could be by appropriate locking devices (for example, by suction cups or jaws) between z. B. the drive jaws of a vibrator drive and the externally accessible surfaces of the two frame parts 876, 878 can be achieved that they are forcibly moved with a certain stroke and a certain speed, regardless of the presence of the springs 813, 821.

COMMERCIAL EVALUATION

Slides of the type described can be evaluated commercially in medical technology as well as for chemical analyzes.

Claims (23)

1. Specimen slide (10) for wet or moist preparations consisting of a plate (12) made of a transparent material, with several receptacles (18) borne by the surface (14) for the preparations, a second plate (20), which can be set on top of the first plate (12), being provided, whose surface (24) is designed in such a way that it forms a smooth or slightly curved, spatial gap (30) extending over a surface with such a gap width (26) that the volume of the preparation substantially fills up the volume of the spatial gap, the specimen slide exhibiting an interlock mechanism which becomes active when first used and thereby forms a barrier against further use, characterized in that the interlock mechanisms (742, 743) facilitate a limited movement of the plates perpendicular to the plate plane (712, 714) against a spring force in order to alter the gap volume but does not permit renewed complete separation of the plates (712, 714) so that the interlock mechanisms are formed by two locking devices in each case (887, 885; 890, 889) arranged on opposite plates and so that the locking devices are inseparably connected to one another.
2. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the spring force is provided by compliant lugs (142, 242) projecting integrally from the plate material.
3. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plates (12, 20) are movable perpendicular to the plate plane with respect to one another (44) in such a way that the spatial gap volume can be enlarged and/or decreased by a factor of at least 2 with respect to the preparation volume.
4. Specimen slide as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacles (18) are formed by columnar projections (16) issuing from a substrate (12).
5. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the projections were formed by incorporating intersecting grooves (32, 34) in the plate (112).
6. Specimen slide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacles (118) are formed from bulges pressed out from a base plate (212) consisting of thin plastic material.
7. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the bulges form a concave, convex or flat surface for the receptacle and that the second plate forms bulges shaped to fit this, which bulges are also pressed out from a plate formed of thin plastic material.
8. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the first and/or second plate forms a lenticular swelling (48; 148) in the area of the receptacle.
9. Specimen slide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized by a frame (76, 78), into which the plate (712, 714) can be placed in such a way that mounting and movement of the plates with respect to one another are made possible by means of the frame.
10. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that the frame is a hinged frame with an upper and lower part (878, 876), which are swivel-connected to one another on one edge by means of a joint (999) which, at least in the closed hinge position, permits a limited movement of the frame parts with respect to each other in a direction vertical to the plane of the frame.
11. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 10, characterized in that the hinged frame (878, 876) has several receptacles lying beside each other (992; 1082) for strip-like plates (814, 812).
12. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 11, characterized in that the strip-like plates (812, 814) each form several receptacle surfaces (818), arranged beside each other in the longitudinal direction of the strip, for preparation and/or test liquid or ready applied test agent.
13. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 12, characterized in that two superimposed strip-like plates (12, 814) are connected on one edge, e.g. a narrow edge, by means of a joint and form a locking device on their opposite edge.
14. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 12, characterized in that two superimposed strip-like plates (812, 814) each form a locking device (887, 885; 890, 889) on at least two opposite edges such as their two narrow edges.
15. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least one, for example, the lower strip-like plate (812) exhibits on at least one of its narrow sides a flag-like lug (883) for the formation of a marking or inscription surface, for example for the indication by the manufacturer of a permanently applied test agent or for inscription by the user pertaining to the indication of preparation or patient data.
16. Specimen slide as claimed in Claim 15, characterized in that the other plate exhibits a flag-like lug which aligns with that of the first plate and covers the marking surface of the latter.
17. Specimen slide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the transparent material is plastic.
18. Use of a specimen slide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17 in the examination of blood.
19. Process for checking preparations which are arranged in the receptacles of a specimen slide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17, comprising the following steps:

    a) introducing the preparation into or onto the receptacle(s) of the first plate (12),

    c) putting on the second plate (20) for forming the gap volume (30) and sucking up preparation and test agent into the gap volume (30);

    d) optically assessing the preparation through the transparent material of the first and/or the second plate, the two plates being insolubly interlocked with one another by the locking devices arranged on opposite plates and the plate(s) (12; 20) being arranged in a frame (76, 78) during or after the process step c), so that after the process step c) the gap volume is cyclically altered by movement of the plates (12, 20) vertical to their planes in order to effect thereby mixing of the preparation and mixing thereof with the test agent and the cyclic alteration of the gap volume thus takes place so that the two frames (76, 78) are moved with respect to one another.
20. Process as claimed in Claim 19, characterized by process step b):
       introducing test agent into or onto the receptacles provided with the preparations near or at the preparation in the first plate or into or onto corresponding receptacles of the second plate (20) according to process step a).
21. Process as claimed in any one of Claims 19 or 20, characterized in that the arrangement of the plate(s) (12; 20) is made in a frame (76, 78) prior to step a).
22. Process as claimed in any one of Claims 19, 20 or 21, characterized in that according to the process step d) the two plates (12, 20) interlocked with one another are removed from the frame (76, 78) and replaced by new plates.
23. Process as claimed in Claim 22, characterized in that the frame is a hinged frame and the new plates can be inserted by fixing means in the lifted frame, that subsequently the specimens or test liquids are applied and then the hinged frame closed with interlocking of the plates, that then mixing takes place by movement of the frame parts towards each other, that, before or after the assessment, the frame is opened up again in order to assess and/or mark the interlocked plates remaining in one frame part and/or to replace them with new plates.

Images