JP2009126551A - Storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage container allowing a chemical fluid to fully permeate a sample and shortening time of permeation. <P>SOLUTION: This storage container 1 includes a storage body 10 having a plurality of storage parts 12 for storing a sample 50 and a cover body 30 attachable to and detachable from the body 10. The body 10 has a frame part 19, a bottom face part 25 having a plurality of first liquid passage holes separating a space formed by the frame part 19 into a first space and a second space on the cover side, wall parts 13 and 113 formed on the first space side defining the first space into the storage parts 12, grooves 16, 13a, and 113a provided on the frame part 19 and the wall parts 13, 113 constituting the storage parts 12, and a beam part provided on the second space side joined with the bottom face part 25. The cover body has a recess 32 with a plurality of the first liquid passage holes. The recess 32 and the grooves 16, 13a, and 113a partially overlap on each other and the recess 32 and the grooves 16, 13a, and 113a form second liquid passage holes 43 and 343. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage container for storing a biopsy sample or the like.

  A sample storage container used for preparation of a microscope specimen for biological examination such as medical treatment has a storage portion for storing a sample and a lid portion. The accommodating portion is divided into a plurality of compartment walls so that a plurality of samples are accommodated in one sample container.

During the specimen preparation process, the sample storage container is immersed in the chemical solution a plurality of times in a state where the sample is stored and the lid portion is covered. In such a liquid treatment, a groove is provided on the partition wall in order to facilitate the movement of the liquid between the plurality of storage units and to spread the chemical liquid uniformly inside the sample storage container (see Patent Document 1).
Utility Model Registration No. 3101868

  However, in the above-described sample storage container, when the chemical solution is immersed in the chemical solution, the flow of the chemical solution flowing into the sample storage container by the groove provided in the partition wall is separated from the sample, so that the chemical solution penetrates into the sample. There were problems such as insufficient or time consuming.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a container that can sufficiently infiltrate a chemical solution into a sample and can shorten the permeation time.

  In solving the above problems, the storage container of the present invention is a storage container comprising a storage body having a plurality of storage portions for storing a sample, and a lid body that is detachable from the storage body. The body includes a frame portion, a bottom surface portion having a plurality of first liquid passage holes that are combined with the frame portion and separate the space formed by the frame portion into a first space and a second space on the lid body side, A wall portion provided on the first space side that is coupled to the bottom surface portion and the frame portion and divides the first space into the accommodating portion, and is provided on the frame portion and the wall portion that constitute the accommodating portion. A groove portion and a beam portion provided on the second space side in combination with the bottom surface portion, and the lid body is provided with a plurality of second projections provided on the container side corresponding to the accommodation portion. A recess having one liquid passage hole, and the recess and the groove partly overlap each other, and the recess Wherein the groove and wherein the forming the second copies liquid hole.

  In the present invention, the concave portion, the groove portion, and the second groove portion provided in the lid part partially overlap each other, and the second liquid passage hole is formed by the concave portion and the groove portion, so that the container is immersed in the liquid. In this case, the distance between the liquid flow through the second communication hole and the sample can be reduced as compared with the case where the second liquid passage hole is formed only by the groove provided in the wall portion of the container. Therefore, liquid penetration into the sample can be sufficiently performed, and the liquid penetration time into the sample can be shortened. Furthermore, since the space formed by the frame portion is separated by the first space and the second space by the bottom surface portion, the accommodation portion is raised to the bottom, and compared with the case where the bottom is not raised, the second communication hole is interposed. The distance between the liquid flow and the sample can be further reduced. Therefore, liquid penetration into the sample can be sufficiently performed, and the liquid penetration time into the sample can be shortened.

  In addition, when the storage container is immersed in a liquid, the flow of the liquid into the storage container substantially parallel to the bottom surface portion is substantially unidirectional. Thus, since the inflow direction of the liquid into the storage container is substantially one direction, the liquid can be rapidly permeated into the storage container.

  Moreover, the groove part provided in the said frame part has a shape which narrows toward the inside of the said accommodating part from the said accommodating part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Thereby, the penetration of the liquid in the container is promoted.

  (Configuration of embedding cassette)

  The embedding cassette as a storage container is demonstrated as one Embodiment of this invention using FIGS. 1-10. The embedding cassette has a container and a lid.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embedding cassette 1 in which a lid 30 is attached to a container 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container 10, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container 10 of FIG. 2 viewed from the back side. 4 is a perspective view of the lid 30 and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 4 as viewed from the back side. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the container 10 as seen from above. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 7 and 8 are schematic views of the embedding cassette 1 in a state where the lid 30 is attached to the container 10 and the sample is stored. 7 is a cross-sectional view cut so as not to pass through the second groove portions 13a, 113a and the first groove portion 16, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view cut so as to pass through the second groove portions 13a, 113a and the first groove portion 16. . FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view of the container 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC ′ of FIG. 9 and shows a state in which the lid 30 is attached to the container 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the embedding cassette 1 includes a housing body 10 having a plurality of housing portions 12 for housing a sample, and a lid body 30 that can be attached to and detached from the housing body 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the container 10 includes a frame portion 19 and a space that is coupled to the frame portion 19 and formed by the frame portion 19. A first space 41 side that is coupled to the bottom surface portion 25 having the plurality of first liquid passage holes 14 and 26 separated into the space 42 and the bottom surface portion 25 and the frame portion 19 and divides the first space 41 into the plurality of accommodating portions 12. The wall portion 13 and the wall portion 113 provided on the wall portion 13, the second groove portions 13a and 113a provided on the wall portion 13 and 113 constituting the housing body 12, and the frame portion 19 constituting the housing body 12 are provided. One groove portion 16 and beam portions 17 and 18 provided on the second space 42 side in combination with the bottom surface portion 25 are provided.

  The first liquid passage holes 14 and 26 have a rectangular shape with a side of less than 0.5 mm, and in this embodiment, 0.4 mm. The size of the first liquid passage hole 14 can be appropriately designed so as to prevent the sample from being lost from the storage unit 12 and to easily flow into the embedding cassette 1 when immersed in the liquid.

  In the present embodiment, six accommodating portions 12 are provided. Each accommodating portion 12 is provided along the bottom surface portion 25, the frame portion 19, and the x-axis direction in the drawing, intersects one wall portion 13 and the wall portion 13 along the x-axis direction, and extends along the y-axis direction. A partition is formed by the two wall portions 13 and the one wall portion 113 provided. In the drawing of the present embodiment, two of the six accommodating portions 12 are illustrated with smaller bottom areas than the other four accommodating portions, but all the accommodating portions have the same bottom area. They may have the same volume.

  Further, two space portions 29 exist between the wall portion 113 and the frame portion 19, and a plurality of first liquid passage holes 26 are provided in the bottom surface portion 25 corresponding to the space portion 29. In the present embodiment, the first liquid passage hole 26 is provided in the bottom surface portion 25 corresponding to the space portion 29, but the bottom surface portion 25 corresponding to the space portion 29 may not be provided, and a penetrating cavity may be used.

  Two or three second groove portions 13a are provided for each side of the wall body 13 corresponding to each housing portion 12 having a substantially rectangular planar shape (xy planar shape). The second groove 13a is a cut having a depth of about one third of the height of the wall 13 in the z-axis direction.

  The aggregate of the plurality of accommodating portions 12 has a substantially rectangular planar shape, and in this embodiment, the aggregate is obtained when the embedding cassette 1 is immersed in the liquid on each of a pair of opposing sides of the aggregate. A first groove portion 16 and a second groove portion 113 that form liquid passage holes through which liquid flows are provided.

  All the corners 24 on the bottom surface of the housing part 12 are rounded.

  The frame portion 19 has a rectangular planar shape (xy planar shape), and the first groove portion 16 is provided on the first space 41 side of the side wall 19 a corresponding to one side of the frame portion 19. The 1st groove part 16 has the streamline shape which narrows toward the inside of the accommodating part 12 from the accommodating part 12 (refer FIG. 9).

  A step portion 22 is provided for each housing portion 12 in the frame portion 19 along the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the housing body 10. In the step portion 22, two fourth liquid passage holes 22 a are provided for each storage portion 12. The identification of the sample accommodated in each accommodating part 12 can be made easy by attaching | subjecting a number etc. to the level difference part 22, for example. The fourth liquid passage hole 22a has a rectangular shape with a side of less than 0.5 mm, and in this embodiment, 0.4 mm.

  The side wall 19a side is provided with a slope portion 11 coupled to the frame portion 19, and different embedding cassettes can be identified by, for example, naming the slope portion. In addition, in FIG. 1, the slope portion 11 has a slope shape that expands downward in the drawing, so that even when the embedding cassette 1 is placed on a desk or the like, the matters entered on the slope portion 11 can be easily read. .

  On the side wall 19 a side, three fifth liquid passage holes 20 and 21 are provided between the inclined surface portion 11 and the accommodating portion 12. The fifth liquid passage hole 21 located in the middle of the three fifth liquid passage holes also serves as a first claw insertion hole into which a first claw portion of the lid 30 described later is inserted.

  A recess 23 provided on a part of the side wall facing the side wall 19a of the frame part 19 is provided with a second claw engaging part (not shown) to which a second claw part of a lid 30 described later is caught.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the space formed by the frame portion 19 by the bottom surface portion 25 is separated into a first space 41 and a second space 42, so that the housing portion 12 is in a raised state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the back surface of the container 10 has a beam portion 17 corresponding to the wall portion 13 along the x-axis direction and a beam portion 18 corresponding to the wall portion 13 along the y-axis direction. Yes. In addition, two third grooves 28 are provided on the side of the second space 42 of the side wall 19 a of the side wall 19.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid body 30 has a concave portion 32 having a plurality of first liquid passage holes 31 provided so as to protrude toward the housing body 10 corresponding to the housing portion 12.

  The lid body 30 is provided with a first claw portion 33 that is inserted into the fifth liquid passage hole 21 that is the first claw insertion hole of the container 10. Moreover, the 2nd claw part 35 caught on the 2nd claw engaging part is provided in the edge | side opposite to the edge | side in which the 1st claw part 33 of the substantially rectangular-shaped lid 30 is provided. The first claw portion 33 of the lid body 30 is inserted into the fifth liquid passage hole 21 of the container body 10, and the second claw portion of the lid body 30 is hooked on the second claw engaging portion of the container body 10. The lid body 30 can be attached to.

  A fourth groove 36 is provided for each recess 32 on the side opposite to the container 10 side of the lid 30. The fourth groove portion 36 is provided so as to connect the concave portion 32 and the outer peripheral portion of the lid body 30 in plan view.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, in a state in which the lid body 30 is attached to the container 10, the concave portion 32 and the second groove portion 13 a partially overlap with each other on the yz plane, and the concave portion 32 and the second groove portion. The second liquid passage hole 43 is formed by 13a. Similarly, the recess 32 and the second groove 113 partially overlap each other on the yz plane to form the second liquid passage hole 143, and the recess 32 and the first groove 16 overlap each other on the yz plane. A second liquid passage hole 343 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the second liquid passage holes 43, 143, and 343 have a width a (width along the y-axis direction) of less than 0.5 mm, for example, in order to prevent loss of the sample 50 from the storage unit 12. It is desirable to be In addition, when the embedding cassette 1 is immersed in the liquid, it is desirable that the width a is 0.4 mm or more so that the liquid can easily flow into the housing portion 12 through the second liquid passage hole. In the present embodiment, the width a is 0.4 mm.

  In the present embodiment, when the embedding cassette 1 in which the sample 50 is accommodated is immersed in the liquid, the liquid enters the accommodating portion 12 from the vertical direction (z-axis direction) through the first liquid passage holes 14 and 31. The liquid penetrates into the accommodating portion 12 in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) through the second liquid passage holes 43, 143, and 343. The liquid can be circulated between the storage portions 12 through the second liquid passage hole 43.

  FIG. 11A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the liquid flow 81 and the sample 50 in this embodiment in which the second liquid passage hole 43 is formed by the lid 30 having the recess 32 and the second groove 13a. is there. FIG. 11B schematically shows the positional relationship between the liquid flow 82 and the sample 50 in the comparative example in which the lid 230 is flat and the second liquid passage hole 243 is formed by the groove 213 a provided in the wall 213 of the housing part. It is sectional drawing.

  As described above, the upper limit of the size of the second liquid passage hole is almost limited to prevent sample loss. Therefore, when the second liquid passage hole having the same size is provided, the liquid flow 81 in the case where the second liquid passage hole 43 is formed by the concave portion 32 and the second groove portion 13a of the lid 30 shown in FIG. The distance d1 from the sample 50 can be made shorter than the distance d2 between the liquid flow 82 and the sample 50 when the second liquid passage hole 243 is formed only by the groove 213a shown in FIG. Can be brought close to the sample. Thereby, the liquid permeation into the sample 50 can be sufficiently performed, the liquid permeation time into the sample can be shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the embedding cassette is shape | molded by injection molding. In the present embodiment, a second groove is provided in the wall of the container, and a recess is provided in the lid. The second groove and the recess form a second liquid passage hole in the container in the state of the embedding cassette. Therefore, in the injection molding, molding is easier than forming a hole in the container and making it a liquid passage hole.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the embedding cassette 1 is immersed in the liquid by providing the first groove portion 16 having a streamline shape that narrows from the outside of the housing portion 12 toward the inside of the housing portion 12, FIG. As shown, the resistance of the flow of the liquid flowing into the liquid embedding cassette 1 can be reduced. Therefore, the penetration of the liquid into the accommodating portion 12 is promoted in the liquid immersion process, and the working efficiency is improved. Further, by providing the first groove portion 16 that narrows from the outside of the housing portion 12 toward the inside of the housing portion 12, the liquid inflow direction substantially along the x-axis direction is directed from the side wall 19a to the side wall facing the side wall 19a. It tends to flow in one direction. As a result, penetration of the liquid into the container is promoted.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the accommodating part 12 is raised, compared with the case where the bottom is not raised, the flow of the liquid in the x-axis direction and the sample 50 can be made closer. Thereby, the liquid permeation into the sample 50 can be sufficiently performed, the liquid permeation time into the sample can be shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

  Furthermore, by providing the third groove portion 28 on the back side of the container 10, the liquid permeability is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the physical strength of the container 10 is improved by providing the beam portions 17 and 18. Therefore, rattling of the container 10 on the adapter during the slicing step of the sample after embedding the paraffin described later can be suppressed, and the stability can be improved.

  Moreover, since the corner | angular part 24 has the roundness of the accommodating part 12, the operativity of tweezers at the time of accommodating and taking out a sample with tweezers improves.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the fourth groove portion 36 is provided in the lid body 30, the liquid easily flows toward the concave portion 32 during the liquid immersion, and the inside of the storage portion 12 through the first liquid passage hole 31. The penetration of the liquid into the is promoted.

  (Biopsy sample processing method)

  Next, a biopsy sample processing method using the above-described embedding cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, illustration was abbreviate | omitted about the detailed structure of the embedding cassette, and the embedding cassette was simplified and illustrated.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing the sample 50 placed in the container 10 of the embedding cassette 1. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are schematic diagrams for explaining the liquid treatment process of the embedding cassette 1 in which the biopsy sample 50 is accommodated. FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of an embedding dish 60 that accommodates the biopsy sample 50. FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a process of embedding the biopsy sample 50 in paraffin. FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a process of slicing the paraffin block 70 in which the biopsy sample 50 is embedded. FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a state in which a thin sliced piece is placed on a slide glass.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12, specimen samples such as stomach polyps, mammary glands, and prostate tissue taken out from the body are placed in the respective accommodating portions 12 of the accommodating body 10 of the embedding cassette 1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the lid 30 is attached to the container 10, and the embedding cassette 1 is immersed in a container 51 in which formalin, chloroform, alcohol, and the like are housed. In this embodiment, since the embedding cassette 1 in which the liquid penetration described above is performed quickly is used, the liquid penetration is good and the preparation of the specimen sample can be completed completely. That is, the water in the sample can be completely replaced with the chemical solution, and the decomposition action can be stopped by coagulating the protein in the sample and the sample can be made insoluble. Here, if the preparation of the specimen sample is incomplete, excess moisture will degrade the cells and proteins in the specimen, and the specimen specimen to be created afterwards will be incomplete. It becomes an obstacle in doing. Moreover, the penetration time can be shortened with the improvement of the liquid penetration rate.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the embedding cassette 1 is continuously processed by being immersed in containers 52 to 56 each containing alcohol and xylene having different concentrations in an embedding machine. Thereby, excess water and oil contained in the specimen sample can be removed. In this embodiment, since the embedding cassette 1 in which the liquid penetration described above is performed quickly is used, the penetration of the liquid into the embedding cassette 1 is good and the water and oil content of the specimen sample is sufficiently removed. Can do. Moreover, the penetration time can be shortened with the improvement of the liquid penetration rate.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the processed specimen sample is taken out from the embedding cassette 1 and transferred into the accommodating portion 61 of the embedding dish 60.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the container 10 of the embedding cassette 1 is placed on the embedding dish 60. And after inject | pouring a paraffin liquid in the accommodating part 61 of the embedding dish 60 and the accommodating part of the accommodating body 10 through the 1st liquid passage hole of the accommodating part of the accommodating body 10, paraffin is hardened. Thereby, the paraffin block 70 in which the sample 50 is embedded is obtained.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the container 10 is turned upside down, and the paraffin block 70 is taken out together with the container 10 from the embedding dish 60. Then, the container 10 to which the paraffin block 70 is fixed is mounted on an adapter of a slicing machine (not shown), and the paraffin block 70 is thinly sliced with a cutter 71. If the container 10 rattles during this slicing step, it cannot be sliced well, the sample specimen tissue is destroyed, and a good specimen cannot be obtained. On the other hand, the container 10 used in the present embodiment is provided with the beam portions 17 and 18, so that the stability on the adapter is good, the slicing process can be performed well, and a good specimen is obtained. be able to.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the sliced sample 50 can be placed on a slide glass 80 and observed using a microscope.

It is a perspective view of an embedding cassette. It is a perspective view of a container. It is the perspective view which looked at the container of FIG. 2 from the back surface side. It is a perspective view of a lid. It is the perspective view which looked at the cover body of FIG. 4 from the back surface side. It is the top view which looked at the container from the top. It is the schematic sectional drawing cut | disconnected by line AA 'of FIG. It is the schematic sectional drawing cut | disconnected by line BB 'of FIG. It is a partial enlarged plan view of a container. It is the schematic sectional drawing cut | disconnected by line CC 'of FIG. 9, and the figure of the state by which the cover body was mounted | worn with the container is shown. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the flow of the liquid in this embodiment and a comparative example, and a sample. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the place which puts a political examination sample in the container of an embedding cassette. It is the schematic explaining the liquid processing process (the 1) of the embedding cassette in which the biopsy sample was accommodated. It is the schematic explaining the liquid processing process (the 2) of the embedding cassette in which the biopsy sample was accommodated. It is a schematic perspective view of the embedding dish which accommodates a biopsy sample. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the process of embedding a biopsy sample in paraffin. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the process of slicing the paraffin block in which the biopsy sample was embedded. It is a top view which shows the state which mounted the sliced thin piece on the slide glass.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Embedding cassette, 10 ... Container, 12 ... Housing part, 13, 113 ... Wall part, 13a, 113a ... 2nd groove part, 14, 26, 31 ... 1st flow hole, 16 ... 1st groove part , 17, 18 ... beam part, 19 ... frame part, 19a ... side wall, 25 ... bottom face part, 30 ... lid, 32 ... concave part, 41 ... first space, 42 ... second space, 43, 143, 343 ... first 2 liquid holes, 50 ... sample

Claims (3)

A storage container comprising a storage body having a plurality of storage portions for storing a sample, and a lid body that is detachable from the storage body,
The container includes a frame portion, and a bottom surface portion having a plurality of first liquid passage holes that combine with the frame portion and separate a space formed by the frame portion into a first space and a second space on the lid side. A wall portion provided on the first space side, which is coupled to the bottom surface portion and the frame body and divides the first space into the housing portion, and is provided on the frame portion and the wall portion constituting the housing portion. A groove portion, and a beam portion provided on the second space side in combination with the bottom surface portion,
The lid has a recess having a plurality of first liquid passage holes provided to protrude toward the container corresponding to the container.
The container, wherein the concave portion and the groove portion partially overlap each other, and the concave portion and the groove portion form a second liquid passage hole. 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein when the storage container is immersed in a liquid, the flow of the liquid into the storage container substantially parallel to the bottom surface portion is substantially unidirectional. Containment container. 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the groove provided in the frame portion has a shape that narrows from the outside of the storage part toward the inside of the storage part.

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