JP2018017693A - Specimen carrying device, specimen image picking up system, and specimen analyzing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen carrying device that can enhance the handling ease of specimen slides in visual observation.SOLUTION: A specimen carrying device comprises: a specimen accommodating unit carrier for carrying a first specimen accommodating unit housing plural smear specimen slides to a specimen picking-up position; a specimen transferrer that takes smear specimen slides of an image pick-up object of a specimen image picking up device out of the first specimen accommodating unit carried to the specimen picking-up position, transfers them to the specimen image picking up device and houses the smear specimen slides picked up by the specimen image picking up device into a second specimen accommodating unit different from the first specimen accommodating unit; and a storage in which the first specimen accommodating unit and the second specimen accommodating unit are stored.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample transport device, a sample image imaging system, and a sample analysis system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a microscope system is known in which a specimen slide in which a biological sample (for example, blood) is smeared on a slide glass is transported to a microscope unit and the specimen slide is imaged by the microscope unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 15, the microscope system described in Patent Document 1 takes out a specimen slide 300 to be imaged from a multi-sheet cassette 301 that accommodates a plurality of specimen slides 300, and when imaging is completed by the microscope unit, The prepared specimen slide 300 is returned to the multi-sheet cassette 301. A supply arm 304 and a discharge arm 305 are provided on a movable base 303 attached to the support column 302 so as to be movable up and down. The supply arm 304 supplies the specimen slide 300 of the multi-sheet cassette 301 to the stage 306 of the microscope unit, and the discharge arm 305 discharges the specimen slide 300 from the stage 306.

JP 2012-13594 A

  In a specimen container such as a multi-sheet cassette described in Patent Document 1, not only a specimen slide to be imaged but also a specimen slide that is not an imaging object, for example, a specimen slide that is observed by a user's visual observation may be mixed. is there. When the specimen slide is automatically imaged, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-70932, generally, immersion oil is dropped onto the smear surface and imaged. When the specimen slide is imaged using immersion oil, the oil adheres to the specimen slide. If the specimen slide after imaging is returned to the multi-sheet cassette, the non-imaging specimen slides contained in the multi-sheet cassette are also oiled. There is a risk of getting dirty. Therefore, the handleability of the specimen slide when performing visual observation may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a specimen transport device, a specimen image imaging system, and a specimen analysis system that can improve the handling of a specimen slide during visual observation. It is an object.

(1) A sample transport device according to the present invention is a sample transport device for transporting a smear sample slide smeared with a sample to a sample image capturing device, and picks up a first sample container containing a plurality of smear sample slides. A smear slide to be imaged by the sample image capturing device is taken out from the sample container transporting unit for transporting to the position and the first sample container transported to the sample pick-up position, and transferred to the sample image capturing device. , A specimen transfer section for accommodating a smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device in a second specimen container different from the first specimen container, the first specimen container and the second specimen container And a storage part for storing the tool.

  In the sample transport device of the present invention, the smear sample slide imaged by the sample image imaging device is accommodated in a sample container that is different from the sample container in which the smear sample slide before imaging is accommodated. Even when the specimen slide is imaged using oil, it is possible to prevent the specimen slide that is not the imaging target from being soiled by the immersion oil. Therefore, when performing visual observation of a specimen slide that has not been imaged, the user can take out a specimen container that contains a specimen slide that is not soiled with oil from the storage unit and perform visual observation. Handling can be improved.

(2) In the specimen transport apparatus according to (1), the specimen transport section includes the specimen image imaging apparatus among a plurality of smear specimen slides housed in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pickup position. The smear specimen slide to be imaged by the sample is taken out from the first specimen container and transferred to the specimen image imaging apparatus, and the smear specimen slide not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus is transported to the specimen pick-up position. It can be configured to remain accommodated in one specimen container. In this case, since the smear sample slide that is visually observed by the microscope remains in the first sample container, not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device, analysis can be performed efficiently.

(3) In the specimen transport device according to (1) or (2), the specimen container transport section transports the first specimen container that houses a plurality of smear specimen slides to the specimen pickup position and the first. A first transport unit that transports the sample container to the storage unit, and a second transport unit that transports the second sample container that stores the smear sample slide imaged by the sample image capturing device to the storage unit. Can be. In this case, since the first sample container is transported by a transport unit that is different from the transport unit of the second sample container that stores the smear sample slide that may be contaminated by immersion oil, a sample slide that is not an imaging target is used. It is possible to suppress contamination by immersion oil.

(4) In the specimen transport device of (3) above, a first supply region and a smear specimen slide that receive a first specimen container that contains a plurality of smear specimen slides from a smear specimen preparation device that produces a smear specimen slide are accommodated. A second supply region in which a second sample container is not disposed, and the first transport unit is a first sample container supplied to the first supply region, and the sample The first sample storage device transported to the pickup position is transported to the storage unit, and the second transport unit is a second sample storage device supplied to the second supply region, and is imaged by the sample image capturing device. The second specimen container that accommodates the smear specimen slide that has been prepared can be configured to be conveyed to the storage section. In this case, the transport path of the first specimen container and the transport path of the second specimen container can be divided to use both specimen containers properly, and only the second specimen container that may be contaminated by immersion oil is used. The cleaning efficiency of the specimen container can be increased, such as frequent cleaning.

(5) In the specimen transport apparatus of (4), the first supply area may have an interrupt specimen container setting area in which a specimen container in which a manually prepared smear slide is accommodated is set. . In this case, analysis flexibility can be enhanced, for example, priority is given to analysis of smear specimen slides that require urgent action.

(6) In the sample transport device according to (1) to (5), the sample transport unit is configured to transfer the smear sample slide to be imaged based on the identification information acquired from the smear sample slide taken out by the sample transport unit. It can comprise so that it may transfer toward a sample image imaging device. In this case, by adding identification information to the smear sample slide, the smear sample slide to be imaged can be transferred to the sample image imaging device by the sample transfer unit.

(7) In the specimen transport device of (6), an identification information acquisition unit is provided for acquiring the identification information given to the smear sample slide, and the identification information acquisition unit images the smear sample slide. An identification unit that includes an imaging unit and that indicates that the imaging by the specimen image imaging device is necessary is transferred to the specimen image imaging device for the smear specimen slide included in the image captured by the imaging unit It can be. In this case, since the identification image is included in the image captured by the imaging unit, the smear sample slide can be transferred to the sample image capturing device based on the image.

(8) In the sample transport device according to (1) to (7), the sample image capturing device may include an oil application unit that applies oil to a sample smeared on a smear sample slide. In this case, it is possible to improve the resolution of an image captured by applying oil to a specimen smeared on a smear specimen slide by oil application.

(9) A specimen image imaging system according to the present invention includes a specimen image imaging apparatus that images a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen, and a specimen image transport apparatus that transports the smear specimen slide to the specimen image imaging apparatus. In the imaging system, the sample transport device includes a sample container transport unit that transports a first sample container that houses a plurality of smear slides to a sample pick-up position, and a first sample container that is transported to the sample pick-up position. A smear slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device is taken out from the tool, transferred to the specimen image imaging device, and the smear slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device is different from the first specimen container. A specimen transfer section for accommodating the two specimen containers, and a storage section for storing the first specimen container and the second specimen container.

  In the specimen image imaging system of the present invention, the smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device is accommodated in a specimen container different from the specimen container in which the smear specimen slide before imaging is accommodated, Even when the specimen slide is imaged using the immersion oil, it is possible to prevent the specimen slide that is not the imaging target from being soiled by the immersion oil. Therefore, when performing visual observation of a specimen slide that has not been imaged, the user can take out a specimen container that contains a specimen slide that is not soiled with oil from the storage unit and perform visual observation. Handling can be improved.

(10) In the specimen image imaging system according to (9), the specimen transporting unit captures the specimen image among a plurality of smear specimen slides accommodated in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pickup position. The smear specimen slide to be imaged by the apparatus is taken out from the first specimen container and transferred to the specimen image imaging apparatus, and the smear specimen slide not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus is transported to the specimen pickup position. It can be configured to remain accommodated in the first specimen container. In this case, since the smear sample slide that is visually observed by the microscope remains in the first sample container, not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device, analysis can be performed efficiently.

(11) The specimen analysis system of the present invention includes a smear preparation apparatus that produces a smear slide on which a specimen is smeared, a specimen image imaging apparatus that images a smear slide on which a specimen has been smeared, and the smear preparation apparatus. A specimen analysis system comprising: a specimen transport apparatus that transports a smear specimen slide supplied from the specimen image capturing apparatus to the specimen image capturing apparatus, wherein the specimen transport apparatus includes a first specimen container that houses a plurality of smear slides. A smear sample slide to be imaged by the sample image capturing device is taken out from the sample container transporting unit for transporting to the sample pick-up position and the first sample container transported to the sample pick-up position. The smear specimen slide that has been transferred and imaged by the specimen image capturing device is accommodated in a second specimen container different from the first specimen container. It has a sample transporting section of the fit, and a reservoir for the first sample receiving equipment and the second sample-containing assembly is stored.

  In the specimen analysis system of the present invention, the smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device is accommodated in a specimen container separate from the specimen container in which the smear specimen slide before imaging is accommodated. Even when the specimen slide is imaged using oil, it is possible to prevent the specimen slide that is not the imaging target from being soiled by the immersion oil. Therefore, when performing visual observation of a specimen slide that has not been imaged, the user can take out a specimen container that contains a specimen slide that is not soiled with oil from the storage unit and perform visual observation. Handling can be improved.

(12) In the sample analysis system according to (11), the sample transfer unit includes the sample image imaging device among a plurality of smear sample slides stored in a first sample storage tool transported to the sample pickup position. The smear specimen slide to be imaged by the sample is taken out from the first specimen container and transferred to the specimen image imaging apparatus, and the smear specimen slide not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus is transported to the specimen pick-up position. It can be configured to remain accommodated in one specimen container. In this case, since the smear sample slide that is visually observed by the microscope remains in the first sample container, not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device, analysis can be performed efficiently.

  According to the sample transport device, sample image imaging system, and sample analysis system of the present invention, it is possible to improve the handleability of the sample slide when performing visual observation.

It is a plane explanatory view of one embodiment of the sample analysis system of the present invention. It is a perspective explanatory view of a specimen slide. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing of the dyeing tank and transfer part of a smear preparation apparatus. It is a perspective explanatory view of a specimen container. It is front explanatory drawing of a specimen container. It is a perspective explanatory view of the principal part of the 1st conveyance part. It is a perspective explanatory view of a stopper. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing of the 1st conveyance part containing the interruption sample container setting area | region. It is a perspective explanatory view of a specimen transfer part. FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of a main part of the specimen transfer unit shown in FIG. 9. It is a flowchart which shows the determination procedure whether it is a sample slide of an imaging target. It is a plane explanatory view of a horizontal movement mechanism. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of a horizontal movement mechanism. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of a horizontal movement mechanism. It is plane explanatory drawing of the conventional smear preparation apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a sample transport device, a sample image system, and a sample analysis system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to these illustrations, is shown by the claim, and intends that all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claim are included.

[Sample analysis system]
A sample analysis system AN including a sample transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a smear sample preparation device 10, a sample transport device 100, and a sample image imaging device 200, as shown in FIG. . The specimen slide produced by the smear preparation apparatus 10 and supplied to the specimen transport apparatus 100 is supplied to the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 by the specimen transport apparatus 100. The smear preparation apparatus 10, the specimen transport apparatus 100, and the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 can automatically perform a series of operations from preparation of a specimen slide on which a specimen such as blood is smeared to imaging of the specimen. In the present specification, the smear preparation system 10 is configured by the smear preparation apparatus 10 and the specimen transport apparatus 100. A system or apparatus constituted by the sample transport device 100 and the sample image capturing device 200 is referred to as a sample image capturing system I. In the embodiment to be described later, the sample image capturing system I is configured by the sample transport device 100 and the sample image capturing device 200 which are independent from each other. However, the sample image capturing system I and the sample image capturing device 200 are integrated. It is also possible to configure as. For example, the main part of each apparatus can also be accommodated in a common casing. The smear preparation apparatus 10 and the specimen image imaging system I constitute a specimen analysis system.

  In this specification, the X direction shown in FIG. 1 will be described as the left-right direction, the Y direction as the front-rear direction, and the Z direction as the up-down direction. In FIG. 1, the lower side is the front side, and the upper side is the rear side. The smear preparation apparatus 10 is arranged on the right side of the specimen conveyance apparatus 100, and the specimen conveyance apparatus 100 is arranged on the front side of the specimen image imaging apparatus 200. Has been. A part of the sample transport device 100 is disposed so as to overlap the front side of the sample image capturing device 200. Further, in the present specification, “horizontal” may be described in the meaning of the left-right direction, and “vertical” may be described in the meaning of the front-rear direction.

[Smear preparation equipment]
A smear preparation apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is an apparatus that prepares a specimen slide by smearing blood, which is a specimen of a subject, on a slide glass and performing processing such as drying and staining. As shown in FIG. 2, the specimen slide 11 is made of a rectangular glass plate, and the specimen is smeared at the central portion 11a. A frost portion 12 which is an identification information printing area, which will be described later, is provided on an upper portion which is one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the specimen slide 11 (see FIG. 2A). The frost portion 12 is a region where a printable process is performed by coating with a synthetic resin or the like. In the present specification, not only the specimen smearing process completed in the smear preparing apparatus 10, but also a slide glass provided with the frost portion 12 that is supplied to the smear preparing apparatus 10 for performing the smearing process. This is called slide 11.

  The identification information printed or printed on the frost unit 12 includes sample identification information m and imaging necessity identification information n as shown in FIG. The sample identification information m is information for identifying a sample such as a sample number, date, reception number, and subject's name, and is printed on the frost unit 12 in the form of a barcode, characters, symbols, and the like. The imaging necessity identification information n is information for identifying whether or not the specimen is an imaging target of the sample image imaging apparatus 200. Whether the sample is an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 or the object to be visually inspected by a microscope can be input to the host computer in advance when accepting the inspection. The imaging necessity identification information n can be included together with the specimen identification information m, for example, in one barcode. On the other hand, imaging necessity identification information n can be printed on the frost portion 12 separately from the specimen identification information m. In the latter case, it is desirable to use characters or symbols that are not used in the specimen identification information m as the imaging necessity identification information n. Examples of the imaging necessity identification information n include various characters such as alphabets A, B, and C, and various symbols such as ▲, ●, ■, and ◆, but are not limited thereto. It is not something. In order to distinguish even when alphabet is used for the specimen identification information m, a symbol obtained by overlapping or combining two letters of the alphabet may be used as the imaging necessity identification information n. The specimen identification information m is usually information for identifying the specimen, but based on the specimen identification information m, an inquiry is made to an external host computer as to whether or not imaging of the specimen is necessary. It is also possible to determine whether or not the specimen slide 11 is an imaging target based on the result obtained from the above. Therefore, this specimen identification information m is also included in the “identification information regarding the necessity of imaging by the sample image capturing apparatus” in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, the smear preparation apparatus 10 includes a staining tank 20, a transfer unit 30, a cleaning tank 40, a drying tank 50, a blower unit 60, a slide supply unit 82, and printing. A part 83, a smearing part 84, a drying part 85, and a slide storage part 86 are provided. The staining tank 20, the cleaning tank 40, the drying tank 50, and the air blowing unit 60 constitute a staining unit 81 in the smear preparation apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the smear part 84, the staining part 81, and the drying part 85 smear the specimen on the slide to produce a smear specimen slide.
The smear preparation apparatus 10 further supplies a staining liquid 13 and a cleaning liquid 14 to the staining tank 20 and the cleaning tank 40, respectively, a fluid circuit section 70 for discharging, a transfer section 30, a blower unit 60, and the like. And a control unit 80 for controlling the operation. The control unit 80 is a computer that includes a CPU, a memory, and the like (not shown).

The slide supply unit 82 stores a large number of unused specimen slides 11 before smearing the specimen. The slide supply unit 82 supplies the specimen slides 11 before smearing to the printing unit 83 one by one.
The printing unit 83 can print various types of information such as sample identification information and imaging necessity identification information on the frost unit 12 which is a printing area of the specimen slide 11. The printing unit 83 transfers the printed specimen slide 11 to the smearing unit 84.

  The smearing section 84 sucks the specimen by a specimen suction mechanism (not shown) and smears the specimen on the central portion 11a of the specimen slide 11 sent from the printing section 83. The smearing unit 84 transfers the specimen slide 11 after the smearing process to the drying unit 85.

  The drying unit 85 has a function of receiving the specimen slide 11 on which the specimen is smeared from the smearing section 84 and drying the central part 11a on which the specimen is smeared.

  In the staining unit 81, the staining process and the cleaning process are respectively performed in the staining tanks 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, and 20 e and the cleaning tanks 40 a and 40 b with respect to the specimen-stained specimen slide 11 that is dried in the drying unit 85. Done. Thereafter, a drying process is performed in the drying tank 50. When the staining of the specimen slide 11 is completed, the stained specimen slide 11 is sent to the slide storage unit 86. The sample slide 11 is transferred between these parts by the transfer part 30.

  The staining tank 20 is formed in a container shape, and a staining solution is stored therein so that the specimen slide 11 on which the specimen is smeared can be immersed. Further, the washing tank 40 is also formed in a container shape, and a washing liquid is stored in the inside so that the stained specimen slide 11 can be immersed. In the smear preparation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, three staining tanks 20a, 20b, 20c, a cleaning tank 40a, two staining tanks 20d, 20e, and a cleaning tank 40b are sequentially arranged along the Y-axis direction. These tanks are integrally formed of synthetic resin as one tank. In addition, what is necessary is just to select suitably according to the content of the dyeing | staining process, the number of processes, etc., and the number of the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tanks 40 is not specifically limited in this invention.

  Partition sections 21 and 41 are provided in the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tank 40, respectively. The specimen slide 11 is inserted between the adjacent partition portions 21 or between the adjacent partition portions 41, and is held or positioned by these partition portions 21 and 41.

  The transfer unit 30 is provided to hold and transfer the specimen slide 11 on which the specimen is smeared. The transfer unit 30 is configured so that the specimen slides 11 can be taken in and out one by one in the staining tank 20 or the washing tank 40. As described above, various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the transfer unit 30 for taking in and out the specimen slides 11 one by one. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, three axes including a hand portion 31 that is movable in the horizontal direction (X direction and Y direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction) and holds the specimen slide 11. An orthogonal robot is used. As the hand unit 31, for example, an opening / closing mechanism that can grip the specimen slide 11 and a suction mechanism that sucks and grips a predetermined portion of the specimen slide 11 with a negative pressure can be used.

  The transfer unit 30 includes a first transfer unit 30a and a second transfer unit 30b. Both the 1st transfer part 30a and the 2nd transfer part 30b are arrange | positioned above the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tank 40 (Z1 direction). The first transfer unit 30 a and the second transfer unit 30 b can move in the horizontal direction (X direction and Y direction) independently of each other by the moving mechanism 32.

  The moving mechanism 32 includes a Y-axis rail 33a and a Y-axis slider 33b in the Y direction, an X-axis rail 34a and an X-axis slider 34b in the X direction, and a Y-axis motor 33c and an X-axis motor 34c. As the Y-axis motor 33c and the X-axis motor 34c, for example, a stepping motor or a servo motor can be employed.

  The Y-axis slider 33b is attached to the lower surface side (Z2 direction) of the Y-axis rail 33a, and is movable along the Y-axis rail 33a. The Y-axis motor 33c moves the Y-axis slider 33b in the Y direction via a transmission mechanism (not shown). As the transmission mechanism, for example, a belt-pulley mechanism, a rack-pinion mechanism, or the like can be used.

  The X-axis rail 34a is fixed to the lower surface of the Y-axis slider 33b. The X-axis slider 34b is attached to the lower surface side (Z2 direction) of the X-axis rail 34a, and is movable along the X-axis rail 34a. The X-axis motor 34c moves the X-axis slider 34b in the X direction via a transmission mechanism (not shown).

  A pair of Y-axis slider 33b, X-axis rail 34a, X-axis slider 34b, X-axis motor 34c, and Y-axis motor 33c are provided. A first transfer unit 30a and a second transfer unit 30b are attached to the lower surfaces of the pair of X-axis sliders 34b, respectively. The first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b are movable in the X direction independently of each other along the individual X-axis rails 34a. The first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b can move in the Y direction independently of each other along the common Y-axis rail 33a.

  The structure of the 1st transfer part 30a and the 2nd transfer part 30b is common. Each of the first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b includes a Z-axis motor 35a for raising and lowering the hand unit 31 and a transmission mechanism 35b. The Z-axis motor 35a can raise and lower the hand unit 31 via the transmission mechanism 35b.

  The hand unit 31 includes a pair of gripping plates 31a. The hand unit 31 can hold a single specimen slide 11 in the thickness direction with a pair of holding plates 31a. The pair of gripping plates 31 a are in contact with the front surface side and the back surface side of the sample slide 11 to grip the sample slide 11. Of the pair of gripping plates 31a, the gripping plate 31a on the back side can move the specimen slide 11 in the thickness direction. The grip plate 31a can be moved using an actuator such as an air cylinder, a motor, or a solenoid.

  The drying tank 50 is arranged so as to be substantially aligned with the dyeing tank 20 and the cleaning tank 40 along the Y direction, which is the arrangement direction of the dyeing tank 20 and the cleaning tank 40. The drying tank 50 is provided to dry the specimen slide 11 that has been subjected to the staining process and the cleaning process. The drying tank 50 is divided into a plurality of partitions 51, and the specimen slide 11 can be held between the adjacent partitions 51. An air passage (not shown) is formed inside the drying tank 50, and the blower unit 60 is connected to the air passage.

  The blower unit 60 is provided to supply hot air to the specimen slide 11 held in the drying tank 50. A heater 61 for warming air is provided between the blower unit 60 and the drying tank 50.

  The specimen slide 11 that has been dyed, washed, and dried is transferred to the slide storage unit 86 by the transfer unit 30. The slide storage unit 86 includes a magazine transport unit 91 that transports a slide magazine 90 that is a specimen container. The slide magazine 90 can hold a plurality of stained specimen slides 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the slide magazine 90 has a box shape with an upper surface opened, and a partition portion 90 a is provided inside. The partition portion 90a is formed on the inner surface of the opposing longitudinal wall 90b. The partition part 90a formed on the inner surface of one wall 90b and the partition part 90a formed on the inner surface of the other wall 90b facing each other are formed at positions facing each other. Ten slide slides 11 can be accommodated in the slide magazine 90 in the present embodiment.

  The base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90 is formed with a triangular cutout 90d that engages with a guide rail of the sample transport device 100 described later. As shown in FIG. 5, the notch 90d is a notch that has a triangular shape when the slide magazine 90 is viewed with the longitudinal wall 90b of the slide magazine 90 as the front, and the short side of the base portion 90c. It is formed over the entire length direction.

  The magazine transport unit 91 includes a magazine carry-in path 92 that can store a plurality of empty slide magazines 90, a magazine carry-out path 93 that can store a slide magazine 90 that stores a plurality of specimen slides, and a magazine. A transverse feed mechanism 94 extending from the carry-in path 92 to the magazine carry-out path 93 is included. In the magazine transport section 91, when the user sets an empty slide magazine 90 in the insertion section D of the magazine carry-in path 92, the slide magazine 90 is automatically transported in the direction of the specimen storage position 95.

  The transfer unit 30 picks up the specimen slide 11 that has been dried by the drying tank 50, and the specimen slide 11 is stored in an empty storage portion of the slide magazine 90 disposed at the specimen storage position 95. The slide magazine 90 whose storage portion is full is laterally transferred from the magazine carry-in path 92 to the magazine carry-out path 93 by the lateral feed mechanism 94. The slide magazine 90 that is laterally transferred to the magazine carry-out path 93 is automatically conveyed to the front side. The slide magazine 90 transported to the foremost side is transported to the magazine buffer area 131 which is the second supply area of the sample transport apparatus 100 by the lateral feed unit 130.

[Sample transport device]
The sample transport apparatus 100 includes a sample container transport unit 140 for transporting a slide magazine 90, which is a sample container, in which a plurality of sample slides 11 are stored, and a slide magazine 90 transported by the sample container transport unit 140. A specimen transfer unit 170 is provided for taking out the contained specimen slide 11 and supplying the taken specimen slide 11 to a specimen image pickup device in a transport case described later.

  In the present embodiment, the sample container transport unit 140 includes two front and rear transport units, that is, a first transport unit 141 on the rear side of the sample transport device 100 and a second transport unit 142 on the front side of the first transport unit 141. Have. Each of the first transport unit 141 and the second transport unit 142 includes a belt conveyor including a belt 143 and a drive unit 144 that drives the belt 143, and transports the slide magazine 90 in the X2 direction (see FIG. 1 and 9).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first transport unit 141 and the second transport unit 142 can be divided into four regions according to the state of the slide magazine 90. That is, the first transport unit 141 and the second transport unit 142 include a magazine buffer region 131 that is a first supply region, a magazine set region 132 that is a second supply region, a first magazine storage region 133 that is a first storage region, And a second magazine storage area 134 which is a second storage area. Of these four areas, the magazine set area 132 and the second magazine storage area 134 belong to the second transport unit 142. Further, the magazine buffer area 131 and the first magazine storage area 133 belong to the first transport unit 141. The first magazine storage area 133 and the second magazine storage area 134 constitute a storage unit for storing a slide magazine that is a specimen storage tool.

  A slide magazine 90 serving as a first specimen container, in which the specimen slide 11 that has been smeared by the smear preparation apparatus 10 is stored, is transferred to the magazine buffer area 131 by the lateral feed unit 130. The first magazine storage area 133 is a slide magazine serving as a first sample storage device in which the sample slide 11 to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 is picked up and only the sample slide 11 to be visually inspected by a microscope is stored. Reference numeral 90 denotes an area for storage. The magazine setting area 132 is an area in which an empty slide magazine 90 set by the user is arranged. The second magazine storage area 134 is an area in which the slide magazine 90 that stores the sample slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 is stored. In the present embodiment, an interrupted specimen container setting area that is accessible by the user and in which the slide magazine 90 containing the specimen slide 11 produced by the user is set is located on the left side of the magazine buffer area 131. positioned. That is, from the magazine buffer area, which is a transport path through which the sample container is transported and which receives the sample container from the smear preparation apparatus 10, to a position where identification information is acquired by an identification information acquisition unit described later. An interrupt specimen container set area is located between them.

  The second transport unit 142 transports an empty slide magazine 90 as a second specimen storage tool set in the magazine setting area 132 by the user to the specimen storage position A. The sample slides 11 that have been imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 at the sample storage position A are sequentially stored in a slide magazine 90 as a second sample storage tool. When the slide magazine 90 at the specimen storage position A is full, the second transport unit 142 transports the slide magazine 90 that is full of the specimen slide 11 from the specimen storage position A to the second magazine storage area 134. Thereafter, the empty slide magazine 90 at the left end of the magazine setting region 132 is transported to the specimen storage position A by the second transport unit 142.

  On the other hand, the first transport unit 141 transports the slide magazine 90, which is received from the smear preparation apparatus 10 and is disposed in the magazine buffer area 131, as a first specimen container, to the specimen pickup position P. At this specimen pick-up position P, the specimen slide 11 is sequentially picked up by the handling section 120 of the specimen transport section 170 as will be described later. The picked-up specimen slide 11 is sorted into a specimen slide 11 to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 and a specimen slide 11 that is not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus 200. The slide magazine 90 after the selection of the specimen slide 11 is transported from the specimen pickup position P to the first magazine storage area 133. In the slide magazine 90 located in the first magazine storage area 133, only the sample slide 11 that is not an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 is stored. This specimen slide 11 is an object to be visually inspected by a microscope.

  In the present embodiment, a slide magazine 90 containing a plurality of specimen slides 11 is conveyed from the smear preparation apparatus 10 to the specimen pickup position P. The sample slide 11 includes an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 and an object not to be imaged. Therefore, two types of specimen slides 11 are usually mixed in the slide magazine 90 conveyed to the specimen pickup position P. However, in the present embodiment, the sample slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image capturing device 200 and the sample slide 11 that has not been imaged by the sample image capturing device 200 are included even if they are mixed. The slide magazines are stored in separate slide magazines, that is, a slide magazine as a first specimen container and a slide magazine as a second specimen container, and are stored in different areas. Immersion oil may be applied to a specimen such as blood smeared on the specimen slide 11 in order to improve the resolution when the specimen image capturing apparatus 200 captures an image. Since the specimen slide 11 that has been imaged is housed in a slide magazine 90 that is different from the slide magazine 90 that houses the specimen slide 11 before imaging, the specimen slide 11 before imaging is prevented from being soiled by immersion oil. can do. Therefore, when performing visual observation of the specimen slide 11 that has not been imaged, the user takes out the slide magazine 90 containing the specimen slide 11 that is not soiled with oil from the first magazine storage area 133 and visually observes it. It can be implemented and the handling of the specimen slide can be improved.

  In the slide magazine 90 located in the second magazine storage area 134, the sample slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus 200 is stored. As described above, since immersion oil may be applied to the specimen slide 11 during imaging, the oil applied to the specimen slide 11 may adhere to the slide magazine 90. For this reason, it is desirable to separate the slide magazine 90 used in the front row from the slide magazine 90 used in the rear row. It is desirable to use a slide magazine 90 that may be soiled with oil in the front row, and a slide magazine 90 that is not likely to be soiled with oil in the rear row. In this case, the magazine set area 132 is the slide magazine 90 in which the sample slide 11 for which imaging has been completed is stored and placed in the second magazine storage area 134, and then the processing of the sample slide 11 is completed and empty. The slide magazine 90 is set. On the other hand, an empty slide magazine 90 that is located in the first magazine storage area 133 and that has been stored for visual inspection with a microscope is removed from the magazine carry-in path 92 of the smear preparation apparatus 10. It is set in the input part D. In this way, by properly using the slide magazine 90, the slide magazine 90 can be efficiently cleaned. Specifically, since the slide magazine 90 arranged in the second magazine storage area 134 is highly likely to be soiled with oil, it is desirable to set the frequency of cleaning to be high. On the other hand, since the slide magazine 90 arranged in the first magazine storage area 133 is not likely to be stained with oil, the frequency of cleaning can be set low. The slide magazine 90 used in the front row and the slide magazine 90 used in the rear row can be easily distinguished by, for example, changing colors.

  As described above, the magazine buffer area 131 in the present embodiment has the interrupt sample container setting area 135 that is an area accessible by the user. The interrupt sample container setting area 135 is located at the left end area of the magazine buffer area 131, that is, the area on the sample pickup position P side of the magazine buffer area 131. The interrupt sample container setting area 135 is an area where the slide magazine 90 is not normally present. The slide magazine 90 supplied from the smear preparation apparatus 10 to the magazine buffer region 131 is sequentially transported by the first transport unit 141 to the left side, that is, the specimen pickup position P side.

  However, the smear sample slide 11 manually created by the user instead of the smear sample preparation device 10 may be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 to analyze the specimen. A certain amount of specimen is required to produce the smear specimen slide 11 by the smear specimen preparation device 10, but it may be difficult for a subject such as an infant to collect the constant quantity specimen. In such a case, the smear specimen slide 11 cannot be automatically produced by the smear preparation apparatus 10, and therefore, the smear specimen slide 11 is manually produced using a specimen collected from the subject by the user. In addition, when it is desired to quickly analyze the specimen by the specimen image capturing apparatus 200, it is conceivable that the smear specimen slide 11 is manually created using the specimen collected from the subject by the user.

  The interrupt specimen container setting area 135 is an area in which the slide magazine 90 that houses the manually prepared smear specimen slide 11 is set. The slide magazine 90 set in the interrupt sample container setting area 135 is transported to the sample pick-up position P by the first transport unit 141.

  The interrupt specimen container setting area 135 is normally set so that the slide magazine 90 does not exist so that the slide magazine 90 containing the manually prepared smear specimen slide 11 can be set.

  FIG. 6 is a partial perspective explanatory view of the first transport unit 141 where the interrupted specimen container setting area 135 is located. As described above, the first transport unit 141 includes a belt conveyor including the belt 143 and the driving unit 144 (see FIG. 9) that drives the belt 143. A pair of belts 143 are provided along the conveyance direction (X2 direction) of the slide magazine 90. In FIG. 6, only one belt (rear belt) 143a is shown for the sake of clarity. A guide rail 145 that guides the movement of the slide magazine 90 is provided at substantially the center in the width direction of the pair of belts 143. A tip end portion 145a that is an end portion in the upward direction (Z1 direction) of the guide rail 145 has a tapered shape. More specifically, the shape of the cross section of the tip portion 145a is a triangle shape corresponding to the triangular notch 90d formed in the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90 described above. The slide magazine 90 accommodates the leading end 145a of the guide rail 145 in the notch 90d of the base portion 90c, and is conveyed while being guided by the leading end 145a.

A detection unit 190 is provided inside the pair of belts 143 in the width direction. The detection unit 190 has a pair of plate-shaped swing pieces 191. Each swing piece 191 is provided inside the pair of belts 143 in the width direction. Each swing piece 191 can swing around a common shaft 192. A tip portion 191 a that is an upper end (Z1 direction) of each swing piece 191 has an inclined surface 191 b that rises in the conveyance direction X <b> 2 of the slide magazine 90. Each swing piece 191 is biased by a spring (not shown) so that the tip end portion 191a faces upward when not in contact with the slide magazine 90 (see FIG. 6).
The detection unit 190 is provided at a position immediately before the interrupt sample container setting area 135 with reference to the conveyance direction X2 of the slide magazine 90.

  A stopper 193 that can stop the movement of the slide magazine 90 is provided at an intermediate position of the pair of plate-like swinging pieces 191 (intermediate position in the width direction of the belt 143). As shown in FIG. 7, the stopper 193 includes a main body portion 193 a that has a shape obtained by cutting a part along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 145, and a base portion 193 b that extends from the lower end of the main body portion 193 a in the width direction of the belt 143. And. The shape of the cross section of the front end portion 193a1 that is the upper end (Z1 direction) of the main body portion 193a is the same tapered shape as the front end portion 145a of the guide rail 145. Usually, the stopper 193 is positioned on the same straight line as the guide rail 145. Therefore, since the front end 193a1 of the main body 193a of the stopper 193 is accommodated in the notch 90d of the slide magazine 90, the slide magazine 90 can pass over the stopper 193 without being blocked by the stopper 193. . A notch 193 c is formed in the main body 193 a of the stopper 193. The notch 193c is formed at a position slightly closer to the end than the center in the longitudinal direction of the main body 193a. The notch 193c is formed in a size that can accommodate the long frame 90c1 of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90.

  The swing piece 191 is configured such that when the slide magazine 90 passes through the swing piece 191, the long frame 90 c 1 on the leading side of the base portion 90 c of the slide magazine 90 comes into contact with the inclined surface 191 b of the swing piece 191. It is pushed downward against the biasing force of the spring. When the long frame 90c1 on the leading side of the base portion 90c passes through the inclined surface 191b of the swing piece 191, the contact state between the long frame 90c1 and the inclined surface 191b is eliminated. The original position, that is, the state where the tip 191a faces upward is restored. At this time, the distal end portion 191 a is located in the recess 90 e of the base portion 90 c of the slide magazine 90. Further, the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c (the rear side of the base portion 90c with respect to the transport direction (X2 direction)) is located in the notch 193c of the stopper 193. When the slide magazine 90 further moves toward the specimen pickup position P from this state, the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c comes into contact with the inclined surface 191b of the swing piece 191 so that the swing piece 191 is moved. Pushed down. When the slide magazine 90 further moves toward the specimen pick-up position P and the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c passes through the inclined surface 191b of the swing piece 191, the contact between the long frame 90c1 and the inclined surface 191b. The condition is resolved. As a result, the swing piece 191 returns to the original position, that is, the state where the tip end portion 191a faces upward by the action of the spring. In this manner, the swing piece 191 swings up and down twice every time one slide magazine 90 passes through the swing piece 191. Whether the swing piece 191 is pushed down or whether the tip 191a faces upward can be detected by, for example, an optical sensor or a microswitch.

The stop operation of the slide magazine 90 by the stopper 193 can be performed as follows, for example. Such a stop operation can be controlled by the control unit 110 of the sample transport apparatus 100.
(1) The control unit 110 has a state in which the swing piece 191 once pushed down is in its original position by the action of the spring, that is, the tip 191a faces upward (hereinafter, this state is referred to as an “intermediate state”). ). In this intermediate state, the tip 191 a of the swing piece 191 is located in the recess 90 e of the base portion 90 c of the slide magazine 90.
When it is determined that the swing piece 191 is in the intermediate state, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the slide magazine 90 is positioned in the sample pickup position P and the interrupted sample container setting area 135. The sample pick-up position P is also provided with a sensor similar to the detection unit 190 having the rocking piece 191 described above. Based on the signal from such a sensor, it can be determined whether or not the rocking piece at the sample pickup position P is in an intermediate state. The slide magazine 90 is stopped at the specimen pickup position P until the smear specimen slide 11 accommodated in the slide magazine 90 is completely selected. On the other hand, the sample container setting area 135 is provided with an optical sensor unit 194 as shown in FIG. The light beam 195 emitted from a light emitting unit (not shown) is received by the light receiving unit 194a. The light receiving unit 194a and the light emitting unit constitute an optical sensor unit 194. When the slide magazine 90 containing the smear specimen slide 11 manually prepared by the user is placed in the interrupt specimen container setting area 135, the light beam 195 from the light emitting section to the light receiving section 194a is blocked. Thereby, it can be detected that the slide magazine 90 exists in the interrupt sample container setting area 135.

(2) When the control unit 110 determines that the slide magazine 90 is located in either the specimen pick-up position P or the interrupted specimen container setting area 135, the control unit 110 moves the stopper 193 to the width of the pair of belts 143 by a driving mechanism (not shown). Slide in the direction, that is, the Y direction (see FIG. 1). When the stopper 193 is slid in this way, the position of the stopper 193 is shifted in the width direction (Y direction) from the notch 90d of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90. Therefore, even if the belt 143 is driven, the stopper 193 is driven. Since the edge surface 193c1a of the notch 193c hits the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the slide magazine 90, the movement of the slide magazine 90 in the transport direction is stopped by the stopper 193.

  A mechanism similar to the stopper 193 in the magazine buffer area 131 is also provided at the sample pickup position P and the sample storage position A. Therefore, even when the belt 143 is driven to transport the slide magazine 90 supplied from the smear preparation apparatus 10 to the magazine buffer region 131 to the specimen pickup position P, the slide magazine 90 is accommodated in the slide magazine 90 at the specimen pickup position P. Until the selection of the smear sample slide 11 is completed, only the slide magazine 90 positioned in the magazine buffer area 131 is conveyed by the belt 143 while the slide magazine 90 positioned at the sample pickup position P is stopped by the stopper. The In other words, since the stopper described above is employed in this embodiment, only the necessary slide magazine 90 can be conveyed. The slide magazine 90 that does not require conveyance slides on the belt 143 that is driven while being inhibited from moving by the stopper 193.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sample transfer unit 170 is provided above the first transport unit 141 and the second transport unit 142 (in the Z1 direction). The specimen transfer section 170 is provided for gripping and transferring the specimen slide 11 in the same manner as the transfer section 30 in the smear preparation apparatus 10 described above. The specimen transfer unit 170 is configured so that specimen slides 11 can be taken in and out of the slide magazine 90 one by one. As described above, various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the sample transfer unit 170 for taking in and out the sample slides 11 one by one. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a biaxial orthogonal robot that can move in the horizontal direction (Y direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction) and includes a handling unit 120 for gripping the specimen slide 11 is used. Adopted. As the handling unit 120, for example, an opening / closing mechanism that can grip the specimen slide 11 and a suction mechanism that sucks and grips a predetermined portion of the specimen slide 11 with a negative pressure can be used.

  The sample transport unit 170 can be moved in the horizontal direction (Y direction) by the moving mechanism 171. The moving mechanism 171 includes a Y-axis rail 172, a Y-axis slider 173 that engages with the Y-axis rail 172, and a Y-axis motor 174. As the Y-axis motor 174, for example, a stepping motor or a servo motor can be employed. The Y-axis motor 174 moves the Y-axis slider 173 in the Y direction via a transmission mechanism including a belt-pulley mechanism.

  The sample transport unit 170 includes a Z-axis motor 175 for moving the handling unit 120 up and down, and a transmission mechanism 176. The Z-axis motor 175 can raise and lower the handling unit 120 via the transmission mechanism 176.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the handling unit 120 includes a pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. The handling unit 120 can grip a single specimen slide 11 in the thickness direction by a pair of gripping plates 121a and 121b. The pair of gripping plates 121 a and 121 b grip the specimen slide 11 by making contact with the front surface side and the back surface side of the specimen slide 11, respectively. Of the pair of gripping plates 121a and 121b, the gripping plate 121b on the back side can move the specimen slide 11 in the thickness direction. The grip plate 121 b can be moved by the motor 122. In addition to the motor, for example, an actuator such as an air cylinder or a solenoid can be used.

  An opening 122 is formed in the grip plate 121a on the surface side of the specimen slide 11 (the side on which the frost portion 12 is provided) of the pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. The formation position and shape of the opening 122 are selected so that imaging necessity identification information printed on the frost portion 12 of the specimen slide 11 held by the pair of holding plates 121a and 121b can be imaged by a camera described later. In the present embodiment, a substantially rectangular opening 122 is formed in the grip plate 121 a on the surface side of the specimen slide 11. The pair of gripping plates 121a and 121b grips the frost portion 12 other than the portion on the specimen slide 11 where the imaging necessity identification information is printed.

  The sample transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment further includes an identification information acquisition unit for acquiring the identification information given to the smear sample slide 11 taken out by the sample transfer unit 170. As shown in FIG. 10, an imaging unit 180 serving as an identification information acquisition unit is provided on the inner surface of the casing 177 that houses a mechanism such as the Z-axis motor 175 of the sample transfer unit 170. The imaging unit 180 is provided at a position facing the imaging necessity identification unit of the sample slide 11 picked up by the handling unit 120 of the sample transport unit 170. As the imaging unit 180, for example, a camera can be used. As the identification information acquisition unit, a barcode reader may be used instead of the imaging unit 180.

  The imaging unit 180 can image imaging necessity identification information exposed to the outside from the opening 122 formed in the holding plate 121 a on the front surface side of the specimen slide 11. In the present embodiment, alphabet “A” is printed on the frosted portion 12 as imaging necessity identification information, and this imaging necessity identification information “A” is exposed to the outside through the opening 122. The imaged image data is transmitted to the control unit 110 of the sample transport apparatus 100. From the transmitted image data, the imaging determination unit 112 of the control unit 110 determines whether or not the sample slide 11 being picked up by the handling unit 120 is an imaging target of the sample image capturing apparatus 200.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining whether or not a specimen slide is an imaging target. First, in step S1, an image of the frost portion 12 of the specimen slide 11 picked up by the handling section 120 from the slide magazine 90 at the specimen pickup position P is taken. The image of the specimen slide 11 is obtained by imaging the frosted part 12 exposed to the outside from the opening 122 formed in the holding plate 121a on the surface side of the specimen slide 11 by the imaging unit 180. The captured image is transmitted to the control unit 110 of the sample transport apparatus 100.

  Next, in step S2, the control unit 110 performs grace scale conversion, which is preprocessing of the acquired image. In this embodiment, not only the necessity of imaging by the sample image capturing apparatus (DI) 200 but also the determination of whether or not the sample slide 11 is held by the handling unit 120 is performed. When the hand part 31 of the smear preparation apparatus 10 fails to hold the specimen slide 11, it is conceivable that there is a space where the specimen slide 11 is not stored in a part of the slide magazine 90. In addition, it is necessary to perform visual inspection in an emergency, and when the user pulls out the specimen slide 11 on the way, it is conceivable that a space where the specimen slide 11 is not stored is also formed in a part of the slide magazine 90.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the luminance value of an area exposed to the outside through the opening 122 in the frosted portion 12 is equal to or greater than a threshold value stored in advance. Of the pair of grip plates 121, the surface of the grip plate 121 b on the back surface side of the specimen slide 11 that faces the grip plate 121 a on the front surface side of the sample slide 11 has a brightness higher than the brightness value that the frost portion 12 can take. It is colored in a low value, for example black. Even if it is not black, it may be dark brown. For this reason, if the part exposed from the opening 122 is imaged by the imaging unit 180 in a state where the sample slide 11 is not gripped by the pair of gripping plates 121, the luminance value of the obtained image is a low value. When the imaging necessity identification information is printed on the frost portion 12 of the specimen slide 11, the portion of the frost portion 12 on which the imaging necessity identification information exposed to the outside through the opening 122 is printed is black. Is bright. Therefore, the presence or absence of the specimen slide 11 can be determined by setting a value larger than the lower luminance value as a threshold value and comparing the threshold value with the obtained luminance value. If the control unit 110 determines in step S3 that the obtained luminance value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, when determining that the obtained luminance value is smaller than the threshold value, the control unit 110 ends the determination procedure. In step S3, image processing using a luminance value indicating the brightness level of the acquired image is performed. If it is determined in step S3 that the sample slide 11 is not gripped, the sample transfer unit 170 confirms the position using, for example, a rotary encoder, and returns to the next sample without returning to the origin position of the sample transfer unit 170. The slide 11 can be transported.

  In step S4, the control unit 110 performs pattern processing on the acquired image, and whether or not the pattern of the image matches a pattern that is stored in advance and that is an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus (DI). Judgment is made. If it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image matches the pattern that is the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S5 and performs the sample slide held by the handling unit 120. 11 is conveyed to the sample image capturing apparatus 200. On the other hand, if it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image does not match the pattern to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus, the control unit 110 advances the process to step S6.

  In step S <b> 6, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the pattern of the acquired image matches a pattern that is stored in advance and is not an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus. If it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image matches a pattern that is not an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S7 and performs the sample slide held by the handling unit 120. 11 is returned to the original position of the slide magazine 90. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image does not match the pattern that is not an object to be imaged by the sample image capturing apparatus, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S5 and performs the sample slide held by the handling unit 120. 11 is conveyed to the sample image capturing apparatus 200. In this embodiment, since it is desired to process the specimen slide 11 produced by the user using the specimen image capturing apparatus 200, if the imaging necessity identification information is information on whether or not imaging is necessary, it is unknown. The imaging target of the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 is the target of imaging. This is because, in the case of the specimen slide 11 prepared by the user using a method, there is no printing on the frosted portion 12 or patient information is noted with a pencil or the like. As described above, since the specimen slide 11 that does not match the pattern that is not the imaging target is conveyed to the specimen image imaging apparatus 200, the process of step S4 may be omitted.

  The specimen slide 11 determined to be an object to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 is transported to a specimen delivery position W, which will be described later, by the specimen transport section 170, and the specimen image is scanned by the horizontal movement mechanism 123 that constitutes the specimen transport section 170. It is conveyed to the imaging device 200.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal movement mechanism 123 is a mechanism for moving the sample slide 11 in the left-right direction between the sample transfer position W and the sample transfer unit 205 of the sample image capturing apparatus 200. The horizontal movement mechanism 123 receives the sample slide 11 from the sample transfer unit 170 at the sample transfer position W, moves leftward toward the sample transfer unit 205 of the sample image capturing apparatus 200, and moves the sampled sample slide 11 to the sample. A transport unit 150 that receives from the delivery unit 205 and moves rightward toward the specimen delivery position W is provided.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the transport unit 150 includes a base 151, a transport case 152, and a lateral movement unit 153. The base 151 is supported by a device frame (not shown) of the sample transport device 100 so as to be movable in the left-right direction between the sample transfer position W shown in FIG. 1 and the sample transfer unit 205 in the sample image capturing device 200. ing. The lateral movement unit 153 includes a belt conveyor, and includes a belt 155 wound around a pair of left and right pulleys 154, a drive motor 156 that drives one pulley 154, and the like. In addition, a pair of left and right support pieces 151a is provided on the upper portion of the base 151, and a support shaft 157 having a left and right axial center is provided on the support piece 151a.

  The transport case 152 functions as a container formed in accordance with the shape of the sample slide 11 so that the sample slide 11 can be accommodated, and includes a first sample storage unit 161 for storing the sample slide 11 before imaging, and imaging. And a second specimen accommodating portion 162 for accommodating the finished specimen slide 11. The left and right wall members 159 of the transfer case 152 are provided with connecting arms 159a extending forward. The distal end portion of the connecting arm 159a is rotatably connected to the support shaft 157. Therefore, the transport case 152 can swing up and down (front and rear) about the support shaft 157, and by this swinging, the horizontal posture (with the openings of the first and second sample storage portions 161 and 162 directed rearward) ( The posture can be changed between a reference posture) and a standing posture with the opening facing upward. In other words, the transport case 152 has a state in which the smear surface of the specimen slide 11 is oriented in a substantially vertical direction (horizontal posture in which the specimen slide is substantially horizontal), and the smear surface intersects in the horizontal direction (vertical direction). It is possible to change the posture to a state (standing posture) facing one aspect of the direction).

  The posture of the transport case 152 of the transport unit 150 is changed by the posture change mechanism 165 as shown in FIGS. The posture changing mechanism 165 includes an operation bar 165a that is inserted below the transfer case 152 of the transfer unit 150 located at the sample delivery position W, and a turning mechanism that moves or turns the operation bar 165a up and down. And a drive unit 165b. The drive part 165b can be comprised from a drive motor and a link member. Then, when the operation bar 165a is moved by the drive unit 165b, the transfer case 152 swings or pivots up and down about the support shaft 157 as a fulcrum, and takes either the above-described horizontal posture or standing posture. A biasing member 166 (see FIG. 12) made of a torsion coil spring is mounted on the support shaft 157, and the biasing member 166 swings the transport case 152 downward (in a horizontal posture). It is energized.

  The specimen slide 11 extracted from the slide magazine 90 by the handling section 120 of the transfer section 30 moves down the handling section 120, so that the inside of the first specimen storage section 61 of the transport case 152 of the transport unit 150 at the specimen delivery position W is reached. Inserted into. At this time, the transport case 152 is brought into a standing posture by the posture changing mechanism 165, and the openings of the sample storage portions 161 and 162 are directed upward.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the specimen slide 11 is inserted into the transport case 152 of the transport unit 150 at the sample delivery position W, and the posture of the transport case 152 is changed to the horizontal posture by the posture changing mechanism 165, the lateral movement unit 153. (Refer to FIG. 12) is activated to move the transport case 152 containing the specimen slide 11 to the left (arrow x4). As a result, the transport case 152 is positioned on the sample delivery unit 205 of the sample image capturing apparatus 200 (see FIG. 13A).

  The sample image capturing apparatus 200 includes a transport unit 206 for moving the sample slide 11, and the transport unit 206 takes out the sample slide 11 from the transport case 152 that has moved to the sample delivery unit 205 (FIG. 13B). )reference). The sample slide 11 taken out is transported to the oil application unit 207 by the transport unit 206, and the oil application unit 207 applies oil to a specimen such as blood smeared on the sample slide 11 as necessary. Thereafter, the specimen slide 11 is transported to the imaging unit 201 (see FIG. 1) by the transport unit 206, and an image of the sample is captured by the imaging unit 201. The captured image data is transmitted to the control unit 202, and the control unit 202 performs predetermined processing such as cell feature extraction processing and identification classification processing, blood cell image segmentation, blood cell automatic classification, and counting for each blood cell type. Done. The captured image data and analysis results can be displayed on the display monitor 203 or output via a printer (not shown). The control unit 202 is connected to the control unit 110 of the sample transport apparatus 100 via the communication units 204 and 111, and can transmit and receive information in order to perform operations in cooperation with each other.

  The imaged (inspected) specimen slide 11 is returned to the specimen delivery section 205 by the transport section 206 and returned to the transport case 152 waiting. At this time, the imaged specimen slide 11 is inserted into the second specimen accommodating part 162 of the transport case 152 (see FIG. 13C). Then, the transport case 152 is transported in the right direction (arrow x6) (see FIG. 14A), and is again positioned at the sample delivery position W. Thereafter, the posture of the transport case 152 of the transport unit 150 is changed from the horizontal posture to the standing posture by the posture changing mechanism 165 (see FIG. 14B).

  The specimen slide 11 in the second specimen storage section 162 of the transport case 152 in the standing position at the specimen delivery position W is picked up by the handling section 120 of the specimen transport section 170 and is waiting at the specimen storage position A. 90.

  In the operation example of the transport case 152 described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 14, the transport case 152 that has moved to the sample delivery unit 205 of the sample image capturing apparatus 200 captures the image after the sample slide 11 is passed to the transport unit 206. It waits on the spot until the finished specimen slide 11 is transported by the transport unit 206 (see (b) to (c) of FIG. 13). The imaging and analysis of the specimen slide 11 by the specimen image imaging apparatus 200 usually requires about 2 minutes. Therefore, the transport case 152 that has transferred the sample slide 11 to the transport unit 206 is immediately returned to the sample transfer position W, and the sample slide 11 to be analyzed next is received at the sample transfer position W and returned to the sample transfer unit 205. Thus, the waiting time can be shortened and the analysis efficiency can be improved. In this case, the imaged specimen slide 11 is first received by the transfer unit 206 in the second sample storage unit 162 of the transfer case 152 waiting at the sample delivery position W, and then the first sample storage unit 61 of the transfer case 152 is stored. The specimen slide 11 to be analyzed next is taken out by the transport unit 206.

[Other variations]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the imaging determination unit of the sample transport device determines whether or not the sample slide is an imaging target by the sample image capturing device, but the image captured by the imaging unit of the sample transport device It is also possible to transmit data to the host computer and determine whether or not the specimen slide is an object to be imaged by the specimen image capturing apparatus.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the specimen slide taken up from the slide magazine by the handling unit is not an imaging target, it is returned to the original slide magazine, but another slide magazine different from the original slide magazine. Can also be accommodated. The other slide magazines may be arranged in the first magazine storage area from the beginning, and after a predetermined number of specimen slides determined not to be imaged are stored, they are moved to the first magazine storage area. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the identification information is given to the specimen slide by the printing unit of the smear preparation apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the identification information is given to the specimen slide by other means. Can be granted. For example, the color of the specimen slide to be imaged and the color of the non-imaging object specimen slide that is not the imaging target can be changed. In this case, the color itself constitutes identification information. Further, instead of using the printing unit of the smear preparation apparatus, it is also possible to use a specimen slide on which identification information indicating whether or not imaging is necessary is printed in advance. Further, in addition to printing on the specimen slide, a sticker or the like on which identification information is printed can be attached to the specimen slide.

  In the above-described embodiment, the slide magazine that stores the sample slide that has been imaged and the slide magazine that stores the sample slide that is not the object of imaging are stored in separate magazine storage areas. The specimen slide and the specimen slide that is not the imaging target need only be accommodated in different slide magazines. The slide magazine that accommodates the specimen slide that has been imaged and the slide magazine that accommodates the specimen slide that is not the imaging target They may be stored in the same magazine storage area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the specimen slide that has been pulled out from the slide magazine and has been imaged by the specimen image capturing apparatus passes above the original slide magazine and is accommodated in another slide magazine. A cover may be provided to cover the upper part of the slide magazine in order to prevent immersion oil from dropping from the imaged specimen slide to the slide magazine when the imaged specimen slide passes above the original slide magazine. . For example, as the handling part descends to pull out the specimen slide from the slide magazine, the cover moves away from the upper side of the slide magazine in the horizontal direction, and as the handling part holding the specimen slide rises with respect to the slide magazine. In addition, an interlocking mechanism that moves so that the cover approaches directly above the slide magazine may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Smear preparation apparatus 11: Specimen slide 11a: Center part 12: Frost part 20: Dyeing tank 21: Partition part 30: Transfer part 30a: 1st transfer part 30b: 2nd transfer part 32: Movement mechanism 40: Washing tank 41: Partition unit 50: Drying tank 60: Blower unit 70: Fluid circuit unit 80: Control unit 81: Dyeing unit 82: Slide supply unit 83: Printing unit 84: Smearing unit 85: Drying unit 86: Slide storage unit 90: Slide Magazine (specimen container)
90c: Base part 90d: Notch 91: Magazine transport part 92: Magazine carry-in path 93: Magazine carry-out path 94: Transverse feed mechanism part 95: Sample storage position 100: Sample transport apparatus 110: Control part 111: Communication part 112: Imaging Determination unit 120: Handling unit 121: Holding plate 122: Opening 123: Horizontal movement mechanism 130: Horizontal feed unit 131: Magazine buffer area 132: Magazine set area 133: First magazine storage area (storage part)
134: Second magazine storage area (reservoir)
135: Interrupted specimen container setting area 140: Specimen container transport unit 141: First transport unit 142: Second transport unit 150: Transport unit 152: Transport case 153: Lateral movement unit 165: Posture change mechanism 165a: Operation bar 170 : Specimen transfer unit 171: Moving mechanism 180: Imaging unit 190: Detection unit 191: Oscillating piece 193: Stopper 194: Optical sensor unit 200: Specimen image imaging device 201: Imaging unit 202: Control unit 203: Display monitor 204: Communication Part 205: Specimen delivery part 206: Transport part 207: Oil application part A: Specimen storage position AN: Specimen analysis system D: Input part I: Specimen image pickup system P: Specimen pickup position S: Specimen delivery system W: Specimen delivery position m: specimen identification information n: imaging necessity determination information

(1) A sample transport device according to the present invention is a sample transport device for transporting a smear sample slide smeared with a specimen to a sample image capturing device, the smear sample slide to be imaged by the sample image capturing device and the sample image. The specimen image from the specimen container transport section for transporting the first specimen container that contains the smear specimen slide that is not the object to be imaged by the imaging device to the specimen pickup position, and the first specimen container that has been transported to the specimen pickup position removed smear slides of the imaging target by the imaging device, and the sample transport unit for accommodating different second sample container of the previous SL sample image capturing the first sample container of the captured smear slide by the device, The first specimen container from which the smear specimen slide to be imaged is taken out by the specimen transport section, and the photographed smear specimen slide are the The second sample container of which a plurality accommodated by the transport unit and a reservoir to be stored.

(8) In the sample transport device according to (1) to (7), the sample image capturing device may include an oil application unit that applies oil to a sample smeared on a smear sample slide. In this case, it is possible to improve the resolution of an image captured by applying oil to a specimen smeared on a smear specimen slide by oil application.
(9) In the specimen transport device of (1) to (8) above, the specimen transport section takes out the smear specimen slide to be imaged from the first specimen container, and removes the smear specimen slide as a smear specimen slide. It can be configured to be transferred to the specimen image capturing apparatus in a transport case for housing.

( 10 ) A specimen image imaging system according to the present invention includes a specimen image imaging apparatus that images a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen, and a specimen conveyance apparatus that conveys the smear specimen slide to the specimen image imaging apparatus. In the image capturing system, the sample transport device includes a first sample container that stores a smear sample slide to be imaged by the sample image image capturing device and a smear sample slide not to be imaged by the sample image image capturing device. and the sample container of the transport unit which transports the, from the first specimen container of which is conveyed to the specimen pick-up position, take out the smear slide imaging target by the sample image obtaining apparatus, smeared captured by pre Symbol sample image capturing device and the specimen transferring unit for accommodating different second sample container of the specimen slide the first sample container of the imaging pair Smear slide the specimen transferring unit the first sample container of extracted by and, a reservoir which imaged smear slide said a plurality accommodated second sample containing assembly is stored by the sample transport unit Have

( 11 ) In the specimen image capturing system according to ( 10 ), the specimen transport unit captures the specimen image among a plurality of smear specimen slides accommodated in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pickup position. The smear specimen slide to be imaged by the apparatus is taken out from the first specimen container and transferred to the specimen image imaging apparatus, and the smear specimen slide not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus is transported to the specimen pickup position. It can be configured to remain accommodated in the first specimen container. In this case, since the smear sample slide that is visually observed by the microscope remains in the first sample container, not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device, analysis can be performed efficiently.

( 12 ) The specimen analysis system of the present invention includes a smear preparation apparatus that produces a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen, a sample image imaging apparatus that images a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen, and the smear preparation apparatus A specimen analysis system comprising: a specimen transport apparatus that transports a smear specimen slide supplied from the specimen image imaging apparatus to the specimen image imaging apparatus, wherein the specimen transportation apparatus includes the smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus; From the sample container transport unit for transporting the first sample container that contains the smear sample slide that is not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device to the sample pick-up position, and the first sample container transported to the sample pick-up position, A smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device is taken out, transferred to the specimen image imaging device, and the specimen image And the specimen transferring unit for accommodating different second sample container of the the captured smear slide the first sample container of the image device, to accommodate a plurality of smear slides not be imaged by the specimen imaging apparatus The first specimen container, and a storage section for storing the second specimen container that stores a plurality of smear specimen slides imaged by the specimen image capturing device .

( 13 ) In the sample analysis system according to ( 12 ), the sample transfer unit includes the sample image imaging device among a plurality of smear sample slides stored in a first sample storage device conveyed to the sample pickup position. The smear specimen slide to be imaged by the sample is taken out from the first specimen container and transferred to the specimen image imaging apparatus, and the smear specimen slide not to be imaged by the specimen image imaging apparatus is transported to the specimen pick-up position. It can be configured to remain accommodated in one specimen container. In this case, since the smear sample slide that is visually observed by the microscope remains in the first sample container, not the object to be imaged by the sample image capturing device, analysis can be performed efficiently.
(14) In the sample analysis system according to (12) or (13), the smear preparation apparatus includes a smear sample slide to be imaged by the sample image imaging device and a smear that is not to be imaged by the sample image imaging device. The transfer part which accommodates the several smear specimen slide containing a specimen slide in the said 1st specimen container can be provided.

Claims (12)

A specimen transport device for transporting a smear sample slide smeared with a specimen to a specimen image capturing device,
A specimen container transporting unit for transporting a first specimen container containing a plurality of smear slides to a specimen pickup position;
A smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device is taken out from the first specimen container transferred to the specimen pick-up position, transferred to the specimen image imaging device, and smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device. A specimen transfer part for accommodating the second specimen container different from the first specimen container;
A specimen transport apparatus comprising: a storage section in which the first specimen container and the second specimen container are stored.   The specimen transfer unit is configured to select a smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device from among a plurality of smear specimen slides accommodated in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position. The smear slide that is not to be imaged by the specimen image capturing device is kept in the first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position while being taken out from the container and transferred to the specimen image capturing apparatus. The sample transport device according to claim 1, which is configured. The specimen container transport section is
A first specimen container that accommodates a plurality of smear specimen slides is transported to the specimen pick-up position, and the first specimen container is transported to the storage section, and smear imaged by the specimen image capturing device. A second transport unit for transporting the second sample storage tool storing the sample slide to the storage unit;
The sample transport device according to claim 1, comprising: A first supply region that receives a first specimen container that houses a plurality of smear slides and a second specimen container that does not contain a smear slide are disposed from a smear preparation apparatus that produces a smear slide. 2 supply areas;
Have
The first transport unit transports the first sample storage tool supplied to the first supply region and transported to the sample pickup position to the storage unit,
The second transport unit transports a second sample container, which is a second sample container supplied to the second supply region and stores a smear sample slide imaged by the sample image capturing device, to the storage unit. The sample transport device according to claim 3, wherein the sample transport device is configured to perform the following.   5. The sample transport device according to claim 4, wherein the first supply region has an interrupted sample container setting region in which a sample container in which a manually prepared smear slide is stored is set.   The specimen transfer unit is configured to transfer a smear sample slide to be imaged toward the sample image capturing device based on identification information acquired from a smear sample slide taken out by the sample transfer unit. The sample conveyance apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5. An identification information acquisition unit for acquiring the identification information given to the smear specimen slide;
The identification information acquisition unit includes an imaging unit that images a smear specimen slide,
The specimen according to claim 6, wherein identification information indicating that imaging by the specimen image imaging device is necessary transfers a smear specimen slide included in an image captured by the imaging unit toward the specimen image imaging device. Conveying device.   The specimen transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specimen image imaging apparatus includes an oil application unit that applies oil to a specimen smeared on a smear specimen slide. A specimen image imaging device for imaging a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen;
A sample image capturing system comprising: a sample transporting device that transports the smear sample slide to the sample image capturing device;
The sample transport device is:
A specimen container transporting section for transporting a first specimen container containing a plurality of smear slides to a specimen pickup position;
A smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device is taken out from the first specimen container transferred to the specimen pick-up position, transferred to the specimen image imaging device, and smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device. A specimen transfer part for accommodating the second specimen container different from the first specimen container;
A specimen image capturing system, comprising: a storage unit in which the first specimen container and the second specimen container are stored.   The specimen transfer unit is configured to select a smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device from among a plurality of smear specimen slides accommodated in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position. The smear slide that is not to be imaged by the specimen image capturing device is kept in the first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position while being taken out from the container and transferred to the specimen image capturing apparatus. The specimen image capturing system according to claim 9, which is configured. A smear preparation device for preparing a smear slide on which a specimen is smeared;
A specimen image imaging device for imaging a smear specimen slide smeared with a specimen;
A specimen analysis system comprising: a specimen transport apparatus that transports a smear specimen slide supplied from the smear preparation apparatus to the specimen image imaging apparatus,
The sample transport device is:
A specimen container transporting unit for transporting a first specimen container containing a plurality of smear slides to a specimen pickup position;
A smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device is taken out from the first specimen container transferred to the specimen pick-up position, transferred to the specimen image imaging device, and smear specimen slide imaged by the specimen image imaging device. A specimen transfer part for accommodating the second specimen container different from the first specimen container;
A sample analysis system comprising: a storage unit in which the first sample container and the second sample container are stored. The specimen transfer unit is configured to select a smear specimen slide to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device from among a plurality of smear specimen slides accommodated in a first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position. The smear slide that is not to be imaged by the specimen image capturing device is kept in the first specimen container transported to the specimen pick-up position while being taken out from the container and transferred to the specimen image capturing apparatus. The sample analysis system according to claim 11, which is configured.