JP2019056697A - Reagent cartridge, reagent cartridge set, and pathological specimen production device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a reagent cartridge, a reagent cartridge set, and a pathological specimen production device with which it is possible to easily grasp the remaining amount of a stored reagent.SOLUTION: A reagent cartridge 100 comprises: a liquid medicine storage unit 150 having first windows 151a, 151b and a liquid medicine chamber; a case unit 110 for holding the liquid medicine storage unit 150 in a state of being movable in the negative direction of an axis Z and having second windows 101a, 101b and a nozzle unit 111; a spring for urging the liquid medicine storage unit in the positive direction of the axis Z; and a discharge mechanism for causing the liquid medicine stored in the liquid medicine chamber to be discharged in given quantity from the nozzle unit by movement operation of the liquid medicine storage unit 150 in a prescribed range in the negative direction of the axis Z. The second window is provided on a right side surface 110a of the case unit, and the first window and second window are arranged along the direction of an axis X and form an optical path for the liquid medicine chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a reagent cartridge, a reagent cartridge set, and a pathological specimen preparation device.

  Conventionally, there has been known a processing apparatus that automatically applies immunostaining and the like by applying various chemical solutions including antibodies to a tissue specimen (biological sample). In such a processing apparatus, it is necessary to use various kinds of chemical solutions in accordance with the type of tissue specimen and the content of processing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fluid dispenser that can be used in an automated biological reaction apparatus and that allows a user to fill a reagent solution (chemical solution).

JP 2009-2952 A

  However, the fluid dispenser described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to grasp the remaining amount of the chemical solution. Specifically, when the user fills the chemical solution, the amount of the filled chemical solution may vary. In addition, even when the remaining amount is automatically calculated from the amount and number of releases of the chemical in the biological reaction device, slight variations in the amount of the chemical released are accumulated, and the actual remaining amount of the chemical and the calculated value There was a risk of slipping. Thus, if it is difficult to grasp the remaining amount of the chemical liquid, it is necessary to refill the chemical liquid or to replace the liquid dispenser with a new one while a large amount of the chemical liquid remains. Such an operation should be avoided in an intraoperative pathological diagnosis that requires rapid processing. That is, there has been a demand for a reagent cartridge that can be used for a pathological specimen preparation device and that can easily grasp the remaining amount of a chemical solution.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  [Application Example] The reagent cartridge according to the present invention has a translucent first window portion, a chemical solution storage portion having a chemical solution chamber capable of storing a chemical solution, and the chemical solution storage portion movable in a first direction. A case portion having a second window portion that is held and translucent, a chemical liquid flow channel, and a nozzle portion communicating with the chemical liquid flow channel, and the chemical liquid storage portion in the first direction with respect to the case portion The chemical solution stored in the chemical solution chamber is discharged from the nozzle unit by a predetermined amount by an urging unit that urges the chemical solution in a direction opposite to the first direction and a movement operation of the chemical solution storage unit in a predetermined range in the first direction. A discharge mechanism for causing the second window part to be provided on a first side surface of the case part, and the first window part and the second window part with respect to the chemical solution chamber are: An optical path is formed along a second direction intersecting the first direction.

  According to this application example, it is possible to easily grasp the remaining amount of the stored chemical. Specifically, the presence or absence of a chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber can be optically confirmed from the outside of the reagent cartridge using an optical path. Therefore, it becomes easy to grasp the replacement time of the reagent cartridge. That is, it is possible to provide a reagent cartridge suitable for a pathological specimen preparation apparatus used for intraoperative pathological diagnosis.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, the chemical solution storage unit includes a narrowed portion disposed in the first direction, and a projecting portion positioned on a distal end side of the narrowed portion in the first direction, It is preferable that the optical path includes the narrowed portion.

  According to this, in the chemical solution storage part, the optical path is provided at the position of the narrowed part on the tip side with respect to the nozzle part. Therefore, it is possible to grasp a state in which the remaining amount of the chemical liquid is small as compared with the case where the optical path is not provided on the tip side. Furthermore, since the medical solution storage part has a shape (stenosis part) in which the tip side is constricted, it is possible to confirm a state in which the remaining amount of the chemical liquid is smaller than in the case where the medical solution storage part is not constricted. As described above, it is possible to grasp a state in which the remaining amount of the chemical liquid in the chemical liquid storage unit is small, and the chemical liquid can be used up to that state, and the dead volume can be reduced.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, in the state where the chemical solution storage unit is held in the case unit, a part of the chemical solution chamber is exposed in a direction opposite to the first direction, and the chemical solution chamber It is preferable that a part has a translucent part having translucency, and the translucent part forms another optical path parallel to the optical path.

  According to this, the chemical solution chamber corresponding to the other optical path formed by the translucent portion provided in a part of the chemical solution chamber exposed in the direction opposite to the first direction in a state where the chemical solution storage portion is held by the case portion. The presence or absence of a chemical solution can be confirmed inside

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, the chemical solution storage unit includes a second chemical solution channel that communicates with the chemical solution chamber and is provided inside the protruding portion, and the second chemical solution channel. Is provided on the distal end side in the first direction of the protruding portion, a through hole penetrating from the inner surface along the first direction of the protruding portion to the outer surface, and a bottom portion that closes the distal end of the protruding portion, The discharge mechanism is provided in the chemical liquid flow path, and the protruding portion is disposed on the side of the chemical liquid storage portion of the stroke chamber in which the protruding portion is stored along the first direction. An elastic ring member whose outer surface is slidable in the first direction, a ball chamber communicating with the stroke chamber, a sphere accommodated in the ball chamber, , The stroke relative to the sphere A ball stopper disposed on the opposite side of the through hole, wherein the through hole is urged by the urging means in a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the case portion. When held in the case part, it is sealed by the ring member, and when the chemical solution storage part is moved in the first direction from the state held by the case part, the ring member is sealed. Is preferably released and is opposed to the stroke chamber.

  According to this, the second chemical liquid channel provided in the chemical liquid storage unit and the discharge mechanism provided in the chemical liquid channel by moving the chemical liquid storage unit in the first direction by one press. Thus, a predetermined amount of the chemical liquid stored in the chemical liquid storage section (chemical liquid chamber) can be discharged from the nozzle section.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the ball stopper is detachable from the ball chamber.

  According to this, since the removable ball stopper is removable, the volume of the chemical liquid channel can be changed by replacing the ball stoppers having different thicknesses. Thereby, the discharge amount from the nozzle part of the chemical | medical solution discharged by one press which moves a chemical | medical solution storage part to a 1st direction can be changed. In other words, it becomes possible to adjust the discharge amount of the chemical liquid discharged by one press according to the type of the chemical liquid used.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, it is preferable that a plurality of the ball stoppers are provided.

  According to this, by changing the quantity of the ball stoppers, the thickness of the ball stoppers can be varied, and the volume of the chemical liquid channel can be changed. Thereby, the discharge amount of a chemical | medical solution from the nozzle part can be changed.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example, the ball stopper includes an opening having a circular planar shape, and the center of the circular opening is eccentric with respect to the center of the sphere accommodated in the ball chamber. It is preferable that it exists in the position.

  According to this, since the opening of the ball stopper cannot be closed by the sphere, the chemical can be reliably sent to the nozzle through the opening.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example, it is preferable that the ball stopper includes a polygonal opening through which the sphere housed in the ball chamber does not pass.

  According to this, since the opening of the ball stopper cannot be closed by the sphere, the chemical can be reliably sent to the nozzle through the opening.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the chemical solution storage unit has translucency, and a scale indicating the volume of the chemical solution chamber is provided on an outer surface exposed from the case unit.

  According to this, the volume of the chemical solution remaining in the chemical solution chamber of the chemical solution storage unit can be easily estimated.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the application example, it is preferable that the reagent cartridge has a cartridge lid that can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage unit, and the cartridge lid has a communication hole that communicates with the chemical solution chamber.

  According to this, since the cartridge lid is detachable, it is possible to remove the cartridge lid from the chemical solution storage portion and store the chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber. In addition, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from entering and contamination of the stored chemical solution. Further, since the inside and outside of the chemical solution chamber communicate with each other through the communication hole, even if the chemical solution stored by discharging the chemical solution is reduced, the pressure in the chemical solution chamber is unlikely to be negative. Thereby, the chemical liquid can be discharged quickly.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the application example, it is preferable that the cartridge lid is formed integrally with the chemical solution storage unit.

  According to this, since the cartridge lid and the chemical solution storage part are integrally formed, it is possible to prevent the cartridge lid from being lost.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the case portion has a nozzle cap that can be mounted so as to cover the nozzle portion.

  According to this, by attaching the nozzle cap to the nozzle part, contamination of the nozzle part and drying of the chemical solution at the tip of the nozzle part can be suppressed during storage of the reagent cartridge.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the application example, it is preferable that the nozzle cap is formed integrally with the case portion.

  According to this, since the nozzle cap and the case portion are integrally formed, it is possible to prevent the nozzle cap from being lost.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, it is preferable that a locking portion is provided on the first side surface of the case portion or on the second side surface facing the first side surface.

  According to this, the reagent cartridge can be stably attached to the pathological specimen preparation device using the locking portion.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, the locking portion and the case portion are arranged with a gap between the first side surface or the second side surface facing the locking portion. It is preferable that a locking projection is provided.

  According to this, the reagent cartridge can be stably mounted on the pathological specimen preparation device by the locking portion and the locking protrusion provided on the case portion so as to face the locking portion.

  In the reagent cartridge according to the application example described above, the predetermined amount is preferably 10 μL or more and 1 mL or less.

  According to this, it is possible to supply a tissue sample with a volume of a chemical solution corresponding to the type and size of the tissue sample (pathological sample), the type of the chemical solution, and the like.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the application example, it is preferable that the chemical solution chamber can store 1 mL or more and 50 mL or less of the chemical solution.

  According to this, for example, with respect to the process of using 200 μL of chemical solution at a time, it is possible to secure a capacity of about 250 times at the maximum and to suppress an increase in the size of the reagent cartridge.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the application example, it is preferable that a barcode related to the information on the chemical solution is provided.

  According to this, it is possible to know information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, precautions, etc. regarding the stored chemical solution by the barcode.

  In the reagent cartridge described in the above application example, the chemical solution includes a primary antibody reagent, a secondary antibody reagent, a coloring reagent, a tissue staining reagent, a nuclear staining reagent, an endogenous Peroxidase blocking reagent, hematoxylin, a color developing reagent, and a deparaffinization treatment. It is preferably selected from the group consisting of a reagent for use, an activation reagent, and a cleaning solution.

  According to this, antigen-antibody reaction processing, color development reaction processing, deparaffinization processing, activation processing, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking processing, washing processing, and the like can be performed by the chemical solution discharged from the reagent cartridge.

  [Application Example] A reagent cartridge set according to the present invention includes two or more types of reagent cartridges described in the application examples.

  According to this application example, two or more kinds of treatments can be performed in the antigen-antibody reaction treatment, the color development reaction treatment, the deparaffinization treatment, the activation treatment, the endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking treatment, and the washing treatment. it can.

  [Application Example] A pathological specimen preparation device according to the present invention is supported by the stage that can support the substrate to which the tissue specimen is fixed, the holding unit to which the reagent cartridge described in the above application example can be attached and detached. A cartridge operation unit capable of supplying the chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge to the substrate, and the cartridge operation unit has a pusher capable of reciprocating in the first direction, The pusher contacts the chemical solution storage portion of the reagent cartridge mounted on the holding portion and moves the chemical solution storage portion in the first direction by a reciprocating operation in the first direction.

  According to this application example, the chemical solution storage unit can be moved in the first direction by the pusher, the chemical solution can be discharged from the nozzle unit, and the chemical solution can be supplied to the tissue specimen fixed to the substrate.

  In the pathological specimen preparation device according to the application example described above, the drug solution storage unit is exposed in a direction opposite to the first direction while being held in the translucent first window unit and the case unit. A part has a translucent part, the case part has a translucent second window part, and the first window part and the second window part with respect to the chemical solution chamber, An optical path disposed along a second direction intersecting the first direction is formed, and the light transmitting portion forms another optical path parallel to the optical path, and a light beam is transmitted to the optical path and the other optical path. An emission unit that can emit light, a light receiving unit, and a calculation unit that calculates an amount of light received by the light receiving unit and converts the light amount into an electrical signal, wherein the emission unit and the light receiving unit are the emission unit It is preferable that the light receiving unit is disposed in a state where the light receiving unit can receive the light emitted from the light receiving unit.

  According to this, the light receiving part receives the light emitted from the emitting part to the optical path, calculates the amount of the light received by the light receiving part, and can detect the presence or absence of the chemical in the chemical chamber through which the light has passed. . That is, the remaining amount of the chemical solution in the reagent cartridge can be confirmed.

  The pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to the application example includes a control unit and a display unit, and the calculation unit determines whether the liquid medicine is present in the optical path through which the light beam has passed or the other optical path from the light amount of the light beam. It is preferable that the control unit displays the presence or absence of the chemical solution on the display unit.

  According to this, it is possible to notify the user of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus of information such as the presence / absence of a chemical in the reagent cartridge.

  In the pathological specimen preparation device according to the application example, the calculation unit emits the light beam from the emission unit when the reagent cartridge is mounted, and the chemical solution in the optical path and the other optical path through which the light beam has passed. Preferably, the control unit displays the presence / absence of the chemical solution on the display unit.

  According to this, when the reagent cartridge is mounted, the presence or absence of the chemical solution in the reagent cartridge is notified. Therefore, according to the remaining amount, it is possible to make a plan for preparing a pathological specimen and prepare a new reagent cartridge.

  In the pathological specimen preparation device according to the application example, the calculation unit includes: an integrated value of the discharge amount of the chemical solution by the cartridge operation unit; and the presence or absence of the chemical solution calculated from the light amount of the light. Preferably, the remaining amount value is calculated, and the control unit displays the remaining amount value on the display unit.

  According to this, since the remaining amount value of the chemical solution is notified, it becomes easy to plan the preparation of the pathological specimen.

  In the pathological specimen preparation device according to the application example described above, the light beam preferably has a wavelength of 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less.

  According to this, visible light in the range from yellow light to red light is emitted. For this reason, since light having a longer wavelength than that of blue light is emitted, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of alteration in components contained in the drug solution, such as proteins, by the incident light. In addition, since light having a shorter wavelength than the infrared wavelength region is emitted, the chemical liquid can be prevented from being heated excessively by the incident light. Furthermore, it can suppress that a light ray is absorbed and attenuate | damped by the molecular structure of the compound contained in a chemical | medical solution.

  In the pathological specimen preparation device according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the apparatus includes a barcode reader that reads a barcode related to information on the drug solution applied to the reagent cartridge.

  According to this, by reading the barcode, it is possible to collect and manage information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, precautions, etc. regarding the stored chemical solution.

  In the pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to the application example described above, a cleaning unit capable of supplying a cleaning liquid to the substrate supported by the stage, and the chemical solution or the supply supplied to the substrate supported by the stage An electric field stirring unit capable of stirring by applying an electric field to the cleaning liquid; a stage moving mechanism capable of moving the stage in the cleaning unit; the electric field stirring unit; and the cartridge operation unit. preferable.

  According to this, it becomes possible to wash | clean the tissue specimen fixed to the board | substrate using a washing | cleaning liquid. In addition, the stirring efficiency of the chemical solution or the cleaning solution is improved by the electric field stirring, and the time required for preparing pathological specimens such as various reaction treatments and cleaning operations is shortened. Furthermore, the substrate is quickly moved to the electric field stirring unit, the cleaning unit, and the cartridge operation unit by the stage moving mechanism. As described above, the tissue specimen can be processed quickly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the reagent cartridge according to the first embodiment. The front view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The rear view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The right view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The left view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The top view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The bottom view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. Sectional drawing along the AA line in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the cap periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the cap periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the cap periphery. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing an appearance of a reagent cartridge according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the appearance of a reagent cartridge according to a second embodiment. The front view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The rear view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The right view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The left view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The top view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. The bottom view which shows the external appearance of a reagent cartridge. Sectional drawing along the BB line in FIG. Sectional drawing along the BB line in FIG. 14 which shows the example of mounting | wearing with a nozzle cap. FIG. 18A is a V view of FIG. 18A showing a locking projection that locks the nozzle cap. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the stroke chamber periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the stroke chamber periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the path | route of the chemical | medical solution in the stroke chamber periphery. The top view which shows the external appearance of a ball stop part. The top view which shows the external appearance of the modification 1 of a ball stopper. The top view which shows the external appearance of the modification 2 of a ball stopper. Sectional drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the through-hole provided in a protrusion part, and followed the QQ line in FIG. 19A. Sectional drawing similar to FIG. 21A which shows the modification 1 of arrangement | positioning of a through-hole. Sectional drawing similar to FIG. 21A which shows the modification 2 of arrangement | positioning of a through-hole. Sectional drawing along the RR line | wire in FIG. 17 which shows the through-hole position of an initial state. Sectional drawing along the RR line | wire in FIG. 17 which shows the through-hole position of a movement state. Sectional drawing which shows the application example of arrangement | positioning of a ball stopper. The perspective view which shows the board | substrate with which the tissue specimen was fixed. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a pathological specimen preparation device according to a third embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows an example, such as a chemical | medical solution information acquisition part. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cartridge lid according to a fourth embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows a nozzle cap.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below describes an example of the present invention. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. In addition, a reagent cartridge, a reagent cartridge set, and a pathological specimen preparation device with the above are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In the following drawings, the scale of each layer and each member is made different from the actual scale so that each layer and each member can be recognized. In the following drawings, XYZ axes that are mutually orthogonal coordinate axes are attached as necessary. In that case, the XYZ axes in each figure make the XY plane substantially coincide with the horizontal plane, and the direction indicated by the arrow on the Z axis is the direction opposite to the direction of gravity.

(Embodiment 1)
The reagent cartridge and the reagent cartridge set according to the first embodiment will be described.

<Reagent cartridge>
[appearance]
A schematic configuration of the reagent cartridge according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a reagent cartridge according to the first embodiment. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 sequentially show the appearance of the reagent cartridge, respectively. Front view, rear view, right side view, left side view, top view, and bottom view It is. In addition, the state shown in FIG. 1 shall show the attitude | position (usage attitude | position) in the use condition of each member, each component, and an apparatus. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed to be in the use posture, and for convenience of explanation, the direction indicated by the arrow on the Z axis is referred to as a positive direction or upward, and the opposite direction is referred to as a negative direction or downward on the Z axis. Sometimes it is.

  The reagent cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes translucent first window portions 151a and 151b, a chemical solution storage unit 150 that can store a chemical solution, and a translucent second window portion 101a. , 101b, and a nozzle part 111, and a case part 110 that holds the chemical solution storage part 150 movably in the negative direction of the Z-axis as the first direction, and a locking part 105 are provided. Yes. The reagent cartridge 100 can discharge a predetermined amount of the stored chemical solution from the nozzle unit 111 by moving the drug solution storage unit 150 in a predetermined range in the negative direction of the Z-axis.

  The reagent cartridge 100 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the case portion 110 that is the main exterior component of the reagent cartridge 100 is also a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Of the approximately rectangular six surfaces constituting the reagent cartridge 100, the surfaces facing the Z-axis direction are the upper surface (upper surface) and the bottom surface (lower surface), and the side surfaces facing the Y-axis direction are the front and back surfaces, Surfaces facing the X-axis direction as the second direction intersecting the Z-axis direction are defined as a right side surface 110a and a left side surface 110b. Therefore, in the reagent cartridge 100, the area of the substantially rectangular shape that constitutes the front surface and the back surface is the largest, then the left and right side surfaces 110b and 110a are large, and the areas of the top surface and the bottom surface are the smallest. Here, among the six surfaces of the substantially rectangular shape, the upper surface is the chemical solution storage portion 150 that protrudes from the case portion 110, and the other surfaces are configured by the case portion 110. That is, a part of the upper part of the chemical solution storage unit 150 stored in the case unit 110 is exposed from the case unit 110. The second window portions 101 a and 101 b are provided on the right side surface 110 a as the first side surface of the case portion 110.

  In case part 110 (reagent cartridge 100), the surface on which the second window parts 101a and 101b are on the right side is the front. A nozzle unit 111 is provided on the bottom surface of the case unit 110 (reagent cartridge 100). A rib 114 is provided on the outer edge of the bottom surface of the case portion 110. The base of the nozzle part 111 and the base of the rib 114 are on the same plane, and the nozzle part 111 is surrounded by the rib 114. Therefore, the nozzle portion 111 is protected from collision and the like by the rib 114. In addition, since the nozzle portion 111 is formed so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the case portion 110, when the chemical solution is discharged, the breakage of the liquid is improved, and the chemical solution wraps around and adheres around the nozzle portion 111. It can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (front view) and FIG. 3 (rear view), a locking portion 105 is provided on the right side surface 110 a of the case portion 110. The locking portion 105 slightly protrudes from the right side surface 110a of the case portion 110 in the positive direction of the X axis, is supported by the case portion 110, and extends downward. A gap of about 2 mm is provided between the locking part 105 and the right side surface 110a of the case part 110 when viewed from the Y-axis direction. Since this gap is open at the bottom, when the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 25) described later is held, a holding portion or the like provided in the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 is inserted into the gap. Thus, the case part 110 is locked. The lower end portion of the locking portion 105 may be formed into a rib shape with a narrow gap slightly to make it difficult to come off from the holding portion. In the present embodiment, the example in which the locking portion 105 is provided on the right side surface 110a of the case portion 110 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. The locking portion 105 is provided on the left side surface 110b (the left side surface in FIG. 2) as the second side surface facing the right side surface 110a of the case unit 110 according to the specification of the pathological specimen preparation device 300 described later. It may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (right side view), on the right side 110a (first side) on the right side of the front of the case part 110, two second parts are spaced in the middle in the Z-axis direction. Window portions 101a and 101b are provided. The second window portions 101a and 101b are substantially rectangular openings. Through the second windows 101a and 101b, the first windows 151a and 151b of the chemical solution storage unit 150 stored in the case unit 110 can be faced, respectively. Note that the second window portions 101a and 101b are not limited to being openings, and may be covered with a light-transmitting forming material. Moreover, the shape of the second window portions 101a and 101b is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, and may be a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

  On the right side surface 110a of the case portion 110, a substantially rectangular opening 124 is provided above the second window portion 101b. The chemical liquid storage unit 150 is provided with a locking projection 153 at a position corresponding to the opening 124. Since the locking convex portion 153 is formed in a convex shape protruding in the X-axis direction, when the chemical solution storage portion 150 is stored in the case portion 110, the opening 124 and the locking convex portion 153 are fitted. .

  On the surface of the locking portion 105 facing the positive direction of the X-axis, a barcode 126 related to information on the chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 100 is given. As a result, information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, and precautions of the chemical solution can be held in the reagent cartridge 100. The form of the barcode 126 is not particularly limited, and any one-dimensional code, two-dimensional code such as a data matrix or QR code (registered trademark) can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (left side view), on the left side surface 110b (the left side surface as viewed in FIG. 2) facing the right side surface 110a of the case portion 110, a substantially rectangular opening is provided. 124 is provided on the left side surface of the chemical solution storage unit 150 at a position corresponding to the opening 124, and a convex locking projection 153 protruding in the X-axis direction is provided. Even on the left side surface 110b side, when the chemical solution storage unit 150 is stored in the case unit 110, the opening 124 and the locking projection 153 are fitted. As described above, when the opening portion 124 and the locking projection 153 are fitted to each other on the right side surface 110a and the left side surface 110b, the chemical solution storage portion 150 storing the chemical solution is stored in the case portion 110. 150 becomes difficult to detach | leave from the case part 110. FIG. In other words, the chemical solution storage unit 150 cannot be easily extracted from the case unit 110.

  As shown in the left and right side views of FIGS. 4 and 5, a step 115 is provided below the front surface and the back surface of the case portion 110. Therefore, the thickness of the case part 110 in the Y-axis direction is slightly smaller at the lower side (bottom side) than at the upper side (upper surface side). The step 115 is provided together with the locking portion 105 described above to improve the holding stability when being held by a holding portion of a pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 25) described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (top view), the reagent cartridge 100 has a cartridge lid 155 that can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage unit 150. The cartridge lid 155 communicates with a chemical solution chamber 160 (see FIG. 8) described later. The communication hole 157 is provided. The communication hole 157 is a substantially circular opening and communicates the inside and the outside of the chemical solution storage unit 150.

  Therefore, the chemical chamber 160 can suppress contamination and contamination of foreign substances from the outside to the stored chemical by the cartridge lid 155. Further, since the chemical solution storage unit 150 communicates with the inside (chemical solution chamber 160) and the outside of the chemical solution storage unit 150 through the communication hole 157, the chemical solution storage is performed even if the amount of the chemical solution stored by discharging the chemical solution decreases. It is difficult for the inside of the part 150 to become negative pressure. Therefore, the chemical liquid can be discharged quickly. The opening shape, number, and arrangement of the communication holes 157 are not particularly limited. Further, a breathable waterproof film may be provided at the opening of the communication hole 157 to prevent moisture (liquid) from being mixed. Alternatively, when the chemical solution stored in the chemical solution storage unit 150 is unused, the communication hole 157 may be blocked by covering the upper surface (cartridge lid 155) with a film or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (bottom view), the nozzle portion 111 is formed on the bottom surface of the case portion 110 so as to face the negative direction of the Z axis. On the bottom surface of the case portion 110, the nozzle portion 111 is disposed on the substantially central side in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction. At the tip of the nozzle portion 111, an opening 111a having an inner surface of a cylindrical shape and an inner diameter of about 2.0 mm is provided in order to discharge a chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 100. In the reagent cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment, since the amount of the chemical liquid discharged from the nozzle unit 111 in a single discharge is very small, it is important that the liquid in the nozzle unit 111 is cut off. In order to further improve, it is preferable to perform a liquid repellent treatment on the bottom surface of the case portion 110 surrounding the opening 111a of the nozzle portion 111.

[Internal structure]
The internal structure of the reagent cartridge 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. The AA line is a line segment extending in the Z-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the reagent cartridge 100 is configured by inserting (accommodating) a chemical solution storage unit 150 having a chemical solution chamber 160 capable of storing a chemical solution into the storage unit 119 of the case unit 110. The chemical solution storage unit 150 includes a chemical solution chamber 160 that communicates with the communication hole 157 above the inside.

  The chemical chamber 160 has a constricted portion 160a on the tip side in the lower side (the negative direction of the Z axis as the first direction). The narrowed portion 160a has a width in the X-axis direction of about 1/3 and a length in the Z-axis direction of about 1/7 with respect to the chemical chamber 160 other than the narrowed portion 160a.

  The chemical chamber 160 is preferably capable of storing a chemical solution of 1 mL (milliliter) or more and 50 mL or less. According to this, for example, it is possible to secure a capacity of about 250 times at the maximum and to prevent the reagent cartridge 100 from becoming large for a process that uses 200 μL of chemical solution at a time. In the reagent cartridge 100 of this embodiment, a maximum of 30 mL of chemical solution can be stored in the chemical solution chamber 160. Further, the volume of the constricted portion 160a in the chemical solution chamber 160 is about 1 mL.

  The chemical solution stored in the chemical solution chamber 160 (reagent cartridge 100) is an immunohistochemical staining (IHC) method, or In Situ hybridization (ISH) for observing the expression level of a gene in a living tissue or cell. ) Reagents used in the preparation method of tissue specimens (pathological specimens) by the method, primary antibody reagent, secondary antibody reagent, coloring reagent, tissue staining reagent, nuclear staining reagent, endogenous Peroxidase blocking reagent, hematoxylin, color It is one kind selected from the group consisting of a dispensing reagent, a deparaffinizing reagent, an activating reagent, a washing solution, and the like.

  In addition, you may use the reagent cartridge 100 which accommodated these chemical | medical solutions as a reagent cartridge set provided with 2 or more types. By using a reagent cartridge set, two or more kinds of treatments are performed in antigen-antibody reaction treatment, color development reaction treatment, deparaffinization treatment, activation treatment, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking treatment, washing treatment, etc. Can do.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a specific chemical | medical solution, For example, secondary antibody reagents, such as primary antibody reagents, such as Hep-par1, Envision + Dual Link (DAKO), HQ linker (Roche Diagnostics), etc. Linker reagents, chromogenic reagents or tissue staining reagents such as 3,3′-Diaminobenzidine (DAB), 3-Amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC), 3,3 ′, 5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), hematoxylin and the like Nuclear staining (counter-staining) reagent, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking reagent such as hydrogen peroxide, blocking reagent for substrates such as bovine albumin, skim milk, gelatin, deparaffinization reagent, activation reagent, pure water , Phosphate buffer Cleaning solution such as physiological saline (PBS: Phosphate Buffered Saline), PBS containing nonionic surfactant Tween 20 having blocking action (PBS-T), Tris-Buffered-Saline (TBS), oil for preventing reagent evaporation (flow) Paraffin) and the like, and is preferably one selected from these groups. In addition, the transpiration prevention oil (liquid paraffin) can prevent the activation liquid from evaporating due to heating, for example, by coating the activation reagent with oil. Moreover, the oil (liquid paraffin) for preventing transpiration can prevent antibody transpiration in the antigen-antibody reaction step. By storing these chemical solutions, the reagent cartridge 100 can be used for various preparations of pathological specimens such as antigen-antibody reaction treatment, color development reaction treatment, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking treatment, deparaffinization treatment, activation treatment, and washing. Can be used for processing.

  In addition to the above-described reagents, the chemical chamber 160 (reagent cartridge 100) may store a liquid used for preparing a tissue specimen. Examples of such a liquid include liquids for treatment such as liquid paraffin, ethanol, and xylene.

  The case portion 110 has a ball chamber 112 whose inner surface is cylindrical above the opening 111a whose inner surface is cylindrical. The upper surface of the ball chamber 112 communicates with an opening 117b of the contact portion 117 described later. Two balls 113, which are spheres having a diameter of about 2.0 mm, are inserted into the ball chamber 112 side by side in the Z-axis direction. The height (dimension in the Z-axis direction) of the ball chamber 112 is slightly larger than twice the diameter of the ball 113, and the inner diameter of the ball chamber 112 is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 113. Therefore, the two balls 113 can move up and down inside the ball chamber 112.

  Since the diameter of the ball 113 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 111a of the nozzle portion 111, the entire ball 113 will not be immersed in the opening 111a. As the forming material of the ball 113, a forming material that has a density smaller than that of the chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 100, is not affected by the chemical solution, and does not contaminate the chemical solution is used. Examples of such a forming material include resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Accordingly, the ball 113 floats upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) in the chemical solution. The number of balls 113 inserted into the ball chamber 112 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

  A contact portion 117 is provided on the upper surface of the ball chamber 112. The contact portion 117 has a disk shape that rises in the center, and an opening serving as a flow path for the chemical solution is provided in the center. The contact portion 117 is made of, for example, a rubber member having flexibility. Above the contact portion 117, a stroke chamber 118 having an inner cylindrical surface is provided. Here, the case part 110 has a chemical liquid channel including a ball chamber 112 and a stroke chamber 118.

  A protrusion 137 is provided below the narrowed portion 160a of the chemical solution storage unit 150 (chemical solution chamber 160). The protruding portion 137 has a second chemical liquid channel that has an inner surface 137a that is cylindrical and communicates with the chemical chamber 160 via a valve 163 having a movable portion 163a. The valve 163 is fused to the wall of the chemical chamber 160 using, for example, a thermal fusion method or an ultrasonic fusion method. This heat fusion can be performed by performing, for example, four locations along the outer periphery of the valve 163. A cap 142 is inserted inside the tip of the protruding portion 137. The protruding portion 137 including the cap 142 is inserted into the stroke chamber 118 of the case portion 110.

  The inner surface 137a of the protruding portion 137 of the chemical solution storage portion 150, the stroke chamber 118, the ball chamber 112, and the nozzle portion 111 of the case portion 110 have different inner diameters, but their center lines substantially coincide with the center line of the opening portion 111a. Are arranged to be. From the inner surface of the protruding portion 137, the stroke chamber 118, the ball chamber 112, and the opening 111a form a path of the chemical solution from the chemical solution chamber 160 to the nozzle portion 111.

  The coiled spring 145 is disposed so as to go around the cylindrical outer surface 137 b of the protrusion 137. One end of the spring 145 is in contact with the periphery of the case portion 110 where the protruding portion 137 is inserted, and the other end is in contact with the base portion of the protruding portion 137.

  The spring 145 is a biasing unit that biases the chemical solution storage unit 150 toward the positive direction (upward) of the Z-axis with respect to the case unit 110. Therefore, the chemical solution storage unit 150 is biased upward in the storage unit 119, but the chemical solution storage unit 150 is detached from the case unit 110 due to the engagement between the locking projection 153 and the upper edge of the opening 124. Release is suppressed. FIG. 8 shows a state where the chemical solution storage unit 150 is not pressed downward. Such a state is referred to as an initial state. In addition, when the chemical solution storage unit 150 is pressed in the negative direction (downward) of the Z-axis against the bias of the spring 145, the chemical solution storage unit 150 moves downward in the storage unit 119. In conjunction with this, the protrusion 137 moves downward in the stroke chamber 118.

  The downward movement of the chemical solution storage unit 150 is possible until the contact portion 155a at the outer edge of the cartridge lid 155 contacts the contact portion 110c at the edge of the upper surface of the case portion 110. In other words, the downward movement of the chemical solution storage unit 150 is restricted by the contact between the contact portion 155a and the contact portion 110c. With these configurations, the chemical solution storage unit 150 is configured such that, in the storage unit 119, from the locking position of the locking projection 153 and the opening 124 to the contact position between the contact portion 155a and the contact portion 110c, Reciprocal movement in the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis is possible. The movement distance in the positive and negative directions of the Z axis in the chemical solution storage unit 150 is called a stroke.

  A reflective portion 161a is provided on the inner side of the narrowed portion 160a on the left side surface 110b side so as to face the second window portion 101a in the X-axis direction via the chemical solution chamber 160 (the narrowed portion 160a). On the inner side of the chemical liquid chamber 160 on the left side surface 110b side, a reflective portion 161b is provided through the chemical liquid chamber 160 so as to face the second window portion 101b in the X-axis direction (second direction).

  The reflecting portions 161a and 161b have a characteristic of reflecting a light beam having a predetermined wavelength, and preferably have a reflectance that reflects light of a predetermined wavelength by 30% or more. The first window portions 151a and 151b have translucency. Here, the translucency in the present specification means a material having a transmittance of 70% or more with respect to a light beam having a predetermined wavelength. Although it does not specifically limit as a light ray of the said predetermined wavelength, For example, the light ray which has a wavelength of 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less is mentioned. In addition, when the forming material of the chemical | medical solution chamber 160 has the reflectance mentioned above with respect to a predetermined | prescribed wavelength, it is not necessary to provide the reflection parts 161a and 161b.

  The chemical solution storage unit 150 (first window portions 151a and 151b) may be formed of a forming material having the above-described reflectance and translucency. Such a forming material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These forming materials may be visually transparent or translucent. Further, a thin film such as a metal or metal oxide, a metal plate, or the like may be used as a material for forming the reflecting portions 161a and 161b.

  The second window portion 101a, the first window portion 151a, the inside of the chemical solution chamber 160 (the constricted portion 160a), and the reflecting portion 161a are arranged along the X-axis direction, and form a first optical path α as an optical path. doing. That is, the first optical path α as the optical path includes the narrowed portion 160a. In addition, the second window portion 101b, the first window portion 151b, the inside of the chemical solution chamber 160, and the reflecting portion 161b are arranged along the X-axis direction, and the second optical path β as the second optical path is defined. It is made. Therefore, in the reagent cartridge 100, the optical path includes the first optical path α and the second optical path β.

  If a light beam having a predetermined wavelength is applied to the first optical path α and the second optical path β from the negative direction of the X-axis, the light beam is incident from the second window portions 101a and 101b, The light reaches the reflecting portions 161a and 161b through the windows 151a and 151b and the chemical chamber 160. Next, the light beam is reflected by the reflecting portions 161a and 161b, then travels along the first optical path α and the second optical path β in the positive direction of the X axis, and exits from the second window portions 101a and 101b. At this time, if the chemical liquid exists on the first optical path α and the second optical path β inside the chemical liquid chamber 160, the amount of the emitted light is attenuated with respect to the irradiated light. Therefore, if this attenuation of the light amount is detected, it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of the chemical solution on the first optical path α and the second optical path β.

  The first optical path α is set at a position (Z-axis direction) where “no chemical solution” is detected when the remaining amount of the chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber 160 falls below 800 μL (microliter). As a result, when a chemical solution such as DAB having a short pot life and difficult to refill the reagent cartridge 100 is used, the dead volume can be reduced and the chemical solution can be used effectively.

  The second optical path β is set at a position where “no chemical solution” is detected when the remaining amount of the chemical solution in the chemical chamber 160 falls below 10 mL to 15 mL. In a pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIGS. 25 and 26), which will be described later, the remaining amount is calculated from the amount of the chemical solution filled in the reagent cartridge 100 and the consumption amount of the chemical solution calculated from the discharge amount and the number of discharges of the chemical solution. May be obtained and collated with the detection result of “no chemical” in the second optical path β. Thereby, the calculated value of the chemical liquid consumption may be corrected to estimate the subsequent chemical liquid consumption. The position of the second optical path β (Z-axis direction) is not limited to the above position. Further, the number of optical paths is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

  Further, the second window portions 101a and 101b and the first window portions 151a and 151b are made of a material having a high visible light transmittance, and in addition to the optical detection using the light rays described above, the chemical solution is visually observed. It may be possible to confirm the presence or absence.

[Chemical route]
The path of the chemical liquid when discharging the chemical liquid will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C. 9A to 9C are cross-sectional views showing the path of the chemical solution around the cap.

  In FIG. 9A, the periphery of the cap 142 in an initial state similar to that in FIG. 8 is enlarged. As shown in FIG. 9A, a gap is provided between the inner surface 137a of the protrusion 137 and the cap 142 inserted in the protrusion 137. This gap communicates with the supply port 143 at the end of the protrusion 137.

  Above the stroke chamber 118 in which the protrusion 137 is inserted, an O-ring 141 as an elastic ring member is disposed. The O-ring 141 is in close contact with the outer surface 137b of the protruding portion 137 and has a function of preventing the chemical liquid from leaking between the case portion 110 and the outer surface 137b. In other words, the O-ring 141 is provided such that the outer surface 137b of the protrusion 137 is slidable in the first direction. In the initial state, the supply port 143 is sealed by the O-ring 141. As a result, the path of the chemical solution from the chemical solution chamber 160 to the opening 111a is blocked by the supply port 143, so that the chemical solution does not flow from the chemical solution chamber 160 to the stroke chamber 118 via the supply port 143 in the initial state. The O-ring 141 has a configuration called a so-called X-shaped ring (X-ring) in which the cross-sectional shape is a substantially quadrangular shape and the central portions of the inner surface and the outer surface are recessed. By using the O-ring 141 having such a configuration, the contact area of the outer surface 137b of the projecting portion 137 can be reduced, and the adhesion of the projecting portion 137 (sealability) can be maintained and the projecting portion 137 can be maintained. Slidability can be improved.

  The ball chamber 112 has an opening 112a communicating with the opening 117b of the contact portion 117 on the upper surface. Since the ball 113 has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening 112a, the ball 113 has a function of closing the opening 112a when a part of the ball 113 is immersed in the opening 112a. As described above, since the ball 113 floats in the chemical solution, when the chemical solution is present between the ball chamber 112 and the opening 111a and is stationary, a part of the upper ball 113 blocks the opening 112a. By doing so, dripping of the chemical solution from the nozzle part 111 is suppressed.

  A distance h between the lower surface 142a of the cap 142 and the upper surface 117a of the contact portion 117 is equal to the above-described stroke (movement distance of the chemical solution storage unit 150 in the positive and negative directions of the Z axis). That is, when the chemical solution storage unit 150 is pressed downward once, a chemical solution equivalent to the volume obtained by multiplying the cross-sectional area inside the stroke chamber 118 by the distance h (a predetermined amount) is discharged from the nozzle unit 111. The predetermined amount can be adjusted mainly by changing the stroke, and is preferably 10 μL or more and 1 mL or less. According to this, it is possible to discharge a chemical solution having a volume corresponding to the type and size of the tissue sample (pathological sample), the type of the chemical solution, and the like. In the present embodiment, the predetermined amount of discharge per one press is 50 μL.

  A movable portion 163 a is provided on the cylindrical inner surface of the valve 163. The movable portion 163a is a pair of flexible films, and is formed of a material such as rubber, for example. The pair of films (movable part 163a) are arranged so that the distance gradually approaches the projecting part 137, and the tips on the projecting part 137 side are in close contact with each other. Therefore, in the initial state, the chemical chamber 160 and the inside of the protruding portion 137 are separated by the movable portion 163a.

  Since the movable portion 163a has flexibility, the pair of films bend according to the internal pressure difference between the chemical solution chamber 160 and the inside of the protruding portion 137, and the movable portion 163a moves so that the close contact between the distal ends is released. . Specifically, when the internal pressure inside the protruding portion 137 is lower than the internal pressure of the chemical chamber 160, that is, when the inside of the protruding portion 137 is negative, the close contact is released and the chemical chamber 160 and the inside of the protruding portion 137 communicate with each other. In addition to the initial state, even when the inside of the protrusion 137 is at a positive pressure, the close contact of the tip is not released.

  FIG. 9B shows a state where the chemical solution storage unit 150 is pressed downward. Such a state is referred to as a discharge state. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the chemical solution storage unit 150 is pushed downward with respect to the case unit 110, the protrusion 137 moves downward in the stroke chamber 118 compared to the initial state.

  At this time, since the internal volume of the stroke chamber 118 is compressed, a positive pressure is generated. With the positive pressure, the ball 113 is pushed downward, the blockage between the ball 113 and the opening 112a is released, and the chemical solution is discharged from the nozzle portion 111 (see FIG. 8). At the same time, due to the downward movement of the protrusion 137, the blocking of the supply port 143 by the O-ring 141 is also released. Further, the movable portion 163a of the valve 163 maintains the close contact state between the pair of films because the inside of the protruding portion 137 does not become negative pressure.

  Since the gap between the inner surface 137a of the protrusion 137 and the cap 142, the supply port 143, and the like are narrower than the path of the chemical solution after the stroke chamber 118, a negative pressure is not generated in the stroke chamber 118 in the discharge state. Functions as a communication hole. Even in the discharge state, the O-ring 141 and the outer surface 137b of the projecting portion 137 are in close contact with each other to keep airtight, and the chemical liquid is prevented from leaking to the housing portion 119 through the outer surface 137b.

  FIG. 9C shows a state on the way from the discharge state to the initial state after the discharge of the chemical liquid is completed. Specifically, when the lower surface 142a of the cap 142 and the upper surface 117a of the contact portion 117 come into contact with each other and the downward pressing of the chemical solution storage unit 150 is finished, the chemical solution storage unit 150 moves upward by the bias of the spring 145. To do. In conjunction with this, the protrusion 137 also moves upward in the stroke chamber 118. At this time, since a negative pressure is generated in the stroke chamber 118, the ball 113 is sucked up and the opening 112a is closed again. Thereby, the discharge of the chemical solution from the nozzle unit 111 is stopped.

  On the other hand, since the supply port 143 is open, the chemical solution inside the protrusion 137 is supplied to the stroke chamber 118 through the supply port 143 so that the negative pressure is eliminated. At this time, due to the negative pressure, the inside of the protruding portion 137 also becomes a negative pressure with respect to the chemical chamber 160. Therefore, the movable portion 163a is opened, the chemical solution chamber 160 communicates with the inside of the protruding portion 137, and the chemical solution is supplied from the chemical solution chamber 160 to the inside of the protruding portion 137. In this way, the ejection state transitions to the initial state.

  In the chemical solution path described above, a portion between the gap between the inner surface 137a of the protrusion 137 and the cap 142 and the opening 111a corresponds to the discharge mechanism. By the discharge mechanism, the chemical solution stored in the chemical solution storage unit 150 (chemical solution chamber 160) is discharged from the nozzle unit 111 by a predetermined amount (50 μL) by one press.

  The material for forming the chemical solution storage unit 150, the case unit 110, and the components that form the reagent cartridge 100 is not particularly limited, and is not easily affected by the liquid such as the stored chemical solution, and is contained in the forming material. It is preferable to use a resin, a metal, or the like that hardly dissolves components, additives, impurities, and the like into the chemical solution. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deterioration and deterioration of the stored liquid and improve the reliability of the pathological diagnosis result. In particular, it is preferable to use a resin as a material for forming a part constituting the path of the chemical solution because of the ease of forming the part. Examples of such resins include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrene, polyamide, polyacetal, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), urethane, acrylic, polycarbonate, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), EPM ( Polymer compounds such as ethylene-propylene rubber), EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), NBR (nitrile rubber), butyl rubber, silicone rubber, and the like, and one or more selected from these groups are applicable. is there. In addition, when the chemical | medical solution stored is oil (liquid paraffin), since the swelling by oil (liquid paraffin) is prevented, formation of the components which comprise the ball chamber 112, the contact part 117, the cap 142, and the valve 163 is formed. It is preferable to apply NBR (nitrile rubber) as a material. Moreover, the forming material used for the case part 110 and the forming material used for the chemical solution storage part 150 may be the same or different.

  According to the reagent cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment described above, the remaining amount of the stored chemical solution can be easily grasped. Specifically, the presence or absence of the chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber 160 can be optically confirmed from the outside of the reagent cartridge 100 using the optical paths (the first optical path α and the second optical path β). Therefore, it is not necessary to visually check the remaining amount of the chemical solution, and it becomes easy to grasp the replacement timing of the reagent cartridge 100. That is, it is possible to provide a reagent cartridge 100 suitable for a pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 26), which will be described later, used for intraoperative pathological diagnosis.

(Embodiment 2)
A reagent cartridge and a reagent cartridge set according to the second embodiment will be described.

<Reagent cartridge>
[appearance]
A schematic configuration of the reagent cartridge according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 17. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the appearance of the reagent cartridge according to the second embodiment, which are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view, respectively, in order. FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16A, and FIG. 16B are respectively a front view, a rear view, a right side view, a left side view, and a top view showing the external appearance of the reagent cartridge according to the second embodiment. FIG. Note that the state shown in FIG. 10 indicates the posture (usage posture) of each member, each component, and the device in use. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed to be in the use posture, and for convenience of explanation, the direction indicated by the arrow on the Z axis is referred to as a positive direction or upward, and the opposite direction is referred to as a negative direction or downward on the Z axis. Sometimes it is. Moreover, about the structure similar to Embodiment 1 mentioned above, the same code | symbol may be attached | subjected and the description may be abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the reagent cartridge 200 according to the second embodiment includes a translucent first window portion 251 a, a medicinal solution storage portion 250 that can store a medicinal solution, and a translucent second portion. A case portion 210 having a window portion 201 and a nozzle portion 211 and holding the chemical solution storage portion 250 movably in the negative direction of the Z-axis as the first direction; and a locking portion 205. ing. The reagent cartridge 200 can discharge a predetermined amount of the stored chemical solution from the nozzle unit 211 by a movement operation within a predetermined range in the negative direction of the Z-axis of the chemical solution storage unit 250. The second window portion 201 and the locking portion 205 are provided on the right side surface 210 a as the first side surface of the case portion 210. In addition, the reagent cartridge 200 has a nozzle cap 248 mounted on the left side surface 210b opposite to the right side surface 210a where the locking portion 205 is provided.

  On the right side surface 210a and the left side surface 210b of the case portion 210, a substantially rectangular opening 224 is provided above the second window 201 and at a position facing it, respectively. The chemical liquid storage unit 250 is provided with a locking projection 253 at a position corresponding to the opening 224. The locking projection 253 functions as a fitting member when the chemical solution storage unit 250 is stored in the case unit 210.

  The reagent cartridge 200 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the case portion 210 that is a main exterior component of the reagent cartridge 200 is also a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Of the approximately rectangular six surfaces constituting the reagent cartridge 200, the surfaces facing the Z-axis direction are the upper surface (upper surface) and the bottom surface (lower surface), and the side surfaces facing the Y-axis direction are the front and back surfaces, The surfaces facing the X-axis direction as the second direction intersecting the Z-axis direction are defined as a right side surface 210a and a left side surface 210b. Therefore, in the reagent cartridge 200, the area of the substantially rectangular shape that constitutes the front surface and the back surface is the largest, then the left and right side surfaces 210b and 210a are large, and the areas of the top surface and the bottom surface are the smallest. Here, among the six surfaces of the substantially rectangular shape, the upper surface is the chemical solution storage portion 250 that protrudes from the case portion 210, and the other surfaces are configured by the case portion 210. That is, a part of the upper part of the chemical solution storage unit 250 stored in the case unit 210 is exposed from the case unit 210.

  Scales 257a and 257b indicating the volume of a chemical solution chamber 260 (see FIG. 17), which will be described later, are provided on each of the front and rear surfaces of a part of the upper surface of the chemical solution storage unit 250 exposed from the case unit 210. Yes. Thus, by providing the scales 257a and 257b, the volume of the chemical solution stored in the chemical solution chamber 260 of the chemical solution storage unit 250 can be easily known. In addition, the chemical | medical solution storage part 250 of the part in which these scales 257a and 257b are provided can visually recognize the chemical | medical solution accommodated in the chemical | medical solution chamber 260 by having translucency.

  In the case part 210 (reagent cartridge 200), the surface on which the second window part 201 is on the right side is the front. A nozzle part 211 and a protruding part 216 are provided on the bottom surface of the case part 210 (reagent cartridge 200). A rib 214 is provided on the outer edge of the bottom surface of the case portion 210. The base of the nozzle part 211 and the base of the rib 214 are on the same plane, and the nozzle part 211 is surrounded by the rib 214. Therefore, the nozzle part 211 is protected from collision with other members by the rib 214. Further, since the nozzle portion 211 is formed so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the case portion 210, when the chemical liquid is discharged, the liquid breakage is improved and the chemical liquid wraps around and adheres around the nozzle portion 211. It can be suppressed. Further, the protrusion 216 has a function of anchoring the nozzle cap 248.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (front view) and FIG. 13 (rear view), a locking portion 205 is provided on the right side surface 210 a of the case portion 210. The locking portion 205 slightly protrudes from the right side surface 210a of the case portion 210 in the positive direction of the X axis, is supported by the case portion 210, and extends downward. A gap of about 2 mm is provided between the locking part 205 and the right side surface 210a of the case part 210 when viewed from the Y-axis direction. Since this gap is open at the bottom, when the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 25) described later is held, a holding portion or the like provided in the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 is inserted into the gap. Thus, the case portion 210 is locked.

  A locking projection 207 protruding from the right side surface 210a is provided on the lower end side of the right side surface 210a of the case unit 210, which is a position facing the locking unit 205. With this locking projection 207, the gap between the locking portion 205 and the case portion 210 is slightly reduced, and it is possible to make it difficult for the lower end of the locking portion 205 to come out of the holding portion. The reagent cartridge 200 can be stably attached to the manufacturing apparatus 300.

  Further, the lower end portion of the locking portion 205 may be formed into a rib shape with the gap slightly narrowed in order to make it difficult to come off from the holding portion of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300. In the present embodiment, the example in which the locking portion 205 is provided on the right side surface 210a of the case portion 210 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. The locking portion 205 is provided on the left side surface 210b (the left side surface in FIG. 12) as the second side surface facing the right side surface 210a of the case unit 210 according to the specifications of the pathological specimen preparation device 300 described later. It may be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a recessed portion 210 c that opens to the front surface and the back surface is provided below each of the front surface and the back surface of the case portion 210. The bottom part of the recessed part 210c is comprised integrally with the outer peripheral part 230 of the case part 210 and the 2nd chemical | medical solution flow path mentioned later. And the outer peripheral part 230 of the 2nd chemical | medical solution flow path protrudes in the recessed part 210c. Thus, since the outer peripheral portion 230 of the second chemical liquid channel is in the recess 210c, the thickness of the outer peripheral portion 230 is reduced, and the state of the chemical liquid in the second chemical liquid channel is changed to the outer peripheral portion 230. It can be easily seen through.

  As shown in FIG. 14 (right side view), the right side surface 210a (first side surface) of the case portion 210 is provided with a second window portion 201 in the middle in the Z-axis direction. The second window 201 is a substantially rectangular opening. Through the second window 201, it is possible to face the first window 251a of the chemical solution storage unit 250 stored in the case unit 210. Note that the second window portion 201 is not limited to being an opening, and may be covered with a light-transmitting forming material. Further, the shape of the second window portion 201 is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, and may be a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

  On the right side surface 210 a of the case part 210, a substantially rectangular opening 224 is provided above the second window part 201. The chemical liquid storage unit 250 is provided with a locking projection 253 at a position corresponding to the opening 224. Since the locking convex portion 253 is formed in a convex shape protruding in the X-axis direction, when the chemical solution storage portion 250 is stored in the case portion 210, the opening 224 and the locking convex portion 253 are fitted. .

  A barcode 226 relating to information on the chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 200 is provided on the surface of the locking portion 205 facing the positive direction of the X axis. As a result, the reagent cartridge 200 can hold information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, and precautions of the chemical solution. The form of the barcode 226 is not particularly limited, and any one-dimensional code, two-dimensional code such as a data matrix or QR code (registered trademark) can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 15 (left side view), the left side surface 210b (the left side surface as viewed in FIG. 12) facing the right side surface 210a of the case part 210 has a substantially rectangular opening as in the right side surface 210a. The left side surface 210b of the chemical solution storage unit 250 is provided with a convex locking convex portion 253 protruding in the X-axis direction at a position corresponding to the opening 224. Even on the left side surface 210b side, when the chemical solution storage part 250 is stored in the case part 210, the opening 224 and the locking convex part 253 are fitted. As described above, when the chemical liquid storage section 250 storing the chemical liquid is stored in the case section 210 by fitting the opening 224 and the locking projection 253 in the right side surface 210a and the left side surface 210b, the chemical liquid storage section 250 becomes difficult to detach | leave from the case part 210. FIG. In other words, the chemical solution storage unit 250 cannot be easily extracted from the case unit 210.

  As shown in FIG. 16A (top view), the reagent cartridge 200 has a cartridge lid 255 that can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage section 250, and the cartridge lid 255 communicates with a chemical solution chamber 260 (see FIG. 17) described later. The communication hole 257 is provided. The communication hole 257 is a substantially circular opening and communicates the inside and the outside of the chemical solution storage unit 250. By using such a cartridge lid 255, it is possible to suppress the entry and contamination of foreign substances from the outside to the stored chemical solution. Further, since the inside and outside of the chemical solution storage unit 250 communicate with each other through the communication hole 257, an increase in negative pressure in the chemical solution storage unit 250 can be suppressed even if the amount of the chemical solution stored by discharging the chemical solution is reduced. . Therefore, the chemical liquid can be discharged quickly. The opening shape, number, and arrangement of the communication holes 257 are not particularly limited. Further, a breathable waterproof film may be provided at the opening of the communication hole 257 to prevent moisture (liquid) from being mixed or leaking. Alternatively, when the chemical solution stored in the chemical solution storage unit 250 is in an unused state, the upper surface (cartridge lid 255) may be covered with a film or the like to close the communication hole 257. Further, the cartridge lid 255 is provided with a flange 256 that protrudes from the outer surface of the chemical solution storage unit 250 in a plan view from the Z-axis direction in order to facilitate attachment and detachment with respect to the chemical solution storage unit 250.

  As shown in FIG. 16B (bottom view), the nozzle portion 211 is formed on the bottom surface of the case portion 210 so as to face the negative direction of the Z axis. On the bottom surface of the case portion 210, the nozzle portion 211 is disposed on the substantially central side in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction. At the tip of the nozzle portion 211, an opening 211 a having an inner surface of a cylindrical shape and an inner diameter of about 2.0 mm is provided in order to discharge a chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 200. The protrusion 216 is a cylinder protruding from the bottom surface of the case portion 210 and has a function of anchoring the nozzle cap 248. Note that, in the reagent cartridge 200 of the present embodiment as well, as in the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment, the amount of the chemical liquid ejected from the nozzle unit 211 in a single ejection is very small. In this case, it is important to apply a liquid repellent treatment to the bottom surface of the case part 210 surrounding the opening 211a of the nozzle part 211 in order to further improve the liquid breakage.

[Internal structure]
The internal structure of the reagent cartridge 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. The BB line is a line segment extending in the Z-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the reagent cartridge 200 is configured by inserting (accommodating) a chemical solution storage portion 250 having a chemical solution chamber 260 capable of storing a chemical solution into the storage portion 219 of the case portion 210. The chemical solution storage unit 250 includes a chemical solution chamber 260 that communicates with the communication hole 257 above the inside. A breathable waterproof film 257a configured, for example, in a mesh shape is provided at the opening of the communication hole 257 on the side of the chemical chamber 260. The breathable waterproof film 257a has a property of allowing gas to permeate but not allowing moisture (liquid) to permeate, and can prevent moisture (liquid) from being mixed or leaking, for example, when the reagent cartridge 200 is tilted.

  The chemical chamber 260 has a narrowed portion 260a on the tip side in the lower side (the negative direction of the Z axis as the first direction). The narrow portion 260a has a width in the X-axis direction of about 1/3 and a length in the Z-axis direction of about 1/3 with respect to the chemical chamber 260 other than the narrow portion 260a.

  The chemical chamber 260 is lower in height than the chemical chamber 160 of the first embodiment described above, and can store 1 mL (milliliter) or more and 30 mL or less of the chemical solution. According to this, while reducing the height of the reagent cartridge 200, for example, it is possible to secure a capacity of about 150 times at the maximum with respect to the processing using 200 μL of chemical solution at a time. In the reagent cartridge 200 of the second embodiment, a maximum of 30 mL of chemical liquid can be stored in the chemical liquid chamber 260. Moreover, the capacity | capacitance of the constriction part 260a in the chemical | medical solution chamber 260 is about 1 mL.

  In addition, since the chemical | medical solution accommodated in the chemical | medical solution chamber 260 (reagent cartridge 200) is the same as that of the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In addition, you may use the reagent cartridge 200 which accommodated these chemical | medical solutions as a reagent cartridge set provided with 2 or more types. By using a reagent cartridge set, two or more kinds of treatments are performed in antigen-antibody reaction treatment, color development reaction treatment, deparaffinization treatment, activation treatment, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking treatment, washing treatment, etc. Can do.

  The case portion 210 has a ball chamber 212 having an inner surface that is cylindrical above the cylindrical tapered opening 211a whose inner surface is narrowed downward. The upper surface of the ball chamber 212 communicates with an opening of a contact portion 117 described later. Further, the lower surface of the ball chamber 212 is in contact with a ball stopper 215 described later. Two balls 113, which are spheres having a diameter of about 2.0 mm, are inserted into the ball chamber 212 side by side in the Z-axis direction. The height (dimension in the Z-axis direction) of the ball chamber 212 is slightly larger than twice the diameter of the ball 113, and the inner diameter of the ball chamber 212 is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 113. Therefore, the two balls 113 can move up and down inside the ball chamber 212. Here, the height of the ball chamber 212 is set as a distance from a ball stopper 215, which will be described later, to a portion 117 per degree.

  A ball stopper 215 is provided on the lower surface of the ball chamber 212. The ball stopper 215 is detachably provided to the ball chamber 212. Here, the ball stopper 215 will be described with reference to FIG. 20A. FIG. 20A is a plan view showing the appearance of the ball stopper. As shown in FIG. 20A, the ball stopper 215 has a disk shape substantially equal to the outer diameter of the ball chamber 212, and is centered at a position eccentric with respect to the center 113c of the ball 113 accommodated in the ball chamber 212. It has a planar circular opening 217 in which 217c is arranged. Thus, since the center 217c of the opening 217 is eccentric with respect to the center 113c of the ball 113, the entire ball 113 is not immersed in the opening 217, and the opening 217 of the ball stopper 215 cannot be closed. For this reason, the ball chamber 212 and the opening 211a communicate with each other. Thereby, a chemical | medical solution can always be made to stay in the ball | bowl chamber 212 and the opening part 211a.

  The opening 217 of the ball stopper 215 is not limited to a circular shape that is eccentric with respect to the center 113c of the ball 113, and may have any shape as long as the entire ball 113 is not immersed. As another configuration example of the ball stopper 215, the ball stopper 215b of Modification 1 shown in FIG. 20B, the ball stopper 215d of Modification 2 shown in FIG. 20C, and the like can be applied. FIG. 20B is a plan view showing the appearance of the first modification of the ball stopper. FIG. 20C is a plan view showing the external appearance of a modified example 2 of the ball stopper. The ball stopper 215b shown in FIG. 20B has a through groove 217b whose planar shape is rectangular. The through groove 217 b is configured such that the length dimension in the longitudinal direction is longer than the diameter of the ball 113 and the width dimension in the short direction is shorter than the diameter of the ball 113. The ball stopper 215d shown in FIG. 20C has a so-called cross-shaped through groove 217d in which the through grooves having a rectangular planar shape intersect. The through groove 217 d is configured such that the length dimension in the longitudinal direction of each groove is longer than the diameter of the ball 113 and the width dimension in the short direction is shorter than the diameter of the ball 113. In the ball stoppers 215b and 215d of such a modification, the same effect as the ball stopper 215 described above can be obtained.

  Note that the configuration and operation of the ball 113 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted here. Further, a contact portion 117 is provided on the upper surface of the ball chamber 212. Since the configuration of the contact portion 117 is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. A stroke chamber 218 whose inner surface is cylindrical is provided above the contact portion 117.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a protruding portion 237 is provided below the narrowed portion 260 a of the chemical solution storage unit 250 (chemical solution chamber 260). The protruding portion 237 has a second chemical liquid flow channel that communicates with the chemical liquid chamber 260 via a valve 163 having an inner surface 237a having a movable portion 163a on the inner side thereof. A bottom portion 242 that closes the tip of the protrusion 237 is provided at the tip of the protrusion 237 in the negative direction of the Z-axis as the first direction. In addition, two slit-shaped through holes 243 that penetrate from the inner surface 237a to the outer surface 237b are provided on the distal end side in the negative direction of the Z-axis as the first direction of the protruding portion 237. The protruding portion 237 is inserted into the stroke chamber 218 of the case portion 210.

  The inner surface 237a of the protruding portion 237 of the chemical solution storage portion 250, the stroke chamber 218, the ball chamber 212, and the nozzle portion 211 of the case portion 210 have different inner diameters, but their center lines substantially coincide with the center line of the opening portion 211a. Are arranged to be. Here, from the inner surface of the protruding portion 237, the stroke chamber 218, the ball chamber 212, and the opening 211a form a path of the chemical solution from the chemical solution chamber 260 to the nozzle portion 211.

  The coiled spring 145 is arranged so as to go around the cylindrical outer surface 237 b of the protruding portion 237. One end of the spring 145 contacts the periphery of the case portion 210 where the protruding portion 237 is inserted, and the other end contacts the base portion of the protruding portion 237.

  As in the first embodiment, the spring 145 is a biasing unit that biases the chemical solution storage unit 250 in the positive direction (upward) of the Z axis. Therefore, the chemical solution storage unit 250 is urged upward with respect to the case unit 210 in the storage unit 219, but is separated from the case unit 210 by the locking of the locking projection 253 and the upper edge of the opening 224. The chemical solution storage unit 250 is prevented from being detached. FIG. 17 shows a state where the chemical solution storage unit 250 is not pressed downward. Such a state is referred to as an initial state. Further, when the chemical solution storage unit 250 is pressed in the negative direction (downward) of the Z axis against the bias of the spring 145, the chemical solution storage unit 250 moves downward in the storage unit 219. In conjunction with this, the protrusion 237 moves downward in the stroke chamber 218.

  The downward movement of the chemical solution storage unit 250 is possible until the lower surface (outer surface) 242a (see FIG. 19A) of the bottom 242 of the protrusion 237 and the contact portion 117 come into contact with each other. In other words, the downward movement of the chemical solution storage portion 250 is restricted by the contact between the lower surface 242a of the bottom portion 242 and the contact portion 117. With these configurations, the chemical solution storage unit 250 has a space in the storage unit 219 from the locking position of the locking projection 253 and the opening 224 to the contact position between the lower surface 242a of the bottom 242 and the contact portion 117. The reciprocation is possible in the positive and negative directions of the Z axis. The movement distance in the positive and negative directions of the Z axis in the chemical solution storage unit 250 is called a stroke.

  A reflective portion 261a is provided on the inner side of the narrowed portion 260a on the left side surface so as to be opposed to the second window portion 201 in the X-axis direction via the chemical chamber 260 (the narrowed portion 260a). In addition, a translucent part 251b having translucency is formed in a part of the chemical chamber 260 exposed in the direction opposite to the first direction (the positive direction of the Z axis) while being held by the case part 210. Is provided. A reflective portion 261b is provided on the inner side of the chemical liquid chamber 260 on the left side 210b side so as to face the light transmitting portion 251b and the X-axis direction (second direction) via the chemical liquid chamber 260.

  The reflecting portions 261a and 261b have a characteristic of reflecting light rays having a predetermined wavelength, and preferably have a reflectivity that reflects light of a predetermined wavelength by 30% or more. The 1st window part 251a and the translucent part 251b have translucency. Here, the translucency in the present specification means a material having a transmittance of 70% or more with respect to a light beam having a predetermined wavelength. Although it does not specifically limit as a light ray of the said predetermined wavelength, For example, the light ray which has a wavelength of 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less is mentioned. In addition, when the forming material of the chemical | medical solution chamber 260 has the reflectance mentioned above with respect to a predetermined wavelength, it is not necessary to provide the reflection parts 261a and 261b.

  The chemical solution storage part 250 (the first window part 251a and the translucent part 251b) may be formed of a forming material having the above-described reflectance and translucency. Such a forming material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These forming materials may be visually transparent or translucent. In addition, as a material for forming the reflecting portions 261a and 261b, a thin film such as a metal or metal oxide, a metal plate, or the like may be used.

  The second window portion 201, the first window portion 251a, the inside of the chemical solution chamber 260 (the narrowed portion 260a), and the reflecting portion 261a are arranged along the X-axis direction, and form a first optical path α as an optical path. doing. That is, the first optical path α includes the narrowed portion 260a. Moreover, the translucent part 251b, the inside of the chemical | medical solution chamber 260, and the reflection part 261b are arrange | positioned along the X-axis direction, and comprise the 2nd optical path (beta) as another optical path. That is, the second optical path β is parallel to the first optical path α. As described above, the reagent cartridge 200 includes two optical paths, the first optical path α as an optical path and the second optical path β as another optical path.

  If a light beam having a predetermined wavelength is applied to the first optical path α from the negative direction of the X-axis, the light beam enters from the second window portion 201, and the first window portion 251a and the chemical solution chamber 260 ( It reaches the reflecting portion 261a through the inside of the narrowed portion 260a). Next, after the light beam is reflected by the reflecting portion 261a, it travels along the first optical path α in the positive direction of the X axis and exits from the second window portion 201. At this time, if the chemical solution exists on the first optical path α inside the chemical solution chamber 260, the amount of light emitted from the emitted light is attenuated with respect to the irradiated light. Therefore, the presence or absence of the chemical solution on the first optical path α can be confirmed by detecting the attenuation of the light amount.

  In addition, if a light beam having a predetermined wavelength is applied to the second optical path β from the negative direction of the X axis, the light beam enters from the translucent part 251b, passes through the inside of the chemical liquid chamber 260, and reflects the part 261b. To reach. Next, after the light beam is reflected by the reflection unit 261b, the light beam travels along the second optical path β in the positive direction of the X axis and is emitted from the light transmission unit 251b. At this time, if the chemical liquid exists on the second optical path β inside the chemical liquid chamber 260, the amount of light emitted from the emitted light is attenuated with respect to the irradiated light. Therefore, the presence or absence of the chemical solution on the second optical path β can be confirmed by detecting the attenuation of the light amount.

  The first optical path α is set at a position (Z-axis direction) where “no chemical solution” is detected when the remaining amount of the chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber 260 falls below, for example, 800 μL (microliter). As a result, when a chemical solution having a short pot life and difficult to refill the reagent cartridge 200 is used, the dead volume can be reduced and the chemical solution can be used effectively.

  The second optical path β is set at a position where “no chemical solution” is detected when the remaining amount of the chemical solution in the chemical chamber 260 falls below, for example, 10 mL to 15 mL. In a pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 25 and FIG. 26), which will be described later, the remaining amount is calculated from the amount of the chemical solution filled in the reagent cartridge 200 and the consumption amount of the chemical solution calculated from the discharge amount and the number of discharges of the chemical solution. A value may be obtained and collated with the detection result of “no chemical” in the second optical path β. Thereby, the calculated value of the chemical liquid consumption may be corrected to estimate the subsequent chemical liquid consumption. The position of the second optical path β (Z-axis direction) is not limited to the above position. Further, the number of optical paths is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

  Further, the second window portion 201, the first window portion 251a, and the light transmitting portion 251b are formed of a material having a high visible light transmittance, and in addition to the optical detection using the light rays described above, It may be possible to confirm the presence or absence of a chemical solution.

  A nozzle cap 248 is detachably mounted on the left side surface of the case portion 210. The nozzle cap 248 includes a cap portion 244, a belt-like portion 245 connected to the cap portion 244, a thin-walled portion 246 provided in the belt-like portion 245, a locking hole 247 provided in the belt-like portion 245, and the opposite of the cap portion 244. It has a mounting hole 249 provided on the side. The nozzle cap 248 is a member that can be mounted so as to cover the nozzle portion 211 with the cap portion 244. The nozzle cap 248 is attached to the case portion 210 by inserting the attachment hole 249 into the anchoring protrusion 209 provided in the case portion 210. The nozzle cap 248 can be attached to the case portion 210 by fitting the locking hole 247 provided in the belt-like portion 245 into the protrusion 216 provided on the bottom surface of the case portion 210.

[Installation example of nozzle cap]
Here, a mounting example of the nozzle cap 248 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B. 18A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 14 showing an example of mounting the nozzle cap. FIG. 18B is a V view as shown in FIG. 18A showing a locking projection for locking the nozzle cap.

  As shown in FIG. 18A, the nozzle cap 248 is attached to the case portion 210 in a state where the locking hole 247 provided in the belt-like portion 245 is inserted into the protruding portion 216 provided on the bottom surface of the case portion 210. Can do. Specifically, the nozzle cap 248 bends the belt-like portion 245 at the position of the thin portion 246, inserts the locking hole 247 into the protruding portion 216 on the bottom surface of the case portion 210, and heat-presses the top portion of the protruding portion 216, for example. Can be attached to the case portion 210 by the caulking portion 216P deformed into a rivet shape. As a result, the nozzle cap 248 is attached to the case portion 210 at the portion of the locking hole 247 located at the end opposite to the cap portion 244. Then, the nozzle cap 248 removes the cap portion 244 from the anchoring protrusion 209 provided on the case portion 210 as necessary, and bends the thin portion 246 of the strip portion 245 or deforms the strip portion 245 into a curved shape. Then, the cap portion 244 can be attached (capped) to the nozzle portion 211. The nozzle cap 248 has a slight gap between the band-shaped portion 245 facing the crimping portion 216P and the crimping portion 216P, and is attached to the case portion 210 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the locking hole 247. May be.

  In this way, by attaching the nozzle cap 248 to the case portion 210 at the portion of the locking hole 247, the nozzle cap 248 is not detached from the reagent cartridge 200. As a result, mixing with the nozzle cap 248 attached to another reagent cartridge 200 containing another chemical solution can be prevented. Further, the nozzle cap 248 can be prevented from being lost.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the mooring protrusion 209 provided on the case portion 210 has a cross shape when the left side surface 210 b (see FIG. 11) of the case portion 210 is viewed from the front. . The anchoring protrusion 209 protrudes from the case part 210 and is provided so that the outer edge of the cross shape can anchor the attachment hole 249 of the nozzle cap 248. As described above, the mounting hole 249 of the nozzle cap 248 can be attached and detached more smoothly by making the planar shape of the anchoring protrusion 209 a cross shape. The outer shape of the mooring protrusion 209 is not limited to a cross shape, and may be a circular shape, for example, a polygonal shape such as a triangle or a hexagon.

[Chemical route]
The path of the chemical solution when discharging the chemical solution will be described with reference to FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C, 21A, 21B, 21C, 22A, 22B, and 23. FIG. 19A to 19C are cross-sectional views showing the path of the chemical solution around the stroke chamber. FIG. 21A is a cross-sectional view taken along line QQ in FIG. 19A, showing the arrangement of through holes provided in the protruding portion. That is, FIG. 22A is a cross-section from the direction (X-axis direction) rotated 90 degrees with respect to FIG. 19A (cross-section along the Y-axis) in order to facilitate understanding the arrangement correlation of the through-holes with other components. Is described. 21B and 21C are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 21A showing a modification of the arrangement of the through holes, FIG. 21B is a first modification, and FIG. 21C is a diagram showing a second modification. 22A and 22B are cross-sectional views along the line RR in FIG. 17 showing the positions of the through holes, FIG. 22A shows an initial state, and FIG. 22B shows a moving state. Moreover, FIG. 23 is sectional drawing which shows the application example of arrangement | positioning of a ball stopper.

  In FIG. 19A, the periphery of the stroke chamber 218 in an initial state similar to that in FIG. 17 is enlarged. As shown in FIG. 19A, a slit-like through hole 243 that penetrates from the inner surface 237a to the outer surface 237b is provided on the distal end side of the protruding portion 237 in the negative direction of the Z axis. As shown in FIG. 21A, two through holes 243 are provided so as to penetrate the protruding portion 237 in the Y-axis direction. In the initial state, the through hole 243 faces the O-ring 141 and is sealed by the O-ring 141. In addition, the through-hole 243 is not limited to the above-described form, and as shown in FIG. 21B, four groove-like through-holes 243 are provided along two directions (X-axis and Y-axis directions) intersecting the protrusion 237m. It may be configured as described above. Moreover, as shown to FIG. 21C, the structure by which 12 through-holes 243a with a circular cross-sectional shape are provided in the protrusion part 237n, for example radially may be sufficient. Further, the arrangement and the number of the through holes 243 and 243a are not limited to the above examples, and the arrangement and the number are not limited.

  As shown in FIG. 19A, an O-ring 141 as an elastic ring member is disposed above the stroke chamber 218 in which the protruding portion 237 is inserted. The O-ring 141 is provided so that the outer surface 237b of the protrusion 237 can slide in the first direction. The O-ring 141 is in close contact with the outer surface 237b of the protruding portion 237 and has a function of preventing the chemical liquid from leaking from between the case portion 210 and the outer surface 237b. Further, as shown in FIG. 22A, in the initial state, the through-hole 243 is sealed by the O-ring 141. Thereby, the path of the chemical solution from the chemical solution chamber 260 to the opening 211a is blocked by the through hole 243, so that the chemical solution does not flow from the chemical solution chamber 260 to the stroke chamber 218 via the through hole 243 in the initial state. The O-ring 141 has a configuration called a so-called X-shaped ring (X-ring) in which the cross-sectional shape is a substantially quadrangular shape and the central portions of the inner surface and the outer surface are recessed. By using the O-ring 141 having such a configuration, the contact area of the outer surface 237b of the protruding portion 237 can be reduced, and the adhesion of the protruding portion 237 (sealability) can be maintained, and the protruding portion 237 can be maintained. Slidability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 19A, the ball chamber 212 has an opening 212a communicating with the opening 117b of the contact portion 117 on the upper surface. Since the ball 113 has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening 212a, the ball 113 has a function of closing the opening 212a when a part of the ball 113 is immersed in the opening 212a. As described above, since the ball 113 floats in the chemical solution, when the chemical solution exists between the ball chamber 212 and the opening 211a and is stationary, a part of the upper ball 113 blocks the opening 212a. By doing so, the dripping of the chemical solution from the nozzle part 211 is suppressed.

  The distance h between the lower surface (outer surface) 242a of the bottom portion 242 of the protruding portion 237 and the upper surface 117a of the contact portion 117 is equal to the above-described stroke (movement distance of the chemical solution storage portion 250 in the positive and negative directions of the Z axis). That is, when the chemical solution storage unit 250 is pressed downward once, a chemical solution equivalent to a volume obtained by multiplying the cross-sectional area inside the stroke chamber 218 by the distance h (a predetermined amount) is discharged from the nozzle unit 211. The predetermined amount can be adjusted mainly by changing the stroke, and is preferably 10 μL or more and 1 mL or less. According to this, it is possible to discharge a chemical solution having a volume corresponding to the type and size of the tissue sample (pathological sample), the type of the chemical solution, and the like. In the present embodiment, the predetermined amount of discharge per one press is 50 μL.

  The stroke can be changed by changing the thickness of the ball stopper 215 provided on the lower surface of the ball chamber 212 so as to be detachable from the ball chamber 212. That is, it is possible to vary the stroke by preparing the ball stoppers 215 having different thicknesses and replacing the ball stoppers 215 so as to have a required thickness.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23, by preparing a plurality of ball stoppers 215 and overlaying the already arranged ball stoppers 215, a second ball stopper 215a having a thickness t is arranged. The stroke corresponding to the thickness t of the second ball stopper 215a can be the distance ht. As illustrated, the stroke can also be varied by using a plurality of ball stoppers 215 and 215a. In addition, when a plurality of ball stoppers 215 and 215a are used in an overlapping manner as described above, the openings 217 provided in the ball stoppers 215 and 215a are arranged so as to overlap each other, for example, by heat fusion or the like. It is preferable to use one that is joined so as to be integrated. With such a configuration of the ball stoppers 215 and 215a, the chemical solution can be reliably moved.

  A movable portion 163 a is provided on the cylindrical inner surface of the valve 163. The valve 163 is fused to the wall portion of the chemical chamber 160 using, for example, a thermal fusion method or an ultrasonic fusion method, as in the first embodiment. For example, four heat fusions are performed along the outer periphery of the valve 163 as indicated by an arrow W1 shown in FIG. 19A. However, the number of fusion points is not limited to four, and may be any number. In addition, since the structure and operation | movement of the valve 163 and the movable part 163a are the same as that of the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 19B shows a state where the chemical solution storage unit 250 is pressed downward. Such a state is referred to as a discharge state. As illustrated in FIG. 19B, when the chemical solution storage unit 250 is pushed downward with respect to the case unit 210, the protrusion 237 moves downward in the stroke chamber 218 compared to the initial state.

  At this time, the stroke chamber 218 generates a positive pressure because its internal volume is compressed. With the positive pressure, the ball 113 is pushed downward, the opening portion 212a is blocked by the ball 113, and the chemical solution is discharged from the nozzle portion 211 (see FIG. 17). At the same time, the downward movement of the protruding portion 237 also releases the blockage of the through hole 243 by the O-ring 141 as shown in FIG. 22B. Further, the movable portion 163a of the valve 163 maintains the close contact state of the pair of films because the inside of the protruding portion 237 does not become negative pressure.

  The through hole 243 provided in the protruding portion 237 has a narrower groove width than the path of the chemical solution after the stroke chamber 218, so that a negative pressure is not generated in the stroke chamber 218 in the discharge state. Function. Further, even in the discharge state, the O-ring 141 and the outer surface 237b of the protruding portion 237 are kept in close contact with each other and airtightness is maintained, so that the chemical liquid is prevented from leaking to the accommodating portion 219 through the outer surface 237b.

  FIG. 19C shows a state on the way from the discharge state to the initial state after the discharge of the chemical liquid is completed. Specifically, when the lower surface (outer surface) 242a of the bottom portion 242 of the protruding portion 237 and the upper surface 117a of the contact portion 117 come into contact with each other and the downward pressing of the chemical solution storage portion 250 is finished, the chemical liquid is energized by the bias of the spring 145. The storage unit 250 moves upward. In conjunction with this, the protrusion 237 also moves upward in the stroke chamber 218. At this time, since negative pressure is generated in the stroke chamber 218, the ball 113 is sucked up and the opening 212a is closed again. Thereby, the discharge of the chemical solution from the nozzle unit 211 is stopped.

  On the other hand, since the through hole 243 is open, the chemical solution inside the protrusion 237 is supplied to the stroke chamber 218 through the through hole 243 so that the negative pressure is eliminated. At this time, the inside of the protrusion 237 also becomes a negative pressure with respect to the chemical chamber 260 due to the negative pressure. Therefore, the movable portion 163a is opened, the chemical chamber 260 communicates with the inside of the protruding portion 237, and the chemical solution is supplied from the chemical chamber 260 to the inside of the protruding portion 237. In this way, the ejection state transitions to the initial state.

  In the above-described chemical solution path, the portion from the through hole 243 of the protrusion 237 to the opening 211a corresponds to the discharge mechanism. In other words, the discharge mechanism is provided in the chemical flow path of the case portion 210 (see FIG. 17), and includes a stroke chamber 218, an O-ring 141, a ball chamber 212, a ball 113, and a ball stopper 215. By this discharge mechanism, the chemical liquid stored in the chemical liquid storage section 250 (chemical liquid chamber 260) is discharged from the nozzle section 211 by a predetermined amount (50 μL) by one press.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 23, when the second ball stopper 215a having the thickness t is arranged so as to overlap the already arranged ball stopper 215, the stroke can be reduced. it can. In the configuration as shown in FIG. 23, the predetermined amount of the chemical discharged from the nozzle portion 211 by one press can be changed from 50 μL to 30 μL, for example.

  The material for forming the chemical solution storage unit 250, the case unit 210, and the components that form the reagent cartridge 200 is not particularly limited, and is not easily affected by the liquid such as the stored chemical solution, and is contained in the forming material. It is preferable to use a resin, a metal, or the like that hardly dissolves components, additives, impurities, and the like into the chemical solution. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deterioration and deterioration of the stored liquid and improve the reliability of the pathological diagnosis result. In particular, it is preferable to use a resin as a material for forming a part constituting the path of the chemical solution because of the ease of forming the part. Examples of such resins include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrene, polyamide, polyacetal, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), urethane, acrylic, polycarbonate, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), EPM ( Polymer compounds such as ethylene-propylene rubber), EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), NBR (nitrile rubber), butyl rubber, silicone rubber, and the like, and one or more selected from these groups are applicable. is there. In addition, when the chemical | medical solution accommodated is oil (liquid paraffin), in order to prevent swelling by oil (liquid paraffin), as a forming material of the components which comprise the ball chamber 212, the degree part 117, and the valve 163, It is preferable to apply NBR (nitrile rubber). Moreover, the forming material used for the case part 210 and the forming material used for the chemical solution storage part 250 may be the same or different.

  According to the reagent cartridge 200 according to the second embodiment described above, the remaining amount of the stored chemical solution can be easily grasped. Specifically, the presence or absence of a chemical solution in the chemical solution chamber 260 can be optically confirmed from the outside of the reagent cartridge 200 by using two optical paths (first optical path α and second optical path β). Therefore, it is not necessary to visually check the remaining amount of the chemical solution, and it becomes easy to grasp the replacement timing of the reagent cartridge 200. That is, it is possible to provide a reagent cartridge 200 suitable for a later-described pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 (see FIG. 26) used for pathological diagnosis during surgery.

  Further, according to the reagent cartridge 200 according to the second embodiment, the stroke caused by pressing the chemical solution storage unit 250 downward can be changed by replacing the ball stopper 215. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the amount of pushing by the chemical | medical solution storage part 250 being pressed once downward can be suppressed.

<Tissue specimen>
Next, the tissue specimen will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a substrate on which a tissue specimen is fixed.

  Pathological specimens made in the pathology department provide important information regarding patient diagnosis, prognosis and medical treatment selection. Pathological specimen preparation methods include immunohistochemical staining (IHC), which observes the expression level of proteins in tissues and cells while observing the shape of tissues and cells as tissue specimens, and gene expression in tissues and cells. Examples include In Situ Hybridization (ISH) method for observing the expression level.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the tissue specimen 5 used for the preparation of the pathological specimen is fixed to the substrate 1. For the substrate 1, a colorless and transparent microscope slide glass having a width of 26 mm, a length of 76 mm, and a thickness of 1.1 mm, which is standardized by JIS R 3703: 1998, is used. For example, a water repellent ring 2 is formed on the substrate 1 in order to hold a liquid such as a chemical solution supplied to the fixed tissue specimen 5 within a predetermined range. The tissue specimen 5 is fixed to the inside of the water repellent ring 2 in a state of being sliced, for example. The water repellent ring 2 may be formed by applying a water repellent to the substrate 1 in a ring shape, or a ring-shaped seal having water repellency may be attached to the substrate 1. The water repellent ring 2 may be formed on the substrate 1 on which the tissue specimen 5 is fixed so as to surround the tissue specimen 5. The shape of the water repellent part of the water repellent ring 2 is not limited to being circular, and may be a polygon such as a rectangle.

  The substrate 1 is provided with a marking region 3 for identifying the fixed tissue specimen 5 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 1. For example, a sticker in which the name or management number of the fixed tissue specimen 5 is written may be affixed to the marking region 3, or the name or management number of the fixed tissue specimen 5 can be described. A smooth coating surface may be formed.

  One water repellent ring 2 is not limited to being formed on the substrate 1, and two water repellent rings may be formed, for example. An active tissue specimen may be fixed in one water repellent ring 2 and a comparative negative tissue specimen may be fixed in the other water repellent ring 2. Hereinafter, the substrate 1 on which the tissue specimen 5 is fixed is referred to as a substrate 10.

(Embodiment 3)
<Pathological specimen preparation device>
A pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a pathological specimen preparation apparatus. In addition, in the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 25, any of the reagent cartridges 100 and 200 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be used. However, for convenience of explanation, a configuration using the reagent cartridge 100 is used. An example will be described.

  The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment includes a cartridge operation unit 20, a cleaning unit 30, an electric field stirring unit 40, a chemical information acquisition unit 50, a stage moving mechanism 60, a calculation unit 70, a control unit 80, a display unit 90, and the like. It has.

  A pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 25 is provided for a holding unit 24 to which the reagent cartridge 100 can be attached and detached, a stage 25 that can support the substrate 10 to which the tissue specimen 5 is fixed, and the substrate 10 supported by the stage 25. And a cartridge operation unit 20 capable of supplying the reagent 7 as a chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge 100. The cartridge operation unit 20 has an electric pusher 22 as a pusher capable of reciprocating in the Z-axis direction. The electric pusher 22 contacts the upper surface (cartridge cover 155) of the chemical solution storage unit 150 of the reagent cartridge 100 attached to the holding unit 24 by reciprocating in the Z-axis direction, and moves the chemical solution storage unit 150 downward (Z axis). To the negative direction).

  Further, the cleaning unit 30 can supply the cleaning liquid 6 to the substrate 10 supported by the stage 25. The electric field stirring unit 40 can stir by applying an electric field to the reagent 7 or the cleaning liquid 6 supplied to the substrate 10 supported by the stage 25. The stage moving mechanism 60 can move the stage 25 to the cleaning unit 30, the electric field stirring unit 40, and the cartridge operation unit 20. The chemical information acquisition unit 50 includes an emission unit 52 that can emit light to the first optical path α and the second optical path β, and a light receiving unit 53. The calculation unit 70 can calculate the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 53 and convert it into an electrical signal. The control unit 80 can display information based on the calculation result of the calculation unit 70 on the display unit 90.

  The stage moving mechanism 60 is, for example, an electric stepping motor driven conveyor. The stage moving mechanism 60 moves the stage 25 in the fourth direction in which the cartridge operation unit 20, the cleaning unit 30, and the electric field stirring unit 40 are arranged. Thus, the substrate 10 (tissue specimen 5) placed on the stage 25 can be subjected to processing such as supply of the reagent 7, cleaning with the cleaning liquid 6, and stirring of the supplied reagent 7 and cleaning liquid 6. Here, the fourth direction is, for example, the positive / negative direction of the Y axis, but is not limited thereto. The fourth direction may be a positive / negative direction of the Z-axis, a positive / negative direction of the X-axis, or any other direction that is inclined with respect to the XYZ-axis. In FIG. 25, the power supply device, the drive unit, the structure, and the like are omitted.

  In the pathological specimen preparation methods such as IHC and ISH, common processes include a cleaning process for supplying the substrate 10 with the cleaning liquid 6 and cleaning, or supplying the reagent 7 to the substrate 10 to obtain the tissue specimen 5 and the reagent 7. A reaction treatment step of reacting Examples of the reagent 7 include a primary antibody reagent and a secondary antibody reagent used in the antigen-antibody reaction processing step, and a coloring reagent used in the color reaction processing step as described above. The washing process step is not only performed before these reaction process steps, but is also performed after the reaction process step in order to remove the extra reagent 7 remaining. The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 applies an electric field to a liquid such as the reagent 7 discharged from the reagent cartridge 100 and supplied to the tissue specimen 5 on the substrate 10 in order to efficiently advance the preparation of the pathological specimen. An electric field stirring step is performed in which stirring is performed at The substrate 10 goes through the cleaning process, the reaction process, and the electric field stirring process by the stage moving mechanism 60.

[Cartridge operation section]
The cartridge operation unit 20 includes a holding unit 24, an electric pusher 22, and a drive unit 21 for driving the electric pusher 22. The drive unit 21 is, for example, a stepping motor. When the reagent cartridge 100 is in a position for discharging the reagent 7 with respect to the substrate 10, when the electric pusher 22 is driven and pushed downward, the cartridge lid 155 of the reagent cartridge 100 and the tip of the electric pusher 22 are moved. Abut. Furthermore, since the electric pusher 22 is pushed down, the cartridge lid 155 is pressed downward. Since the case portion 110 of the reagent cartridge 100 is held in the holding portion 24 by the step 115 (see FIG. 4), the chemical solution storage portion 150 moves while being immersed in the case portion 110. As the chemical solution storage unit 150 moves by a stroke (distance h), the reagent 7 is discharged from the reagent cartridge 100 and supplied to the tissue specimen 5.

[Washing part]
The cleaning unit 30 supplies the cleaning liquid 6 from the nozzle 31 to the substrate 10 placed on the stage 25. The nozzle 31 is connected by piping from a cleaning liquid tank (not shown) in which the cleaning liquid 6 is stored via a pump (not shown), and the cleaning liquid 6 is supplied from the cleaning liquid tank. A plurality of cleaning liquid tanks and pumps may be used depending on the type of the cleaning liquid 6. For example, in order to prevent the tissue specimen 5 from being dried and to maintain the fixed state of the tissue specimen 5, a cleaning liquid tank in which PBS, TBS or the like is stored, or a cleaning liquid tank in which pure water is stored is used individually. The piping from the plurality of cleaning liquid tanks to the nozzle 31 may be switched by opening and closing a valve, and the cleaning liquid may be selectively supplied from the nozzle 31 to the substrate 10.

  The cleaning liquid 6 used for cleaning is removed from the substrate 10 as a waste liquid. The waste liquid is collected by a jar (not shown) and stored in a waste liquid tank (not shown) arranged below the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300. The mechanism for removing the cleaning liquid from the substrate 10 is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. In the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300, the cleaning unit 30 uses a method in which the substrate 10 is tilted and removed together with the stage 25. Similar to the cleaning liquid tank, a plurality of types of waste liquid tanks may be used depending on the type.

[Electric field stirring section]
The electric field stirring unit 40 applies an electric field to the liquid such as the reagent 7 or the cleaning liquid 6 supplied to the substrate 10 placed on the stage 25 to stir. Therefore, in the electric field stirring unit 40, the upper electrode 41 as the upper electrode and the stage 25 also serving as the lower electrode as the lower electrode are arranged at a predetermined interval so as to face each other in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). ing. Between the upper electrode 41 and the stage 25, for example, a rectangular potential whose potential changes between 0 kV and 4 kV is applied at a predetermined cycle, and an electric field is generated. The liquid on the substrate 10 is deformed so as to be drawn toward the upper electrode 41 side by the Coulomb force generated as the potential increases. As the electric potential decreases, the Coulomb force weakens, and the liquid drawn toward the upper electrode 41 is deformed so as to drop by gravity. Therefore, since the potential changes periodically, the liquid is repeatedly deformed and stirred.

[Chemical solution information acquisition unit]
The reagent cartridge 100 is transported to the chemical information acquisition unit 50 by the holding unit 24 and a transport mechanism (not shown). The chemical solution information acquisition unit 50 reads the barcode 126 (see FIG. 4) related to the information of the emission unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53 that detect the presence or absence of the chemical solution in the reagent cartridge 100 and the reagent 7 applied to the reagent cartridge 100. A bar code reader 51 is provided, and is connected to the calculation unit 70, the control unit 80, and the like.

  In the chemical solution information acquisition unit 50, the emission unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53 can receive the light emitted from the emission unit 52 corresponding to the second window portions 101 a and 101 b of the reagent cartridge 100. In the state, two are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, when the reagent cartridge 100 is conveyed to the chemical solution information acquisition unit 50, the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 is used by using the first optical path α and the second optical path β (see FIG. 8) of the reagent cartridge 100 described above. The presence or absence of can be detected.

  The emission part 52 and the light receiving part 53 are, for example, distance measuring reflection type sensors, and the wavelength of the light emitted from the emission part 52 is preferably 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less. By using a light beam having a wavelength in the above range, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of alteration in the components contained in the reagent 7, such as proteins. Moreover, since it remove | deviates from the area | region of infrared rays, it can suppress that the reagent 7 heats excessively. Furthermore, it can suppress that a light ray is absorbed and attenuate | damped by the molecular structure of the compound contained in a chemical | medical solution. In the present embodiment, a red light emitting diode is used as the light source of the emitting unit 52.

  The light beam emitted from the emission part 52 travels along the first optical path α and the second optical path β, enters from the second window parts 101a and 101b, and the first window parts 151a and 151b (see FIG. 8). Through the inside of the chemical chamber 160, the reflection parts 161a and 161b (see FIG. 8) are reached. Next, the light beam is reflected by the reflecting portions 161a and 161b, then travels in the opposite direction along the first optical path α and the second optical path β, and is emitted from the second window portions 101a and 101b, and is received by the light receiving portion 53. Is received. At this time, the voltage value detected by the distance measuring reflection type sensor is obtained when the reagent 7 is present on the first optical path α and the second optical path β in the chemical chamber 160 (see FIG. 8). Compared to Therefore, by calculating the voltage value of the ranging reflection type sensor by the calculation unit 70 electrically connected to the chemical liquid information acquisition unit 50, the reagent in the first optical path α and the second optical path β of the chemical liquid chamber 160 is obtained. The presence or absence of 7 can be detected.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the emission part 52 and the light-receiving part 53 were arrange | positioned integrally, it is not limited to this, You may arrange | position the emission part 52 and the light-receiving part 53 separately.

  In the chemical solution information acquisition unit 50, the barcode reader 51 reads the barcode 126 related to the information on the chemical solution applied to the reagent cartridge 100. As a result, information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, and notes regarding the stored reagent 7 can be collected and managed by the control unit 80 or the like.

[Calculator]
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 includes a calculation unit 70 that calculates a voltage value as the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 53 and converts it into an electrical signal. The calculation unit 70 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, and calculates the presence / absence of the reagent 7 from the voltage value output from the light receiving unit 53 (ranging reflection type sensor). In other words, the calculation unit 70 can determine the presence / absence of a chemical solution in the optical path through which the light beam has passed or another optical path from the light amount of the light beam. In addition, the calculation unit 70 may have a control function for causing the pathological specimen preparation device 300 to perform various operations.

  Further, the calculation unit 70 and the cartridge operation unit 20 are electrically connected, and the calculation unit 70 is used to calculate from the integrated value of the discharge amount of the reagent 7 by the cartridge operation unit 20 and the voltage value (light quantity of light). The remaining amount value of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 may be calculated from the presence / absence of the reagent 7 and sent to the control unit 80.

[Control unit]
The control unit 80 has a control function for causing the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 to execute various operations. Further, the control unit 80 creates display data based on the presence or absence of the reagent 7 calculated by the calculation unit 70 or the remaining amount value of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 and causes the display unit 90 to display the display data. The control unit 80 may be included in the calculation unit 70.

[Display section]
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 includes a display unit 90, calculates the presence / absence of a chemical solution in the first optical path α and the second optical path β in the chemical solution chamber 160 through which the light beam has passed, from the light amount of the light beam. indicate. Further, information such as the remaining amount value of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 can be displayed on the display unit 90.

  The display unit 90 is a liquid crystal display panel, for example, and may include a touch panel type input unit superimposed on the display unit 90. According to this, the display unit 90 is electrically connected to the control unit 80, and in addition to the function of displaying the presence / absence of the reagent 7 and the remaining amount in the reagent cartridge 100, the pathological specimen preparation device can be operated by various operation buttons as an input unit. 300 has a function as an operation panel.

  The detection timing of the presence or absence of the reagent 7 described above is not particularly limited, but may be performed when the reagent cartridge 100 is mounted on the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300. That is, when the reagent cartridge 100 is mounted, a light beam is emitted from the emission unit 52, the presence / absence of the reagent 7 in the first optical path α and the second optical path β in the chemical chamber 160 through which the light beam has passed is calculated, and the display unit 90 may be displayed. The above detection is preferably performed automatically. By notifying the time when the reagent cartridge 100 is mounted on the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300, that is, the presence or absence of the reagent 7 at the preparation stage of pathological specimen preparation, the operator can efficiently perform the subsequent preparation of the pathological specimen. it can. Moreover, said detection may be implemented manually according to an operator's instruction | indication.

[Other configurations]
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 may be equipped with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor that images the marking region 3 (see FIG. 24) of the substrate 10 placed on the stage moving mechanism 60. Information on the tissue specimen such as the name and management number of the tissue specimen 5 displayed in the marking area 3 may be read by the CCD image sensor and managed by the control unit 80. Such information may be displayed on the display unit 90.

  A plurality of reagent cartridges 100, that is, reagent cartridge sets may be mounted on the pathological specimen preparation device 300. For example, a plurality of holding portions 24 are provided in a loop-shaped transport mechanism, and the reagent cartridge set is placed on the transport mechanism. The desired reagent cartridge 100 may be selectable according to the type and processing of the tissue specimen 5 while moving the transport mechanism in a loop.

  The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 may be provided with a plurality of stages 25. The number of stages 25 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 2 to 10, for example, and more preferably 3 to 8. By setting the number of stages 25 within the above range, the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 can be made relatively small while improving the work efficiency of pathological specimen preparation.

  Next, an example of the form of the chemical information acquisition unit 50 and the like will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a chemical information acquisition unit. The pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 in FIG. 26 shows a state viewed from the left side toward the display unit 90 that also has an exterior and serves as an operation panel, and the lower structure is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 26, in the pathological specimen preparation device 300, a framework is formed by metal structures 350, 351, 352, and 353, and each part described below is supported. In FIG. 26, the cartridge operation unit 20 including the electric pusher 22, the cleaning unit 30, the electric field stirring unit 40, the chemical solution information acquisition unit 50 including the emission unit 52, the light receiving unit 53, and the like, the stage moving mechanism 60, and the like are illustrated.

  The reagent cartridge 100 is held by the holding unit 24. A cartridge operation unit 20 is disposed above the reagent cartridge 100, and the tip of the electric pusher 22 can come into contact with the upper surface of the reagent cartridge 100.

  In the positive direction of the X axis of the reagent cartridge 100, the chemical liquid information acquisition unit 50 is arranged, and the emission unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53 are positioned on the Z axis in positions facing the second windows 101a and 101b of the reagent cartridge 100. Two are provided in each direction. The two emitting portions 52 and the light receiving portions 53 provided by two are approximately equal in distance to the corresponding first window portions 151a and 151b (both see FIG. 8). In other words, the light emitting part 52 and the light receiving part 53 facing the second window part 101a (first window part 151a) are the light emitting part 52 and the light receiving part facing the second window part 101b (first window part 151b). It is provided at a position closer to the reagent cartridge 100 than the portion 53.

  Further, a barcode reader 51 is arranged in the positive direction of the X axis of the emitting unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53. That is, when the reagent cartridge 100 is in this posture, the presence / absence of the reagent 7 and the barcode 126 (see FIG. 4) are detected. An electric field stirring unit 40 is disposed obliquely below the chemical information acquisition unit 50.

  A cleaning unit 30 is disposed obliquely below the display unit 90. FIG. 26 shows a state in which the stage 25 is in the cleaning unit 30. The stage moving mechanism 60 moves the stage 25 on which the substrate 10 is placed downward to hold the reagent cartridge 100 or moves to the electric field stirring unit 40 according to the pathological specimen preparation process. Various operations can be performed on the substrate 10 (not shown).

  As described above, according to the reagent cartridge 100, the reagent cartridge set, and the pathological specimen preparation device 300 according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  The remaining amount of the reagent 7 to be stored can be easily grasped. Specifically, the presence or absence of the reagent 7 in the chemical solution chamber 160 can be optically confirmed from the outside of the reagent cartridge 100 using the first optical path α and the second optical path β. Therefore, it is not necessary to visually check the remaining amount of the reagent 7, and it becomes easy to grasp the replacement timing of the reagent cartridge 100. That is, the reagent cartridge 100 suitable for the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 used for pathological diagnosis during surgery can be provided.

  Since the two optical paths of the first optical path α and the second optical path β are included, the presence or absence of the reagent 7 can be confirmed inside the corresponding chemical liquid chamber 160. Specifically, the presence or absence of the reagent 7 can be detected in two stages of 10 mL to 15 mL and 800 μL. Further, when “no chemical solution” is detected in the second optical path β, the calculated value of the chemical solution consumption is corrected by collating with the remaining amount calculation of the reagent 7 calculated from the discharge amount and the number of discharges of the reagent 7. Is possible. As a result, the subsequent consumption amount of the reagent 7 can be estimated and displayed on the display unit 90 of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300.

  Since the chemical solution chamber 160 of the reagent cartridge 100 includes the narrowed portion 160 a, the first optical path α is provided on the tip side with respect to the nozzle portion 111 in the chemical solution chamber 160. Therefore, it is possible to grasp a state in which the remaining amount of the reagent 7 is small as compared with the case where the first optical path α is not provided on the distal end side. Furthermore, since the chemical chamber 160 has a shape in which the tip side is constricted (constricted portion 160a), it is possible to confirm a state in which the remaining amount of the reagent 7 is smaller than in the case where the chemical solution chamber 160 is not constricted. Become. From the above, it becomes possible to grasp the state in which the remaining amount of the reagent 7 in the chemical solution chamber 160 is smaller, and the reagent 7 can be used up to that state and the dead volume can be reduced.

  The reagent cartridge 100 has a cartridge lid 155 including a communication hole 157, and the cartridge lid 155 is detachable. Therefore, the reagent lid 100 can be removed from the chemical solution storage unit 150 and the reagent 7 can be stored in the chemical solution chamber 160. it can. In addition, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from entering the reagent 7 to be stored and contamination. Furthermore, since the inside and the outside of the chemical solution chamber 160 communicate with each other through the communication hole 157, even if the reagent 7 stored is reduced by discharging the reagent 7, the inside of the chemical solution chamber 160 is unlikely to become negative pressure. Thereby, the reagent 7 can be discharged quickly.

  Since the reagent cartridge 100 has the locking portion 105, the reagent cartridge 100 can be stably attached to the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 using the locking portion 105.

  Since the reagent cartridge 100 can discharge a predetermined amount of the reagent 7 of 10 μL or more and 1 mL or less from the nozzle unit 111, the reagent having a volume corresponding to the type and size of the tissue specimen 5, the type of the reagent 7, and the like. 7 can be supplied to the tissue specimen 5. Since the chemical chamber 160 can store 1 mL or more and 50 mL or less of the reagent 7, the chemical cartridge chamber 100 secures a capacity of about 250 times at the maximum for the processing using 200 μL of the chemical solution at a time, and the reagent cartridge 100. Increase in size can be suppressed.

  Information such as the type, content, date of manufacture, precautions, and the like regarding the stored reagent 7 can be known from the barcode 126. It is also possible to collect and manage this information.

  By the reagent 7 discharged from the reagent cartridge 100, antigen-antibody reaction processing, color development reaction processing, deparaffinization processing, activation processing, endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking processing, washing processing, and the like can be performed.

  With the reagent cartridge set, two or more kinds of treatments can be performed in the antigen-antibody reaction treatment, the color development reaction treatment, the deparaffinization treatment, the activation treatment, the endogenous PO (Peroxidase) blocking treatment, and the washing treatment.

  According to the pathological specimen preparation device 300, the chemical solution storage unit 150 is moved downward by the electric pusher 22, the reagent 7 is discharged from the nozzle unit 111, and the reagent 7 is supplied to the tissue specimen 5 fixed to the substrate 10. can do. The light receiving unit 53 receives the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit 52 to the first optical path α and the second optical path β, calculates the voltage value as the light amount of the light received by the light receiving unit 53, and the light beam has passed. The presence or absence of the reagent 7 in the chemical solution chamber 160 can be detected. That is, the remaining amount of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 can be confirmed.

  Since the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 includes the display unit 90, the user of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 can be notified of information such as the presence or absence of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100. When the reagent cartridge 100 is mounted, the presence or absence of the reagent 7 in the reagent cartridge 100 is notified. Therefore, it is possible to cope with planning of pathological specimen preparation and preparation of a new reagent cartridge 100 according to the remaining amount. Furthermore, since the remaining amount value of the reagent 7 is notified, it becomes easy to plan a pathological specimen preparation.

  Since the light beam emitted from the emission unit 52 of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 has a wavelength of 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less, visible light in the range of yellow light to red light is emitted. Therefore, since the wavelength is far from the ultraviolet light compared to the blue light, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of alteration in the components contained in the reagent 7, such as proteins. Moreover, since it remove | deviates from the area | region of infrared rays, it can suppress that the reagent 7 heats excessively. Furthermore, the molecular structure of the compound contained in the reagent 7 can prevent the light from being absorbed and attenuated.

  Since the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 includes the electric field stirring unit 40, the tissue specimen 5 fixed to the substrate 10 can be cleaned using the cleaning liquid 6. In addition, the efficiency of stirring is improved by electric field stirring, and the time required for preparation of pathological specimens such as various reaction processes and cleaning operations is shortened. Further, the substrate 10 is quickly moved to the electric field stirring unit 40, the cleaning unit 30, and the cartridge operation unit 20 by the stage moving mechanism 60. As described above, the tissue sample 5 can be processed quickly.

  In the description of the pathological specimen preparation device 300, the example using the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment is shown and described, but the reagent cartridge 200 can be used instead of the reagent cartridge 100. Even when the reagent cartridge 200 is used, the same effect as the reagent cartridge 100 can be obtained.

  In addition, if the reagent cartridge 200 is used, the stroke, which is the movement distance when the drug solution storage unit 250 is pressed downward by the electric pusher 22, can be varied by replacing the ball stopper 215. Accordingly, when the chemical solution storage unit 250 is pressed downward by the electric pusher 22, the movement of the chemical solution storage unit 250 is stopped by the contact portion 117 fixed by the ball stopper 215. Therefore, the chemical solution storage unit 250 is moved downward. Variations in the amount of push-in due to being pressed once can be suppressed.

  Further, the reagent cartridge 200 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 10 as compared with the case where the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment is used by setting the receivable amount of the reagent 7 in the chemical solution chamber 260 to 1 mL or more and 30 mL or less. Since the height dimension, which is the dimension in the Z-axis direction, is reduced (lowered), the height of the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 can be reduced by using the reagent cartridge 200, and the pathological specimen preparation apparatus 300 can be reduced. Can be made compact.

  Below, an Example is shown about the detection of the presence or absence of the chemical | medical solution of this embodiment, and the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated concretely.

(Example)
Using the reagent cartridge 100, an experiment was performed to detect the presence or absence of a chemical solution (reagent 7) in the chemical solution chamber 160. Specifically, an acrylic resin is employed as a material for forming the chemical solution storage unit 150 (first window portions 151a and 151b) in the reagent cartridge 100. The thickness of the first window portions 151a and 151b in the X-axis direction (the direction in which the first optical path α and the second optical path β are transmitted) is approximately 2 mm. As the reflecting portions 161a and 161b, molding surfaces inside the chemical chamber 160 made of the above forming material were used.

  0A41SK (Sharp Corp., red light emitting diode) was used as the distance measuring reflection type sensor (the emitting unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53), and pure water was used as the chemical solution. Assuming that the first optical path α is Example 1 and the second optical path β is Example 2, the detection voltages (mV) of “no chemical” and “with chemical” when 5V is input to the distance measuring reflection type sensor are shown. investigated. In addition, in Example 1 and Example 2, the distance between the ranging reflection type sensor and the first window portion 151a is 30 mm.

  Table 1 shows the measured values (detection voltage) and average values obtained twice. Further, the difference between the detected voltages was calculated as ΔVα and ΔVβ, and is shown in Table 1.

  As shown in Table 1, in both Example 1 and Example 2, there was a clear difference in the detection voltage depending on the presence or absence of the chemical solution. Thereby, it was shown that the presence or absence of the chemical solution can be easily grasped in the reagent cartridge 100.

  The detected detection voltage (mV) of “no chemical” and “with chemical” can be boosted using a booster circuit (not shown) such as an operational amplifier. In this way, by increasing the detection voltage (mV), the difference (ΔVα and ΔVβ) in detection voltage depending on the presence or absence of a chemical solution can be increased. Therefore, by using the booster circuit, it is possible to further improve the detection accuracy of “no chemical” and “with chemical”.

(Embodiment 4)
A reagent cartridge according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. FIG. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cartridge lid according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating a nozzle cap. In addition, about the component same as Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is used and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<Reagent cartridge>
[appearance]
As shown in FIG. 27, the reagent cartridge 100B according to the present embodiment is formed integrally with the chemical solution storage unit 150, and has a cartridge lid 355 that can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage unit 150. A communication hole 157 communicating with the chamber (not shown) is provided. As shown in FIG. 28, the reagent cartridge 100B has a nozzle cap 340 that is formed integrally with the case portion 110 and that can be mounted so as to cover the nozzle portion 111.

  In the reagent cartridge 100 </ b> B shown in FIG. 27, the chemical solution storage unit 150 and the cartridge lid 355 are integrally formed via a connecting part 360. The cartridge lid 355 has a rib that is fitted to the upper edge of the chemical solution storage unit 150, and can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage unit 150 as in the first embodiment. The connecting portion 360 is formed of a flexible forming material, and the cartridge lid 355 can be repeatedly attached and detached.

  In the reagent cartridge 100 </ b> B shown in FIG. 28, the case part 110 and the nozzle cap 340 are integrally formed via a connecting part 330. The nozzle cap 340 has a rib that fits with the rib 114 on the bottom surface of the case portion 110. Therefore, the nozzle cap 340 can be attached to and detached from the bottom surface of the case portion 110. The connecting portion 330 is formed of a flexible forming material, and the nozzle cap 340 can be repeatedly attached and detached.

  The nozzle cap 340 has a liquid receiver 342 at a position corresponding to the nozzle portion 111 when mounted on the case portion 110. The liquid receiver 342 has an open cylindrical shape, and is formed so that the nozzle part 111 is accommodated in the liquid receiver 342 when the nozzle cap 340 is attached to the case part 110. The shape of the liquid receiver 342 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be an open prismatic shape.

  The reagent cartridge 100B has the same configuration as the reagent cartridge 100 of the first embodiment except for the configuration described above. With the above configuration, according to the reagent cartridge 100B of the fourth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

  Since the cartridge lid 355 and the chemical solution storage unit 150 are integrated, it is possible to prevent the cartridge lid 355 from being lost during operations such as opening the cartridge lid 355 and filling the chemical solution.

  When the reagent cartridge 100B in use is removed from the pathological specimen preparation device 300, by attaching the nozzle cap 340, when the chemical solution remains in the nozzle portion 111, the chemical solution is prevented from adhering to others. be able to. Further, the liquid receiver 342 can further suppress adhesion of the remaining chemical liquid to the other. Furthermore, since the nozzle cap 340 and the case portion 110 are integrated, it is possible to prevent the nozzle cap 340 from being lost.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Tissue sample, 6 ... Cleaning liquid, 7 ... Reagent as chemical | medical solution, 10 ... Board | substrate, 20 ... Cartridge operation part, 22 ... Electric pusher as a pusher, 24 ... Holding part, 25 ... Stage, 30 ... Cleaning part, 40 ... Electric field stirrer 51: Bar code reader 52 ... Emission unit 53 ... Light receiving unit 60 ... Stage moving mechanism 70 ... Calculation unit 80 ... Control unit 90 ... Display unit 100, 100B, 200 ... Reagent cartridge, 105, 205 ... locking part, 110, 210 ... case part, 101a, 101b ... second window part, 110a ... right side, 110b ... left side, 111, 211 ... nozzle part, 113 ... ball as a sphere, 126 , 226 ... Bar code, 137, 237 ... Projection, 141 ... O-ring as ring member, 145 ... Spring as urging means, 150, 250 ... Chemical solution storage 151a, 151b ... first window portion, 155,255 ... cartridge cover, 157,257 ... communication hole, 160,260 ... chemical solution chamber, 160a, 260a ... constriction portion, 161a, 161b, 261a, 261b ... reflection portion, 210c ... recess, 212 ... ball chamber, 215 ... ball stopper, 218 ... stroke chamber, 243 ... through hole, 251b ... translucent part, 248,340 ... nozzle cap, 300 ... pathological specimen preparation device, α ... first Optical path, β ... second optical path.

Claims (28)

A chemical liquid storage section having a translucent first window section and a chemical chamber capable of storing the chemical liquid;
A case portion having a nozzle portion that holds the chemical solution storage portion movably in the first direction and has a light-transmitting second window portion, a chemical solution flow channel, and a chemical solution flow channel;
An urging means for urging the chemical solution storage portion in a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the case portion;
A discharge mechanism that discharges a predetermined amount of the chemical liquid stored in the chemical liquid chamber from the nozzle portion by a movement operation of the chemical liquid storage section in a predetermined range in the first direction;
The second window is provided on a first side of the case;
The reagent cartridge, wherein the first window part and the second window part are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction to form an optical path with respect to the chemical solution chamber. The chemical solution storage part is
A constriction disposed in the first direction;
A protrusion in the first direction that is located on the tip side of the constriction,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the optical path includes the narrowed portion. In the state where the chemical solution storage portion is held by the case portion, a part of the chemical solution chamber is exposed in a direction opposite to the first direction, and the part of the chemical solution chamber has translucency. Part
The reagent cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the translucent portion forms another optical path parallel to the optical path. The chemical solution storage portion communicates with the chemical solution chamber and has a second chemical solution flow path provided inside the protruding portion,
The second chemical liquid channel is
A through hole that is provided on the leading end side in the first direction of the protruding portion and penetrates from the inner surface along the first direction of the protruding portion to the outer surface; and a bottom portion that closes the leading end of the protruding portion. ,
The discharge mechanism is provided in the chemical liquid flow path,
A stroke chamber in which the protruding portion is accommodated along the first direction;
An elastic ring member that is disposed on the side of the chemical solution storage portion of the stroke chamber, and the outer surface of the protruding portion is slidably provided in the first direction;
A ball chamber communicating with the stroke chamber;
A sphere contained in the ball chamber;
A ball stopper disposed on the opposite side of the ball chamber to the stroke chamber with respect to the sphere,
The through hole is
When the chemical solution storage part is urged in the direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the case part by the urging means and is held in the case part, it is sealed by the ring member,
4. The seal according to claim 3, wherein when the chemical solution storage portion is moved in the first direction from the state held by the case portion, the sealing by the ring member is released and the stroke chamber is opposed to the stroke chamber. Reagent cartridge. The ball stopper is
The reagent cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the reagent cartridge is detachably attached to the ball chamber.   The reagent cartridge according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of ball stoppers are provided. The ball stopper includes an opening having a circular planar shape,
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a center of the circular opening is located at a position eccentric with respect to a center of the sphere accommodated in the ball chamber.   The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the ball stopper includes a polygonal opening through which the sphere housed in the ball chamber does not pass. The chemical solution storage part has translucency,
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a scale indicating a volume of the chemical solution chamber is provided on an outer surface exposed from the case portion. It has a cartridge lid that can be attached to and detached from the chemical solution storage section,
The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cartridge lid has a communication hole communicating with the chemical solution chamber.   The reagent cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the cartridge lid is formed integrally with the chemical solution storage unit.   The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the case portion includes a nozzle cap that can be mounted so as to cover the nozzle portion.   The reagent cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the nozzle cap is formed integrally with the case portion.   The reagent according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a locking portion is provided on the first side surface of the case portion or on a second side surface facing the first side surface. cartridge. The locking part and the case part are arranged with a gap,
The reagent cartridge according to claim 14, wherein a locking projection is provided on the first side surface or the second side surface facing the locking portion.   The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the predetermined amount is 10 µL or more and 1 mL or less.   The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the chemical solution chamber can store 1 mL or more and 50 mL or less of the chemical solution.   The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a barcode relating to information on the chemical solution is provided.   The chemical solution includes a primary antibody reagent, a secondary antibody reagent, a coloring reagent, a tissue staining reagent, a nuclear staining reagent, an endogenous Peroxidase block reagent, hematoxylin, a color developing reagent, a deparaffinizing reagent, an activation reagent, and a washing solution. The reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 18, which is selected from the group consisting of:   A reagent cartridge set comprising two or more reagent cartridges according to claim 19. A holding part to which the reagent cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 19 can be attached and detached,
A stage capable of supporting a substrate on which a tissue specimen is fixed;
A cartridge operation unit capable of supplying the chemical solution stored in the reagent cartridge to the substrate supported by the stage;
The cartridge operation unit has a pusher capable of reciprocating in the first direction,
The pathology specimen in which the pusher moves in the first direction by contacting the chemical solution storage portion of the reagent cartridge mounted on the holding portion by reciprocating in the first direction. Production device. The chemical solution storage part has a light-transmitting first window part and a light-transmitting part in a part exposed in a direction opposite to the first direction while being held by the case part, and the case The part has a translucent second window part,
With respect to the chemical solution chamber, the first window portion and the second window portion form an optical path arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the light transmitting portion is Forming another optical path parallel to the optical path,
An emission part capable of emitting light to the optical path and the other optical path;
A light receiver;
A calculation unit that calculates the amount of light received by the light receiving unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged in a state in which the light receiving unit can receive light emitted from the emitting unit. A control unit and a display unit;
The calculation unit determines the presence or absence of the chemical solution in the optical path or the other optical path through which the light beam has passed, from the light amount of the light beam,
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit displays the presence or absence of the drug solution on the display unit. The calculation unit emits the light beam from the emission unit when the reagent cartridge is mounted, and determines the presence or absence of the chemical solution in the optical path through which the light beam has passed and the other optical path,
The pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the control unit displays the presence or absence of the drug solution on the display unit. The calculation unit calculates the remaining amount value of the chemical solution from the integrated value of the discharge amount of the chemical solution by the cartridge operation unit and the presence or absence of the chemical solution calculated from the light amount of the light beam,
The pathological specimen preparation device according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the control unit displays the remaining amount value on the display unit.   The pathological specimen preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the light beam has a wavelength of 570 nm or more and 750 nm or less.   27. The pathological specimen preparation device according to any one of claims 21 to 26, further comprising a bar code reader that reads a bar code related to information on the drug solution applied to the reagent cartridge. A cleaning unit capable of supplying a cleaning liquid to the substrate supported by the stage;
An electric field stirring unit capable of stirring by applying an electric field to the chemical solution or the cleaning solution supplied to the substrate supported by the stage;
The pathology according to any one of claims 21 to 27, further comprising: a stage moving mechanism capable of moving the stage to the cleaning unit, the electric field stirring unit, and the cartridge operation unit. Sample preparation device.

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