JP4402265B2 - Medical examination cassette - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medical examination cassette used for preparation of a microscope specimen for medical examination, and more specifically, the identification of the surface of the lid, or the surface of the lid and the cassette body, improves the inspection accuracy and workability. The present invention relates to a medical examination cassette having improved chemical permeability during chemical treatment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, as shown in FIG. 29, a conventional cassette of this type includes a cassette body 1 and a lid 2 made of a chemical-resistant synthetic resin. The cassette body 1 is a rectangular container having an open upper surface, and has a plurality of through holes 3 at the bottom, and a plate-shaped recording portion 4 that is inclined outwardly toward the bottom on the outer side of one side wall of the short side. It is provided with a locking groove 5 on the inside and a locking portion 6 on the outside of the other side wall.
[0003]
The lid 2 is a detachable plate-like body having a large number of through holes 7 on the plate surface, ribs 8 fitted into the cassette body along the outer peripheral surface of the back surface, and one side on the short side. Has an inclined locking piece 9 that fits and engages along the back surface of the recording portion 4 of the locking groove 5, and has a slightly larger protruding edge on the other side of the short side than the cassette body 1. 10 and a locking piece 11 that engages with the engaging portion 6.
[0004]
In order to prepare a microscope specimen using the cassette, first, the collected specimen 12 is accommodated in the cassette body 1 and the lid 2 is attached, and the name of the subject is recorded in the recording unit 4. The inclined locking piece 9 of the lid 2 engages with the locking groove 5 of the cassette body 1, and the locking piece 11 engages with the locking portion 6 of the cassette body 1 to fix the lid 2.
[0005]
Subsequently, the specimen 12 is washed with water through the through-holes 7 and 3, then the moisture of the specimen 12 is removed with alcohol, and affinity with liquid paraffin to be described later is imparted with xylene.
[0006]
Next, as shown in FIG. 30, the liquid paraffin 14 is put in the stainless steel tray 13, and the specimen 12 is taken out from the cassette body 1 and placed in the liquid paraffin 14 to allow the liquid paraffin to permeate the specimen 12. Subsequently, the cassette body 1 is placed on the stepped portion of the tray 13, and the liquid paraffin 14 is poured onto the specimen 12 until the bottom of the cassette body 1 is immersed in the liquid paraffin 14.
[0007]
After the liquid paraffin 14 is solidified, the tray 13 is removed to obtain a cassette block 15 in which the paraffin 14 in which the specimen 12 is embedded adheres to the bottom of the cassette body 1.
[0008]
Next, although not shown, the cassette block 15 is turned over and fixed on the base of the adapter mounted on the microtome. Subsequently, a portion in which the specimen 12 of the paraffin 14 is embedded is sliced, and the sliced slice is stained and subjected to other predetermined processing to obtain a microscope specimen.
The cassette has a single specimen container in the cassette body, but some cassettes are partitioned into a plurality of small chambers by partition walls.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of a cassette that is partitioned into a plurality of small chambers by a partition wall, the sample is naturally accommodated in each of the small chambers. May be housed. In such a case, it is necessary to clearly identify a plurality of specimens. If this identification becomes ambiguous, the reliability of the test result cannot be ensured, and the purpose of the test cannot be achieved.
[0010]
Furthermore, it is important to display the cutting position when slicing with a microtome to create a specimen, even if the specimen accommodating part accommodates one specimen in one cassette. Without this display, if the operator forgets or the worker is replaced, the position of the cutout cannot be easily determined, and the workability of specimen preparation and the reliability of the inspection results The performance will be significantly reduced.
[0011]
On the other hand, a plurality of cassettes are usually stacked or juxtaposed, and the above-described chemical treatment is performed. However, in the case of the conventional cassette as described above, the bottom surface of the upper or adjacent cassette and the surface of the lower or adjacent cassette lid are in close contact with each other. The chemical solution that has permeated through the through hole 3 of the main body 1 flows into the cassette main body 1 from the lower part or through the through hole 7 of the adjacent cassette lid 2 to process the specimen 12, and then further below the through hole 3 of the cassette main body 1. Or the operation of flowing into the cassette body 1 from the through hole 7 of the lid 2 of the adjacent cassette will be repeated, and the permeation of the chemical solution is only in one direction, and the chemical treatment is not necessarily efficient enough. hard.
[0012]
The present invention eliminates the drawbacks as described above, and allows the chemical solution to flow in not only from one direction but also from between the stacked or juxtaposed cassettes so that the chemical treatment is uniform and the treatment efficiency is improved. A medical examination cassette is provided.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a cassette main body made of a chemical resistant material and a lid, and the cassette main body is a rectangular container having an open upper surface and capable of accommodating a specimen, and a large number of transparent containers. In a medical examination cassette having a hole, the lid being detachably attached to the cassette body, and having a large number of through holes, an identification display such as numbers and alphabets is at least 0.3 mm on the surface of the lid. A medical examination cassette characterized in that it protrudes at a height of (1).
[0014]
Claim 2 as a preferred embodiment is the cassette for medical examination according to claim 1, wherein an identification display is provided on the surface of the raised portion.
[0015]
Claim 3 as a preferred embodiment is the cassette for medical examination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an identification display is also provided on the cassette body.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cassette body is divided into a plurality of small chambers by a partition wall, and an identification display is provided on the surface of the lid corresponding to the small chamber. This is a medical examination cassette.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is characterized in that an identification display for cutting out when a sample is prepared by slicing with a microtome or an identification display for identifying a stored specimen is provided on the surface of the lid of the cassette.
[0018]
The identification display in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be identified or distinguished literally. For example, numbers such as 1, 2, 3, etc., alphabets such as A, B, C (a, b, c), a, b, etc. Any one of numbers, letters, symbols, patterns, colorings, etc. may be used.
[0019]
The identification indicator is provided at a height of at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm. If the identification display is lower than 0.3 mm, it is difficult to visually recognize when working, errors are likely to occur, and the effect of improving the permeability of the chemical solution becomes insufficient. The identification display itself may be formed at a height of 0.3 mm or more. For example, in the case of a synthetic resin, it is formed by forming a raised portion of 0.3 mm or more and providing an identification display on the surface thereof. Easy to top. The identification display provided on the surface of the raised portion may be provided in a protruding manner, engraved, or planar. The upper limit of the height of the identification display (including the raised portion) cannot be defined unconditionally depending on the size of the cassette, but if it becomes too high, it takes up space when stacked or juxtaposed, and the processing efficiency decreases. Handling is also poor. Therefore, about 10 mm is preferable.
[0020]
As the chemical-resistant material used in the present invention, for example, polyacetal, polycarbonate, fluororesin and the like are suitable, but metals such as stainless steel can also be used. Further, the cassette body can be made of resin and the lid can be made of metal, and vice versa.
[0021]
By dividing the cassette body with a partition wall into a plurality of small chambers, a plurality of specimens are processed at the same time, which is extremely efficient. However, as described above, when an existing device such as a microtome is used, the size of the cassette is restricted by itself. Therefore, when a plurality of small chambers are provided, about 2 to 9 are preferable. If the number exceeds nine, the size of the chamber becomes too small, and the size of the specimen to be accommodated and processed may be limited, which may be inconvenient.
[0022]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
[0023]
Example 1
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the medical examination cassette according to the present embodiment includes a cassette main body 1 made of a chemical resistant material and a lid 2, and the cassette main body 1 has an open upper surface. And a plate-shaped recording portion 4 that has a large number of through holes 3 and is inclined outwardly toward the bottom on the outer side of one side wall A on the short side, and on the inner side thereof. It has a locking groove 5 and a locking portion 6 on the outside of the other side wall B.
[0024]
On the other hand, the lid 2 has a large number of through holes, a rib 8 that fits into the cassette body 1 along the outer peripheral surface of the back surface, and a recording portion in the locking groove 5 on one side of the short side. 4 is provided with an inclined locking piece 9 which is fitted and engaged along the back surface of 4, and a protruding edge 10 which is slightly larger than the cassette body 1 on the other side and is engaged with the locking portion 6. It has a piece 11.
[0025]
Further, a raised portion 16 is provided in the vicinity of the square of the peripheral edge of the lid 2, and one of them is provided with a ring-shaped identification display 17 for indicating a cutting position on the raised portion 16 a (FIG. 1).
In this case, when four specimens are accommodated in the container, the remaining three raised portions 16 may be provided with identification indications such as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, etc. The ring-shaped identification display 17 is removed, and four ridges 16 are provided with identification displays such as A, B, C, D, 1, 2, 3, 4, and the like. For example, the identification display of the ridge 16a is “D”. Alternatively, a display may be added so as to be “4”, and this “D” or “4” may be used as a cut-out position display.
[0026]
Although the above-described method may be used to prepare a microscope specimen using the cassette, a space portion having the height of the raised portion 16 is formed between the stacked cassettes as shown in FIG. In addition, inflow and permeation of the chemical solution from not only from the vertical direction but also from the horizontal direction is possible, and the chemical treatment effect of the specimen becomes uniform and efficient.
[0027]
Example 2
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the cassette body 1 is partitioned into six chambers by a partition wall 18, and an identification display 19 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 is projected (FIG. 6). On the other hand, two ribs 8 are provided on both sides of the partition wall 18 so that the lid 2 clamps the partition wall 18 from both sides (FIG. 7). The contacting side 8a has a configuration in which the height of the side 8a is reduced and the end corner portion is removed (FIG. 8).
[0028]
In addition, six raised portions 16 are provided on the peripheral portion of the surface of the lid 2, and identification indications 17 (numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) project from the surface. . The numbers 1 to 6 on the identification display 17 correspond to the numbers 1 to 6 on the identification display 19 of the small chamber of the cassette body 1, respectively. Thus, the specimen stored in the small chamber can be identified by the identification display 19 projecting from the bottom surface of the cassette body 1 even when the lid 2 is removed, and the lid 2 can be identified even when the lid 2 is attached. The surface identification display 17 of the surface bulge 16 can identify the specimen contained therein, thus preventing troubles such as forgetting, confusion or misidentification.
[0029]
The method of creating a microscope specimen using the cassette may be the above-described method, but as shown in FIG. 10, a space portion corresponding to the total height of the raised portion 16 and the identification display 19 is formed between the stacked cassettes. Therefore, as in the conventional cassette, not only from the vertical direction but also from the lateral direction, the inflow and permeation of the chemical liquid can be performed, and the chemical liquid treatment effect of the specimen is uniform and efficient. Same as the case.
[0030]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the side 8a that contacts the inner surface of the tip of the side wall A of the rib 8 of the lid 2 has a configuration in which the height is reduced and the corner of the tip is removed, making it easy and stable with one hand. Thus, the lid 2 can be opened and closed, and the workability is greatly improved.
[0031]
That is, the cassette usually has tweezers in one hand, and with the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the index finger is placed near the point P of the lid 2, and the thumb is placed on the protruding edge 10 of the lid 2. In this state, the point P is slightly pressed with an index finger, and the both sides of the point P are slightly warped upward to disengage the locking piece 11 of the lid 2 from the locking portion 6 of the cassette body 1, and the lid 2 is moved upward. The sample is removed and the other one hand tweezers is operated to accommodate the sample in the cassette body 1. Then, as described above, after washing with water and chemical treatment, the lid 2 is removed with one hand in the same manner as described above, and the specimen 12 is removed from the cassette body 1 with the tweezers of the other hand and placed in the liquid paraffin 14. Cassette block is created.
[0032]
However, in the cassette that is not configured as described above, the tip corner 8b on the inclined locking piece 9 side of the rib 8 provided on the back surface of the lid 2 is the cassette as shown by the two-dot chain line. When it is caught on the side wall tip corner 1a of the main body 1 and the lid 2 is forcibly lifted up and removed from the cassette body 1, the lid 2 pops up at the same time as the tip corner 8b is detached from the side wall tip corner 1a. At that moment, the specimen 12 in the cassette body 1 jumps out of the cassette body 1 and ruins the valuable specimen 12.
[0033]
In order to avoid the above trouble, the lid 2 is carefully removed from the cassette body 1 with both hands so that the lid 2 does not pop up once, and then the specimen 12 is taken out using tweezers, and with one hand. Efficient work of holding tweezers and opening the lid with the other hand becomes impossible, so workability must be greatly reduced.
[0034]
In addition to the above-described configuration, such an effect is obtained by removing the tip portion while keeping the height of the rib 8 fitted to the inner surface of the side wall A of the cassette body 1 as well as the inner end of the side wall A. It can obtain by setting it as the shape which removed the corner | angular part. The removal of the tip corner can be performed by rounding the corner, an inclined shape expanding from the tip to the root, or the like.
[0035]
Example 3
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the cassette body 1 is partitioned into nine small chambers by the partition wall 18 (FIG. 12), and the lid 2 sandwiches the partition wall 18 from both sides. Two ribs 8 are provided on both sides of the partition wall 18 (FIG. 13), and the height of the rib to be fitted to the side wall A of the cassette body 1 is the same as that of the shape 8a with the tip portion removed. Others are the same as those in the second embodiment.
Even in this case, the rib 8a and the tip 1a of the side wall A are not caught, and the lid 2 can be easily and smoothly opened with one hand, and the specimen is stored and taken out into the cassette body 1 (9 small chambers). Can be easily performed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 16, a space portion having a total height of the raised portion 16 and the identification display 19 is formed between the stacked cassettes, so that not only from the vertical direction as in the conventional cassette but also from the horizontal direction. As in the case of the first and second embodiments, the chemical solution can be introduced and permeated from the direction, and the chemical solution treatment effect of the specimen is uniform and efficient.
[0036]
Example 4
As shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, the medical examination cassette according to the present embodiment is slightly different from the medical examination cassette shown in the second embodiment in the positions of the protruding portions 16 and the identification display 17 on the surface thereof (identification display). 1, 3, 4, and 6 are moved outward), and the same structure as that of the cassette of the second embodiment is used except that no identification display is provided on the bottom surface of the small chamber of the cassette body 1. Is almost the same.
[0037]
Example 5
As shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, the medical examination cassette of the present embodiment is slightly different from the medical examination cassette shown in the third embodiment in the positions of the ridges 16 and the identification display 17 on the surface thereof (identification display). 1, 3, 7, and 9 are moved outward), and the same structure as that of the cassette of the third embodiment is used except that an identification display is not provided on the bottom surface of the small chamber of the cassette body 1. Is almost the same.
[0038]
Example 6
As shown in FIGS. 25 to 28, the medical examination cassette of the present embodiment is the same as the medical examination cassette shown in the fifth embodiment, in which the number of the protruding portions 16 is 10, and eight of them are identified. The display 17 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) has the same configuration as that of the cassette of the fifth embodiment, and the effect is substantially the same as that of the fifth embodiment.
[0039]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the cassette having the shape shown in the above-described embodiment, but can be applied to all cassettes including a lid and a cassette body.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the medical test cassette of the present invention has improved inspection accuracy and workability, and dramatically improved the permeability, diffusibility, and contact with the specimen during chemical treatment, A cassette capable of uniform and efficient chemical treatment is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a cassette of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the length direction of the cassette of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the width direction of the cassette of FIG. 1;
4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cassettes of FIG. 1 are stacked in the vertical direction. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a top view showing another embodiment of the cassette of the present invention.
6 is a top view of the cassette body of the cassette of FIG. 5. FIG.
7 is a rear view of the lid of the cassette in FIG. 5. FIG.
8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 5 in the length direction.
9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 5 in the width direction.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cassettes of FIG. 5 are stacked in the vertical direction.
FIG. 11 is a top view showing another embodiment of the cassette of the present invention.
12 is a top view of the cassette body of the cassette of FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a rear view of the lid of the cassette in FIG. 11. FIG.
14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cassette of FIG.
15 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 11 in the width direction.
16 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cassettes of FIG. 11 are stacked in the vertical direction.
FIG. 17 is a top view showing another embodiment of the cassette of the present invention.
18 is a top view of the cassette body of the cassette of FIG.
19 is a sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 17 in the length direction.
20 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 17 in the width direction.
FIG. 21 is a top view showing another embodiment of the cassette of the present invention.
22 is a top view of the cassette body of the cassette of FIG. 21. FIG.
23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 21. FIG.
24 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 21 in the width direction.
FIG. 25 is a top view showing another embodiment of the cassette of the present invention.
26 is a top view of the cassette body of the cassette of FIG. 25. FIG.
27 is a sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 25 in the length direction.
28 is a cross-sectional view in the width direction of the cassette of FIG. 25. FIG.
FIG. 29 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional cassette.
FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a specimen is embedded in paraffin using a conventional cassette.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cassette main body 2 Lid 3 Through-hole 4 Recording part 5 Locking groove 6 Locking part 7 Through-hole 8 Rib 9 Inclined locking piece 10 Projection edge 11 Locking piece 12 Sample 13 Tray 14 Paraffin 15 Cassette block 16 Raised part 17 Identification display 18 Partition wall 19 Identification display

Claims (4)

A cassette body made of a chemical-resistant material and a lid. The cassette body is a rectangular container that can open a top surface and accommodate a specimen, and has a large number of through holes. The lid is attached to the cassette body. In a medical examination cassette which is detachably attached and has a large number of through holes, an identification display such as a number, alphabet, etc. is projected at a height of at least 0.3 mm on the surface of the lid. A medical test cassette. The medical examination cassette according to claim 1, wherein an identification display is provided on a surface of the raised portion. The cassette for medical examination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an identification display is also provided on the cassette body. The cassette for medical examination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cassette body is partitioned into a plurality of small chambers by a partition wall, and an identification display is provided on a surface of a lid corresponding to the small chamber.

Images