JP7018720B2 - Specimen transfer device and specimen image imaging system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sample transfer device and a sample image imaging system.

Conventionally, there is known a sample transfer device that transfers a smear slide produced by a smear preparation device to a sample image imaging device and accommodates the smear sample slide after imaging (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 23, the smear slide 400 is transported from the smear preparation device 402 to the sample image imaging device 401, and the smear slide 400 after imaging is stored in the rack 404. Device 403 is disclosed. In the sample image imaging device 401 of Patent Document 1, in order to obtain a clear image, an immersion liquid is interposed between the objective lens and the smear sample slide 400 to increase the numerical aperture of the objective lens. .. In this case, the liquid adhering to the smear slide 400 may fall into the sample transfer device 403 while the smear slide 400 after imaging is being transferred, and may contaminate the dropped area. Therefore, the specimen transfer device 403 is provided with a liquid receiving plate 403b below the moving path of the smear slide 400 after imaging, and the liquid dropped from the moving smear slide 400 is received by the liquid receiving plate 403b and the liquid. Above the receiving tray 403a, the rack 404 is configured to accommodate the smear slide 400 after imaging.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-70926

In the sample transfer device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to transfer the smear slide after imaging and store it in the rack only in the area where the liquid receiving plate and the liquid receiving tray are provided. It is desired to improve the degree of freedom in designing the specimen transfer device.

The specimen transfer device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a sample transfer device for taking out and transporting a smear sample slide to which a liquid is attached from a specimen accommodating portion in which the smear slide to which the liquid is attached is accommodated. It is provided with a holding part that can move up and down, a liquid receiving part that is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction and receives the liquid, and a driving part that moves the liquid receiving part in the horizontal direction. The section moves upward while holding the smear slide housed in the sample container to remove the smear slide from the sample container, and the drive unit receives the liquid falling from the smear slide. The liquid receiving portion is positioned between the smear slide taken out by the holding portion and the specimen accommodating portion.

In the sample transfer device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the liquid receiving portion moves as described above, the liquid receiving portion receives the liquid falling from the smear slide regardless of the transfer path of the smear slide. Can be done. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the specimen transfer device can be improved.

In the sample transfer device according to the first aspect, preferably, the driving unit moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction along with the horizontal movement of the holding unit. With this configuration, even if the movement distance of the smear slide is long, the liquid falling from the smear slide can be captured by the liquid receiving portion having the minimum required area.

In the sample transfer device according to the first aspect, preferably, the driving unit moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction along with the vertical movement of the holding unit. With this configuration, for example, when the holding portion is moved downward, the liquid receiving portion can be retracted so as not to interfere with the smear sample slide held by the holding portion. Further, when the holding portion is moved upward, the liquid receiving portion can be quickly moved below the smear slide held by the holding portion.

The sample transfer device according to the second aspect of the present invention is composed of a holding portion for holding and transporting a smear sample slide to which a liquid is attached, a liquid receiving section for receiving the liquid, and a smear sample slide held by the holding section. It is equipped with a drive unit that moves the liquid receiving unit to receive the falling liquid, and the drive unit moves the holding unit in the vertical direction, as well as the receiving position where the liquid receiving unit receives the liquid and the vertical direction of the smear slide. Move horizontally to and from the retracted position that does not interfere with the movement.
In the configuration in which the drive unit moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction along with the vertical movement of the holding unit, preferably, an interlocking mechanism for moving the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the vertical movement of the holding unit is provided. Further prepare. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to perform a control process for interlocking the movement of the holding portion and the movement of the liquid receiving portion, and the movement can be easily and quickly interlocked.

In this case, preferably, the interlocking mechanism includes a belt connected to both the liquid receiving part and the holding part. With this configuration, since the liquid receiving portion and the holding portion are connected to the common belt, the vertical movement of the holding portion and the horizontal movement of the liquid receiving portion can be easily linked.

In a configuration in which the interlocking mechanism includes a belt, the belt preferably includes a horizontal portion extending in the horizontal direction and an upper and lower portion extending in the vertical direction, a liquid receiving portion is connected to the horizontal portion, and a holding portion is provided in the upper and lower portions. Be connected. With this configuration, the liquid receiving portion can be easily moved in the horizontal direction and the holding portion can be moved in the vertical direction by driving the belt.

In the configuration including the interlocking mechanism, preferably, the interlocking mechanism retracts the liquid receiving portion from the lowering position of the holding portion in conjunction with the downward movement of the holding portion, and is interlocked with the upward movement of the holding portion. Then, the liquid receiving portion is moved below the holding portion. With this configuration, when the smear slide is accommodated by moving in the vertical direction, it is possible to effectively prevent the liquid receiving portion arranged below from interfering with the smear slide.

In the sample transfer device according to the first or second aspect, preferably, the drive unit includes a vertical drive unit for moving the holding unit in the vertical direction and a horizontal drive unit for moving the holding unit in the horizontal direction. including. With this configuration, the smear slide can be easily moved in the vertical direction by the vertical drive unit. In addition, the horizontal drive unit allows the smear slide to be easily moved in the horizontal direction.

In the sample transfer device according to the first or second aspect, preferably, the driving unit accommodates the holding unit that holds the smear slide, the liquid receiving unit, and the other smear slide to be imaged. It is passed above the specimen container and moved above the other specimen containers. With this configuration, the liquid falling from the smear slide can be received by the liquid receiving unit even when passing over one specimen container, so that the other slides to be imaged are arranged. It is possible to effectively prevent the liquid from falling and adhering to the single specimen container.

The specimen transfer device according to the third aspect of the present invention is composed of a holding portion for holding and transporting the smear slide to which the liquid is attached, a liquid receiving portion for receiving the liquid, and a smear slide held by the holding portion. A drive unit that moves the liquid receiving unit to receive the falling liquid is provided, and the driving unit holds the smear slide with the liquid receiving unit positioned below the smear slide held by the holding unit. The held holding portion, together with the liquid receiving portion, is passed above one specimen storage portion in which the other smear slides to be imaged are housed, and is moved above the other specimen container.
The specimen image imaging system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes a specimen image imaging device that captures a smeared specimen slide and a specimen transporting device that transports the smear specimen slide from the specimen image imaging device. The specimen transfer device holds the smear slide imaged by the specimen image pickup device, and has a holding unit that can be moved up and down and a liquid receiving unit that is provided so that it can be moved horizontally and receives the liquid. The holding part includes a driving part that moves the liquid receiving part in the horizontal direction, and the holding part moves upward while holding the smear slide to which the liquid contained in the specimen holding part is attached. The drive unit positions the liquid receiving unit between the smear sample slide taken out by the holding unit and the specimen storage unit in order to receive the liquid falling from the smear specimen slide.

In the specimen image system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the liquid receiving portion moves as described above, the liquid receiving portion that falls from the smear specimen slide receives the liquid that falls from the smear specimen slide regardless of the transfer path of the smear specimen slide. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sample image imaging system capable of improving the degree of freedom in designing the sample transfer device.

In the sample image system according to the fourth aspect, preferably, the sample image image pickup device is configured to take an image of a smear sample slide using oil. With this configuration, the numerical aperture at the time of imaging can be increased, so that the smear slide can be imaged with high resolution.
In the sample transport method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the smear slide is taken out from the specimen container and taken out by holding the smear slide to which the liquid contained in the sample container is attached and moving upward. A liquid receiving part for receiving the liquid is arranged below the smear slide, and the smear slide is conveyed with the liquid receiving part positioned below.

According to the present invention, the degree of freedom in designing the specimen transfer device can be improved.

It is a plane explanatory view of one Embodiment of the sample analysis system of this invention. It is a perspective view of a smear slide. It is a perspective explanatory view of the dyeing tank and the transfer part of the smear preparation apparatus. It is a perspective explanatory view of the specimen container. It is a front explanatory view of the specimen container. It is a perspective explanatory view of the main part of the 1st transport part. It is a perspective view of a stopper. It is a perspective explanatory view of the 1st transport part including an interrupt sample accommodating tool set area. It is a perspective explanatory view of a specimen transfer part. It is a perspective explanatory view of the main part of the specimen transfer part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the determination procedure whether or not it is a smear sample slide to be imaged. It is a plane explanatory view of the horizontal movement mechanism. It is a figure explaining the operation of the horizontal movement mechanism. It is a figure explaining the operation of the horizontal movement mechanism. It is a schematic diagram which showed the outline of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is a perspective view which showed the outline of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is a 1st figure for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of a specimen transfer apparatus. It is a 2nd figure for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is a 3rd figure for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is FIG. 4 for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is FIG. 5 for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is FIG. 6 for demonstrating the movement of the specimen transfer part of the specimen transfer apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which showed the conventional specimen transfer apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the sample transfer device, sample image system, and sample analysis system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

[Sample analysis system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sample analysis system AN including the sample transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a smear preparation device 10, a sample transfer device 100, and a sample image imaging device 200. .. The smear slide produced by the smear preparation device 10 and supplied to the sample transfer device 100 is supplied to the sample image imaging device 200 by the sample transfer device 100. The smear preparation device 10, the sample transfer device 100, and the sample image imaging device 200 can automatically perform a series of operations from preparation of a smear sample slide smeared with a sample such as blood to imaging of the sample. In the present specification, the smear system S is configured by the smear preparation device 10 and the sample transfer device 100. Further, a system or device composed of the sample transfer device 100 and the sample image imaging device 200 is referred to as a sample image imaging system I. In the embodiment described later, the sample image imaging system I is composed of an independent sample transfer device 100 and a sample image image pickup device 200, but the sample transfer device 100 and the sample image image pickup device 200 are integrated. It is also possible to configure as. For example, the main parts of each device can be housed in a common casing. A sample analysis system is configured by the smear preparation device 10 and the sample image imaging system I.

In this specification, the X direction shown in FIG. 1 will be described as the left-right direction, the Y direction as the front-back direction, and the Z direction as the up-down direction. Further, in FIG. 1, the lower side is the front side and the upper side is the rear side. The smear preparation device 10 is arranged on the right side of the sample transfer device 100, and the sample transfer device 100 is arranged on the front side of the sample image image pickup device 200. Has been done. A part of the sample transfer device 100 is arranged so as to overlap with the front side of the sample image image pickup device 200. Further, in the present specification, it may be described as "horizontal" in the sense of the left-right direction, and may be described as "vertical" in the sense of the front-back direction.

[Smear specimen preparation device]
The smear preparation device 10 according to the present embodiment is an device for producing a smear sample slide 11 by smearing blood, which is a sample of a subject, on a slide glass and performing treatments such as drying and staining. As shown in FIG. 2, the smear slide 11 is made of a rectangular glass plate, and the sample is smeared on the central portion 11a thereof. A frosted portion 12 which is a printing area for identification information, which will be described later, is provided on the upper portion of the smear slide 11 which is one end in the longitudinal direction (see (a) in FIG. 2). The frosted portion 12 is a region that has been subjected to a printable process by coating it with a synthetic resin or the like. In the present specification, not only the sample that has been smeared in the smear preparation device 10 but also the slide glass provided with the frost portion 12 supplied to the smear preparation device 10 for smear processing is smeared. It is referred to as a specimen slide 11.

The identification information printed or printed on the frost unit 12 includes the sample identification information m and the imaging necessity identification information n, as shown in FIG. 2B. The sample identification information m is information for identifying a sample such as a sample number, a date, a reception number, and a subject's name, and is printed on the frost unit 12 in the form of a barcode, characters, symbols, or the like. The image pickup necessity identification information n is information for identifying whether or not the sample is a sample to be imaged by the sample image image pickup apparatus 200. Whether the sample is the sample to be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 or the sample to be visually inspected by a microscope can be input to the host computer in advance when the inspection is accepted. The imaging necessity identification information n can be included in, for example, one barcode together with the sample identification information m. On the other hand, the imaging necessity identification information n can be printed on the frost unit 12 separately from the sample identification information m. In the latter case, it is desirable to use characters, symbols, or the like that are not used in the sample identification information m as the imaging necessity identification information n. Examples of the imaging necessity identification information n include various characters such as A, B, and C of the alphabet, and various symbols such as ▲, ●, ■, and ◆, but are limited to these. It's not something. A symbol obtained by overlapping or combining two letters of the alphabet may be used as the imaging necessity identification information n so that the sample identification information m can be distinguished even when the alphabet is used. The sample identification information m is usually information for identifying a sample, but based on this sample identification information m, an external host computer is inquired as to whether or not it is necessary to image the sample, and the host computer. It is also possible to determine whether or not the smear slide 11 is an image pickup target based on the results obtained from. Therefore, this sample identification information m is also included in the "identification information regarding the necessity of imaging by the sample image imaging device" in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, the smear preparation device 10 includes a staining tank 20, a transfer unit 30, a cleaning tank 40, a drying tank 50, a blower unit 60, a slide supply unit 82, and printing. A portion 83, a smear portion 84, a drying portion 85, and a slide storage portion 86 are provided. The dyeing tank 20, the washing tank 40, the drying tank 50, and the blower unit 60 constitute the dyeing unit 81 in the smear preparation device 10. In the present embodiment, the smear 84, the dyeing section 81, and the drying section 85 smear the sample on the slide to prepare the smear slide 11. The smear preparation device 10 further comprises a fluid circuit unit 70 for supplying and discharging the staining liquid 13 and the cleaning liquid 14 to the dyeing tank 20 and the cleaning tank 40, respectively, and a transfer unit 30 and a blowing unit 60. It is provided with a control unit 80 for controlling the operation. The control unit 80 is a computer provided with a CPU, a memory, and the like (not shown).

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

The smear portion 84 sucks the sample by a sample suction mechanism (not shown), and smears the sample on the central portion 11a of the smear sample slide 11 sent from the printing unit 83. The smear 84 transfers the smear slide 11 after the smear treatment to the drying portion 85.

The drying section 85 has a function of receiving the smear slide 11 smeared with the sample from the smear 84 and drying the central portion 11a smeared with the sample.

In the dyeing section 81, the sample smear slide 11 dried in the drying section 85 is dyed and washed in the dyeing tanks 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e and the washing tanks 40a, 40b, respectively. Is done. After that, the drying process is performed in the drying tank 50. When the staining of the smear slide 11 is completed, the stained specimen slide 11 is sent to the slide storage unit 86. The transfer of the smear slide 11 between these parts is performed by the transfer part 30.

The dyeing tank 20 is formed in the shape of a container, and a dyeing solution is stored inside the dyeing tank 20 so that the smear slide 11 smeared with the sample can be immersed. Further, the cleaning tank 40 is also formed in the shape of a container, and the cleaning liquid is stored inside the cleaning tank 40 so that the dyed smear slide 11 can be immersed therein. In the smear preparation device 10 according to the present embodiment, three dyeing tanks 20a, 20b, 20c, a washing tank 40a, two dyeing tanks 20d, 20e, and a washing tank 40b are arranged in order along the Y-axis direction. , These tanks are integrally formed of synthetic resin as one tank. The number of the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tank 40 may be appropriately selected according to the content of the dyeing treatment, the number of steps, and the like, and is not particularly limited in the present invention.

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

The transfer unit 30 is provided for gripping and transferring the smeared sample slide 11 on which the sample is smeared. The transfer unit 30 is configured so that the smear slides 11 can be taken in and out one by one in the dyeing tank 20 or the washing tank 40. As described above, various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the transfer unit 30 for loading and unloading the smear slides 11 one by one. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, it is movable in the horizontal direction (X direction and Y direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction), and includes a hand portion 31 for gripping the smear slide 11. 3 An axis orthogonal robot is used. As the hand portion 31, for example, an opening / closing mechanism capable of sandwiching and grasping the smear slide 11 and a suction mechanism capable of sucking and grasping a predetermined portion of the smear slide 11 by negative pressure can be used.

The transfer unit 30 includes a first transfer unit 30a and a second transfer unit 30b. Both the first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b are arranged above the dyeing tank 20 and the cleaning tank 40 (in the Z1 direction). The first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b can move in the horizontal direction (X direction and Y direction) independently of each other by the moving mechanism 32.

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

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

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

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

The configurations of the first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b are common. The first transfer unit 30a and the second transfer unit 30b each include a Z-axis motor 35a for raising and lowering the hand unit 31 and a transmission mechanism 35b. The Z-axis motor 35a can raise and lower the hand portion 31 via the transmission mechanism 35b.

The hand portion 31 includes a pair of grip plates 31a. The hand portion 31 can grip a single smear slide 11 by sandwiching it in the thickness direction by a pair of grip plates 31a. The pair of grip plates 31a come into contact with the front surface side and the back surface side of the smear slide 11 to grip the smear slide 11. Of the pair of grip plates 31a, the grip plate 31a on the back surface side can move the smear slide 11 in the thickness direction. The grip plate 31a can be moved by using an actuator such as an air cylinder, a motor, or a solenoid.

The drying tank 50 is arranged so as to be substantially aligned with the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tank 40 along the Y direction, which is the arrangement direction of the dyeing tank 20 and the washing tank 40. The drying tank 50 is provided for drying the smear slide 11 that has been dyed and washed. The drying tank 50 is divided into a plurality of parts by the partition portion 51, and the smear slide 11 can be held between the adjacent partition portions 51. An air passage (not shown) is formed inside the drying tank 50, and a ventilation unit 60 is connected to this air passage.

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

The smear slide 11 that has been stained, washed, and dried is transferred to the slide storage unit 86 by the transfer unit 30. The slide storage unit 86 includes a magazine transfer unit 91 that conveys the slide magazine 90, which is a specimen accommodating tool. The slide magazine 90 can hold a plurality of stained smear slides 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the slide magazine 90 has a box shape with an open upper surface, and is provided with a partition portion 90a inside. The partition portion 90a is formed on the inner surface of the opposite longitudinal wall 90b. The partition portion 90a formed on the inner surface of one wall 90b and the partition portion 90a formed on the inner surface of the other wall 90b facing each other are formed at positions facing each other. The slide magazine 90 in this embodiment can accommodate 10 smear slides 11.

The base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90 is formed with a triangular notch 90d that engages with the guide rail 145 of the specimen transfer device 100 described later. As shown in FIG. 5, the notch 90d is a notch that has a triangular shape when the slide magazine 90 is viewed with the longitudinal wall 90b of the slide magazine 90 facing the front, and the short side of the base portion 90c. It is formed over the entire length direction of.

The magazine transport unit 91 has a magazine carry-in path 92 capable of storing a plurality of empty slide magazines 90, and a magazine carry-out path 93 capable of storing a slide magazine 90 containing a plurality of smear slides 11. And a lateral feed mechanism 94 extending from the magazine loading path 92 to the magazine loading path 93. In the magazine transport section 91, when the user sets an empty slide magazine 90 in the loading section D of the magazine loading path 92, the slide magazine 90 is automatically transported in the direction of the specimen storage position 95.

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

[Sample transfer device]
The sample transfer device 100 includes a sample container transport unit 140 for transporting a slide magazine 90, which is a sample container, and a slide magazine 90 conveyed by the sample container transport unit 140, which accommodates a plurality of smear slides 11. The smear slide 11 housed in the sample slide 11 is taken out, and the taken-out smear slide 11 is put into a transport case 152 described later and provided with a sample transfer unit 170 for supplying the sample image imaging device.

In the present embodiment, the specimen accommodating tool transport unit 140 has two rows of transport units, that is, a first transport unit 141 on the rear side of the specimen transport device 100 and a second transport unit 142 on the front side of the first transport unit 141. Have. The first transport unit 141 and the second transport unit 142 both include a belt conveyor including a belt 143 and a drive unit 144 for driving the belt 143, and transport the slide magazine 90 in the X2 direction (FIG. FIG. See 1 and 9).

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

The slide magazine 90 as the first specimen accommodating tool containing the smear slide 11 having been smeared by the smear preparation device 10 is transferred to the magazine buffer area 131 by the lateral feed unit 130. The first magazine storage area 133 serves as a first specimen accommodating tool in which the smear slide 11 to be imaged by the specimen image imaging device 200 is picked up and only the smear slide 11 to be visually inspected by a microscope is stored. This is an area where the slide magazine 90 is stored. The magazine set area 132 is an area in which an empty slide magazine 90 set by the user is arranged. The second magazine storage area 134 is an area in which the slide magazine 90 that stores the smear slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 is stored. In the present embodiment, the interrupt sample accommodating tool set area 135, which is accessible by the user and in which the slide magazine 90 accommodating the smear slide 11 produced by the user is set, is on the left side of the magazine buffer area 131. It is located in the part. That is, from the magazine buffer area 131, which is a transport path for transporting the specimen accommodating tool and is a position where the specimen accommodating tool is received from the smear preparation device 10, to a position where the identification information is acquired by the identification information acquisition unit described later. The interrupted specimen container set area 135 is located between the two.

The second transport unit 142 transports an empty slide magazine 90 as a second sample accommodating tool set in the magazine set area 132 by the user to the sample accommodating position A. The smear slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 at the sample storage position A is sequentially housed in the slide magazine 90 as the second sample storage tool. When the slide magazine 90 at the sample storage position A is full, the second transport unit 142 transports the slide magazine 90 filled with the smear slide 11 from the sample storage position A to the second magazine storage area 134. After that, the empty slide magazine 90 at the left end of the magazine set area 132 is transported to the specimen storage position A by the second transport unit 142.

On the other hand, the first transport unit 141 receives from the smear preparation device 10 and transports the slide magazine 90 as the first specimen accommodating tool, which is arranged in the magazine buffer area 131, to the specimen pickup position P. At this sample pickup position P, as will be described later, the smear slide 11 is sequentially picked up by the handling unit 120 of the sample transfer unit 170. The picked up smear slide 11 is sorted into a smear slide 11 to be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 and a smear slide 11 not to be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200. The slide magazine 90 for which the selection of the smear slide 11 has been completed is conveyed from the sample pickup position P to the first magazine storage area 133. The slide magazine 90 located in the first magazine storage area 133 stores only the smear slide 11 that is not the target of imaging by the sample image imaging device 200. The smear slide 11 is to be visually inspected with a microscope.

In the present embodiment, the slide magazine 90 containing the plurality of smear slides 11 is conveyed from the smear preparation device 10 to the specimen pickup position P. The smear slide 11 includes one that is an image pickup target by the sample image image pickup device 200 and one that is not an image pickup target. Therefore, the slide magazine 90 conveyed to the specimen pickup position P usually contains two types of smear slides 11. However, even if they are mixed, in the present embodiment, the smear slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image imager 200 and the smear slide 11 that has not been imaged by the sample image imager 200 Are housed in separate slide magazines 90, i.e., a slide magazine 90 as a first sample container and a slide magazine 90 as a second sample container, and are stored in separate areas. Immersion oil may be applied to a sample such as blood smeared on the smear slide 11 in order to improve the resolution at the time of imaging by the sample image image pickup device 200. Since the smear slide 11 for which imaging has been completed is housed in a slide magazine 90 different from the slide magazine 90 containing the smear slide 11 before imaging, the smear slide 11 before imaging is contaminated with imaging oil. It can be suppressed. Therefore, when visually observing the smear slide 11 that was not the object of imaging, the user takes out the slide magazine 90 containing the smear slide 11 that is not contaminated with oil from the first magazine storage area 133 and visually observes it. Observations can be performed and the handling of the smear slide 11 can be improved.

In the slide magazine 90 located in the second magazine storage area 134, the smear slide 11 that has been imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 is stored. As described above, since the immersion oil may be applied to the smear slide 11 at the time of imaging, the oil applied to the smear slide 11 may adhere to the slide magazine 90. Therefore, it is desirable to separate the slide magazine 90 used in the front row and the slide magazine 90 used in the rear row. It is desirable to use a slide magazine 90 in the front row that may be oily and a slide magazine 90 that is not oily in the rear row. In this case, the magazine set area 132 is a slide magazine 90 in which the smear slide 11 for which imaging has been completed is stored and is arranged in the second magazine storage area 134, and then the processing of the smear slide 11 is completed. The empty slide magazine 90 is set. On the other hand, the empty slide magazine 90 located in the first magazine storage area 133 and stored for visual inspection with a microscope is taken out, and the empty slide magazine 90 is the magazine carry-in path 92 of the smear preparation device 10. Is set in the input section D of. By properly using the slide magazine 90 in this way, the slide magazine 90 can be efficiently washed. Specifically, the slide magazine 90 arranged in the second magazine storage area 134 is likely to be contaminated with oil, so it is desirable to set a high frequency of cleaning. On the other hand, since the slide magazine 90 arranged in the first magazine storage area 133 is not likely to be contaminated with oil, the frequency of cleaning can be set low. The slide magazine 90 used in the front row and the slide magazine 90 used in the rear row can be easily distinguished from each other by, for example, changing the color.

As described above, the magazine buffer area 131 in the present embodiment has the interrupt sample accommodating device set area 135, which is an area accessible by the user. The interrupt sample accommodating device set area 135 is located at the left end area of the magazine buffer area 131, that is, in the area of the magazine buffer area 131 on the sample pickup position P side. The interrupt specimen accommodating device set area 135 is usually an area in which the slide magazine 90 does not exist. The slide magazine 90 supplied from the smear preparation device 10 to the magazine buffer area 131 is sequentially conveyed to the left side, that is, to the sample pickup position P side by the first transfer unit 141.

However, instead of the smear preparation device 10, the smear slide 11 manually prepared by the user may be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 to analyze the sample. A fixed amount of sample is required to prepare the smear slide 11 with the smear preparation device 10, but it may be difficult for a subject such as an infant to collect the fixed amount of sample. In such a case, since the smear slide 11 cannot be automatically prepared by the smear preparation device 10, the user manually prepares the smear slide 11 using the sample collected from the subject. Further, when it is desired to hurry the analysis of the sample by the sample image imaging device 200, it is conceivable that the user manually prepares the smear slide 11 using the sample collected from the subject.

The interrupted specimen accommodating tool set area 135 is an area in which the slide magazine 90 accommodating the smear slide 11 thus manually prepared is set. The slide magazine 90 set in the interrupted specimen accommodating tool set area 135 is conveyed to the specimen pickup position P by the first conveying unit 141.

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

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

A detection unit 190 is provided inside the pair of belts 143 in the width direction. The detection unit 190 has a pair of plate-shaped rocking pieces 191. Each swing piece 191 is provided inside the pair of belts 143 in the width direction. Each swing piece 191 is swingable around a common shaft 192. The tip portion 191a, which is the end portion of each swing piece 191 in the upward direction (Z1 direction), has an inclined surface 191b that rises in the transport direction X2 of the slide magazine 90. Each swing piece 191 is urged by a spring (not shown) so that the tip portion 191a faces upward when the swing piece 191 is not in contact with the slide magazine 90 (see FIG. 6). The detection unit 190 is provided at a position immediately before the interrupt specimen accommodating tool set area 135 with reference to the transport direction X2 of the slide magazine 90.

A stopper 193 capable of stopping the movement of the slide magazine 90 is provided at an intermediate position (intermediate position in the width direction of the belt 143) of the pair of plate-shaped rocking pieces 191. As shown in FIG. 7, the stopper 193 includes a main body portion 193a having a shape obtained by cutting out a part of the guide rail 145 along the longitudinal direction, and a base portion 193b extending in the width direction of the belt 143 from the lower end of the main body portion 193a. And have. The shape of the cross section of the tip portion 193a1, which is the end portion of the main body portion 193a in the upward direction (Z1 direction), has the same tapered shape as the tip portion 145a of the guide rail 145. Normally, the stopper 193 is located on substantially the same straight line as the guide rail 145. Therefore, since the tip portion 193a1 of the main body portion 193a of the stopper 193 is housed in the notch 90d of the slide magazine 90, the slide magazine 90 can pass over the stopper 193 without being hindered by the stopper 193. .. A notch 193c is formed in the main body portion 193a of the stopper 193. The notch 193c is formed at a position slightly closer to the end portion than the center in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 193a. The notch 193c is formed in a size capable of accommodating the long frame 90c1 of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90.

In the swing piece 191, when the slide magazine 90 passes through the swing piece 191, the long frame 90c1 on the leading side of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90 comes into contact with the inclined surface 191b of the swing piece 191. It is pushed downward against the urging force of the spring. When the long frame 90c1 on the leading side of the base portion 90c passes through the inclined surface 191b of the rocking piece 191, the contact state between the long frame 90c1 and the inclined surface 191b is canceled, so that the rocking piece 191 is acted on by the spring. It returns to the original position, that is, the state where the tip portion 191a faces upward. At this time, the tip portion 191a is located in the recess 90e of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90. Further, the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c (the rear side of the base portion 90c with reference to the transport direction (X2 direction)) is located in the notch 193c of the stopper 193. From this state, when the slide magazine 90 further moves toward the specimen pickup position P, the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c comes into contact with the inclined surface 191b of the rocking piece 191 so that the rocking piece 191 is moved. Pushed down. Then, when the slide magazine 90 further moves toward the specimen pickup position P and the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the base portion 90c passes through the inclined surface 191b of the rocking piece 191, the long frame 90c1 and the inclined surface 191b come into contact with each other. The condition is resolved. As a result, the swing piece 191 returns to the original position, that is, the state in which the tip portion 191a faces upward by the action of the spring. In this way, the swing piece 191 swings up and down twice each time one slide magazine 90 passes through the swing piece 191. Whether the rocking piece 191 is in a state of being pushed down downward or a state in which the tip portion 191a thereof is in a state of facing upward can be detected by, for example, an optical sensor or a micro switch.

The stop operation of the slide magazine 90 by the stopper 193 can be performed, for example, as follows. Such a stop operation can be controlled by the control unit 110 of the specimen transfer device 100.
(1) The control unit 110 is in a state in which the swing piece 191 once pushed downward is in its original position due to the action of a spring, that is, the tip portion 191a faces upward (hereinafter, such a state is referred to as an "intermediate state"). ) To determine if it is. In this intermediate state, the tip portion 191a of the swing piece 191 is located in the recess 90e of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90. When it is determined that the rocking piece 191 is in the intermediate state, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the slide magazine 90 is located in the specimen pickup position P and the interrupted specimen accommodating device set area 135. The specimen pickup position P is also provided with a sensor similar to the detection unit 190 having the above-mentioned swing piece 191. From the signal from such a sensor, it is possible to determine whether or not the swing piece 191 at the specimen pickup position P is in the intermediate state. The slide magazine 90 is stopped at the sample pickup position P until the selection of the smear slide 11 housed in the slide magazine 90 is completed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the interrupt sample accommodating device set area 135 is provided with an optical sensor unit 194. The light beam 195 emitted from a light emitting unit (not shown) is received by the light receiving unit 194a. The light sensor unit 194 is composed of the light receiving unit 194a and the light emitting unit. When the slide magazine 90 accommodating the smear slide 11 manually prepared by the user is arranged in the interrupt specimen accommodating tool set area 135, the light beam 195 from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit 194a is blocked. As a result, it is possible to detect the presence of the slide magazine 90 in the interrupt specimen accommodating device set area 135.

(2) When the control unit 110 determines that the slide magazine 90 is located in either the sample pickup position P or the interrupt sample accommodating tool set area 135, the stopper 193 is set to the width of the pair of belts 143 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Slide in the direction, i.e. in the Y direction (see FIG. 1). When the stopper 193 is slid in this way, the position of the stopper 193 shifts in the width direction (Y direction) from the notch 90d of the base portion 90c of the slide magazine 90, so that even if the belt 143 is driven, the stopper 193 Since the edge surface 193c1a of the notch 193c corresponds to the long frame 90c1 on the rear side of the slide magazine 90, the movement of the slide magazine 90 in the transport direction is stopped by the stopper 193.

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

As shown in FIG. 9, the specimen transfer unit 170 is provided above the first transfer unit 141 and the second transfer unit 142 (in the Z1 direction). The sample transfer unit 170 is provided for gripping and transferring the smear slide 11 in the same manner as the transfer unit 30 in the smear preparation device 10 described above. The specimen transfer unit 170 is configured so that the smear slides 11 can be taken in and out of the slide magazine 90 one by one. As described above, various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the specimen transfer unit 170 for loading and unloading the smear slides 11 one by one. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a two-axis Cartesian robot that can move in the horizontal direction (Y direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction) and includes a handling unit 120 for gripping the smear slide 11. Is adopted. As the handling unit 120, for example, an opening / closing mechanism capable of sandwiching and grasping the smear slide 11 and a suction mechanism capable of sucking and grasping a predetermined portion of the smear slide 11 by negative pressure can be used.

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

The specimen transfer unit 170 includes a Z-axis motor 175 for raising and lowering the handling unit 120, and a transmission mechanism 176. The Z-axis motor 175 can raise and lower the handling unit 120 via the transmission mechanism 176.

As shown in FIG. 10, the handling unit 120 includes a pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. The handling portion 120 can grip a single smear slide 11 by sandwiching it in the thickness direction by a pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. The pair of gripping plates 121a and 121b come into contact with the front side and the back surface side of the smear slide 11 to grip the smear slide 11. Of the pair of grip plates 121a and 121b, the grip plate 121b on the back surface side can move the smear slide 11 in the thickness direction. The grip plate 121b can be moved by the motor 124. In addition to the motor, an actuator such as an air cylinder or a solenoid may be used.

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

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

The imaging unit 180 can capture imaging necessity identification information exposed to the outside from the opening 122 formed in the grip plate 121a on the front surface side of the smear slide 11. In the present embodiment, the alphabet "A" is printed on the frost portion 12 as the imaging necessity identification information, and the imaging necessity identification information "A" is exposed to the outside from the opening 122. The captured image data is transmitted to the control unit 110 of the specimen transfer device 100. The transmitted image data is determined by the image pickup determination unit 112 of the control unit 110 whether or not the smear slide 11 in the state taken up by the handling unit 120 is the image pickup target of the sample image image pickup device 200.

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

Then, in step S2, the control unit 110 performs grayscale conversion, which is a preprocessing of the acquired image. In the present embodiment, not only the necessity of imaging by the sample image imaging device (DI) 200 is determined, but also whether or not the smear slide 11 is gripped by the handling unit 120 is determined. When the hand portion 31 of the smear preparation device 10 fails to grip the smear slide 11, it is conceivable that a space in which the smear slide 11 is not stored may be created in a part of the slide magazine 90. Further, it is urgently necessary to perform a visual inspection, and when the user pulls out the smear slide 11 in the middle, it is conceivable that a space in which the smear slide 11 is not stored may be created in a part of the slide magazine 90 as well.

Then, in step S3, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the luminance value of the region of the frost unit 12 exposed to the outside through the opening 122 is equal to or higher than the threshold value stored in advance. Of the pair of grip plates 121, the surface of the grip plate 121b on the back surface side of the smear slide 11 facing the grip plate 121a on the front surface side of the smear slide 11 is based on the brightness value that the frost portion 12 can take. Is also colored with a color having a low luminance value, for example, black. It does not have to be black and may be dark brown or the like. Therefore, if the portion of the smear slide 11 exposed from the opening 122 is imaged by the image pickup unit 180 while the smear slide 11 is not gripped by the pair of grip plates 121, the brightness value of the obtained image is low. When the imaging necessity identification information is printed on the frost portion 12 of the smear slide 11, the portion of the frost portion 12 on which the imaging necessity identification information exposed to the outside through the opening 122 is printed is black. Brighter than. Therefore, the presence or absence of the smear slide 11 can be determined by setting a value larger than the brightness value of the low value as the threshold value and comparing this threshold value with the obtained brightness value. In step S3, when the control unit 110 determines that the obtained luminance value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, when the control unit 110 determines that the obtained luminance value is smaller than the threshold value, the control unit 110 ends the determination procedure. In step S3, image processing is performed using a luminance value indicating the degree of brightness of the acquired image. When it is determined in step S3 that the smear slide 11 is not gripped, the sample transfer unit 170 confirms the position using, for example, a rotary encoder, and does not return to the origin position of the sample transfer unit 170, but next. The smear slide 11 can be made transportable.

In step S4, the control unit 110 performs pattern processing of the acquired image, and whether or not the pattern of the image matches the pattern to be imaged by the sample image imaging device (DI) stored in advance. Judgment is made. When it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image matches the pattern to be imaged by the sample image imaging device, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S5 and the smear sample held by the handling unit 120. The slide 11 is conveyed to the specimen image imaging device 200. On the other hand, if it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image does not match the pattern to be imaged by the sample image imaging device, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the pattern of the acquired image matches the pattern that is stored in advance and is not the object to be imaged by the sample image imaging device. When it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image matches the pattern that is not the object to be imaged by the sample image imaging device, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S7 and the smear sample held by the handling unit 120. Return the slide 11 to the original position of the slide magazine 90. On the other hand, if it is determined that the pattern of the acquired image does not match the pattern that is not the object to be imaged by the sample image imaging device, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S5 and the smear sample held by the handling unit 120. The slide 11 is conveyed to the specimen image imaging device 200. In the present embodiment, since the smear slide 11 prepared by the user also wants to be processed by the sample image imaging device 200, it is unknown whether the imaging necessity identification information is the imaging necessity information or the imaging rejection information. Is the object to be imaged by the sample image image pickup device 200. This is because, in the case of the smear slide 11 prepared by the user, the frosted portion 12 may not be printed, or the patient information may be written down with a pencil or the like. As described above, since the smear slide 11 that does not match the pattern that is not the object to be imaged is conveyed to the sample image image pickup apparatus 200, the process of step S4 may be omitted.

The smear slide 11 determined to be the object to be imaged by the sample image imaging device 200 is transferred to the sample delivery position W described later by the sample transfer unit 170, and is sampled by the horizontal movement mechanism 123 constituting the sample transfer unit 170. It is transported to the image imaging device 200.

As shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal movement mechanism 123 is a mechanism for moving the smear slide 11 in the left-right direction between the sample delivery position W and the sample delivery section 205 of the sample image imaging device 200. The horizontal movement mechanism 123 receives the smear slide 11 from the sample transfer unit 170 at the sample transfer position W, moves it to the left toward the sample transfer unit 205 of the sample image imaging device 200, and moves the imaged smear slide 11 to the left. Is provided from the specimen delivery unit 205 and is provided with a transport unit 150 that moves to the right toward the specimen delivery position W.

As shown in FIG. 12, the transport unit 150 has a base 151, a transport case 152, and a lateral moving portion 153. The base 151 is supported by a device frame (not shown) of the sample transfer device 100 so as to be movable in the left-right direction between the sample delivery position W shown in FIG. 1 and the sample delivery unit 205 in the sample image imaging device 200. ing. The lateral movement portion 153 is composed of a belt conveyor, a belt 155 wound around a pair of left and right pulleys 154, a drive motor 156 for driving one of the pulleys 154, and the like. Further, a pair of left and right support pieces 151a are provided on the upper portion of the base 151, and a support shaft 157 having an axial center in the left-right direction is erected on the support pieces 151a.

The transport case 152 functions as an accommodating tool formed according to the shape of the smear slide 11 so that the smear slide 11 can be accommodated, and the first specimen accommodating portion 161 for accommodating the smear slide 11 before imaging. And a second specimen accommodating portion 162 for accommodating the imaged smear slide 11. The left and right wall members 159 of the transport case 152 are each provided with connecting arms 159a extending forward. The tip of the connecting arm 159a is rotatably connected to the support shaft 157. Therefore, the transport case 152 can swing up and down (front and back) about the support shaft 157, and the swing causes the openings of the first and second sample accommodating portions 161, 162 to face rearward in a horizontal posture (). The posture can be changed between the reference posture) and the standing posture with the opening facing upward. In other words, in the transport case 152, the smear surface of the smear sample slide 11 faces in a substantially vertical direction (horizontal posture in which the smear sample slide 11 is substantially horizontal) and the smear surface is in the horizontal direction (vertical direction). It is possible to change the posture to a state (standing posture) facing (one aspect of the direction intersecting with).

The posture of the transport case 152 of the transport unit 150 is changed by the posture change mechanism 165 as shown in FIGS. 13 to 14. The posture change mechanism 165 is an operation bar 165a inserted under the transfer case 152 of the transfer unit 150 located at the specimen transfer position W, and a rotation mechanism for moving or rotating the operation bar 165a up and down. The drive unit 165b is provided. The drive unit 165b can be composed of a drive motor, a link member, and the like. Then, when the operation bar 165a is moved by the drive unit 165b, the transport case 152 swings or rotates up and down with the support shaft 157 as a fulcrum, and takes either of the above-mentioned horizontal posture and the standing posture. A urging member 166 (see FIG. 12) made of a torsion coil spring is mounted on the support shaft 157, and the urging member 166 causes the transport case 152 to swing downward (in the direction of horizontal posture). Being urged.

The smear slide 11 extracted from the slide magazine 90 by the handling unit 120 of the transfer unit 30 lowers the handling unit 120 to lower the handling unit 120 so that the first specimen storage unit 161 of the transfer case 152 of the transfer unit 150 at the sample transfer position W It is inserted inside. At this time, the transport case 152 is placed in an upright posture by the posture changing mechanism 165, and the openings of the first sample accommodating portion 161 and the second sample accommodating portion 162 are in a state of facing upward.

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

The sample image imaging device 200 includes a transport unit 206 for moving the smear slide 11, and the transport unit 206 takes out the smear slide 11 from the transport case 152 that has moved to the sample delivery unit 205 (FIG. 13). See (b)). The removed smear slide 11 is transported to the oil coating unit 207 by the transport unit 206, and the oil is applied to the sample such as blood smeared on the smear slide 11 as needed by the oil coating unit 207. To. After that, the smear slide 11 is transported to the image pickup unit 201 (see FIG. 1) by the transport unit 206, and the image of the sample is captured by the image pickup unit 201. The captured image data is transmitted to the control unit 202, and the control unit 202 performs predetermined processing such as cell feature extraction processing, identification classification processing, blood cell image extraction, automatic blood cell classification, and counting for each blood cell type. It will be done. The captured image data and the analysis result can be displayed on the display monitor 203 or output via a printer (not shown) or the like. The control unit 202 is connected to the control unit 110 of the specimen transfer device 100 via the communication units 204 and 111, and can transmit and receive information in order to perform mutually coordinated operations.

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

The smear slide 11 in the second sample storage section 162 of the transport case 152 in the upright position at the sample delivery position W is picked up by the handling section 120 of the sample transfer section 170 and is waiting at the sample storage position A. It is stored in the magazine 90.

In the operation example of the transport case 152 described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 14, the transport case 152 moved to the sample delivery section 205 of the sample image imaging device 200 passes the smear slide 11 to the transport section 206, and then passes the smear slide 11 to the transport section 206. The imaged smear slide 11 stands by on the spot until it is transported by the transport unit 206 (see (b) to (c) in FIG. 13). It usually takes about 2 minutes for the image pickup and analysis of the smear slide 11 by the sample image image pickup device 200. Therefore, the transport case 152 in which the smear slide 11 is passed to the transport section 206 is immediately returned to the sample delivery position W, and the smear slide 11 to be analyzed next is received at the sample delivery position W and sent to the sample delivery section 205. By returning it, the waiting time can be shortened and the analysis efficiency can be improved. In this case, the smear slide 11 that has already been imaged is first accommodated by the transport unit 206 in the second specimen accommodating portion 162 of the transport case 152 that is waiting at the sample transfer position W, and then the first sample accommodating portion of the transport case 152. The next smear slide 11 to be analyzed in 161 is taken out by the transport unit 206.

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

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

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the handling unit determines that the smear slide picked up from the slide magazine is not the image pickup target, the slide is returned to the original slide magazine, but another slide different from the original slide magazine. It can also be stored in a magazine. The other slide magazines may be arranged in the first magazine storage area from the beginning, and after a predetermined number of smear slides judged not to be imaged are stored, they are moved to the first magazine storage area. You may.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, identification information is given to the smear slide by the printing unit of the smear preparation device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the smear slide is provided by other means. Identification information can be added. For example, it is possible to change the color of the smear slide to be imaged and the color of the non-imaging smear slide to be non-imaging. In this case, the color itself constitutes the identification information. Further, it is also possible to use a smear slide on which the identification information of the necessity of imaging is printed in advance, instead of using the printing unit of the smear preparation device. Further, in addition to the case of printing on the smear slide, a sticker or the like on which the identification information is printed can be attached to the smear slide.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slide magazine containing the imaged smear slide and the slide magazine containing the non-imaging smear slide are stored in different magazine storage areas. It suffices if the imaged smear slide and the non-imaging smear slide are contained in separate slide magazines, and the slide magazine containing the imaged smear slide and the non-imaging smear slide are contained. The slide magazine may be stored in the same magazine storage area.

In the above-described embodiment, the smear slide that has been pulled out from the slide magazine and has been imaged by the sample image image pickup device passes above the original slide magazine and is housed in another slide magazine. A cover is provided to cover the top of the slide magazine to prevent the imaging oil from falling from the imaged smear slide onto the slide magazine as the imaged smear slide passes over the original slide magazine. May be good. For example, as the handling section descends to pull the smear slide out of the slide magazine, the cover moves horizontally away from above the slide magazine and the handling section holding the smear slide rises with respect to the slide magazine. As a result, an interlocking mechanism may be provided so that the cover moves so as to approach directly above the slide magazine.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the specimen transfer device 100 may be configured.

As shown in FIG. 15, the specimen transfer device 100 includes a handling unit 120 and a liquid receiving unit 178. Further, the specimen transfer device 100 includes a Y-axis motor 174 and a Z-axis motor 175. The handling unit 120 is moved by the Y-axis motor 174 and the Z-axis motor 175, and holds and conveys the smear slide 11 imaged by the specimen image imager 200 to the slide magazine 90 accommodating the smear slide 11. .. The liquid receiving portion 178 is arranged below the handling portion 120, and is moved together with the handling portion 120 by the Y-axis motor 174 and the Z-axis motor 175 to receive the liquid falling from the smear slide 11. Since the liquid receiving section 178 is moved together with the handling section 120, the liquid receiving section 178 can receive the liquid falling from the smear slide 11 during the transfer of the smear slide 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the liquid falling from the smear slide 11 from adhering to the apparatus regardless of the transfer path of the smear slide 11.

[Detailed configuration of liquid receiving part]
Hereinafter, the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the liquid receiving unit 178 of the specimen transfer device 100 shown in FIG. 15 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 16 and later.

As shown in FIG. 16, the specimen transfer device 100 is provided with a specimen transfer unit 170. Further, the specimen transfer device 100 is provided with a moving mechanism 171, a Y-axis rail 172, a Y-axis slider 173 (see FIG. 17), a Y-axis motor 174, a Z-axis motor 175, and a transmission mechanism 176. ing. Further, the specimen transfer device 100 is provided with a liquid receiving unit 178. Further, the specimen transfer unit 170 includes a handling unit 120. The handling unit 120 has a pair of grip plates 121a and 121b.

The transmission mechanism 176 includes pulleys 176a and 176b, a belt 176c, a plurality of pulleys 176d, and a belt 176e. The liquid receiving portion 178 includes a tray portion 178a. The tray portion 178a is provided with a convex portion 178b. Further, a rail 178c and a slider 178d are provided on the second support portion 171b.

The handling unit 120 holds and conveys the smear slide 11. Specifically, the handling unit 120 grips, holds, and conveys the smear slide 11. The handling portion 120 can grip a single smear slide 11 by sandwiching it in the thickness direction by a pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. Further, the handling unit 120 relatively moves the pair of grip plates 121a and 121b by driving the motor 124. That is, the distance between the pair of grip plates 121a and 121b facing each other is changed by driving the motor 124. As a result, the smear slide 11 can be gripped and separated by the pair of grip plates 121a and 121b. In addition to the motor 124, an actuator such as an air cylinder or a solenoid may be used. Further, the smear slide 11 may be held by a method other than grasping. For example, the smear slide 11 may be adsorbed and held, or may be held by supporting it from below.

The moving mechanism 171 includes a first support portion 171a and a second support portion 171b. The first support portion 171a is fixedly provided on the specimen transfer device 100. Further, the first support portion 171a supports the second support portion 171b so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the first support portion 171a supports the second support portion 171b so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (Y direction). The first support portion 171a has a flat plate shape extending in a vertical plane shape. Further, a Y-axis rail 172 and a Y-axis motor 174 are attached to the first support portion 171a. Further, the first support portion 171a is provided with pulleys 174a and 174b and a belt 174c.

The second support portion 171b can move in the Y direction along the Y-axis rail 172. Specifically, the Y-axis slider 173 provided on the second support portion 171b is movably engaged with the Y-axis rail 172. Further, the second support portion 171b is driven by the Y-axis motor 174 and moves in the Y direction along the Y-axis rail 172. That is, the belt 174c is driven by the drive of the Y-axis motor 174, and the second support portion 171b connected to the belt 174c moves in the Y direction with the drive of the belt 174c. The second support portion 171b has a flat plate shape extending in a vertical plane shape. Further, the second support portion 171b is provided with a handling portion 120, a Z-axis motor 175, a transmission mechanism 176, and a liquid receiving portion 178. Further, the second support portion 171b is provided with a rail 175a (see FIG. 17), a pulley 176d, a belt 176e, and a rail 178c.

The second support portion 171b supports the handling portion 120 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z direction). Specifically, the slider 175b (see FIG. 17) connected to the handling portion 120 is movably engaged with the rail 175a. Further, the handling unit 120 moves in the Z direction along the rail 175a by driving the Z-axis motor 175. That is, the belt 176e is driven by the drive of the Z-axis motor 175, and the handling portion 120 connected to the belt 176e moves in the Z direction with the drive of the belt 176e.

Further, the second support portion 171b supports the tray portion 178a of the liquid receiving portion 178 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the second support portion 171b supports the tray portion 178a of the liquid receiving portion 178 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (Y direction). A slider 178d (see FIG. 17) connected to the tray portion 178a is movably engaged with the rail 178c. Further, the tray portion 178a is driven by the Z-axis motor 175 and moves in the Y direction along the rail 178c. That is, the belt 176e is driven by the driving of the Z-axis motor 175, and the tray portion 178a connected to the belt 176e moves in the Z direction with the driving of the belt 176e.

That is, the liquid receiving unit 178 moves in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the vertical movement of the handling unit 120. Specifically, the tray portion 178a of the liquid receiving portion 178 moves in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the downward movement of the handling portion 120, and retracts from the descending position of the handling portion 120. Further, the tray portion 178a moves in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the upward movement of the handling portion 120, and is positioned below the handling portion 120. As a result, when the handling portion 120 is moved downward, the tray portion 178a can be retracted so as not to interfere with the smear slide 11 held by the handling portion 120. Further, when the handling portion 120 is moved upward, the tray portion 178a can be quickly moved below the smear slide 11 held by the handling portion 120. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the liquid falling from the smear slide 11 from adhering to other portions, and to prevent the operation of transferring the smear slide 11 from being hindered.

Further, the drive unit that moves the tray unit 178a in the horizontal direction and the drive unit that moves the handling unit 120 in the vertical direction are a common Z-axis motor 175. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the drive unit is provided separately. Further, by sharing the drive unit, the vertical movement of the handling unit 120 and the horizontal movement of the tray unit 178a can be easily linked.

The Y-axis rail 172 is arranged so as to extend in the Y direction. The Y-axis rail 172 guides the movement of the first support portion 171a provided with the handling portion 120 and the liquid receiving portion 178 in the Y direction.

The Y-axis motor 174 rotates the pulley 174a. The pulley 174a and the pulley 174b are provided apart from each other in the Y direction. A belt 174c is wound around the pulley 174a and the pulley 174b. A second support portion 171b is connected to the belt 174c. The mechanism for moving the second support portion 171b in the Y direction is not limited to the motor and the belt / pulley mechanism. For example, the second support portion 171b may be moved in the Y direction by a linear motor mechanism or a ball screw mechanism.

The Z-axis motor 175 rotates the pulley 176a. The pulley 176a and the pulley 176b are provided apart from each other in the Y direction. A belt 176c is wound around the pulley 176a and the pulley 176b. Further, the diameter of the pulley 176a is smaller than the diameter of the pulley 176b. As a result, the rotation of the Z-axis motor 175 is decelerated and transmitted to the pulley 176b. A belt 176e is also wound around the pulley 176b. The belt 176e is wound around a plurality of pulleys 176d in addition to the pulley 176b. The belt 176e is wound in a T shape. That is, the belt 176e has a portion to which the handling portion 120 is connected and extends in the vertical direction, and a portion to which the tray portion 178a is connected and extends in the horizontal direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the belt 176e as an interlocking mechanism is connected to both the liquid receiving portion 178 and the handling portion 120. The liquid receiving portion 178 is connected to a horizontal portion 1761e extending in the horizontal direction of the belt 176e. Further, the handling portion 120 is connected to the upper and lower portions 1762e extending in the vertical direction of the belt 176e.

By driving the belt 176e, the handling portion 120 and the tray portion 178a are moved in conjunction with each other. Specifically, the tray portion 178a moves backward in conjunction with the downward movement of the handling portion 120. Further, the tray portion 178a moves forward in conjunction with the upward movement of the handling portion 120. The mechanism for moving the handling portion 120 in the Z direction and the tray portion 178a in the Y direction is not limited to the motor and the belt / pulley mechanism. For example, the handling portion 120 may be moved in the Z direction and the tray portion 178a may be moved in the Y direction by a linear motor mechanism or a ball screw mechanism. Further, it is not necessary to move the handling portion 120 and the tray portion 178a in conjunction with each other by a common belt. For example, a drive mechanism may be provided individually and may be moved in conjunction with each other by control.

The tray portion 178a can receive the liquid falling from above. Specifically, the tray portion 178a is formed in a concave shape having a bottom portion 178e and a side portion 178f. The side portion 178f of the tray portion 178a is formed shallowly. For example, the side portion 178f of the tray portion 178a has a height smaller than the width direction of the smear slide 11. As a result, the operator can easily access the bottom portion 178e, so that the work for wiping the liquid accumulated in the tray portion 178a can be easily performed. Further, the tray portion 178a has an L-shape when viewed in the X direction. As a result, the length of the tray portion 178a in the Y direction can be increased, so that the user can easily access the tray portion 178a. Further, the tray portion 178a is made of metal. For example, the tray portion 178a is made of an aluminum alloy. This makes it possible to improve the oil resistance as compared with the case where the tray portion 178a is formed of resin. Further, the upper end of the tray portion 178a is connected to the belt 176e.

Further, a plurality of convex portions 178b are provided on the bottom portion 178e of the tray portion 178a. The convex portion 178b is formed so as to project upward with respect to the bottom portion 178e. The plurality of convex portions 178b are arranged at intervals smaller than the width of the smear slide 11. As a result, even if the smear slide 11 falls on the tray portion 178a due to some factor, it is possible to prevent the smear slide 11 from sticking to the bottom portion 178e. Here, if there is no convex portion 178b, the bottom portion 178e and the smear slide 11 come into surface contact with each other, so that the liquid accumulated in the bottom portion 178e causes the smear slide 11 to stick to the bottom portion 178e. Therefore, by providing the convex portion 178b, even if the smear slide 11 falls on the tray portion 178a, the smear slide 11 can be easily removed from the tray portion 178a.

The rail 178c is arranged so as to extend in the Y direction. The rail 178c guides the movement of the slider 178d to which the tray portion 178a is attached in the Y direction.

[Movement of specimen transfer section and liquid receiving section]
The movement of the specimen transfer unit 170 and the liquid receiving unit 178 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 22.

The transfer of the smear slide 11 by the sample transfer unit 170 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 17, the handling unit 120 of the specimen transfer unit 170 moves to a position above the first specimen accommodating tool 901 that accommodates the smear specimen slide 11 before imaging by the specimen image imaging device 200. After that, as shown in FIG. 18, the handling unit 120 descends to a position where the smear slide 11 housed in the first sample container 901 is gripped. As a result, the smear slide 11 is gripped by the handling unit 120. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the handling unit 120 rises to a position above the first sample container 901.

After that, the handling unit 120 moves above the transport case 152 as shown in FIG. After that, as shown in FIG. 20, the handling unit 120 descends toward the transport case 152, and accommodates the smear slide 11 before imaging in the transport case 152. Then, the handling unit 120 is raised, and the smear slide 11 is transported toward the sample image imaging device 200 by the transport case 152.

After the smear slide 11 is imaged, when the smear slide 11 is returned by the transport case 152, the handling unit 120 moves above the transport case 152 as shown in FIG. After that, as shown in FIG. 20, the handling unit 120 descends and grips the smear slide 11 held in the transport case 152.

After that, as shown in FIG. 21, the handling unit 120 passes through the upper position of the first specimen accommodating tool 901 in which the smear slide 11 before imaging is accommodated, and the smear sample that has been imaged by the specimen image imaging device 200. It moves to an upper position of the second specimen container 902 that houses the slide 11. After that, as shown in FIG. 22, the handling unit 120 descends toward the second specimen container 902, and houses the smear specimen slide 11 after imaging in the second sample container 902. Then, the handling unit 120 rises.

The sample transfer unit 170 is configured to pass the smear slide 11 after imaging through the upper part of the first sample container 901 and transfer it to the second sample container 902. As a result, the liquid falling from the smear slide 11 can be received by the liquid receiving unit 178 even when passing above the first specimen container 901, so that the smear slide 11 before imaging is arranged. It is possible to effectively prevent the liquid from falling and adhering to the specimen container 901.

10: Smear specimen preparation device 11: Smear specimen slide 11a: Central part 12: Frost part 20: Staining tank 21: Partition part 30: Transfer part 30a: First transfer part 30b: Second transfer part 32: Moving mechanism 40: Cleaning Tank 41: Partition 50: Drying tank 60: Blower unit 70: Fluid circuit unit 80: Control unit 81: Staining unit 82: Slide supply unit 83: Printing unit 84: Smearing unit 85: Drying unit 86: Slide storage unit 90: Slide magazine (specimen container)
90c: Base 90d: Notch 91: Magazine transport section 92: Magazine carry-in path 93: Magazine carry-out path 94: Horizontal feed mechanism section 95: Specimen storage position 100: Specimen transfer device 110: Control section 111: Communication section 112: Imaging Judgment unit 120: Handling unit (holding unit)
121: Grip plate 122: Opening 123: Horizontal movement mechanism 130: Horizontal feed unit 131: Magazine buffer area 132: Magazine set area 133: First magazine storage area (storage unit)
134: 2nd magazine storage area (reservoir)
135: Intervention specimen accommodating tool set area 140: Specimen accommodating instrument transporting unit 141: First transporting unit 142: Second transporting unit 150: Conveying unit 152: Conveying case 153: Lateral moving unit 165: Attitude change mechanism 165a: Operation bar 170 : Specimen transfer unit 171: Moving mechanism 174: Y-axis motor 175: Z-axis motor 178: Liquid receiving unit 180: Imaging unit 190: Detection unit 191: Swinging piece 193: Stopper 194: Optical sensor unit 200: Specimen image imaging device 201: Imaging unit 202: Control unit 203: Display monitor 204: Communication unit 205: Specimen delivery unit 206: Transport unit 207: Oil application unit 901: First specimen container 902: Second sample storage device A: Specimen storage position AN : Specimen analysis system D: Input section I: Specimen image imaging system P: Specimen pickup position S: Specimen transfer system W: Specimen delivery position m: Specimen identification information n: Imaging necessity judgment information

Claims (14)

It is a specimen transporting device that takes out a smear slide with liquid from the specimen storage part that accommodates the smear slide with liquid and transports it.
A holding part that holds the smear slide and can be moved up and down,
A liquid receiving part that is movable in the horizontal direction and is used to receive liquid,
A drive unit for moving the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction is provided.
The holding portion moves upward while holding the smear specimen slide housed in the specimen accommodating portion, whereby the smear specimen slide is taken out from the specimen accommodating portion.
The drive unit is a sample transfer device that positions the liquid receiving unit between the sample slide taken out by the holding unit and the specimen accommodating unit in order to receive the liquid falling from the smear slide. The specimen transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction together with the horizontal movement of the holding unit. The specimen transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving unit moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction along with the vertical movement of the holding unit. A holding part that holds and transports the smear slide to which liquid has adhered ,
A liquid receiving part for receiving liquid, and
A drive unit for moving the liquid receiving portion to receive the liquid falling from the smear slide held by the holding portion is provided.
The drive unit moves the liquid receiving unit horizontally between the receiving position for receiving the liquid and the retracting position that does not interfere with the vertical movement of the smear sample slide, as well as the vertical movement of the holding unit. Transport device. The specimen transfer device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising an interlocking mechanism for moving the liquid receiving portion in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the vertical movement of the holding portion. The specimen transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes a belt connected to both the liquid receiving portion and the holding portion. The belt includes a horizontal portion extending in the horizontal direction and a vertical portion extending in the vertical direction.
The specimen transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid receiving portion is connected to the horizontal portion, and the holding portion is connected to the upper and lower portions. The interlocking mechanism retracts the liquid receiving portion from the lowering position of the holding portion in conjunction with the downward movement of the holding portion, and interlocks with the upward movement of the holding portion to receive the liquid. The specimen transfer device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the portion is moved below the holding portion. The one according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the drive unit includes a vertical drive unit for moving the holding unit in the vertical direction and a horizontal drive unit for moving the holding unit in the horizontal direction. The specimen transfer device described. The driving unit passes the holding unit holding the smear slide, together with the liquid receiving unit, above one specimen accommodating portion in which the other smear slide to be imaged is accommodated, and accommodates another specimen. The specimen transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is moved to the upper part of the tool. A holding part that holds and transports the smear slide to which liquid has adhered ,
A liquid receiving part for receiving liquid, and
A drive unit for moving the liquid receiving portion to receive the liquid falling from the smear slide held by the holding portion is provided.
In the driving unit, the holding portion holding the smear slide is moved together with the liquid receiving portion to be imaged in a state where the liquid receiving portion is positioned below the smear slide held by the holding portion. A specimen transfer device that passes over one specimen compartment in which the smear slides of the specimen are housed and moves them above the other specimen holders. A sample image imager that captures a smear slide that has been smeared with a sample,
A sample transfer device for transporting a smear slide from the sample image imaging device is provided.
The specimen transfer device is
A holding unit that holds the smear slide imaged by the sample image imaging device and can move up and down,
A liquid receiving part that is movable in the horizontal direction and is used to receive liquid,
Includes a drive unit that moves the liquid receiving unit in the horizontal direction.
The holding portion moves upward while holding the smear specimen slide to which the liquid contained in the specimen accommodating portion is attached, so that the smear specimen slide is taken out from the specimen accommodating portion.
The drive unit is a sample image imaging system that positions the liquid receiving unit between the smear slide taken out by the holding unit and the specimen accommodating unit in order to receive the liquid falling from the smear slide. The specimen image imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the specimen image imaging device is configured to image a smear sample slide using oil. By holding the smear slide to which the liquid contained in the specimen container is attached and moving it upward, the smear sample slide is taken out from the specimen container.
Below the removed smear slide, a liquid receiving part for receiving the liquid was placed.
A specimen transport method for transporting a smear slide with the liquid receiving portion positioned downward.

Images