JP7113855B2 - Accommodating holder for stacks of cover slips or sample supports - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a holder or cartridge with a stack of cover glasses or cover glasses. A sample support (slide) can also be used instead of a coverslip.

In microscopy methods, cover glasses or cover glasses are used to place and protect a sample present on a sample support in the microscope for subsequent examination. Such samples are, for example, tissue samples which are placed on a sample support in the form of thin sections and stained for subsequent (fluorescence) microscopy. Tissue samples are usually embedded in paraffin wax and then cut into thin section(s). The process of embedding, cutting, staining and subsequent coverslipping is carried out automatically in corresponding automatic equipment(s). In this case the individual automatic devices can be coupled together and the transfer of the sample or sample support can be (semi-)automatically effected by the robotic arm.

US2017/343571A1 DE102008050530A1

The cover glass used to cover the sample is extremely thin and fragile. Usually, one coverslip is removed from the stack of coverslips by a robotic arm with a suction (suction cup) and then placed over the sample to be covered. For this purpose, the stack of coverslips must be stored (contained or loaded) in a holder or cartridge, which allows easy access of the robot arm to the individual coverslips. It should be configured to Furthermore, as processes are increasingly automated, it would be desirable to be able to provide more information about the coverglass and/or cartridge and/or cover process. The sample supports or slides on which the samples are placed can also be stored (accommodated or loaded) in holders or cartridges; to that extent the same statements apply to the handling (processing) of the sample supports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide holders or cartridges with stacks of cover slips or covering glasses or specimen supports or slides with corresponding properties.

This task is solved by a holder or cartridge according to claim 1 . According to one aspect of the invention, a holder is provided for receiving a stack of coverslips or sample supports.
the holder has a bottom with at least one side wall attached thereto;
the inside of the bottom portion is configured to receive and support the stack of the coverslip or the sample support;
the outer side of the bottom and/or the outer side of the at least one side wall are configured to receive an identification mark and have an identification mark;
the outer side of the bottom has at least one spacer extending perpendicular to the bottom;
Said spacer is characterized in that it extends in a direction perpendicular to said bottom at least as much as the receptacle on said outer side of said bottom which receives the identification mark extends in this direction (Configuration 1 ).

Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.
(Mode 1) See the above aspect of the present invention .
( Mode 2 ) In the holder of Mode 1, the bottom has a notch for taking out the cover glass or the sample support, or the laminate of the cover glass or the sample support, and the at least one The side walls preferably have corresponding cutouts.
(Mode 3 ) In the holder of Mode 1 or 2 , the bottom preferably has at least one hole.
(Mode 4 ) The holder of any of modes 1 to 3 , wherein at least one end of said at least one side wall, on the side remote from said bottom, is formed with at least one particularly pivotable tab. is preferred.
(Mode 5 ) In the holder according to any one of Modes 1 to 4 , it is preferable that at least one of the at least one side wall is formed with a guide groove.
(Mode 6 ) In the holder of any of modes 1 to 5 , it is preferred that recesses are present in the corner regions of the holder or in the regions where the side walls abut each other.
(Mode 7 ) In the holder of any of modes 1 to 6 , it is preferred that at least one restricting element is provided starting from at least one of said at least one side wall and extending into the interior of the holder.
(Mode 8 ) In the holder according to any one of Modes 1 to 7 , it is preferable that the boundary line of the at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom lies on a plane forming an angle with respect to the plane of the bottom.
(Mode 9 ) In the holder according to any one of Modes 1 to 8 , it is preferable that the boundary line of the at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom is configured like a flange.
(Mode 10 ) In the holder of any one of Modes 1 to 9 , it is preferable that the at least one side wall has at least one protruding reinforcing rib.

A holder (cartridge) according to the invention comprising a stack of coverslips or sample supports (accommodating or loading) has a bottom with at least one side wall connected thereto, the inside of the bottom (inner side) of which is the coverslip or sample support. It is configured to receive and support a stack of supports, the outside (outside surface) of the bottom and/or the outside (outside surface) of at least one side wall carrying an identification mark such as an RFID. It is configured to receive and has an identification mark, such as an RFID. The at least one side wall is, for example, a cylindrical side wall with a circular or elliptical cross-section or, in particular, four side walls each of which two side walls are arranged opposite each other. Other types of shapes are also possible. The inner side of the bottom is configured for mounting a cover glass stack or a sample support stack, advantageous embodiments are described further below. Preferably, the outside of the bottom part is adapted to receive an identification mark, such identification mark can be RFID (in English “radio-frequency identification”) among others. Such RFID or RFID tags essentially consist of a transponder containing an identification (characteristic) code readable by a reader. The connection with the reader is performed by means of a near field alternating magnetic field generated by the reader or by means of high frequency electromagnetic waves. This not only transmits data, but also supplies energy to the transponder. To achieve long distances, it is necessary to use transponders with their own power supply. Of course, other types of identification markings, such as bar codes for example, can also be used with the present invention. The capacity of RFID tags or RFID chips ranges from a few bits to several kilobytes. Writeable RFID tags also exist.

Alternatively or additionally, the identification indicia may be received on at least one side wall of the holder. The identification mark uniquely identifies the holder or cartridge and/or the contents of the holder or cartridge in order to be able to check the authenticity. Furthermore, depending on the fact that the data read from the identification marks match the preset data, it is also possible to carry out further work processes after loading the holder or cartridge into a corresponding automatic device. It is also possible to read out data which describe or code the type, size and number of cover slips or sample supports used and/or their use. In this way, for example, using the wrong cover glass laminate for subsequent covering processes can be ruled out. This makes it possible, for example, to avoid covering the sample with too short or too long coverslips. On the other hand, writable identification marks are used to store data such as date of use, time of use, place of use, number of cover glasses in the laminate, number of cover glasses remaining in the laminate, etc. Advantageously, it is also possible to Similar remarks apply if a sample support is used instead of a coverslip.

In the following, for the sake of brevity, but without restricting generalization, the description will be based in particular on cover glasses. Corresponding remarks also apply to the sample support. Both the sample support and the cover glass can be made of glass or plastic.

A holder according to the invention or a cartridge according to the invention therefore facilitates the automation of the aforementioned processes. Such a holder according to the invention with a stack of coverglass stacks present inside the holder is alternatively also referred to in the present application as a "coverglass stack storage holder". The same applies to the “sample support stack receiving (storage) holder”, which stands for a holder according to the invention comprising a stack of sample supports.

In one advantageous embodiment, the outside of the bottom of the holder has spacers extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom. The bottom should have at least three, preferably four such spacers to avoid tipping or tilting of the holder. These spacers are therefore synonymous with the "legs" of the holder. In another embodiment, the spacers are present all around the bottom edge or on at least two, in particular oppositely arranged sides of the bottom edge. The spacers serve to separate the indicia from the resting (supporting) surface on which the holder rests. For this reason, it is desirable that the spacer extends in a direction perpendicular to the base at least as much as the receiver on the outside of the base that receives the identification mark extends in this direction. In this way, it is possible to avoid damage to the identification mark when the holder is placed on the placement (support) surface.

In a further embodiment, the bottom of the holder according to the invention has a cutout for particularly manual removal of the cover slip or stack of cover slips (or sample support, as mentioned above). At least one sidewall has a corresponding cutout. In this way, for example, the cover glass stack can be gripped from above and below in the region of the cutout (by fingers of the hand or by gripping fingers of a robot) and the top of the holder can be It can be lifted upward from the opening.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the holder according to the invention has a bottom with at least one, preferably two holes. Advantageously, these holes are arranged in correspondence with the suction part of the coverslip gripper. These holes prevent the bottom of the holder itself from being sucked and pulled upwards when the stack of coverslips (or sample supports, as mentioned above) is completely removed and emptied. (If both suctions are connected to the same vacuum line, one hole in the bottom of the holder is sufficient.)

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one particularly pivotable (folding) tab is formed on at least one end of at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom. This tab serves in particular to hold the holder securely and to allow it to be positioned securely in the device receptacle. If the tab is pivotable, it may, in particular, extend upwards for insertion into the device, laterally after insertion into the device, and parallel to the side walls of the holder. so that it can be folded downwards. This saves space when packaging the holder.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one side wall of the holder is formed with a guide groove. The guide groove can be a slit in the side wall or, in principle, a groove-like elevation in the side wall. On the one hand, the guide grooves can serve to align the holder or cartridge, but on the other hand, more practically important is the cover glass stack (or, as mentioned above) by means of such guide grooves. Second, the alignment of the sample support laminate). The guide grooves can be engaged with profiles (for example at right angles) which align the coverslip stack in relation to the sample support or slide to be covered. . Advantageously, the profile is already aligned (aligned) flush with the sample support or slide centering device and with the rack by means of the calibration tool during assembly. In order to be able to remove the coverglass from the holder, a small distance to the profile is necessary so that the coverglass has some play in alignment. For the alignment of the cover glass stacks according to the profile mentioned above, the guide grooves are advantageously constructed as slits in the associated side walls.

In a further advantageous embodiment, recesses (Ausnehmungen) are present (formed) in the corner regions of the holder or in the regions where the side walls abut one another, these recesses being It extends in particular in the direction of the cover glass laminate (or, as mentioned above, the sample support laminate), ie perpendicular to the bottom. Recesses are present (formed) at the corners of the holder or cartridge and/or at the locations where the corners of the cover slip are located and serve to protect the corners of the cover slip. Furthermore, the recess allows easier removal of the cover glass, since a greater play is thus created.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the holder according to the invention is provided with at least one limiting element (bounding element) starting from at least one side wall or at least one of the side walls and extending into the interior of the holder. ing. Furthermore, the restrictive element can extend perpendicularly to the bottom of the holder. In this way, the limiting element allows only a correspondingly smaller extent (length) of the cover glass (or, as mentioned above, the sample support) to be accommodated in the associated holder. can be done. In the absence of restrictive elements, cover glasses of correspondingly larger dimensions (length) can be accommodated. This makes it possible to use different sizes of cover slips with the holder according to the invention without modifying the device or the automation, in which case the holder is also suitable for different sizes of cover slips. have identical external dimensions.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the boundary line of the at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom lies in a plane (in) at an angle to the plane of the bottom of the holder. Such an oblique boundary line of the upper opening of the holder allows a corresponding gripping arm to enter the interior of the holder in a simple manner along a curved path to reach the cover glass (or, as mentioned above, the sample support). ).

Alternatively or additionally, the boundary line of the upper opening of the holder or cartridge is configured as a flange-like edge (Steg) extending all around. This allows the holder or cartridge to be inserted into the device and aligned there, with the flange-like edges resting on corresponding mating members.

It is advantageous if at least one side wall of the holder has reinforcing ribs for improved mechanical stability, especially if the guide grooves are designed as slits.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments of the holder according to the invention or of the cartridge according to the invention can be combined in various ways with one another or used alone. In particular, the invention is also intended to cover combinations that do not use identification marks. To that extent, the presence of the identification mark can only be an embodiment of the holder according to the invention or the cartridge according to the invention as already described in another embodiment.

The invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment.
It should be noted that the reference numerals attached to the claims are solely for the purpose of assisting the understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

1 is a perspective view from above of an example of a holder according to the invention for stacks of cover glasses in one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of the holder according to the invention shown in FIG. 1; FIG. An embodiment of a cover glass stack receiving (storage) holder according to the invention.

The embodiment according to FIG. 1 shows an example of a holder 40 or cartridge 40 for a stack of cover glasses or covering glasses (or sample supports) (not shown here). The holder 40 has a bottom 20 with four side walls 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b, each two of which are arranged opposite each other. The inner side (inner surface) of the bottom part 20 is configured to receive a stack of cover glasses. The outer side (outer side) of the bottom part 20 is configured to receive an identification mark, here an RFID, by means of a corresponding RFID receiver 2 . The position of the receptacle 2 on the bottom 20 can in principle be chosen arbitrarily. Its position depends primarily on the position of the reading device (reader). In principle, it is also possible for the receptacle 2 to be arranged on one of the side walls.

The side walls 22a, 22b and 21a, 21b have reinforcing ribs 4 to give the holder 40 greater stability. Furthermore, the side walls are formed with guide grooves 1, which in this example are constructed as slits in the side walls which extend at right angles to the bottom 20 and terminate there. The guide groove 1 serves first of all to align the cover glass stack inside the holder 40 . The guide groove 1 is engaged by a correspondingly formed, for example right-angled, profile which aligns the cover glass stack in relation to the sample support to be covered. In order to be able to remove the coverglass from the holder 40, a small distance is necessary for the profile engaging the guide groove 1 so that the coverglass has a certain play in alignment. Furthermore, in the corner regions of the holder 40 , recesses 3 are formed which likewise extend in a direction perpendicular to the bottom 20 , where the side walls abut one another. The recesses 3 serve to protect the corners of the cover slip both during storage of the cover slip and during removal of the cover slip.

In the embodiment of the holder 40 shown in FIG. 1, a restricting element 5 can be found starting from the side wall 22a and extending into the interior of the holder 40. As shown in FIG. At the same time, the limiting element 5 is perpendicular to the bottom 20 of the holder 40 . The limiting element (partial wall or compartment) 5 is that the illustrated holder 40 can only accommodate a corresponding (shorter) length of cover slip, i.e. the length of the cover slip extends inside the holder 40. Ensure that the length of the space or the length of the bottom 20 is shorter. In principle, it is also possible to provide limiting elements that limit the width of the holder 40 in an adaptable manner. The significance of such limiting elements 5 is that different sizes of cover glasses can be present in corresponding holders 40, but in this case these holders 40 all have the same external dimensions. Therefore, there is no need to modify (reconfigure) the device or the automation to accommodate different sizes of coverglass.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the bottom 20 of the holder 40 has a cutout 8 for manually removing the stack of coverglasses from the holder 40 . The side wall 21b has a corresponding notch 24. As shown in FIG. As a result, when the holder 40 is open on the top side, the cover glass stack can be gripped from above and below in the region of the cutout 8 and lifted or slid out through the upper opening of the holder 40. This facilitates removal or insertion (loading) of a new cover glass stack into the holder 40 .

The bottom part 20 of the holder 40 furthermore has two holes 25 arranged corresponding to the suction part of the coverslip gripper. The hole 25 prevents the bottom 20 of the holder 40 itself from being sucked upward by the suction part of the coverglass gripper when the coverglass stack has been completely removed and emptied.

In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 40 has a pivotable (foldable) tab 7 formed on the side wall 21a. The tabs 7 serve to allow safe handling (manipulation) of the holder 40 without touching the intrinsic coverglass laminate area. Since the tab 7 is pivotable (foldable), the tab 7 can be folded downwards parallel to the side wall 21a, which can save space when packaging the holder 40, for example.

The boundary line 6, ie the upper boundary line 6 of the side walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b on the side remote from the bottom 20 lies in a plane at an angle (a sharp angle) to the plane of the bottom 20. FIG. Thus, the side walls 22a have a lower height than the side walls 22b, as is particularly evident from FIG. Such an oblique boundary line 6 of the upper opening of the holder 40 allows corresponding gripping arms to enter the interior of the holder 40 from the lateral side of the side wall 22a in a simple manner along a curved path and to reach the cover glass. serves to enable us to go to Furthermore, the boundary line 6 is configured as a rim flange (Randsteg) which serves as a rest for the holder 40 on the corresponding counterpart in the device or automatic apparatus. This allows easy insertion (loading) and alignment (alignment) of the holder 40 within the device or automation.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the holder 40 of FIG. 1 in a perspective side view. Here, like elements of holder 40 are provided with like reference numerals. These elements will not be further described here, but instead reference is made to the description associated with FIG. The bottom part 20 of the holder 40 has an RFID 30 mounted in a corresponding receptacle 2 . Furthermore, a spacer 23 extending perpendicularly to the bottom portion 20 is provided outside the bottom portion 20 of the holder 40 . These spacers 23 may constitute flanges extending along the feet or sidewalls 21a and 21b. The spacers 23 are on the one hand to prevent tilting or tipping of the holder 40 and thus to prevent possible damage to the cover glass and to ensure (safe) standing of the holder 40 on the mounting (support) surface. Helpful. At the same time, the spacers 23 serve to separate the RFID 30 from the mounting (supporting) surface and thus protect the RFID 30 from contact with the mounting (supporting) surface. In order to stably stand the holder 40 , the spacer 23 should have at least the same length as the RFID receiving part 2 in which the RFID 30 is inserted in the direction perpendicular to the bottom part 20 .

FIG. 3 shows a coverslip stack storage (storage) holder or sample support stack storage (storage) holder 50 in one embodiment. However, holder 40 corresponds to holder 40 in FIG. Therefore, with respect to holder 40 or cartridge 40, reference is made to the description associated with FIG. The same drawing reference numbers refer to the same elements. Side walls of the holder 40 are not specifically labeled in FIG. The reinforcing ribs 4 and the pivotable tabs 7 are drawn here in dashed lines, but this is of no particular significance.

Inside the holder 40 there is a stack 10 of cover glasses 11, which can be removed individually and automatically by means of a gripping arm, usually with two suctions. For further embodiments, reference is made to the examples according to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
Here we add a possible embodiment of the invention.
[Appendix 1] A holder comprising a stack of coverslips or sample supports.
The holder has a bottom to which at least one side wall is attached.
The inside of the bottom part is configured to receive and support the stack of the cover glass or the sample support.
The outer side of the bottom portion and/or the outer side of the at least one side wall are configured to receive an identification mark, such as an RFID, and have an identification mark, such as an RFID.
[Appendix 2] In the above holder, the outer side of the bottom has at least one spacer extending perpendicularly to the bottom.
Said spacer extends, in particular in a direction perpendicular to said bottom, at least as much as the receptacle on said outer side of said bottom, which receives an identification mark, in particular RFID, extends in this direction.
[Appendix 3] In the above holder, the bottom portion has a cutout portion for taking out the cover glass or the sample support, or the laminate of the cover glass or the sample support. The at least one sidewall has a corresponding cutout.
[Appendix 4] In the above holder, the bottom has at least one hole.
[Appendix 5] In the above holder, at least one end of the at least one side wall, on the side remote from the bottom, is formed with at least one particularly pivotable tab.
[Appendix 6] In the above holder, at least one of the at least one side wall is formed with a guide groove.
[Note 7] In the holder described above, there are recesses in the corner regions of the holder or in the regions where the side walls abut one another.
[Appendix 8] In the above holder, at least one restriction element is provided starting from at least one of said at least one side walls and extending into the interior of the holder.
[Appendix 9] In the above holder, the boundary line of the at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom lies in a plane forming an angle with respect to the plane of the bottom.
[Appendix 10] In the above holder, the boundary line of the at least one side wall on the side remote from the bottom is configured as a flange.
[Appendix 11] In the above holder, the at least one side wall has at least one protruding reinforcing rib.

1 guide groove 2 RFID receptacle 3 recess 4 reinforcing rib 5 limiting element 6 boundary line, rim flange 7 tab 8 bottom notch 10 laminate 11 cover glass 20 bottom 21a,b sidewalls 22a,b sidewalls 23 spacers 24 sidewalls Notch 25 hole (through hole)
30 RFID
40 holder, cartridge 50 cover glass laminate accommodation (storage) holder

Claims (10)

A holder for receiving a stack (10) of cover slips (11) or sample supports (11),
The holder (40) has a bottom (20) to which at least one side wall (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) is attached,
the inner side of said bottom (20) is configured to rest and support said stack (10) of said cover glass (11) or said sample support (11),
the outer side of the bottom (20) and/or the outer side of the at least one side wall are configured to receive an identification mark and have an identification mark;
said outer side of said bottom (20) has at least one spacer (23) extending perpendicular to said bottom (20);
Said spacer (23) extends in a direction perpendicular to said bottom (20) at least as much as the extension in this direction of the receiver (2) on said outer side of said bottom (20) which has received an identification mark. stretching,
holder. Said bottom (20) is a notch for taking out said cover glass (11) or said sample support (11) or said laminate (10) of said cover glass (11) or said sample support (11). (8), wherein said at least one sidewall (21b) has a corresponding cutout (24);
Holder according to claim 1 . said bottom (20) has at least one hole (25);
3. Holder according to claim 1 or 2 . At least one end of said at least one side wall (21a), on the side remote from said bottom (20), is formed with at least one in particular pivotable tab (7),
The holder according to any one of claims 1-3 . At least one of said at least one side walls (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) is formed with a guide groove (1),
The holder according to any one of claims 1-4 . recesses (3) are present in the corner regions of the holder or in the regions where the side walls abut one another;
The holder according to any one of claims 1-5 . at least one restriction element (5) is provided starting from at least one of said at least one side walls (22a) and extending into the interior of the holder (40);
The holder according to any one of claims 1-6 . the boundary line (6) of the at least one side wall (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) on the side remote from the bottom (20) lies in a plane angled to the plane of the bottom (20);
The holder according to any one of claims 1-7 . the boundary line (6) of the at least one side wall (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) on the side remote from the bottom (20) is configured as a flange,
The holder according to any one of claims 1-8 . said at least one side wall (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) has at least one reinforcing rib (4) protruding therefrom;
The holder according to any one of claims 1-9 .

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