JPH0566543U - Automatic staining device for microscope specimens - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] By placing the dyeing basket 6 at a predetermined position in the liquid medicine container 2, the hanging arm 5 can surely engage the dyeing basket 6. [Construction] Guide grooves 11, 11 are provided at the center of the upper end portions of the inner side surfaces 2a, 2a of a chemical liquid container 2. This guide groove 11,
Reference numeral 11 includes a guide portion 12 having a wide upper end opening and gradually narrowing toward the lower side, and an engaging portion 13 continuous with the guide portion 12. On the side portions 15, 15 of the handle 8 of the dyeing basket 6, as the dyeing basket 6 is lowered toward the inside of the liquid medicine container 2,
An engagement protrusion is formed which is guided by the guide grooves 11 and is further engaged.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The apparatus for automatically staining microscopic specimens according to the present invention makes microscopic observation of tissue pieces or cells (in the present specification, these are collectively referred to as samples) in hospitals and various laboratories. Therefore, regarding the improvement of the automatic staining device for microscope specimens used for staining processing, this staining basket is designed so that the hanging arm can securely engage the staining basket placed in the drug solution container. It is to be placed properly at the proper position in the chemical solution container.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 It is widely practiced in hospitals for illness to diagnose a disease by observing a sample excised from an affected area with a microscope. In order to facilitate the diagnosis of diseases by such microscopic observation, the sample attached to the slide glass is stained, and various automatic staining devices that automatically perform this staining work are also used. It is provided.

FIG. 5 shows an example of such an automatic dyeing device. On the upper surface of the base 1, a large number of chemical liquid containers 2 and 2 which store various chemical liquids necessary for dyeing treatment and which are open at the top are placed in an aligned state. Above the chemical solution containers 2 and 2, a first movable member 3 which is horizontally movable in the lateral direction of the base 1 (direction a in FIG. 5) and movable along the first movable member 3. As a result, the second moving member 4 that can move horizontally in the vertical direction of the base 1 (direction b in FIG. 5) and the vertical movement of the second moving member 4 make it possible to move up and down. A three-dimensional driving device including a freely suspended arm 5 is provided.

The hanging arm 5 can engage and disengage a dyeing basket 6 as shown in FIG. That is, the dyeing basket 6 has a slide glass storage portion 7 and a handle 8, and further, an engaging piece 9 is provided at the center of the handle 8. The distal end portion of the suspension arm 5 can be engaged by inserting a circular hole provided in the engaging piece 9. Then, by lowering the hanging arm 5 with the hanging arm 5 engaged with the engaging piece 9, the dyeing basket 6 can be freely dipped in the chemical solution containers 2 and 2.

When performing a dyeing process on a sample using the automatic dyeing apparatus as described above, first, the dyeing basket 6 accommodating one or a plurality of slide glasses to which the sample to be dyed is attached is attached to the hanging arm 5 Engage with. Next, when the three-dimensional drive device is driven, the first and second moving members 3 and 4 and the suspension arm 5 which constitute the three-dimensional drive device are based on a signal from a controller (not shown). The dye basket 6 is moved and immersed in the chemical liquid in the chemical liquid containers 2 and 2 for a predetermined time in a predetermined order. The sample is stained by repeating such an operation a predetermined number of times.

Further, a multiple staining process has been considered in which a plurality of staining baskets 6 are processed in parallel by using the above-described automatic staining device to efficiently stain a larger number of samples.

That is, the dyeing basket 6 containing the slide glass to which the sample is attached is immersed in the chemical solution for a predetermined time, and the hanging arm 5 is engaged with the dyeing basket 6 during the immersion. It is removed and engaged with another dyeing basket 6 to put the other dyeing basket 6 in the predetermined drug solution container 2. Then, likewise, the suspension arm 5 is disengaged, and the other dyeing basket 6 is immersed in the chemical solution for a predetermined time. The same work is performed on a plurality of dyeing baskets 6, and if there is a dyeing basket 6 that has been soaked for a predetermined time, the hanging arm 5 engages with this dyeing basket 6 and carries it to the next drug solution container 2. .. By repeating such an operation, a plurality of dyeing baskets 6 can be processed in parallel, so that a larger number of samples can be dyed in a short time as compared with the normal processing described above. Such multiple staining processing can be performed by storing the processing procedure in the controller in advance.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, when the above-described multiple dyeing process, in which a plurality of dyeing baskets 6 are processed in parallel, is adopted, there are the following problems to be solved.

That is, when the dyeing basket 6 is placed in the liquid medicine container 2, the dyeing basket 6 is located at a regular position in the liquid medicine container 2 (the suspension arm 5 is provided on the handle 8 of the dyeing basket 6). The central position in the liquid medicine container 2 where the joint piece 9 can be engaged (hereinafter, the same in the present specification) may be displaced.

In this way, when the dyeing basket 6 is placed while being displaced from the regular position of the liquid medicine container 2, when the suspension arm 5 tries to engage the engaging piece 9 of the dyeing basket 6 next time. Further, the engagement becomes difficult, or the dye basket 6 is engaged in an inclined state, so that the subsequent dyeing process cannot be smoothly performed. If the deviation from the normal position is significant, the hanging arm 5 cannot engage the engaging piece 9 of the dyeing basket 6 and the dyeing process is not performed.

The automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0012]

[Means for solving the problem]

 The automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention, like the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, is capable of accommodating a plurality of chemical solution containers placed on the upper surface of the base and a large number of slide glasses to which specimens to be microscope specimens are attached. It is provided with a dyeing basket and a three-dimensional drive device having a hanging arm that can freely engage and disengage the dyeing basket and move in three dimensions. Then, the three-dimensional drive is used to place the dyeing basket in the liquid medicine container in a predetermined order for a predetermined time, so that the sample is immersed in the liquid medicine in the liquid medicine container to stain the sample. is there.

Further, in the automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention, when the above-mentioned dyeing basket is placed in a regular position in the drug solution container, the inside portion of the drug solution container and the outside of the dyeing basket are opposed to each other. Among these parts, a guide groove is provided in the inner part of the liquid medicine container, and an engaging protrusion is provided in the outer part of the dye basket. The guide groove includes a guide portion having a wide upper end opening and gradually narrowing toward the lower side, and an engaging portion continuous with the guide portion. The engaging protrusion is guided by the guide portion as the dyeing basket moves toward the inside of the liquid medicine container, and is further engaged with the engaging portion.

[0014]

[Operation] When the automatic staining apparatus for a microscope specimen of the present invention configured as described above is used to process a plurality of staining baskets in parallel, or when performing multiple staining processing, the operation is the same as that of the conventional apparatus described above. The effect is exactly the same as in the case of performing multiple staining processing using the same.

However, in the automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention, since the guide groove is provided in the inner portion of the drug solution container and the engaging protrusion is provided in the outer portion of the staining basket, the staining basket is formed. When this dyeing basket is moved toward the inside of the liquid medicine container so as to be placed in the liquid medicine container, the engaging protrusion is guided by the guide portion forming the guide groove along with the movement. Further, it engages with the engaging portion that constitutes the guide groove. As a result, since the above-mentioned dyeing basket is placed at a regular position in the liquid medicine container, the hanging arm that constitutes the three-dimensional drive device can easily engage the dyeing basket in the correct posture and smooth the dyeing process. Will be able to do.

[0016]

【Example】

 Next, the embodiment shown in the drawings will be described. In addition, the automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention has a guide groove in the inner part of the chemical solution container and a guide groove in the outer part of the chemical solution container in order to place the dyeing basket in the regular position in the chemical solution container. It is characterized in that each of the engaging projections that engages with the groove is provided, and the other configurations and operations are the same as those of the conventional device described above, and thus a duplicate description will be omitted. The characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

On the upper surface of the base 1 (FIG. 5) that constitutes the automatic dyeing apparatus, a large number of drug solution containers 2 shown in FIG. The drug solution container 2 shown in FIG. 1 is the same as a drug solution container that has been conventionally used, except that guide grooves 11 and 11 described below are formed on inner surfaces 2a and 2a. When the dyeing basket 6 (FIG. 6) is placed on the inner side surface of the chemical solution container 2, the guides are provided at the center in the width direction at the upper end portions of the inner side surfaces 2a, 2a facing the side walls 10, 10 of the dyeing basket 6. Grooves 11, 11 are formed.

The guide grooves 11, 11 are composed of a guide portion 12 having a wide upper end opening and gradually narrowing downward, and an engaging portion 13 continuous to the lower end of the guide portion 12.

On the other hand, the dyeing basket 6 is provided with a handle 8 as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. Grooves 16 and 17 are formed on the side walls 10 and 10 of the dyeing basket 6, respectively, and by engaging the grips 8 with the grooves 16 or 17, the grips 8 are erected (see FIG. 6). Can be supported horizontally (in the state shown in), or horizontally (in a lying state). When the dyeing basket 6 is placed in the drug solution container 2 with the handles 8 standing upright as shown in FIG. Engaging projections 14 and 14 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the guide grooves 11 and 11 are formed in portions of the inner portions 2a and 2a that face the guide grooves 11 and 11.

That is, in the case of the first example shown in FIG. 2, the handle 8 is formed by providing the plate member in a substantially U shape, and the side portions 15 and 15 of the handle 8 are further provided with engaging protrusions protruding outward. The parts 14, 14 are provided.

In the case of the second example shown in FIG. 3, the bar 8 is bent into a substantially U-shape to form the handle 8, and the side portions 15, 15 of the handle 8 are projected outward so that The abutting portions 14 and 14 are used.

The effect of performing the multiple staining process using the automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention configured as described above is the same as performing the multiple staining process using the conventional device described above. This is exactly the same as the case.

However, in the automatic staining apparatus for microscope specimens of the present invention, the guide grooves 11, 11 are formed on the inner side surfaces 2 a, 2 a of the drug solution container 2, and the side portions 15, 15 of the handle 8 of the staining basket 6 are formed. Since the engaging protrusions 14 and 14 are provided respectively, in order to place the dyeing basket 6 in the liquid medicine container 2, the hanging arm 5 is changed from the state shown by the chain line in FIG. 4 to the state shown by the solid line. When lowered, the engaging protrusions 14, 14 are guided by the guide grooves 11, 11 and the dyeing basket 6 is placed at the proper position in the liquid medicine container 2.

That is, with the hanging arm 5 constituting the three-dimensional driving device engaged with the dyeing basket 6 containing a large number of slide glasses to which the sample to be dyed is adhered, the hanging arm 5 is When it is gradually lowered from the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 4, the slide glass storage portion 7 of the dyeing basket 6 first enters the chemical liquid container 2, and then the engaging protrusions 14 and 14 of the handle 8 are moved to the guide grooves 11 and 11. It is guided by the guide portions 12, 12 and further descends while engaging with the engaging portions 13, 13.

As a result, the handle 8 of the dyeing basket 6 is in an upright state at a predetermined position as shown by the solid line in FIG. Therefore, when the engaging piece 9 of the handle 8 is again engaged with the hanging arm 5 to be placed in the next drug solution container 2 after the immersion for a predetermined time is completed, the operation by the hanging arm 5 is performed. It is possible to prevent the engagement of the joining piece 9 from becoming difficult, the engagement of the dyeing basket 6 in an inclined posture, and the inability to engage.

[0026]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the automatic staining device for microscope specimens of the present invention is configured and operates as described above, the hanging arm and the dyeing basket are securely engaged with each other, so that the dyeing work can be performed smoothly. Greatly effective in practice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a drug solution container according to the present invention, (A)
Is a side view, (B) is a plan view, (C) is an A-A sectional view of (B), and (D) is a BB sectional view of (B).

FIG. 2 shows a first example of a handle of a dyeing basket according to the present invention, (A) is a front view and (B) is a side view.

FIG. 3 also shows a second example, and FIG. 2 (A), respectively.
The same figure as (B).

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part, showing an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a dyeing basket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 2 Chemical solution container 2a Inner side surface 3 First moving member 4 Second moving member 5 Suspended arm 6 Dyeing basket 7 Slide glass storage part 8 Handle 9 Engaging piece 10 Side wall 11 Guide groove 12 Guide part 13 Engaging Part 14 Engagement protrusion 15 Side part 16 Recessed groove 17 Recessed groove

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A plurality of chemical solution containers placed on the upper surface of a base, a dyeing basket capable of accommodating a large number of slide glasses to which a sample to be a microscope sample is attached, and this dyeing basket can be detachably attached to a tertiary And a three-dimensional driving device having a suspension arm movable in the original direction, by placing the dyeing basket by the three-dimensional driving device in a chemical solution container for a predetermined time according to a predetermined order, the sample In a chemical solution in a chemical solution container, and in an automatic staining device for microscope specimens that stains this sample, inside the chemical solution container that faces each other when the dyeing basket is placed at a regular position in the chemical solution container Of the portion and the outer portion of the dyeing basket, a guide groove is provided in the inner portion of the liquid medicine container, and an engaging protrusion is provided in the outer portion of the dyeing basket. The guide part that becomes gradually narrower and the guide part The engaging protrusion is guided by the guide portion as the dyeing basket moves toward the inside of the liquid medicine container, and further engages with the engaging portion. An automatic staining device for microscope specimens.