JPH05842Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] a. Purpose of the invention (industrial application field) The surplus paraffin scraper according to this invention is:
For pathological research, etc., after embedding a specimen (biological specimen) excised from a living body in paraffin, and before slicing the specimen using a microtome, there is excess material that protrudes from the sides of the embedding cassette. Used to scrape off paraffin.

(Conventional technology) When observing a specimen excised from a living body under a microscope for pathological research, etc., the specimen is embedded in paraffin, sliced, and then attached to a glass slide, and subjected to necessary treatments such as staining. After this, the sample is covered with a cover glass and prepared as a microscopic specimen.

Among these, the work of embedding the specimen in paraffin is carried out as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

That is, a specimen 4 pre-impregnated with paraffin is inserted using forceps 1 into a recess 3 of an embedding dish 2 containing pre-melted paraffin (FIG. 4).

Next, a cassette 5 having a cage-like structure with a large number of holes is placed on the embedding dish 2, and melted paraffin 6 is poured over the cassette 5, so that the paraffin 6 existing inside the cassette 5 and the above paraffin are mixed together. Integrate with the paraffin present in the embedding dish 2 (fifth
figure).

Once the melted paraffin 6 is injected into the cassette 5, the paraffin present in the cassette 5 and the embedding dish 2 is cooled and solidified by a separately provided cooler (not shown), and the paraffin 6 is poured into the cassette 5. Embedding dish 2
Separate.

The paraffin previously injected into the recess 3 of the embedding dish 2 and the paraffin 6 subsequently injected into the cassette 5 are integrated through a large number of holes formed in the cassette 5, so that The paraffin block 7, which has solidified in the cassette 3 and has the specimen 4 embedded therein, is attached to the cassette 5 and taken out from the embedding dish 2 (FIG. 6).

The paraffin block 7 taken out from the embedding dish 2 while attached to the cassette 5 is then sliced with a microtome to obtain a specimen for microscopic observation.

When performing this slicing operation, the paraffin block 7 is fixed by clamping the cassette 5 between the clamping devices of the microtome.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when embedding a biological sample as described above and further slicing the embedded sample using a microtome, the following problems arise.

That is, when pouring melted paraffin 6 into the cassette 5 and integrating it with the paraffin previously placed in the embedding dish 2, the paraffin 6 poured into the cassette 5 often protrudes outside the cassette 5 and the cassette 5 is It solidifies while adhering to the sides.

If the excess paraffin solidifies while adhering to the side surface of the cassette 5, the cassette 5 cannot be attached to the clamping device of the microtome.

For this reason, in the past, the excess paraffin adhering to the sides of the cassette 5 was scraped off with a spatula or knife before being fixed to the clamping device of the microtome, but the scraping process was troublesome and reduced the efficiency of the microscopic specimen preparation work. It was inevitable that things would get worse.

The surplus paraffin scraper of the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

b. Structure of the invention (means for solving the problem) The surplus paraffin scraper of the invention has a plurality of protrusions with sharp upper corners spaced apart from each other to form the upper surface, and a It consists of a metal plate that has a through hole that communicates the upper and lower surfaces in the located part, a heater that heats this metal plate, and a receiver that is located below the metal plate and receives the paraffin dripping from the through hole. .

(Function) When scraping off excess paraffin adhering to the side surface of a cassette using the surplus paraffin scraper of the present invention constructed as described above, the side surface of the cassette with the excess paraffin adhering to it is pressed against the top surface of the metal plate while this cassette is removed. is moved in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of protrusions.

By this operation, the excess paraffin adhering to the side surface is scraped off by the upper corner of each protrusion.
It falls between each ridge.

The paraffin scraped from the side of the cassette and falling between the protrusions melts when it comes into contact with a metal plate heated by a heater, drips onto the tray through the through hole, and is collected.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 1. It is a diagram.

On the upper surface of the aluminum thick plate 9, which is surrounded by a heat insulating material 8 on all four sides, there is a scraping part 10 for scraping off excess paraffin adhering to the side surface of the cassette 5 (Figures 5 and 6), and a scraping part 10 for storing molten paraffin. A storage tank section 11 is provided for storage.

The scraped part 10 has a rectangular cross section, and a plurality of protrusions 12, 12 with sharp upper edge corners are formed on the upper surface at intervals, so that the surface of the scraped part 10 is shaped like a screen. is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the portion located between the protrusions 12, 12, there are through holes 13, 1 that communicate with the upper and lower surfaces of the thick aluminum plate 9 constituting the scraped portion 10.
3 is formed.

One of the storage tank sections 11 has a recess 20 formed in its upper surface for storing melted paraffin.

A thick aluminum plate 9 having the above-mentioned scraped portion 10 and storage tank portion 11 on its upper surface is fixed to the upper part of a casing 14 formed by bending a metal plate. A saucer 15 that can be inserted into and taken out of the casing 14 is provided in a hollow portion that opens on the front surface of the casing 14. When inserted into the hollow portion, the saucer 15 is positioned directly below the scraped portion 10. I try to do it.

Further, a heater 16 is attached to the lower surface of the thick aluminum plate 9 so that the entire thick aluminum plate 9 can be heated.

At the lower edges on both sides of the casing 14, projecting portions 17, 17 are provided toward the sides, and at the far end of each projecting portion 17, 17, there is a standing wall 19 having an arc-shaped notch 18 at the upper end edge. is formed. The portion consisting of the projecting portion 17 and the standing wall 19 is used as a brush holder for placing a brush used when applying paraffin to the surface of a specimen sliced with a microtome.

When scraping off excess paraffin adhering to the side surface of the cassette 5 using the surplus paraffin scraper of the present invention constructed as described above, the side surface of the cassette 5 to which the excess paraffin has adhered is removed using the scraper formed on the thick aluminum plate 9. While pressing the cassette 5 against the upper surface of the section 10,
12 (direction of arrow X in FIG. 1).

Through this operation, the excess paraffin adhering to the side surface of the cassette 5 is scraped off by the sharp upper edge corners of the respective protrusions 12, 12.
Fall between 2.

The excess paraffin scraped off from the side surface of the cassette 5 and falling between the protrusions 12, 12 melts when it comes into contact with the thick aluminum plate 9 heated by the heater 16, and the through holes 13, 13 and drips onto the saucer 15 and is collected.

After scraping off the excess paraffin adhering to the sides of the cassette 5 as described above, the cassette 5 is fixed to a clamp device of a microtome and the specimen embedded in the paraffin is sliced.

After this slicing operation, new paraffin is applied to the cut end to prevent the sample still remaining in the paraffin block 7 from being deformed until it is used next time.

This smearing operation is carried out by attaching molten paraffin stored in the recess 20 of the storage tank 11 to the tip of the brush placed on the brush holder and smearing the molten paraffin onto the cut end.

c. Effects of the invention Since the surplus paraffin scraper of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it is possible to remove surplus paraffin attached to the cassette extremely efficiently, reducing the effort and time required to prepare microscopic specimens. can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 1. Figure, 4th~
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the steps of embedding a biological sample in paraffin. 1...Tweezers, 2...Embedding dish, 3...Recess, 4...Specimen, 5...Cassette, 6...Paraffin, 7...Paraffin block, 8...Insulating material, 9...Aluminum thick plate , 10... scraped part, 11... storage tank part, 12... protrusion part, 13...
Through hole, 14...Casing, 15...Saucer, 16
... Heater, 17 ... Overhanging part, 18 ... Notch, 19 ... Standing wall, 20 ... Recessed part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A metal plate having a plurality of protrusions with sharp upper corners formed on the upper surface at intervals from each other, and a through hole located between the protrusions that communicates the upper and lower surfaces, and this metal plate is heated. and a saucer located below the metal plate to receive the paraffin dripping from the through hole.