JPH08201381A - Microwave fixing device for observing organism sample - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To fix a biological sample for microscopic observation accurately, quickly and physically. CONSTITUTION: The microwave fixing unit 110 is provided with a temperature- sensitive section comprising a sample capacity setting section 50, a temperature setting section 20 and an infrared sensor. A system controller delivers an operation control signal to a magnetron drive section in order to regulate the output level of magnetron depending on a sample capacity and a temperature being set, respectively, at the setting sections 50, 20. The temperature-sensitive section detects the temperature of a sample in a beaker resting on the rotary disc in a heating chamber accurately. The system controller compares a temperature detected at temperature-sensitive section with a temperature set at temperature setting section 20 and stops operation of magnetron drive section when they match each other. Consequently, the temperature of sample in the beaker can be detected and controlled precisely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microwave fixing device for observing a biological sample, and more specifically, for supplying a proper temperature to a biological sample to be used for the tissue examination of a human body or animals and plants and physically fixing it. The present invention relates to a microwave fixator for observing biological samples.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the so-called life science field, particularly in the basic field of medicine, biological sample observation is universally performed through the following processes. That is, first, a tissue of a certain size is extracted, and when such a tissue is to be observed using an optical or electron microscope, the light transmitted through the biological sample is used for observation. At this time, regardless of whether it is an optical microscope or an electron microscope, all should undergo a fixation process.The fixation process involves the dissolution of a soluble substance encapsulated in cells or tissue structures. This is the process of transforming into an insoluble substance. Therefore, unless such a fixing process is performed, the cell membrane is destroyed and the water-soluble biological substance is dissolved thereby, so that the tissue cannot be observed. After the fixing process, a washing process and a water removal (dehydration) process are performed for 3 to 4 hours, and then a paraffin process is performed so that a thin section can be produced, and a thickness of 4 to 10 μm.
The section is prepared, paraffin is removed again, and water is injected. Next, after performing a dyeing process, the sample is observed with a microscope or the like to inspect or observe various phenomena in tissues or cells.

As mentioned above, the fixing process is a very important basic process in the examination or observation of a sample such as a living tissue. For example, if the fixing process is incorrect, tissue cells cannot be observed. In addition, depending on which fixing process is performed, the tissue may be deformed, or even if the tissue is not deformed, the thickness of 4 to 10 may be increased in the subsequent processing step, that is, the section forming process.
If the section of μm is not obtained or staining is not possible, there is a great difficulty in histological examination.

There are roughly two types of tissue fixing methods, a chemical fixing method and a physical fixing method.

In the chemical fixation method, the tissue section must be cut as thinly as possible in order to facilitate the permeation of the fixative by diffusion, and even if it is made thin, the tissue penetration time of the fixative is 24-72 hours / 5 cm ³ is required, and even if neutral formalin, which is generally used as a fixative, is used, or other fixatives (other pH, other temperature) are used depending on the sample, the low molecular weight soluble protein 40 ~ 5
Since 0% is driven out, there is a drawback that the same staining that should stain the same cells shows a large inaccuracy, and that it is difficult to adjust the magnification ratio and contrast during microscopic observation. Therefore, a chemical fixative that has a high permeation rate and is capable of minimizing the displacement of the tissue and the change of the substance is required. However, the tissue examination using the current chemical fixation method has a lot of difficulty with a long examination time.

The physical immobilization method is a method of immobilizing a sample by using heat energy and can be divided into several kinds of subdivided methods. That is, there are a HOT WAX BATH method, a HOT AIR method, an ultrasonic method, and a rapid heating method in which a sample is rapidly heated in a buffer solution such as an aqueous solution or physiological saline. The biggest problem with these physical fixation methods is temperature regulation. If the temperature rises too much, tissue destruction such as cell membrane destruction will occur, and a large amount of substances in the tissue will be expelled, resulting in failure of the test. On the other hand, if the temperature has not risen to the appropriate temperature, the soluble substance in the tissue does not change to an insoluble substance, and the biological substance is dissolved in the aqueous solution or organic solvent during the treatment process such as dehydration and staining after fixation. To be done.

However, according to the conventional method, even if the temperature is kept constant, the temperature received by the tissue sample varies from site to site, and a so-called temperature gradient phenomenon occurs (that is, the temperature of the solution is set to a specific temperature). When combined, the tissue surface is maintained at that temperature, but the internal temperature becomes low, and maintaining the internal temperature causes the surface to become overheated.) Is not used for.

The most desirable one which can appropriately solve the above-mentioned problems is a physical fixation method using an ultra-high frequency (microwave), which requires a long time for inspection and a measurement uncertainty which the chemical fixation method has. The problem can be eliminated, and the temperature gradient phenomenon of the physical fixation method can be prevented. Microwave frequency range is 1.0-30G
Hz, which is 2.4 out of the frequencies in this microwave band.
5 GHz matches the natural vibration frequency of water molecules. Therefore, when microwave energy of 2.45 GHz is applied to water or general living tissue composed of 60 to 90% or more of water, frictional heat due to violent vibration of water molecules is generated along with Joule heat, and the temperature naturally changes. That is what happens. Such a rise in temperature raises the inside and outside of the tissue to the same temperature, so the temperature gradient phenomenon is removed, the temperature of about 40 to 80 ° C., which the sample should receive, is reached in a short time, and the fixing time The cleaning process is omitted, and the fixed time can be variably shortened by adjusting the output of the magnetron, which is a microwave oscillator.

[0009]

However, in spite of the various usefulness as described above, a product as a microwave fixing device has not been put into practical use. this is,
Although it is possible to use a microwave oven for cooking, which is a home electric appliance, there is a problem in accurate temperature sensing and control of the fixing device.

That is, in a microwave oven, temperature sensing by an alloy based on the Seebeck effect, which is a principle that a thermoelectromotive force is generated when a temperature difference occurs between two alloys, is applied to a sample. Temperature error due to microwave energy induced in the sensor is generated and accumulated together with the problem that temperature cannot be measured accurately,
In general, an error of about 10 to 20 ° C. occurred in the temperature measurement, and a deviation of the temperature changed at each measurement.

Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned various drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect and control the temperature of a sample using an infrared temperature sensor or the like. An object is to provide a microwave fixing device for observation.

[0012]

The fixture according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a sample volume setting section for inputting data corresponding to the volume of a sample placed in a beaker, and the sample. A capacity display section for externally displaying the capacity of the sample according to the data output from the capacity setting section, and a temperature for inputting data corresponding to the temperature supplied to the sample placed in the beaker A setting unit, a temperature display unit for displaying the temperature set by the temperature setting unit to the outside, and a temperature of a sample placed in the beaker is sensed to output data corresponding to the sensed temperature. For comparing the data output from the temperature sensing unit with the data output from the temperature setting unit and supplying an operation control signal to the magnetron drive unit according to the comparison result. Adopts a configuration that includes a system controller for generally controlling the operation to peripheral systems according to the data from each of the sample volume setting unit, temperature setting unit and temperature sensing unit, and a main power switch and operation switch It was done.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the system controller is
An operation control signal is supplied to the magnetron drive unit so as to adjust the magnetron output level according to the sample volume set by the sample volume setting unit and the temperature set by the temperature setting unit. In addition, the temperature sensing unit consisting of an infrared temperature sensor etc. accurately senses the temperature of the sample in the beaker, and the system controller compares the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit with the temperature set by the temperature setting unit. Then, when they are equal, the operation of the magnetron drive unit is stopped.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 3 are views showing a microwave fixing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view showing an operating process thereof.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 110 is a fixture, and one side of the front panel of the fixture 110 is a sample volume setting unit 50 and a sample volume setting unit 50 is provided with a sample volume setting unit 50. Capacity display unit 6 for displaying capacity externally
0 is mounted, and a temperature setting unit 20 and a temperature display unit 10 for setting the temperature to be supplied to the sample are installed above it.
And a main power switch 30 and an operation switch 40 are mounted so as to project below the side portion of the front panel. On the other hand, a printed circuit board 100 on which the system controller 80 and the magnetron drive unit 90 shown in FIG. 3 are mounted is provided on a partition wall located behind the front panel of the fixing device 110. And the fixing device 11
The temperature sensor 70, which is an infrared sensor, is mounted on the main body of the sensor unit 0, so that the temperature of the sample is sensed and data corresponding to the temperature is electrically supplied to the system controller 80 mounted on the printed circuit board 100. It is connected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit adopted in the microwave fixing device 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the system controller 80 is an input / output port P1.
Sample volume setting unit 50 and temperature setting unit 2 connected to P3
The data input to 0 are scanned, and the corresponding data are supplied to the capacitance display unit 60 and the temperature display unit 10 connected to the output ports P2 and P4, respectively. And the system controller 80
Outputs an operation control signal of the magnetron drive unit 90 to the output port P6 so as to adjust the magnetron output level according to each data output from the temperature setting unit 20 and the sample volume setting unit 50. Further, the system controller 80 receives the temperature data supplied from the temperature sensing unit 70 including an infrared sensor at the input port P5, and compares the output data of the temperature sensing unit 70 with the data input to the temperature setting unit 20. Then, the operation of the magnetron drive unit 90 is controlled according to the comparison result.

The operation of the microwave fixing device according to the present invention having the above structure will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

The beaker 120, in which the sample to be inspected and the water and the buffer solution have been charged, is placed on the rotating disk in the heating chamber of the fixing device 110 manufactured according to the present invention (step S1 in FIG. 4). When the scale of the beaker 120 is read and data is input to the sample volume setting unit 50 so that the same volume as this is displayed on the volume display unit 60 mounted on the front panel of the fixture 110, the data is input to the system controller 8
0 determines (step S2).

When the setting of the sample volume is completed as a result of the judgment in step S2, it is judged whether or not the fixed temperature of the sample has been set through the temperature setting unit 20, and the set fixed temperature is displayed. To display (step S
3).

After setting the sample volume and the fixed temperature,
Operation switch 4 mounted on the front panel of the fixing device 110
When 0 is turned on, a predetermined operation control signal is output to the magnetron drive unit 90 to drive the magnetron (step S4).

When the magnetron is driven in step S4, whether the data output from the heating chamber, that is, the temperature sensor 70, which is an infrared sensor for detecting the fixed temperature of the sample, is equal to the set fixed temperature of the sample. It is determined whether or not (step S5), and if the sensed temperature is lower than the set fixed temperature, an operation control signal is output to the magnetron drive unit 90 so as to continue driving the magnetron.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S5 is that the set fixed temperature and the sensed temperature are equal, a stop control signal is output to the magnetron drive unit 90 so as to stop the driving of the magnetron, and the sample fixing process is performed. Completed (step S6).

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By using an infrared temperature sensor, etc., the fixed temperature of the sample can be accurately controlled in accordance with the fixed temperature set according to the volume of the biological sample, so that the tissue inspection process of the human body and animals and plants can be performed easily and precisely. effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a microwave fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing a state in which a beaker containing a sample is seated inside the heating chamber of the microwave fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit adopted in the microwave fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an operation process of the microwave fixing device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Temperature Display Section 20 Temperature Setting Section 30 Main Power Switch 40 Operation Switch 50 Sample Volume Setting Section 60 Volume Display Section 70 Temperature Sensing Section 80 System Controller 90 Magnetron Drive Section 100 Printed Circuit Board 110 Microwave Fixator 120 Beaker

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sample volume setting unit for inputting data corresponding to the volume of a sample placed in a beaker, and a sample volume externally displayed according to the data output from the sample volume setting unit. A capacity display unit for inputting, a temperature setting unit for inputting data corresponding to the temperature supplied to the sample placed in the beaker, and the temperature set by the temperature setting unit is externally displayed. A temperature display unit for detecting the temperature of a sample placed in the beaker and outputting data corresponding to the detected temperature; and data output from the temperature detection unit. The sample volume setting unit, the temperature setting unit, and the temperature sensing unit are provided while comparing the data output from the temperature setting unit and supplying an operation control signal to the magnetron drive unit according to the comparison result. System controller and, microwave fixator for biological sample observation, characterized in that a main power switch and the operation switch for overall controlling the operation of the peripheral systems according to the data from each. 2. The system controller includes: data output from the sample volume setting unit; data output from the temperature setting unit; output data from the temperature sensing unit; and output data from the temperature setting unit. The microwave fixing device for observing a biological sample according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the magnetron drive unit is controlled according to the comparison result.