JPS5840138A - Chemical liquid supply and discharge apparatus in one tank type embedding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply and discharge a chemical liquid automatically and certainly in good efficiency, by a method wherein a level sensor is provided to the liquid level of the treating tank of a one tank type embedding apparatus and the chemical liquid is supplied and discharged by the pressure in the treating tank. CONSTITUTION:In a one tank type embedding apparatus for fixing a biological tissue segment after the biological tissue segment is successively immersed in many kinds of chemical liquid, the liquid level of each chemical liquid in a treating tank is detected by a level sensor 18 and a pressure switch 40 detecting the pressure in the treating tank 1 for supplying and discharging the chemical liquid and opening a gate valve 3a by the pressure of presurized air when the chemical liquid is discharged and a pressure switch 39 stopping a pump 13 when discharge is finished are provided. By this structure, because the supply and the discharge of the chemical liquid to the treating tank 1 is carried out automatically in good efficiency, the important biological tissue segment is prevented from spoilage due to deterioration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used to sequentially immerse a piece of biological tissue in a number of chemical solutions (including molten paraffin in this specification) and solidify it with paraffin in order to prepare it into a microscopic specimen. In the one-tank embedding device that is used for processing, we have developed a one-tank embedding device that can automatically supply and drain the chemical solution efficiently and reliably. It is an invention aimed at obtaining.

Next, before explaining the present invention, the outline of the one-tank embedding device will be explained as follows. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, the bottom of the processing tank 1 is connected by a pipe 2 to a rotary valve 3 via a gate valve 3a.
Tube 6a inserted into a, 5b, 6b 17a s
7b are connected, and by driving the rotor of the rotary valve 3 with the deceleration motor 8, the pipe 6a%
6b%7'%7b is selectively communicated with the pipe 2 via the gate valve 3a. Paraffin tanks 5a and 5b containing melted paraffin and tanks 5c and 5d containing heated chemical solutions (for example, formalin) are placed in the open 9, and processing tank 1 also contains melted paraffin and other heated chemical solutions. A heater 10 is provided to heat the water when it is supplied, and the rotary valve 3, pipe 2.7a, etc. are also provided with heat insulation and heating measures as necessary. The upper part of the treatment tank is pipe 1.
1, it is connected to the suction side of an air pump 13 via a switching valve 12, or to the atmosphere by switching the switching valve 12.

The one-tank embedding apparatus constructed in this way is operated as follows.

First, a liquid-permeable sample cylinder 14 containing a biological tissue piece to be prepared as a microscopic specimen is placed in the processing tank 1, and after sealing the airtight lid 1a, the rotary valve 3 illustrated below is driven to open the processing tank. The pipe 6a leading to the tank 4a of the chemical liquid to be supplied first to the tank 4a is matched with the pipe 2 leading to the processing tank across the closed gate valve 3a, the gate valve 3a is opened, and the air pump 13 is turned on.
is started, the air inside the processing tank 1 is sucked, and the pressure inside the tank is made low. As a result, the chemical solution in the tank 4a is sucked into the processing tank 1 and immerses the basket 14 therein.

Next, the gate valve 3a is closed and the pump 13 is stopped.

After immersion for a specified period of time (1 to 2 hours), switch the switching valve 12 to allow the inside of the processing tank 1 to be exposed to the atmosphere (if the chemical tank 4a, etc. is located below the processing tank 1; the chemical tank, etc. If the position is not lower than the treatment tank, the discharge side of the pump 13 is communicated with the treatment tank 1 to pressurize the chemical liquid level.) Then, the chemical liquid in the treatment tank is returned to the original chemical liquid tank 4a, Processing tank 1 becomes empty. Then, the rotary valve 3 is driven to connect the second chemical tank 4b to the pipe 2, and the pump 13 is started. As a result, the chemical liquid in the second chemical liquid tank 4b enters the processing tank 1 and immerses the sample cylinder 14, so the gate valve 3a is closed and the pump 1
3 is stopped and the biological tissue piece is processed for a predetermined period of time.

This operation is performed sequentially for each chemical bath, and finally the tissue piece is treated in the same manner with molten paraffin to infiltrate the tissue piece with paraffin, completing the embedding process.

These operations are automatically performed in sequence by mechanical or electrical control using an interlocking cam, a timer, a computer, or the like.

In this embedding process, a fixative such as formalin, a dehydrating and degreasing agent such as alcohol, an intermediate solvent such as xylene, and molten paraffin are used. Ru. After the embedding process is completed and the sample cylinder 14 is removed, each part of the apparatus is cleaned by passing xylene through it to dissolve paraffin and passing alcohol through it to remove the xylene.

The volume of the chemical solution tank 4 a % 4 bs paraffin tank 5 a , 5 b , etc. is such that when the entire contents of the tank are transferred to the processing tank 1 , the liquid level in the processing tank reaches a predetermined height and the sample tube 14 is raised. Decided to soak.

The present invention provides a chemical liquid supply/discharge device that can efficiently and automatically supply and discharge chemical liquid to and from the processing tank in the single-tank embedding apparatus constructed and operated in this manner.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of a one-tank embedding device, in which an embodiment of the chemical liquid supply/discharge device of the present invention is incorporated.

Note that parts equivalent to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, each of the chemical solution tanks 4a and 4b is provided with a hermetically sealed lid, and the various upper parts thereof are communicated with the section A of the receiving tube 17 through a tube 16a116b that passes through the lid in an airtight manner. The inside of the receiving cylinder 17 is divided into a part A and a part B by a partition wall 21. The part A is connected to the bottom of the water 24 put into the washing cylinder 23 through a pipe 22, and the upper space of the washing cylinder 23 is received by a pipe 25. Pass it through part B of the tube. Part B is activated carbon 2 placed in an adsorption cylinder 27 through a pipe 26.
Let it pass through the bottom of No.8. The upper space of the adsorption cylinder 27 is a pipe 29.
This allows it to communicate with the atmosphere. A pipe 11 leading to the upper space of the treatment tank l enters an overflow tank 15, and the upper space of the tank 15 communicates with the switching valve 12 by a pipe 11a.

The processing tank 1 is equipped with an ultrasonic level sensor 18 that detects the liquid level during chemical supply and generates an electrical signal.
An ultrasonic sensor 19 is attached to the side of the receiver tube 17 to detect the inflow of the chemical into the tank and emit an electric signal.
is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor 20 that detects the inflow of the chemical into the cylinder and outputs an electrical signal.

One of the remaining ports of the three-way switching valve 12 connected to the pipe 11a is connected to the activated carbon bottom of the adsorption cylinder 27 through a pipe 30, and the other port of the switching valve 12 is connected to the air pump 13 through a pipe 31. Let it pass to the suction side. Before and after the pump 13, the remaining ports of the three-way switching valve communicate with the oven 9 through a pipe 34, and one port of the switching valve 33 communicates with the pipe 31 through a pipe 35.
The other port is connected by a tube 36 to a tube 37 . tube 37
One end communicates with the water in the washing cylinder 23, and the other end communicates with the pipe 11a via a pressure regulating valve 38. The tube 11a contains 0.
A pressure switch that operates at 1 atm, a pressure switch 40 that operates at 35 atm, and a pressure switch 4 are connected.

Note that the oven 9 has slight leakage. If this is to be sealed, the inside of the oven is communicated with the tube 30 through a tube 42.

With this configuration, the pump 13 is driven to pump air in the processing tank 1 to the pipe 11, overflow tank 15, pipe 11a, switching valve 12, pipe 31 . The switching valve 32 is sucked into the tube 13, and the exhaust from the pump 13 is transferred to the switching valve 33 and the pipes 36 and 37.
, cleaning cylinder 23, pipe 25, B section of receiver cylinder, pipe 26, adsorption cylinder 2
7. Can be discharged into the atmosphere via pipe 29. As a result, similarly to the conventional example shown in FIG.
Medicinal solutions such as 1L% 4b and molten paraffin are inhaled sequentially. Since the level sensor 18 detects that the chemical solution has been sufficiently inhaled, the gate valve 3a is closed based on the output of the level sensor 18, the pump 13 is stopped, and the immersion process is performed in a deep state.

After the biological tissue piece has been immersed for a predetermined period of time, the treatment tank 1
To discharge the chemical liquid etc. inside the pipe, switch the switching valve 12 and open the pipe 1.
If 1a and 30 are made conductive, the atmosphere will flow through the pipe 29 and the adsorption column 27.
, pipe 30, switching valve 12, pipe 11a, overflow tank 15, pipe 1
The chemical solution, etc. in the processing tank can be flowed down through the processing tank L (two people), but the device of the present invention operates to push out the chemical solution by supplying pressurized air to the processing tank. As a result, the chemical solution can be supplied and discharged even when the location of the chemical solution tank, etc. is not lower than the processing tank 1. When operating in this way, while rotating the pump 13,
The intake side of the pump 13 is communicated with the oven 9 by switching the switching valve 32, 33, and the exhaust side is communicated with the switching valve 12 via the pipe 35, 31. This allows the pressurized air (0.35 atm) discharged by the pump 13 to be transferred to the pipe 35.31° switching valve 12.
, pipe 11a1, overflow tank 15, and pipe 11 to the processing tank 1. At the same time, the gate valve 3a is opened by the pressure switch 40 which operates at 0.35 atm, and the chemical liquid etc. in the processing tank is pushed back to the original chemical liquid tank etc. be able to. In this embodiment, the extrusion of the chemical solution, etc. from the treatment tank 1 is carried out at an air pressure of 0.35 atmospheres in order to maintain an appropriate outflow condition. When the air pressure is above this value, the regulating valve 38 releases excess air into the tube 37 to maintain this air pressure.

When the chemical liquid etc. is discharged and returned to the chemical liquid tank 4a etc., the pressure inside the processing tank rapidly becomes 0.1 atmosphere, so the pressure switch 39 operates to stop the pump 13, and the rotary valve 3
is driven to proceed to the next processing step. 0.35 above
Since the values of atmospheric pressure, O1 atmospheric pressure, etc. differ depending on the device design, the optimum values for the device should be taken.

Since the embedding process, which involves supplying and discharging each of the chemical solutions mentioned above and immersion for a predetermined period of time, takes more than ten hours, the apparatus is automatically operated.

Conventionally, in a one-tank embedding device, in order to supply a chemical solution to the processing tank 1, the chemical solution tank 4! By keeping the inside of the processing tank 1 at a low pressure close to a vacuum for the time required for the entire amount of L, 4B, etc. to enter the processing tank plus a margin time, or by determining the operating time of the pump for discharging the air. I was doing it. However, with this method, the amount of chemical solution supplied is unstable, so even if the amount of chemical solution in the chemical tank 4a etc. is insufficient, it is not possible to detect this and take measures during automatic operation of the embedding device. There is a high risk that exposing biological tissue fragments to air for a long period of time will cause them to deteriorate and become useless. Furthermore, when discharging the chemical solution from the processing tank, pressurized air was pumped into the processing tank for the time required to fully discharge the tank plus a margin time. Not only is the bubbling process used to blow air into the tank 4a etc. to produce air bubbles to increase the volume of air bubbles, but also extra time is taken for each supply and discharge of the chemical solution for a large number of chemical solution tanks, which results in a large waste of time required for the entire embedding process. Become.

In the present invention, as seen in the above-mentioned embodiment, the level sensor 18 is installed at the liquid level position where the sample basket placed in the processing tank 1 is sufficiently immersed to control the liquid level, so that shortage of chemical solution can be prevented. Even if there is an excess of chemical solution in the chemical solution tank, the excess chemical solution can be left in the chemical solution tank to prevent it from overflowing from the processing tank 1. The overflow tank 15 in the embodiment is provided so that if the level sensor 18 fails and the sugar solution overflows from the processing tank 1, the sensor 19 can detect this. When the amount of chemical liquid is insufficient and the liquid level does not reach the position of the level sensor 18, an alarm such as a buzzer can be issued based on the output of the sensor 18, the device can be stopped, and measures such as replenishment of the chemical liquid can be prompted. can.

When discharging the chemical solution from the processing tank l, the pressure switch 39 detects the pressure drop at the end of discharging, and the air pump 13
Therefore, as soon as bubbling occurs in the chemical liquid tank, the pump 13 is operated to stop immediately, and the next processing step is started, thereby preventing evaporation of the chemical liquid and generation of harmful gases due to bubbling. be able to.

The device of the present invention is configured and operated in this manner to reliably supply the chemical solution to the processing tank, so that biological tissue fragments can be easily removed due to lack of chemical solution during long-term automatic operation of the embedding device. By preventing spoilage and quickly detecting the completion of discharging the chemical solution and stopping the pump, it is highly effective in preventing bubbling, evaporation of the chemical solution, and the release of harmful gases.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of a normal single-tank embedding device, Figure 2
The figure is a schematic diagram showing a one-tank embedding device incorporating an embodiment of the drug supply/discharge device of the present invention. 18 treatment tank, 1a: lid, 2: pipe, 3: rotary valve, 3a
: Gate valve, 4a, 4b: 'JI liquid tank, 5, . 5b:)
<Rough-in tank, 6.7: Pipe, 8: Deceleration motor, 9: Oven, 10: Heater, 11゜ll &: Pipe, 12: Switching valve, 13: Air pump, 14: Sample basket, 15: Overflow tank, 1
6a, 16b' tube, x'l receiver, l, 8 two-level sensor, 19.20: ultrasonic sensor, 21: standalone, 22: tube,
23: Cleaning tank, 24: Water, 25. 26: Pipe, 27: Adsorption tank, 28: Activated carbon, 29.30.31: Pipe, 32.33
: Switching valve, 34.35.36.37: Pipe, 38: Pressure adjustment valve, 39.40: Pressure J switch, 41: Pressure gauge. Procedural amendment November 2'1, 1980 Haruki Shimada, Commissioner of the Patent Office1, Indication of the case, 1981 Patent 1 No. 1378402, Title of the invention: Liquid drug supply and discharge device in a single-tank embedding device 3 , Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Applicant 4, Agent 〒104 5 Date of amendment order (voluntary) I. Number of inventions increased by amendment 0 Patent application 1972-
The specification and drawings of the present application No. 137840 are amended as follows. Note 1: 1 on the bottom line of page 10 of the specification should be adopted. " Next, "Please note that the pressure switch 39, which operates at 0.1 atm.
．． Instead of using two pressure switches 407 that operate at 35 atmospheres, one double-acting pressure switch that operates at 0.35 atmospheres and returns at 0.1 atmospheres may be used. One such switch is equivalent to two switches 39,40. "02, and write the street code "15" and its leader line, which were not placed on the attached sheet, in Figure 2 of the drawing. ↓to people

Claims (1)

[Claims] A gate valve (3 &) is placed in the treatment tank (1) containing biological tissue pieces,
Pipes leading to a large number of chemical liquid tanks are sequentially communicated via rotary valves (3), and the liquid level of each chemical liquid in which the biological tissue piece is immersed is detected and the gate valve (3a) is closed. When the liquid level cannot be detected. outputs an alarm when the level sensor (18) is connected to the processing tank (1).
The suction side is connected to the treatment tank (1) to exhaust the inside of this tank and allow the chemical solution to enter the treatment tank (1), and the exhaust side is connected to the treatment tank (1) and added to the tank. A pump (13) is provided to supply pressurized air, and the pressure inside the processing tank (1) is detected.
From the exhaust side of the pump (13) when discharging the chemical solution to the treatment tank (1)
The gate valve (3a
), the pressure switch (40) opens the pump (1), and the pump (1
3) A chemical solution supply and discharge device in a one-tank embedding device, characterized in that a pressure switch (39) for stopping the process is provided.