KR102199433B1 - Smearing plate, smearing method and smearing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present specification, a smear plate, a smear method, and a smear apparatus are disclosed. The smear plate according to an embodiment disclosed in the present specification is a smear plate for spreading a printed biological sample onto an external substrate, and is provided in the form of a plate having a pair of main surfaces having a length and a width, and is predetermined with respect to the external substrate. A body disposed with an inclination, a support part positioned at one side of the body and fixed at a predetermined distance from the external substrate, and a support part positioned at the other side of the body, and fine particles included in the biological sample are It includes a contact portion having a patterned surface that is formed concave in the inner direction of the body so as not to be shifted outward with respect to the width direction, and guides the fine particles to move in the center direction in the width direction of the body.

Description

Smear plate, smear method, and smear device {SMEARING PLATE, SMEARING METHOD AND SMEARING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a smear method, an apparatus, and a smear plate, and more particularly, to a smear plate for uniformly smearing a sample, and a method and apparatus for smearing a sample using the same.

It is a test method to observe the shape. Blood smears are mainly used for infections of parasitic diseases such as malaria, blood tumors including leukemia, and congenital blood cell morphology abnormalities.

In particular, in order to use the test method for observing blood, the process of smearing blood is essential.In the conventional method, as the blood is manually smeared using a pair of slide glasses, the blood is spread unevenly, and There was a problem such as the cells contained in the blood leaned outward.

In addition, in the conventional blood smear test, the process of smearing, staining, and microscopic observation of blood is dependent on the manual of the examiner, so if you are not an experienced examiner, the smear condition of the blood becomes uneven, even if you are an experienced examiner, Since there is a problem such as that the state of the smear changes every time, it is difficult to guarantee the reliability of the smeared blood even when examining a disease.

Accordingly, there is a need to develop a smear tool for uniformly smearing biological samples such as blood.

One object of the present invention is to provide a smear plate/method/apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smear plate/method/apparatus for smearing a sample onto an external substrate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smear plate/method/apparatus for spreading particles contained in a sample uniformly.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-described problems, and problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as a smear plate for smearing a biological sample on an external substrate, a body having a length and width and provided in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces, and disposed with a predetermined inclination with respect to the external substrate , A support part positioned at one side of the body and fixed at a predetermined distance apart from the external substrate, and a support part positioned at the other side of the body, and the fine particles included in the biological sample outwardly with respect to the width direction of the external substrate. A smear plate including a contact portion having a patterned surface formed concave in the inner direction of the body so as not to be tilted to induce the fine particles to move in the center direction in the width direction of the body may be provided.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the smear plate is supported in a downwardly inclined state by a predetermined angle in the first direction in which the biological sample is smeared, and the smear plate is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction. An upper plate for sliding the smear plate so as to contact the biological sample, and sliding the smear plate so that the biological sample in contact with the smear plate is spread along the smear plate in the first direction by moving in the first direction; and A smearing apparatus including a lower plate spaced below the upper plate and having a smear area on which the biological sample is placed and smeared may be provided.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in a method of smearing a biological sample on a smear area included in an external substrate using a smear plate, the step of contacting the smear plate to the external substrate at a predetermined inclination angle, Sliding the smear plate in a first direction with respect to the external substrate so that the biological sample is distributed along the smear plate by contacting the smear plate with a biological sample positioned at a predetermined point in the smear area, the biological sample Sliding the smear plate in the second direction with respect to the external substrate so that the smear plate is uniformly applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and sliding the smear plate in the second direction, the biological sample In order to mitigate the microparticles contained in the external substrate from being shifted to the outside of the smear area in the width direction perpendicular to the second direction, the fine particles are formed of the smear area in the width direction along the contact area. A smearing method comprising the step of performing smearing of the biological sample using the smear plate so as to move inward, wherein the smear plate has a region in contact with the external substrate concavely formed in the smear plate Can be.

The solution means of the subject of the present invention is not limited to the above-described solution means, and solutions not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. I will be able to.

According to the present invention, smearing of a sample can be carried out constantly.

According to the present invention, the pulling of particles included in the sample in one direction can be alleviated.

According to the present invention, it can be easily performed to smear a sample in a single layer.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and effects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exemplary view illustrating a process of smearing a sample according to a conventional method.
2 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a process of smearing a sample according to a conventional method.
3 is an exemplary view for explaining a process of smearing a sample according to a conventional method.
4 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a case where a sample is uniformly spread.
5 is an exemplary view for explaining a case in which a sample is spread unevenly.
6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a case in which the particles included in the sample are shifted in the outer direction.
7 is a view for explaining the movement of particles included in the sample in the case of smearing a sample using the smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view for explaining that the smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is deformed in contact with an external substrate.
10 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view for explaining an inclination angle of the smear plate described in FIG. 10 with respect to the external substrate.
12 is a view for explaining an inclination angle of a smear plate with respect to an outer substrate and a distribution of a sample between the smear plate and the outer substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a view for explaining a cross-section of a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
15 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
17 is a view for explaining a fine pattern formed in a cross section of a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a view for explaining a plurality of recessed patterns formed in a cross section of a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
19 is a view for explaining performing smearing of a sample using the smear device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
20 is a view for explaining performing smearing of a sample by using the smearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
21 is a view for explaining performing smearing of a sample by using the smearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
22 is a flowchart illustrating a smear method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
23 schematically shows a smear plate used in a smear experiment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
24 is a diagram for explaining an experiment result according to an embodiment of the present invention.
25 is a diagram for explaining an experiment result according to an embodiment of the present invention.
26 is a view for explaining a smeared sample using a smear device and a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
27 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the embodiments described in the present specification are intended to clearly explain the spirit of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described herein, and the present invention The scope of should be construed as including modified examples or modified examples without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The terms used in the present specification have been selected as general terms that are currently widely used in consideration of functions in the present invention, but this varies depending on the intention, custom, or the emergence of new technologies of those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. I can. However, if a specific term is defined and used in an arbitrary meaning unlike this, the meaning of the term will be separately described. Therefore, terms used in the present specification should be interpreted based on the actual meaning of the term and the entire contents of the present specification, rather than a simple name of the term.

The drawings attached to the present specification are for easy explanation of the present invention, and the shapes shown in the drawings may be exaggerated and displayed as needed to aid understanding of the present invention, so the present invention is not limited by the drawings.

In the present specification, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known configuration or function related to the present invention may obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted as necessary.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a smear plate for smearing a sample onto an external substrate, provided in the form of a plate having a length and a width and having a pair of main surfaces, a body disposed with a predetermined inclination with respect to the external substrate, A support part positioned at one side of the body and fixed at a predetermined distance from the external substrate, and a support part positioned at the other side of the body, and the fine particles included in the biological sample are not displaced outward with respect to the width direction of the external substrate. A smear plate including a contact portion having a patterned surface that is formed concave in the inner direction of the body so as to guide the fine particles to move in the center direction in the width direction of the body may be provided.

The angle formed by the first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the first point of the pattern surface with the length direction of the body is a second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the second point of the pattern surface. It may be implemented that it is smaller than an angle formed by the length direction of the body-the second point is closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point.

The pattern surface is located on the left side of the body in the width direction to guide the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the body, and the first surface is located on the right side of the body in the width direction, It may be implemented by including a second surface for guiding the particles to the left in the width direction of the body.

The pattern surface may have an arc shape. The pattern surface may have a triangular shape having a vertex at the center of the body in the width direction. A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities may be formed on the pattern surface.

When the smear plate contacts the external substrate to smear the biological sample, an inclination angle formed by at least a portion of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be implemented differently from an inclination angle formed by the support portion with respect to the external substrate.

When the smear plate contacts the external substrate to smear the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be implemented differently depending on a position in the width direction of the body at the contact portion. An inclination angle formed by the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may decrease toward the outside along the width direction of the body.

The contact portion may have at least some hydrophilicity and may include a lower surface contacting the biological sample. The body may have elasticity.

The biological sample may be blood, and the microparticles may be blood cells contained in the blood.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the smear plate is supported in a downwardly inclined state by a predetermined angle in the first direction in which the biological sample is smeared, and the smear is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction. An upper plate for sliding the smear plate so that the plate contacts the biological sample, and sliding the smear plate so that the biological sample in contact with the smear plate is spread along the smear plate in the first direction by moving in the first direction And a lower plate spaced below the upper plate and having a smear area on which the biological sample is positioned to be smeared. When the biological sample is smeared in the first direction, the fine particles included in the biological sample may be smeared while being removed from the smear plate in a second direction with respect to the smear plate.

At this time, the smear plate contacts the smear area, and when the smear plate smears the biological sample in the first direction, the movement of the fine particles included in the biological sample according to the smear of the biological sample in the outer direction is reduced. As much as possible, a cross-section of the side where the smear plate contacts the smear area may be concave toward the first direction.

The first tangent line determined in parallel with the main surface of the body at a first point of the cross section of the side where the smear plate contacts the smear area is the main surface of the body at a second point of the cross section of the side where the smear plate contacts the smear area. The angle formed in the longitudinal direction of the body is smaller than the second tangent line determined in parallel with -the second point is closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point.

The smear plate and the smear area each have a length and a width, and a cross section of a side where the smear plate is in contact with the smear area is located on the left side of the smear plate in the width direction so that the fine particles are removed from the smear area. A first surface that guides to the right in the width direction and a second surface that is positioned on the right side of the smear plate in the width direction to guide the fine particles to the left in the width direction of the smear area may be included. .

A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities may be formed on a cross section of a side where the smear plate contacts the smear area.

The smear plate includes a contact portion in which the inclination angle with respect to the lower plate is changed in contact with the lower plate, and when the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, at least a partial area of the contact portion is applied to the external substrate. The angle of inclination made to the support may be different from the angle of inclination made to the external substrate.

When the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be differently implemented according to a position in the width direction of the body at the contact portion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in a method of smearing a biological sample on a smear area included in an external substrate using a smear plate, the step of contacting the smear plate to the external substrate at a predetermined inclination angle, Sliding the smear plate in a first direction with respect to the external substrate so that the biological sample is distributed along the smear plate by contacting the smear plate with a biological sample positioned at a predetermined point in the smear area, the biological sample Sliding the smear plate in the second direction with respect to the external substrate so that the smear plate is uniformly applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and sliding the smear plate in the second direction, the biological sample In order to mitigate the microparticles contained in the external substrate from being shifted to the outside of the smear area in the width direction perpendicular to the second direction, the fine particles are formed of the smear area in the width direction along the contact area. A smearing method comprising the step of performing smearing of the biological sample using the smear plate so as to move inward, wherein the smear plate has a region in contact with the external substrate concavely formed in the smear plate Can be.

The smear plate may have a length and a width. The smear plate may have a pair of main surfaces. In this case, the smear plate includes a pattern surface for managing distribution of the fine particles on the external substrate, and the pattern surface includes a first point and a second point, and the first point of the smear plate The first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface has a smaller angle with the longitudinal direction of the smear plate than the second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the smear plate at the second point.- The second point is greater than the first point. It can be implemented as being close to the center of the body in the width direction.

The pattern surface is located on the left side of the smear plate in the width direction and guides the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the smear plate and is located on the right side of the smear plate in the width direction Thus, it may include a second surface for guiding the fine particles to the left side in the width direction of the smear plate. A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities may be formed on the pattern surface.

As an example of in vitro diagnosis, medical/non-medical activities such as diagnosing various types of diseases by collecting and examining a biological sample, or checking a health state of a subject may be performed. At this time, among the methods of examining the collected sample, there may be a case in which the inspection is performed by observing the distribution or shape of the components constituting the sample. For example, when examining the morphology of blood components by a hematological test method or confirming the presence or distribution of a specific protein (eg, antigen or antibody) contained in body fluid by an immunological test method, It is necessary to observe the enlarged image. In this case, the smear of the sample is generally preceded for observation of the sample. Hereinafter, in this specification, a method and apparatus for smearing such a sample will be described.

1. Smearing of biological samples

1.1 Significance

As described above, in the case of observing a biological sample having a liquid property to perform the test, a process of forming a thinly spread layer of the sample may be preceded in order to perform the test using the image of the sample. As described above, it may be understood that the procedure for forming a state suitable for observation of the sample by applying a thin, preferably single layer to form a sample is a smear of the sample.

In the smear of a sample, the uniformity of the smear and the degree of thinness of the smeared sample layer affects the ease of observation of the sample, the accuracy of diagnosis based on the sample, and the like. Therefore, it is required that the smear of the sample be performed uniformly, thinly, and uniformly.

1.2 Performing smear

In general, smearing of the sample can be performed using two plates. 1 to 3 illustrate a process of smearing a sample SA using a first plate (ie, an external substrate, ES) and a second plate (ie, a smear plate, SP) according to a conventional method. Hereinafter, with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, a smear of the sample SA according to the conventional method will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, smearing the sample SA according to the conventional method may include placing a small amount of the sample SA to be inspected on the first plate ES. Before the second plate SP is brought into contact with the sample SA, the sample SA may have a dome shape due to a surface tension.

In addition, according to FIG. 1, the coating of the sample SA according to the conventional method means that the second plate SP has an appropriate inclination with respect to the first plate ES on which the sample SA is located, and the sample ( SA) may include contacting slightly forward.

According to FIG. 2, coating the sample SA according to a conventional method is to slide the second plate SP back in contact with the first plate ES while maintaining the inclination to the sample SA. It may include contacting with. When the second plate SP is brought into contact with the sample SA, the sample SA may be dispersed in a region where the first plate ES and the second plate SP contact by capillary force. .

In addition, according to FIG. 3, coating the sample SA according to the conventional method is to push the second plate SP forward at an appropriate speed while in contact with the first plate ES again to the sample SA. It may include smearing the first plate ES. When the second plate (SP) is in contact with the sample (SA) and slides forward, the sample (SA) can be spread on the first plate (ES) by an attractive force with the first plate (ES). have. When the sample SA is properly spread, a single layer may be formed.

1.3 Uniformity of smeared samples

It is preferable that the coating of the sample SA on the external substrate is uniformly performed not only in the smearing direction but also in a direction perpendicular to the smearing direction as shown in FIG. 4.

However, as described above, in the conventional method using a pair of plates, in the case of smearing a sample containing particles, as shown in FIG. 5, a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the plate SP to which the sample is applied (that is, the smearing direction) With respect to the direction, the particles may be distributed unevenly.

In other words, when the sample is coated using a pair of plates, the density of the particles contained in the sample is higher than the density of the particles contained in the sample at the center SA1 in the width direction of the first plate ES, as shown in FIG. 5. In the outer portion SA2 of the first plate ES in the width direction, the density of particles included in the sample may be high. As a specific example, when blood is smeared on a plate, white blood cells having a large size among components included in the blood may be relatively largely disposed outside the plate due to a force pushed in a direction perpendicular to the smear direction.

6 is a diagram for explaining a case in which the particles included in the sample are shifted in the outward direction. More specifically, FIG. 6 shows particles PA included in the sample SA when the smear plate SP contacts the sample SA located on the external substrate ES and then slides in the direction of the arrow. It shows the movement. When the smear plate SP contacts the sample SA, the sample SA is distributed along an area where the smear plate SP contacts the external substrate ES. According to FIG. 6, particles PA included in the sample SA distributed along the area in contact with the external substrate ES are caused by a force acting in the outer direction of the external substrate ES. It can be focused to the outside of the substrate ES.

The force acting on the particles PA in the outer direction of the external substrate ES may be due to a flow of fluid generated as the smear plate SP moves. More specifically, when the smear plate SP in contact with the sample is slipped, the fluid directed to the outside of the outer substrate ES with respect to the sample SA adjacent to the rear side in the moving direction of the smear plate SP Flow can occur. The flow of the fluid may cause a drag on the particles PA contained in the sample, for example, white blood cells. By the flow of the fluid, the particles PA contained in the sample SA may be pushed perpendicularly to the sliding direction of the plate, but may be distributed to the outside. The flow of the fluid can be understood to be a lateral flow.

The influence of the flow of the fluid may be greater as the density of the particles is smaller. When the sample SA is blood, white blood cells having a lower density than red blood cells may be greatly affected.

Since the above-described non-uniform smear does not meet the purpose of obtaining an appropriate diagnosis result by uniformly applying the components of the sample to the plate, a solution to this is required. In this regard, a smear plate, a smear method, a smear device, and the like that allow particles included in the sample to be uniformly distributed will be described later.

1.4 Types of biological samples

The biological sample described in the present specification may correspond to a biological sample in a suspension state, which is used for diagnosis of a disease or the like. In particular, a biological sample in a suspension state may be applied to a substrate to correspond to a biological sample of the present specification that may be an object of observation, that is, a smear. As a biological sample that may be the target of the smear, blood, cell fluid, urine, saliva, etc. may be exemplified. In addition, the biological sample may contain fine particles. For example, white blood cells, red blood cells, and the like contained in the blood may correspond to the fine particles. The fine particles included in the biological sample may be micro beads or nano beads. The fine particles may be protein particles. The fine particles may be biological particles such as antigens and antibodies.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an apparatus, a method, etc. for spreading the above-described biological sample onto an external substrate. However, the smear method and device according to the present invention are not limited to those that can be used only for smearing the biological sample, and in a sample containing particles of a small size, the sample may be uniformly distributed. It can be used throughout when you need to spread evenly.

2. smear plate

2.1 Significance

Hereinafter, a smear plate used for uniform smearing of a biological sample will be described. The smear plate is a member used to contact a biological sample positioned in an arbitrary smear area and smear a sample on the smear area, and the smear plate sliding on the smear area is a plate shape for uniformly spreading the biological sample. It can be provided in the absence of.

2.2 Function

The smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention may be manufactured in a special shape for uniformly smearing a biological sample on an external substrate. In other words, the smear plate may be provided in a modified form in order to mitigate the external displacement of fine particles generated as the smear plate slides on the external substrate when the biological sample is smeared on the external substrate. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining movement of particles included in a sample when a sample is smeared using a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 shows the particles PA included in the sample SA when the smear plate SP contacts the sample SA located on the external substrate ES and then slides in the direction of the arrow. It shows the movement. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, as an embodiment of the present invention, a function of the smear plate SP designed to mitigate the occurrence of outward displacement of the particles PA included in the sample as shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a cross-section of the smear plate SP on the side of the contact with the external substrate ES may be provided in an inwardly concave shape as illustrated in FIG. 7. In other words, the smear plate SP having the concave cross-section may be provided so as to be located behind the smearing direction as the contact contacting the external substrate is closer to the center of the external substrate SP.

At this time, the microparticles PA contained in the biological sample SA distributed and smeared between the smear plate SP and the external substrate ES in a region in which the smear plate SP contacts the external substrate ES. ), a fluid flow that guides the smear plate SP and the external substrate toward the center of the external substrate may be generated along an area in contact with each other. Accordingly, a force acting on the particles PA in the outer direction may be canceled due to the sliding of the smear plate SP. That is, a phenomenon in which the fine particles PA are shifted toward the outside of the external substrate ES due to the sliding of the smear plate SP may be alleviated.

2.3 form

As described above, by properly designing the cross section of the smear plate on the side in contact with the external substrate, a smeared sample may be obtained so that particles included in the smeared sample are more evenly distributed. Here, several examples will be described with respect to the shape of the smear plate for performing uniform smear.

27 is a view for explaining a smear plate (SP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 27, a smear plate SP according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be formed to have a pattern surface PS formed concave in the smear plate SP. Referring to FIG. 27, the smear plate SP according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a structure in which a pair of main surfaces are spaced apart by a predetermined interval. 27 illustrates a case where the pattern surface PS is formed as an inwardly concave curved surface, but the pattern surface PS disclosed in the present specification is not limited thereto, and the pattern surface PS disclosed in the present specification is described below. Various embodiments disclosed and various shapes inferred therefrom may be included.

8 is a view for explaining a smear plate (SP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention, in the case of performing smearing using a smear plate SP designed to have a concave inward cross section of the side contacting the external substrate ES, the smear plate SP It briefly shows that the shape is changed in contact with the external substrate ES. As illustrated in FIG. 8, one side of the smear plate SP is fixed to be spaced apart from the external substrate ES by a predetermined distance, and the other side may contact the external substrate ES. At this time, the smear plate SP must be in close contact with the external substrate ES in order to generate a capillary force on the sample in a region in contact with the external substrate ES. When the spacing of one side of the smear plate SP is properly determined from the external substrate ES, the edge where the concave designed cross section of the smear plate SP and the lower surface of the smear plate SP meet is the smear plate. Can be in close contact with (SP). Accordingly, at least a part of the smear plate SP may be deformed by a vertical drag acting from the external substrate ES.

Hereinafter, examples of possible forms of the smear plate and examples of the form in which the smear plate is deformed in contact with the external substrate will be described.

On the other hand, in the present specification, the contact between the objects, including the contact between the smear plate and the external substrate, does not necessarily mean contact with the surface. In this specification, it may be understood that objects are in close contact with each other to a sufficient degree to perform a desired function.

9 is a view for explaining that the smear plate SP according to an embodiment of the present invention is deformed in contact with the external substrate ES. 9 is a plan view (top) and a side view (bottom) of the smear plate SP shown in FIG. 8.

According to FIG. 9, the smear plate SP may include a body BO, a contact part SP1, a connection part SP2, and a support part SP3. The smear plate SP is a smear plate SP for smearing a biological sample onto an external substrate, and may slide on the external substrate ES. In this case, the biological sample may be prepared by being instilled on the external substrate ES in advance.

The body BO has a length and width and is provided in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces, and may be disposed with a predetermined inclination with respect to the external substrate. For example, the body may be provided to have an inclination angle of 37° with respect to the external substrate.

The support part SP3 may be positioned on one side of the body BO, and may be fixed at a predetermined distance from the external substrate ES. The support part SP3 may be located on one side of the body BO located away from the external substrate ES. The support part SP3 may fix the body BO to a predetermined support means spaced apart from the external substrate ES.

The contact part SP1 is located on the other side of the body BO, and is concave in the inner direction of the body so that the fine particles included in the biological sample do not shift outward with respect to the width direction of the external substrate ES. It may have a pattern surface that is formed to induce the fine particles to move in a center direction in the width direction of the body BO. The contact portion SP1 has hydrophilicity and may include at least a portion of a lower surface in contact with the biological sample, that is, a surface in contact with the external substrate ES.

The connection part SP2 may perform a function of connecting the support part and the contact part in the body BO. The connection part SP2 may be a region of the body BO that is not fixed and does not contact the external substrate ES. The connection part SP2 may transmit power from the support part SP3 to the contact part SP1. For example, when the smear plate SP is slid on the external substrate ES, the power transmitted to the support part SP3 is transmitted to the contact part SP1 through the connection part SP2, so that the smear plate SP ) May be slid on the external substrate ES.

In the above embodiment, the contact portion SP1, the connection portion SP2, and the support portion SP3 have been separately described. However, each portion constituting the body may be provided as an integral part, and the boundary may not be clear. In other words, in FIG. 9 above, the body BO is divided into a contact part SP1, a connection part SP2, and a support part SP3, but in FIG. 9, the contact part SP1, the connection part SP2, and the support part SP3 are shown. The boundary indicated by dividing is not always applied, and in some cases, the body BO has an ambiguous boundary between the contact part SP1 and the connection part SP2 or the boundary between the connection part SP2 and the support part SP3. There may be cases. In addition, in some cases, the connection part SP2 may be implemented as being included in the contact part SP1 or the support part SP3. Therefore, in determining each part, it should not be restricted to the boundary shown in FIG. 9, and should be determined in consideration of the function to be performed.

2.3.1 Contact

The smear plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a contact portion positioned on a side where the smear plate contacts the external substrate and having a pattern surface. At least a portion of the contact portion may be changed in shape by contacting the external substrate. In this case, the degree to which the shape of the contact portion is deformed may vary depending on the position in the width direction of the smear plate.

In other words, when the smear plate contacts the external substrate to smear the biological sample, the inclination angle formed by at least a portion of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be implemented so that the inclination angle formed by the support portion with respect to the external substrate is different. I can. In addition, when the smear plate contacts the external substrate and smears the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may vary according to a position in the width direction of the body at the contact portion. The inclination angle formed by the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be implemented to decrease toward the outside along the width direction of the body.

10 is a view for explaining a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a case of smearing a sample using a smear plate SP according to an embodiment of the present invention (a) and a smear plate SP' manufactured in a conventional manner, as described in FIGS. 8 and 9 described above. It is a brief illustration of the case (b) for smearing the sample by using.

As a smear plate SP according to an embodiment of the present invention, when smearing is performed using a smear plate SP having a concave cross-section on the side contacting the external substrate ES (a), the smear plate (SP) may be in close contact with the external substrate ES to form a contact area CA1. In this case, the sample to be smeared may be distributed along the contact area CA1. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the contact area CA1 may be deflected in a direction in which the sample is smeared from an outer portion of the outer substrate ES than from a central portion of the outer substrate ES. In other words, the contact area CA1 may be distributed thicker in the outer portion of the outer substrate ES than in the central portion of the outer substrate ES. Accordingly, a force directed toward the center of the outer substrate ES along a surface in contact with the smear plate SP may act on the particles included in the sample. That is, as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the effect of mitigating non-uniform distribution of fine particles included in the sample may occur.

On the other hand, as a smear plate (SP') manufactured in a conventional manner, even when smearing is performed using a smear plate (SP') having a flat cross section (b), the smear plate (SP') is the external substrate The contact area CA2 may be formed in close contact with the ES. In this case, the sample to be smeared may be distributed along the contact area CA2. The contact area CA2 formed here may be formed to be uniformly distributed along the width direction of the external substrate ES, unlike the contact area CA1 formed in the embodiment (a). In other words, the contact area CA2 may be distributed with a predetermined thickness in the central portion of the external substrate ES and in the outer portion of the external substrate ES. Accordingly, as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the smear plate SP' slides, fine particles included in the smear target sample may be unevenly distributed.

11 is a view for explaining an inclination angle of the smear plate described in FIG. 10 with respect to the external substrate. FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a cross section of the smear plate at two different positions in the width direction of the external substrate in FIG. 10A. More specifically, as a line connecting the midpoints in the height direction of the smear plate at two different positions in the width direction of the outer substrate, lines for observing the inclination angle of the smear plate are shown.

Referring to FIG. 11, on a plane (hereinafter, a-a' plane) passing through a and a'shown in FIG. 10A and perpendicular to the external substrate ES (hereinafter, a-a' plane), the smear plate SP is It may be provided to have a curved cross section corresponding to the substrate. In addition, in the plane passing through b and b'(hereinafter, b-b' plane) shown in FIG. 10A and perpendicular to the external substrate ES, the smear plate SP corresponds to the external substrate. Thus, it may be provided to have a curved cross section. In this case, the degree of warpage of the smear plate SP on the a-a' plane may be greater than that of the smear plate SP on the b-b' plane. In other words, since the smear plate SP has a contact end formed concave inward, the smear plate SP passing through the aa' plane is less than the length of the smear plate SP passing through the b-b' plane. ) Can be long. The other end of the smear plate SP that does not contact the external substrate ES is spaced apart from the external substrate ES and is fixed in parallel with the external substrate ES. A greater force may be applied to the plate SP from the external substrate ES than from the b-b' plane.

12 is a diagram for illustrating an inclination angle of the smear plate described in FIG. 10 with respect to the outer substrate and distribution of a sample between the smear plate and the outer substrate. FIG. 12A schematically shows a cross section and a distribution of a sample on the plane a-a' of the smear plate described in FIG. 10. FIG. 12B schematically shows a cross section and a distribution of a sample on the b-b' plane of the smear plate described in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, on the a-a' and b-b' surfaces of the smear plate, the smear plate SP and the external substrate ES may obliquely contact each other. At this time, according to the shape of the smear plate SP, the b-b' plane is the outer substrate (a a'surface positioned outside the smear plate SP) is in contact with the external substrate ES. ES) may be located in front of the contact point in the smear direction. Accordingly, the distribution of the sample distributed between the external substrate ES and the smear plate SP may also be different in the a-a' plane and the b-b' plane. For example, the area in which the sample is distributed on the a-a' plane may be skewed toward the smearing direction than the area in which the sample is distributed on the b-b' plane. In addition, the area in which the sample is distributed on the a-a' plane may have a length distributed in the smear direction than the area in which the sample is distributed on the b-b' plane.

The distribution of a sample between the external substrate ES and the smear plate SP is that both the outer substrate ES and the smear plate SP exert an attractive force on the sample, and the outer substrate ES and A capillary force may be applied to the sample due to the narrow gap of the smear plate SP. In this case, the external substrate ES and the smear plate SP may obliquely abut, and the sample may have an open surface on the opposite side of the smearing direction. The open surface may be formed as a concave meniscus by surface tension. The sample may flow in a space surrounded by the outer substrate ES, the smear plate SP, and the open surface.

2.3.2 Pattern Surface

13 is a view for explaining a cross-section of the smear plate SP according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the smear plate SP may include a body and a contact portion formed on one side of the body. The contact portion may have a pattern surface formed concave in the inner direction of the body. 13 shows the pattern surface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to FIG. 13, the pattern surface has a first point (p1) and a second point (p2) selected at different positions in the width direction of the smear plate in one cross section (ie, a cross section parallel to the main surface of the body). ). The second point p2 may be a point closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point p1. At this time, the angle formed by the first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the first point p1 of the pattern surface and the length direction of the body is the main surface of the body at the second point p2 of the pattern surface The second tangent line determined parallel to and may be smaller than an angle made with the longitudinal direction of the body.

In other words, the first point located on the pattern surface is in the length direction of the body than a second point (p2) located on the pattern surface and closer to the center line in the width direction of the body than the first point (p1). Can be located away from the center line of

In points on the cross section of the pattern surface parallel to the main surface of the body, the angle formed by the tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body and the longitudinal direction of the body is closer to the center of the body as shown in FIG. It can change continuously. Alternatively, at each point on the cross-section parallel to the main surface of the body of the pattern surface, the angle formed by the tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body and the longitudinal direction of the body varies continuously for some sections, and in some sections It can be implemented as unchanging.

The pattern surface is located on the left side of the body in the width direction to guide the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the body, and the first surface is located on the right side of the body in the width direction, It may include a second surface for guiding the particles to the left in the width direction of the body.

14 to 16 are views for explaining a smear plate SP according to some embodiments of the present invention. The smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a contact portion formed on one side thereof. Hereinafter, as one side surface of the smear plate formed on the contact portion, embodiments of the pattern surface PS designed to uniformly smear a sample will be described. Hereinafter, the pattern surface PS having a predetermined shape may be understood as the pattern surface PS having a cross section of the shape. In addition, in Figs. 14 to 16, the depth at which the pattern surface PS is depressed into the smear plate SP is exaggerated so that the shape of the pattern surface PS is expressed, but the pattern surface PS is In order for the smear plate SP to properly contact the external substrate, the depth at which the pattern surface PS is depressed into the smear plate SP is preferably determined to be less than or equal to the reference depth.

According to FIG. 14, the pattern surface PS may be formed as a curved surface. The pattern surface PS may have an arc shape. As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the pattern surface PS may be variously manufactured to have circular arc shapes having different curvatures. In this case, the curvature of the pattern surface PS may be determined in consideration of the type of the sample to be smeared, the viscosity of the sample, and the purpose of smearing the sample.

The pattern surface PS may be manufactured in an arc shape having one central point, or may be manufactured in a form in which an arc shape having a plurality of central points is combined. In addition, when the pattern surface PS has an arc shape, the center point of the curved surface may be located on the same plane as the smear plate, and the center point of the curved surface may be located on a plane spaced a predetermined distance from the smear plate. There is also. In other words, the arc-shaped pattern surface PS may be formed perpendicular to the smear plate SP or may be formed obliquely. In addition, the pattern surface PS may be formed to have a cross section of a cycloid curve.

14 shows only the case where the smear plate SP has an arc-shaped pattern surface PS located outside the smear plate SP, but if necessary, the center is the smear plate SP. The smear plate SP may be fabricated to have an arc-shaped pattern surface PS located inside of.

Referring to FIG. 15, the pattern surface PS may have a triangular shape with a blunt end. The pattern surface PS may have a trapezoidal shape. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the pattern surface PS may have a different depth to the inside of the smear plate PS in consideration of the type of the sample to be smeared. In addition, in FIG. 15, the trapezoidal pattern surface PS is expressed as having a corner that is discontinuously bent, but the corner of the pattern surface PS may be implemented as a rounded corner that is continuously deformed for stable smearing of the sample. I can.

Referring to FIG. 16, the pattern surface may have a triangular shape having a vertex at the center of the body in the width direction. As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the pattern surface PS may have a different height of the triangular shape of the smear plate PS in consideration of the type of the sample to be smeared. In FIG. 16, the triangular pattern surface PS is expressed as having a vertex that is discontinuously bent, but for stable smearing of the sample, the vicinity of the vertex of the pattern surface PS may be implemented as a rounded corner that is continuously deformed. I can.

However, the pattern surface of the smear plate according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, and in order to prevent a combination of the above-described embodiments and particles included in the sample to be smeared, It will be construed that various embodiments of the designed, concave end smear plate are included in the present invention.

2.3.3 Surface

17 is a view for explaining a fine pattern formed in a cross section of a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 17, a fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities may be formed on a pattern surface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The fine pattern may be formed to offset a flow of fluid generated behind the smear plate in a moving direction by sliding the smear plate in one direction. The fine pattern may be implemented with a plurality of grooves. The fine pattern may be implemented as a dot pattern including a plurality of dots formed inside the smear plate. The fine pattern may be implemented as a pattern having a wave pattern. The fine pattern may be implemented in the form of a repeated cycloid curve. The fine pattern may be implemented as a pattern including a plurality of repeated arcs.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 17, a smear plate having an inwardly concave curved pattern surface is described as an example, but the fine pattern may be applied to a pattern surface manufactured in various shapes.

18 is a view for explaining a plurality of recessed patterns formed in a cross section of a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 18, a pattern surface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a recessed pattern including a plurality of grooves formed inside the smear plate.

As shown in FIG. 18, the depression pattern may be implemented by including a plurality of rectangular grooves. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the concave pattern may be implemented as including a plurality of triangular grooves or curved grooves. In addition, in FIG. 18, a smear plate having an inwardly concave curved surface and a triangular pattern surface has been described as an example, but the concave pattern may be applied to a pattern surface manufactured in various forms.

2.4 Material

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the smear plate may be made of a material having elasticity. In order for the smear plate to slide on the external substrate and smear the sample on the external substrate, it is required to mutually apply an appropriate pressure in a vertical direction with the external substrate. In addition, the area in which the smear plate contacts the external substrate may be partially deformed to form a contact area in which the sample is distributed, and for this purpose, the smear plate may be made of a material having elasticity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the smear plate may be made of a hydrophilic material. Alternatively, the smear plate may be provided with a hydrophilic coating. In the present invention, since most of the biological samples to be smeared will be hydrophilic liquid substances or hydrophilic suspensions, in order to smear the biological sample by contacting and sliding the biological sample, the smear plate will be manufactured using a hydrophilic material. I can. The smear plate may be partially coated with hydrophilicity. More specifically, in order to uniformly smear the biological sample, a hydrophilic coating may be applied to the center portion in the width direction of the smear plate.

Meanwhile, in the present specification, the case where the smear plate is provided as a plate-like member having a length and a width is described as a main example, but is not limited thereto. In some cases, the smear plate may be implemented as a smear film having a thin thickness or a smear block having a predetermined thickness. Hereinafter, a smear apparatus for performing smear using the smear plate described above will be described.

3. Smear device

3.1 Significance

In a laboratory or a diagnosis site, the smearing of the above-described sample is generally performed by a skilled expert such as a researcher or a doctor. In this case, when smearing is performed by a person, the rate at which the sample is spread may not be constant every time the smear is performed, and the smear may be irregularly made because the force is not applied evenly to the plate spreading the sample. There is. Therefore, in order to obtain a more uniform and uniformly smeared sample, mechanization and automation of the smear system are required.

Hereinafter, a smear apparatus for uniformly smearing a sample using a smear plate will be described. However, the smear device described in the present specification may be manufactured in the form of a disposable kit used for single use, or may be manufactured in the form of a multi-use device that can be replaced only for some components of the smear device.

3.2 Device configuration

The smear device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper plate and a lower plate. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate and the lower plate may be provided in the shape of a rectangular plate manufactured to correspond to each other. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate and the lower plate are manufactured to correspond to each other and may be provided as a disk shape having one central axis.

19 to 21 are views for explaining a smear device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 19 to 21, the smearing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper plate UP and a lower plate LP. The upper plate UP may include a smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP and contacting the lower plate LP to perform smearing of the sample SA. The upper plate UP may be provided to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the upper plate UP. The lower plate LP may include a coating area (or an external substrate, ES) in contact with the coating plate SP. Hereinafter, each element constituting the smearing device will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 20.

3.2.1 Top (UP)

The upper plate UP supports the smear plate SP in a downwardly inclined state by a predetermined angle in the first direction in which the biological sample SA is smeared, and moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The smear plate SP is slid so that the smear plate SP is in contact with the biological sample SA, and the biological sample SA in contact with the smear plate SP is moved in the first direction. The smear plate SP may be slid to be smeared in the second direction along the smear plate SP.

The upper plate UP may be disposed and fixed parallel to the lower plate LP, which will be described later. The upper plate UP may move in a direction parallel to the lower plate LP. The upper plate UP may move in a direction parallel to the lower plate LP such that the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP slides with respect to the lower plate LP.

The first and second directions in which the upper plate UP moves may be a linear direction or a rotation direction. In other words, when the top plate UP moves in the first direction, the top plate UP moves from the right to the left, and when the top plate UP moves in the second direction, the top plate UP moves from the left side. It may be moving to the right. In addition, when the upper plate UP moves in the first direction, the upper plate UP rotates clockwise with respect to a predetermined rotation axis, and the upper plate UP moves in the second direction. ) May move in a counterclockwise direction with respect to a predetermined rotation axis.

The movement of the upper plate UP may be a relative movement with respect to the lower plate LP, which will be described later. In other words, the upper plate UP may move in the first direction or the second direction based on the lower plate LP. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any suitable direction for sliding the smear plate SP in the smear area located on the lower plate LP may correspond to the moving direction of the upper plate UP of the present invention.

The upper plate UP may further include a vertical movement means, and may vertically move so as to be close to an area where the biological sample SA is smeared. The upper plate UP may be moved to contact the area where the biological sample SA is smeared. For example, when the smearing operation using the smear plate SP is completed, the upper plate UP performs a relative movement with respect to the area to which the biological sample SA is smeared, and the biological sample SA In the area where is smeared, a contact operation for post-processing may be performed. For example, the upper plate UP may contact the area where the biological sample SA is smeared to deliver a fixing solution for fixing the biological sample SA to the area where the biological sample SA is smeared. You can perform the vertical movement operation.

The upper plate UP may be moved at a predetermined moving speed. The predetermined movement speed is the viscosity of the biological sample, the type of the biological sample, the temperature of the biological sample, the type of the biological particles included in the biological sample, and the smear plate SP is inclined downward from the upper plate UP. It may be determined in consideration of the formed angle and the depth of the pattern surface formed on the smear plate SP. For example, the moving speed of the upper plate UP may be determined to be slower as the viscosity of the biological sample increases. In addition, the moving speed of the upper plate UP may be determined to be faster as the pattern surface formed on the smear plate SP is concave. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the moving speed of the upper plate UP may be increased or decreased according to the purpose of smearing the biological sample.

The upper plate UP may be provided in a fixed state by being spaced above a predetermined interval in the area where the biological sample SA is smeared. The predetermined interval at which the upper plate UP is spaced consider the angle in which the smear plate SP fixed to the upper plate UP is inclined downward and the length of the smear plate SP protruding downward from the upper plate UP. Can be determined. In other words, the interval at which the upper plate UP is separated from the area where the biological sample SA is smeared may be determined such that one end of the smear plate SP is in close contact with the lower plate LP with an appropriate strength. If the gap between the upper plate (UP) and the lower plate (LP) is too narrow, the friction between the smear plate (SP) and the lower plate (LP) will be strong, so that smearing will not be done well, and if the distance is too wide Since it will be difficult to expect the formation of a single layer of the biological sample, it may be required that the upper plate UP and the lower plate LP be spaced apart at appropriate intervals.

The upper plate UP may further include a drop part for instilling the biological sample SA in the area where the biological sample SA is smeared. In the upper plate UP, in the area where the biological sample SA is smeared, the biological sample SA may be instilled at a point spaced apart from a point where the smear plate SP is contacted in the first direction. have.

The upper plate UP may be manufactured such that the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP is detachable. For example, even if the smear device is manufactured for multiple uses, the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP will be disposed of each time the biological sample is changed, and a new smear plate SP will be used. I can.

Meanwhile, when the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP contacts the smear area, and the smear plate SP spreads the biological sample SA in the first direction, the living body The cross section of the side where the smear plate SP contacts the smear area is formed to be concave inward so that the movement of the fine particles included in the biological sample SA according to the smear of the sample SA is alleviated. I can. The smear plate SP has various shapes and can contact the lower plate LP to perform smearing of the biological sample SA, and specific details of the smear plate SP are the smear plate of the present specification. The items described for (SP) can be applied in common.

For example, the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP may include a contact cross-section in contact with the smear area located on the lower surface. At this time, the first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the smear plate SP at the first point of the contact cross-section is a second point of the cross-section of the side where the smear plate SP contacts the smear area (the second The point is closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point), and the angle formed with the length direction of the body is smaller than the second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the smear plate (SP). have.

In addition, the smear plate SP and the smear area each have a length and a width, and the cross section of the side where the smear plate SP contacts the smear area is on the left side in the width direction of the smear plate SP. The first surface is positioned to guide the fine particles to the right in the width direction of the smearing area and the smear plate SP is located on the right side in the width direction of the smearing area so as to transfer the fine particles to the width direction of the smear It may include a second surface that guides to the left of at.

In addition, the smear plate may include a contact portion in contact with the lower plate to change an inclination angle with respect to the lower plate. When the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, an inclination angle formed by at least a portion of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may be implemented so that the inclination angle formed by the support portion with respect to the external substrate is different. In addition, when the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate may vary depending on the position of the contact portion in the width direction of the body.

3.2.2 Lower Plate (LP)

The lower plate LP may include a smear image spaced below the upper plate UP and at a predetermined distance, and the biological sample SA is positioned to be smeared.

The lower plate LP may be fixed at one position and the relative position with respect to the upper plate UP may be changed as the upper plate UP moves. Alternatively, the lower plate LP may move in one direction so that the smear plate SP in contact with the lower plate LP slides in order to smear the biological sample SA.

Meanwhile, the lower plate LP may be made of a transparent material. The smear of the biological sample SA may be performed to optically observe the layer on which the biological sample SA is spread thinly. For optical observation of the biological sample SA and the biological particles included in the biological sample SA, the smear area on which the biological sample SA is smeared and the lower plate LP are made of a transparent material, and have a reference thickness. It would be desirable not to exceed.

The smear area or the external substrate ES included in the lower plate may be a slide glass. Since the smear area is an area on which the sample SA is smeared, it is preferable that friction is small and the smeared sample SA can be easily observed.

3.3 Device operation

19 to 21 schematically illustrate a process of smearing a biological sample using the smear device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, it will be described that the sample SA is smeared using the above-described smear device.

Referring to FIG. 19, in the smearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, one end of the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP may contact the smear area ES located on the lower plate. have. In the smearing device, the contact point of the smear plate SP in the smear area ES may be a point spaced apart from a point where the sample SA is placed in a direction in which the sample SA is smeared. . In FIGS. 19 to 21, the smear plate SP is shown to be positioned straight, but the upper plate UP is spaced apart from the lower plate, the elasticity of the smear plate SP, and the smear plate SP. At least a part of the smear plate SP may be deformed according to the degree of inclination from the upper plate UP.

The smear device according to an embodiment of the present invention may slide the smear plate SP so that the smear plate SP contacts the specimen SA. The smear device may move the upper plate UP in the first direction D1 so that the smear plate SP slides in the first direction D1. The smear apparatus may move the upper plate UP in a first direction D1 parallel to a direction in which the lower plate is disposed. The smearing device may move the upper plate UP from a predetermined point in a first direction D1 by a predetermined interval. In this case, the speed at which the upper plate UP moves in the second direction D2 may be determined in consideration of the type of the sample SA and the shape of the smear plate SP.

The sample SA may be positioned in advance in the smear area ES. The sample SA may be applied to a location of the smear area ES by a sample dropping unit separately provided in the smear device.

20 and 21, in the smearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, one end of the smear plate SP supported by the upper plate UP is in a second direction opposite to the first direction D1. The upper plate UP may be moved in the second direction D2 so as to slide in (D2). Moving the upper plate UP in the second direction D2 moves the smear plate SP so that the sample SA in contact with the smear plate SP is smeared in the second direction D2. It may be to slide in two directions (D2). In this case, the speed at which the upper plate UP moves in the second direction D2 may be determined in consideration of the type of the sample SA and the shape of the smear plate SP.

When the smear plate SP slides in the second direction D2 by the smear device, the sample SA in contact with the smear plate SP is in the second direction ( You can move to D2). The sample SA moves in the second direction D2 along the smear plate SP, and may be smeared in the first direction D1. In the smearing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sample SA may be coated on the outer substrate using a smear plate SP having a pattern surface concave inwardly. In this case, the outer distraction of the particles included in the sample SA may be alleviated due to the influence of the pattern surface.

When the smear plate SP reaches a predetermined point in the smear area ES, the smear device may stop the movement of the upper plate UP. The predetermined point may be determined in consideration of a length at which the smear area ES is distributed in the second direction D2.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, while sliding the smear plate SP in the second direction D2, vibration may be applied to the smear plate SP. As the smear plate SP vibrates, the outward flow generated in the sample SA may be canceled. Therefore, particles included in the sample SA may be more evenly distributed. In another embodiment, the smear plate SP is slid in the second direction D2 and ultrasonic waves are applied to the smear area ES to reduce the external distraction applied to the particles contained in the sample SA. It can be more relaxed.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 19 to 21, the volume and area in which the sample SA is distributed is somewhat exaggerated, but the sample SA may be coated to form a single area in the smear area ES. In addition, the area in which the sample SA is distributed between the smear plate SP and the smear area ES may be limited to an area where the smear plate SP and the smear area ES are very close. .

26 is a view for explaining a smeared sample SA using a smearing device and a smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 26 shows the smearing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, that is, the smearing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, the smearing plate having a contact surface concave inwardly sliding with respect to the external substrate ES. The distribution of the particles (PA) included in the sample (SA) is shown briefly.

26A shows the smeared sample SA when the smear device slides the smear plate according to an embodiment of the present invention faster than an appropriate speed. When the smear plate slides faster than an appropriate speed, the particles PA included in the sample SA may be distributed outwardly with respect to the width direction of the external substrate ES. The outer pull of the particles PA may appear more with respect to the heavy particles PA. The sample (SA) moving along the contact surface of the concave formed smear plate than the lateral flow force acting on the particles PA and the inertial force acting on the particles PA This may be due to the fact that the influence of the flow force is not large.

FIG. 26B shows the smeared sample SA when the smear device slides the smear plate at a speed within an appropriate range. When the smear plate slides at a speed within an appropriate range, particles PA included in the sample may be uniformly distributed in the width direction of the external substrate ES. The uniform distribution of the particles PA is a lateral flow force acting on the particles PA, an inertial force acting on the particles PA, and the sample SA moving along the contact surface of the concave smear plate This may be because the flow forces of are offset from each other.

At this time, the proper sliding speed of the smear plate for uniformly spreading the particles PA included in the sample SA is the type of the sample SA, the viscosity of the sample SA, and the smear plate is It may be determined in consideration of the inclination angle made with the external substrate ES, the degree of concave inward the contact surface of the smear plate, and the shape of the contact surface of the smear plate. In addition, the inclination angle of the smear plate with the external substrate ES, the degree to which the contact surface of the smear plate is concave inward, and the shape of the contact surface of the smear plate may be determined in consideration of the speed at which the smear plate slides on the external substrate ES. I can.

3.4 Performing smear

22 is a flowchart illustrating a smear method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 22, the smearing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method of smearing a biological sample on a smear area included in an external substrate using a smear plate, the step of contacting the smear plate to an external substrate (S100) , Sliding the smear plate in a first direction with respect to the external substrate (S200), sliding the smear plate in a second direction with respect to the external substrate (S300), and performing smearing of a biological sample (S400). can do. The smearing method described below may be to perform smearing using the smear plate described in the present specification. In addition, the following smearing method may be performed by the smearing apparatus described herein.

Contacting the smear plate with the external substrate (S100) may be contacting the smear plate with the external substrate at a predetermined inclination angle. In this case, a region of the smear plate in contact with the external substrate may be formed to be concave inside the smear plate. The biological sample may be previously spotted on the smear area.

In this embodiment, the smear plate may have a length and a width. The smear plate may have a pair of main surfaces. The smear plate may include a pattern surface for managing distribution of the fine particles on the external substrate. In this case, the pattern surface includes a first point and a second point (closer to the center in the width direction of the body than the first point), and is determined parallel to the main surface of the smear plate at the first point. The first tangent line may have a smaller angle with the length direction of the smear plate than a second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the smear plate at the second point. A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities may be formed on the pattern surface.

In addition, the pattern surface is located on the left side of the smear plate in the width direction to guide the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the smear plate and the right side in the width direction of the smear plate It may include a second surface which is located at and guides the fine particles to the left side in the width direction of the smear plate.

Sliding the smear plate in the first direction with respect to the external substrate (S200), so that the biological sample is distributed along the smear plate by contacting the smear plate with a biological sample positioned at a predetermined point in the smear area. It may be to slide the plate in the first direction with respect to the external substrate.

Sliding the smear plate in a second direction with respect to the external substrate (S300) includes applying the smear plate to the external substrate in a second direction so that the biological sample is uniformly applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction. It may be to slide in the direction. The speed of sliding the smear plate with respect to the external substrate may be determined in consideration of the type of the sample, the viscosity of the sample, the temperature of the sample, the purpose of the smear, and the inclination angle.

The smearing of the biological sample (S400) is performed by sliding the smear plate in the second direction so that the fine particles included in the biological sample are in a width direction perpendicular to the second direction with respect to the external substrate. In order to mitigate the distraction to the outside of the smear area, smear the biological sample using the smear plate so that the fine particles move from the width direction to the inside of the smear area along the contact area. I can.

4. Inspection of sample

The biological sample smeared using the above-described smear plate or smear device may be used for diagnosis or experiment. For example, a morphological diagnosis can be performed on a smeared blood sample. Diagnosis of a subject may be performed by analyzing the type of white blood cells included in the blood sample, distribution by type of white blood cells, and the number of red blood cells. For the analysis of the blood sample, a procedure of appropriately staining the smeared blood sample may be performed. Further, for example, a test using an antigen-antibody reaction may be performed on the smeared cell fluid sample. In order to detect the target disease using the sample, the smeared sample may be fixed and the detection of a target protein related to the target disease may be performed using an antibody with a fluorescent label attached thereto.

5. Experimental example

23 schematically shows a smear plate used in a smear experiment according to an embodiment of the present invention. 23 shows a smear plate SP having an arc-shaped pattern surface and a smear plate SP' having a planar end surface used for smearing a biological sample in the present embodiment.

According to Figure 23 (a), in the smear experiment according to an embodiment of the present invention, a smear plate having a width w1 of 2.4 cm, a height h1 of 1.3 cm, and a central height h2 of 1.2 cm ( As SP), it may be carried out using a smear plate SP having an arc-shaped pattern surface.

According to (b) of FIG. 23, the smear experiment according to the smear experiment according to an embodiment of the present invention is a smear plate SP' having a width w1 of 2.4 cm and a height h1 of 1.3 cm. It can be carried out using a smear plate (SP) having an end surface, that is, a pattern surface of a commonly used type.

In the present embodiments, the angle formed by the smear plates SP and SP' with the substrate on which the blood is smeared is the same as 37°. Further, in this embodiment, the speed at which the smear plates slide along the substrate on which the blood is smeared is the same as 0.7 cm/s. However, in performing the smear method according to the present invention, the angle formed by the smear with the substrate on which the blood is smeared and the speed at which the smear plate slides along the substrate may be changed.

Hereinafter, when blood smear is performed using a smear plate SP manufactured to have an arc-shaped pattern surface and a smear plate SP' having a general planar end surface, the result will be described.

5.1 Experimental Example 1

Here, an experimental example in the case of performing smear using the smear plate shown in Fig. 23A will be described. FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining an experiment result when smearing is performed using the smear plate SP shown in FIG. 23A as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24(a) schematically shows an enlarged (X40) view of the center of the smeared area when blood smearing is performed using the smear plate SP shown in FIG. 23(a). . FIG. 24B schematically shows an enlarged (X40) side of the smeared area when blood smearing is performed using the smear plate SP shown in FIG. 23A. .

Referring to FIG. 24, when blood smear is performed using a smear plate manufactured to have an arc-shaped pattern surface according to an embodiment of the present invention, the central portion (a) and side portion (b) of the smeared area Thus, the number of white blood cells observed may appear similar.

5.2 Experimental Example 2

Here, an example of an experiment in the case of performing smear using the smear plate shown in FIG. 23B will be described. FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining an experiment result in the case of performing blood smear using the smear plate shown in FIG. 23(b) as an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 25 (a) schematically shows an enlarged (X40) view of the center of the smeared area when blood smear is performed using the smear plate SP' shown in Figure 23 (b). will be. FIG. 25B schematically illustrates an enlarged (X40) side of the smeared area when smearing is performed using the smear plate SP' shown in FIG. 23B.

According to FIG. 25, according to a conventional method, when blood smear is performed using a smear plate SP' having a planar end surface, a side portion of the smeared region than in the center (a) of the smeared region. The number of white blood cells observed in (b) may be large. It can be understood that this is because, when blood smearing is performed using the smear plate SP' having a flat end surface, an external force acts on the white blood cells in the outer direction of the smeared area.

5.3 Conclusion

As described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25 above, in the case of performing blood smear using a smear plate manufactured to have an arc-shaped pattern surface according to an embodiment of the present invention, blood smearing is performed in a conventional manner. Compared to the case, the distribution of white blood cells may appear evenly. In other words, when smearing is performed using a smear plate manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention, compared to the case of smearing blood in a conventional manner, the distribution of particles included in the sample may be evenly smeared.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention described above may be implemented separately or in combination with each other.

Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain the technical idea, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (24)

As a smear plate for smearing a biological sample onto an external substrate,
A body having a length and width, provided in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces, and disposed with a predetermined inclination with respect to the external substrate;
A support part positioned on one side of the body and fixed at a predetermined distance apart from the external substrate; And
It is located on the other side of the body, and is formed concave in the inner direction of the body so that the fine particles contained in the biological sample do not shift outward with respect to the width direction of the external substrate, so that the fine particles are in the width direction of the body. Containing; a contact portion having a pattern surface inducing to move in the center direction of
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The angle formed by the first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the first point of the pattern surface with the length direction of the body is a second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the second point of the pattern surface. Smaller than the angle formed by the length direction of the body-the second point is closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point-
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The pattern surface is located on the left side of the body in the width direction to guide the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the body, and the first surface is located on the right side of the body in the width direction, Including a second surface for guiding the particles to the left in the width direction of the body,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The pattern surface is an arc shape,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The pattern surface is a triangular shape having a vertex at the center of the body in the width direction,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities is formed on the pattern surface,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
When the smear plate contacts the external substrate to smear the biological sample, an inclination angle formed by at least a portion of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate is different from an inclination angle formed by the support portion with respect to the external substrate,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
When the smear plate contacts the external substrate and smears the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the external substrate is different from the contact portion to the position in the width direction of the body,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The inclination angle formed by the contact portion with respect to the external substrate decreases toward the outside along the width direction of the body,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The biological sample is blood, and the fine particles are blood cells contained in the blood,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The contact portion is at least partially hydrophilic and includes a lower surface in contact with the biological sample,
Smear plate.
The method of claim 1,
The body has elasticity,
Smear plate.
In the device for smearing a biological sample,
The smear plate is supported so that the smear plate is inclined downward by a predetermined angle in a first direction in which the biological sample is smeared, and moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the smear plate contacts the biological sample. A top plate sliding the smear plate so that the biological sample in contact with the smear plate by moving in the first direction is smeared in the first direction along the smear plate; And
A lower plate spaced below the upper plate by a predetermined distance and having a smear area having a length and a width to which the biological sample is placed and smeared; Including,
The smear plate has a length and a width and a body provided in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces; A support located on one side of the body; And a contact portion located on the other side of the body to contact the smear area,
The cross section of the contact portion is that when the smear plate spreads the biological sample in the first direction, fine particles included in the biological sample according to the smear of the biological sample move in an outward direction with respect to the width direction of the smear It is formed concave in the first direction side so that the relaxation,
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
The first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the first point of the cross section of the contact portion is an angle formed with the length direction of the body than the second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the second point of the cross section of the contact portion. This small-the second point is closer to the center in the width direction of the body than the first point-
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
The cross-section of the contact portion is located on the left side of the body in the width direction, and is located on the first surface to guide the fine particles to the right in the width direction of the smear area and on the right side of the body in the width direction. Including a second surface guiding the fine particles to the left in the width direction of the smear area
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities is formed on the cross-section of the contact portion,
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
When the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, an inclination angle formed by at least a part of the contact portion with respect to the smear area is different from an inclination angle formed by the support portion with respect to the smear area,
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
When the smear plate contacts the smear area to smear the biological sample, the angle of inclination of the contact portion with respect to the smear area is different from the contact portion to the position in the width direction of the body,
Smear device.
The method of claim 13,
The biological sample is blood, and the fine particles are blood cells contained in the blood,
Smear device.
In the method of smearing a biological sample on a smear area included in an external substrate using a smear plate,
Contacting the smear plate with the external substrate at a predetermined inclination angle;
Sliding the smear plate in a first direction with respect to the external substrate so that the biological sample is distributed along the smear plate by contacting the smear plate with a biological sample positioned at a predetermined point in the smear area;
Sliding the smear plate in the second direction with respect to the external substrate so that the biological sample is uniformly applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction; And
As the smear plate is slid in the second direction, in order to mitigate the microparticles contained in the biological sample from being shifted to the outside of the smear area in a width direction perpendicular to the second direction with respect to the external substrate, Smearing the biological sample using the smear plate so that the fine particles move from the width direction to the inside of the smear area along the contact area; Including,
The smear plate has an area in contact with the external substrate concave to the inside of the smear plate.
Smear method.
The method of claim 20,
The smear plate has a length and width and a body provided in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces; And
Includes a pattern surface for managing the distribution of the fine particles on the external substrate,
The pattern surface includes a first point and a second point, and a first tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the first point is greater than a second tangent line determined parallel to the main surface of the body at the second point. The angle formed by the longitudinal direction of the body is small-the second point is closer to the center of the body in the width direction than the first point-
Smear method.
The method of claim 21,
The pattern surface is located on the left side of the smear plate in the width direction and guides the fine particles to the right side in the width direction of the smear plate and is located on the right side of the smear plate in the width direction And a second surface guiding the fine particles to the left in the width direction of the smear plate
Smear method.
The method of claim 21,
A fine pattern including a plurality of irregularities is formed on the pattern surface,
Smear method.
The method of claim 20,
The biological sample is blood, and the fine particles are blood cells contained in the blood,
Smear method.

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