RU193973U1 - HISTOLOGICAL FILLING FORM - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to medical equipment, namely, laboratory research equipment, to devices used for pouring material samples into hardening media in order to prepare blocks for histological studies. The form is made with a thick bottom 1 and walls 2 of a silicone-based elastomer in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity 3, open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid. The thickness of the bottom 1 and walls 2 is at least 5 mm. The mold is made by casting from a two-component silicone elastomer polymerized in a casting frame printed on a 3D printer from ABS or PLA plastic. The technical result is to enable the formation of a block of the desired geometric shape containing a sample of the test material from a pouring liquid hardening medium (for example, epoxy resin) suitable for research by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis. The block is easily removed from the form, does not require additional machining of surfaces in contact with the form, which reduces the time required to prepare the block for research, and the total labor costs. The form can be used repeatedly to prepare blocks of identical form 2 zp f-ly, 4 ill.

Description

The utility model relates to medical equipment, namely to laboratory research equipment, to devices used for pouring samples of materials into liquid hardening media in order to prepare blocks for histological studies.

A device for pouring histological tissue samples into paraffin (source [1]: copyright certificate SU 1477739) containing a container with partitions forming cells for histological samples is known. In order to prevent mechanical and thermal damage to the structure of the histological object during its impregnation, holes are located in the bottom of the tank that are evenly distributed throughout the bottom.

Known cassette for pouring fabrics in paraffin (source [2]: copyright certificate SU 1446147). The cassette is formed in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped 24 × 36 mm in size and 8 mm high. The lid and base are connected using a hinge device and are closed using a spring latch. To obtain blocks of various sizes, inserts of various shapes are placed in the cartridge. Pieces are placed in cassettes after fixing and passed through various media and paraffin, after which they are poured into paraffin and finished blocks are obtained.

Known cassette for histological filling (source [3]: patent RU 108276). Designed for the manufacture of a histological block containing several tissue samples with a specific orientation. The cartridge contains a housing and a cover forming a split box, the bottom and the housing cover are removable. Guide rods are placed in existing holes and covers and bottom of the housing.

Devices [1; 2; 3] are intended for pouring histological samples (tissue, material samples) into paraffin, not intended for pouring into other liquid hardening media. When pouring samples into epoxy resin, removing them from devices [1; 2; 3] is difficult, since the resin adheres to the walls of the container. Well-known analogues, as a rule, are made of low-elastic materials (glass, cardboard, metal, hard plastic), with thin walls up to 1 mm thick, having adhesive properties in relation to hardening filling liquids (paraffins, resins) and therefore there are difficulties in removing blocks , especially they are not convenient for pouring samples into the resin. The hardened block adheres to the walls and is poorly removed from the filling tank, the shape of the block is disturbed when removed. The same applies to samples, if paraffin is used for pouring, the shape of the paraffin block is often required after extraction, since its shape is deformed.

To fill the blocks, it was proposed to use paper boxes of the required size, prefabricated molds, plastic boxes, glass cups (source [4]: Semchenko VV, Barashkova SA, Artemyev VN Histological technique, Omsk, 2002 g., pp. 24-27). Known application for histological sample preparation of trays of cardboard and paper (source [5]: Histological technique. Edited by VG Eliseev. Moscow: Medgiz, 1954, pp. 80-81, Semchenko VV, Barashkova S .A., Nozdrin V.N., Artemyev V.N. Textbook - 3rd ed., Additional and revised - Omsk-Orel: Omsk Regional Printing House, 2006, 290 s).

Materials of analogues [4; 5] stick together with the pouring medium during the hardening process, and also have thin walls; therefore, the known options [4; 5] do not exclude the deformation and formation of the histological block of irregular shape, as a result, additional adjustment of the block shape before examination is often required. Moreover, the described options [4; 5] are suitable only for paraffin pouring, not suitable for pouring samples into resin.

To form a block using pouring materials for research into the resin, it is proposed to use options with placing the sample in a drop of resin or gelatin or polyethylene capsules (source [6]: Morphological diagnostics. Preparation of material for histological examination and electron microscopy. Manual edited by D.E. Korzhevsky. St. Petersburg Special. Lit) however, this option is suitable only for small objects, since the drop volume is from 0.02 to 0.05 ml.

Known casting forms for pouring samples into paraffin made of stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride, (source [7]: Internet site of the company EKA LLC Ukraine, Donetsk region, Mariupol, Access mode: http://www.ekamed.com .) from polyoxymethylene polyacetate / polypropylene (Source [8]: Creonika website, St. Petersburg, Russia, Access mode: http://kreonika.ru/catalog/kassety/kassety-gistologicheskie/), reusable forms with thin walls for quick heat transfer, disposable Leica molds (source [9]: website http://www.bioline.ru/catalog/5 1/359 /), cartridges (source [10]: http://www.biovitrum.ru/files/katalog_morfologiya.pdf), suitable only for pouring samples into paraffin. Leica casting polyethylene molds (http://www.bioline.ru/catalog/51/359/) proposed for pouring into resin do not require reuse, because They do not separate from the unit and are only suitable for small samples.

Well-known analogues are made of low-elastic materials, pouring materials stick to the walls of the casting mold, and their extraction is difficult, involves additional manipulations, in addition, the analogs do not take into account the individual characteristics of the object of study, its size and shape.

A known shape for molding curly chocolate (source [11]: RU 74769 patent), consisting of an internal silicone mold that provides high surface detail, however, it is not applicable for histological studies, requires the additional use of a support frame in the form of a more rigid form, since pouring in it hot molten liquid hardening medium does not hold the required shape.

The technical problem of the known analogues is the need for additional machining of blocks with material samples for histological studies, since when they are removed, the shape of the block is disturbed.

The technical result consists in providing the possibility of forming a block of the desired geometric shape containing the sample of the studied material from a solid filled liquid hardening medium (for example, epoxy resin) suitable for investigation by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis. The block is easily removed from the mold, does not require additional machining of surfaces in contact with the mold, which reduces the time required to prepare the block for research and overall labor costs. The form can be used repeatedly to prepare blocks of identical shape.

The technical result is achieved in that the mold for histological casting is made with a thick bottom and walls made of silicone-based elastomer in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid.

It is assumed that the mold for histological casting is made by casting from a two-component silicone elastomer polymerized in a casting frame printed on a 3D printer from ABS or PLA plastic, the cavity is made in the form of a parallelepiped. Polymerization in a casting frame printed on a 3D printer provides the versatility of the form for any geometric parameters of the samples under study. It is proposed to use an elastomer with a hardness of 30 units of the Shore A scale and an elastic modulus of 2.28 MPa with a relative elongation of up to 600%.

Silicone-based elastomer, "silicone rubber", a highly elastic material, polymerizes from a two-component silicone-based solution. Silicone rubber exhibits release ability with respect to a variety of materials, including paraffin and resins. Even at high temperatures, silicone rubber does not stick to other materials and leaves no residue. The rate of polymerization of a solution based on silicone depends not only on the components and properties of the solution, but also on the properties of the mold material (frame). ABS and PLA plastics do not belong to hardening inhibiting materials and can be used for printing individual foundry molds; therefore, the histological casting mold is preferably made by injection molding from a two-component silicone elastomer polymerized in a mold printed on a 3D printer made of ABS or PLA plastic.

The histological casting mold provides the possibility of pouring a liquid hardening medium (for example, paraffin or epoxy), its subsequent hardening and the formation of a block of the desired geometric shape containing the sample of the studied material suitable for investigation by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis. Thick walls of the mold allow the material to maintain the geometric parameters of the block. The release properties of the mold material and its high elasticity make it easy to remove the hardened block from the mold. The block does not stick to the bottom and walls of the mold cavity; the ability to stretch and deform the mold allows you to remove the block without using a special tool. The extracted block does not require additional machining of surfaces in contact with the form. In the form, it is possible to repeatedly form blocks from a number of pouring hardening media, for example, paraffin, acrylic, epoxy or polyester resins.

The utility model is illustrated by graphic materials:

FIG. 1 - a form for histological filling, in a section, a diagram;

FIG. 2 - a form for histological filling, photograph.

FIG. 3 - a form with samples embedded in epoxy resin (vertically oriented fragments of Kirchner spokes), photograph;

FIG. 4 - a block with samples of materials for research by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis, photograph.

Implementation of a technical solution.

The histological casting mold is made with a thick bottom 1 (Fig. 1) and walls 2 (Fig. 1) of a silicone-based elastomer in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity 3 (Fig. 1; 2) intended for installation of samples 4 (Fig. 1). 3; 4) of the test material and pouring hardening medium with the formation of block 5 (Fig. 4). The cavity 3 is open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid. The geometry of the truncated pyramid with trapezoidal sides ensures the stability of the form. The cavity 3 for filling, is usually made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, however, another suitable geometric shape and size can be made. The surface of the cavity 3 i.e. the inner part of the walls 2 and the bottom 1, smooth, flat.

The histological casting mold is made of silicone-based elastomer in the form of a truncated pyramid (Fig. 2), contains a cavity 3 open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid. The form is made with a wall thickness of 2 and a bottom 1 of at least 5 mm and not more than 10 mm, for example 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm. The implementation of a thickness of more than 10 mm is acceptable, but not advisable from the point of view of consumption of mold material. The implementation of a thickness of less than 5 mm is not permissible, as it can lead to a change in the geometry of the cavity 3 during the casting process. This thickness provides the ability of the mold material, the elastomer, to maintain unchanged the geometric parameters of the cavity 3 during the pouring and solidification of the pouring hardening medium. The cavity 3 for filling is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The surface of the cavity 3 is even, flat.

A mold for histological filling for scanning electron microscope studies is made with a thick bottom 1 and walls 2 of a silicone-based elastomer in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity 3 open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid. The cavity 3 is made in the form of a parallelepiped, the depth of the cavity 3 is 10 mm The mold is made by casting from a two-component silicone elastomer polymerized into a casting cage (not shown in the diagrams) printed on a 3D printer from ABS or PLA plastic. The use of additive technologies for forming a casting frame for the manufacture of molds for histological casting allows us to endow the mold with the universality property, a personal mold can be made to match the geometric parameters of the test specimen and equipment used, which ensures the formation of blocks of high initial quality with a rational flow rate of hardening medium.

The mold for histological filling is made with a thick bottom 1 and walls 2 in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity 3, open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid. The mold is made of an elastomer with a hardness of 30 units of the Shore A scale, an elastic modulus of 2.28 MPa and a relative elongation of up to 600%. The mold can be equipped with recesses in the cavity 3 for mounting several samples of material at once, for example, a portion of a spoke as shown in FIG. 2, 3, 4.

Use of the form.

The form refers to laboratory equipment, histological equipment and can be used in medical clinical laboratories, prosectorial and for scientific purposes in research laboratories for the manufacture of tissue blocks and materials by pouring them into liquid hardening media. The form is used to form blocks of a given geometric shape and size, which are maximally ready for histological examination and are easily removed from the form, in order to reduce the time for preliminary processing of blocks and not the amount of consumables needed to prepare the block for research after extraction from the form.

The mold is installed on a flat surface, placed in cavity 3 on the bottom 1, sample 4 (one or more), prepared for pouring liquid hardening medium (epoxy resin, paraffin), fill cavity 3 to the edges. Hardening of the hardening medium is expected. The shape of the block is maintained due to the thickened walls 2 and the bottom 1. Remove the block 5 from the cavity 3 by pressing the bottom 1 of the form. Block 5 does not stick together with the mold and is easily removed in the initial state.

For a mold polymerized in a casting cage, use is similar. The casting frame for the mold for histological casting is made according to the specified individual sizes necessary for the study by printing from ABC or PLA plastic on a 3D printer. The shape may correspond to any shape and size of block 5 required for research. Depending on the set goals, a casting frame of the required size is made by printing. The mold is cast from the elastomer. At the bottom of the mold 1, one or several samples of 4 tissue or material are placed in an organized manner, orienting them in the plane necessary for the study. Next, pour a hardening medium (quickly hardening liquid) to the edge of the cavity 3. After solidification of the liquid medium, the finished block 5 is removed by pressing the bottom of the mold.

The technical result is the fast and high-quality production of blocks of samples, biological tissues or materials for histological examination. The effectiveness of this form lies in its universal application with the possibility of pouring material into paraffin (or a similar pouring medium) and epoxy resins, in the case of block 5, which is ready for histological cutting, to form in case of paraffin pouring, in case of pouring into epoxy resins, obtaining a block in which for research it is necessary to process only one side with a finely abrasive material (surface for research), otherwise, the dimensional characteristics of block 5 are ready to be placed in a standard block holder for research in a scanning electron microscope, without additional sawing. Due to the smooth surface of the silicone-shaped walls 2, the sides of the block 5 do not require additional grinding. Due to the elasticity of the mold, block 5 is easily removed from the mold. Significantly reduced time and labor costs of sample preparation of samples 4 for research. The form can be used repeatedly for identical samples with the same size, which creates additional economic benefits of its application.

The use of the proposed form in the histological examination of experimental, biopsy and autopsy biological material in the Federal State Institution Scientific Center “VTO” named after Acad. G.A. Ilizarova ”of the Ministry of Health of Russia showed that its use allows to produce a paraffin block ready for cutting with a specific orientation of the sample or a block of a sample poured into epoxy resin, in which only one upper side was additionally processed by grinding (it was processed to expose and level the sample material), which significantly simplifies and speeds up the process of sample preparation with the effective receipt of a quality unit for research.

Claims (3)

1. A mold for histological casting, characterized in that it is made with a bottom and walls, a thickness in the range of 5 to 10 mm, from an elastomer based on silicone in the form of a truncated pyramid, contains a cavity open from the upper base of the truncated pyramid, the mold is made by casting the cavity is made in the form of a parallelepiped from a two-component silicone elastomer polymerized in a casting frame printed on a 3D printer made of ABS or PLA plastic. 2. A mold for histological filling according to claim 1 for research in a scanning electron microscope, characterized in that the cavity depth is 10 mm 3. A mold for histological casting according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of an elastomer with a hardness of 30 units of the Shore A scale, an elastic modulus of 2.28MPa, an elongation of up to 600%.

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