A tissue section staining machine

Abstract

This application proposes a tissue section staining machine, including a frame, several staining units, and a transfer robotic arm. The upper surface of the frame is equipped with a slide holder input area, a slide holder output area, and a staining area. The slide holder input and output areas are used to store slide holders. Each staining unit includes a staining chamber, a reagent bottle, and an infusion assembly. The staining chamber is located in the staining area. The infusion assembly has a delivery pump and an infusion tube. The first end of the infusion tube connects to the staining chamber, and the second end connects to the reagent bottle. The delivery pump is mounted on the infusion tube and can perform both forward and reverse infusion. This tissue section staining machine eliminates the problem of inaccurate dosage when manually adding staining reagents, automatically recovers staining reagents for better preservation, simplifies operation, and eliminates the mixing and waste associated with manual reagent recovery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to a tissue section staining machine. Background Technology

[0002] HE staining is a commonly used tissue section staining technique in pathology, primarily used to observe and diagnose the morphology, cell morphology, and pathological processes of diseased tissues. This technique can assist doctors in diagnosis, guide treatment, and provide important clues for studying the mechanisms of disease development.

[0003] In conventional tissue section staining machines, multiple staining tanks are placed on the table, each containing various staining reagents. A robotic arm moves a slide holder containing glass slides between the tanks to complete the staining process. The problems are: 1. Manual addition of staining reagents to each tank is required, making precise control of the amount difficult; 2. Some reagents are volatile, and prolonged exposure can affect their lifespan. Manual reagent recovery is cumbersome and prone to mixing, leading to waste; 3. As the robotic arm moves the slide holder, staining reagent drips onto the stained slides, contaminating the tissue section staining machine and laboratory, which is difficult to clean. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application proposes a tissue section staining machine capable of automatically adding and recovering staining reagents, which facilitates the preservation of staining reagents.

[0005] This application also proposes a tissue section staining device applicable to the aforementioned tissue section staining machine.

[0006] A tissue section staining machine according to a first aspect of this application includes a frame, several staining units, and a transfer robotic arm. The upper surface of the frame is provided with a slide holder input area, a slide holder output area, and a staining area. The slide holder input area and the slide holder output area are used to store slide holders. Each staining unit includes a staining chamber, a reagent bottle, and an infusion assembly. The staining chamber is arranged in the staining area. The infusion assembly has a delivery pump and an infusion tube. The first end of the infusion tube is connected to the staining chamber, and the second end of the infusion tube is connected to the reagent bottle. The delivery pump is arranged on the infusion tube and is capable of forward and reverse infusion.

[0007] The tissue section staining machine provided in this application has at least the following technical effects:

[0008] Slide holders loaded with slides to be stained are stored in the slide holder input area. They can be transported to the staining chamber in the staining area by a robotic arm or manually. After staining, the robotic arm or manual operator transports the slide holders back to the slide holder output area. Before staining, a transfer pump extracts staining reagent from the reagent bottle and delivers it to the staining chamber through an infusion tube. The slide holder is then immersed in the staining chamber to stain the slides. After staining, the transfer pump extracts the staining reagent from the staining chamber and returns it to the reagent bottle for storage through an infusion tube. This process eliminates the problem of inaccurate dosage when manually adding staining reagent, automatically recovers the staining reagent for better preservation, simplifies operation, and eliminates the mixing and waste associated with manual reagent recovery.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the delivery pump is a peristaltic pump, and the pump tube of the peristaltic pump is connected to the infusion tube.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, the second end is provided with a liquid extraction check valve and a bypass, wherein the bypass is provided with a recovery check valve.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the inlet of the liquid-drawing check valve is provided with a liquid-drawing pipe, and the end of the liquid-drawing pipe is provided with a filter.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the reagent bottle has a cap, the infusion tube passes through the cap, and the cap is provided with an exhaust check valve and a gas replenishment check valve.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the dyeing chamber is provided with an overflow port at its upper part, and the overflow port is connected to a waste liquid pool through a waste liquid pipe.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, the dyeing chamber is connected to a cleaning pipe, and the other end of the cleaning pipe is connected to a water tank or an external water source.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the cleaning tube is connected to the infusion tube, and the connection between the cleaning tube and the infusion tube is located between the first end and the delivery pump.

[0016] According to some embodiments of this application, the other end of the cleaning pipe is connected to a drain valve, which has multiple ports, one of which is connected to the external water source, and the other port is connected to the waste liquid pool through a waste reagent pipe.

[0017] According to some embodiments of this application, the tissue section staining machine has a washing chamber for accommodating slide racks for cleaning, and an overflow outlet is provided at the top of the washing chamber, which is connected to the waste liquid pool via a drain pipe.

[0018] According to some embodiments of this application, another of the ports is connected to the film washing chamber via a water inlet pipe.

[0019] According to some embodiments of this application, the drain valve has a plurality of solenoid valves, and each port is controlled to open and close by one of the solenoid valves.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, the external water source is a tap water pipe, and the tap water pipe is equipped with an inlet solenoid valve to control its opening and closing.

[0021] According to some embodiments of this application, the upper end of the frame is connected to a transfer robotic arm, which is used to transfer the slide holder to the slide holder input area, the slide holder output area, or the staining chamber.

[0022] According to some embodiments of this application, the tissue section staining machine is equipped with a water receiving container. When the transfer robotic arm drives the slide holder to rise, the water receiving container is driven by the water receiving drive component and moves in conjunction with the transfer robotic arm to the bottom of the slide holder.

[0023] According to some embodiments of this application, the water receiving drive includes a motor and a linear motion module to move the water receiving container to and from below the slide holder, and the drive is linked with the transfer robotic arm.

[0024] According to some embodiments of this application, the transfer robotic arm includes a Z-axis moving mechanism, which includes a vertical support frame and a slide holder hook. The slide holder hook is slidably connected to the side of the support frame along the vertical direction. When the slide holder hook drives the slide holder to rise.

[0025] According to some embodiments of this application, the water receiving drive includes a swing arm, the upper end of which is hinged to the upright frame, and the lower end of which is connected to the water receiving container. When the slide holder hook drives the slide holder to rise, the swing arm is linked with the slide holder hook and drives the water receiving container to move below the slide holder.

[0026] According to some embodiments of this application, a top block is provided at the upper end of the slide holder claw, and a stop bar is provided at the upper end of the swing arm facing the side of the slide holder claw. When the slide holder claw rises, the top block pushes the swing arm to rotate through the stop bar, so that the water receiving container moves to the bottom of the slide holder.

[0027] According to some embodiments of this application, the lower end of the support frame is provided with a horizontal slide rail, the water receiving container is connected to a movable seat that is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail, and the movable seat is connected to the lower end of the swing arm.

[0028] According to some embodiments of this application, the lower end of the swing arm is provided with a transmission optical shaft, the movable seat is provided with a vertically arranged sliding groove, and the transmission optical shaft passes through the sliding groove.

[0029] According to some embodiments of this application, the transfer robotic arm includes an X-axis moving mechanism and a Y-axis moving mechanism, the X-axis moving mechanism is fixed to the frame, the Y-axis moving mechanism is connected to the X-axis moving mechanism, and the Z-axis moving mechanism is connected to the Y-axis moving mechanism.

[0030] According to some embodiments of this application, the upper end of the dyeing chamber is provided with a dyeing chamber cover that can be opened, and the frame is provided with a dyeing chamber cover switch module to open or close the dyeing chamber cover.

[0031] According to some embodiments of this application, the dyeing chamber cover switch module includes a Z-axis translation component, a drive block is provided at the upper end of the Z-axis translation component, one side of the dyeing chamber cover is hinged to the dyeing chamber, a transmission pin is provided on the outer wall of the dyeing chamber cover, and the drive block pushes the dyeing chamber cover to rotate through the transmission pin.

[0032] According to some embodiments of this application, the dyeing chamber cover switch module includes a Y-axis translation component, the Z-axis translation component is connected to the Y-axis translation component, and the drive block is provided with a pin hole for the transmission pin shaft to pass through.

[0033] According to some embodiments of this application, the plurality of dyeing chambers in the dyeing area are arranged in at least one row, and the dyeing chamber cover switch module includes an X-axis translation component. The moving direction of the X-axis translation component is consistent with the arrangement direction of the plurality of dyeing chambers, and the Y-axis translation component is connected to the X-axis translation component.

[0034] According to some embodiments of this application, the plurality of dyeing chambers in the dyeing zone are arranged in two rows, the dyeing chamber cover switch module is arranged between the two rows of dyeing chambers, and the pin hole penetrates the drive block along the Y direction.

[0035] According to some embodiments of this application, the X-axis translation component is provided with a mounting base, the Y-axis translation component includes a Y-axis motor, a gear and a rack, the Y-axis motor is fixed to the mounting base, the rack is slidably connected to the mounting base, the gear is fixed to the rotating shaft of the Y-axis motor and meshes with the rack, and the Z-axis translation component is fixed to the rack.

[0036] According to some embodiments of this application, the staining area is provided with a plurality of baking chambers, which are used to hold glass slides and bake them, and the baking chambers are connected to baking chamber covers.

[0037] According to some embodiments of this application, the outer wall of the staining chamber is provided with a heating film to adjust the temperature of the staining reagent inside the staining chamber.

[0038] According to some embodiments of this application, the staining chamber is connected to a mixing component, which is used to drive the flow of staining reagents within the staining chamber.

[0039] According to some embodiments of this application, the mixing assembly includes a mixing motor, a rotating base, and a magnetic particle. The mixing motor is fixed to the frame, the rotating base is connected to the rotating shaft of the mixing motor, and a plurality of magnets are provided on the upper end face of the rotating base. The magnets are located directly below the dyeing chamber, and the magnetic particle is located inside the dyeing chamber. The magnets rotate to drive the magnetic particle to rotate inside the dyeing chamber.

[0040] According to some embodiments of this application, the plurality of dyeing chambers in the dyeing zone are arranged in at least one row, and a rotating seat is arranged below each dyeing chamber. A pulley is provided at the lower end of the rotating seat, and the plurality of pulleys are connected by a belt. One of the pulleys is fixed to the rotating shaft of the mixing motor.

[0041] According to some embodiments of this application, the mixing assembly includes a mounting plate, the mounting plate is fixed to the mixing motor, the rotating seat is rotatably connected to the mounting plate, the pulley is located below the mounting plate, and a plurality of tensioning wheels are provided on the bottom surface of the mounting plate, the tensioning wheels abutting against the belt to keep the belt abutting against the pulley.

[0042] According to some embodiments of this application, sensors are provided in the slide holder input area and the slide holder output area to detect the slide holder.

[0043] According to some embodiments of this application, the slide holder input area is provided with a first base for loading the slide holder, the frame is provided with a first slide rail, the first base is slidably connected to the first slide rail, and the first base is connected to a first driving component to drive the first base to move along the first slide rail.

[0044] According to some embodiments of this application, the slide holder output area is provided with a second base, the second base is provided with a plurality of receiving slots for loading slide holders, the frame is provided with a second slide rail, the second base is slidably connected to the second slide rail, and the second base is connected to a second driving component to drive the second base to move along the second slide rail.

[0045] The slide staining device provided in this application is based on the tissue slide staining machine provided in this application. Therefore, the slide staining device has all the beneficial effects of the tissue slide staining machine, which will not be elaborated further. Attached Figure Description

[0046] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tissue section staining machine according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the staining solution system in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the Z-axis moving mechanism in the embodiments of this application;

[0050] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the Z-axis moving mechanism in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the Z-axis moving mechanism in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dyeing chamber cover switch module and multiple dyeing chambers in the embodiments of this application;

[0053] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0054] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the mixing component and multiple dyeing chambers in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0055] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the mixing component and multiple dyeing chambers in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0056] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the slide holder input area in an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the slide holder output area in an embodiment of this application;

[0058] Figure 12 This is a partial enlarged view of the dyeing chamber in an embodiment of this application;

[0059] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the Z-axis moving mechanism and the water receiving tray in some embodiments of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0060] Figure 14This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the Z-axis moving mechanism and the water receiving tray in some embodiments of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0061] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the Z-axis moving mechanism and the water receiving tray in other embodiments of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0062] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the Z-axis moving mechanism and the water receiving tray in other embodiments of this application. Figure 2 .

[0063] Figure label:

[0064] The machine frame 100, slide holder input area 101, slide holder output area 102, staining area 103, first base 110, first slide rail 120, first drive component 130, second base 140, receiving groove 141, second slide rail 150, and second drive component 160 are included.

[0065] Staining unit 200, staining chamber 210, overflow port 211, waste liquid pipe 212, cleaning pipe 213, staining chamber cover 214, transmission pin 215, reagent bottle 220, bottle cap 221, exhaust check valve 222, gas replenishment check valve 223, infusion assembly 230, transfer pump 231, infusion pipe 232, liquid extraction check valve 233, recovery check valve 234, filter 235, waste liquid pool 240, waste reagent pipe 241, drain valve 250, water inlet solenoid valve 251, slide washing chamber 260, overflow port 261, drain pipe 262, water inlet pipe 263, slide baking chamber 270;

[0066] Transfer robotic arm 300, X-axis moving mechanism 310, Y-axis moving mechanism 320, Z-axis moving mechanism 330, upright frame 331, horizontal slide rail 3311, slide holder hook 332, top block 3321, swing arm 333, stop bar 3331, optical axis 3332, water receiving container 334, moving seat 3341, slide 3342;

[0067] The dyeing chamber cover switch module 400, Z-axis translation assembly 410, drive block 411, pin hole 412, Y-axis translation assembly 420, Y-axis motor 421, gear 422, rack 423, X-axis translation assembly 430, and mounting base 431 are included.

[0068] Mixing assembly 500, mixing motor 510, rotating seat 520, pulley 521, belt 522, mounting plate 540, tensioning wheel 541. Detailed Implementation

[0069] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0070] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0071] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0072] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0073] Reference Figures 1 to 11 The embodiments of this application propose a tissue section staining machine, which aims to provide a device that can automatically and accurately complete the staining of tissue sections, so as to solve the problems of inaccurate staining reagent usage, inconvenient recycling, and complicated operation caused by manual operation in the prior art.

[0074] The tissue section staining machine mainly includes a frame 100 and a staining solution system. The frame 100 serves as the supporting structure for the entire device and is designed with a multi-layer structure to stably support all components. The upper surface of the frame 100 is provided with a slide holder input area 101, a slide holder output area 102, and a staining area 103. The slide holder input area 101 and the slide holder output area 102 are used to store slide holders containing slides to be stained and slide holders containing stained slides, respectively, while the staining area 103 is the area for performing the staining operation.

[0075] The staining solution system comprises several staining units 200, which are core components of the tissue section staining machine. Each staining unit 200 includes a staining chamber 210, a reagent bottle 220, and an infusion assembly 230. The staining chamber 210 is located within the staining area 103 and is used to hold staining reagents and glass slides for staining. The design of the staining chamber 210 must consider sealing and corrosion resistance to ensure that the staining reagents do not leak during the staining process and to resist the corrosive effects of the staining reagents.

[0076] Reagent bottle 220 is used to store staining reagents. It has good sealing properties and chemical stability to prevent the staining reagents from evaporating or deteriorating. For example... Figure 1 As shown, multiple reagent bottles 220 can be layered and placed inside the rack 100.

[0077] The infusion assembly 230, including a delivery pump 231 and an infusion tube 232, is a key component connecting the staining chamber 210 and the reagent bottle 220. The first end of the infusion tube 232 connects to the staining chamber 210, and the second end connects to the reagent bottle 220, forming a complete reagent delivery channel. The delivery pump 231 is mounted on the infusion tube 232 and has both forward and reverse infusion functions. During forward infusion, the delivery pump 231 extracts the staining reagent from the reagent bottle 220 and delivers it into the staining chamber 210 through the infusion tube 232; during reverse infusion, the delivery pump 231 extracts the staining reagent from the staining chamber 210 and returns it to the reagent bottle 220 for storage through the infusion tube 232. The selection of the delivery pump 231 must consider parameters such as its flow rate, pressure, and stability to ensure that the staining reagent can be accurately and quickly delivered to the staining chamber 210 and promptly recovered after staining.

[0078] Understandably, a tissue section staining machine can be equipped with a transfer robotic arm 300, mounted on the upper end of the frame 100. This robotic arm 300 is used to transfer slide holders from the slide holder input area 101 to the staining chamber 210 for staining, and then transfer the stained slides and slide holders to the slide holder output area 102. Alternatively, it can be semi-automated, such as manually transferring slide holders, both of which can meet the staining requirements. The following explanation uses a tissue section staining machine employing the transfer robotic arm 300 as an example.

[0079] In practical applications, the transfer robotic arm 300 can use servo motors, stepper motors, etc. as power sources, and achieve precise control of its motion trajectory and speed through a precise control system.

[0080] Working principle and operating procedure:

[0081] Before the staining process, the slide holder containing the slides to be stained is placed in the slide holder input area 101 by either an automatic feeding device or manually. Then, the delivery pump 231 starts working, extracting the staining reagent from the reagent bottle 220 and delivering it into the staining chamber 210 through the infusion tube 232. The amount of staining reagent delivered can be precisely controlled according to actual needs to ensure the uniformity and consistency of the staining effect. Next, the transfer robotic arm 300 starts working, transferring the slide holder from the slide holder input area 101 to the staining chamber 210 for staining. During the transfer process, the transfer robotic arm 300 must maintain a stable movement trajectory and speed to ensure that the slide holder can enter the staining chamber 210 accurately and smoothly.

[0082] During the staining process, the staining reagent in the staining chamber 210 can be kept at a certain temperature and stirred to promote sufficient contact and reaction between the staining reagent and the glass slide. At the same time, the staining time must be precisely controlled to ensure the stability and reliability of the staining effect.

[0083] After staining is complete, the transfer robotic arm 300 operates again, transferring the stained slide rack from the staining chamber 210 to the slide rack output area 102. The transfer pump 231 then operates again, extracting the staining reagent from the staining chamber 210 and transferring it back to the reagent bottle 220 for storage via the infusion tube 232. During the recovery process, it is essential to ensure that the staining reagent does not leak or become contaminated with other impurities to guarantee its quality and effectiveness for subsequent use.

[0084] The tissue section staining machine of this application realizes automatic and precise staining of tissue sections, and has the following significant technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0085] 1. Precise control of dyeing reagent quantity: Through the precise coordination of the controller and the delivery pump 231, the precise control of the dyeing reagent delivery quantity is achieved, which can not only improve the accuracy and consistency of dyeing operations, but also avoid waste and contamination of dyeing reagents due to human error.

[0086] 2. Automatic Recovery of Dyeing Reagent: After dyeing is completed, the transfer pump 231 can automatically pump the dyeing reagent in the dyeing chamber 210 back to the reagent bottle 220 for storage. This not only extends the service life of the dyeing reagent but also reduces reagent volatilization and pollution, thus reducing the impact on the environment.

[0087] 3. Simplified operation process: Due to the implementation of automated control, operators only need to set the dyeing program and parameters to carry out batch dyeing operations, which simplifies the operation process, reduces labor intensity, and improves work efficiency.

[0088] 4. Eliminate mixing and waste: By setting up independent dyeing units 200 and control systems, the different dyeing reagents are managed and used in separate areas, avoiding mixing and waste that may occur when manually recycling dyeing reagents, and ensuring the accuracy and stability of dyeing reagents.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, a peristaltic pump is used as the delivery pump 231, and the pump tube of the peristaltic pump is directly connected to the infusion tube 232. A peristaltic pump is a device that pumps liquid by periodically squeezing and releasing an elastic pump tube using rollers. Its unique working principle allows it to handle various liquids, including high-viscosity, corrosive, or shear-sensitive fluids, without contaminating the fluid itself. The peristaltic pump can deliver dyeing reagents in both forward and reverse directions by rotating the rollers. Peristaltic pumps offer advantages such as high precision, high flow stability, and corrosion resistance in dyeing reagent metering. By compressing the pump tube, the peristaltic pump delivers dyeing reagents, has a wide flow adjustment range, and allows for fine-tuning, ensuring high metering accuracy. Furthermore, peristaltic pumps have a simple structure, low maintenance costs, and are easy to operate, making them suitable for various automated control systems.

[0090] In a specific embodiment, the peristaltic pump is installed at an appropriate location on the infusion tubing 232, typically near the first end of the staining chamber 210. The material of the pump tubing must be selected based on the chemical properties of the staining reagent being delivered, ensuring corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and a certain degree of elasticity to maintain pumping efficiency. The use of a peristaltic pump not only improves system flexibility, allowing precise control of the staining solution flow rate by adjusting the roller speed, but also reduces the risk of leakage due to its seal-less design, making it particularly suitable for staining processes requiring highly clean and sterile conditions. Furthermore, the peristaltic pump is easy to maintain and clean, and the pump tubing, as a consumable, can be replaced periodically, further ensuring the long-term stable operation of the system.

[0091] Reference Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, a one-way valve 233 and a bypass are provided at the second end of the infusion tube 232 connecting to the reagent bottle 220. A one-way valve 234 is provided on the bypass. The above design aims to separate the extraction and recovery of the staining reagent. The one-way valve 233 is installed at the second end of the infusion tube 232. When extracting the staining reagent from the reagent bottle 220, the one-way valve 233 is open, while the one-way valve 234 is closed, and the staining reagent flows from the inside of the reagent bottle 220 to the outside. When recovering the staining reagent, the one-way valve 233 is closed, while the one-way valve 234 is open, and the staining reagent flows from the bottom of the staining chamber 210 to the reagent bottle 220.

[0092] Furthermore, a filter 235 is added to the inlet of the liquid extraction check valve 233. The filter 235, installed at the inlet of the liquid extraction check valve 233, can effectively intercept and remove impurities such as suspended particles, fibers, and dust, making the dyeing reagent delivered to the dyeing chamber 210 cleaner. The filter 235 is located at the bottom of the reagent bottle 220, while the recovery check valve 234 is located at the top of the reagent bottle 220. When extracting the dyeing reagent, it is drawn from the bottom of the reagent bottle 220, and the returned dyeing reagent flows in from the top of the reagent bottle 220, which helps maintain the concentration of the dyeing reagent and improves the stability of the dyeing operation.

[0093] Furthermore, a cap 221 is provided at the upper end of the reagent bottle 220 to improve the sealing performance of the reagent bottle 220. It is understood that the air pressure inside the reagent bottle 220 will change when the staining reagent is drawn and refluxed. To balance the internal and external air pressure of the reagent bottle 220, related technologies involve creating a hole in the reagent bottle 220 or the cap 221 to allow air circulation; however, this presents problems with staining reagent evaporation, leakage, and contamination. In this application, the cap 221 is equipped with an exhaust one-way valve 222 and a gas replenishment one-way valve 223, and the infusion tube 232 passes through the cap 221. The exhaust one-way valve 222 automatically opens when the staining reagent is refluxed, allowing air to escape from the bottle and preventing excessive internal pressure from affecting the reflux of the staining reagent. When the staining reagent is drawn, the air pressure inside the reagent bottle 220 will decrease, and the air replenishment check valve 223 will automatically open, allowing outside air to enter the reagent bottle 220 in a controlled manner, thereby maintaining the stability of the air pressure inside and outside the reagent bottle 220 and ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the staining liquid circuit system.

[0094] Reference Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, an overflow port 211 is provided at the top of the dyeing chamber 210, and the overflow port 211 is connected to a waste liquid pool 240 via a waste liquid pipe 212. After dyeing, the dyeing chamber 210 can be cleaned, and the waste liquid generated during cleaning is discharged through the overflow port 211 and flows into the waste liquid pool 240 through the waste liquid pipe 212, thereby avoiding pollution caused by waste liquid overflow. The overflow port 211 is usually located near the highest liquid level line of the dyeing chamber 210 to ensure that the waste liquid can be discharged in time before it reaches a dangerous level. The waste liquid pipe 212 is made of a corrosion-resistant material to ensure long-term stability and reliability. The waste liquid pool 240 is used to collect and treat the waste liquid discharged from the overflow port 211, facilitating subsequent environmental protection treatment and resource recycling.

[0095] Furthermore, the staining chamber 210 is also connected to a cleaning pipe 213. One end of the cleaning pipe 213 is connected to a water tank or an external water source, allowing cleaning solution to be injected into the staining chamber 210 after staining to remove residual staining reagents and other residues, ensuring the cleanliness of the staining chamber 210. The water tank is used to store the cleaning solution, which can be water or other cleaning solutions. The external water source can be tap water, a circulating water system, etc., depending on the configuration of the laboratory or production line. The external water source can be a tap water pipe, and the tap water pipe is equipped with an inlet solenoid valve 251 to control its opening and closing, using tap water as the source of the cleaning solution, while the solenoid valve precisely controls the inflow rate and time of the tap water.

[0096] Furthermore, the other end of the cleaning tube 213 is connected to the infusion tube 232, and the connection between the cleaning tube 213 and the infusion tube 232 is located between the first end and the delivery pump 231. When cleaning is required, the cleaning solution can be introduced from the cleaning tube 213 into the infusion tube 232 by switching valves or controlling the system, and then injected into the bottom of the dyeing chamber 210. When the liquid level of the cleaning solution rises to the overflow port 211, it flows from the overflow port 211 into the waste liquid tube 212, and finally into the waste liquid pool 240. At the same time, the cleaning solution also helps to clean part of the infusion tube 232, reducing the residual dyeing reagent in the infusion tube 232.

[0097] Reference Figure 2 It is understood that multiple dyeing units 200 can share a waste liquid tank 240 and an external water source. A drain valve 250 is connected to one end of the cleaning pipe 213. The drain valve 250 is an integrated device with internally switchable pipeline connections. The drain valve 250 has multiple ports, one of which connects to the external water source, and another port connects to the waste liquid tank 240 via the waste reagent pipe 241. Each dyeing unit 200's cleaning pipe 213 is connected to one port. When the dyeing chamber 210 needs cleaning, valve 7 is opened, and one or more valves from 2 to 6 are opened simultaneously, injecting cleaning solution into one or more dyeing chambers 210. The cleaning solution is introduced from the cleaning pipe 213 into the infusion pipe 232, and then injected into the bottom of the dyeing chamber 210. When the level of the cleaning solution rises to the overflow port 211, it flows from the overflow port 211 into the waste liquid pipe 212, and finally into the waste liquid tank 240. Through continuous rinsing, residual dyeing reagents in the dyeing chamber 210 are removed. Then close valve 7 and open valve 1. Using gravity, the cleaning solution in dyeing chamber 210 is discharged into waste liquid pool 240 through cleaning pipe 213 and waste reagent pipe 241.

[0098] In practical applications, each port of the drain valve 250 can be equipped with a solenoid valve or a manual valve to control the inflow and outflow of liquid. Each solenoid valve can be connected to the control system and its opening and closing status can be controlled by a preset program or command. During the cleaning process, the control system can automatically adjust the opening and closing status of the solenoid valves on the cleaning pipe 213 according to the cleaning requirements to achieve precise cleaning control.

[0099] In some embodiments of this application, a slide washing chamber 260 is also provided. The slide washing chamber 260 is used to hold glass slides for cleaning. An overflow port 261 is provided at the top of the slide washing chamber 260. The overflow port 261 is connected to a waste liquid tank 240 through a drain pipe 262. Cleaning solution is injected into the slide washing chamber 260 to clean the glass slides or slide holders. During the cleaning process, the waste liquid flows into the waste liquid tank 240 through the overflow port 261 and the drain pipe 262. One port of the drain valve 250 is connected to the slide washing chamber 260 through a water inlet pipe 263. The water level and water flow rate in the slide washing chamber 260 can be easily controlled by the drain valve 250 to complete the automated cleaning. Finally, by gravity, the waste liquid in the slide washing chamber 260 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 240 through the water inlet pipe 263 and the waste reagent pipe 241.

[0100] In addition, since the cleaning tube 213 is connected to the infusion tube 232, and the cleaning tube 213 and the waste reagent tube 241 are respectively connected to one port of the drain valve 250, the used dyeing reagent in the reagent bottle 220 can be extracted by the transfer pump 231 through the drain valve 250 and transported to the waste liquid pool 240 through the cleaning tube 213 and the waste reagent tube 241, so as to automatically clean up the discarded dyeing reagent.

[0101] Understandably, after staining, the transfer robotic arm 300 transfers the slide holder to the slide holder output area 102. Considering that the slides on the slide holder carry staining reagents, the staining reagents may drip onto the frame 100 or other components. The tissue section staining machine is equipped with a water receiving container 334 to catch the dripping staining reagents. The water receiving container 334 can be a tray, box, or other type of container.

[0102] Understandably, the water receiving container 334, driven by the water receiving drive, moves synchronously with the transfer robotic arm 300. After the slide holder leaves the staining chamber 210, the water receiving container 334 moves synchronously to the bottom of the slide holder to catch the dripping staining reagent. The water receiving drive can be a motor-driven linear module, an electric actuator, or a cylinder, etc., controlled by the control system of the tissue section staining machine. The water receiving drive and the transfer robotic arm 300 are linked to achieve synchronous movement.

[0103] It is understandable that, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, the water-receiving drive unit uses a motor 440 and a lead screw and nut assembly 441. The motor 440 and the lead screw and nut assembly 441 are mounted on the transfer robotic arm 300, as shown in the reference diagram. Figure 13 During the staining process, motor 440 drives screw and nut assembly 441, thereby moving water receiving container 334 to a position offset from the slide holder; see reference. Figure 14 After staining, the transfer robotic arm 300 raises the slide holder, and the motor 440 drives the lead screw and nut assembly 441, thereby moving the water receiving container 334 below the slide holder to catch the dripping staining reagent. Both the motor 440 and the transfer robotic arm 300 are controlled by the tissue section staining machine's control system. As the transfer robotic arm 300 raises the slide holder, the motor 440 drives the water receiving container 334 synchronously via the lead screw and nut assembly 441 to promptly catch any dripping staining reagent and prevent contamination.

[0104] In some embodiments, the transfer robotic arm 300 includes a Z-axis moving mechanism 330, which is responsible for moving the slide holder in the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction). The Z-axis moving mechanism 330 can be driven by a stepper motor, servo motor, or linear driver, and achieves precise movement through a transmission mechanism such as a lead screw, belt, or chain.

[0105] Reference Figure 3 The Z-axis moving mechanism 330 includes a vertical support frame 331 and a slide holder hook 332. The support frame 331, serving as the main support structure of the Z-axis moving mechanism 330, is fixed to the Y-axis moving mechanism 320, providing a stable vertical mounting base. The slide holder hook 332 is slidably connected to the side of the support frame 331 along the vertical direction, responsible for gripping and releasing the slide holder. The slide holder hook 332 can achieve the gripping action using pneumatic, electric, or mechanical means. (Refer to...) Figure 4 The slide holder hook 332 can have two hooks. Corresponding holes are provided on both sides of the slide holder. When the slide holder hook 332 moves down to a suitable position, the Y-axis moving mechanism 320 drives the Z-axis moving mechanism 330 to translate, so that the slide holder hook 332 passes through the holes on both sides of the slide holder, thereby hooking the slide holder and moving the slide holder.

[0106] In an alternative embodiment, the water receiving container 334 is linked to the slide holder hook 332 via a water receiving drive component. When the slide holder hook 332 drives the slide holder upward and away from the staining chamber 210, the water receiving container 334 moves directly below the slide holder to receive and handle any dripping staining reagent, preventing contamination. The linkage between the water receiving container 334 and the slide holder hook 332 precisely matches the slide holder's movement in and out of the staining chamber 210, promptly catching any dripping staining reagent. Furthermore, the water receiving container 334 does not interfere with the slide holder's movement in and out of the staining chamber 210, eliminating the need to wait for the water receiving container 334 to move before sending the slide holder into or out of the staining chamber 210, resulting in high operational efficiency and reliability.

[0107] Reference Figure 3 The water-receiving drive includes a swing arm 333. When the slide holder is hooked by the slide holder claw 332, the slide holder claw 332 moves up and down along the upright frame 331, thereby sending the slide holder into or out of the staining chamber 210. The upper end of the swing arm 333 is hinged to the upright frame 331 via a pin 3333, and the lower end is connected to the water-receiving container 334. The swing arm 333 swings around the pin 3333. The movement of the swing arm 333 is linked to the movement of the slide holder claw 332. The swing arm 333 drives the water-receiving container 334 to move. During the descent and ascent of the slide holder, the water-receiving container 334 moves away from the position directly below the slide holder. When the slide holder rises to its highest position, the water-receiving container 334 is positioned directly below the slide holder to receive and handle any dripping staining reagent. The swing arm 333 can be driven to swing by a cylinder, electric actuator, etc., to achieve linkage with the slide holder hook 332, or linkage can be achieved through a mechanical structure.

[0108] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, a top block 3321 is provided at the upper end of the slide holder claw 332, and a stop bar 3331 is provided at the upper end of the swing arm 333 facing the side of the slide holder claw 332. When the slide holder claw 332 rises, the top block 3321 pushes the swing arm 333 to swing via the stop bar 3331, thereby moving the water receiving container 334 directly below the slide holder. (See reference...) Figure 5 During the upward movement of the slide holder, the stop bar 3331 is tilted. When the slide holder hook 332 rises to near its highest position, the top block 3321 contacts the stop bar 3331, and pushes the swing arm 333 to rotate via the stop bar 3331, ultimately moving the water receiving container 334 to below the slide holder. Figure 4As shown, the stop lever 3331 is horizontal at this time and is tightly fitted with the top block 3321. This linkage mechanism ensures that the water receiving container 334 moves to a position directly below the slide holder at the precise time, effectively catching the dripping staining reagent. It is understood that during the process of the slide holder entering and exiting the staining chamber 210, the water receiving container 334 moves away from directly below the slide holder without affecting the operation; after the slide holder leaves the staining chamber 210, the linkage mechanism quickly moves the water receiving container 334 to directly below the slide holder to catch the dripping staining reagent. This synchronization matches the staining process, preventing staining reagent dripping from the slides from contaminating the staining machine. This linkage mechanism is a purely mechanical structure, requiring no motors, cylinders, or other driving components, and eliminating the need for monitoring or feedback sensors. It has advantages such as simple structure, low cost, high stability, and reliable durability.

[0109] Furthermore, a horizontal slide rail 3311 is provided at the lower end of the support frame 331. The water receiving container 334 moves horizontally by slidingly connecting to the movable seat 3341 of the horizontal slide rail 3311, allowing the water receiving container 334 to move smoothly. It is understood that the horizontal movement of the water receiving container 334 prevents leakage of the loaded staining reagent during movement, improving reliability. Moreover, the water receiving container 334 can be designed with a relatively flat shape, reducing space occupation and facilitating layout. A drive shaft 3332 is provided at the lower end of the swing arm 333, and the movable seat 3341 is provided with a vertically arranged groove 3342, through which the drive shaft 3332 passes. When the slide holder hook 332 pushes the swing arm 333 to swing, the drive shaft 3332 pushes the movable seat 3341, thereby causing the water receiving container 334 to shift. The cooperation between the transmission optical shaft 3332 and the slide groove 3342 also provides the necessary space to accommodate the swinging motion of the swing arm 333.

[0110] In actual operation, the control system sends instructions to the X-axis moving mechanism 310, Y-axis moving mechanism 320, and Z-axis moving mechanism 330 according to the preset dyeing program. First, the X-axis moving mechanism 310 and Y-axis moving mechanism 320 position the Z-axis moving mechanism 330 above the target dyeing chamber 210. Then, the slide holder hook 332 of the Z-axis moving mechanism 330 lowers the slide holder. Due to gravity, the swing arm 333 swings and moves the water receiving container 334 away from directly below the slide holder, allowing the slide holder to enter the dyeing chamber 210 for dyeing. After dyeing, the slide holder hook 332 raises the slide holder, and the top block 3321 pushes the swing arm 333 to swing, moving the water receiving container 334 directly below the slide holder. Finally, the X-axis moving mechanism 310 and Y-axis moving mechanism 320 transport the slide holder to the slide holder output area 102. During the movement, the water receiving container 334 catches the dripping dyeing reagent, preventing the dyeing reagent from contaminating other components.

[0111] Reference Figure 15 and Figure 16 In other embodiments, a crossbar is provided at the lower end of the swing arm 333, and a water container 334 is mounted on the crossbar. When the slide holder hook 332 pushes the swing arm 333 to swing, the swing arm 333 pushes the water container 334 to move through the crossbar. Figure 15 As shown, during the staining process, the swing arm 333 moves the water receiving container 334 to a position offset from the slide holder; as Figure 16 As shown, after staining, the transfer robotic arm 300 raises the slide holder, and the swing arm 333 moves the water receiving container 334 below the slide holder to catch the dripping staining reagent. Both the swing arm 333 and the transfer robotic arm 300 are controlled by the control system of the tissue section staining machine. When the transfer robotic arm 300 raises the slide holder, the swing arm 333 drives the water receiving container 334 to move synchronously to catch the dripping staining reagent in time and prevent contamination.

[0112] In some embodiments, the swing arm 333 may also be provided with an independent drive component to control the movement of the swing arm 333, and the control system controls the linkage between the slide holder hook 332 and the swing arm 333. The drive component may be a motor, an electric actuator, or a cylinder, etc.

[0113] Reference Figure 1 The transfer robotic arm 300 also includes an X-axis moving mechanism 310 and a Y-axis moving mechanism 320. The X-axis moving mechanism 310 is fixed to the frame 100, serving as the fixed base for the transfer robotic arm 300, and moves in the X-axis direction on the horizontal plane. The Y-axis moving mechanism 320 is connected to the X-axis moving mechanism 310 and is responsible for moving in the horizontal direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the X-axis. Combining the movements of the X and Y axes, the transfer robotic arm 300 can accurately position the slide holder in the horizontal plane. The Z-axis moving mechanism 330 is connected to the Y-axis moving mechanism 320 and is responsible for moving the slide holder in the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction), enabling the transfer robotic arm 300 to drive the slide holder to move accurately in three-dimensional space. The X-axis moving mechanism 310, the Y-axis moving mechanism 320, and the Z-axis moving mechanism 330 have similar structures and can all be driven by stepper motors, servo motors, or linear drivers, achieving precise movement through transmission mechanisms such as lead screws, belts, or chains.

[0114] Understandably, staining reagents are stored in the staining chamber 210, and sometimes multiple staining cycles are required. Some staining reagents are volatile, and if the opening of the staining chamber 210 is exposed, the staining reagents will evaporate, and there is a risk of contamination. The tissue section staining machine of this application has a movable staining chamber cover 214 at the upper end of the staining chamber 210. The staining chamber cover 214 can not only effectively prevent the evaporation of staining reagents and reduce external contamination, but also achieve automatic opening and closing through a mechanical structure, realizing automated production.

[0115] In order to achieve automatic opening and closing of the dyeing chamber cover 214, a dyeing chamber cover switch module 400 is installed on the frame 100. Through precise control of mechanical action, the dyeing chamber cover 214 can be opened or closed accurately.

[0116] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 One of the core components of the dyeing chamber cover switching module 400 is the Z-axis translation assembly 410. The Z-axis translation assembly 410 moves vertically (i.e., along the Z-axis) to open and close the dyeing chamber cover 214. A drive block 411 is located at the upper end of the Z-axis translation assembly 410. One side of the dyeing chamber cover 214 is hinged to the dyeing chamber 210, allowing the cover to be flipped open. Figure 12 As shown, a transmission pin 215 is provided on the outer wall of the dyeing chamber cover 214, and the transmission pin 215 is offset from the flip axis of the dyeing chamber cover 214. The transmission pin 215 serves as a force-bearing point; when the Z-axis translation assembly 410 drives the drive block 411 to move upward, the drive block 411 can push the transmission pin 215 to rotate around the flip axis of the dyeing chamber cover 214 (Figure). Figure 12 (As shown by the arrow), this causes the dyeing chamber cover 214 to rotate, thereby opening the dyeing chamber cover 214. Conversely, when the drive block 411 moves downward, it causes the dyeing chamber cover 214 to close. Alternatively, the dyeing chamber cover 214 can also automatically fall under the action of gravity, thereby closing.

[0117] To ensure the stability of equipment operation, a pin hole 412 is designed on the drive block 411. The pin hole 412 is used for the transmission pin 215 to pass through, ensuring that the drive block 411 can push the dyeing chamber cover 214 to open and close. Considering that the transmission pin 215 rotates, the pin hole 412 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the transmission pin 215. To increase the flexibility of the dyeing chamber cover switch module 400, the dyeing chamber cover switch module 400 also has a Y-axis translation component 420. The Y-axis translation component 420 drives the drive block 411 to move in the horizontal direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction). When it is necessary to open the cover, the Z-axis translation component 410 first raises the drive block 411 to a suitable height, and then the Y-axis translation component 420 drives the drive block 411, so that the transmission pin 215 is inserted into the pin hole 412 of the drive block 411.

[0118] When there are a large number of dyeing chambers 210 in the dyeing area 103, arranged in multiple rows, an X-axis translation component 430 is added to the Y-axis translation component 420 to further improve the level of automation. The movement direction of the X-axis translation component 430 is consistent with the arrangement direction of the multiple dyeing chambers 210, so that the dyeing chamber cover switch module 400 can move in the X-axis direction, thereby realizing access to any dyeing chamber 210.

[0119] The Y-axis translation component 420 is connected to the X-axis translation component 430, forming a two-dimensional moving platform. The X-axis translation component 430 precisely moves the drive block 411 to the side of any staining chamber 210 within the staining area 103. When it is necessary to open the cover, the Z-axis translation component 410 first raises the drive block 411 to a suitable height, and then the Y-axis translation component 420 drives the drive block 411, causing the transmission pin 215 to insert into the pin hole 412 of the drive block 411. The Z-axis translation component 410 then drives the drive block 411 to continue rising, thereby opening the staining chamber cover 214. After staining is completed, the Z-axis translation component 410 drives the drive block 411 to descend, causing the staining chamber cover 214 to return to the closed state, preventing the staining reagent from evaporating and causing contamination.

[0120] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the dyeing chambers 210 within the dyeing zone 103 are arranged in two rows. To optimize space utilization and the compactness of the mechanical structure, the dyeing chamber cover switch module 400 is cleverly positioned between the two rows of dyeing chambers 210. This layout not only reduces space occupation but also allows each dyeing chamber 210 to be effectively accessed and operated.

[0121] To accommodate the above layout, the pin hole 412 on the drive block 411 is designed to penetrate the entire drive block 411 along the Y direction. The Y-axis translation component 420 drives the drive block 411 to move, so that the transmission pins 215 of the dyeing chambers 210 on both sides can be inserted into the pin hole 412, and one dyeing chamber cover switch module 400 can realize the opening and closing of two rows of dyeing chambers 210.

[0122] A mounting base 431 is provided on the X-axis translation component 430, which serves as a support platform for the Y-axis translation component 420. The Y-axis translation component 420 includes a Y-axis motor 421, a gear 422, and a rack 423. The Y-axis motor 421 is fixed to the mounting base 431, the rack 423 is slidably connected to the mounting base 431 and extends along the Y-axis direction, and the gear 422 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the Y-axis motor 421 and meshes with the rack 423. When the Y-axis motor 421 rotates, the gear 422 drives the rack 423 to move along the Y-axis direction. The Z-axis translation component 410 is fixed to the rack 423 and moves with the rack 423, enabling the drive block 411 to move precisely in the Y-axis direction.

[0123] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, a plurality of slide drying chambers 270 are provided within the staining area 103. The main function of the slide drying chambers 270 is to accommodate slides before staining and to bake the slides. By baking the melted wax, the tissue sections adhere better to the slides. The design of the slide drying chambers 270 takes into account the diversity of slide sizes, ensuring that slides of different sizes can be accommodated and dried.

[0124] The baking chamber 270 is constructed similarly to the dyeing chamber 210, but with the addition of a heating element (such as a resistance wire or ceramic heater). Each baking chamber 270 is equipped with a baking chamber cover, which can be opened and closed manually or automatically to control the start and end of the heating process. The baking chamber cover can also be controlled by the dyeing chamber cover switch module 400. The structure of the baking chamber cover is the same as that of the dyeing chamber cover 214, and the opening and closing process is identical.

[0125] In some embodiments of this application, a heating film is provided on the outer wall of the dyeing chamber 210 to adjust the temperature of the dyeing reagent inside the dyeing chamber 210. This design is crucial for maintaining optimal dyeing conditions. The performance of the dyeing reagent is affected by temperature; excessively high or low temperatures can lead to poor dyeing results. The heating film is a thin and flexible heating element that can be tightly fitted to the outer wall of the dyeing chamber 210, achieving precise temperature regulation by controlling the current intensity. The heating film also features a rapid response, reaching the set temperature in a short time, thereby shortening the dyeing cycle.

[0126] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 In some embodiments of this application, the staining chamber 210 is connected to a mixing component 500. The mixing component 500 is used to drive the flow of staining reagent within the staining chamber 210, ensuring uniform reagent distribution and improving staining uniformity. During tissue section staining, the uniformity of the staining reagent directly affects the staining quality.

[0127] In one embodiment, the mixing assembly 500 includes a mixing motor 510, a rotating base 520, and magnetic particles. The mixing motor 510, serving as a power source, is fixed to the frame 100 and drives the rotating base 520 to rotate via a shaft. Several magnets are disposed on the upper surface of the rotating base 520, located directly below the dyeing chamber 210, while the magnetic particles are located within the dyeing reagent inside the dyeing chamber 210. When the mixing motor 510 is started, the rotating base 520 drives the magnets to rotate. Due to the magnetic force, the magnetic particles also rotate within the dyeing reagent, generating a stirring effect and driving the dyeing reagent to flow. The advantage lies in the non-contact stirring method, avoiding the contamination problems that may arise from traditional mechanical stirring, while ensuring the uniformity and gentleness of the stirring. A slide rail can be provided on the bottom wall of the dyeing chamber 210 to accommodate and confine the magnetic particles, preventing them from being carried away when the dyeing reagent is extracted.

[0128] When multiple dyeing chambers 210 in the dyeing zone 103 are arranged in at least one row, a rotating seat 520 is arranged below each dyeing chamber 210. A pulley 521 is provided at the lower end of the rotating seat 520. The synchronous rotation of multiple rotating seats 520 is achieved through the pulley 521 and belt 522, ensuring that the dyeing reagents in all dyeing chambers 210 are mixed simultaneously, sharing a single mixing motor 510, thus reducing cost and control complexity. One pulley 521 is fixed to the shaft of the mixing motor 510 as the driving pulley, while the other pulleys 521 act as driven pulleys, transmitting power through the belt 522. This simplifies the transmission system and reduces maintenance costs. Furthermore, the flexibility and buffering effect of the belt 522 transmission also help reduce vibration and noise, improving the operational stability of the equipment.

[0129] Furthermore, the mixing assembly 500 also includes a mounting plate 540, which is fixed to the mixing motor 510 and supports components such as the rotating seat 520 and pulley 521. The rotating seat 520 is mounted on the mounting plate 540 via bearings or other rotating connecting parts to ensure its free rotation. The pulley 521 is located below the mounting plate 540 and is connected to the belt 522 to form a transmission chain. To maintain the tension of the belt 522, several tensioning rollers 541 are provided on the bottom surface of the mounting plate 540. The tensioning rollers 541 abut against the belt 522, and their position or pressure is adjusted to maintain the appropriate tension of the belt 522, ensuring that the belt 522 and the pulley 521 remain in contact, thereby improving transmission stability.

[0130] In some embodiments of this application, both the slide holder input area 101 and the slide holder output area 102 are equipped with high-precision sensors for real-time detection of the presence and position of the slide holder. The sensors can be diffuse reflection sensors, photoelectric sensors, infrared sensors, etc., with the specific selection depending on the specific layout of the equipment and environmental conditions. Among these, a diffuse reflection sensor is preferred. The working principle of a diffuse reflection sensor is based on the law of reflection of light. When light shines on the surface of the slide holder, the light scatters in all directions, forming diffuse reflection. By detecting these reflected rays, the diffuse reflection sensor can determine the presence, position, and distance of the slide holder.

[0131] Reference Figure 10 In the slide holder input area 101, a first base 110 is provided for loading the slide holder. The structural design of the first base 110 fully considers the stability of supporting the slide holder. To achieve automated transfer of the slide holder, a first slide rail 120 is installed on the frame 100. The first base 110 is connected to the first slide rail 120 through a sliding connector, ensuring that the base can move smoothly along the first slide rail 120. The first drive component 130 can be an electric device, a pneumatic device, or a hydraulic device. In some embodiments, the first drive component 130 uses a motor as the drive source, and converts the rotational motion into linear motion through a lead screw and nut pair or a synchronous belt drive, thereby precisely controlling the position and speed of the first base 110. When the slide holder is manually loaded or loaded onto other automated equipment, the first driving component 130 drives the first base 110 to move along the first slide rail 120. The first base 110 moves outside the frame 100, making it easier to put the slide holder into the first base 110 and preventing the slide holder from colliding with other components on the frame 100.

[0132] Reference Figure 11 The slide holder output area 102 is provided with a second base 140, which has multiple receiving slots 141. Each receiving slot 141 can stably support one slide holder. The multi-slot design improves processing capacity and allows multiple slide holders to be supported simultaneously, meeting the needs of high-throughput experiments. Similar to the first base 110, the second base 140 is also connected to the second slide rail 150 on the frame 100 via a sliding connector, ensuring that the base can move along the second slide rail 150. The second drive component 160 can also be an electric device, a pneumatic device, or a hydraulic device. In some embodiments, the second drive component 160 uses a motor as the drive source, and converts the rotational motion into linear motion through a lead screw and nut pair or synchronous belt drive, thereby precisely controlling the position and speed of the second base 140.

[0133] After staining, the transfer robotic arm 300 places the slide holder into the receiving slot 141 of the second base 140. Each receiving slot 141 is equipped with a diffuse reflection sensor. The control system can know in real time whether each receiving slot 141 is carrying a slide holder. The unloading position of the transfer robotic arm 300 can be designed to be fixed. The second driving component 160 drives the second base 140 to move so as to place the slide holders one by one into each receiving slot 141.

[0134] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0135] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tissue section staining machine, characterized in that, include: The frame (100) has a slide holder input area (101), a slide holder output area (102) and a staining area (103) on its upper surface. The slide holder input area (101) and the slide holder output area (102) are used to store slide holders. Several staining units (200) are connected to the frame (100). Each staining unit (200) includes a staining chamber (210), a reagent bottle (220), and an infusion assembly (230). The staining chamber (210) is arranged in the staining area (103). The infusion assembly (230) has a delivery pump (231) and an infusion tube (232). The first end of the infusion tube (232) is connected to the staining chamber (210), and the second end of the infusion tube (232) is connected to the reagent bottle (220). The delivery pump (231) is mounted on the infusion tube (232) and is capable of both forward and reverse infusion. The upper end of the frame (100) is connected to a transfer robotic arm (300), which uses a servo motor and a stepper motor as power sources. The tissue section staining machine is equipped with a water receiving container (334). When the transfer robotic arm (300) drives the slide holder to rise, the water receiving container (334) moves synchronously with the transfer robotic arm (300) to below the slide holder under the drive of the water receiving drive component. The water receiving drive component includes a swing arm (333), the upper end of which... Hinged to the upright frame (331), the lower end of the swing arm (333) is connected to the water receiving container (334). When the slide holder hook (332) drives the slide holder to rise, the swing arm (333) is linked with the slide holder hook (332) and drives the water receiving container (334) to move below the slide holder. The upper end of the slide holder hook (332) is provided with a top block (3321), and the upper end of the swing arm (333) is provided with a stop bar (3331) facing the side of the slide holder hook (332).

2. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The delivery pump (231) is a peristaltic pump, and the pump tube of the peristaltic pump is connected to the infusion tube (232).

3. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end is provided with a liquid extraction check valve (233) and a bypass, and the bypass is provided with a recovery check valve (234).

4. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inlet of the liquid-drawing check valve (233) is provided with a liquid-drawing pipe, and the end of the liquid-drawing pipe is provided with a filter (235).

5. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reagent bottle (220) has a cap (221), and the infusion tube (232) passes through the cap (221). The cap (221) is provided with an exhaust check valve (222) and a gas replenishment check valve (223).

6. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dyeing chamber (210) is provided with an overflow port (211) at the top, and the overflow port (211) is connected to a waste liquid pool (240) through a waste liquid pipe (212).

7. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The dyeing chamber (210) is connected to a cleaning pipe (213), and the other end of the cleaning pipe (213) is connected to a water tank or an external water source.

8. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cleaning tube (213) is connected to the infusion tube (232), and the connection between the cleaning tube (213) and the infusion tube (232) is located between the first end and the delivery pump (231).

9. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The other end of the cleaning pipe (213) is connected to a drain valve (250), which has multiple ports, one of which is connected to the external water source, and the other port is connected to the waste liquid pool (240) through a waste reagent pipe (241).

10. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 9, characterized in that, The tissue section staining machine has several washing chambers (260), which are used to hold slide racks for cleaning. The upper part of the washing chamber (260) is provided with an overflow port (261), which is connected to the waste liquid pool (240) through a drain pipe (262).

11. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 10, characterized in that, One of the ports of the drain valve (250) is connected to the film washing chamber (260) via a water inlet pipe (263).

12. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drain valve (250) has multiple solenoid valves, and each port is controlled to open and close by one of the solenoid valves.

13. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The external water source is a tap water pipe, and the tap water pipe is equipped with an inlet solenoid valve (251) to control its opening and closing.

14. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The transfer robotic arm (300) is used to transfer the slide holder to the slide holder input area (101), the slide holder output area (102), or the staining chamber (210).

15. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water receiving drive includes a motor and a linear motion module to move the water receiving container (334) to and from below the slide holder.

16. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transfer robotic arm (300) includes a Z-axis moving mechanism (330), which includes a vertical support (331) and a slide holder hook (332). The slide holder hook (332) is slidably connected to the side of the support (331) along the vertical direction. When the slide holder hook (332) drives the slide holder to rise.

17. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the slide holder claw (332) rises, the top block (3321) pushes the swing arm (333) to rotate via the stop bar (3331), so that the water receiving container (334) moves to the bottom of the slide holder.

18. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 17, characterized in that, The lower end of the support frame (331) is provided with a horizontal slide rail (3311), and the water receiving container (334) is connected to a movable seat (3341) that is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail (3311). The movable seat (3341) is connected to the lower end of the swing arm (333).

19. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 18, characterized in that, The lower end of the swing arm (333) is provided with a transmission optical shaft (3332), and the moving seat (3341) is provided with a vertically arranged slide groove (3342), through which the transmission optical shaft (3332) passes.

20. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 16, characterized in that, The transfer robotic arm (300) includes an X-axis moving mechanism (310) and a Y-axis moving mechanism (320). The X-axis moving mechanism (310) is fixed to the frame (100), the Y-axis moving mechanism (320) is connected to the X-axis moving mechanism (310), and the Z-axis moving mechanism (330) is connected to the Y-axis moving mechanism (320).

21. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The dyeing chamber (210) is provided with a movable dyeing chamber cover (214) at the upper end, and the frame (100) is provided with a dyeing chamber cover switch module (400) to open or close the dyeing chamber cover (214).

22. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 21, characterized in that, The dyeing chamber cover switch module (400) includes a Z-axis translation component (410), and a drive block (411) is provided at the upper end of the Z-axis translation component (410). One side of the dyeing chamber cover (214) is hinged to the dyeing chamber (210). A transmission pin (215) is provided on the outer wall of the dyeing chamber cover (214). The drive block (411) pushes the dyeing chamber cover (214) to rotate through the transmission pin (215).

23. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 22, characterized in that, The dyeing chamber cover switch module (400) includes a Y-axis translation component (420), a Z-axis translation component (410) connected to the Y-axis translation component (420), and a drive block (411) provided with a pin hole (412) for the transmission pin (215) to pass through.

24. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 23, characterized in that, The dyeing chambers (210) in the dyeing area (103) are arranged in at least one row. The dyeing chamber cover switch module (400) includes an X-axis translation component (430). The movement direction of the X-axis translation component (430) is consistent with the arrangement direction of the multiple dyeing chambers (210). The Y-axis translation component (420) is connected to the X-axis translation component (430).

25. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 24, characterized in that, The dyeing chambers (210) in the dyeing area (103) are arranged in two rows, and the dyeing chamber cover switch module (400) is arranged between the two rows of dyeing chambers (210). The pin hole (412) passes through the drive block (411) along the Y direction.

26. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 25, characterized in that, The X-axis translation component (430) is provided with a mounting base (431). The Y-axis translation component (420) includes a Y-axis motor (421), a gear (422), and a rack (423). The Y-axis motor (421) is fixed to the mounting base (431). The rack (423) is slidably connected to the mounting base (431). The gear (422) is fixed to the rotating shaft of the Y-axis motor (421) and meshes with the rack (423). The Z-axis translation component (410) is fixed to the rack (423).

27. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The staining area (103) is provided with several slide baking chambers (270), which are used to hold glass slides and bake them. Each slide baking chamber (270) is connected to a slide baking chamber cover.

28. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The outer wall of the staining chamber (210) is provided with a heating film to adjust the temperature of the staining reagent inside the staining chamber (210).

29. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The staining chamber (210) is connected to a mixing component (500), which is used to drive the flow of staining reagents within the staining chamber (210).

30. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 29, characterized in that, The mixing assembly (500) includes a mixing motor (510), a rotating seat (520), and a magnet. The mixing motor (510) is fixed to the frame (100). The rotating seat (520) is connected to the rotating shaft of the mixing motor (510). A plurality of magnets are provided on the upper surface of the rotating seat (520). The magnets are located directly below the dyeing chamber (210). The magnets are located inside the dyeing chamber (210). The magnets rotate to drive the magnets to rotate inside the dyeing chamber (210).

31. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 30, characterized in that, The dyeing chambers (210) in the dyeing zone (103) are arranged in at least one row. Each dyeing chamber (210) has a rotating seat (520) below it. The lower end of the rotating seat (520) is provided with a pulley (521). The pulleys (521) are connected by a belt (522). One of the pulleys (521) is fixed to the shaft of the mixing motor (510).

32. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 31, characterized in that, The mixing assembly (500) includes a mounting plate (540) fixed to the mixing motor (510), a rotating seat (520) rotatably connected to the mounting plate (540), a pulley (521) located below the mounting plate (540), and a plurality of tensioning wheels (541) provided on the bottom surface of the mounting plate (540). The tensioning wheels (541) abut against the belt (522) to keep the belt (522) abutting against the pulley (521).

33. The tissue section staining machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, Sensors are provided in the slide holder input area (101) and the slide holder output area (102) to detect the slide holder.

34. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 33, characterized in that, The slide holder input area (101) is provided with a first base (110) for loading the slide holder, and the frame (100) is provided with a first slide rail (120). The first base (110) is slidably connected to the first slide rail (120), and the first base (110) is connected to a first driving component (130) to drive the first base (110) to move along the first slide rail (120).

35. The tissue section staining machine according to claim 33, characterized in that, The slide holder output area (102) is provided with a second base (140), the second base (140) is provided with a plurality of receiving slots (141) for loading slide holders, the frame (100) is provided with a second slide rail (150), the second base (140) is slidably connected to the second slide rail (150), and the second base (140) is connected to a second driving component (160) to drive the second base (140) to move along the second slide rail (150).

Images