Full-automatic pathological tissue slicing machine

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention generally relates to the technical field of biological sample treatment, in particular to a full-automatic pathological tissue slice making machine which comprises a slice stripping device, the slice stripping device is provided with a first temperature control part, and the control temperature of the first temperature control part is not higher than 20 DEG C; the slice conveying device comprises an adhesive tape used for bearing a target slice in an unfolded state, the adhesive tape is composed of a material capable of being dissolved in water or alcohol, and the adhesive tape comprises a supporting layer and an adhesion layer with a temperature-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive force of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at the temperature lower than 20 DEG C is higher than that of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at the temperature of 35-45 DEG C; and the slice separation device is provided with a second temperature control part, and the control temperature of the second temperature control part is 35-45 DEG C. The wax block embedded with the pathological tissue can be automatically sliced and made into the white sheet, the traditional steps of water bath sheet unfolding, sheet fishing and sheet baking are replaced, the white sheet making process is simplified, and manual operation is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of biological sample processing technology, and specifically to a fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine for pathological tissue, which can automatically produce white slides from wax blocks embedded with pathological tissue samples. Background Art

[0002] During the pathological diagnosis process, tissue samples need to be embedded in paraffin to form wax blocks, which are then cut into thin slices and made into white films for subsequent staining and observation.

[0003] Traditional pathology tissue slide preparation methods require manual steps such as waterbath spreading, retrieval, and baking. Waterbath spreading requires precise temperature and time control, retrieval requires manual transfer of sections, and baking requires manual monitoring. These steps are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also prone to inconsistent slide quality due to operational variability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine, which aims to solve one or more of the above-mentioned problems and other potential problems.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a fully automatic pathological tissue section making machine is provided, comprising: a section stripping device for stripping a target section including a tissue sample from a wax block embedded with the tissue sample, the section stripping device being provided with a first temperature control unit, the control temperature of the first temperature control unit being no higher than 20°C; a section transport device for collecting the target section and transporting the target section to a section separation device, wherein the section transport device comprises an adhesive tape for carrying the target section in an unfolded state, the adhesive tape being composed of a material soluble in water or alcohol, and the adhesive tape comprising a support layer and an adhesive layer having a temperature-sensitive adhesive, the adhesive force of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at a temperature below 20°C being higher than the adhesive force of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at a temperature between 35°C and 45°C; and a section separation device for separating the target section from the section transport device and adhering the section to a glass slide to form a white section of the tissue sample, the section separation device being provided with a second temperature control unit, the control temperature of the second temperature control unit being between 35°C and 45°C.

[0006] In some embodiments, the slice transmission device includes: a first rotating wheel for installing the tape, the first rotating wheel is located upstream of the slice peeling device; a second rotating wheel for recovering the tape, the second rotating wheel is located downstream of the slice separation device, the second rotating wheel is provided with a third temperature control unit, and the control temperature of the third temperature control unit is not higher than 5°C; and a third rotating wheel for cooperating with the slice peeling device to transfer the target slice peeled from the wax block to the tape in an unfolded state, the third rotating wheel is located at the slice peeling device.

[0007] In some embodiments, the support layer is a PVA / PEG composite material, and the back side of the support layer is provided with friction patterns for increasing friction.

[0008] In some embodiments, the temperature-sensitive adhesive is a PVA / paraffin composite material, and the surface of the adhesive layer is provided with a micropore adsorption array, the diameter of the micropores is 3-6 μm, and the spacing between adjacent micropores is 8-12 μm.

[0009] In some embodiments, a first micro-airbag array is provided on the surface of the third rotating wheel; and the first micro-airbag array includes a front end for applying a first pressure and a rear end for applying a second pressure, the front end contacts the target slice to be peeled off at the slice peeling device before the rear end, and the first pressure is less than the second pressure.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first pressure is 8 kPa-12 kPa, the second pressure is 28 kPa-32 kPa, and the pressure applied by the airbags gradually increases from the front end to the rear end of the first micro-airbag array.

[0011] In some embodiments, a second micro-airbag array is disposed in the tape transmission path between the slice peeling device and the slice separating device, and the second micro-airbag array faces the adhesive layer of the tape and is used to apply 18-22 kPa pressure to the tape.

[0012] In some embodiments, the slice separation device includes: a workbench, including a workbench surface parallel to the tape between the third rotating wheel and the second rotating wheel, the workbench surface including a carrying area for carrying a glass slide and a cutting area located around the carrying area, the height of the carrying area is less than the height of the cutting area; and a slice separation head, for moving toward the workbench surface to separate the portion of the tape to which the target slice is adhered and transfer it to the glass slide, the slice separation head including a pressing head arranged corresponding to the loading area and a cutting head arranged corresponding to the cutting area.

[0013] In some embodiments, the cutting head is provided with a fourth temperature control element, the control temperature of the fourth temperature control element is 30° C.-60° C., and the fourth temperature control element further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the blade temperature of the cutting head.

[0014] In some embodiments, the pressing head includes a flexible silicone layer with a honeycomb microstructure on its surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the present disclosure are shown by way of example and not limitation.

[0016] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a fully automatic pathological tissue section making machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of an adhesive tape according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a slice transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the slicing and peeling device and the second rotating wheel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a second rotating wheel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a film-making system with a second micro-airbag array according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating a process of separating a target slice from a slice transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a slice separation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0024] Figure 9 Show the basis Figure 8 A top view of the workbench in .

[0025] Figure 10 Shown according to Figure 8 Bottom view of the slicing head in .

[0026] In the various drawings, the same or corresponding reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "including" and similar terms should be understood as open inclusion, that is, "including but not limited to." The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on." The term "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment." The terms "first," "second," etc. may refer to different or the same objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below.

[0029] As previously mentioned, traditional methods for producing white slides of pathological tissue require manual steps such as waterbath spreading, scooping, and baking. Waterbath spreading requires precise temperature and time control, scooping requires manual transfer of the slices, and baking requires manual monitoring. These steps are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but can also lead to unstable slice quality due to operational variations. In particular, pathological tissue slices are typically ultrathin slices less than 10 μm thick, which are susceptible to curling or breakage due to mechanical forces or temperature. For example, in related prior art, the water temperature must be controlled between 42 and 47°C during slicing. Too low a temperature can prevent the slices from unfolding. Due to their thinness, improper handling during slicing can easily lead to edge breakage, central fissures, or even complete fragmentation. To address this issue, the present disclosure provides a fully automatic pathological tissue slice making machine for pathological tissue slicing. This machine automatically slices paraffin blocks embedded with pathological tissue to produce white slides, replacing the traditional waterbath spreading, scooping, and baking steps, simplifying the white slide production process and reducing manual labor. The principles of the fully automatic pathological tissue slice making machine according to the present disclosure are described in detail below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 1As shown, the fully automatic pathological tissue section making machine 1 includes a section peeling device 10, a section transporting device 20 and a section separating device 30, wherein the section peeling device 10 is used to cut out a target section 401 including a pathological tissue sample from a wax block 40 embedded with the pathological tissue sample by using a blade or laser, etc., the section transporting device 20 is used to collect the target section 401 peeled from the wax block 40 at the section peeling device 10 and transport the target section 401 to the section separating device 30, and the section separating device 30 is used to separate the target section 401 from the section transporting device and adhere it to a glass slide 50. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the slice transport device 20 includes an adhesive tape 201 for carrying a target slice 401 in an unfolded state. The tape 201 is moved to transport the unfolded target slice 401 to a slice separation device 30. The slice separation device 30 is capable of separating the target slice 401 from the tape 201, along with the tape carrying the target slice 401, from the slice transport device 20 and transferring it to a glass slide 50. The target slice 401 and the glass slide 50 are combined to form a white slide of the pathological tissue sample. The resulting white slide is subsequently stained. The dye combines with the tissue components to transform the colorless white slide into a high-contrast color image, providing a basis for pathological diagnosis. Water and alcohol are commonly used reagents in the white slide staining process. To minimize the adverse effects of the tape carrying the target slice 401 on the staining effect and unfolded morphology of the slice during subsequent staining and observation, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the tape 201 is composed of a material that is soluble in water or alcohol, thereby facilitating dissolution of the white slide during the subsequent staining process. Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the tape according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2As shown, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the structure of the tape 201 may include a support layer 211 and an adhesive layer 212 comprising a temperature-sensitive adhesive. The temperature-sensitive adhesive has a higher adhesion at 20°C than at 35-45°C. A first temperature control component is provided at the section peeling device to control the temperature to no higher than 20°C, and a second temperature control component is provided at the section separating device to control the temperature within the range of 35°C (inclusive) to 45°C (inclusive). The first temperature control component maintains the tape at the section peeling device at 20°C, while the second temperature control component maintains the tape at the section separating device at 35-45°C. The greater adhesion of the tape at the section peeling device allows the target section separated from the wax block to be more easily adhered to the adhesive layer of the tape and transferred as the tape moves. The lower adhesion of the tape at the section separating device prevents cracking or deformation of the target section due to the movement of the tape during transfer from the tape to the slide. In this way, the target slice is in an unfolded state during the movement of the tape and the transfer from the slice transfer device to the slide. The preparation of the white slice will no longer require the steps of spreading the slice in a water bath, scooping the slice, and baking the slice, and will not adversely affect the subsequent staining steps.

[0031] Figure 3 FIG. 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a slice transmission device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 3As shown, the slice transfer device 20 also includes a first rotating wheel 202, a second rotating wheel 203, and a third rotating wheel 204. The adhesive tape is wound around the first, second, and third rotating wheels. Due to the friction between the adhesive tape and the rotating wheels, the adhesive tape can move between the three rotating wheels as the rotating wheels rotate. The first rotating wheel 202 is mounted with a disk-shaped adhesive tape, with the adhesive layer of the tape facing away from the rotation center of the rotating wheels. The first rotating wheel 202 is installed upstream of the slice peeling device 10. The second rotating wheel 203 is located at the slice peeling device 10 and is used to cooperate with the slice peeling device 10 to transfer the target slice peeled from the wax block by the slice peeling device 10 to the adhesive tape in an unfolded state. The third rotating wheel 204 is located downstream of the slice separation device 30 and can be driven to rotate, thereby wrapping the adhesive tape that has passed through the slice separation device around it, thereby achieving tape recovery. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the third rotating wheel is equipped with a third temperature control unit for controlling the temperature to no higher than 5°C. This maintains the adhesive tape in a low-temperature environment of no higher than 5°C, allowing the temperature-sensitive adhesive on the tape's support layer to solidify, allowing the support layer and adhesive layer of the tape to separate, simplifying subsequent tape recycling. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first rotating wheel 202 can be mounted above the slicing and peeling device, with the second rotating wheel 203 positioned toward the cutting component of the slicing and peeling device. The third rotating wheel 204 and the second rotating wheel 203 are positioned behind the second rotating wheel 203. The adhesive tape 201 passes around the first rotating wheel 202 (counterclockwise) and the second rotating wheel 203 (clockwise) in different directions, and then passes around the second rotating wheel 203 and the third rotating wheel 204 in the same direction. In this manner, the adhesive tape can protrude at an angle at the slicing and peeling device toward the component of the slicing and peeling device used to peel the target slice. This allows the target slice to be gradually peeled from the wax block and gradually absorbed by the adhesive layer of the tape, thereby being transferred to the adhesive tape 201 in an unfolded state.

[0032] Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the slicing and peeling device and the second rotating wheel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 4As shown, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the slicing and peeling device 10 includes a blade holder 101 with a triangular side surface. A blade for cutting the wax block 40 is mounted on the top of the blade holder, and the blade's cutting edge is fixed to the blade holder 103 with the cutting edge facing upward. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first temperature control element can be an air cooling plate 104 fixed upstream of the blade. The air cooling plate 104 can output cold air below 15°C toward the tape, so that the temperature of the adhesive layer of the tape after passing through the air cooling plate 104 can be maintained below 20°C. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a heating film, such as a graphene heating film, is attached to the back of the blade to cover the blade area. The heating film controls the temperature of the blade area to 30°C-60°C, and the heating temperature of the heating film can be controlled by an electric current. In this way, the temperature of the blade can be adjusted for different slice thicknesses. For example, the heating temperature for 5μm slices is 40°C, and the heating temperature for 10μm slices is 50°C. The thicker the slice, the higher the heating temperature, and the smoother the cut surface. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the slicing and peeling device 10 also includes a wax block mounting groove 102 for fixing the wax block 40. The wax block mounting groove is provided with a fixing structure for clamping and fixing the wax block. For example, the fixing structure can be a slot that opens horizontally toward the large-film rack. The inner diameter of the slot matches the outer diameter of the wax block, so that the wax block can be fixed in the slot. The wax block mounting groove 103 is connected to a driving mechanism 103, which can drive the wax block mounting groove to move up and down. Since the slot is horizontally open, the fixation of the wax block will not be affected during the up and down movement of the wax block mounting groove. As the wax block passes through the blade from top to bottom, the wax block will be cut into two parts by the blade, wherein the first part 402 is still fixed in the slot, and the second part is separated from the first part 402 at the blade. The second rotating wheel is installed toward the cutting edge of the blade. Through the driving mechanism, the second rotating wheel can be driven to rotate together with the tape attached to its surface. By adjusting the rotation speed of the second rotating wheel to match the speed of the wax block mounting groove 103 moving from top to bottom, the second part separated from the cutting edge can be gradually adhered and fixed by the adhesive layer of the tape, and finally separated from the wax block in the wax block mounting groove, forming a target slice 401 collected by the tape.

[0033] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the support layer 211 of the adhesive tape can be a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) / PEG (polyethylene glycol) composite material. For example, the support layer can be a blend of PVA powder and PEG powder mixed in a certain proportion, added to a water-ethanol solvent, heated to dissolve, and then coated and formed. Alternatively, the support layer can be a copolymer or grafted product formed by grafting PEG chains onto PVA molecules through chemical bonding (such as esterification). PVA has excellent film-forming ability and mechanical strength, facilitating the formation of a uniform and tough support layer. The flexible PEG chain segments can lower the glass transition temperature of PVA, reducing the brittleness of the support layer. In this way, PVA provides a rigid framework for the support layer, while PEG improves its flexibility, resulting in a support layer with both strength and ductility, making it less prone to breakage. Furthermore, PEG's ability to absorb and retain water provides a moist environment for the target sample, preserving sample activity or morphological integrity. Both PVA and PEG are water-soluble. Therefore, the white slide can be dissolved in water or alcohol during the subsequent staining process, and the recovered adhesive tape can be degraded by washing with water or gentle heating. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the back side of the support layer may further be provided with friction patterns for increasing friction, which can enhance the friction between the tape and the rotating wheel, making it difficult for the two to produce relative displacement.

[0034] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the temperature-sensitive adhesive of adhesive layer 212 may be a PVA / paraffin wax composite material. PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is a water-soluble polymer that forms a strong hydrogen bond network at low temperatures (e.g., 20°C), providing high adhesion. When the temperature rises to the melting point of paraffin wax (typically 40-60°C), the hydrogen bond network of PVA partially dissociates, resulting in a decrease in adhesion. Paraffin wax is solid at low temperatures and can form physical crosslinks with PVA, enhancing adhesion. However, at 35-45°C, paraffin wax begins to soften or melt, losing its solid support function and significantly reducing adhesion. This allows the temperature-sensitive adhesive composed of the PVA / paraffin wax composite material to exhibit higher adhesion at 20°C than at 35-45°C. Furthermore, the PVA matrix in the temperature-sensitive adhesive is soluble in hot water or alcohol, while paraffin wax, for example, can be dispersed or dissolved by alcohol. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the mass ratio of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) to paraffin wax can be adjusted between 4:1 and 7:3 depending on the application scenario. For example, as the primary adhesive matrix of a PVA / paraffin composite, PVA may comprise 60-80% by weight of the composite; paraffin wax particles, serving as a temperature-sensitive modulator, may comprise 20-40% by weight of the composite. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a plasticizer such as glycerin may be added to the composite to improve the tape's flexibility at low temperatures (e.g., below 20°C). In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a surfactant such as Tween 50 may also be added to the composite to promote uniform dispersion of the paraffin wax particles and PVA. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the adhesive layer may have a thickness of 50-100 μm, ensuring sufficient adhesion without interfering with observation of tissue sections. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a microporous adsorption array may be provided on the surface of the adhesive layer. The size of the microporous adsorption array is approximately the same as the target section. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the micropores in the array are sized between 3-6 μm, with a spacing between adjacent micropores of 8-12 μm, making it more suitable for positioning and adsorbing the target section.

[0035] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the structure of the second rotating wheel according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the process of transferring the target slice from the slice peeling device to the tape, the edge or local area of the slice may not be in sufficient contact with the adhesive layer of the tape, resulting in slight curling. Figure 5As shown, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the surface of the second rotating wheel 203 is provided with a first micro-airbag array 231. The first micro-airbag array comprises multiple micro-airbags arranged along part or all of the circumference of the second rotating wheel 203, each with independently controlled pressure. The tape is wrapped around the outside of the second rotating wheel 203, with the micro-airbag array positioned between the surface of the second rotating wheel and the tape, or the micro-airbags are directly in contact with the tape's support layer on the surface of the second rotating wheel. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first micro-airbag array comprises a front end 2311 for applying a first pressure and a rear end 2312 for applying a second pressure. The front end 2311 contacts the target slice being peeled off by the slice peeling device 10 before the rear end 2312, and the first pressure applied by the front end is greater than the second pressure applied by the rear end. As the second rotating wheel rotates, the first micro-airbag array applies gradually increasing pressure to the target slice, thereby helping to flatten the target slice adhered to the tape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the pressure of the micro-airbags at the rear end of the first micro-airbag array is increased by inflating the airbags at the rear end more, thereby increasing the pressure of the micro-airbags at the rear end. For example, the rotor can be divided into multiple concentric ring regions, with the micro-airbag pressure in each region varying. The micro-airbag inflation pressure in the front half of the rotor is low, while that in the back half is higher. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the inflation holes of the micro-airbags at the front can be designed to be smaller, while those at the back can be larger, achieving pressure differentiation by controlling the airflow velocity. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the micro-airbag pressure at the back can be greater than that at the front by arranging the airbags more densely at the back end of the first micro-airbag array. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first pressure is between 8 kPa (inclusive) and 12 kPa (inclusive), and the second pressure is between 28 kPa (inclusive) and 32 kPa (inclusive), with the applied pressure of the micro-airbags gradually increasing from the front end to the back end of the first micro-airbag array, for optimal deployment of the target slice.

[0036] As the tape moves between the rollers, changes in tension or surface roughness can cause the slices to slip or deform. Furthermore, temperature fluctuations or air flow during the tape's movement can cause the relative positions of the tape and slices to shift, affecting the unfolding state of the target slice or causing it to crack. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a second micro-airbag array can be positioned in the tape's transmission path between the slice peeling and separation devices. Figure 6 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a film-making system with a second micro-airbag array according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 6As shown, the micro-airbags in the second micro-airbag array can be installed through a substrate 602 made of a flexible material such as a silicone pad or polyurethane, so as to avoid hindering the movement of the tape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, there are two substrates, one close to the support layer side of the tape, and the other close to the adhesive layer side of the tape. The micro-airbags are fixed on the substrate close to the adhesive layer side. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a detection component for detecting the target slice can also be installed upstream of the second micro-airbag array. When the detection component detects that the target slice 401 passes by, the second micro-airbag array starts to apply pressure so that the target slice is more firmly and stably adsorbed on the tape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the detection component can be a visual sensor with an image recognition function. The visual sensor can determine whether the target slice entering the detection range is curled, and when it is determined that the target slice is curled, it controls the micro-airbag corresponding to the curled area to apply pressure to flatten the target slice. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second micro-airbag array may further include a pressure sensor at the bottom of the micro-airbag to facilitate detection and control of the pressure applied by the micro-airbag tape to be between 18 kPa (inclusive) and 22 kPa (inclusive), which is most effective in eliminating curling of the target slice.

[0037] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a process of separating a target slice from a slice transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, the tape with the target slice 401 adsorbed thereon moves from the slice peeling device through the slice separation device, which is capable of separating the portion of the tape with the target slice adsorbed thereon from the main body of the tape and transferring it to the glass slide 50. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the slice separation device can use a laser or blade cutting method to cut the first tape portion 211 adhering to the target slice from the tape as a whole, forming a hollow portion 213 in the tape at the location where the target slice was originally adhered. In this way, the adhesive layer of the tape in the area surrounding the target slice 401 on the cut tape can adhere to the glass slide 50, thereby being fixed to the slide. Figure 8 FIG. 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a slice separation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 As shown, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the slice separation device 30 includes a workbench 301 and a slice separation head 302. The workbench includes a work surface arranged parallel to the tape between the third rotating wheel 204 and the second rotating wheel 203. The slice separation head 302 can move toward the work surface to separate the portion of the target slice adhered to the tape and transfer it to the slide 50. Figure 9 Shown Figure 8 A top view of the workbench in Figure 9As shown, the work surface includes a carrying area 311 for carrying the glass slide 50 and a cutting area 312 located around the carrying area. The height of the carrying area 311 on the work surface is less than the height of the cutting area 312 on the work surface, that is, the carrying area 311 is recessed on the work surface, and the size of the recessed area is roughly the same as the size of the glass slide, which is convenient for limiting the glass slide. Figure 10 Shown Figure 8 The bottom view of the slicing head in Figure 10 As shown, the bottom of the slicing separation head 302 is provided with a pressing head 321 corresponding to the bearing area 311, and a cutting head corresponding to the cutting area 312. The end surface of the pressing head 321 is horizontal, and the size of the end is roughly the same as the size of the bearing area 311. When the slicing separation head 302 contacts the work surface, the pressing head 321 should be just aligned with the bearing area 311. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a flexible pressing layer made of silicone material is provided on the surface of the pressing head, and a honeycomb microstructure is provided on the surface of the flexible pressing layer to increase the contact area between the pressing head and the tape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cutting head includes a laser cutting member or a cutting blade for cutting the tape. The cutting head and the pressing head are fixed together at the end of the slicing separation head and are substantially flush in height. Taking the cutting blade as an example, when the slicing separation head approaches the work surface, the cutting head and the pressing head at the end move synchronously. Since the bearing area is recessed on the work surface, the cutting head will contact the supporting layer of the tape before the pressing head. As the cutting and separating head continues to approach the work surface, the cutting blade penetrates into the inside of the tape, thereby cutting the tape in the corresponding area; at the same time, the pressing head contacts the portion of the tape to which the target slice is adhered, and applies pressure toward the glass slide, and the adhesive layer on the separated tape surrounding the target slice is adhered and fixed to the glass slide. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the surface of the glass slide is provided with a hydrophobic coating, such as a fluorocarbon coating, which can make the target slice more easily adsorbed to the surface of the glass slide. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second temperature control element can be a heating element provided inside the pressing head, and the heating temperature is 35°C (inclusive) -45°C (inclusive). In this way, when the slicing and separating head contacts the work surface, the pressing head can heat the corresponding adhesive layer to which the target slice is adhered, reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer, reduce the constraint force on the target slice during the transfer process, and is less likely to curl and crack. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, an air-cooled temperature control unit may also be provided between the cutting head and the pressing head to control the temperature of the adhesion layer around the target slice to below 20°C, making it more convenient to fix it to the slide through the adhesion force of the adhesion layer.

[0038] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, non-exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical applications, or technical improvements to existing technologies, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. Fully automatic pathological tissue section making machine, characterized in that, include: A slice stripping device, used to strip a target slice containing a tissue sample from a wax block embedded with the tissue sample, the slice stripping device being provided with a first temperature control unit, the control temperature of the first temperature control unit being no higher than 20°C; a slice transport device, configured to collect the target slices and transport them to a slice separation device, wherein the slice transport device comprises an adhesive tape for carrying the target slices in an unfolded state, the adhesive tape being composed of a material soluble in water or alcohol, and comprising a support layer and an adhesive layer having a temperature-sensitive adhesive, wherein the adhesive force of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at a temperature below 20° C. is higher than the adhesive force of the temperature-sensitive adhesive at a temperature between 35° C. and 45° C.; as well as The slice separation device is used to separate the target slice from the slice transmission device and adhere it to a glass slide to form a white slice of the tissue sample. The slice separation device is provided with a second temperature control unit, and the control temperature of the second temperature control unit is 35°C-45°C.

2. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slice transmission device includes: a first rotating wheel, for mounting the adhesive tape, the first rotating wheel being located upstream of the slicing and peeling device; a second rotating wheel, configured to cooperate with the slice peeling device to transfer the target slice peeled from the wax block to the adhesive tape in an unfolded state, the second rotating wheel being located at the slice peeling device; and The third rotating wheel is used to recycle the tape. The third rotating wheel is located downstream of the slice separation device. The third rotating wheel is provided with a third temperature control unit, and the control temperature of the third temperature control unit is not higher than 5°C.

3. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The support layer is a PVA / PEG composite material, and the back of the support layer is provided with friction patterns for increasing friction.

4. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 2, wherein The temperature-sensitive adhesive is a PVA / paraffin composite material, and the surface of the adhesive layer is provided with a micropore adsorption array, the diameter of the micropores is 3-6 μm, and the spacing between adjacent micropores is 8-12 μm.

5. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first micro-airbag array is provided on the surface of the second rotating wheel; and The first micro-airbag array includes a front end for applying a first pressure and a rear end for applying a second pressure, the front end contacts the target slice being peeled off at the slice peeling device before the rear end, and the first pressure is less than the second pressure.

6. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: Also includes: The first pressure is 8 kPa-12 kPa, the second pressure is 28 kPa-32 kPa, and the pressure applied by the airbags gradually increases from the front end to the rear end of the first micro-airbag array.

7. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: A second micro-airbag array is arranged in the tape transmission path between the slice peeling device and the slice separating device. The second micro-airbag array faces the adhesive layer of the tape and is used to apply a pressure of 18-22 kPa to the tape.

8. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 2, wherein The slice separation device comprises: a workbench comprising a workbench surface parallel to the adhesive tape between the third rotating wheel and the second rotating wheel, the workbench surface comprising a carrying area for carrying a glass slide and a cutting area located around the carrying area, wherein the height of the carrying area is smaller than the height of the cutting area; and A slice separation head is used to move toward the work surface to separate the portion of the tape to which the target slice is attached and transfer it to the glass slide. The slice separation head includes a pressing head arranged corresponding to the carrying area and a cutting head arranged corresponding to the cutting area.

9. The fully automatic pathological tissue sectioning machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cutting head is provided with a fourth temperature control element, the control temperature of the fourth temperature control element is 30° C.-60° C., and the fourth temperature control element also includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the blade of the cutting head.

10. The fully automatic pathological tissue section making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The pressing head comprises a flexible silicone layer with a honeycomb microstructure on the surface.

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