Slide clamping jaw device used on digital pathological section scanner

Abstract

The utility model provides a slide clamping jaw device used on a digital pathological section scanner, which relates to the technical field of clamping jaws, and comprises a clamping jaw base fixed on the digital pathological section scanner, and a linear guide rail arranged at the top of the clamping jaw base; the clamping jaw assembly is installed on the linear guide rail in a sliding mode, the driving end of the clamping jaw assembly is connected with the driving assembly, and the driving assembly applies thrust to the driving end so that the clamping end of the clamping jaw assembly can be separated to clamp a glass slide. And the driving assembly applies a clamping force opposite to the thrust direction after the clamping end clamps the slide, so that the clamping end keeps clamping the slide. The slide clamping device has the advantages that the whole structure is small, the weight and the cost are reduced, the spring is used for providing clamping force, and the slide can still be clamped under the power failure condition; the structure of the clamping jaw assembly improves the precision of the clamping jaw, the clamped slide is parallel to the horizontal direction, and the requirement of directly serving as a scanning platform is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of clamping jaws, in particular to a glass slide clamping jaw device used on a digital pathology slice scanner. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of modern medical technology, digital pathology slide scanners (scanners for short) have become an indispensable tool in the field of pathology diagnosis. By scanning cell samples and tissue sections, they provide doctors with accurate and reliable diagnostic evidence. However, with the growing demand for medical care, the workload of pathology diagnosis has also increased significantly, placing higher demands on scanner efficiency.

[0003] Scanner designs currently face numerous challenges. First, due to the high requirements for repeatable positioning accuracy and anti-interference capabilities of the scanning platform, as well as the need for sufficient scanning space, the scanning platform is often designed separately. This results in a complex internal structure, which not only increases manufacturing costs but also affects scanning efficiency. Second, the gripper, a key component for slide transfer, has a direct impact on the accuracy of the scan results. However, existing grippers have low precision and large gaps, making them inadequate for direct use as scanning platforms.

[0004] The gripper's drive method is also a significant factor limiting scanner performance. While commonly used, off-the-shelf electric grippers are powerful, they are bulky and cannot fit within the limited space of the scanning platform. Furthermore, due to the fixed design of the electric gripper, other structures must adapt to the gripper, resulting in poor device compatibility. Furthermore, the scanning platform typically requires various shock-absorbing and buffering devices to minimize the impact of external interference on the scanning results. However, these devices often limit the scanning platform's load capacity, requiring a separate design for the gripper's base, further increasing the complexity and cost of the device.

[0005] Finally, from an economic perspective, conventional grippers and their drive devices are not only expensive to manufacture but also require high maintenance costs during use, which increases the operating costs of medical institutions and is not conducive to the popularization and application of scanners.

[0006] In summary, existing digital pathology slide scanners have numerous shortcomings in terms of gripper accuracy, drive mechanism, structural design, and cost. Therefore, it is necessary to improve and optimize the scanner's gripper and drive mechanism to increase scanning efficiency, reduce manufacturing costs, and enhance the device's applicability and reliability. This will help promote the widespread application of digital pathology slide scanners in the field of pathology diagnosis and make a positive contribution to the development of the medical industry. Utility Model Content

[0007] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a slide clamping device for use on a digital pathology slide scanner, comprising:

[0008] A clamping jaw base is fixed on the digital pathology slice scanner, and a linear guide rail is installed on the top of the clamping jaw base;

[0009] A clamping jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the linear guide rail, a driving end of the clamping jaw assembly is connected to a driving assembly, the driving assembly applies a thrust to the driving end so that the clamping end of the clamping jaw assembly separates to clamp the glass slide, and after the clamping end clamps the glass slide, the driving assembly applies a clamping force in the opposite direction of the thrust so that the clamping end keeps clamping the glass slide.

[0010] Preferably, the clamping jaw assembly comprises:

[0011] A left clamping jaw and a right clamping jaw, wherein the bottoms of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are slidably mounted on the linear guide rail;

[0012] A gear is fixed at the midpoint between the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw. A rack is fixed on the top of the left clamping jaw and the top of the right clamping jaw respectively, and the teeth of the two racks are meshed with the teeth of the gear.

[0013] Preferably, the drive assembly includes:

[0014] A micro screw motor is fixed on the driving end of the right clamping jaw, and the screw of the micro screw motor passes through the driving ends of the right clamping jaw and the left clamping jaw in sequence, and a fixing nut is fixed to the end of the screw;

[0015] The nut slider of the micro screw motor is located between the driving ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw, and a spring is sleeved on the screw between the left clamping jaw and the fixing nut;

[0016] The micro screw motor drives the nut slider to slide on the screw toward the fixing nut, so as to apply a thrust to the left clamping jaw to separate the driving ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw;

[0017] The spring applies a clamping force opposite to the thrust direction to the left clamping jaw so that the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw keep clamping the glass slide.

[0018] Preferably, the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are provided with V-shaped grooves.

[0019] Preferably, the opening directions of the V-shaped slots at the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are opposite to each other.

[0020] Preferably, the upper surfaces of the V-shaped grooves at the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0021] Preferably, a threaded pin is further provided on the nut slider, and a pin hole corresponding to the threaded pin is opened on the left clamping jaw.

[0022] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0023] 1. The micro-screw motor provides thrust, causing the left and right clamps to separate in opposite directions to clamp the glass slide, and then the spring provides clamping force to keep the glass slide clamped. The use of the micro-screw motor makes the overall structure smaller, reducing weight and cost. The spring provides clamping force, so the glass slide can still be clamped in the event of a power outage.

[0024] 2. The clamping jaws slide on the linear guide rail with the gear as the center reference, and the sliding distance is kept consistent through the same rack, which improves the accuracy of the clamping jaws. In addition, this device can be directly fixed on the digital pathology slide scanner, and the clamped slide is parallel to the horizontal direction, meeting the requirements of being directly used as a scanning platform. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a slide clamping device used in a digital pathology slide scanner in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the left and right clamping jaws in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of area A in the middle;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of a nut slider in a preferred embodiment of the present utility model;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the slots of the left and right clamping jaws in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other embodiments may also fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they conform to the main purpose of the present invention.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, based on the above problems existing in the prior art, a slide clamping device for use on a digital pathology slide scanner is provided. Figure 1 As shown, including:

[0032] The clamping jaw base 1 is fixed on the digital pathology slide scanner, and a linear guide rail 2 is installed on the top of the clamping jaw base 1;

[0033] The clamping jaw assembly 3 is slidably mounted on the linear guide rail 2. The driving end 31 of the clamping jaw assembly 3 is connected to the driving assembly 4. The driving assembly 4 applies a thrust to the driving end 31 so that the clamping end 32 of the clamping jaw assembly 3 separates to clamp the glass slide. After the clamping end 32 clamps the glass slide, the driving assembly 4 applies a clamping force in the opposite direction of the thrust so that the clamping end 32 keeps clamping the glass slide.

[0034] Specifically, in this embodiment, the driving assembly 4 applies a thrust to the clamping assembly 3, causing the clamping end 32 to separate and thereby clamp the glass slide. Furthermore, the driving assembly 4 applies a clamping force in the opposite direction of the thrust to the clamping assembly 3, causing the clamping end 32 to maintain its grip on the glass slide. This completes the glass slide clamping operation.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the clamping jaw assembly 3 includes:

[0036] The left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 are slidably mounted on the linear guide rail 2 at their bottoms;

[0037] The gear 330 is fixed at the midpoint between the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 . A rack 340 is fixed on the top of the left clamping jaw 310 and the top of the right clamping jaw 320 , respectively, and the teeth of the two racks 340 are meshed with the teeth of the gear 330 .

[0038] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the clamping jaw assembly 3 includes a left clamping jaw 310, a right clamping jaw 320, two racks 340 and a gear 330;

[0039] The two clamping ends 32 of the two clamping jaws are used to clamp the glass slide, and the driving ends 31 of the two clamping jaws are used to receive the thrust and clamping force of the driving assembly 4. The two clamping jaws slide back and forth on the linear guide rail 2 under the drive of the thrust and clamping force to complete the clamping action;

[0040] To ensure that the relative displacement of the two jaws is equal each time, a gear 330 is installed at the midpoint between the left jaw 310 and the right jaw 320. Racks 340 are also fixed to the left and right jaws 310 and 320, respectively. The teeth of the two racks 340 mesh with the teeth of the gears 330. Therefore, when the left and right jaws 310 and 320 move, they move equal distances outward or inward with the gears 330 as the center. This ensures that the position of the jaw assembly 3 remains unchanged during each gripping operation, and the left and right jaws 310 and 320 open to the same degree, thereby improving the precision and accuracy of gripping.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 As shown, the drive assembly 4 includes:

[0042] A micro screw motor 410 is fixed to the driving end 31 of the right clamping jaw 320, and a screw rod 411 of the micro screw motor 410 passes through the driving ends 31 of the right clamping jaw 320 and the left clamping jaw 310 in sequence, and a fixing nut 412 is fixed to the end of the screw rod 411;

[0043] The nut slider 413 of the micro screw motor 410 is located between the driving end 31 of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320. A spring 420 is sleeved on the screw rod 411 between the left clamping jaw 310 and the fixing nut 412.

[0044] The micro screw motor 410 drives the nut slider 413 to slide on the screw 411 toward the fixing nut 412 to apply a thrust to the left clamping jaw 310 to separate the left clamping jaw 310 from the right clamping jaw 320;

[0045] The spring 420 applies a clamping force opposite to the thrust direction to the left clamping jaw 310 so that the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 keep clamping the glass slide.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamping ends 32 of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 are provided with V-shaped slots 321 .

[0047] Specifically, in this embodiment, a micro screw motor 410 is used, and a nut slider 413 is usually provided on the micro screw motor 410. This is because the nut slider 413 is one of the key components of the screw motor 410 to achieve linear motion. In the micro screw motor 410, the screw 411 is a spiral rod-shaped component. When the screw 411 rotates, the nut matching it will slide on the thread of the screw, thereby achieving linear motion. This nut is usually installed on the slider, and the slider can move linearly along the guide rail. Therefore, the nut slider 413 is an important component in the structure of the micro screw motor.

[0048] Because the micro-screw motor 410 is fixed on the right clamping jaw 320, when it is necessary to drive the clamping jaw assembly 3 to open and clamp the glass slide, the micro-screw motor 410 drives the nut slider to push the left clamping jaw 310 in the direction of the locking nut 412, so as to apply a thrust to separate the clamping end 32 of the clamping jaw assembly 3 to clamp the glass slide; during the pushing process, the spring 420 is compressed and stores energy in the form of deformation; therefore, when it is necessary to clamp the glass slide, the clamping force applied to the clamping jaw by the drive assembly 4 is mainly provided by the spring 420 on the screw 411, and is opposite to the thrust direction.

[0049] The micro screw motor 410 provides thrust, causing the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 to separate and clamp the glass slide in opposite directions, and then the spring 420 provides clamping force to keep the glass slide clamped. Due to the use of the micro screw motor 410, the overall structure is smaller, and the weight and cost are reduced. The spring 420 provides clamping force, so the glass slide can still be clamped when the power is off.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a threaded pin 414 is further provided on the nut slider 413 , and a pin hole 311 corresponding to the threaded pin 414 is opened on the left clamping jaw 310 .

[0051] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, a threaded pin 414 is provided on the nut slider 413, and a pin hole 311 corresponding to the threaded pin 414 is opened on the left clamping jaw 310. As mentioned above, the screw rod 411 will rotate to drive the nut slider 413 to rotate, and the threaded pin 414 plays a role in preventing the nut from rotating.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening directions of the V-shaped slots 321 at the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 are opposite to each other.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper surfaces of the V-shaped slots 321 of the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 are parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0054] Specifically, such as Figure 5 The figure shows the side view of the clamping end 32 of the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320, horizontally observed. It can be seen that the left clamping jaw 310 and the right clamping jaw 320 are provided with slots 321. The slots 321 face each other, with the upper surface parallel to the horizontal direction and the lower surface inclined. This allows for point contact and surface contact when clamping a glass slide, reducing damage to the glass slide. Furthermore, the glass slide can slide upward along the lower surface of the slot 321 when clamping and naturally slide downward when lowering. Furthermore, the glass slide clamped by the clamping jaw assembly 3 of this structure is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the device can be directly fixed to a digital pathology slide scanner via the clamping jaw base 1, meeting the requirements of being directly used as a scanning platform.

[0055] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the implementation methods and protection scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should be aware that all solutions obtained by equivalent substitutions and obvious changes made using the contents of this specification and illustrations should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A slide gripper device for use on a digital pathology slide scanner, characterized in that: include: A clamping jaw base is fixed on the digital pathology slice scanner, and a linear guide rail is installed on the top of the clamping jaw base; A clamping jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the linear guide rail, a driving end of the clamping jaw assembly is connected to a driving assembly, the driving assembly applies a thrust to the driving end so that the clamping end of the clamping jaw assembly separates to clamp the glass slide, and after the clamping end clamps the glass slide, the driving assembly applies a clamping force in the opposite direction of the thrust so that the clamping end keeps clamping the glass slide.

2. The slide gripper device according to claim 1, wherein: The clamping jaw assembly comprises: A left clamping jaw and a right clamping jaw, wherein the bottoms of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are slidably mounted on the linear guide rail; A gear is fixed at the midpoint between the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw. A rack is fixed on the top of the left clamping jaw and the top of the right clamping jaw respectively, and the teeth of the two racks are meshed with the teeth of the gear.

3. The slide gripper device according to claim 2, wherein: The drive assembly includes: A micro screw motor is fixed on the driving end of the right clamping jaw, and the screw of the micro screw motor passes through the driving ends of the right clamping jaw and the left clamping jaw in sequence, and a fixing nut is fixed to the end of the screw; The nut slider of the micro screw motor is located between the driving ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw, and a spring is sleeved on the screw between the left clamping jaw and the fixing nut; The micro screw motor drives the nut slider to slide on the screw toward the fixing nut, so as to apply a thrust to the left clamping jaw to separate the driving ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw; The spring applies a clamping force opposite to the thrust direction to the left clamping jaw so that the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw keep clamping the glass slide.

4. The slide gripper device according to claim 2, wherein: The clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are provided with V-shaped grooves.

5. The slide gripper device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The opening directions of the V-shaped slots at the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are opposite to each other.

6. The slide gripper device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper surfaces of the V-shaped grooves of the clamping ends of the left clamping jaw and the right clamping jaw are parallel to the horizontal direction.

7. The slide gripper device according to claim 3, wherein: The nut slider is also provided with a threaded pin, and the left clamping jaw is provided with a pin hole corresponding to the threaded pin.

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