Agitation device for specimen slide

Abstract

To secure temperature performance of a reagent on a slide without generating sliding of a heat transfer surface due to oscillation.SOLUTION: An agitation device for a specimen slide is provided, which vibrates to thereby agitate and mix buffer liquid 2 on a specimen slide 1 holding a specimen on the surface thereof and a coloring reaction-purpose reagent required for coloring of the specimen, the agitation device for the specimen slide comprises: a slide stage 3 which holds the specimen slide 1; a temperature adjustment unit 8 which adjusts temperature of the specimen slide 1; a heat transfer unit 9 which transfers heat to the specimen slide 1 in such a manner that the temperature of temperature adjustment unit 8 and the temperature of the specimen slide 1 are almost constant; and an elevating / lowering stage 11 which elevates and lowers a slide holding unit. When the buffer liquid 2 and the coloring reaction-purpose reagent are agitated, the elevating / lowering stage 11 is lowered and the heat transfer unit 9 and an oscillation unit 5 oscillating the buffer liquid 2 and coloring reaction-purpose reagent are separated from each other before the buffer liquid 2 and coloring reaction-purpose reagent are vibrated, and when heat is transferred to the specimen slide 1 through the heat transfer unit 9, the elevating / lowering stage 11 is elevated and consequently the heat transfer unit 9 and an oscillation unit 5 are brought into contact with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a specimen slide stirring device, and particularly to a specimen slide stirring device suitable for stirring and mixing a buffer solution on a specimen slide holding a specimen on its surface and a reagent for a staining reaction required for staining the specimen by vibration.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in the field of pathology, in immunostaining for detecting an antigen, which is a kind of protein in a tissue specimen, the development of an automatic staining device that mechanizes the staining process has been progressing.

[0003] In the staining process, a buffer solution and various reagents for the staining reaction are dropped onto the specimen liquid on the slide glass for each step. In order for the specimen to be stained normally, it is necessary to stir the buffer solution and the staining reagent with a stirring device and react the well-mixed reagent with the specimen.

[0004] As a method for mixing the reagents on the slide glass, a stirring device that stirs by vibrating the slide glass onto which the reagents are dropped is known.

[0005] As prior art documents of this stirring device, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be cited.

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes a slide glass transport device having a slide holder transport device, a macro-imaging slide glass specimen transport device, and a micro-imaging slide glass specimen transport device for transporting a plurality of slide holders from a preparation position to an imaging position, imaging the overall image and micro image of all the slide glass specimens in the slide holder, and performing processing up to the transport to the preparation position, so that the processing can be performed efficiently while minimizing the arrangement space. The slide holder transport device has a multi-joint arm provided downward from the upper part of the slide holder transport device and movable in three-dimensional directions, and a slide holder gripping part provided at the tip of the multi-joint arm for gripping and releasing the slide holder from above.

[0007] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, in order to realize the reliable extraction of the slide glass from within the slide glass cassette and the conveyance thereof to a predetermined position with a simpler structure, at least a drawer handle provided with a protrusion for hooking the slide glass at the tip, a drive mechanism, and a positioning guide provided with a tapered introduction part at the position where the extracted slide glass enters are provided. The drive mechanism performs a series of operations of advancing, rising, and retracting the drawer handle. By this series of operations, the slide glasses to be extracted are placed one by one on the drawer handle. At this time, the slide glass placed on the drawer handle is pulled out with the protrusion of the drawer handle abutting against the side surface thereof. Therefore, as the drawer handle retracts, the extraction end portion located at the tip of the slide glass is pushed into the tapered introduction part of the positioning guide. As a result, a slide glass conveyance device is described in which the extracted slide glass is smoothly guided by the guide rails of the positioning guide on both side surfaces.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] By the way, in an automatic staining apparatus using a stirring device, in order to keep the reagent temperature on the slide at a constant temperature (15°C to 95°C), it is necessary to ensure the temperature performance of the reagent on the slide without generating sliding of the heat transfer surface due to vibration. The development of a stirring device for realizing this has been desired.

[0010] However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above do not describe any solutions for solving the above-described problems.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a specimen slide stirring device that can ensure the temperature performance of a reagent on a slide without generating sliding of a heat transfer surface due to vibration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The specimen slide stirring device of the present invention is a specimen slide stirring device that stirs and mixes a buffer solution on a specimen slide holding a specimen on its surface and a reagent for a staining reaction required for staining the specimen by vibration, and includes a slide stage for holding the specimen slide, a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the specimen slide, a heat transfer unit for transferring heat to the specimen slide so that the temperature of the heat transfer unit and the specimen slide becomes substantially constant, and a lifting stage for raising and lowering a slide holding unit. When stirring the buffer solution and the reagent for the staining reaction, the lifting stage is lowered to separate a vibration unit that vibrates the heat transfer unit, the buffer solution, and the reagent for the staining reaction before vibrating the buffer solution and the reagent for the staining reaction, and when transferring heat to the specimen slide through the heat transfer unit, the lifting stage is raised to bring the heat transfer unit into contact with the vibration unit.

Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the temperature performance of a reagent on a slide can be ensured without generating sliding of a heat transfer surface due to vibration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the specimen slide stirring device of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated examples. In each figure, the same reference numerals are used for the same components.

Example

[0016] The specimen slide stirring device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows Example 1 of the specimen slide stirring device of the present invention, in a state where the elevating stage 11 is descending, FIG. 2 shows a state where the elevating stage 11 is ascending, FIG. 3 shows the arrangement states of the slide conveyance unit 7, the vibration unit holding stage 6, the slide fixing unit 4, and the slide stage 3 employed in Example 1 of the specimen slide stirring device of the present invention, FIG. 4 shows details of the connection state between the specimen slide 1, the slide fixing unit 4, and the vibration fixing unit 17 in Example 1 of the specimen slide stirring device of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows a front view of the elevating structure of the elevating stage 11 in Example 1 of the specimen slide stirring device of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows a side view of the elevating stage 11 in FIG. 5 during ascent, and FIG. 7 shows a side view of the elevating stage 11 in FIG. 5 during descent.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the specimen slide stirring device of this embodiment stirs and mixes the buffer solution 2 on the specimen slide 1 holding the specimen on its surface and the reagent for the staining reaction required for staining the specimen by vibrating them with the driving force from a vibration driving unit (for example, a vibration motor) 14 described later for the vibrating unit 5.

[0019] Specifically, it includes a slide stage 3 for holding the specimen slide 1, a temperature control unit (for example, a Peltier element) 8 for controlling the temperature of the specimen slide 1, a heat transfer unit 9 that detects the temperature change of this temperature control unit 8 with a Peltier element and a thermocouple and transfers heat to the specimen slide 1 so that the temperatures of the temperature control unit 8 and the specimen slide 1 become substantially constant, and a heat insulation unit (made of a heat insulation material, for example, plastic) 10 provided below the heat transfer unit 9 and the temperature control unit 8 is supported by the lower part 11b of the lifting stage, and it is generally configured with a lifting stage 11 composed of an upper part 11a and a lower part 11b of the lifting stage for lifting the slide holding unit.

[0020] And when stirring the buffer solution 2 and the reagent for the staining reaction, the upper part 11a of the lifting stage 11 of the lifting stage 11 is lowered to separate the heat transfer unit 9 that transfers heat to the specimen slide 1 and the vibrating unit 5 that vibrates the buffer solution 2 and the reagent for the staining reaction (the state in FIGS. 1 and 6) before vibrating the buffer solution 2 and the reagent for the staining reaction. On the other hand, during heat transfer when transferring heat to the specimen slide 1 through the heat transfer unit 9, the lower part 11b of the lifting stage 11 of the lifting stage 11 is raised to bring the heat transfer unit 9 and the vibrating unit 5 into contact (the vibrating side heat transfer unit 9a shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is in contact with the vibrating unit 5) (the state in FIGS. 2 and 7). In the temperature control unit 8, the temperature of the reagent for the staining reaction on the specimen slide 1 is controlled to be maintained at a predetermined temperature.

[0021] Also, the vibrating unit 5 is connected as shown in FIG. 4 via a vibration driving unit 14, an eccentric cam 15, a linear motion link unit 16, and a vibration fixing unit 17, and the driving force of the vibration driving unit 14 is transmitted through the eccentric cam 15, the linear motion link unit 16, and the vibration fixing unit 17 to vibrate.

[0022] When the specimen slide 1 held by the slide stage 3 via the vibration unit holding stage 6 reaches an arbitrary position on the disk-shaped slide conveyance unit 7, it is connected as shown in FIG. 4 to the vibration fixing unit 17 on the disk-shaped drive fixing unit 22 side.

[0023] In addition, the upper part 11a of the lifting stage and the lower part 11b of the lifting stage are arranged such that their connection parts face each other in the horizontal direction. When the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 6), the connection parts of the upper part 11a of the lifting stage and the lower part 11b of the lifting stage are connected to each other. When the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends (the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 7), the upper part 11a of the lifting stage moves horizontally (to the right direction in the figure) by the driving force of the lifting drive unit (for example, a linear motion motor) 18 placed on the lifting drive device fixing unit 21 being transmitted through the linear motion part 19 and the linear motion stage 20, and the connection with the lower part 11b of the lifting stage is released. Then, the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends and the heat transfer part 9 and the vibration part 5 come into contact.

[0024] Specifically, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower part 11b of the lifting stage and the lifting stage fixing part 12 are fixed. When the lower part 11b of the lifting stage and the upper part 11a of the lifting stage come into contact, a force is applied to the lower part 11b of the lifting stage, the lifting link part 13 descends, and the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends.

[0025] On the other hand, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends, it is the opposite of when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends. As shown in FIG. 7, when the contact between the lower part 11b of the lifting stage and the upper part 11a of the lifting stage is released, the lifting link part 13 ascends and the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends.

[0026] Note that between the slide conveyance unit 7 and the heat insulation part 10, a rising holding part composed of a spring that extends when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends and contracts when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends is arranged.

[0027] In addition, the connection part between the upper part 11a of the lifting stage and the lower part 11b of the lifting stage is formed in a wedge shape, enabling space saving.

[0028] With such a configuration of this embodiment, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage descends (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 6), the heat transfer part 9 connected to the lower part 11b of the lifting stage 11 descends and separates from the vibrating part 5 (the fact that the heat transfer part 9 separates from the vibrating part 5 is determined by providing a thermocouple on the vibrating side and detecting that the temperature drops when they separate). In this state, the vibrating part 5 can be vibrated. Also, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage 11 of the lifting stage 11 ascends (the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 7), the heat transfer part 9 connected to the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends and the heat transfer part 9 comes into contact with the vibrating part 5. And a specimen slide 1 is held on the vibrating part 5. When the buffer solution 2 and the reagent for the staining reaction do not vibrate (non-vibrating state), the temperature of the buffer solution 2 on the specimen slide 1 can be adjusted by the temperature control part 8. Note that the reference numeral 9b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is the heat transfer part on the lifting side.

[0029] Therefore, according to the specimen slide stirring device of this embodiment, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage 11 of the lifting stage 11 descends (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 6), the heat transfer part 9 connected to the lower part 11b of the lifting stage also descends and separates from the vibrating part 5. By vibrating the vibrating part 5 in this state, stirring can be performed without generating a sliding surface, and it is possible to prevent the slide stage 3 and the heat transfer part 9 from sliding and wearing due to vibration and deteriorating the heat transfer performance.

[0030] Also, when the lower part 11b of the lifting stage 11 of the lifting stage 11 ascends (the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 7), the heat transfer part 9 connected to the lower part 11b of the lifting stage ascends and the heat transfer part 9 comes into contact with the vibrating part 5. And a specimen slide 1 is held on the vibrating part 5. When the buffer solution 2 and the reagent for the staining reaction do not vibrate (non-vibrating state), it becomes possible to adjust the temperature of the buffer solution 2 on the specimen slide 1 by the temperature control part 8.

[0031] Therefore, the specimen slide stirring device of this embodiment can ensure the temperature performance of the reagent on the slide without generating sliding of the heat transfer surface due to vibration.

[0032] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Also, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, or replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1... Specimen slide, 2... Buffer solution, 3... Slide stage, 4... Slide fixing part, 5... Vibration part, 6... Vibration part holding stage, 7... Slide conveyance part, 8... Temperature control part, 9... Heat transfer part, 9a... Vibration side heat transfer part, 9b... Elevation side heat transfer part, 10... Heat insulation part, 11... Elevation stage, 11a... Upper part of elevation stage, 11b... Lower part of elevation stage, 12... Elevation stage fixing part, 13... Elevation link part, 13A..., 13a..., 13b..., 13c..., 13d..., 14... Driving part for vibration, 15... Return cam, 16... Direct-acting link part, 17... Vibration fixing part, 18... Driving part for elevation, 19... Direct-acting part, 20... Direct-acting stage, 21... Elevation driving device fixing part, 22... Driving fixing part, 23... Upper holding part.

Claims

1. A specimen slide stirring device that stirs and mixes a buffer solution on a specimen slide holding a specimen on its surface and a reagent for a staining reaction required for staining the specimen by vibration, comprising: a slide stage for holding the specimen slide; a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the specimen slide; a heat transfer unit for transferring heat to the specimen slide so that the temperature of the temperature control unit and the specimen slide becomes substantially constant; and a lifting stage for lifting and lowering the slide holding unit. When stirring the buffer solution and the reagent for the staining reaction, the lifting stage is lowered to separate the heat transfer unit and a vibration unit for vibrating the buffer solution and the reagent for the staining reaction before vibrating the buffer solution and the reagent for the staining reaction, and when transferring heat to the specimen slide through the heat transfer unit, the lifting stage is raised to bring the heat transfer unit into contact with the vibration unit. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

2. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 1, wherein: the temperature control unit controls the temperature so as to maintain the temperature of the reagent for the staining reaction on the specimen slide at a predetermined temperature. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

3. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 1, wherein: the lifting stage consists of an upper part of the lifting stage and a lower part of the lifting stage, and the slide holding unit is configured such that the heat transfer unit, the temperature control unit, and a heat insulation unit provided below the temperature control unit are supported by the lower part of the lifting stage. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

4. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 1, wherein: the vibration unit is connected via a drive unit for vibration, an eccentric cam, a direct-acting link unit, and a vibration fixing unit, and the driving force of the drive unit for vibration is transmitted through the eccentric cam, the direct-acting link unit, and the vibration fixing unit to cause vibration. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

5. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 3, wherein: the upper part of the lifting stage and the lower part of the lifting stage are arranged such that connection parts face each other in the horizontal direction. When the lifting stage descends, the connection parts of the upper part of the lifting stage and the lower part of the lifting stage are connected to each other. When the lifting stage ascends, the upper part of the lifting stage moves horizontally by the driving force of a driving unit for lifting and the connection with the lower part of the lifting stage is released. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

6. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 5, wherein: When the lifting stage descends, the heat transfer part connected to the lifting stage descends and separates from the vibrating part, and the vibrating part is vibrated in this state. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

7. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 5, When the lifting stage ascends, the heat transfer part connected to the lifting stage ascends and the heat transfer part comes into contact with the vibrating part, and the specimen slide is held by the vibrating part. When the buffer liquid and the reagent for the staining reaction are not vibrating, the temperature control part adjusts the temperature of the buffer liquid on the specimen slide. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

8. The specimen slide stirring device according to claim 5, The connection part between the upper part and the lower part of the lifting stage is formed in a wedge shape. A specimen slide stirring device characterized by this.

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