DE9214227U1 - Spreaders for slides - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spreader for the uniform distribution of drop-shaped liquids, in particular blood, on microscope slides (hereinafter: blood smear).

To examine blood or other liquid or serum samples, a smear is made on a slide. To do this, a second slide or a cover glass is brought to a drop of the sample on a first slide at a certain angle. When it comes into contact with the drop, it spreads along the edge of the spreader and runs to the edges of the first slide. The sample is then spread (smeared) by evenly pulling the spreader along the length of the slide.

When using cover glasses or slides as spreaders, it has been shown to be disadvantageous that injuries can be caused by broken glass or sharp edges of the spreader. Especially in serum or blood tests, it is particularly important to prepare samples as safely as possible due to the high risk of infection.

Theodor-Heuss-Straße 1 0-3300 Braunschweig

Federal Republic of Germany —

Telephone 0531-800 79 Telex 0-9 52 620 gramm d Fax 05 31-812 97

The object of the present invention is to develop a spreader that will replace the spreader glass used previously and avoid its disadvantages.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a plastic part that can be placed on the wetted surface of an object carrier, with a handle end and a spreading edge opposite it, which at both ends merges into a sliding section that projects beyond the spreading edge and, in use, defines the clear distance of the spreading edge from the wetted surface of the surface of the object carrier, to which a guide section protrudes at right angles, the guide section projecting beyond the sliding section, the clear distance between the two guide sections corresponding to the width of the object carrier to be applied.

The spreader according to the invention therefore replaces the second slide or cover glass previously used for blood smears. The plastic part is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, is unbreakable and, above all, easy to sterilize and can therefore be reused. The plastic part is easy to handle. The two guide sections that span the slide to be applied on both sides ensure precise guidance during the blood smear in the longitudinal direction of the slide, with the two sliding sections that each run along a longitudinal edge of the slide ensuring a constant clear distance between the smearing edge and the wetted surface of the slide and at the same time easy guidance of the plastic part during the blood smear.

In order to achieve a uniform smear even of different blood viscosities, the spreader designed according to the invention is preferably provided with a special spreading angle. For this purpose, it is expedient if the sliding surface of each sliding section, which runs parallel to the spreading edge, has a chamfer that determines the inclination of the attached plastic part. Furthermore, for this purpose,

It is advantageous if the spreading edge is rounded at least on the side of the chamfer of the two sliding sections.

For precise handling of the spreader, it is advantageous if the handle end of the plastic part has a grooved
has a thumb rest.

The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It shows:

Figure 1 - largely to scale in plan view a

striker;
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Figure 2 shows in enlarged scale and for better clarity in slightly distorted proportions the right end of the striker in Figure 1 in
perspective representation and
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Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a spreader in working position and placed on a microscope slide.

The illustrated spreader is formed by a plastic part 1, the material thickness of which can preferably be 1 to 2 mm. The plastic part 1 has a handle end 2 and a spreading edge 3 opposite it.

Figure 2 shows that the spreading edge 3 merges at both ends into a sliding section 4 projecting beyond the spreading edge 3, to which a
the guide section 5 protruding beyond the sliding section 4. The clear distance a between the two guide sections 5 corresponds to the width of the slide 6 to which the spreader is to be applied.

If the plastic part 1 is placed on the wetted surface of a slide 6 to perform a blood smear, the two guide sections 5 overlap the longitudinal edges of the slide 6 and thus form an exact guide during the blood smear. The plastic part 1 rests with its two sliding sections 4 on the wetted surface of the slide 6.

The blood smear is expediently carried out with the spreader positioned at an angle of < 90° relative to the wetted surface of the slide 6. In order to achieve a specific spreading angle in a reproducible manner, the sliding surfaces of the two sliding sections 4 running parallel to the spreading edge 3 are provided with a chamfer 4a, which determines the inclination of the attached plastic part 1.

In order to apply the coating to the wetted surface of the slide, it is also expedient if the spreading edge is rounded at least on the side of these two bevels 4a.
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To facilitate handling of the spreader according to the invention, the handle end 2 of the plastic part 1 has a grooved thumb rest 7.

Gr/is

Claims (4)

1. Spreader for the even distribution of liquids applied in drop form, in particular blood, on slides (6) (hereinafter: blood smear), characterized by a plastic part (1) which can be placed on the wetted surface of a slide (6) and has a handle end (2) and a spreading edge (3) opposite this, which at both ends merges into a sliding section (4) which projects beyond the spreading edge (3) and, in use, defines the clear distance of the spreading edge (3) from the wetted surface of the surface of the slide (6), to which a guide section (5) protrudes at right angles, projecting beyond the sliding section (4), the clear distance (a) between the two guide sections (5) corresponding to the width of the slide (6) to be applied. 2. Spreader according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding surface of each sliding section (4) running parallel to the spreading edge (3) has a chamfer (4a) determining the inclination of the attached plastic part (1). Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 1 :..: * .: " : _#:# \:\ D-3300 Braunschweig Federal Repafolfk Beutseh^Rd-&iacgr;· Telephone 0531-8 00 79
Telex 0-9 52 620 gramm d Fax 05 31-81297 3. Spreader according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spreading edge (3) is rounded at least on the side of the chamfer (4a) of the two sliding sections (4), 4. Spreader according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the handle end (2) of the plastic part (1) has a grooved thumb rest (7). Patent attorneys
Gram + Lins Gr/is ·