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WO2024207280A1 - Cassette pour inclusion automatique - Google Patents

Cassette pour inclusion automatique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024207280A1
WO2024207280A1 PCT/CN2023/086458 CN2023086458W WO2024207280A1 WO 2024207280 A1 WO2024207280 A1 WO 2024207280A1 CN 2023086458 W CN2023086458 W CN 2023086458W WO 2024207280 A1 WO2024207280 A1 WO 2024207280A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
base
frame
hook
mold
retaining member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2023/086458
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jinwen SUN
Bingbing Wang
Xufeng YU
Chun JIN
Original Assignee
Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh
Leica Microsystems Ltd. , Shanghai
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh, Leica Microsystems Ltd. , Shanghai filed Critical Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh
Priority to PCT/CN2023/086458 priority Critical patent/WO2024207280A1/fr
Publication of WO2024207280A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024207280A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/36—Embedding or analogous mounting of samples
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/508—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above
    • B01L3/5085—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
    • B01L9/52—Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
    • B01L9/523—Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
    • B01L2200/025—Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/36—Embedding or analogous mounting of samples
    • G01N2001/366—Moulds; Demoulding

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a field of tissue embedding, and more particularly to a cassette for an auto-embedder.
  • cassettes for an auto-embedder generally include a frame and a bottom.
  • the bottom is movable relative to the frame between a first position where the bottom is retracted in the frame and a second position where the bottom is extended outside the frame.
  • a tissue sample may be placed on the bottom and the bottom may be staged down from the first position to the second position, such that the tissue sample may be located outside the frame to facilitate embedding of the tissue sample.
  • the tissue sample and the bottom will be embedded in a paraffin block together, and sectioned in a microtome together.
  • the tissue sample may be displaced, flipped, overlapped, lost, etc.
  • the bottom is also sectioned, and the service life of the microtome will be affected.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent.
  • the present disclosure proposes a cassette for an auto-embedder, which immobilizes a tissue sample in the cassette without transferring of the tissue sample between different positions in the cassette and improves service life of a microtome.
  • the present disclosure also proposes an auto-embedder including the above-mentioned cassette.
  • the present disclosure also proposes a method for using the above-mentioned auto-embedder.
  • a cassette for an auto-embedder includes a frame, a retaining member and a base.
  • the retaining member is coupled to the frame; and the base is detachably coupled to the frame.
  • the base is located outside the frame.
  • the retaining member is arranged between the frame and the base and configured to retain a tissue sample in place in the base and outside the frame.
  • the base includes a first receiving groove in a peripheral face of the base outside of the frame, and the first receiving groove is configured to accommodate paraffin during embedding of the tissue sample.
  • the base is located outside the frame, the retaining member is configured to retain the tissue sample in place in the base and outside the frame, thus the tissue sample may be immobilized between the retaining member and the base without transferring of the tissue sample between different positions in the cassette, and the tissue sample may be embedded outside the frame by introducing and solidifying paraffin to form a paraffin block;
  • the base is detachably coupled to the frame and the base include a first receiving groove in the peripheral face of the base, thus after the paraffin is introduced, cooled and solidified, solidified paraffin in the first receiving groove may facilitate detachment of the base from the frame and the paraffin block embedding the tissue sample, and after the base is separated from the frame, the frame with the paraffin block may be directly sectioned in the microtome to improve the service life of the microtome.
  • the frame includes a first hook-receiving slot
  • the base includes a first hook
  • the first hook is snap-fitted in the first hook-receiving slot.
  • the base may be snap-fitted with the frame.
  • the frame further includes a first engagement stage in the first hook-receiving slot, and the first hook is engaged with the first engagement stage.
  • the base may be stably snap-fitted with the frame.
  • the frame includes an access opening in communication with the first hook-receiving slot and the first hook is accessible through the access opening.
  • the first hook may be pushed through the access opening to disengage snap-fitting of the first hook and the first hook-receiving slot, to detach the base from the frame.
  • the base includes a protrusion extending from a face of the base opposite to the frame
  • the frame includes a limiting groove in a face opposite to the base, and the protrusion is fitted in the limiting groove.
  • the frame includes a peripheral wall and a cover portion, the cover portion is perforated and coupled to an upper portion of an inner face of the peripheral wall, the first hook-receiving slot extending through top faces of the peripheral wall and the cover portion and bottom faces of the peripheral wall and the cover portion.
  • the frame may have a simple structure, and the paraffin may be introduced into the base through the perforated cover portion.
  • the frame includes a barrier wall coupled to the top face of the cover portion and the inner face of the peripheral wall and surrounding the first hook-receiving slot.
  • the barrier wall may prevent the paraffin from entering the first hook-receiving slot from the cover portion of the frame.
  • the base includes a peripheral plate and a bottom plate, the bottom plate is coupled to a bottom end of the peripheral plate, the first hook extends upwards from a top face of the peripheral plate, and the top face of the peripheral plate near the first hook abuts against the bottom face of the cover portion.
  • the paraffin may be prevented from entering the first hook-receiving slot from the base.
  • the frame includes a plurality of through holes extending through the top face and the bottom face of the cover portion
  • the base includes a plurality of through holes extending through a top face and a bottom face of the bottom plate
  • the plurality of the through holes of the frame correspond in position to the plurality of through holes of the base, respectively.
  • a width of each of the plurality of through holes of the frame is 0.5mm-1mm
  • a width of each of the plurality of through holes of the base is 0.5mm-1mm
  • the retaining member is coupled to the frame by a snap fit or hot melting.
  • the retaining member may be fixedly coupled to the frame.
  • the retaining member includes a second hook-receiving slot
  • the frame includes a second hook
  • the second hook is snap-fitted in the second hook-receiving slot.
  • the retaining member may be snap-fitted with the frame.
  • the retaining member further includes a second engagement stage at the second hook-receiving slot, and the second hook is engaged with the second engagement stage.
  • the retaining member may be stably snap-fitted with the frame.
  • the retaining member includes a rib extending from a face of the retaining member opposite to the frame, the frame includes a slot hole in a face opposite to the retaining member, and the rib is fitted in the slot hole.
  • a height of the frame is 2mm-5mm.
  • a total height of the cassette may be small, and a dehydration basket used during processing of the tissue sample in a tissue processor may contain as many cassettes 100 as possible to improve dehydration effect.
  • An auto-embedder includes a cassette according to any one of the above-described embodiments, a mold and a gripper.
  • the mold includes a recess configured to receive the base of the cassette.
  • the gripper is configured to detach the base from the frame and lift the cassette without base, and configured to engage with the base and lift the base from the mold.
  • the base is located outside the frame, the retaining member is configured to retain the tissue sample in place in the base and outside the frame, the base is received into the recess of the mold, thus the tissue sample may be immobilized between the retaining member and the base without transferring of the tissue sample between different positions in the cassette, the tissue sample may be embedded outside the frame by introducing and solidifying paraffin in the mold to form a paraffin block; furthermore, the base is detachably coupled to the frame and the base include a first receiving groove in the peripheral face of the base, thus after the paraffin is introduced, cooled and solidified in the mold, solidified paraffin in the first receiving groove may facilitate detachment of the base from the frame and the paraffin block embedding the tissue sample while the base is remained in the mold, and after the base is separated from the frame, the frame with the paraffin block may be directly sectioned in the microtome to improve the service life of the microtome; moreover, the gripper may improve
  • the mold includes a second receiving groove opposite to the first receiving groove of the base and configured to accommodate paraffin during embedding of the tissue sample.
  • the solidified paraffin in the first receiving groove of the base and the second receiving groove of the mold may enhance connection between the base and the mold, to facilitate detachment of the base from the frame.
  • a method for using an auto-embedder includes loading the cassette on the mold, in which the base of the cassette is received in the recess of the mold; dispensing molten paraffin into the mold; cooling the mold to solidify paraffin to form a paraffin block embedding the tissue sample between the retaining member and the base; detaching the base from the frame and lifting the frame and the retaining member with the paraffin block while the base is remained in the mold; heating the mold to melt paraffin remaining in the mold; and lifting the base from the mold.
  • the tissue sample may be immobilized between the retaining member and the base to prevent transferring of the tissue sample between different positions in the cassette, and the tissue sample may be embedded outside the frame stably; furthermore, after the paraffin is introduced, cooled and solidified in the mold, the base may be detached from the frame and the paraffin block embedding the tissue sample while the base is remained in the mold, and after the base is separated from the frame, the frame with the paraffin block may be directly sectioned in the microtome to improve the service life of the microtome.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 is a front, left, bottom perspective view of a frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-Aof FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • relative terms such as “central” , “longitudinal” , “lateral” , “front” , “rear” , “right” , “left” , “inner” , “outer” , “lower” , “upper” , “horizontal” , “vertical” , “above” , “below” , “up” , “top” , “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally” , “downwardly” , “upwardly” , etc. ) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.
  • first and second are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number of indicated technical features.
  • the feature defined with “first” and “second” may comprise one or more of this feature.
  • “aplurality of” means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.
  • the terms “mounted, ” “connected, ” “coupled, ” “fixed” and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications or interactions of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.
  • the orthogonal XYZ-axis is illustrated in order to facilitate the description and determine the directions.
  • the positive direction of the X-axis is the front direction and the negative direction of the X-axis is the rear direction (i.e., a length direction)
  • the positive direction of the Y-axis is the right direction and the negative direction of the Y-axis is the left direction (i.e., a width direction)
  • the positive direction of the Z-axis is the top direction and the negative direction of the Z-axis bottom direction (i.e., a height direction) .
  • a cassette 100 for an auto-embedder 1000 includes a frame 110, a retaining member 130 and a base 150.
  • the retaining member 130 is coupled to the frame 110; and the base 150 is detachably coupled to the frame 110.
  • the base 150 is located outside the frame 110.
  • the retaining member 130 is arranged between the frame 110 and the base 150 and configured to retain a tissue sample in place in the base 150 and outside the frame 110.
  • the base 150 includes a first receiving groove 159 in a peripheral face of the base 150 outside of the frame 110, and the first receiving groove 159 is configured to accommodate paraffin during embedding of the tissue sample.
  • the base 150 is located outside the frame 110, the retaining member 130 is configured to retain the tissue sample in place in the base 150 and outside the frame 110, thus the tissue sample may be immobilized between the retaining member 130 and the base 150 without transferring of the tissue sample between different positions in the cassette 100, and the tissue sample may be embedded outside the frame 110 by introducing and solidifying paraffin to form a paraffin block 900; furthermore, the base 150 is detachably coupled to the frame 110 and the base 150 include a first receiving groove 159 in the peripheral face of the base 150, thus after the paraffin is introduced, cooled and solidified, solidified paraffin in the first receiving groove 159 may facilitate detachment of the base 150 from the frame 110 and the paraffin block 900 embedding the tissue sample, and after the base 150 is separated from the frame 110, the frame 110 with the paraffin block 900 may be directly sectioned in the microtome to improve the service life of the microtome.
  • a height of the frame 110 is 2mm-5mm.
  • a total height of the cassette 100 may be small, and a dehydration basket used during processing of the tissue sample in a tissue processor may contain as many cassettes 100 as possible to improve dehydration effect.
  • the height of the frame 110 is 4.5mm. In other examples, the height of the frame 110 is 3.5mm. In the related art, a total height of a conventional cassette is 7mm. When the height of the frame 110 is 3.5mm, the total height of the cassette 100 may be 7mm, and thus the dehydration basket may contain the same number of cassettes 100 as the conventional cassettes.
  • the frame 110 includes a first hook-receiving slot 120
  • the base 150 includes a first hook 158
  • the first hook 158 is snap-fitted in the first hook-receiving slot 120.
  • the base 150 may be snap-fitted with the frame 110.
  • the frame 110 further includes a first engagement stage 121 in the first hook-receiving slot 120, and the first hook 158 is engaged with the first engagement stage 121.
  • the base 150 may be stably snap-fitted with the frame 110.
  • the frame 110 includes an access opening 122 in communication with the first hook-receiving slot 120 and the first hook 158 is accessible through the access opening 122.
  • the first hook 158 may be pushed through the access opening 122 to disengage snap-fitting of the first hook 158 and the first hook-receiving slot 120, to detach the base 150 from the frame 110.
  • the base 150 includes a protrusion 157 extending from a face of the base 150 opposite to the frame 110, the frame 110 includes a limiting groove 125 in a face opposite to the base 150, and the protrusion 157 is fitted in the limiting groove 125.
  • the base 150 and the frame 110 may be ensured.
  • the frame 110 includes a peripheral wall and a cover portion 115, the cover portion 115 is perforated and coupled to an upper portion of an inner face of the peripheral wall, the first hook-receiving slot 120 extending through top faces of the peripheral wall and the cover portion 115 and bottom faces of the peripheral wall and the cover portion 115.
  • the frame 110 may have a simple structure, and the paraffin may be introduced into the base 150 through the perforated cover portion 115.
  • the frame 110 includes a barrier wall 123 coupled to the top face of the cover portion 115 and the inner face of the peripheral wall and surrounding the first hook-receiving slot 120.
  • the barrier wall 123 may prevent the paraffin from entering the first hook-receiving slot 120 from the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • the base 150 includes a peripheral plate and a bottom plate 155, the bottom plate 155 is coupled to a bottom end of the peripheral plate, the first hook 158 extends upwards from a top face of the peripheral plate, and the top face of the peripheral plate near the first hook 158 abuts against the bottom face of the cover portion 115.
  • the paraffin may be prevented from entering the first hook-receiving slot 120 from the base 150.
  • the frame 110 includes a plurality of through holes 116 extending through the top face and the bottom face of the cover portion 115
  • the base 150 includes a plurality of through holes 156 extending through a top face and a bottom face of the bottom plate 155
  • the plurality of the through holes 116 of the frame 110 correspond in position to the plurality of through holes 156 of the base 150, respectively.
  • the retaining member 130 further includes a second engagement stage 141 at the second hook-receiving slot 140, and the second hook 119 is engaged with the second engagement stage 141.
  • the retaining member 130 may be stably snap-fitted with the frame 110.
  • the tissue sample may be immobilized between the retaining member 130 and the base 150 to prevent transferring of the tissue sample between different position in the cassette 100, and the tissue sample may be embedded outside the frame 110 stably; furthermore, after the paraffin is introduced, cooled and solidified in the mold 200, the base 150 may be detached from the frame 110 and the paraffin block 900 embedding the tissue sample while the base 150 is remained in the mold 200, and after the base 150 is separated from the frame 110, the frame 110 with the paraffin block 900 may be directly sectioned in the microtome to improve the service life of the microtome.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the cassette 100 includes a frame 110, a retaining member 130 and a base 150.
  • the retaining member 130 is detachably coupled to the frame 110
  • the base 150 is detachably coupled to the frame 110
  • the retaining member 130 is arranged between the frame 110 and the base 150.
  • the frame 110 has a substantially rectangular shape.
  • the frame 110 includes a first sidewall 111, a second sidewall 112, a third sidewall 113, a fourth sidewall 114, and a cover portion 115.
  • the first sidewall 111, the second sidewall 112, the third sidewall 113 and the fourth sidewall 114 are coupled end to end in sequence to form a peripheral wall of the frame 110, and the cover portion 115 is coupled to upper portions of inner faces of the first to fourth sidewalls 111, 112, 113, 114.
  • the first and third sidewalls 111, 113 are arranged oppositely in a front-rear direction (i.e., a length direction of the cassette 100)
  • the second and fourth sidewalls 112, 114 are arranged oppositely in a left-right direction (i.e., a width direction of the cassette 100) .
  • a bottom of the frame 110 is opened.
  • the first side wall 111 includes an inclined face 127 on which information about a patent is printed, such as QR (quick response) codes, barcodes, character strings, etc.
  • An angle of the inclined face 127 relative to a horizontal plane i.e., a plane passing through the length direction and width direction of the cassette 100
  • a height of the frame 110 in the height direction of the cassette 100 is 4.5 mm
  • a total height of the cassette 100 is 8mm.
  • the inclined face 127 has an enough area for information printing.
  • a height of a frame is usually 6mm, and a height of a cover is usually 1 mm, and a total height of the conventional cassette is 7mm.
  • a dehydration basket used during processing of the tissue sample in a tissue processor may contain up to 100 conventional cassettes.
  • the height of the frame 110 is significantly less than a height of a conventional frame in the related art.
  • the dehydration basket may contain as many cassettes 100 as possible, to improve dehydration effect.
  • the angle of the inclined face 127 relative to the horizontal plane is 30°
  • the height of the frame 100 may be 3.5mm
  • the total height of the cassette 100 may be adjusted to 7mm.
  • the dehydration basket may contain the same number of cassettes 100 as the conventional cassettes while ensuring an enough area for information printing.
  • the cover portion 115 is perforated and includes forty two rectangular through holes 116 extending through a top face and a bottom face of the cover portion 115 and divided into three rows extending along the front-rear direction.
  • the cover portion 115 is further provided with four slot holes 171 extending through the top face and the bottom face of the cover portion 115 and oriented in the front-rear direction. Two of the four slot holes 171 are arranged between two adjacent rows of the three rows of rectangular through holes 116, and the other two of the four slot holes 171 are arranged between the other two adjacent rows of the three rows of rectangular through holes 116.
  • the cover portion 115 is provided with eight avoidance slots 118 around the forty two rectangular through holes 116.
  • Each of the avoidance slots 118 extends through the top face and the bottom face of the cover portion 115. Every two of the eight avoidance slots 118 are arranged close to a corresponding one of the four sidewalls. That is, the eight avoidance slots 118 may divide into four pairs.
  • a first pair of the four pairs of avoidance slots 118 is arranged close to the first sidewall 111, a second pair of the four pairs of avoidance slots 118 is arranged close to the second sidewall 112, a third pair of the four pairs of avoidance slots 118 is arranged close to the third sidewall 113, and a fourth pair of the four pairs of avoidance slots 118 is arranged close to the fourth sidewall 114.
  • the cover portion 115 is further provided with eight second hooks 119.
  • the eight second hooks 119 are arranged in the eight avoidance slots 118, respectively.
  • the frame 110 is further provided with four first hook-receiving slots 120.
  • Each of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 extends through a top face and a bottom face of the frame 110 in a top-bottom direction (i.e., a height direction of the cassette 100) .
  • Two of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 extend through bottom faces of the cover portion 115 and the second sidewall 112 and top faces of the cover portion 115 and the second sidewall 112 in the top-bottom direction
  • the other two of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 extend through bottom faces of the cover portion 115 and the fourth sidewall 114 and top faces of the cover portion 115 and the fourth sidewall 114 in the top-bottom direction.
  • the frame 110 is provided with four first engagement stages 121.
  • the four first engagement stages 121 are arranged in the four first hook-receiving slots 120, respectively. Furthermore, two of the four first engagement stages 121 are arranged in the two first hook-receiving slots 120 at the second sidewall 112; and the other two of the four first engagement stages 121 are arranged in the two first hook-receiving slots 120 at the fourth sidewall 114.
  • the frame 110 is provided with four access openings 122 in an outer face of the frame 110.
  • Each of the four access openings 122 is in communication with a corresponding one of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 and adjacent to a corresponding one of the four first engagement stages 121.
  • two access openings 122 are defined in an outer face of the second sidewall 112, in communication with the two first hook-receiving slots 120 and adjacent to the two first engagement stages 121 at the second sidewall 112, respectively; and the other two access openings 122 are defined in an outer face of the fourth sidewall 114, in communication with the two first hook-receiving slots 120 and adjacent to the two first engagement stages 121 at the fourth sidewall 114, respectively.
  • the frame 110 is provided with four barrier walls 123, and each of the four barrier walls 123 surrounds a corresponding one of the four first hook-receiving slots 120, to prevent paraffin from entering the first hook-receiving slots 120 from the cover portion 115 during paraffin dispensing. Furthermore, two barrier walls 123 are coupled to the top face of the cover portion 115 and an inner face of the second sidewall 112 and surround the two first hook-receiving slots 120 at the second sidewall 112, respectively; and the other two barrier walls 123 are coupled to the top face of the cover portion 115 and an inner face of the fourth sidewall 114 and surround the two first hook-receiving slots 120 at the fourth sidewall 114, respectively.
  • each of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 includes an inclined face 124 which faces a corresponding one of the four access openings 122 and is inclined away from the corresponding one of the four access openings 122 from bottom to top (best shown in FIG. 4) .
  • each of the four first hook-receiving slots 120 is tapered from top to bottom.
  • the inclined face 124 facilitates the deformation of the first hook 158 and detachment of the first hook 158 from the first engagement stage 121.
  • the retaining member 130 includes a first lateral bar 131, a second lateral bar 133, a first longitudinal bar 132, a second longitudinal bar 134, a third longitudinal bar 135 and a fourth longitudinal bar 136.
  • the first and second lateral bars 131, 133 extend in parallel along the left-right direction, and the first to fourth longitudinal bars 132, 134, 135, 136 extend in parallel along the front-rear direction.
  • the first lateral bar 131, the first longitudinal bar 132, the second lateral bar 133, and the second longitudinal bar 134 are coupled end to end in sequence.
  • Two ends of the third and fourth longitudinal bars 135, 136 are coupled to middle portions of the first and second lateral bars 131, 133.
  • Each of the second longitudinal bar 134, the third longitudinal bar 135 and the fourth longitudinal bar 136 is provided with seven first retaining fingers 137 obliquely extend rightwards and downwards, and each of the first longitudinal bar 132, the third longitudinal bar 135 and the fourth longitudinal bar 136 is provided with seven second retaining fingers 138 obliquely extending leftwards and downwards.
  • the first retaining fingers 137 and the second retaining fingers 138 are alternatively arranged along the front-rear direction (best shown in FIG. 3) .
  • the first and second retaining fingers 137, 138 are configured to retain a tissue sample provided between the retaining member 130 and the base 150, to avoid displacement of the tissue sample and expose the tissue sample outside the frame 110.
  • the retaining member 130 includes four ribs 139. Each of the four ribs 139 extends upwards and oriented in the front-rear direction. The four ribs 139 are configured to fit in the four slot holes 171 in the cover portion 115 of the frame 110, respectively, to ensure accurate relative position of the retaining member 130 and the frame 110. Two of the four ribs 139 are formed on the third longitudinal bar 135, and the other two of the four ribs 139 are formed on the fourth longitudinal bar 136.
  • the retaining member 130 includes eight second hook-receiving slots 140.
  • the eight second hook-receiving slots 140 are configured to receive the eight second hooks 119 in the eight avoidance slots 118, respectively.
  • Each of the eight second hook-receiving slots 140 extends through a top face and a bottom face of the retaining member 130 and opens towards its outer side.
  • Every two of the eight second hook-receiving slots 140 are defined in a corresponding one of the first lateral bar 131, the second lateral bar 133, the first longitudinal bar 132 and the second longitudinal bar 134. That is, the eight second hook-receiving slots 140 may divide into four pairs. A first pair of the four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140 is defined in the first lateral bar 131, a second pair of the four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140 is defined in the second lateral bar 133, a third pair of the four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140 is defined in the first longitudinal bar 132, and a fourth pair of the four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140 is defined in the second longitudinal bar 134.
  • the retaining member 130 includes eight second engagement stages 141.
  • the eight second engagement stages 141 are arranged at the eight second hook-receiving slots 140, respectively. That is, the eight second engagement stages 141 may divide into four pairs.
  • a first pair of the four pairs of second engagement stages 141 is arranged at top openings of the first pair of four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140
  • a second pair of the four pairs of second engagement stages 141 is arranged at top openings of the second pair of four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140
  • a third pair of the four pairs of second engagement stages 141 is arranged at top openings of the third pair of four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140
  • a fourth pair of the four pairs of second engagement stages 141 is arranged at top openings of the fourth pair of four pairs of second hook-receiving slots 140.
  • Each of the second hooks 119 is configured to be received in a corresponding second hook-receiving slot 140 and engaged on a bottom face of a corresponding second engagement stage 141.
  • the retaining member 130 may be snap-fitted with the frame 110 easily.
  • the retaining member 130 is made of materials that are resistant to chemical reagents and capable of sectioning in a microtome, such as Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) , and so on.
  • FEP Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene
  • the base 150 has a substantially rectangular box structure, and includes a first plate 151, a second plate 152, a third plate 153, a fourth plate 154 and a bottom plate 155.
  • the first to fourth plates 151, 152, 153, 154 are coupled end to end in sequence to form a peripheral plate of the base 150, the first and third plates 151, 153 are arranged oppositely in the front-rear direction, and the second and fourth plates 152, 154 are arranged oppositely in the left-right direction.
  • the bottom plate 155 is coupled to bottom edges of the first to fourth plates 151, 152, 153, 154.
  • the base 150 defines an opening at its top.
  • the bottom plate 155 is perforated, and provided with a plurality of oblong through holes 156. As illustrated in FIG. 1, forty two oblong through holes 156 are arranged in the bottom plate 155 and divided into three rows extending in the front-rear direction.
  • the width of oblong through holes 156 in the base 150 and the rectangular through holes 116 in the front-rear direction is identical and is 0.5mm-1mm.
  • the four plates of the base 150 extend obliquely and outwardly from bottom to top. That is, the base 150 is tapered from top to bottom. Thus, the paraffin block 900 may be removed from the base 150 easily.
  • the base 150 includes eight protrusions 157.
  • Each of the first to fourth plates 151, 152, 153, 154 is provided with two of the eight protrusions 157 extending upwards from its top face.
  • Each of the eight protrusions 157 is tapered from bottom to top.
  • the eight protrusions 157 are configured to fit in the eight limiting grooves 125 in the bottom face of the cover portion 115 of the frame 110, to ensure accurate relative position of the frame 110 and the base 150.
  • Each of the second and fourth plates 152, 154 is provided with two first hooks 158 extending upwards from its top face.
  • the two protrusions 157 on the top face of the second or fourth plate 152 or 154 are arranged between the two first hooks 158 on the top face of the second or the fourth plate 152 or 154.
  • Each of the first to fourth plates 151, 152, 153, 154 is provided with a first receiving groove 159 in its outer face.
  • FIG. 2 is a front, left, bottom perspective view of a frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the frame 110 includes eight limiting grooves 125 in a bottom face of the cover portion 115.
  • Each of the eight limiting grooves 125 is tapered from bottom to top. Every two of the eight limiting grooves 125 are arranged adjacent to a corresponding one of the four sidewalls. That is, the eight limiting grooves 125 may divide into four pairs.
  • a first pair of the four pairs of limiting grooves 125 is defined in the cover portion 115 adjacent to the first sidewall 111, a second pair of the four pairs of limiting grooves 125 is defined in the cover portion 115 adjacent to the second sidewall 112, a third pair of the four pairs of limiting grooves 125 is defined in the cover portion 115 adjacent to the third sidewall 113, and a fourth pair of the four pairs of limiting grooves 125 is defined in the cover portion 115 adjacent to the fourth sidewall 114.
  • the frame 110 includes an accommodation groove 126 in the bottom face of the cover portion 115.
  • the accommodation groove 126 is configured to accommodate the retaining member 130, to facilitate height reduction of the cassette 100 in the top-bottom direction.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-Aof FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 3.
  • the retaining member 130 and the base 150 are snapped fitted with the frame 110.
  • the retaining member 130 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 126 in the bottom face of the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • the ribs 139 on the retaining member 130 are fitted in the slot holes 171 in the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • the first hooks 158 of the base 150 are received in the first hook-receiving slots 120, and engaged on top faces of the first engagement stages 121.
  • the base 150 is stably snap-fitted with the frame 110, and the cassette 100 defines an accommodating space for a tissue sample between the retaining member 130 and the base 150.
  • the top faces of the second plate 152 and the fourth plate 154 of the base 150 abut against the bottom face of the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • the paraffin can be prevented from entering the first hook-receiving slot 120 from the accommodating space of the cassette 100.
  • the second hooks 119 in the avoidance slots 118 of the frame 110 are received in the second hook-receiving slots 140 and engaged on the second engagement stages 141.
  • the retaining member 130 is stably snap-fitted with the frame 110.
  • the protrusions 157 of the base 150 are fitted in the limiting grooves 125 in the bottom face of the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • the accurate relative position of the base 150 and the frame 110 may be ensured.
  • An auto-embedder 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.
  • FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the auto-embedder 1000 includes a cassette 100 according to any of the above embodiments, a mold 200 and a gripper 300.
  • the cassette 100 is configured to be mounted on the mold 200 for embedding of the tissue sample accommodated in the cassette 100.
  • the gripper 300 is configured to mount cassette 100 onto the mold 200 or remove the cassette 100 from the mold 200.
  • the mold 200 includes a mold body 210, a recess 220 recessed from a top face of the mold body 210, and a step face 230 formed surrounding an opening of the recess 220.
  • the recess 220 is configured to receive the base 150 of the cassette 100.
  • the step face 230 is configured to fit with the bottom face of the frame 110.
  • a plurality of oblong projections 250 are formed on a bottom face of the recess 220, and four second receiving grooves 240 are defined in four sidewalls of the recess 220, respectively.
  • the four second receiving grooves 240 extend horizontally.
  • the plurality of oblong projections 250 correspond to the plurality of oblong through holes 156 of the base 150 in position and are configured to fit with the oblong through holes 156 of the base 150.
  • the second receiving grooves 240 of the mold 200 correspond to the first receiving grooves 159 of the base 150 in position and are configured to cooperate with the first receiving grooves 159 of the base 150 to define four paraffin accommodating spaces.
  • the gripper 300 includes four claws 310, and each of the claws 310 includes a stem portion 320 extending in the top-bottom direction and a hook portion 330 extending in the left-right direction coupled to a bottom end of the stem portion 320.
  • the four claws 310 are configured to insert into the access openings 122, push the first hook 158 to disengage the first hook 158 from the first engagement stage 121 and lift the frame 110 while the base 150 is remained in the mold 200, and configured to engage with the first hook 158 to lift the base 150 from the mold 200.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the cassette 100 is received in the mold 200, molten paraffin is introduced into the mold 200 via the rectangular through holes 116 of the cover portion 115, and after the paraffin is cooled and solidified, a paraffin block 900 may be formed in the cassette 100 and paraffin strips may be formed in the accommodation spaces formed by the first receiving grooves 159 of the base 150 and the second receiving grooves 240 of the mold 200.
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the hook portions 330 of the claws 310 of the gripper 300 are inserted into the access openings 122 of the frame 110 to push the first hooks 158 inwards towards the inclined faces 124, to disengage the first hooks 158 from the first engagement stages 121.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the frame 110 and the retaining member 130 are removed from the mold 200 along with the paraffin block 900 by the gripper 300 while the base 150 is remained in the mold 200.
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an auto-embedder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 12, after the paraffin strips are heated and molten, the base 150 is removed from the mold 200 by the gripper 300.
  • the cassette 100 is loaded on the mold 200. As illustrated in 9, the base 150 of the cassette 100 is received in the recess 220 of the mold 200, the bottom face of the frame 110 is abutted against the step face 230 of the mold 200, and the oblong projections 250 of the mold 200 are fitted in the oblong through holes 156 of the base 150, respectively.
  • Molten paraffin is dispensed into the mold 200. As illustrated in 9, the molten paraffin is introduced into the mold 200 through the rectangular through holes 116 in the cover portion 115 of the frame 110, and the paraffin exceeds the top face of the cover portion 115 of the frame 110.
  • paraffin strips may be formed in gaps formed by the first receiving grooves 159 of the base 150 and the second receiving grooves 240 of the mold 200, to enhance connection between the base 150 and the mold 200.
  • the base 150 is detached from the frame 110 and lifting the frame 110 and the retaining member 130 with the paraffin block 900 while the base 150 is remained in the mold 200.
  • the hook portions 330 of the claws 310 of the gripper 300 are inserted into the access openings 122 in the frame 110, and push the first hooks 158 inwards to disengage the first hooks 158 from the first engagement stages 121, and the gripper 300 goes up to lift the frame 110 and the retaining member 130 with the paraffin block 900 whiling the base 150 is remained in the mold 200.
  • the mold 200 is heated to molt the paraffin remaining in the mold 200.
  • the paraffin strips may be formed in gaps formed by the first receiving grooves 159 of the base 150 and the second receiving grooves 240 of the mold 200 may be molten, to facilitate removal of the base 150 from the mold 200.
  • the base 150 is lifted from the mold 200. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the hook portions 330 of the claws 310 are operated to engage with the first hooks 158 of the base 150 and lift the base 150, to remove the base 150 from the mold 200.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une cassette (100) pour inclusion automatique (1000) comprenant un cadre (110), un élément de retenue (130) et une base (150). L'élément de retenue (130) est accouplé au cadre (110). La base (150) est accouplée de manière amovible au cadre (110). La base (150) est située à l'extérieur du cadre (110). L'élément de retenue (130) est disposé entre le cadre (110) et la base (150) et est configuré pour retenir un échantillon de tissu en place dans la base (150). La base (150) comprend une première rainure de réception (159) configurée pour recevoir de la paraffine pendant l'inclusion de l'échantillon de tissu.
PCT/CN2023/086458 2023-04-06 2023-04-06 Cassette pour inclusion automatique WO2024207280A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2023/086458 WO2024207280A1 (fr) 2023-04-06 2023-04-06 Cassette pour inclusion automatique

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2023/086458 WO2024207280A1 (fr) 2023-04-06 2023-04-06 Cassette pour inclusion automatique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024207280A1 true WO2024207280A1 (fr) 2024-10-10

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Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3940219A (en) * 1974-07-11 1976-02-24 Pickett John E P Compact telescoping tissue processing, embedding microtome holder and storage receptacle
US4034884A (en) * 1975-03-20 1977-07-12 Miles Laboratories, Inc. Biological specimen process apparatus and cover member therefor
US4421246A (en) * 1982-06-21 1983-12-20 Allied Corporation Biological tissue cassette
US6017476A (en) * 1996-09-19 2000-01-25 Renshaw; Anthony A. Method for embedding and sectioning specimen
WO2010007453A2 (fr) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Tibor Glasz Dispositif et procédé pour inclure des échantillons de tissus biologiques
CN107697428A (zh) * 2013-03-15 2018-02-16 徕卡生物系统努斯洛克有限公司 具有偏置元件的组织盒
CN114728284A (zh) * 2019-11-12 2022-07-08 比欧帕斯自动化公司 可切片盒和有连接器的包埋架及制备活检组织样品的方法
WO2022261938A1 (fr) * 2021-06-18 2022-12-22 Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh Cassette pour contenir et orienter un échantillon de tissu

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3940219A (en) * 1974-07-11 1976-02-24 Pickett John E P Compact telescoping tissue processing, embedding microtome holder and storage receptacle
US4034884A (en) * 1975-03-20 1977-07-12 Miles Laboratories, Inc. Biological specimen process apparatus and cover member therefor
US4421246A (en) * 1982-06-21 1983-12-20 Allied Corporation Biological tissue cassette
US6017476A (en) * 1996-09-19 2000-01-25 Renshaw; Anthony A. Method for embedding and sectioning specimen
WO2010007453A2 (fr) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Tibor Glasz Dispositif et procédé pour inclure des échantillons de tissus biologiques
CN107697428A (zh) * 2013-03-15 2018-02-16 徕卡生物系统努斯洛克有限公司 具有偏置元件的组织盒
CN114728284A (zh) * 2019-11-12 2022-07-08 比欧帕斯自动化公司 可切片盒和有连接器的包埋架及制备活检组织样品的方法
WO2022261938A1 (fr) * 2021-06-18 2022-12-22 Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh Cassette pour contenir et orienter un échantillon de tissu

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