DE202009017635U1 - Gripping device and device for transporting objects - Google Patents

Abstract

Gripping device for fixing objects with a fixing with a heating and cooling probe and a temperature control unit for heating and cooling the probe for controlling the temperature of the probe in a range, wherein the fixing agent in this area has a change of state of aggregation from solid to liquid.

Description

The The invention relates to a gripping device for fixing objects with a fixing agent and a device for transporting Objects having at least one gripping device.

In The traditional histology will be microscopic tissue sections by means of special dyeing techniques examined. For this, micrometer-thin, dyed tissue sections are produced and assessed on the microscope. Based on the histological sections leave often make very accurate diagnoses. A histological finding is particularly required when it comes to the potential malignancy a tissue change clarified.

Before a pathologist or biologist the histologic details of a patient sample or an experiment, the fabric needs to be detailed Be subjected to processing. These methods are summarized as histology together. They are used in the histological laboratory mostly by biomedical Analysts performed.

• – Fixierung zur Stabilisierung des Gewebes (Hauptfixans: 4% neutral gepufferte Formaldehydlösung)
• – Entwässerung: Ausspülen des Wassers aus dem Gewebe, zumeist in einer aufsteigenden Alkoholreihe
• – Imprägnierung des Gewebes mit flüssigem Paraffin
• – Einblocken des Gewebes in Paraffin: Einbettung des Gewebes in ein schneidbares Medium (Paraffinquader). In modernen Histologielaboren werden die Gewebestücke in sogenannte „Einbettkassetten” gelegt
• – Herstellung von 2–5 μm dicken Schnitten am Mikrotom
• – Aufziehen der Schnitte auf (beschichtete) Glasobjektträger
• – Färbung: Einfärbung der Zellen (histologische Färbung)
• – Eindecken: Vorbereitung der Archivierung durch Auflegen eines Deckglases auf den Objektträger

A common procedure in histology is shown below:

• - fixation to stabilize the tissue (main fixant: 4% neutral buffered formaldehyde solution)
• - Drainage: Rinse the water out of the tissue, usually in an ascending alcohol series
• - Impregnation of the tissue with liquid paraffin
• - Blocking the tissue in paraffin: embedding the tissue in a cuttable medium (paraffin block). In modern histology laboratories, the tissue pieces are placed in so-called "embedding cassettes"
• - Preparation of 2-5 micron thick slices on the microtome
• - Drawing the cuts on (coated) glass slides
• Staining: staining of the cells (histological staining)
• - Cover: Prepare for archival by placing a coverslip on the slide

Such treated preparations can now examined by a histologist, in the case of pathologically altered Tissues are to be diagnosed by pathologists.

Especially blocking in fixative requires great skill and dexterity and thus is a difficult to reproduce process. There is also by handling the sample with the tweezers constantly the Danger of artifacts, so changed Be found by external influence. Thereby can Samples for the actual object of investigation become worthless or put a diagnostic source of error.

Of the Biologist or pathologist works manually at a fixative pouring station. The impregnated by the fixative of tissue are manually cut into small strips. Then be the strips by means of hand tweezers in a trough-shaped metal form with liquid Fixing agent positioned and poured. In doing so, the tissue becomes positioned so that the surface to be cut is at the bottom of the tub.

going the sample is not sufficiently strong due to incorrect positioning Compound with the surrounding fixative or is its orientation through subsequent Tilting the sample in the fixer incorrectly, there is a risk that the sample tore from its anchorage when cut in the microtome is destroyed and irretrievably destroyed becomes. Especially with one-off samples, this does not just mean that delay or destruction of research results but can in case of emergency human lives compromise. mostly with preheated Tweezers worked to prevent the samples from tweezers through Cooling adhere unintentionally.

outgoing It is the object of the present invention to provide an alternative To provide a device for tweezers that makes it easy to fast and non-destructive can be fixed and transported.

These The object is achieved by the gripping device with the features of the claim 1 solved. Claim 12 relates to a device for transporting objects. Further advantageous embodiments are in the dependent claims contain.

The Gripping device according to the invention for fixing objects with a fixative and a heatable and coolable Probe also has a temperature control unit for heating and cooling the probe and to control the temperature of the probe in a range on, wherein the fixative in this area a change of the state of aggregation from solid to liquid. Hereby is also the change the state of aggregation from liquid to firmly comprises.

The Probe is preferably heated by means of resistance wire. The cooling of the Probe can be cooled by compressed air, Peltier element, heat pipe, Hydrocarbon gases or liquid Nitrogen take place. these can dependent on be selected from the inserted object.

Preferably, the probe has an upper and a lower limit temperature, wherein the upper and the lower limit temperature deviates by more than 20% from the freezing point of the fixing agent.

Thereby is guaranteed that the object to be gripped can be fixed securely and after Heat and associated liquefaction of the fixing agent can be released again.

Consequently Gentle handling of the objects is possible. Furthermore, by the gripping device according to the invention a lower gripping force in comparison equal to the handling of tweezers needed. Furthermore, only one gripping point on the object is necessary.

The heatable and coolable Probe can preferably within a maximum of 1 sec between the lower and upper limit temperature are switched.

By heating the fixing agent and the associated liquefaction the fixer is a simplified release of the objects possible. Farther The object can not be accidentally attached to a cooled tweezer gripper attached, as it is in a conventional method by warmed or cooled Tweezers can occur.

Farther is a gripping device according to the invention easier to use and thus requires less skill and dexterity of the operators. Consequently, shorter training periods possible.

The Material for the probe is preferably selected made of titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, metals and alloys, medical allowed are.

The Probe preferably has a contact area for the fixing agent. This can be flat, conical, cylindrical and / or cranked be educated. For example, the shape may be material dependent also object-dependent be varied.

When Fixing agents can organic substances, in particular paraffins, olefins, carboxylic acids, long-chain Hydrocarbons, water and mixtures thereof are used. These can be in dependence of the objects to be transported as well as the freezing point of the Fixing agent can be used. Depending on the object to be gripped Consequently, the fixing agent can be selected.

The Gripping device is preferably designed as a handheld device. She can be ergonomic Have shape, so that a fatigue-free Works possible becomes.

When Objects are preferably tissue samples, biological samples, non-biological Gripping objects, non-rigid, limp workpieces, especially textiles, glass fiber fabrics, carbon fiber fabrics, films, Paper, air permeable Gripping objects as well as form-variable workpieces can be used.

According to the invention is a Device for transporting objects with at least one gripping device, as already described, provided with a Movement device is coupled, which is a movement of the agent the gripping device fixed object in the different spatial directions (x, y, z) allows.

Also a variant of the device, the at least two gripping devices that is independent moving and cooling and are heated, is conceivable.

With Help the gripping device according to the invention and the device for transporting objects in particular biological samples that have been blocked in paraffin, gently be grasped. Here paraffin is preferred as a freezing medium used. This has a melting temperature of just under 60 ° C on. By choosing paraffin as fixing agent it is ensured that in the case of biological samples embedded in paraffin, No additional Substance components are entered in the system or residues remain. Another advantage of using paraffins is their waxy ones Consistency. Furthermore, this fixative is odorless and tasteless as well as non-toxic and electrically insulating. Also, paraffin is opposite many Chemicals inert.

When Lower or upper limit temperatures can be used in the case of paraffin 52 ° C or 62 ° C can be selected. Between these temperatures can be switched back and forth by pressing a button become.

Based on the following 1 to 5 If the object according to the application is to be explained in more detail, without restricting it to these variants.

1 shows the schematic representation of the freezing gripping,

2 shows a device according to the invention for transporting objects,

3 shows the device according to the invention for transporting objects in a view from above,

4 shows two variants for the gripping device according to the invention,

5 shows a section of the invention modern freezer in an enlarged form.

In 1 the freeze grip is shown schematically. The user carries out both the release and the grab command. The temperature control of the tip is the temperature query, what then the heating of the tip, which can be done electrically, or the cooling of the tip / probe, which can be done pneumatically, followed. Depending on the temperature of the probe and, associated therewith, the state of aggregation of the fixing agent, the sample or the object is deposited or grasped, in which case controlled phase changes of the gripping medium or of the fixing agent take place.

• – Benetzung der Greiferspitze mit flüssigem Paraffin (Temperatur = 62°C).
• – Die Greiferspitze/Sonde wird zum Greifobjekt bewegt.
• – Auf Knopfdruck kühlt sich die Greiferspitze/Sonde ab, das Paraffin erstarrt und haftet an das Greifobjekt (Temperatur = 52°C).
• – Die Greiferspitze wird zusammen mit dem Greifobjekt zur Sollposition bewegt.
• – Auf Knopfdruck erwärmt sich die Greiferspitze bzw. Sonde, das Paraffin schmilzt und gibt das Greifobjekt in seiner Sollposition frei.

The gripping process works as follows:

• - Wetting of the hook tip with liquid paraffin (temperature = 62 ° C).
• - The hook tip / probe is moved to the gripping object.
• - At the push of a button, the hook tip / probe cools down, the paraffin solidifies and adheres to the gripping object (temperature = 52 ° C).
• - The hook tip is moved together with the gripper object to the set position.
• - At the push of a button, the hook tip or probe heats up, the paraffin melts and releases the gripping object in its set position.

In 2 an embodiment of the device according to the invention for the transport of objects is shown. At the gripping device 1 is the heatable and coolable probe 2 arranged. The gripping device 1 is still on a cable 5 to the housing 8th connected, which is a display 7 and a power switch 6 having. The device for transporting objects 9 also indicates a to the housing 8th arranged power cable 12 on. The sample 10 can about the fixative 11 that the heatable and coolable probe 2 wetted, be recorded.

In 3 is a plan view of the device according to the invention for the transport of objects shown. Here is the button 3 to control the temperature recognizable, the handle 4 is arranged. At the push of a button, heating or cooling of the probe takes place 2 ,

In 4 Two variants of the gripping device according to the invention are shown. The probe 2 is about a handle 4 manageable, on which the knob for temperature control 3 is arranged. Furthermore, at the back of the handle 4 the cable 5 arranged.

In 5 is the probe 2 enlarged during the gripping process. The probe 2 is here with the fixative 11 wets that the object 10 binds.

Claims (13)

Gripping device for fixing objects with a fixing agent with a heatable and coolable probe and a temperature control unit for heating and cooling the probe for controlling the temperature of the probe in an area wherein the fixing agent in this area a change of state of aggregation from solid to liquid having. Gripping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the probe by means of resistance wire is heatable. Gripping device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the probe by means of compressed air cooling, Peltier element, heat pipe, Hydrocarbon gases or liquid nitrogen cooled is. Gripping device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the probe has an upper and a lower Limit temperature, wherein the upper and lower limit temperature a maximum of 20% deviate from the freezing point of the fixative. Gripping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heatable and coolable probe within maximum 1 second between the lower and the upper limit temperature is switchable. Gripping device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the material for the probe is selected made of titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, metals and alloys, medical allowed are. Gripping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the probe has a contact area for the fixing agent having. Gripping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact area of the probe is flat, conical, cylindrical and / or cranked is trained. Gripping device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the fixing agent is selected from organic substances, in particular paraffins, olefins, carboxylic acids, lankettigen Hydrocarbons, water and mixtures thereof. Gripping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping device is designed as a handheld device. Gripping device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that as objects tissue samples, biological Samples, non-biological gripping objects, non-rigid, pliable flies Workpieces, especially textiles, glass fiber fabrics, carbon fiber fabrics, films, Paper, air permeable Gripping objects and form-variable workpieces can be used. Device for transporting objects with at least a gripping device according to a of the preceding claims, which is coupled to a movement device that controls a movement of the By means of the gripping device fixed object in the various Spaces (x, y, z) possible. Device according to the preceding Claim with at least two gripping devices that are independent of each other movable and cool and are heatable.