This application claims priority of German patent application no. 10 2005 057 191.3 filed Nov. 29, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a tissue processor of a type comprising a retort for processing histological samples with different reagents, the tissue processor including multiple reagent reservoir vessels that each have at least one vessel opening, a conduit system and a control device for delivering reagents out of the reagent reservoir vessels into the retort, and a suction conduit projecting into each reagent reservoir vessel through the vessel opening for reagent withdrawal.
Tissue processors are used for automatic processing of histological samples for subsequent section preparation with a microtome, followed by microscopic examination. The tissue of the sample must firstly, in multiple stages, be dewatered, purified, hardened, and then stabilized with paraffin. This is accomplished with various reagents to which the sample is exposed.
A tissue processor that permits large automatic processing of the samples is depicted and described in the Leica document “Leica ASP 300,” Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH, order no. 0704-2-1-103, April 2001.
The tissue processor comprises a retort as a processing station for the samples. The retort is connected via a tubing or piping system to multiple standardized reagent reservoir vessels for the different reagents. By way of a pump system and an electronic control system, the respective reagents can be automatically pumped from the reservoir vessels into the retort and back.
The reagent reservoir vessels arranged in the tissue processor must from time to time be emptied and replaced with unused reagents. The tissue processor comprises for that purpose a connector for an external tubing system through which each individual reagent reservoir vessel can be emptied and refilled. This procedure of course requires a plurality of external vessels that must be stored separately in the laboratory. There also exists a risk of confusion in the context of vessels having fresh and used reagents.
Simple and direct exchange of the reagent reservoir vessels is also thwarted by the different dimensions of the external refill reagent vessels.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to make possible direct changing of differently dimensioned reagent reservoir vessels.
This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by the features described in the present specification. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The invention is notable for the fact that a closure system having an externally tapered and internally hollow closure plug is provided for closing off the vessel opening. The suction conduit is guided through the cavity of the closure plug for reagent withdrawal. With the externally tapered closure plug, reagent reservoir vessels having different opening diameters can be connected with no need to provide additional adapters or other modifications on the tissue processor.
In a refinement of the invention, the diameter of the cavity in the closure plug is dimensioned to be larger than the outside diameter of the suction conduit. An annular opening is thereby formed between the two diameters in the closure plug.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the annular opening is connected to a gas conduit, so that the reagent reservoir vessel can be aerated and vented through the gas conduit and therefore no harmful vapors can emerge.
In a refinement of the invention, the closure plug is mounted or embodied resiliently, so that a secure frictional connection is created between the reagent reservoir vessel and the closure system.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the closure plug is joined to a bellows, so that different overall heights can also be compensated for in the context of the reagent reservoir vessels.
In a refinement of the invention, the gas conduit is connected to a filter device so that no harmful vapors can enter the environment upon venting of the reagent reservoir vessels.
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment, with the aid of the schematic drawings in which:
Closure system 12 comprises an externally tapered closure plug 13 having a suction line 11 that is guided in the interior of closure plug 13 and projects through vessel opening 7 into the interior of reagent reservoir vessel 3. The outside diameter of closure plug 13 may change linearly such that the plug's outer surface is conically shaped, or it may change non-linearly such that the plug's outer surface is curved. Closure plug 13 is joined to a bellows 18 with which different overall heights of reagent reservoir vessels 3 can be compensated for. Preferably, at least an outer portion of the closure plug 13 is formed of a resilient material for snug frictional fit within vessel opening 7.
Arranged on a front side of drawer 4 is a pivotable lever 9 that is mechanically joined to a locking bolt 10 in order to retain drawer 4 in the housing of tissue processor 1. The lever simultaneously serves as a handle for moving drawer 4.
1 Tissue processor
2 Retort
3 Reagent reservoir vessel
4 Drawer
5 Control device
6 Conduit system
7 Vessel opening
8 Telescoping rail
9 Lever
10 Locking bolt
11 Suction conduit
12 Closure system
13 Closure plug
14 Cavity of 13
15 Annular opening
16 Gas conduit
17 Plate
18 Bellows
19 Filter device
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 057 191 | Nov 2005 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3771490 | Kinney et al. | Nov 1973 | A |
4810659 | Higo et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
5683658 | Reischl et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
20050124028 | Windeyer et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2319608 | May 1998 | GB |
5745350 | Mar 1982 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20070122910 A1 | May 2007 | US |