Abstract:
A sample slice preparation device of the present invention has a microtome which slices a solid specimen by a knife, a humidifier which imparts moisture to a carrier tape, slice conveyer means for adsorbing a slice by an adsorbing force of moisture imparted to the carrier tape to feed out the slice, transfer mechanism for applying water to the surface of a slide glass to transfer the slice from the carrier tape onto the slide glass by an adsorbing force of applied water, an extension unit which heats the slide glass having the slice adsorbed thereon to evaporate the moisture, thereby extending the slice, and slide glass conveyer means for conveying the slide glass provided with the slice.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-239952, filed Aug. 22, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a microtome for use in scientific specimen analysis or medical analysis such as microscopic observation of a living specimen, more particularly to a device and a method in which a specimen slice is taken out onto an auxiliary slicing member by use of moisture, and thereafter the slice taken out onto the auxiliary slicing member is brought into contact (pressed with a microforce) with a slide glass coated with water. The only slice is transferred from the auxiliary slicing member to the slide glass, and warmed (heated) for a fixed time, crease or shrinkage generated in the slice during slicing is eliminated, a close contact fixing force with respect to the slide glass is enhanced, and a satisfactory sample slice is prepared.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Heretofore, an operation to prepare (cut out) a slice is performed by an operator by use of a microtome (device in which after moving a solid specimen or a knife as much as an amount corresponding to a desired cut thickness, the solid specimen is sliced by the knife to prepare the slice). The solid specimen includes a frozen specimen embedded using a freezing embed material, and a paraffin embedded specimen using paraffin, and the microtome to perform the slicing includes a sliding microtome and a rotary microtome. In a step of preparing this slice, an important and very difficult point is handling of the slice during cutting and after end of a cutting step.  
         [0006]     There will be described a conventional slice sampling method using the sliding microtome with reference to  FIGS. 10A, 10B  and  10 C.  
         [0007]     First, as shown in  FIG. 10A , a cutting blade  22  is fed in an arrow direction in the diagram, and slicing of a solid specimen  20  is started. Instead of the cutting blade  22 , the solid specimen  20  may be moved toward the cutting blade  22 . As shown in  FIG. 10B , while moving the cutting blade  22  with one hand, an operator, with the other hand, brings a distant end portion of a jig  23  (there may be used another jig such as a small paper-made moisture-containing strip or a wooden pencil-like jig having its distant end sharpened) such as a very thin moisture-containing brush into contact with a cut start edge of a slice  41  generated at this time.  
         [0008]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 10C , while moving the jig  23  brought into contact with the slice  41  at a speed equal to that to move the cutting blade  22  as it is, the cutting is ended, whereby it is possible to take out the slice  41  in a state in which one end of the slice is brought into contact with the jig  23  at the end of the cutting. Moreover, the taken slice  41  is mounted on the slide glass. In general, after floating the slice  41  once on the water surface for a purpose of eliminating the crease or the shrinkage of the taken slice  41 , the slice is scooped with the slide glass.  
         [0009]     Thereafter, the slide glass to which the slice  41  is attached is mounted on an extension unit (unit such as a hot plate) or disposed in a constant-temperature tank, and warmed (heated) for a certain time, and a non-dyed sample slice is finished. Finally, the sample is subjected to a dyeing step and a sealing step of covering the sample with cover glass to obtain the dyed sample slice.  
         [0010]     Next, there will be described a conventional slice sampling method using the rotary microtome with reference to  FIGS. 3A, 3B  and  3 C.  
         [0011]     As shown in  FIG. 3A , a solid specimen  20  is fed in a direction of an arrow  19  toward a blade edge  22   a  of a knife  22 , and slicing of the solid specimen  20  is started. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the blade edge  22   a  is relatively moved substantially parallel to a main surface of the solid specimen  20 , and a slice  41  having a thickness of several microns is cut out. When this is repeated, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the slices  41  are continuously generated.  
         [0012]     Since the resultant slice  41  usually rounds or creases, the slice is treated into a state in which the slice is to be dyed in accordance with the following treatment procedure.  
         [0013]     The resultant slice  41  is attached to a paper slice having one end wetted, and sampled, and the slice  41  having its backside directed to the water surface is floated and extended in water of a water tank. Accordingly, fine creases of the slice  41  are removed. In accordance with a type of the slice  41 , water in the water tank may sometimes be warm water at 40 to 45° C.  
         [0014]     When the slice floated in the water tank is sufficiently extended, one end of the slide glass is obliquely submerged in water. While one end of the slice is attached to the slide glass, and pressed with a jig such as a tip of a thin brush, the continuous slice  41  is broken in a desired place, and this is put on the slide glass as if it were scooped with the slide glass (attaching step).  
         [0015]     The slide glass to which the tissue slice has been attached is mounted on an extension plate, extended and dried. The slice can be dried using the hot plate as the extension plate, while a temperature of the surface of the plate is controlled at, for example, 40 to 45° C. Alternatively, the slide glass to which the slice has been attached may be disposed in the constant-temperature tank, and warmed (heated) for a certain time. This extension treatment is performed to thereby remove further fine creases from the slice, and a close contact strength between the slice and the slide glass can be enhanced (extension step). In this manner, the non-dyed sample slice is formed, and finally subjected to the dyeing step and the sealing step of covering the sample with the cover glass, and the dyed sample slice is finished.  
         [0016]     In a case where the sample slice is prepared as described above, since most of the operation depends on a manual operation of a person such as a clinical laboratory technologist, there are various problems such as the following 1 to 5.  
         [0017]     1) Since sophisticated skill and technology are required for the operation, the person who performs the operation is limited to an only skilled person.  
         [0018]     2) In a case where a large number of slices produced, and a large number of samples are prepared, much labor and time are required.  
         [0019]     3) Since the operation demands care, the person remarkably fatigues.  
         [0020]     4) Since the person performs the manual operation, it is difficult to prepare a large number of samples with stable precision and quality.  
         [0021]     5) Since the person performs the manual operation, a force to be applied to the knife or the like changes, and disadvantages such as thickness unevenness, crease and break are easily generated. Especially, when the person gets tired from a long-time operation, various disadvantages such as the crease, the break and the shrinkage are easily generated.  
         [0022]     To solve the problem, for a purpose of solving the above problem by reducing a ratio of the dependence on the manual operation to reduce a burden on the operator, there is proposed a technology in which a part performed by the manual operation is automated and performed by a machine. For example, in paragraphs [0030] to [0032] of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-28910 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), an automated device is described in which the slice is electrostatically adsorbed by a carrier tape and conveyed, and the slice is pressed onto an adhesive liquid on the slide glass in a transfer stage to transfer the slice.  
         [0023]     However, the device of Patent Document 1 is useful in a case where the specimen is hardened with paraffin or the like, but in a case where a frozen specimen is sliced to prepare the slice, since the specimen is not dried, an electrostatic adsorbing force weakens, and the device is not effective. In addition, since the specimen for preparing the sample slice is constituted by freezing and hardening the moisture-containing slice in many cases, it is difficult to handle the sample, and very much labor and time are required for the operation.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     The present invention has been developed to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sample slice preparation device and a sample slice preparation method having an excellent handling performance, in which crease and shrinkage generated in a sample slice difficult to handle, especially, a slice obtained by slicing a solid specimen brought into a frozen state are eliminated, and a close contact fixing force with respect to a slide glass is enhanced, and it is possible to reduce a ratio of dependence on a manual operation.  
         [0025]     The sample slice preparation device of the present invention is a device which slices, by a knife, a solid specimen constituted by embedding an original sample as a slice object with an embedding material to prepare a sample slice, the device comprising: a slicing unit which moves the solid specimen and the knife with respect to each other to slice the solid specimen into a predetermined slice thickness by the knife; moisture imparting means for imparting moisture to a tape-like auxiliary slicing member; slice conveyance means for adsorbing the resultant slice by an adsorbing force of the moisture imparted to the auxiliary slicing member to feed out the slice; transfer means for applying water to the surface of a slide glass to transfer the slice from the auxiliary slicing member onto the slide glass by the adsorbing force of applied water; an extension unit to heat the slide glass by which the slice has been adsorbed and to evaporate the moisture, thereby extending the slice; and slide glass conveyance means for conveying the slide glass provided with the slice.  
         [0026]     As the moisture imparting means, a humidifier may be used which sprays mist-like water toward the auxiliary slicing member, or a cooler may be used which locally cools the auxiliary slicing member and a peripheral region of the member to condensate moisture in the atmosphere onto the auxiliary slicing member.  
         [0027]     As the transfer means, a water dripping mechanism may be used which drips warm water at a temperature of 30 to 50° C. onto the slide glass. Alternatively, after the transfer means drips and applies water at room temperature onto the slide glass, the extension unit may heat water on the slide glass to obtain warm water at 30 to 50° C. If water heating temperature is less than 30° C., there is not any difference from room temperature, and an effect of promoting the drying is hardly recognized. On the other hand, if the water heating temperature exceeds 50° C., the slice as a living specimen might be modified.  
         [0028]     Furthermore, there may be disposed control means for controlling the slice conveyance means to feed out the auxiliary slicing member at a speed ratio of 80 to 90% with respect to a slicing speed of the slicing unit, after one end of the slice is adsorbed by the auxiliary slicing member. If a speed ratio (V 2 /V 1 )×100 of an auxiliary slicing member conveyance speed V 2  with respect to a slicing speed V 1  is below 80%, crease or shrinkage is easily generated in the slice, a shape of the slice deteriorates, and additionally thickness of the slice becomes non-uniform. On the other hand, if the speed ratio (V 2 /V 1 )×100 is above 90%, slippage is easily generated between the slice and the auxiliary slicing member, and the slice is inhibited from being smoothly transferred from a solid specimen side to an auxiliary slicing member side, or a local tensile force acts on the slice, and the slice is easily broken.  
         [0029]     Furthermore, it is preferable that the control means controls the slide glass conveyance means to take out the slide glass provided with the slice from the extension unit, after the slide glass provided with the slice is heated by the extension unit. In this case, automation of a sample slice preparing operation is further promoted.  
         [0030]     A sample slice preparation method of the present invention is a method which slices, by a knife, a solid specimen constituted by embedding an original sample as a slice object with an embedding material to prepare a sample slice, the method comprising: (i) imparting moisture to a tape-like auxiliary slicing member; (ii) adsorbing an end portion of the slice generated in a case where slicing of the solid specimen is started by the knife by the auxiliary slicing member to which the moisture has been imparted, successively transferring the slice from the solid specimen toward the auxiliary slicing member by an adsorbing force of the imparted moisture, continuously bringing the slice continuously generated by further continuing the slicing of the solid specimen into close contact with the auxiliary slicing member to which the moisture has been imparted, and taking out the whole completed slice onto the auxiliary slicing member; (iii) wetting the surface of a slide glass with water, bringing the slice taken out onto the auxiliary slicing member into close contact with this slide glass, and transferring the slice from the auxiliary slicing member onto the slide glass; and (iv) heating the slide glass provided with the slice to evaporate water, thereby extending the slice.  
         [0031]     When the solid specimen is fed toward the knife and sliced, the feeding of the tape-like auxiliary slicing member is brought into a stopped state. In a case where the solid specimen is sliced, when the solid specimen is fed, the slice extends upwards to the auxiliary slicing member. At the same time or immediately after a distant end of the slice comes into contact with the auxiliary slicing member, the feeding of the auxiliary slicing member restarts (see  FIGS. 2C and 2D ). This timing to restart the feeding of this tape may be set to a timing after a predetermined time uniformly elapses from a time when the feeding of the tape stops, a timing at which it is detected by a sensor that the distant end of the slice comes into contact with the auxiliary slicing member, or a timing after a predetermined time uniformly elapses from the detection timing. It is to be noted that in the step (ii), it is preferable that after one end of the slice is adsorbed by the auxiliary slicing member, the auxiliary slicing member is fed out at a speed ratio of 80 to 90% with respect to the slicing speed. The reason has been described above.  
         [0032]     In the step (i), mist-like water may be sprayed from a humidifier as moisture imparting means toward the auxiliary slicing member. Alternatively, the auxiliary slicing member and a peripheral region of the member may locally be cooled by a cooler as the moisture imparting means to condensate moisture in the atmosphere onto the auxiliary slicing member.  
         [0033]     Moreover, in the step (iii), warm water at a temperature of 30 to 50° C. may be dripped and applied onto the slide glass by use of a water dripping mechanism as transfer means. Alternatively, after the transfer means drips and applies water at room temperature onto the slide glass, an extension unit heats water on the slide glass to obtain warm water at 30 to 50° C. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic constitution block diagram showing a sample slice preparation device in a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 2A  to  2 F are step diagrams showing a procedure to sample a slice by use of the device of the first embodiment;  
         [0036]      FIGS. 3A  to  3 C are step diagrams showing a procedure to sample a slice by use of a rotary microtome;  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a part of a conveyance robot for use in the device of the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the conveyance robot and an extension unit;  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view showing the conveyance robot and the extension unit;  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is a schematic constitution block diagram showing a sample slice preparation device in a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIGS. 8A  to  8 D are step diagrams showing a procedure to transfer a slice onto a slide glass by use of the sample slice preparation device in the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIGS. 9A  to  9 D are step diagrams showing a procedure to transfer a slice onto a slide glass by use of a conventional sample slice preparation device as a comparative example; and  
         [0043]      FIGS. 10A  to  10 C are perspective views showing a procedure to prepare a slice by use of a conventional sliding microtome. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]     A best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       FIRST EMBODIMENT  
       [0045]     A device of a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0046]     A sample slice preparation device  1  includes: a feeding reel  2  to feed out a carrier tape  5  which functions as an auxiliary slicing member; and a windup drum  4  which winds up the carrier tape  5 . When the windup drum  4  is rotated by a tape driving mechanism, the carrier tape  5  is fed as a slicing unit along an operation line of a microtome  21 .  
         [0047]     From an upstream side toward a downstream side of a movement path of the carrier tape  5 , in a position between stages A and B, a guide roller  3   a  is disposed which changes a direction of the carrier tape  5  fed out of the feeding reel  2  from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction. In a position corresponding to stage C, a humidifier  10  is disposed. In a position corresponding to stage D, there are arranged a slicing unit (microtome)  21  provided with a knife  22  and a guide roller  3   b  which changes the direction of the carrier tape  5  from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. In a position corresponding to stage E, a water dripping mechanism  44  is disposed as transfer means. In a position ranging from stage E to stage G, a conveyance robot  80  (see  FIG. 4 ) is disposed as slide glass conveyance means. In a position corresponding to stage H, there is disposed an extension unit  45  having a hot plate  46 .  
         [0048]     The humidifier  10  has a nozzle  11  which opens upwards, and is disposed under a carrier tape movement path in a state in which a distance from this nozzle  11  to the carrier tape  5  is adjusted into a predetermined interval. Water vapor generated in the humidifier  10  is blown from the nozzle  11 , and blown against the underside of the carrier tape  5  to wet the carrier tape  5 . To achieve satisfactory impartment of moisture onto the carrier tape  5 , it is preferable that the surface of the carrier tape  5  is hydrophilic. It is also preferable that the water vapor generated by the humidifier  10  is saturated or oversaturated at room temperature under an atmospheric pressure. It is to be noted that in the humidifier  10 , there is usable any of an ultrasonic spray system, a jet spray system, a heating system and a system in which two or more of them are used together.  
         [0049]     In a state in which a solid specimen  20  is mounted on an operation base of the microtome  21 , the microtome is moved in a horizontal direction shown by an arrow in the diagram by a conveyance mechanism (not shown) along a feeding path of the carrier tape  5 . The solid specimen  20  is constituted by burying, freezing and hardening a test body such as a living specimen in an embedding material such as paraffin.  
         [0050]     The water dripping mechanism  44  is transfer means for transferring a slice  41  from the carrier tape  5  onto a slide glass  42 . In the stage E, water is dripped from the water dripping mechanism  44  onto the slide glass  42  to form a water film  43 , the slide glass  42  is conveyed to stage F by the slide glass conveyance means, and positioned right under a horizontal pass line of the carrier tape  5 , the slide glass  42  is pressed onto the slice  41  attached to the tape  5 , and the slice  41  is transferred from the carrier tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by an adsorbing force of the water film  43 .  
         [0051]     Next, there will be described the extension unit and the slide glass conveyance means with reference to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0052]     The hot plate  45  includes: the mounting surface  46  on which the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is to be mounted; and a heater  47  buried right under this mounting surface  46 , and the hot plate functions as the extension unit. The heater  47  is connected to a heater power supply  48  having an operation controlled by a controller  50 . A temperature sensor  49  is disposed right under the heater  47 , the temperature of the hot plate  45  is detected, and a temperature detection signal is sent to an input section of the controller  50 . The controller  50  controls an operation to supply power from the heater power supply  48  to the heater  47  based on an input signal. Accordingly, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is heated at a desired temperature on the hot plate  45 .  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the conveyance robot  80  as the slide glass conveyance means is supported movably in directions of three axes XYZ by a robot drive mechanism  84  in order to convey the slide glass  42  provided with the slice from a transfer position to the extension unit, and the robot includes a robot hand  83  and a pair of finger members  81 ,  82 . The pair of finger members  81 ,  82  are attached to a distant end of the robot hand  83  so that they are apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and they are movably supported by a linear slider mechanism (not shown). When the finger members  81 ,  82  are brought close to each other, the finger members  81 ,  82  abut on an outer peripheral end surface of the slide glass  42 , and the slide glass  42  is sandwiched between one finger member  81  and the other finger member  82 .  
         [0054]     The conveyance robot  80  includes: an X-axis linear system  90  which extends in a longitudinal direction of the slide glass  42 ; a Y-axis linear system  91  which extends in a width direction of the slide glass  42 ; and a Z-axis linear system  92  which is liftable in a thickness direction of the slide glass  42 . The respective linear systems  90 ,  91  and  92  are equipped with a linear guide rail, a ball screw and a servo motor. The robot hand  83  is movably supported by these linear systems  90 ,  91  and  92  of three axes.  
         [0055]     The controller  50  shown in  FIG. 4  functions as control means for controlling an operation of the robot drive mechanism  84 . In accordance with the slide glass  42  provided with the slice, the controller  50  controls the operation of the conveyance robot  80  so that this slide glass  42  provided with the slice can be heated at an optimum temperature for an optimum time. That is, in accordance with a type or a sliced state of the slice  41 , one of a plurality of extension units  45   a,    45   b  and  45   c  different from one another in temperature is selected, and the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is mounted on the hot plate  45   a  (or  45   b  or  45   c ) of the selected extension unit. Furthermore, after the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is heated under predetermined conditions, the controller  50  controls the operation of the conveyance robot  80  in order to take the glass out of the extension unit.  
         [0056]     Next, there will be described a case where a sample slice is prepared using the device of the present embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 A to  2 F.  
         [0057]     The solid specimen  20  is set onto the mounting base of the microtome  21 , and this is conveyed to stage D and positioned. Subsequently, the feeding reel  2  and the windup drum  4  are driven, respectively, the carrier tape  5  is fed at a predetermined speed, water vapor is sprayed from the humidifier  10  to the carrier tape  5 , and moisture is imparted to the underside of the tape  5 . The water vapor is brought into at least a saturated or oversaturated state in the nozzle  11  of the humidifier  10 . Therefore, when the tape  5  having the hydrophilic surface comes into contact with the water vapor, the tape is easily wetted.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 2A , when the carrier tape  5  is fed from the feeding reel  2  to above (above the stage D) the solid specimen  20  on a conveyance base, and a portion wetted with the water vapor reaches the press roller  3   b,  as shown in  FIG. 2B , the feeding of the tape  5  is stopped, whereas the feeding of the solid specimen  20  is started.  
         [0059]     When the solid specimen  20  is fed toward the knife  22 , the solid specimen  20  is accordingly sliced. With the feeding of the solid specimen  20 , the slice  41  extends upwards to the tape  5 . As shown in  FIG. 2C , at the same time or immediately after a distant end  41   a  of the slice comes into contact with the tape  5 , the feeding of the tape  5  is restarted as shown in  FIG. 2D . This tape feeding restart timing may be set to a timing after a predetermined time uniformly elapses from the tape feeding stop time, a time when a sensor (not shown) detects that the distant end  41   a  of the slice has come into contact with the tape  5 , or a timing after a predetermined time uniformly elapses from the detection time.  
         [0060]     After the distant end  41   a  of the slice is adsorbed by the tape  5 , the tape  5  is wound up at such a windup speed V 2  that a speed ratio on percentage is 80 to 90% with respect to a slicing speed V 1 , and the slice  41  is sampled onto the tape  5  as shown in  FIG. 2E . At this time, if the percentage of a speed ratio V 2 /V 1  deviates from a range of 80 to 90%, a shape defect (non-uniformity of thickness, crease, shrinkage) of the slice  41  is easily generated. Therefore, the controller  50  controls both of the speeds V 1 , V 2  with high precision. Specifically, the controller  50  controls a feeding speed of the conveyance base of the microtome  21 , a speed at which the tape is fed from the feeding reel  2 , a speed at which the tape is wound up by the windup drum  4 , position adjustment of the roller  3   b  and the like, respectively.  
         [0061]     After the slicing is completed, as shown in  FIG. 2F , the slice  41  completely shifts onto the tape  5 , and is conveyed together with the tape  5  toward the stage F. When the slice  41  reaches the stage F, the feeding of the tape  5  is stopped, operations of the windup reel  4  and rollers  3   d,    3   e  are further controlled, and the tape  5  between the rollers  3   d  and  3   e  is loosened as shown in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, the slide glass  42  provided with the water film  43  is raised, the slice  41  attached to the tape  5  is brought into contact with the water film  43 , and the slice  41  is transferred from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by the adsorbing force of the water film  43  (transference step). It is to be noted that the water film  43  on the slide glass  42  is formed by dripping an appropriate amount of water from the water dripping mechanism  44  onto the top of the slide glass  42  in stage E. The slide glass  42  provided with the water film  43  is conveyed from stage E to stage F at a predetermined timing by the conveyance robot  80 .  
         [0062]     After transferring the slice  41 , the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is conveyed to the extension unit  45  ( 45   a,    45   b  or  45   c ) of stage H by the conveyance robot  80 , and this glass is mounted on the hot plate of any desired extension unit. Moreover, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is heated at a predetermined temperature, the slice  41  is extended, and crease or shrinkage is removed from the slice  41 .  
         [0063]     For example, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is mounted on a hot plate  46   a  of the first extension unit  45   a,  and heated on conditions of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined time. The slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41 , which has been heated in the first extension unit  45   a,  is conveyed out by the conveyance robot  80  after elapse of an extension time individually set by the controller  50 . Thereafter, if necessary, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is conveyed into the second extension unit  45   b,  and further subjected to an extension treatment on different conditions.  
         [0064]     While the sensor  49  detects the temperature, the controller  50  controls the power supply to the hot plate. After heating and holding the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  at at a temperature of, for example, 50±2° C. for about two minutes in the first extension unit  45   a,  this glass is conveyed into the second extension unit  45   b,  and heated and held at a temperature of, for example, 30±2° C. for about 30 minutes. When the extension treatment is performed in a stepwise manner for such a long time, the slice  41  has a smooth surface without any crease or shrinkage. It is to be noted that a lot-temperature heating time of a second stage in the second extension unit  45   b  can further be extended up to 24 hours, and shortened down to ten minutes. Instead of the extension unit having the hot plate, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  may be disposed in a constant-temperature tank and warmed (heated) for a certain time.  
         [0065]     In this manner, a non-dyed sample slice is finished. Finally, through a dyeing step and a sealing step of covering the sample with cover glass, the dyed sample slice is obtained.  
         [0066]     According to the present embodiment, there is realized an automation technology in which the slice adsorbed by the water film is conveyed together with the carrier tape to the slide glass, and the slice is moved (transferred) from the tape onto the slide glass to form the sample. In consequence, it is possible to largely reduce a ratio of dependence on a manual operation in a pathological tissue inspection or the like.  
       SECOND EMBODIMENT  
       [0067]     Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . It is to be noted that there is omitted description of a redundant part of the present embodiment with respect to the above embodiment.  
         [0068]     In the second embodiment, a sample slice preparation device  1 A includes a cooler  14  as moisture imparting means. The cooler  14  may be an air conditioner which blows off cold air having its temperature adjusted or a radiation cooling plate which radiation (emission)-cools a periphery. A power supply of the cooler  14  is connected to an output section of a controller  50 . The cooler  14  is disposed above a pass line of a carrier tape  5  in stage C.  
         [0069]     There will be described a case where a sample slice is prepared using the device  1 A of the present embodiment.  
         [0070]     A solid specimen  20  is set on a mounting base of a microtome  21 , and this is conveyed to stage D and positioned. Next, a feeding reel  2  and a windup reel  4  are driven, respectively, and the carrier tape  5  is fed at a predetermined speed. Moreover, cold air (e.g., cold air having its temperature adjusted at 5° C.) is blown from the cooler  14  (air conditioner) toward the tape  5  to cool the tape  5 . Accordingly, moisture contained in the atmosphere is condensed on the surface of the tape  5  to wet the tape  5 . It is to be noted that the humidifier  10  of the first embodiment may be combined with the cooler  14  for use. When the cooler and the humidifier are combined and used in this manner, water drops can further firmly be imparted to the surface of the tape  5 .  
         [0071]     Subsequently, when the carrier tape  5  is fed from the feeding reel  2  to above (above stage D) the solid specimen  20  on a conveyance base, and a portion wetted with water vapor reaches a press roller  3   b,  the feeding of the tape  5  is stopped, whereas the feeding of the solid specimen  20  is started. When the solid specimen  20  is fed toward the knife  22 , the solid specimen  20  is accordingly sliced. With the feeding of the solid specimen  20 , a slice  41  extends upwards to the tape  5 . At the same time or immediately after a distant end  41   a  of the slice comes into contact with the tape  5 , the feeding of the tape  5  is restarted (see  FIGS. 2C and 2D ).  
         [0072]     After the distant end  41   a  of the slice is adsorbed by the tape  5 , the tape  5  is wound up at such a windup speed V 2  that a speed ratio on percentage is 80 to 90% with respect to a slicing speed V 1 , and the slice  41  is sampled onto the tape  5 . At this time, if the percentage of a speed ratio V 2 ,/V 1  deviates from a range of 80 to 90%, a shape defect (non-uniformity of thickness, crease, shrinkage) of the slice  41  is easily generated. Therefore, the controller  50  controls both of the speeds V 1 , V 2  with high precision.  
         [0073]     After the slicing is completed, the slice  41  completely shifts onto the tape  5 , and is conveyed together with the tape  5  toward stage F. When the slice  41  reaches stage F, the feeding of the tape  5  is stopped, operations of the windup reel  4  and rollers  3   d,    3   e  are further controlled, and the tape  5  between the rollers  3   d  and  3   e  is loosened as shown in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, a slide glass  42  provided with a water film  43  is raised, the slice  41  attached to the tape  5  is brought into contact with the water film  43 , and the slice  41  is transferred from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by an adsorbing force of the water film  43  (transfer step). It is to be noted that the water film  43  on the slide glass  42  is formed by dripping an appropriate amount of water from a water dripping mechanism  44  onto the top of the slide glass  42  in stage E. The slide glass  42  provided with the water film  43  is conveyed from stage E to stage F at a predetermined timing by a conveyance robot  80 .  
         [0074]     After transferring the slice  41 , the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is conveyed to an extension unit of stage H by the conveyance robot  80 , and this glass is mounted on a hot plate of any desired extension unit. Moreover, the slide glass  42  provided with the slice  41  is heated at a predetermined temperature, the slice  41  is extended, and crease or shrinkage is removed from the slice  41 . In this manner, a non-dyed sample slice is finished. Finally, through a dyeing step and a sealing step of covering the sample with cover glass, the dyed sample slice is obtained.  
         [0075]     According to the present embodiment, since minimum water required for adsorbing the slice by the tape is imparted to the tape without excessively wetting the carrier tape, in the transfer step, the slice can easily be transferred from the tape onto the slide glass.  
       THIRD EMBODIMENT  
       [0076]     Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A, 8B ,  8 C and  8 D. It is to be noted that there is omitted description of a redundant part of the present embodiment with respect to the above embodiment.  
         [0077]     In the third embodiment, a sample slice preparation device  1 B includes three movable bars  32 ,  33  and  34  and one fixed roll  31  as transfer means. Each of the movable bars  32 ,  33  and  34  is movably supported so that a position can be changed by a cylinder mechanism (not shown).  
         [0078]     The fixed roll  31  is substantially disposed in parallel to face the first movable bar  32  in a predetermined position under the first movable bar  32  in stage F, and constantly guides the tape  5  in the same position. The position of the fixed roll  31  does not change, but the first movable bar  32  is displaced until the bar abuts on the fixed roll  31  as shown in  FIG. 8B .  
         [0079]     The second movable bar  33  and the third movable bar  34  are positioned apart from the fixed roll  31 /the first movable bar  32  as much as a predetermined distance in stage F, are substantially arranged in parallel to face each other, and guide the tape  5  toward a windup reel  4 . The second movable bar  33  and the third movable bar  34  are displaced from fixed positions shown in  FIG. 8A , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 8B, 8C  and  8 D.  
         [0080]     Next, there will be described a case where a slice  41  is transferred from the tape  5  onto a slide glass  42  by use of the device  1 B of the present embodiment.  
         [0081]     The resultant slice  41  is fed to stage F in a state in which the slice  41  is attached to the tape  5  as shown in  FIG. 8A . Where the slice  41  is positioned right above the slide glass  42  provided with a water film  43 , the windup of the tape  5  by the reel  4  is stopped. As shown in  FIG. 8B , the first movable bar  32  is lowered, and the tape  5  is sandwiched between the first movable bar  32  and the fixed roll  31 . At this time, the third movable bar  34  is simultaneously moved toward the second movable bar  33 , and as shown in  FIG. 8B , the tape  5  is sandwiched between the second movable bar  33  and the third movable bar  34 .  
         [0082]     Next, in a state in which the tape  5  is sandwiched, as shown in  FIG. 8C , the second movable bar  33  and the third movable bar  34  are both displaced obliquely downwards, and the slice  41  attached to the tape  5  is brought into contact with the water film  43  on the slide glass  42 .  
         [0083]     Next, in a state in which the tape  5  is sandwiched, as shown in  FIG. 81D , the second movable bar  33  and the third movable bar  34  are both displaced obliquely upwards, and the tape  5  is detached from the slide glass  42 . The slice  41  shifts from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by the adsorbing force of the water film  43 .  
         [0084]     After the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is conveyed to the hot plate  45 , the sandwiched tape  5  is released to return the first to third movable bars  32 ,  33  and  34  to the respective fixed positions. As shown in  FIG. 8A , the windup of the tape  5  by the windup reel  4  is restarted.  
         [0085]     When such an operation is repeated, the slice  41  is smoothly transferred from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42 .  
         [0086]     According to the present embodiment, it is possible to largely reduce frequency of generation of a disadvantage that a part of the slice remains on a carrier tape side. In consequence, breakage is hardly generated in the slice, and a slice having a satisfactory shape can be obtained.  
       COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE  
       [0087]     Next, there will be described transfer means of a comparative example with reference to  FIGS. 9A, 9B ,  9 C and  9 D. It is to be noted that there is omitted description of a redundant part of the present example with respect to the above embodiments.  
         [0088]     A sample slice preparation device  1 C of the comparative example includes one movable bar  62  and one fixed roll  61  as transfer means. The movable bar  62  is movably supported by a cylinder mechanism (not shown) so that a position can be changed.  
         [0089]     The fixed roll  61  is substantially disposed in parallel with the movable bar  62  in a predetermined position under the movable bar  62  in stage F, and constantly guides the tape  5  in the same position. The position of the fixed roll  61  does not change, but the movable bar  62  is displaced in a stepwise manner as shown in  FIGS. 9B, 9C  and  9 D.  
         [0090]     Next, there will be described a case where a slice  41  is transferred from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by use of the device  1 C of the present example.  
         [0091]     The resultant slice  41  is fed to the stage F in a state in which the slice is attached to the tape  5  as shown in  FIG. 9A . When the slice  41  is positioned above the slide glass  42  provided with a water film  43 , windup of the tape  5  by a reel  4  is stopped, and as shown in  FIG. 9B , the movable bar  62  is displaced obliquely downwards to push the tape  5  downwards. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 9C , the movable bar  62  is displace obliquely downwards, and the tape  5  is pushed downwards until the slice  41  comes into contact with the water film  43  on the slide glass  42 .  
         [0092]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 9D , the movable bar  62  is returned obliquely upwards to a fixed position to detach the tape  5  from the slide glass  42 . The slice  41  shifts from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42  by an adsorbing force of the water film  43 . After the slide glass  42  provided with the slice is conveyed to an extension unit  45 , as shown in  FIG. 9A , the windup of the tape  5  by the windup reel  4  is restarted. When such an operation is repeated, the slice  41  is transferred from the tape  5  onto the slide glass  42 .  
         [0093]     According to the transfer means of the comparative example, there is generated a disadvantage that a part of the slice remains on a carrier tape side, break or the like is generated in the slice, and the slice having a shape defect sometimes results. It has found that the transfer means of the comparative example is uncertain as compared with the transfer means of the device of the above third embodiment.  
         [0094]     The present invention can be utilized in preparation of the sample slice for use in scientific specimen analysis or a medical or biological analysis such as microscopic observation of a living specimen.  
         [0095]     According to the present invention, there is realized an automation technology in which the slice adsorbed by the water film is conveyed together with the auxiliary slicing member to the slide glass, and the slice is transferred as the sample from the auxiliary slicing member onto the slide glass, and it is possible to largely reduce a ratio of dependence on the manual operation in pathological tissue inspection or the like.