Patent Description:
Collecting cells from the human body is routinely performed in clinical practice for the purpose of cytological examinations and the like (see, for example, patent documents <NUM> and <NUM>). Cell collection is typically performed by needle aspiration or tissue excision, which is usually carried out using a syringe, etc., and the specimen is either smeared and fixed directly on the slide glass, or it is collected in a preservative solution in a container and then slide glass is used. A slide specimen is then prepared by smearing and fixing on a glass.

Specimens, in the form of plastic test tubes or containers, or in slide glass with cells smeared, are transported to a laboratory in a medical laboratory, or a sanitary laboratory outsourced to clinical tests, for the purpose of cytological examination and the like.

The doctor in charge of cell collection will be informed at a later date, whether the targeted cells were successfully collected or not, based on a result of a cytological evaluation of the specimen. If the specimen is deemed to be inappropriate, a specimen recollection will have to be performed. Therefore, the start of treatment may be delayed, due to the burden on the subject and time loss.

To solve these sampling errors, various medical facilities have reported the need for, and made efforts to obtain, ROSE (Rapid On-site Evaluation) resources, which enable a real-time evaluation of the collected specimen, at the time of collection, to determine its adequacy. At most such medical facilities, a method has been adopted, in which a cytotechnologist or a laboratory technologist, brings a biological microscope to the specimen collection site in order to evaluate its adequacy.

In recent years, microscopes using camera-equipped devices such as smartphones have been developed as a simpler alternative to biological microscopes, which are complicated to operate. Methods and applications for using such devices to analyze objects have also been invented. (See, for example, Patent Document <NUM>.

Among several other inventions is one that applies a conventional mechanism to observe an object between a glass slide and a cover glass as a sample. For example, a microscope has been invented that uses a sampling assembly with the base as a slide glass and the cover as a cover glass to observe the sample. The invention is a microscope characterized by the fact that the light path from the light source, sample, lens, to the device is on a straight line and, in particular, the light is uniformly dispersed by a diffusing element. (See, for example, Patent Document <NUM>.

Other methods (See, for example, Patent Document <NUM>. ) have been invented to observe the specimen container from the side for the purpose of detecting objects in the specimen container, such as cells using fluorescent antibody methods etc..

However, at most facilities, the problem of having a technologist goes to the specimen collection site is often not solved, and ROSE is performed in a relatively small number of facilities. In most cases, doctors in small medical facilities where technologists are absent, or in institutions that do not understand ROSE, request cytological examinations with a condition not knowing whether cells had been collected properly or not. Such problems have long been raised as issues, but a fundamental solution has not yet been reached.

Therefore, as previously described, the observation of the collected specimens at the specimen collection site have not always been easy.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a microscopic device capable of the easy observation of a collected specimen, in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems.

The present invention relates to a microscopic device according to claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a microscopic device that enables the easy observation of a collected specimen.

Referring to <FIG>, embodiments in the present invention are described in detail below.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention.

<FIG> is a plan view of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in microscopic device the present invention, <FIG> is a front view of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention, <FIG> is a back view of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention, <FIG> is a right side view of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention.

In <FIG>, the specimen container body <NUM>, to which the specimen container lid <NUM> is not attached, is mounted on the stand <NUM>. In <FIG>, the specimen container body <NUM> to which the specimen container lid <NUM> is attached is inverted and mounted on the holder <NUM>.

<FIG> are schematic partial perspective views (Part <NUM> to <NUM>) near the holder of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention, <FIG> show schematic partial right-side views (Part <NUM> to <NUM>) near the holder of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention.

In <FIG>, the specimen container body <NUM> is mounted on the holder <NUM> and an observation cell <NUM> with a flat shape, rather than a curved shape, is shown. The holder <NUM> is looked down diagonally from the front side of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR in <FIG> in the direction of arrow Ae (see <FIG>), and in <FIG>, it is looked up diagonally from the back of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR in the direction of the arrow Au (see <FIG>) and in <FIG>, it is viewed diagonally downward from the front of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR in the direction of the arrow Ad (see <FIG>). In <FIG>, the internal structure of the holder <NUM> is shown in a perspective view.

<FIG> is a schematic front view of the specimen container lid <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> are schematic perspective views of the specimen container lid <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention (Part <NUM> and <NUM>). <FIG> is a schematic plan view of the specimen container lid <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic bottom view of the specimen container lid <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> are schematic perspective views of the specimen container part 1a of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention (Part <NUM> and <NUM>).

In <FIG>, an observation cell <NUM> with a curved shape, rather than a flat shape, is shown. The specimen container lid <NUM> is looked down in <FIG> in the direction of arrow Bd (see <FIG>) and in <FIG>, it is looked up in the direction of the arrow Bu (see <FIG>).

<FIG> is a schematic back view of the funnel <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic front view of the funnel <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic plan view of the funnel <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic right-side view of the funnel <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic left side view of the funnel <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention.

<FIG> is a schematic enlarged partial cross-sectional arrow view of near the specimen container lid <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR of an embodiment in the present invention as viewed from the arrow X-X (see <FIG>).

The hollow part 2a is a thin hollow part of <NUM> to <NUM> in thickness τ, although magnified in <FIG>.

The components in the drawings are shown in consideration of the diversity of embodiments, and this applies to the components described below. For example, some components may not be shown in the diagram, or may be transparently or abbreviated, so that the essential structure is more comprehensible.

This embodiment is related to the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR that allows observation of cells, etc. in the storage container part 1a without removing the observation cell <NUM>, and the funnel <NUM> for tissue segregation associated with the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR.

Sampling errors are unlikely to occur because the solid tissue of the collected specimen is identified from the microscopic cells and the phase-contrast microscopic observation of the cell is realized in the specimen container part 1a, which is also used as a test-tube type transport vial.

After the tissue has been sorted from the cells in the identification area <NUM> of the funnel <NUM>, the phase-contrast microscopic observation of the liquid specimen is performed with the specimen container part 1a. A multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR with an imaging camera with autofocus function on a smartphone <NUM>, a phase-contrast objective lens <NUM>, an LED light source <NUM>, and a holder <NUM> for the specimen container part 1a is provided, so that specimen adequacy can be easily checked immediately after sampling.

More specifically, the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR is described as follows.

The specimen container part 1a is a part having an observation cell <NUM>, which stores the collected specimen and allows observation of the cells contained in the collected specimen.

Phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> is a lens positioned in a position that corresponds to observation cell <NUM>.

The smartphone mounting fixture <NUM> is a mounting section on which a smartphone <NUM> having an imaging function can be mounted.

In addition, an embodiment of a modified example can also be considered in which a mechanism is provided for adjusting the position of the smartphone <NUM> so that the position of the camera lens of the smartphone <NUM> matches the position of the aperture <NUM> of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR corresponding to the phase-contrast objective lens <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> is a mounting section on which the specimen container part 1a is mounted in an inverted position.

The funnel <NUM> is a funnel having an identification area <NUM> for sorting the tissue contained in the collected specimen from the cells.

Although the funnel <NUM> is an assembled paper product used as a sanitary disposable product, an embodiment of a modified example in which the funnel <NUM> is a molded press product made of stainless steel can also be considered.

In addition, although the identification area <NUM> is flat, an embodiment of a modified example in which the identification area <NUM> is uneven and slightly inclined to prevent the tissue contained in the collected specimen from falling into the specimen container body <NUM>, can also be considered.

Observation of cells through a phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> is carried out using a smartphone <NUM> mounted on smartphone mounting fixture <NUM>.

The specimen container part 1a has a specimen container body <NUM> for storing the collected specimen, and a specimen container lid <NUM> detachable from the specimen container body <NUM>, in which an observation cell <NUM> is provided.

Although the specimen container lid <NUM> is a molded press-formed product made of resin, which at least the observation cell is transparent, an embodiment of a modified example in which the specimen container lid <NUM> is a blow-molded glass product, can also be considered.

The specimen container part 1a can be detachable from the holder <NUM>. By placing the specimen container part 1a on the holder <NUM> in an inverted position, cells contained in the specimen container body <NUM> are guided to the observation cell <NUM>.

In addition, the specimen container part 1a, which is detachable from the holder <NUM>, is inverted by the fingers of the specimen collector or the like and inserted into the specimen container part insertion port <NUM>, but an embodiment of a modified example in which the specimen container part 1a is rotatably fixed to the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR and a mechanism for inverting the specimen container part 1a by automatic or semi-automatic rotation can also be considered.

An embodiment of a modified example in which the observation cell <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the specimen container body <NUM> so that the specimen container part 1a does not need to be inverted, can also be considered, but is not covered by the subject-matter of the claims.

After the tissue has been sorted using the identification area <NUM>, the residue of the specimen can fall into the specimen container body <NUM>.

The funnel <NUM> has a pool <NUM> for storing liquid for flushing the residue to the specimen container body <NUM>.

Incidentally, although two windows MRa are provided on the back surface of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR for checking the residue falling through the central washout hole possessed by the funnel body section 9a of the funnel <NUM> microscopic device mounted on the funnel mounting section 9b of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR, an embodiment of a modified example without the windows MRa can also be considered.

The multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR is an example of the microscopic device of the present invention.

The specimen container part 1a is an example of a specimen container part, the specimen container body <NUM> is an example of a specimen container body, the specimen container lid <NUM> is an example of a specimen container lid, and the observation cell <NUM> is the observation area.

A phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> is an example of the objective lens.

The holder <NUM> is an example of a specimen container part mounting section.

The smartphone mounting fixture <NUM> is an example of a portable device mounting section.

The smartphone <NUM> is an example of a portable device.

The funnel <NUM> is an example of the funnel, the identification area <NUM> is an example of the identification area, and the pool <NUM> is an example of the pool.

The main causes of improper specimens are dry degeneration before fixation, contamination with large amounts of blood, and too few cells. Dry degeneration prior to fixation and contamination with large amounts of blood are reduced by collecting the cells in a container containing a cell preservation solution containing a hemolytic agent. Even if the cells remain in the syringe and sufficient cells cannot be obtained by puncture aspiration with a syringe, the syringe is thoroughly flushed with the preservation solution before the preservation solution is discharged. This increases the cell recovery rate.

In recent years, an increasing number of facilities are using or considering a technique called liquid-based cytology (LBC) for puncture materials. The LBC method is a method for cytological examination that was developed to prevent cell degeneration by collecting specimens in a preservation solution composed mainly of alcohol and other substances to increase the efficiency of cell recovery.

Then, a specimen collector such as a doctor can use the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR in place of the regular biological microscope in the specimen collection site and evaluate the specimen adequacy by themselves.

The multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR will be described more specifically as follows.

The collected sample is first discharged from the collection instrument into the identification area <NUM> of the funnel <NUM>. The background color of the identification area <NUM> is blackish in color, so that tissue fragments that appear white in color to the normal naked eye are more vivid and easier to identify. The sampling technician picks the solid tissue from the identification area <NUM> with tweezers or the like and transfers it to a formalin container or the like. The microscopic residue in the identification area <NUM> is collected along with the preservation solution in the centrifuge tube type specimen container body <NUM> in stand <NUM>, which is a test tube stand directly below, as the identification area <NUM> is washed away using a cell preservation solution such as alcohol.

The specimen container lid <NUM> is attached to the specimen container body <NUM>, and the specimen container part 1a is inverted and inserted into the holder <NUM>. The liquid specimen is thinly layered in the transparent, colorless observation cell <NUM>, and the LED light source <NUM> and the phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> are used to image the cells on the monitor of the smartphone <NUM> as a cell image with an enhanced contrast of light and dark. Thus, the cells can be observed even without staining.

The black background body <NUM> of the holder <NUM> for observation cell <NUM> effectively intensifies the light/dark ratio of the image, making structures such as unstained cells clearer.

Since the camera of the smartphone <NUM> has an autofocus function, the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR does not require a manual focusing action as in a regular microscopic device. After imaging and saving the images, the cells can be observed in greater detail because the images can be magnified at will by operating the LCD monitor screen of the smartphone <NUM> with fingers.

In order to enhance convenience, the lower front part of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR is provided with a storage section <NUM>, which can store the specimen container lid <NUM> and the funnel <NUM>, etc. The storage section <NUM> has a mounting section for the LED light source <NUM>, and by pulling out the storage section <NUM>, the batteries of the LED light source <NUM> can be replaced.

Thus, the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR with a specimen container lid <NUM>, a phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> and an LED light source <NUM>, enables proper evaluation without staining by capturing digital images of the cells by using the autofocus function of the smartphone <NUM> camera.

An observation cell <NUM> having a thin hollow section 2a is provided at the upper end of the specimen container lid <NUM> so that it is connected to the specimen container body <NUM>. By inverting the specimen container part 1a, the cells are moved and settled inside the observation cell <NUM> with the preservation solution. The inner surface of the observation cell <NUM> is formed as a gently curved surface so that a large number of cells move into the observable area of the interior of the observation cell <NUM> with the preservation solution. The transparent, colorless observation cell <NUM> serves as a slide glass and a cover glass to facilitate the focusing motion, and allows for cell observation at high magnification of the phase-contrast microscopic lens.

Since the observation cell <NUM> is inserted into the observation cell insertion port <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of the observation cell, the function of securing the inverted specimen container part 1a is realized. However, the observation cell <NUM> inserted into the observation cell insertion slot <NUM> can be moved in the left and right directions while the distance between the observation cell <NUM> and the objective lens is kept constant, thereby expanding the observation field of view of the observation cell <NUM>. In addition, a clear contrast is obtained by the black background body <NUM> of the holder <NUM>, which is a component of the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR.

For this reason, with respect to the width of the observation cell <NUM>, w1 (see <FIG>), which corresponds to the width of the specimen container lid <NUM>, the width of the observation cell insertion port <NUM>, w2 (see <FIG>), which corresponds to the width of the holder <NUM>, and the width of the black background body <NUM>, w3 (see <FIG>), the relationship w3>w2>w1 should be established.

The funnel <NUM> has an identification area <NUM> for sorting solid tissue from microscopic cells, and after the tissue is removed with tweezers, the interior of the funnel <NUM> is washed away with cell preservation solution. The microscopic residue flows as a liquid specimen through the funnel <NUM> into the specimen container part <NUM> directly below. The funnel <NUM> also has a pool <NUM> of preservation solution for collecting the residue in the syringe, and a useful sampling action is achieved as a series of steps.

In order to visually check the specimen in the state of the specimen container part 1a at a level of microscopic magnification, an observation cell <NUM> provided in the specimen container lid <NUM> of the specimen container body <NUM> is used. The imaging is performed by a phase-contrast objective lens <NUM> and a camera of the smartphone <NUM> with an autofocus function.

And, the solid tissue removed by using the funnel <NUM> with the identification area <NUM> is then transferred to a purpose-specific preservation solution (e.g., formalin), and the residue remaining in the funnel is poured into the body of the centrifugal tube specimen container <NUM>, which is located downward, using other preservation solutions (e.g., alcohol). These operations make it possible to easily sort solid tissue (e.g., tissue for pathology) from microscopic cells (e.g., cells for cytology), which not only can increase the cell collect rate, but drying degeneration before fixation also can be prevented. By using a preservation solution containing a hemolytic agent, improper specimens due to large amounts of blood contamination are unlikely to occur.

Since the specimen container lid <NUM> is used, the specimen in the cell preservation solution, which is thinly layered within the observation cell <NUM>, can eventually be observable at a high magnification of approximately 200x with a camera of the smartphone <NUM> and the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR. Appropriate evaluation of the specimens at the specimen collection site is realized, and not only is the specimen transported to the testing facility in a sealed state, but the specimen container part 1a can also be used as a storage container, which enhances convenience.

Such liquid specimen in the preservation solution can later be used for additional tests, such as immunostaining, special staining, or virus testing, which will enhance diagnostic accuracy and promote the widespread use of liquid specimen methods using the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR.

Real-time specimen assessment by specimen collectors, such as physicians, is realized, and the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR, can result in enhanced collection techniques and other aspects.

The multifunctional phase-contrast microscopy device MR contributes to earlier diagnosis and initiation of treatment, as inappropriate specimens are less likely to be generated, thus improving examination accuracy.

By using the multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR with the observation cell <NUM>, microscopic level observation is realized in the state of the specimen container part 1a, which can also be used as a transport vial, and not only cells of the human body, but also microscopic organisms such as daphnia or plankton can be observed. Therefore, it is also expected to have a wide range of applications in medical, biological and oceanographic research and education, as well as in related industries.

And with the future development of smartphone applications and imaging devices, various possibilities are expected to have a positive impact on the imaging by the above-mentioned multifunctional phase-contrast microscopic device MR.

Claim 1:
A microscopic device comprising:
a specimen container part (1a) which can store a collected specimen and having an observation area (<NUM>) in which cells contained in the collected specimen can be observed;
an objective lens (<NUM>) aligned at a position corresponding to the observation area (<NUM>);
and a portable device mounting section (<NUM>) on which a portable device (<NUM>) having an imaging function can be mounted,
wherein the observation of the cells by the objective lens (<NUM>) can be performed by using the portable device (<NUM>) mounted on the portable device mounting section (<NUM>), wherein the specimen container part (1a) has a specimen container body (<NUM>) for storing the collected specimen, and a specimen container lid (<NUM>) provided with the observation area (<NUM>), detachable from the specimen container body (<NUM>), characterized in that the specimen container body (<NUM>) is a centrifuge tube,
the observation area (<NUM>) of the specimen container lid (<NUM>) is an observation cell (<NUM>),
the observation cell (<NUM>) having a thin hollow section (2a), is provided at an upper end of the specimen container lid (<NUM>) so that the observation cell (<NUM>) is connected to the specimen container body (<NUM>), and
the observation cell (<NUM>) is transparent.