[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

TISSUE SAMPLE ARRAY APPARATUS [Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a tissue sample arraying apparatus for punching (picking up) a tissue to obtain tissue samples and arranging tissue samples, and more particularly, to a tissue sample arraying apparatus for punching (picking up) a tissue from a donor block to obtain tissue samples and arranging tissue samples in a recipient block. [Background Art]

In general, a tissue micro-array means a technique of preparing a study sample in which a plurality of tissue samples (30 to 120 tissue samples or more) are attached to a glass slide with a size of about 2.5 x 7.5 cm. Living body tissues such as human body tissues, animal tissues and cultured cells may be used for the purpose of being observed with a microscope for analysis of protein, DNA or RNA in the cells or tissues. The tissue micro-array may be widely applied to most inspection methods (for example, in-situ PCR, Special stain, in situ hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, and so on) using tissue samples.

In a traditional method for analyzing tissue, one tissue sample (1 x 2 x 0.4 cm or more) was attached to one sheet of glass slide and then studied and analyzed. This method needs to prepare glass slides, to which tissue samples are attached, as much as the number of study subjects when examination results of several samples should be comparatively analyzed. Also, this method consumes quantity of reagent and consumption goods for the examination. As a result, this method requires plenty of time, costs and human resources. In addition, since tissue samples to be analyzed comparatively are individually examined, the consistency of examination is deteriorated, resulting in poor reliability for the examination.

To solve the above problem, in the tissue micro-array technique, only areas to be analyzed are picked up from a tissue sample and then received in a recipient block to make a perfect tissue micro-array block. Subsequently, the tissue micro-array block is sliced by virtue of a slicing tool and then attached on a glass slide. Finally, the sliced tissue micro- array is examined in various tissue examination techniques.

As a conventional method relevant the above tissue micro-array techniques, a method comprising punching directly a tissue by means of an examiner and arranging tissue samples in a recipient block has been utilized. However, in this method, an examiner may be easily tired due to continuous and repeated operations. As a result, depths of the tissue samples inserted into the recipient block become irregular, and so it is difficult to arrange accurately the tissue samples. In addition, although an examiner is not tired, an error between tissue sample arrangements may be generated according to a work time and work environments, thereby deteriorating working efficiency. [Disclosure]

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a tissue sample arraying apparatus in which a punching means, which punches a tissue and then arrange tissue samples in a recipient block, is connected to a driving unit extended in a lengthwise direction and the driving unit is moved by an examiner to enable the punching means to be located at the recipient block to be arranged, whereby the tissue samples can be accurately arranged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tissue sample arraying apparatus which can prevent a deterioration of working efficiency and accuracy caused when an examiner directly arranges tissue samples for a tissue micro-array.

A tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plate-shaped base; a support provided on one side of the base, the support being protruded upward; a driving unit connected to one side of the support and extended in a lengthwise direction, the driving unit being movable upward and downward with respect to one side connected to the support; a punching means connected to one side of the driving unit to punch a tissue and array a tissue sample on a recipient block; and a guide section protruded upward from one side of the base and having one distal end positioned below a moving path of the driving unit. [Description of Drawings]

Fig. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a punching means according to the

present invention.

<Reference Numeral for major elements in the drawings>

2 : Base 4 : Support

6 : Driving unit 8 : Punching means

10 : Guide section 12 : Guide pin

14 : Grip 16 : Hinge

18 : Punching tip 20 : Pressing unit

22 : Body 24 : Thread

26 : Spring [Best Mode]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following description is just for specifically explaining the present invention, not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention and Fig. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a punching means according to the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention is provided for punching a tissue (or a donor block) and arranging tissue samples in a recipient block. Preferably, the tissue sample arraying apparatus a plate- shaped base 2; a support 4 provided on one side of the base 2 and protruded upward; a driving unit 6 connected to one side of the support 4 and extended in a lengthwise direction, the driving unit being movable upward and downward with respect to one side connected to the support 4; a punching means 8 connected to one side of the driving unit to punch a tissue and array a tissue sample on a recipient block; and a guide section 10 protruded upward from one side of the base 2 and having one distal end positioned below a moving path of the driving unit 6.

In the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention, the base 2 provides an area on which the recipient block is placed, a tissue to be punched for tissue examination and study, particularly a donor block and tissue samples obtained by punching a tissue are arrayed in the recipient block. Here, the base has a rectangular

hexahedral plate shape, preferably a rectangular hexahedral plate shape extended in a lengthwise direction.

The support 4 in the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention is connected to one distal end of the driving unit 6 provided with the punching means 8 for punching a tissue and array tissue samples in the recipient block so as to allow the driving unit 6 to be moved upward/downward with respect to the support 4. At this time, if the support in the present invention is generally used in the art for the above purpose, the support 4 is not specifically limited. Preferably, the support 4 is protruded upward from on one side of the plate-shaped base 2 by a specially predetermined height and coupled to the driving unit 6 through a hinge 16 at one distal end thereof opposite to the other distal end connected to the plate-shaped base 2. Here, it is preferable that the support 4 has a cylindrical shape, although the shape thereof is not specifically limited.

The driving unit 6 in the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention is connected to the distal end of the support 4, preferably through the hinge 16, and so the driving unit can be moved upward/downward with respect to the hinge 16. Here, if the driving unit is employed for the above purpose, the driving unit 6 is not specifically limited. Preferably, the driving unit 6 is extended in a lengthwise direction, particularly, has a bar shape. And, the punching means 8 is fixedly coupled to a mid portion of the driving unit.

Here, the driving unit 6 may further include a grip 14 provided at the other distal end thereof opposite to the one distal end connected to the support 4, as necessary, wherein the grip 14 allows the driving unit 6 to be easily moved upward/downward.

The punching means 8 constituting the tissue sample arraying apparatus of the present invention is provided for punching a tissue and arrange tissue samples obtained by punching a tissue in the recipient block. If the punching means commonly used in the art for this purpose is available, any shaped punching means may be used. However, it is preferable that the punching means 8 comprises a cylindrical body 22, a punching tip 18 for punching a tissue, a pressing unit 20 for discharging a tissue sample obtained by punching the tissue to the outside and a spring 26 for providing elasticity to the pressing unit 20. The above configuration of the punching means 8 is substantially similar or

identical to that of a conventional punching means, and the punching means disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0327028 may be recommended as the punching means 8.

At this time, the punching means 8 in the tissue sample arraying apparatus of the present invention has a thread 24 formed on an outer peripheral surface of the body 22, this thread is thread-coupled with the driving unit 6, so that the punching means 8 and the driving unit 6 are fixedly coupled to each other by the thread engagement. However, the thread engagement between the punching means 8 and the driving unit 6 is only one example, and the punching means 8 and the driving unit 6 may be coupled to each other by virtue of any method or means commonly employed in the pertinent art.

The guide section 10 in the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention is provided below the driving unit 6, preferably is protruded upward from one side of the base 2 located below the driving unit 6 to allow the driving unit 6 moved downward to be in contact with the guide section to prevent the driving unit 6 from being moved further downward. Any guide commonly used in the pertinent art for this purpose is available as the above guide section 10.

Here, a guide pin 12 having elasticity is further provided at a distal end of the guide section 10, particularly opposite to the other distal end connected to the base 2, thereby serving to absorb shock when the driving unit 6 is brought into contact with the guide section 10 and also providing elasticity by which the driving unit 6 can be moved upward.

The operation of the tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention having the above structure is described as follows.

First, a tissue to be picked-up is punched by the punching means 8 to form tissue sample, and the recipient block in which tissue samples will be arrayed is placed on top of the base 2.

Thereafter, the driving unit 6 is moved downward to allow the punching means 8 connected to the driving unit 6 to be inserted into at a certain location of the recipient block, on which a tissue sample is to be arranged.

Then, the pressing unit 20 of the punching means 8 is pressed to receive and array

the tissue sample obtained by the punching means 8 in the recipient block.

Subsequently, the driving unit 6 connected to the punching means 8 is moved upward to isolate the punching means 8 from the recipient block.

Then, the aforementioned steps are repeated to array a plurality of tissue samples in the recipient block.

As described above, it would be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be implemented in other specific embodiments without changing the technical spirit or essential feature of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the aforementioned embodiment is merely illustrated for illustrative purposes and not for limitation purposes. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted to encompass the spirit and scope of the appended claims and all modifications and changes that would occur from the equivalence of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

The tissue sample arraying apparatus according to the present invention can perform repeatedly process for arraying tissue samples in a recipient block to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the examination.