# US 2017/0254731 A1 · Smear preparation apparatus and smear preparation method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254731 A1 - Document ID: US20170254731A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/599,539 - Filed: 2017-05-19 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-26 - Assignees: Sysmex Corporation - Applicants: Sysmex Corporation - Inventors: Yuichiro OHMAE; Seiya SHINABE; Kosuke SEKIZUKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254731A1 ## CPC - G01N 1/312: {for samples mounted on planar substrates} - C12M 3/00: Tissue, human, animal or plant cell, or virus culture apparatus - G01N 1/28: Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00}) - G01N 1/2813: {Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on (G01N1/30 takes precedence)} - G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis} - G01N 33/48: Biological material, e.g. blood, urine (G01N33/02, G01N33/26, G01N33/44, G01N33/46 take precedence); Haemocytometers (counting blood corpuscules distributed over a surface by scanning the surface G06M11/02) - G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/00069: {whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk} - G01N 35/00732: {Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers} - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 2035/00039: {Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade} - G01N 2035/00138: {Slides} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract The time period necessary for a staining process is shortened, and the apparatus is downsized. This smear preparation apparatus includes: a staining vessel for storing a staining liquid therein so as to allow a plurality of glass slides each having a sample smeared thereon to be immersed therein; and a transfer unit for holding and transferring each glass slide. The staining vessel includes a plurality of first holders configured to hold the glass slides. The staining vessel is configured such that a plurality of glass slides held by a plurality of the first holders are immersed in the stored staining liquid, and the transfer unit is configured to put in/take out the glass slides one by one with respect to a plurality of the first holders of the staining vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smear preparation apparatus comprising: a staining vessel for storing a staining liquid therein so as to allow a plurality of glass slides each having a sample smeared thereon to be immersed therein; and a transfer unit for holding and transferring each glass slide, wherein the staining vessel includes a plurality of first holders configured to hold the glass slides, the staining vessel is configured such that a plurality of glass slides held by a plurality of the first holders are immersed in the stored staining liquid, and the transfer unit is configured to put in/take out the glass slides one by one with respect to a plurality of the first holders of the staining vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers a glass slide having been subjected to a staining process, by making a detour such that the glass slide having been subjected to the staining process does not pass above a glass slide being subjected to the staining process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the staining vessel includes a transfer region that is adjacent to the first holders in a width direction of the glass slide, and the transfer unit transfers the glass slide such that the glass slide passes above the transfer region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein in a width direction of the glass slide, an internal dimension of an upper portion of the staining vessel is greater than an internal dimension of a lower portion of the staining vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a washing vessel for storing a washing liquid therein so as to allow the glass slides to be immersed therein, wherein the washing vessel includes a plurality of second holders configured to hold the glass slides, and the transfer unit is configured to put in/take out the glass slides one by one with respect to a plurality of the second holders of the washing vessel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the staining vessel is formed integrally with the washing vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the staining vessel and the washing vessel are adjacent to each other, and the transfer unit makes a detour such that the glass slide does not pass above the first holders of the staining vessel and the second holders of the washing vessel, and transfers the glass slide along a direction in which the staining vessel and the washing vessel are adjacent to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the staining vessel includes a first staining vessel for storing a first staining liquid therein, and a second staining vessel for storing therein a second staining liquid that is different from the first staining liquid, the staining vessel comprises a separation member for separating the first staining vessel and the second staining vessel from each other, and the first staining vessel is formed integrally with the second staining vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a drying vessel including a plurality of thud holders configured to hold the glass slides; and an air-sending unit for sending air to the glass slides held in the drying vessel, wherein the transfer unit is configured to put in/take out the glass slides one by one with respect to the third holders of the drying vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The smear preparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a heater for warming air sent from the air-sending unit. ### Claim 11 A smear preparation method comprising: storing a staining liquid so as to immerse, in a staining vessel including a plurality of first holders configured to hold glass slides each Laving a sample smeared thereon, a plurality of the glass slides held by a plurality of the first holders; gripping and transferring, by a transfer unit, each glass slide to the staining vessel; and putting in/taking out the glass slides one by one, by the transfer unit, with respect to a plurality of the first holders of the staining vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The smear preparation method of claim 11, wherein the transfer unit transfers the glass slide by making a detour such that the glass slide does not pass above the first holders. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The smear preparation method of claim 11, wherein the staining vessel includes a transfer region that is adjacent to the first holders in a width direction of the glass slide, and the transfer unit transfers the glass slide such that the glass slide passes above the transfer region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The smear preparation method of claim 11, comprising: storing a washing liquid in a washing vessel including a plurality of second holders configured to hold the glass slides; gripping and transferring, by the transfer unit, each glass slide to the washing vessel; and putting in/taking out the glass slides one by one, by the transfer unit, with respect to a plurality of the second holders of the washing vessel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The smear preparation method of claim 14, wherein the staining vessel and the washing vessel are adjacent to each other, and the transfer unit makes a detour such that the glass slide does riot pass above the first holders of the staining vessel and the second holders of the washing vessel, and transfers the glass slide along a direction in which the staining vessel and the washing vessel are adjacent to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The smear preparation method of claim 11, wherein the staining vessel includes a first staining vessel for storing a first staining liquid therein, and a second staining vessel for storing a second staining liquid therein, the first staining vessel and the second staining vessel being separated from each other by a separation member, and the transfer unit puts in/takes out the glass slide one by one with respect to at least one type of the first holders of the first staining vessel and the first holders of the second staining vessel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The smear preparation method of claim 11, comprising: putting in/taking out the glass slides one by one, by the transfer unit, with respect to a plurality of third holders of a drying vessel, the third holders being configured to hold the glass slides; and sending, by an air-sending unit, air to the glass slides held in the drying vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The smear preparation method of claim 17, wherein warming, by a heater, air sent from the air-sending unit.