Sliced specimen preparing apparatus
US9109982B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Grant date | Aug 18, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N1/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sliced specimen preparing apparatus prepares a sliced specimen by slicing a surface of a specimen block in which a specimen is embedded in an embedding-substance. The apparatus includes: a cutter configured to slice the surface of the specimen block; a surface exposure determination unit configured to determine whether or not the area of a specimen portion on the surface of the specimen block is sufficient for the preparation of the sliced specimen; and a specimen block transporting unit configured to transport the specimen block between the surface exposure determination unit and the cutter. The surface exposure determination unit includes a humidifying unit configured to humidify the surface of the specimen block; an irradiating unit configured to irradiate the surface of the specimen block with light; an imaging unit configured to receive reflected light from the humidified surface of the specimen block which is irradiated from the irradiating unit to acquire image data; an image data processing unit configured to discriminate the specimen portion on the surface of the specimen block from the embedding-substance portion based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit; and…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.