Pillar assembly and preparing apparatus for sample block comprising the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pillar assembly and an apparatus for producing a sample block comprising the same, and according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change arrangement of pillars, and sample slices can be easily obtained from the sample block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillar assembly for use in an apparatus for producing a sample block, comprising
 a first base member having a plurality of through holes;   a second base member mounted to said first base member;   a plurality of pillars supported between said first and second base members and arranged to be exposed to the outside through each through hole; and   a fixing member provided so as to detachably fix said first and second base members.   
     
     
         2 . The pillar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing member comprises at least one magnet for securing the first and second base members by magnetic force. 
     
     
         3 . The pillar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a plurality of through holes comprise a plurality of first through holes which is located along the edge of the first base member and a plurality of second through holes which is located in the central area of the first base member, and   the interval between two adjacent first through holes and the interval between two adjacent second through holes are different from each other.   
     
     
         4 . The pillar assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said pillar has smaller diameter as it is more distant from the through hole.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for producing a sample block comprising
 a disk for supporting the bottom portion of the solidified material;   a jig, which is seated on the disk, for supporting the side portions of the solidified material; and   a pillar assembly that at least part of an area having the bio-matrix attached toward the top of the solidified material is inserted inside the jig,   wherein said pillar assembly comprises a first base member having a plurality of through holes, which is placed so as to face said jig;   a second base member mounted to said first base member;   a plurality of pillars, for attaching the bio-matrix, which is supported between said first and second base members and arranged to be exposed to the outside through each through hole; and   a fixing member provided so as to detachably fix said first and second base members.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a plurality of through holes comprise a plurality of first through holes which is located along the edge of the first base member and a plurality of second through holes which is located in the central area of the first base member, and   the interval between two adjacent first through holes and the interval between two adjacent second through holes are different from each other.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the pillars are arranged in the first through holes in a process of immersing the pillars having the bio-matrix attached in the culture solution, and   the pillars are arranged in the second through holes in a process of being inserted into the jig.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the jig comprises the main body to provide a space portion for holding the solidified material and at least one alignment rod which is extended from said main body and inserted into the pillar assembly in order to align the pillar assembly in a predetermined position on the jig.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the fixing member comprises at least one magnet for securing the first and second base members by magnetic force.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said pillar has smaller diameter as it is more distant from the through hole.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said solidified material is a frozen tissue embedding agent (OCT compound).   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said pillar assembly and jig each are detachably provided from the solidified material being solidified.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for producing a sample block comprising
 a thermally conductive pad for supporting the bottom portion of the solidified material;   a disc on which said thermally conductive pad is seated;   a jig, which is seated on the disk, for supporting the side portions of the solidified material; and   a pillar assembly that at least part of an area having the bio-matrix attached toward the top of the solidified material is inserted inside the jig,   wherein said pillar assembly comprises a first base member having a plurality of through holes, which is placed so as to face said jig;   a second base member mounted to said first base member;   a plurality of pillars, for attaching the bio-matrix, which is supported between said first and second base members and arranged to be exposed to the outside through each through hole; and   a fixing member provided so as to detachably fix said first and second base members.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 , wherein
 a plurality of through holes comprise a plurality of first through holes which is located along the edge of the first base member and a plurality of second through holes which is located in the central area of the first base member, and   the interval between two adjacent first through holes and the interval between two adjacent second through holes are different from each other.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the pillars are arranged in the first through holes in a process of immersing the pillars having the bio-matrix attached in the culture solution, and   the pillars are arranged in the second through holes in a process of being inserted into the jig.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the jig comprises the main body to provide a space portion for holding the solidified material and at least one alignment rod which is extended from said main body and inserted into the pillar assembly in order to align the pillar assembly in a predetermined position on the jig.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the fixing member comprises at least one magnet for securing the first and second base members by magnetic force.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said pillar has smaller diameter as it is more distant from the through hole.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said solidified material comprises paraffin.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for producing a sample block according to  claim 13 ,
 the disk is formed of a PDMS material, and   the thermally conductive pad is formed of a metallic material.