JP2003135995A - Centrifugal separator provided with balance weight preparing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically prepare a balance weight each time even in the case of carrying out centrifugal separation of a liquid which has to be centrifugally separated several times. SOLUTION: The liquid B to be separated which is stored in a 1st treating vessel 13 is centrifugal separated by a centrifugal separating means 61 using a 1st balance vessel 14 in which the equal quantity of physiological saline is stored as a balance weight to be separated into a supernatant liquid and a setting liquid. In a distribution means 91, the supernatant liquid in the 1st treating vessel 13 is transferred to a 2nd treating vessel 109 and the equal quantity of physiological saline is transferred to a 2nd balance vessel 110. Then, because the setting liquid remaining in the 1st treating vessel and the liquid remaining in the 1st balance vessel 14 become equal in quantity and the supernatant liquid in the 2nd treating vessel 109 and the liquid in the 2nd balance vessel 110 become equal in quantity, each balance vessel 14 or 110 is used as the balance weight for each treating vessel 13 or 109.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centrifuge having a balance weight producing function, and more specifically, to collect a supernatant or a sediment from a liquid to be separated into a supernatant and a sediment. At the same time, the present invention relates to a centrifuge device having a balance weight creating function capable of automatically creating a balance weight for a centrifuge corresponding to the collected supernatant or sediment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the medical field, the following processes have been carried out in order to obtain a test preparation for labeling leukocytes from blood collected from a human body, which will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. First, the blood is allowed to stand for a predetermined time after the blood is collected, so that the liquid to be separated and the red blood cells are separated and the red blood cells are sedimented. Then, only the liquid to be separated is separated, and the liquid to be separated is separated into the primary supernatant and the white blood cells as the primary sediment by centrifugation. Further, physiological saline is added to the white blood cells, and centrifugation is performed again to separate the white blood cells into a secondary supernatant and purified white blood cells as a secondary sediment, and the secondary supernatant is discarded. . Also, the above 1
The next supernatant is centrifuged to separate it into serum and sediment. Then, by adding physiological saline and In (indium), which is a radioisotope, to the purified leukocytes and adding the serum, a test preparation for labeling leukocytes can be obtained. Here, when the above supernatant or sediment is applied to a centrifuge, a balance weight having the same weight as the supernatant or sediment is required, but conventionally, the supernatant or sediment is When centrifuging, a balance weight is manually created with the same amount of water as the supernatant or sediment.

[0003]

Since the amount of the separated liquid to be centrifuged is different each time it is collected, it is complicated to manually inject the same amount of water as the separated liquid into the container for the balance weight. It has become. In addition, since the balance weight is created by using the dropper with the proper amount, an error may occur in the amount of the liquid to be separated and the balance weight. In addition, as described above, in order to obtain a test preparation for labeling leukocytes, it is necessary to centrifuge the liquid to be separated three times in total, and each work is complicated and requires a lot of time. There is a risk of infection due to mistakes, and it takes a lot of effort to learn these tasks. Furthermore, since a radioisotope such as In is used in the above-mentioned test preparation, there is a risk that the worker will be exposed to radiation. In view of the above points, the present invention is provided with a balance weight creating function capable of automatically creating an accurate balance weight for a liquid that needs to be centrifuged and performing centrifugal separation a plurality of times without requiring manpower. And a centrifugal separator.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, according to the invention of claim 1, a first processing container for storing a liquid to be separated which is separated into a supernatant and a sediment, and a liquid having a specific gravity equivalent to that of the liquid to be separated. A first balance container for storing the same amount as the liquid to be separated, a centrifuge means for separating the liquid to be separated in the first processing container by using the first balance container as a balance weight, and a supernatant liquid and a sediment liquid by centrifugation. A separating means for separating the supernatant liquid from the separated first processing container and separating the same amount of liquid as the separated supernatant liquid from the first balance container, and the processing container and the balance container. A transport means for transporting between the centrifugal separation means and the separation means is provided, and the centrifugal separation means remains in the first processing container using the first balance container from which the liquid is separated as a balance weight. Centrifuge the sediment And it is characterized in and.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the first processing container for storing the liquid to be separated which is separated into the supernatant liquid and the sediment liquid, and the liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated are the liquid to be separated. A first balance container for storing a quantity, a centrifuge means for separating the liquid to be separated in the first treatment container using the first balance container as a balance weight, and a first treatment separated into a supernatant and a sediment by centrifugation. A separating means for separating the supernatant liquid from the container and supplying the same to the second processing container, and supplying the same amount of the liquid as the supernatant liquid supplied to the second processing container into the second balance container. And a carrying means for carrying the processing container and the balance container between the centrifugal separating means and the separating means, wherein the centrifugal separating means uses the second balance container as a balance weight in the second processing container. Centrifuge the supernatant of It is an butterfly.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is the same as the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating means is disposed above the first processing container separated into a supernatant and a sediment by centrifugation. While separating the clear liquid and supplying it to the second processing container, the sedimentation liquid remains in the first processing container,
In addition, the same amount of liquid as the supernatant liquid to be supplied into the second processing container from the first balance container is separated and supplied into the second balance container, and the first processing container is provided in the first balance container. It is characterized in that the same amount of liquid as the settling liquid left inside is left.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the liquid to be separated is prepared in the first processing container, and the liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated is prepared in the first balance container in the same amount as the liquid to be separated. By using one balance container as a balance weight, the liquid to be separated in the first processing container can be centrifuged into a supernatant and a sediment. Then, the separating means can separate only the supernatant from the first processing container and discharge the same from the inside of the first processing container, and the same amount of the liquid as the supernatant can be separated from the first balance container. Since this can be discharged from the inside of the first balance container, the settling liquid remaining in the first processing container and the liquid remaining in the first balance container have the same weight. Therefore, even after the supernatant liquid is discharged from the inside of the first processing container, the first balance container can be centrifuged as a balance weight for the first processing container.

According to the invention of claim 2, the liquid to be separated is prepared in the first processing container, and the liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated is prepared in the first balance container in the same amount as the liquid to be separated. First
By using the balance container as a balance weight, the liquid to be separated in the first processing container can be centrifuged into a supernatant liquid and a sediment liquid. Then, the separating means can separate only the supernatant liquid from the first processing container and supply it into the second processing container, and at the same time, supply the same amount of liquid as the supernatant liquid into the second balance container. Therefore, the supernatant liquid supplied to the second processing container and the liquid supplied to the second balance container have the same weight. Therefore, the second balance container can be centrifuged as a balance weight for the second processing container.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the supernatant liquid is separated by the separating means, the settling liquid remaining in the first processing container and the liquid remaining in the first balance container have the same weight. In addition to the above, the supernatant liquid supplied to the second processing container and the liquid supplied to the second balance container can have the same weight. Therefore, the first
The first balance container for the processing container and the second balance container for the second processing container can be simultaneously prepared as balance weights.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The present invention is a centrifuge having a balance weight creating function. In this embodiment, a test preparation for labeling leukocytes is prepared from blood. It is used for
1 to 4 show a liquid to be separated collecting means 1 for preparing a container to be centrifuged. In FIG. 1, the separated liquid collecting means 1 includes two identical first syringes 2 and second identical syringes 2.
A syringe 3 is provided, and the syringes 2 and 3 are arranged in parallel with their mouth portions facing upward, and are fixed to a swing frame 5 by a clip 4. First
At the lower end of the plunger 6 of the syringe 2 and the plunger 7 of the second syringe 3, one of the syringe pumps 8 is provided in order to simultaneously deliver the liquid from each of the syringes 2 and 3 by simultaneously pressing both the plungers 6 and 7. The pressing member 9 that constitutes the part is in contact. Blood A is stored in the first syringe 2, and this blood A contains an erythrocyte sedimentation accelerator (for example, manufactured by Hishiyama Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) for accelerating the separation.
Erythrocyte sedimentation agent "HES40") and the like are mixed.
As the first syringe 2, the syringe used for blood collection is used as it is. Blood A stored in the first syringe 2
Is allowed to stand for a predetermined time, as shown in FIG.
Due to the sedimentation action, the liquid B to be separated and the red blood cells C as the sedimentation liquid are separated. On the other hand, a liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated B is stored in the second syringe 3.
In this embodiment, this liquid is physiological saline W. The first syringe 2 and the second syringe 3 have a clip 4
The first syringe 2 and the second syringe 3 are fixed to the swing frame 5 by the flanges 2 of the first syringe 2 and the second syringe 3 at this time.
The a and 3a are placed on the stand 10 provided on the swing frame 5 to have the same height, and therefore the heights of the mouths are also the same. In addition, each plunger 6, 7
The pressure members 9 have the same height.

Tubes 11 and 12 are attached to the mouths of the first syringe 2 and the second syringe 3, respectively, and the tips of the tubes 11 and 12 are provided with the first processing container 13 provided on the side of the swing frame 5, respectively. And communicates with the first balance container 14. Since both the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 can be placed on the centrifugal separation means described later, they can be placed on the centrifugal separation means, and both are manufactured in the same manner. Also,
The first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are mounted on a mounting table 16 on which the respective containers 13 and 14 are mounted at the same height.
A notch 16a is provided so that the liquid inside can be visually recognized. Then, in the middle of the tube 11 that connects the first syringe 2 and the first processing container 13, the liquid B to be separated and the red blood cells C are separated.
The detecting means 15 is provided to detect the boundary of the. Since such detecting means 15 is conventionally known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the syringe pump 8 has a pressing member 9 for pressing the plungers 6 and 7 described above.
A feed screw 22 rotated by a motor 21 and a nut member 23 screwed onto the feed screw 22 to move up and down and connected to the pressing member 9. The pressing member 9 is arranged on the front surface side of the swing frame 5, and the nut member 23 is arranged on the rear surface side of the swing frame 5, both of which penetrate through a groove (not shown) provided in the swing frame 5 and are integrally connected to each other. Has been done. The nut member 23 is movable up and down along guides 24 arranged and fixed in parallel with the feed screw 22 on both sides of the feed screw 22, and the feed screw 22 penetrates the nut member 23 and is screwed into the nut member 23. ing. The feed screw 22 is rotatably supported by the swing frame 5, and a pulley 27 is attached to the upper end thereof. Further, the motor 21 is attached to the swing frame 5, and a pulley 28 is attached to its rotation shaft. A belt 29 is stretched between the two pulleys 27 and 28, and the rotation of the motor 21 is controlled by the pulley 2
8, feed screw 22 via belt 29 and pulley 27
And the nut member 23 and the pressing member 9 are moved up and down.

The swing frame 5 is swingably attached to a fixed frame 33 via a hinge 32, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4, the tilting device 31 allows the rocking frame 5, and thus the syringes 2 and 3, to be rocked between the upright state (the state of FIG. 3) and the tilted state (the state of FIG. 4). I am doing it. The inclining device 31 inclines the blood A in the first syringe 2 so as to inject the red blood cells C.
It is provided to accelerate the sedimentation speed of the red blood cell C. It is known that the sedimentation speed of the red blood cells C becomes faster as the inclination angle of the first syringe 2 becomes closer to horizontal. However, when the first syringe 2 is placed in the horizontal state, the red blood cells C that have settled out adhere to the top surface (side surface in the horizontal state) of the first syringe 2, and the first syringe 2 is raised again to separate the liquid B to be separated. When the red blood cells C are extracted, the red blood cells C may remain attached to the top surface of the first syringe 2 and the red blood cells C may be mixed in the liquid B to be separated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the first syringe 2 is not tilted to a horizontal state, and the precipitated red blood cells C are not
Angle that does not adhere to the top surface of the syringe (approximately 30 °
It is designed to be tilted up to 50 °.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tilting device 31 is provided with a motor 34, a feed screw 35 that is rotationally driven by the motor 34, and a nut member 36 that is moved by screwing the feed screw 35. There is. The feed screw 35 is obliquely arranged on the side surface of the fixed frame 33 and is rotatably supported, and the motor 34 is fixed to the side surface of the fixed frame 33 and connected to the feed screw 35. The nut member 36 screwed to the feed screw 35 includes a connecting pin 37,
The connecting pin 37 penetrates through a long hole (not shown) formed on the side surface of the fixed frame 33 along the feed screw 35,
It is slidably engaged in a long hole 5a provided on the side surface of the swing frame 5. When the nut member 36 is moved back and forth along the feed screw 35, the swing frame 5 is centered on the hinge 32 via the connecting pin 37 provided on the nut member 36 and the long hole 5a with which the nut engages. Can be swung between an upright state and an inclined state.

In the above structure, the liquid to be separated collecting means 1
Is used as follows. First, blood is collected by attaching an injection needle to the tip opening of the first syringe 2. Then, the anticoagulant and the erythrocyte sedimentation promoter are sucked into the first syringe 2 and a small amount of air is sucked and stirred. Next, after removing the injection needle from the first syringe 2 and attaching the tube 11 instead, the flange portion 2a of the first syringe 2 is placed on the stand 10 of the rocking frame 5 in the upright state, and the clip 4 is attached. Fixed by. On the other hand, when the physiological saline W is sucked into the second syringe 3, the tube 12 is attached to the tip opening portion thereof, the flange portion 3a of the second syringe 3 is placed on the stand 10 of the swing frame 5, and the clip 4 is attached. Fixed by. After that, the pulley 27 or 28 is manually rotated, or the motor 21 is manually rotated to raise the pressing member 9, and the pressing member 9 is brought into contact with the respective plungers 6 and 7. Further, the pressing member 9 is gradually raised to raise the plungers 6 and 7 at the same time, and the blood A in the first syringe 2 is transferred to the tube 1
Raise the plungers 6 and 7 just before the maximum height position of 1 is exceeded. During this period, the physiological saline W in the second syringe 3
Is discharged to the outside beyond the maximum height position of the tube 12, but at this time, the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are not set, and the blood A and the physiological saline W
Is not stored in the first processing container 13 or the first balance container 14. In this state, the tubes 11, 1
Since No. 2 is arranged under the same condition, the amount of blood A in the first syringe 2 and the tube 11 and the amount of physiological saline W in the second syringe 3 and the tube 12 are the same.
In this state, the pressing member 9 is manually lowered to return the blood A in the tube 11 into the first syringe 2 and suck a predetermined amount of air into the first syringe 2. Then, the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are set at the tips of the tubes 11 and 12. At this time, the liquid level of blood A and the liquid level of physiological saline W are at the same height.

After the syringes 2 and 3 and the containers 13 and 14 have been set as described above, the operation start button (not shown) of the separated liquid collecting means 1 is pressed to separate the separated liquid collecting means 1.
Operate. Then, a control device (not shown) that controls the liquid to-be-separated liquid collecting means 1 activates the motor 34 of the tilting device 31 to rotate the feed screw 35, whereby the rocking frame 5 tilts from the standing state to the tilted state. Then, when the swing frame 5 is tilted to a predetermined tilt angle, the control device detects this by a limit switch (not shown) and stops the motor 34.

In this state, the separated liquid collecting means 1 waits for a certain period of time, and waits for the blood A to be separated into the separated liquid B and the red blood cells C. It is known that the settling time of the red blood cells C and the settling time of the settling of the blood A due to the inclination of the blood A can be calculated. To start. As a result, the rocking frame 5 is returned to the standing state at a speed such that the liquid B to be separated and the red blood cells C in the first syringe 2 are not mixed, and the first syringe 2 placed on the rocking frame 5 is in the standing state. Then, the control device detects this with a limit switch (not shown) and stops the motor 34.

Next, the control device of the separated liquid collecting means 1 activates the motor 21 of the syringe pump 8 to gradually raise the pressing member 9. When the plungers 6 and 7 are pressed upward by the upward movement of the pressing member 9, the liquid B to be separated is delivered from the first syringe 2 to the first processing container 13 through the tube 11, and from the second syringe 3. The physiological saline W is delivered to the first balance container 14 through the tube 12. When the pressing member 9 continues to rise and the boundary portion between the liquid B to be separated and the red blood cells C passes through the detection means 15, the detection means 15 inputs the fact to the control device, so the control device The motor 21 of the syringe pump 8 is stopped. In this state, only the liquid B to be separated is collected in the first processing container 13, and the first balance container 1
In 4, the same amount of physiological saline W as the liquid to be separated B is collected. Therefore, the first mounted on the mounting table 16
In the processing container 13 and the first balance container 14, the height of the liquid surface of the liquid to be separated B stored in the first processing container 13 and the liquid surface of the physiological saline W stored in the first balance container 14 It is the same as the height.

Next, the first processing container 13 in which the separated liquid B obtained by the separated liquid sampling means 1 is stored, and the physiological saline W in the same amount as the separated liquid B are stored in the first processing container 13. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the 1-balance container 14 is processed by the centrifugal separator 39 according to the present invention. The centrifuge 39 is installed in a temperature-controlled room 40 shown in FIG. 6, and the temperature inside the temperature-controlled room 40 is kept constant. The centrifuge 39 is provided with a frame 39a, and the liquid to be separated B in the first processing container 13 is placed on the frame 39a by using the above-mentioned separated liquid collecting means 1 and the first balance container 14 as a balance weight. Centrifugal separation means 61 for separating into a clear liquid and a sediment, and the supernatant separated by the centrifugation is separated from the inside of the first processing container 13 and the above-mentioned separated supernatant from the first balance container 14. And a dividing means 91 for dividing the same amount of physiological saline W as the above. Then, the mounting table 16 on which the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are mounted is conveyed by the conveying means 41 between the separated liquid collecting means 1, the centrifugal separating means 61 and the separating means 91. It has become.

The centrifuge 39 is adapted to prepare the liquid B to be separated into a test preparation for labeling leukocytes in the following manner. First, as described above, the separated liquid collecting means 1 stores the separated liquid B in the first processing container 13,
When the same amount of physiological saline W is stored in the first balance container 14, the mounting table 16 on which the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are mounted is transferred to the centrifugal separation unit 61 by the transfer unit 41. The first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are taken out from the mounting table 16 and set in the centrifuge means 61. Then, the centrifugal separation means 61
As the primary separation step, the first balance container 14 is used as a balance weight, the separated liquid B in the first processing container 13 is centrifuged, and the separated liquid B is used as a primary supernatant and a white blood cell as a primary sediment. And separate. After this, the first processing container 13 and the first
The balance container 14 is mounted on the mounting table 16 again, and is conveyed to the detecting means 71 by the conveying means 41. The detection means 71 measures the amount of the primary supernatant from the liquid surface of the primary supernatant in the first processing container 13 and the boundary between the primary supernatant and white blood cells. When the amount of the primary supernatant liquid is measured in this way, the separating means 91 separates only the primary supernatant liquid from the first processing container 13, and the white blood cells (primary sedimentation) are collected in the first processing container 13. Liquid), and the primary supernatant is supplied into the second processing container 109 prepared in the vicinity thereof. Further, the separating means 91 separates the same amount of the physiological saline W as the primary supernatant liquid from the first balance container 14 and stores it in the second balance container 110 arranged adjacent to the second processing container 109. Supply. In this state, the first balance container 14 has the same amount of physiological saline W as the white blood cells remaining in the first processing container 13.
Remains. In this state, the separation means 9
In the first example, the same amount of physiological saline W is added to the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14, respectively, and the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are returned to the centrifugal separation means 61 by the transfer means 41. It is transported and set inside it.

In this state, the centrifuge means 61 is
In the secondary separation step, the white blood cells in the first processing container 13 are centrifuged by using the first balance container 14 as a balance weight to separate them into a secondary supernatant and purified white blood cells as a secondary sediment. At this time, since the same amount of the physiological saline W as the white blood cells in the first treatment container 13 is stored in the first balance container 14 by the above-mentioned dividing step, the first balance container 14 should be used as it is as a balance weight. You can Then, the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 1
4 is again conveyed to the detecting means 71, and when the detecting means 71 detects the amount of the secondary supernatant liquid in the same manner as described above,
The separating means 91 separates the secondary supernatant liquid in the first processing container 13 and discharges it into the first waste container 111,
Only necessary purified white blood cells are left in the first processing container 13. At this time, if necessary, the first balance container 1
The same amount of physiological saline W as the 4th to secondary supernatants may be discharged into the second waste liquid container 112. After that, when the separating means 91 adds the necessary amount of physiological saline W to the purified white blood cells remaining in the first processing container 13, the conveying means 41 prepares the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 for the preparing means 1.
Transport to 21. The preparation means 121 is adapted to add a radioactive isotope, for example, In, to the purified white blood cells in the first processing container 13, and after being left to stand for a predetermined time, the transporting means 41 is used as the transportation means 41 and the first balance container. 14 and 14 are discharged from the centrifugal separator 39 and supplied to a post process not shown.

On the other hand, the second processing container 109 and the second balance container 110 are accommodated and mounted on the mounting table 98 having the same structure as the mounting table 16 described above, and the second processing container 109 and the second balance container 110 are mounted on the mounting table 98. The container 110 is transported to the centrifuge means 61 by the transport means 41 and set therein. As a result, the centrifuging means 61 centrifuges the primary supernatant liquid in the second processing container 109 using the second balance container 110 as a balance weight in the tertiary separation step, and uses this as the tertiary supernatant liquid serum. And a third settling liquid. The second processing container 109 from which the serum has been separated is discharged from the centrifugal separator 39 together with the second balance container 110,
In a post-process (not shown), the above-described In is added to the purified leukocytes in the first processing container 13 to produce a test preparation for labeling leukocytes.

Next, the specific structure of the above-mentioned conveying means 41 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the conveying means 41 is a conveyor belt 42 for conveying the mounting table 16 in the left-right direction in the figure, and the mounting table 16. The first to convey the above
And a pressing device 43. The conveyor belt 42
Is configured to be able to convey the mounting table 16 by a motor 42a provided on the right side. The conveyor belt 42 is installed on the left side of the conveyor belt 42 and mounted near the preparation means 121. A stopper 44 for stopping the mounting table 16 and stoppers 45, 46 for stopping the mounting table 16 are provided in the vicinity of the centrifuge means 61 installed in the center of the conveyor belt 42. Further, the detecting means 71 installed on the right side of the conveyor belt 42.
Is a positioning means 74 which will be described later on the conveyor belt 42.
The mounting table 16 is stopped and positioned by the positioning means 74. Further, the mounting table 16 for which the work has been completed is carried out from the left end of the conveyor belt 42.

The stoppers 44, 45, 46 are provided with a pair of bars 48 which are opened and closed by a motor 47 on both sides of the conveyor belt 42. Of these, the stopper 44 is conveyed from the right side in the figure. The bar 48 is provided so as to be in contact with the left side of the mounting table 16 in order to stop the mounting table 16 at a position shown by a broken line near the preparation means 121. On the other hand, the stoppers 45 and 46
Is configured to stop the mounting table 16 conveyed from the left and right in the figure at a position shown by a broken line in the vicinity of the centrifuge means 61. Therefore, the stopper 45 is on the left side of the mounting table 16 conveyed from the right side. And the bar 48 are in contact with each other, and the stopper 46 is provided so that the bar 48 is in contact with the right side of the mounting table 16 conveyed from the left side. Further, a limit switch (not shown) is provided on either one of the pair of bars 48 constituting each of the stoppers 44, 45, 46, and is used to stop the mounting table 16 on the conveyor belt 42. A controller (not shown) controls the motor 47 to move the bar 48 to the conveyor belt 4
When the mounting table 16 contacts the bar and the limit switch is turned on, the control device controls the conveyor belt 4
The second motor 42a is stopped and the mounting table 16 is stopped. On the other hand, when passing through the mounting table 16, the control device controls the motor 47 to open the bar 48 outside the conveyor belt 42 so that the mounting table 16 is passed.

The first pressing device 43 is provided with a table 49 adjacent to the separated liquid collecting means 1 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyor belt, and a table 4.
9 is provided with a pusher 50 that pushes the mounting table 16 placed on the upper side in FIG. The table 49 has guides 49 on both sides according to the width of the mounting table 16.
a is provided, and the mounting table 16 is movable along the guide 49a. On the mounting table 16 mounted on the table 49, the first processing container 13 is mounted on the upper side shown in FIG. 5, and as described above,
The tube 11 connected to the first syringe 2 is in communication with the first processing container 13, and the second syringe 3 is connected to the first balance container 14 placed below the first processing container 13.
The tube 12 connected to is communicated. The pusher 50 is fixed to a belt 51 provided along the table 49, and is moved in the vertical direction in the figure by rotation of a motor (not shown) provided on either one of the pulleys 52 provided at both ends of the belt 51. It is possible. When the pusher 50 is moved upward by the rotation of the motor, the pusher 50 presses the mounting table 16 so that the mounting table 16 can be conveyed toward the conveyor belt 42. Also, pusher-50
Is located at the lower end and the upper end thereof, a limit switch (not shown) provided on the table 49 is turned on. When the limit switch is turned on, the motor is stopped and the pusher 50 is stopped. There is.

Further, the transfer means 41 is arranged such that the first processing container 1 is moved from the mounting table 16 stopped on the conveyor belt 42.
The delivery means 63 is provided to take out the third balance container 14 and the first balance container 14, convey them to the centrifugal separation means 61, and set them. The centrifuge means 61 is no different from the generally used centrifuge means, and the rotor 64 of the centrifuge means 61 is mounted on the container in which the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are mounted. Two placing portions 65 are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation center 64a of the rotor 64. Further, since the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 on the mounting table 16 are mounted on the container mounting portion 65, the rotor 64 is controlled by the control device.
6 and the two container mounting portions 65 are stopped so as to be aligned on a straight line. The delivery means 63
As shown in FIG. 6, it is provided with one gripper 66 that holds the first processing container 13 or the first balance container 14, and an elevating means 67 that elevates and lowers the gripper 66. The elevating means 67 moves. It is adapted to be moved horizontally by means 68. The gripper 66 is configured to open and close by an actuator (not shown) to grip the container, and a conventionally known linear guide is used for the moving means 68, and a guide provided in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 is used. The lifting means 67 and the gripper 66 can be moved along the rail 69.

Next, FIG. 7 shows the above-mentioned detecting means 71, which includes a detecting element 72 for detecting the boundary between the supernatant and the sediment, and an elevating means 73 for raising and lowering the detecting element 72.
And a positioning means 74 for positioning the mounting table 16 at a position detectable by the detection element 72.
As shown in FIG. 5, the detection element 72 includes a light irradiation section 72a and a light receiving section 72b, and is fixed to a U-shaped stay 75 so that the container is arranged between them. The elevating means 73 includes a feed screw 77 rotated by a motor 76 and a nut member 79 that is screwed into the feed screw 77 and moves up and down the support member 78.
A support rod 80 that moves up and down along a guide is fixed, and a stay 75 of the detection element 72 is fixed to the upper end of the support rod 80. The positioning means 74 includes the mounting table 16
5 is composed of a housing portion 81 having a substantially U-shaped wall portion created according to the vertical dimension in the drawing in FIG. 5, and a moving means 82 for moving the housing portion 81 in the vertical direction in the drawing. The accommodating portion 81 is formed in a U shape, and the upper side and the lower side of the U shape are formed by the conveyor belt 42.
It is located at both ends of. When the mounting table 16 conveyed by the conveyor belt 42 enters between the upper side and the lower side and the mounting table 16 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 81, a limit switch (not shown) is turned on to stop the conveyor belt 42. It has become. After that, the moving means 82 moves the container 81 upward in FIG. 5, whereby the first processing container 13 mounted on the mounting table 16 is moved.
Can be located between the light irradiation part 72a and the light receiving part 72b. Further, at this time, since the mounting table 16 is provided with the notch 16a as shown in FIG. 7, even if the detection element 72 moves up and down, the first processing container 1
The liquid in 3 can be detected by the detection element 72.

Further, FIG. 8 shows the separating means 91, which is a syringe 92 for separating the liquid from the container.
A syringe pump 94 for raising and lowering the plunger 93 of the syringe 92; a raising and lowering means 95 for raising and lowering the syringe 92 and the syringe pump 94 integrally; and a vertical movement of the syringe 92 by moving the raising and lowering means 95. And a moving means 96 for moving the same. The syringe 92 is of the same type as the syringe of the separated liquid sampling means 1, but the syringe 92 is provided with a needle 102 at its tip. The syringe pump 94 includes an elevating member 103 for vertically moving a plunger 93 of the syringe 92 along guides provided on both sides of the syringe 92, and a motor 10.
Feed screw 104 rotated by 5 and feed screw 10
4 and a nut member 106 which is screwed up and down to move vertically and is connected to the elevating member 103. The elevating means 95 is moved by a moving means 96 along a guide rail 107 provided in the vertical direction in FIG. Further, on the separating means 91, two mounting tables 98 and 99 are mounted, and the slide table 100 which moves to the left and right, and the mounting tables 98 and 99 mounted on the slide table 100 are arranged in the upper part of the figure. The second pressing means 101 for pressing is provided.

In FIG. 5, the slide table 10 is shown.
As described above, the second processing container 109 and the second balance container 110 are mounted on the mounting table 98 that is mounted on the left side of 0, and the mounting table that is mounted on the right side of the slide table 100. A first waste container 111 and a second waste container 112 are placed on the table 99. As shown in FIG. 7, a slide guide 113 is provided below the slide table 100, and the slide table 100 can be moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 along the slide rail 114 via the slide guide 113. ing. Further, when the slide table 100 is located at the right moving end in FIG. 5, the mounting table 98 is positioned in line with the mounting table 16 stopped in front of the detecting means 71. In this state, the first processing container 13 and the first processing container 13 of the mounting table 16 are
The balance container 14 and the second processing container 109 of the mounting table 98.
And the second balance container 110 are aligned with each other,
In this state, the needle 102 of the syringe 92 can move on the straight line. At this time, in FIG. 5, a physiological saline storage portion 97 for storing physiological saline is provided below the mounting table 98, and the physiological saline storage portion 97 is also aligned on the straight line. When the slide table 100 moves to the left from the right movement end, the mounting table 99 comes to be aligned with the mounting table 16 stopped in front of the detecting means 71, and its state Then, the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 of the mounting table 16 are aligned with the first disposal container 111 and the second disposal container 112 of the mounting table 99.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second pressing means 101 has a pusher 115 for pushing the mounting table 98 onto the conveyor belt 42, and an actuator 116 for moving the pusher 115 forward and backward, and the conveyor belt. Among the guides 42b provided on both sides of the guide 42, the guides provided on the second pressing unit 101 side are provided with openings 42c through which the mounting table 98 can pass. For this reason,
When the slide table 100 is located at the right end in FIG. 5, since the mounting table 98 does not exist in the direction in which the pusher 115 moves forward and backward, the second pressing means 101 moves the pusher 115 to the lower standby position in the drawing. To wait. On the other hand, when the slide table 100 moves from the right end to the left side and the mounting table 99 is located below the mounting table 16, the pusher 115 moves the mounting table 98 to the conveyor belt 4 and to the conveyor belt 4.
2, the mounting table 98 is pressed toward the opening 42
It passes through c and moves onto the conveyor belt 42. Further, when the slide table 100 moves to the left from this state and is located at the left end, the pusher 115 pushes the mounting table 99 upward toward the conveyor belt 42, and the mounting table 99 is opened. It passes through 42c and moves onto the conveyor belt 42.

The preparing means 121 has the same construction as the separating means 91, is equipped with a syringe 122 as shown in FIG. 6, and is also equipped with a syringe pump, an elevating means, and a moving means which are not shown. . And preparation means 1
The syringe 21 can move the syringe 122 along a guide rail 126 provided in the vertical direction in FIG. 5, and the lower part in FIG. 5 with respect to the stop position of the mounting table 16. In storage unit 1 that stores In
27 are provided.

According to the centrifugal separator 39 having the above-mentioned structure, first, the separated liquid B is separated by the separated liquid collecting means 1.
Was stored on the table 49 of the first pressing device 43, and the first balance container 14 in which the same amount of physiological saline W as the liquid to be separated B was stored. It is prepared on the mounting table 16. When the liquid B to be separated and the physiological saline W are prepared in the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 on the mounting table 16, the motor of the first pressing device 43 is rotated, and the pulley 52 and the belt. The pusher 50 is moved to the upper side in FIG. 5 via 51, and the mounting table 16 is moved to above the conveyor belt 42. When the mounting table 16 is pressed onto the conveyor belt 42, the pusher 50 turns on a limit switch (not shown) of the first pressing device 43.
The motor reversely rotates and the pusher 50 retracts to its original position. When the pusher 50 reaches the standby position, the limit switch (not shown) is turned on again to stop the motor, and the pusher 50 stops at the standby position. Subsequently, the mounting table 16 mounted on the conveyor belt 42 is conveyed rightward in FIG. 5, and when it reaches the centrifugal separation means 61, the stopper 4 on the right side, which has been closed by the controller in advance, is used.
The mounting table 16 is stopped at a predetermined position by 6. At this time, when the mounting table 16 contacts the bar 48, a limit switch (not shown) provided on the stopper 46 is turned on, and the conveyor belt 42 is stopped.

Subsequently, when the mounting table 16 is stopped by the stopper 46, the delivery means 63 of the centrifugal separation means 61 is operated and the moving means 68 moves the gripper 66 above the first processing container 13. When the elevating means 67 lowers the gripper 66 and the gripper 66 grips the first processing container 13, the elevating means 67 raises the gripper 66 again. Here, the mounting table 16 and the rotor 6 of the centrifugal separation means 61.
4, the moving means 68 moves the gripper 66 onto one of the container placing portions 65 provided on the rotor 64 of the centrifugal separating means 61. To move. When the elevating means 67 descends and the gripper 66 sets the first processing container 13 on the container mounting portion 65, the first balance container 14 is also the other container on which the first processing container 13 is not mounted in such a procedure. It is set on the mounting portion 65. When the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are set on the container mounting portion 65, the centrifugal separation means 61 is started and the rotor 64 is rotated to rotate the first processing container 13.
The liquid B to be separated therein is separated into a primary supernatant and white blood cells as a primary sediment. After this, the rotor 64 is replaced by the mounting table 16 again.
When the container mounting portion 65 and the container mounting portion 65 are stopped so as to be aligned with each other, the delivery means 63 is activated again to move the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 to their original positions on the mounting table 16. That is, the first processing container 13 is mounted on the mounting table 16 in the upper position of FIG. 5, and the first balance container 14 is mounted in the lower position. Then, when the stopper 46 is opened by the control device, the conveyor belt 42 is moved to the mounting table 16
To the right.

When the mounting table 16 is conveyed rightward on the conveyor belt 42 and is accommodated in the accommodating portion 81 of the positioning means 74, the conveyor belt 42 is stopped by the limit switch provided in the accommodating portion 81. Next, the moving means 82 is actuated to move the housing 81 upward in FIG. 5, and the first processing container 13 mounted on the mounting table 16 becomes the light irradiation part 72a and the light receiving part 72b of the detection element 72. Located in between. The detection element 72 is located at the upper end by the elevating means 73, and its height is slightly higher than that of the first processing container 13. Then, when the first processing container 13 is stopped at a predetermined position by the positioning means 74, the motor 76 of the elevating means 73 is operated by the control device,
When the feed screw 77 rotates, the detection element 72 starts to descend together with the support member 78. The detection element 72 descends so that the light irradiation section 72a and the light receiving section 72b are separated from each other by the first processing container 1.
When the liquid surface of the primary supernatant liquid in 3 and the boundary between the primary supernatant liquid and white blood cells are approached, the light from the light irradiation unit 72a is blocked,
Light does not enter the light receiving portion 72b. When the control device senses that, the difference in height between the position where the light is blocked by the liquid surface of the primary supernatant and the position where the light is blocked by the boundary between the primary supernatant and white blood cells, Calculate the amount of primary supernatant.

The first processing container 1 is detected by the detecting means 71.
When the amount of the primary supernatant in 3 is measured, the sorting means 91 is subsequently operated as a sorting step. Means of transportation 96
Moves the syringe 92 above the first processing container 13,
The needle 102 is moved to the first processing container 13
It is then lowered into the supernatant. At this time, since the position of the boundary between the primary supernatant and the white blood cells has been detected by the detecting means 71 in advance, the elevating means 95 moves the needle 1
02 will be lowered to this boundary. When the lowering of the needle 102 is stopped, the motor 105 of the syringe pump 94 is stopped.
Is operated and the nut member 1 is rotated by the rotation of the feed screw 104.
As the elevating member 103 ascends together with 06, the plunger 93 ascends. When the plunger 93 rises, the primary supernatant in the first processing container 13 is sucked up into the syringe 92, and when the liquid level of the primary supernatant drops to the tip of the needle 102 by this, the primary supernatant goes into the syringe 92. The inflow of primary supernatant is stopped. In this state, only white blood cells remain in the first processing container 13. When the primary supernatant is stored in the syringe 92, the elevating means 95 raises the needle 102 to position the needle 102 above the inside of the first processing container 13, and then the moving means 96 moves the syringe 92 to the syringe 92. Figure 5
Below. At this time, the slide table 10
0 is located at the right end, and the mounting table 98 is located below the mounting table 16. When the moving means 96 moves the syringe 92 above the second processing container 109 placed on the mounting table 98, the elevating means 95 lowers the needle 102 and inserts it into the second processing container 109.

Next, when the syringe pump 94 is operated and the primary supernatant liquid in the syringe 92 is injected into the second processing container 109, and the primary supernatant liquid in the syringe 92 is completely discharged,
The needle 102 is raised, and then the moving means 96 conveys the needle 102 onto the first balance container 14. In this state, the elevating means 95 lowers the needle 102 to the same height as that of the first processing container 13. As a result, when the same amount of the physiological saline W as the amount of the primary supernatant liquid separated from the first processing container 13 is sucked up from the inside of the first balance container 14, the elevating means 95 and the moving means 96 When the syringe 92 is transported to the second balance container 110 and the needle 102 is inserted into the second balance container 110, the syringe pump 94 operates to inject the physiological saline W into the second balance container 110. As a result, the same amounts of the primary supernatant and the physiological saline W are stored in the second processing container 109 and the second balance container 110, respectively. After this, the second balance container 11
The syringe 92 in which the physiological saline W is injected into 0 is moved to the physiological saline reservoir 97 by the moving means 96, and a predetermined amount of physiological saline is sucked into the syringe 92. And
This physiological saline solution is injected into the first processing container 13. Further, in the same procedure, the separating means 91 injects the same amount of physiological saline into the first balance container 14 as that in the first processing container 13.

Next, the mounting table 16 located inside the detecting means 71 is returned onto the conveyor belt 42 by moving the accommodating portion 81 to the lower end in FIG. 5, and in this state, the mounting table 16 is placed. Is moved to the left by the conveyor belt 42. At this time, the control device closes the left stopper 45 of the two stoppers 45 and 46 installed in the centrifuge means 61.
The mounting table 16 is stopped by the conveyor belt 4
2 also stops. When the mounting table 16 stops, the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 are transported by the delivery means 63 and mounted on the container mounting portion 65 of the rotor 64, as described above. Then, the centrifugal separation means 61 is started and the rotor 64 rotates, so that the first processing container 1
The white blood cells in 3 are separated into a secondary supernatant and purified white blood cells that are a secondary sediment.

When the secondary separation process by the centrifugal separation means 61 is completed, the delivery means 63 returns the first processing container 13 and the first balance container 14 to the mounting table 16 on the conveyor belt 42 again, and thereby the conveyor belt 42. Again conveys the mounting table 16 to the detecting means 71. The detection means 71 detects the liquid level of the secondary supernatant in the first processing container 13 and the boundary between the secondary supernatant and the purified white blood cells in the order described above.
At the same time, the slide table 100 moves to the left, and the mounting table 99 is positioned below the mounting table 16. The separating means 91 separates the secondary supernatant from the first processing container 13 and leaves the purified white blood cells as the secondary sediment in the first processing container 13. Since the secondary supernatant liquid separated by the separation means 91 is an unnecessary liquid, the separation means 91 discards it in the first disposal container 111. At this time, as described above, the physiological saline W in the first balance container 14 may be discharged into the second waste container 112 in the same amount as the secondary supernatant. After that, when the separating means 91 injects a predetermined amount of physiological saline into the first processing container 13 from the physiological saline storing portion 97, the transporting means 41 causes the first processing container 13 to carry out.
And the first balance container 14 are conveyed to the preparation means 121.

The transport means 41 transfers the mounting table 16 to the preparation means 12
At the time of transporting to 1, the stoppers 45 and 46 installed in the centrifuge means 61 are both opened by the control device, so that the mounting table 16 passes through the centrifuge means 61 and is transported to the preparation means 121. To be done. Preparation means 121
Then, since the stopper 44 is closed by the control device, the mounting table 16 is stopped by the stopper 44, and the conveyor belt 42 is also stopped accordingly. Preparation means 121
Similarly to the dividing means 91, the syringe 122 is moved by the elevating means and the moving means, In is collected from the In reservoir 127 and In is added into the first processing container 13. When In is added to the first processing container 13 in this manner and then allowed to stand for a required time, the stopper 44 is opened by the control device, the conveyor belt 42 is operated, and the mounting table 16 is conveyed to the left. , And is discharged from the centrifugal separator 39.

As described above, the same amounts of the primary supernatant and the physiological saline W have already been stored in the second processing container 109 and the second balance container 110, respectively. Second processing container 1
09 and the second balance container 110 are placed on the placing table 98.
Is the slide table 1 that has been moved to the left as described above.
The mounting table 98 is pressed by the pusher-115 of the second pressing means 101, and is conveyed onto the conveyor belt 42 through the opening 42c. Then, the mounting table 98 is conveyed to the left by the conveyor belt 42 and stopped by the stopper 45 installed in the centrifugal separation means 61. The second processing container 10
9 and the second balance container 110 are placed on the container placing portion 65 of the rotor 64 by the delivery means 63, and the primary supernatant liquid in the second processing container 109 is separated by the centrifugal separation means 61.
Serum as the next supernatant and the third sediment will be separated. Then, after this, the mounting table 98 accommodating the second processing container 109 is discharged from the centrifugal separator 39 by the conveyor belt 42, and the serum in the second processing container 109 is
As described above, a test preparation for labeling leukocytes is manufactured by adding In to purified leukocytes in the first processing container 13. Further, the mounting table 99 accommodating the first disposal container 111 is moved from the slide table 100 moved to the left end to the pusher 11 of the second pressing means 101.
After being extruded onto the conveyor belt 42 by 5,
It is discharged from the centrifugal separator 39 by the conveyor belt 42.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the balance weight is automatically created, even if the liquid needs to be centrifuged in a plurality of times, no labor is required. Centrifugation can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a separated liquid collection means 1 used in a centrifugal separator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the separated liquid sampling means 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tilting device 31 of the separated liquid collecting means 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tilting device 31 showing a situation different from that of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an overall plan view of a centrifugal separator 39 according to the present invention.

6 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 7: Detection means 71 and separation means 9 according to the present invention
The side view regarding 1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the sorting means 91 according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the steps of preparing a test preparation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Separation Liquid Collecting Means 13 First Processing Container 14 1st balance container 16 mounting table 39 Centrifuge 41 Conveying means 61 centrifuge means 71 detection means 91 separation means 109 second processing container 110 Second balance container 121 Preparation means A Blood B Liquid to be separated C red blood cells W saline

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Satoshi Minoshima             1-5-19 Shimoshakujii, Nerima-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Shintaro Nishimura             3-4-7 Doshomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ichika Yajima             3-4-7 Doshomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Akira             Shibuya Ko 58, Soybean Tamotocho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture             Business F term (reference) 2G052 AA30 ED16 ED17 HA12 HC08                 4D057 AA03 AB03 AC01 AC05 BA30                       BC06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first processing container for storing a liquid to be separated which is separated into a supernatant and a sediment, and a first balance for storing a liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated in the same amount as the liquid to be separated. A container, a centrifuge means for separating the liquid to be separated in the first treatment container using the first balance container as a balance weight, and a supernatant liquid from the inside of the first treatment container separated into a supernatant liquid and a sedimentation liquid by centrifugation. Between the centrifugal separation means and the separation means for separating the same amount of liquid as the separated supernatant liquid from the first balance container, and the processing container and the balance container. And a carrying means for carrying, wherein the centrifuging means centrifuges the sedimentation liquid remaining in the first processing container by using the first balance container from which the liquid has been separated as a balance weight. Weight creation function Centrifuge apparatus provided. 2. A first processing container for storing a liquid to be separated which is separated into a supernatant and a sediment, and a first balance for storing a liquid having the same specific gravity as the liquid to be separated in the same amount as the liquid to be separated. A container, a centrifuge means for separating the liquid to be separated in the first treatment container using the first balance container as a balance weight, and a supernatant liquid from the inside of the first treatment container separated into a supernatant liquid and a sedimentation liquid by centrifugation. And a supply means for supplying the same to the second processing container and supplying the same amount of liquid as the supernatant liquid supplied into the second processing container into the second balance container; A balance container, and a carrying means for carrying between the centrifugal separating means and the separating means, wherein the centrifuging means centrifuges the supernatant in the second processing container using the second balance container as a balance weight. Balance box characterized by separation Centrifuge apparatus having a site creation function. 3. The separating means separates the supernatant from the first processing container separated into a supernatant and a sediment by centrifugation and supplies the supernatant into the second processing container, While allowing the sedimentation liquid to remain in the first processing container, and separating the same amount of liquid as the supernatant liquid to be supplied into the second processing container from the first balance container and supplying this to the second balance container. A centrifuge having a balance weight creating function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the same amount of liquid as the sedimentation liquid left in the first processing container is left in the first balance container. Separation device. 4. The centrifuge means uses the first balance container from which the liquid is separated as a balance weight, centrifuges the settling liquid remaining in the first processing container, and uses the second balance container as a balance weight. The centrifugal separator having a balance weight creating function according to claim 3, wherein the supernatant in the second processing container is centrifuged.