JP2009145188A - Test tube holder and sample suction apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold a plurality of types of test tubes T with different outer diameters by using the same holder without using an adapter, and further to adjust the center of the test tube T to the center of a test tube holder 1. <P>SOLUTION: The holder includes a carrying tube 2 capable of carrying test tubes T having different diameters; a plurality of thrusting components 3 inserted through a plurality of penetrating holes 202 evenly provided in a circumferential direction the carrying tube 2 as to be capable of moving back-and-forth, wherein its tip section is protruded into the carrying tube 2; an elastomer 4 forwarding the thrusting components 3 into the carrying tube 2; and a release preventing section 5 for preventing a release of the thrusting components 3 from the penetrating holes 202 when the test tube T is inserted into the carrying tube 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a test tube holder capable of holding a plurality of types of test tubes having different outer diameters, and a sample suction device using the test tube holder.

  Conventionally, when holding test tubes having different outer diameters in the test tube holder, a cylindrical adapter having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the test tube is attached to the test tube holder, and the test tube is inserted. It is made to hold | maintain (patent document 1).

  However, when accommodating test tubes with different outer diameters, they must be replaced with corresponding adapters.

  In addition, there are a wide variety of test tubes, which increases the types of adapters and causes attachment errors and the like. There is also a problem that the work of attaching the adapter is troublesome.

  Furthermore, a label such as a bar code for test tube management may be affixed to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube, but then the outer diameter of the test tube changes, so it cannot be inserted into the adapter and cannot be handled. There is also a problem that the barcode is damaged when inserted into the adapter.

  On the other hand, in a blood analyzer or the like, when a sample is sucked from a test tube sealed with a cap in order to mix the sample, it is necessary to penetrate a nozzle at a predetermined position of the cap. Therefore, it is necessary to position the test tube in the test tube holder.

  However, when the adapter is used to position the test tube in the test tube holder, there are various problems described above.

Further, in order to perform positioning without using an adapter, it is conceivable that fine adjustment is performed manually by an operator, for example. However, the work is troublesome, and there is a possibility that the nozzle may be injured.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-14561

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems all at once, and without using an adapter, a plurality of types of test tubes having different outer diameters are held by the same holder, and the test tubes Aligning the center axis of the test tube with the center axis of the test tube holder is the main desired task.

  That is, the test tube holder according to the present invention is inserted into a storage tube capable of storing test tubes of different diameters and a plurality of through holes provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the storage tube so as to be movable forward and backward. A plurality of pressing elements projecting into the receiving tube, an elastic body for urging the pressing member toward the receiving tube, and when the test tube is inserted into the receiving tube, the pressing member is inserted into the through hole. And an anti-extraction part for preventing the anti-extraction from occurring.

  If it is such, several types of test tubes from which an outer diameter differs can be hold | maintained with the same test tube holder. Moreover, since the pressing elements are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, a configuration in which the center axis of the test tube is aligned with the center axis of the test tube holder can be easily realized. Further, since the presser contacts and holds the test tube at a plurality of points, it is possible to prevent the barcode from being damaged.

  As a specific embodiment of the removal preventing portion, it is desirable that the protrusions are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through hole on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube. In this case, the test tube hits the protrusion while the test tube pushes out the presser, and the presser is not pushed out any further, so that the presser can be prevented from being pulled out of the through hole.

  As a more preferred embodiment, the removal preventing portion is a protrusion extending in the axial direction provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through hole on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube. If this is the case, it is possible to prevent the pressing element from being pulled out and to increase the mechanical strength of the storage tube, and to reduce the size of the storage tube while maintaining a predetermined strength.

  In order to align the center of the test tube more accurately and easily with the center of the test tube holder, when the inner peripheral surface of the bottom of the receiving tube comes into contact with the tip of the test tube, the center axis of the test tube It is desirable to provide a tapered surface for aligning the central axis of the receiving tube.

  In order to simplify the configuration of the test tube holder, reduce the number of parts, and facilitate assembly, the pressing element is inserted through the through hole, and a small diameter portion whose tip protrudes into the accommodating tube; A large-diameter portion that is continuously provided at the proximal end portion of the small-diameter portion and is larger than the diameter of the through-hole and located outside the storage tube, and the elastic body has an outer periphery of the storage tube It is desirable that it is an annular thing which is arrange | positioned along the circumferential direction on the surface and presses the said large diameter part toward the inside of a storage pipe.

  In order to hold the annular elastic body on the outer peripheral surface of the housing tube and prevent the elastic body from coming off the presser by the repulsive force received from the presser, it is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing tube, It is desirable to have a locking piece for sandwiching the elastic body from both sides in the axial direction.

  Further, a sample suction device according to the present invention comprises the above-described test tube holder according to the present invention, and a suction mechanism having a nozzle for sucking a sample in the test tube accommodated in the test tube holder. To do.

  With such a configuration, the test tube can be positioned regardless of the size of the test tube, and the nozzle can be inserted at an appropriate position. Thus, problems such as an insertion position error and an insertion error during sample aspiration can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of test tubes having different outer diameters can be held, and the center of the test tube can be easily aligned with the center of the holder.

  Next, an embodiment of the test tube holder 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of the test tube holder 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the test tube holder 1, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the test tube T is held. It is an AA line sectional view showing. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the test tube holder.

  <Device configuration>

  The test tube holder 1 according to the present embodiment holds a test tube T in which blood, a reagent, and the like are stored, and can hold a plurality of types of test tubes T having different outer diameters.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, this device includes a housing tube 2, a plurality of pressing elements 3, an elastic body 4, and a removal prevention part 5.

  Hereinafter, each part 2-5 is demonstrated.

  The accommodating tube 2 has an inner diameter capable of accommodating a plurality of types of test tubes T having different outer diameters, and has a bottomed, generally cylindrical shape with one end opened. And the inner peripheral surface of the containing tube 2 has an opening having a maximum diameter and an inner diameter that decreases toward the bottom.

  Further, the inner peripheral surface of the bottom portion of the storage tube 2 includes a tapered surface 201 that aligns the center axis of the test tube T and the center axis of the storage tube 2 when the tip of the test tube T abuts. Yes. That is, the tapered surface 201 guides the tip of the test tube T toward the central axis of the storage tube 2.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of through holes 202 into which the pressing members 3 are inserted are formed radially and equally spaced in the circumferential direction on the opening side peripheral wall of the housing tube 2. That is, the through hole 202 is formed so that the central axis thereof intersects with the central axis of the receiving tube 2, and the angles formed by the central axes of the through holes 202 are equal.

  Further, a hook-shaped locking piece 203 formed so as to sandwich the through hole 202 from the axial direction of the housing tube 2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface on the opening side of the housing tube 2. The elastic body 4 is mounted in the fitting groove M formed by the locking piece 203.

  The pressing element 3 is inserted through a through-hole 202 formed in the opening-side peripheral wall of the housing tube 2 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and a tip portion projects into the housing tube 2. Moreover, in this embodiment, the presser 3 penetrated by each through-hole 202 makes the same shape.

  Specifically, each presser 3 has a rotating body shape, and is continuously connected to a small diameter portion 31 inserted through the through hole 202 and having a distal end protruding into the housing tube 2, and a proximal end of the small diameter portion 31. The large-diameter portion 32 is provided and is larger than the diameter of the through-hole 202 and located outside the housing tube 2.

  And the front-end | tip of the small diameter part 31 is made into the spherical shape in order to make a contact area with the test tube T as small as possible.

  The elastic body 4 urges the pressing element 3 toward the central axis of the housing tube 2. Specifically, the elastic body 4 is an annular member that is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving tube 2 along the circumferential direction and presses the large diameter portions 32 of the plurality of pressing elements 3 toward the inside of the receiving tube 2. It is.

  In the present embodiment, an annular spring is used from the viewpoint of durability. As this annular spring, a garter spring which is an annular spring formed by connecting both ends of a closely wound coil spring is used.

  The annular spring 4 is fitted and attached in a fitting groove M formed by a locking piece 203 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving tube 2.

  When the test tube T is inserted into the housing tube 2, the pull-out prevention unit 5 pushes the presser 3 out of the housing tube 2 by the test tube T and pulls it out from the through hole 202. Is to prevent.

  As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the removal preventing portion 5 of the present embodiment is a plurality of protrusions extending in the axial direction provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through-hole 202 on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube 2.

  Each protrusion 5 has the same shape, and the upper end of the tapered surface 201 formed on the bottom side from the inner peripheral surface of the opening end of the receiving tube 2, specifically, the inner peripheral surface on the opening side of the presser 3. It extends to.

  The protrusion 5 of the present embodiment gradually decreases in height as it goes from the opening side to the bottom side, and has a substantially wedge shape in a side view. The inner side surface 5 a of the ridge 5 is substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing tube 2.

  Further, an inclined guide surface 5 b facing the central axis opening side of the housing tube 2 is formed at the opening side end of the protrusion 5. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ridge 5 from interfering with the insertion of the test tube T, and the ridge 5 may damage the barcode or the like attached to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube T. It can be prevented from peeling off. Furthermore, when inserting the test tube T, it can function as a guide for proper insertion.

  Further, the protrusions 5 are formed radially at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the housing tube 2 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the three protrusions 5 are formed so as to sandwich the through hole 202 (presser 3) from both sides in the circumferential direction. In addition, in this embodiment, it forms so that it may be located in the center of the through-hole 202 (pressor 3) in the circumferential direction (refer FIG. 1).

  Thereby, even if the test tube T pushes out the pressing member 3 to the outside of the housing tube 2, it is until the test tube T comes into contact with the ridge 5, and the pressing member 3 is not pushed out any further. It is possible to prevent removal from the through hole 202.

  In the method of assembling the test tube holder 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, first, the small diameter portion 31 of the presser 3 is inserted into the through hole 202 of the accommodating tube 2 from the outside as shown in FIG. Then, the annular spring 4 is mounted in the fitting groove M formed of the locking piece 203 so as to tighten the pressing element 3 inside.

  When the test tube holder 1 is used to hold a test tube T having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the inscribed circle connecting the tips of the respective pressers 3, the test tube T is inserted into the test tube holder 1. Child 3 is pushed out. At this time, the tip of the test tube T is guided toward the central axis of the storage tube 2 by the tapered surface 201 at the bottom of the storage tube 2. Further, the pressing element 3 receives a reaction force from the elastic body 4 and is urged toward the central axis of the receiving tube 2. As a result, the test tube T is held such that its central axis is on the central axis of the containing tube 2 as shown in FIG. Note that the test tube holder 1 of the present embodiment has a test tube T that is larger than the diameter of the inscribed circle connecting the tips of the pressing elements 3 and smaller than the diameter of the inscribed circle connecting the inner tips of the ridges 5. The central axis can be held so as to match the central axis of the test tube holder 1.

  <Effect of this embodiment>

  According to the test tube holder 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, a plurality of types of test tubes T having different outer diameters can be held by the same test tube holder 1.

  Further, since the pressers 3 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the bottom portion of the storage tube 2 is a tapered surface 201, the test tube T held by the storage tube 2 has a tip (lower end). Since the taper surface 201 is positioned on the central axis of the storage tube 2 and the upper end is pressed and fixed by the presser 3 arranged at equal intervals, the central axis of the storage tube 2 and the central axis of the test tube T Positioning can be performed easily.

  Furthermore, since the test tube T is held in contact with three points using the three pressing elements 3 and the shape of the tip of the pressing element 3 is spherical, the contact area and friction with the test tube T are reduced. It can be made as small as possible, and the label or barcode can be prevented from being peeled off or damaged by friction.

  In addition, since the removal preventing portion 5 is provided, the pressing element 3 can be prevented from coming out from the through hole 202. That is, the problem caused by the configuration of the present embodiment in which the through hole 202 is provided in the housing tube 2 and the pressing member 3 is inserted into the through hole 202 and pressed by the elastic body 4 can be preferably solved.

  In addition, since the removal preventing portion 5 is a protrusion extending in the axial direction, the strength of the housing tube 2 can be increased, and the housing tube 2 can be downsized.

  <Other modified embodiments>

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the elastic body 4 of the embodiment uses an annular spring, but an annular rubber (specifically, a rubber band) may be used.

  In addition to using one annular elastic body 4, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of elastic bodies 4 may be arranged corresponding to each of the pressers 3. In this case, a compression coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like that urges the pressing element 3 into the housing tube 2 is used.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the removal preventing portion 5 may be a protrusion in addition to the protrusion. In this case as well, the protrusions are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through hole 202 on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube 2 in the same manner as the protrusions.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the three pressing elements 3 are arranged at equal intervals, but four or more pressing elements 3 may be arranged.

  In addition, the test tube holder of the above embodiment can be used for a sample suction device. This sample suction device includes the test tube holder of the above embodiment and a suction mechanism having a nozzle for sucking a sample in a test tube accommodated in the test tube holder. According to such a sample suction device, the test tube can be positioned regardless of the size of the test tube, and the nozzle can be inserted at an appropriate position. Thus, problems such as an insertion position error and an insertion error during sample aspiration can be prevented.

  In addition, some or all of the above-described embodiments and modified embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

The top view of the test tube holder which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The sectional view on the AA line of the embodiment. AA line sectional view showing the state where a test tube was held. The assembly exploded perspective view of a test tube holder. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the test tube holder which concerns on the deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

T ... Test tube 1 ... Test tube holder 2 ... Accommodating tube 201 ... Tapered surface 202 ... Through hole 203 ... Locking piece 3 ... Pressor 31 ... Small diameter portion 32 ... Large diameter part 4 ... Elastic body (garter spring)
5 ... Removal prevention part (projection, protrusion)

Claims (7)

A storage tube capable of storing test tubes of different diameters;
A plurality of pressing elements that are inserted in a plurality of through holes provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the storage tube so as to be movable forward and backward, and whose tip portions protrude into the storage tube;
An elastic body for urging the pressing element toward the inside of the accommodating tube;
A test tube holder comprising: an anti-extraction portion that prevents the presser from being extracted from the through hole when the test tube is inserted into the accommodating tube.   The test tube holder according to claim 1, wherein the removal preventing portion is a protrusion provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through hole on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube.   2. The test tube holder according to claim 1, wherein the removal preventing portion is an axially extending ridge provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the through hole on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving tube.   2. The inner peripheral surface of the bottom portion of the storage tube includes a tapered surface that aligns the center axis of the test tube and the center axis of the storage tube when the tip of the test tube comes into contact. 2. The test tube holder according to 2 or 3. The presser is inserted into the through hole, and a distal end portion is provided continuously to a small diameter portion protruding into the housing tube and a proximal end portion of the small diameter portion, and is larger than the diameter of the through hole, A large-diameter portion located outside the containing tube,
The said elastic body is arrange | positioned along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the said storage pipe, and is a cyclic | annular thing which presses the said large diameter part toward the inside of a storage pipe. Test tube holder.   The test tube holder according to claim 5, further comprising a locking piece provided on an outer peripheral surface of the housing tube and sandwiching the elastic body from both sides in the axial direction. A test tube holder according to claim 1;
And a suction mechanism having a nozzle for sucking a sample in the test tube accommodated in the test tube holder.