JP3641987B2 - centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a centrifuge, and more particularly to an application for sterilizing the inside of a centrifuge to prevent infection when the sample is spilled from the inside of a rotor during separation and purification of a sample that may cause infection in medicine or the like. Is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Attention has been paid to the handling of potentially infectious samples, and as a countermeasure when the sample to be separated and purified leaks from the rotor for some reason, the interior of the rotor chamber that houses the rotor that holds the sample is sterilized. Have done that. As a sterilization method, a method in which a sterilizing gas is sprayed, a formalin gas generator is connected to a centrifuge, and the interior of the rotor and the rotor are fumigated with formalin gas to sterilize. Further, as disclosed in JP-A-4-145965, there is a method of sterilizing the rotor chamber by irradiating it with a sterilizing lamp.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The spraying inside the rotor chamber is not safe because humans work directly. Further, formalin gas fumigation in the rotor chamber has a problem that the work is complicated and a formalin gas generator is required in addition to a centrifuge, which is expensive. Further, when sterilizing with a germicidal lamp, it is difficult to determine whether or not the rotor chamber is contaminated. Therefore, it is necessary to irradiate the rotor chamber with a germicidal lamp after every centrifugation. However, it is difficult to make the interior of the rotor room and the inner surface of the door that irradiates germicidal lamps made of metal and resistant to ultraviolet rays, and plastic parts and rubber parts are often used. There was a problem. Furthermore, it is most simple and reliable to provide the germicidal lamp at the door located on the upper surface of the rotor.
[0004]
The present invention solves the above problems, increases the safety of infection prevention by a sample, and extends the lifetime of the apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is achieved by operating a germicidal lamp for sterilizing the rotor chamber when a sample leak occurs.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a centrifuge in this embodiment. The main body holds a sample to be centrifuged and rotates a rotor 1 that rotates at high speed, a rotor chamber 3 that houses the rotor, a door 4 for sealing the rotor chamber, and a germicidal lamp 5 that irradiates the rotor chamber. The rotor chamber is configured to be airtight by closing the door in the rotor chamber. Further, the drive motor is provided with an imbalance sensor 6 so that the imbalance of the sample is detected, and the centrifuge can be automatically stopped when there is an imbalance. In the case of a normal sample setting error, imbalance can be detected at low speed rotation, and the imbalance sensor operates at high speed rotation. In many cases, the tube 10 containing the sample to be loaded in the rotor breaks for some reason during rotation. Or the sample spills from the tube. In such a case, the sample may be scattered from the rotor to the outside, and the rotor chamber is contaminated with the sample. Therefore, when the imbalance sensor 6 operates at a high speed, it is determined that the sample is leaked, and the rotor chamber can be sterilized by irradiating with ultraviolet rays before opening the centrifuge door. Furthermore, if a displacement meter capable of measuring the amplitude of the rotating shaft or rotor is used for the imbalance sensor 6, it is possible to determine that the sample has leaked when the displacement changes greatly during high-speed rotation, so that more accurate sterilization is possible.
[0007]
In addition, a centrifuge that depressurizes and evacuates the rotor chamber is generally provided with a vacuum pump 8 and a vacuum gauge 9 for measuring the degree of vacuum in the rotor chamber. This is limited to a case where a true vacuum leak occurs or a sample in the rotor leaks into the rotor chamber and the degree of vacuum is deteriorated. Focusing on this point, if the degree of vacuum worsens after reaching a certain degree of vacuum, it is determined that the sample has leaked, and the rotor chamber can be irradiated with a germicidal lamp before the door is opened as described above. As a result, it is not necessary to irradiate the germicidal lamp every time after the end of the centrifugation, so that the frequency with which the components in the rotor chamber are exposed to ultraviolet rays is extremely reduced, so that the life of the components can be extended. Naturally it also leads to savings on electricity bills.
[0008]
Furthermore, by making the rotor chamber a mirror surface, it is possible to spread the ultraviolet rays uniformly in the rotor chamber and further improve the sterilizing effect. In order to finish the mirror surface, it is easy to select a means such as buffing that performs chrome plating or electropolishing work in the rotor chamber.
[0009]
The UV light from the germicidal lamp is also harmful to the human body, so that the centrifuge operator will not accidentally irradiate the germicidal lamp, use the door open / close detector 11 and irradiate the germicidal lamp when the door is open. It is possible to keep it safe.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the time for irradiating ultraviolet rays can be effectively and minimized, deterioration of the components in the rotor chamber due to ultraviolet rays can be minimized, and the user can surely sterilize the components. A possible and highly safe centrifuge can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal side view showing a centrifuge according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 is a rotor, 2 is a drive motor, 3 is a rotor chamber, 4 is a door, 5 is a germicidal lamp, 6 is an imbalance detector, 7 is a control unit, 8 is a vacuum pump, 9 is a vacuum gauge, 10 is a tube, 11 Is a door open / close detector.

Claims (4)

A rotor that holds a sample to be separated and rotates at high speed, a drive motor that rotationally drives the rotor, an imbalance sensor that detects imbalance of the rotor, a rotor chamber that houses the rotor, and a door that seals the rotor chamber And a sterilizing lamp for sterilizing the rotor chamber, wherein the sterilizing lamp is automatically irradiated when the imbalance sensor is operated when the rotor rotates. 2. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1, wherein after the degree of vacuum in the rotor chamber reaches a specified value, the germicidal lamp is automatically irradiated when the degree of vacuum rapidly decreases. The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the rotor chamber is a mirror surface. The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing lamp is not irradiated when the door is open.

Images