JP4417120B2 - Sample preparation equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a specimen preparation device that filters urine or cell suspension liquid through a filter and collects a tangible sample contained in the urine or cell suspension liquid.

  An automatic fixed specimen preparation apparatus that automatically performs a series of operations for filtering a biological sample made of urine or cell suspension through a filter and collecting cells on the filter to prepare a preparation for cytodiagnosis is disclosed in No. 146782 (Patent Document 1). This specimen preparation device uses a vacuum pump for the negative pressure on the downstream side of the filter and suction-filters the cell suspension from the upstream side of the filter, thereby collecting and fixing the cells in the cell suspension on the filter. A series of operations are automatically performed.

  As described above, the method of filtering and collecting the cell suspension with a filter is practically used as a filter filtration method together with a direct smear method and an auto smear method. Patent Document 1 does not describe a specific device for the filter filtration method in detail, but the filter filtration method collects cells on the filter by a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, a biological sample made of urine or cell suspension is stored in a container (not shown), and this biological sample liquid is aspirated by the pipette 100. A filter 102 is attached to the suction port of the suction head 101, and the pipette 100 is in contact with the lower surface of the filter 102. And the biological sample liquid is sucked through the pipette 100 by setting the inside of the suction head 101 to a negative pressure with a vacuum pump (not shown). At this time, the biological sample liquid filters the filter 102, so that cells floating in the biological sample liquid are collected by the filter 102, and other liquid flows into the suction head 101. In the next step, the cells 103 collected by the filter 102 are fixed, stained, and transferred to a slide glass (preparation) as necessary to prepare a specimen such as a microscope sample.

  However, the biological sample liquid is sucked by the pipette 100 and filtered through the filter 102. Since the biological sample liquid flows almost linearly from the pipette 100, the biological sample liquid concentrates at the substantially central portion of the filter 102. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the cells 103 floating in the biological sample liquid are easily collected intensively at the central portion of the filter 102 and are not easily collected around. As a specimen, a state in which the cells 103 are uniformly dispersed in a necessary portion of the filter 102 is desirable, and a specimen in a state in which the cells 103 are concentrated in the central portion causes a problem that proper observation and diagnosis cannot be performed. When the concentration of the cells 103 is an obstacle to observation, the collected cells 103 are moved around and dispersed, but since the cells 103 are easily deformed, an appropriate cell diagnosis is performed. There is a problem that cannot be done.

JP 2000-146782 A

  An object of the present invention is to prepare a specimen that can be properly observed and diagnosed by diffusing and collecting a tangible sample contained in urine or cell suspension liquid within a predetermined range of the filter when the filter is filtered. An object of the present invention is to provide a specimen preparation device capable of performing the above.

To solve the above problems, the sample creating apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, a sample solution of urine or cells or the like accommodated in the container, the suction port of the suction head for sucking via pipette, preparation having a hole a large number of micropores filter alert the filter formed is affixed is attached, by sucking by the suction head were collected by filtration by a filter of the filter alert tangible samples of the sample solution, tangible samples the a specimen creating apparatus for creating a sample comprising a filter alert that was collected in a filter, in the suction heads, arranged a diffusion plate for diffusing the flow path of the sample solution, the diffusion plate, the suction An annular outer wall that fits into the suction port of the head, a diffusion portion provided at a position facing the flow pipe portion of the pipette formed in a funnel shape, and a bridge that supports the diffusion portion And summarized in that a and.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the suction head is provided with an elastic damper having a large number of through holes, and the damper is disposed closer to the filter plate than the diffusion plate. The gist is that it was established .

According to the present invention, the sample liquid linearly sucked from the pipe pipe flow pipe diffuses almost uniformly into the required predetermined range of the filter by the diffusion section and filters the sample liquid. The sample can be collected almost uniformly, and a specimen capable of appropriate observation and diagnosis can be produced. In addition, a simple configuration in which the diffusion plate is disposed can prevent adverse effects on the cost of the specimen preparation device. Moreover, it is not necessary to transfer the tangible sample collected by the filter to another slide glass (preparation), and it becomes possible to use it as a sample as it is. Therefore, deformation of the collected tangible sample can be prevented, a specimen that can be properly observed and diagnosed can be produced, and an easy-to-use apparatus can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the elastic damper having a large number of through holes provided on the filter plate side of the diffusion plate is provided, when the sample liquid is sucked and filtered by the filter, the filter It is possible to prevent the filter from being pulled in the direction of the suction head and bulging, and to prevent the filter from being damaged .

The specimen preparation device sucks sample liquid such as urine and cells stored in a container with a suction head through a pipette, and collects the tangible sample in the sample liquid through a filter attached to the suction port of the suction head. To do. A diffusion plate for diffusing the flow path of the sample liquid is disposed between the suction port of the suction head and the pipette. If the diffusion plate is installed at a position opposite to the pipette flow pipe section, it becomes an obstacle to the flow path of the sample liquid flowing out from the pipette flow pipe section, and the sample liquid is diffused in the surrounding direction, so that the filter The tangible sample in the sample solution is collected almost uniformly.

  A specimen preparation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The specimen preparation device includes an apparatus main body 1, a mounting table 2 for mounting a container 11 for storing a sample solution, a pipette 3 for circulating the sample solution, a suction head 4 for sucking the sample solution, and At least a filter 5 disposed between the pipette 3 and the suction head 4 is disposed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction head 4 has a suction port 7 formed in a substantially funnel shape inside a case 6 formed in a substantially cup shape. The suction port 7 is fitted and fixed in a state where the outer periphery of the opening 7 a in the lower part of the drawing is joined to the inner periphery of the opening of the case 6, and the cylindrical part 7 b in the upper part of the drawing protrudes from the upper part of the case 6. The other end of the pipe 8 whose one end is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the tip of the cylindrical portion 7b protruding from the case 6. In addition, a diffusion plate 9 and a damper 10 described later are attached to the opening of the case 6 in a superposed manner.

  The diffusion plate 9 includes a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a whose outer peripheral surface is substantially surface-bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the case 6, a substantially columnar diffusion member 9b disposed at the center, and the diffusion member 9b connected to the outer periphery. It is comprised by the support arm 9c supported by the wall 9a, and it is comprised so that the said sample solution may distribute | circulate between the outer peripheral wall 9a and the diffusion member 9b.

  The damper 10 is provided with a large number of through holes so as to allow the sample solution to flow therethrough, and is formed in a substantially disk shape by, for example, resin foam rubber having elasticity, and the opening of the diffusion plate 9 or the opening of the case 6 It is mounted so as to block the part.

  The pipette 3 is formed in a substantially funnel shape, and is integrally provided with a flow pipe portion 3a formed so as to reach the container 11 for storing the sample solution. The funnel portion 3 b of the pipette 3 is formed so that the outer diameter of the opening end is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening portion of the diffusion plate 9.

  Further, the filter 5 for collecting the tangible sample in the sample solution is installed between the opening end of the funnel portion 3b of the pipette 3 and the damper 10 so as to freely enter and exit. In this embodiment, filterlat is used as filter 5. For example, a filter portion 5b made of polycarbonate is attached to the filter rat so as to close a through hole formed in the center of a preparation 5a made of aluminum. The filter unit 5b has a large number of micropores having a pore size of 3 μm, 5 μm, 8 μm, etc., and is appropriately selected depending on the tangible sample to be collected. Since such a filter rat can collect a tangible sample in the filter part 5b, it is not necessary to smear a tangible sample on a slide glass generally used in the past, and the conventional slide while collecting the tangible sample is used. It has the same characteristics as glass.

  Next, the specimen preparation apparatus configured as described above is an apparatus for collecting a tangible sample in a sample liquid made of urine or cell suspension by a filter filtration method, and the operation will be described below. First, after the pipette 3 is installed at a predetermined position, the filter 5 made of filterlat is installed in the suction port 7 of the suction head 4. Then, the container 11 storing the sample solution is placed on the placing table 2. Thereafter, the container 11 rises as the mounting table 2 rises, and the flow pipe portion 3a of the pipette 3 is immersed in the sample solution.

  When a vacuum pump (not shown) is operated from this state, the inside of the suction port 7 of the suction head 4 is in a vacuum state, and the sample liquid in the container 11 is sucked through the pipette 3. The sample solution is eventually filtered by the filter unit 5b, and a tangible sample such as cells in the sample solution is collected. The filtered sample liquid is drained and flows through the damper 10 and the diffusion plate 9 and is sucked into the suction port 7 of the suction head 4. This drainage is sent to a drainage tank (not shown) via the pipe 8 or discharged outside the apparatus. When the sample liquid is sucked and filtered by the filter unit 5b, the filter 5 is drawn toward the suction head 4 and swells. In this case, since the filter portion 5b abuts against the damper 10, the bulging of the filter portion 5b is prevented, and damage to the filter portion 5b can be prevented beforehand. Further, by interposing the damper 10 between the diffusion plate 9 and the filter part 5b, the filter part 5b is separated from the diffusion member 9b so that the flow of the sample liquid is averaged by the separation. ing.

  As described above, when the sample solution is filtered by the filter portion 5b, the sample solution tends to flow out linearly from the flow pipe portion 3a having a small inner diameter of the pipette 3 toward the filter portion 5b. However, since the diffusion plate 9 is attached to the opening of the suction port 7 and the substantially cylindrical diffusion member 9a is disposed so as to face the flow pipe portion 3a of the pipette 3, the flow of the sample liquid is reduced. Since the path is obstructed by the diffusion member 9a, the flow path of the sample liquid is changed in the outer circumferential direction so as to avoid the diffusion member 9a as shown by the dotted line in FIG. As a result, the tangible sample such as cells in the sample solution is also moved in the outer peripheral direction by the diffusion member 9a, so that the tangible sample 12 is collected almost uniformly on the filter 5 as shown in FIG. In this way, a specimen is prepared by a filterlate in which the tangible sample 12 is collected almost uniformly on one surface of the filter portion 5b, and after being taken out from the specimen preparation device, it is used for a sample for a microscope or the like.

  5A and 5B show a modification of the diffusion plate. That is, since the diffusion member disposed on the diffusion plate has a function of changing the flow path of the sample solution, the filter can be changed to various flow paths by changing the shape of the diffusion member. It becomes possible to change the dispersion state of the tangible sample 12 collected in the part 5b. FIG. 5A shows an example in which the shapes of the filter portion 5b and the suction port 7 are formed in a substantially conical shape as the diffusion member 20a disposed on the diffusion plate 20. FIG. Thus, when the part facing the flow pipe part 3a of the pipette 3 is formed in a substantially conical shape, the sample liquid is diverted in the outer peripheral direction by the surrounding slope, so that the sample liquid can be diffused smoothly. Further, the diffusion state can be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the angle of the surrounding slope. In FIG. 5A, 20b is an outer peripheral wall, and 20c is a support arm that supports the diffusing member 20a.

  FIG. 5B shows an example in which the filter member 5b and the suction port 7 side are each formed in a substantially hemispherical shape as the diffusing member 21a. In this example, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 5A, the tangible sample 12 can be uniformly dispersed by smoothly changing the direction of the flow of the sample liquid and diffusing the sample liquid. Become. Further, the diffusion state can be arbitrarily adjusted by appropriately changing the radius. In FIG. 5B, 21 is a diffusion plate, 21b is an outer peripheral wall, and 21c is a support arm that supports the diffusion member 21a.

  FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the specimen preparation device according to the present invention, in which a diffusion plate is disposed in a funnel portion of a pipette. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above denote the same components, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the diffusion member 31a of the diffusion plate 31 is disposed in the funnel portion 30b of the pipette 30 at a position facing the flow pipe portion 30a. The diffusion member 31a is supported on the funnel portion 30b by a plurality of bridge portions 31b. Similar to the diffusion member shown in FIG. 5A, the diffusion member 31a has a substantially conical shape on the filter portion 5b and the suction port 7 side. Note that the shape of the diffusing member 31a may be changed to the shape shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.

  In the second embodiment, first, similarly to the above-described embodiment, after installing the pipette 30, the filter portion 5b made of filterlate, and the container 11 containing the sample solution, the vacuum pump (not shown) is operated. The sample liquid in the container 11 is sucked through the pipette 30. The sample solution is eventually filtered by the filter unit 5b, and tangible samples such as cells in the sample solution are collected.

  As described above, when the sample solution is filtered by the filter unit 5b, the sample solution which is going to flow out linearly from the flow pipe unit 3a of the pipette 3 toward the filter unit 5b is diffused as shown by a dotted line in FIG. The flow path is changed in the outer peripheral direction by the diffusion member 31a of the plate 31. As a result, the tangible sample 12 such as cells in the sample solution is also moved in the outer circumferential direction by the diffusion member 31a, so that the tangible sample 12 is collected almost uniformly when the sample solution is filtered by the filter unit 5b.

  As described above, since the diffusing member 31a of the diffusing plate 31 is disposed in the funnel portion 30b of the pipette 30, the distance between the diffusing member 31a and the flow pipe portion 30a is reduced, so that the flow path of the sample solution However, since the distance between the diffusing member 31a and the filter portion 5b increases, the sample liquid passing near the diffusing member 31a diffracts the diffusing member 31a. Is filtered almost uniformly over the entire surface of the filter portion 5b, and as a result, the tangible sample 12 can be collected almost uniformly.

  Even if the diffusion plate 31 disposed in the funnel portion 30b of the pipette 30 is formed integrally with the pipette 30, an appropriate diffusion plate 31 is adhered or fitted and fixed to the funnel portion 30b. It may be arranged by means.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the present invention. In the embodiment described above, the diffusing member disposed on the diffusing plate may be changed in diameter in addition to changing its shape. Further, the diffusion member may be formed in a non-circular shape such as a triangle or a quadrangle, for example, and may be changed to an appropriate shape according to the diffusion state of the tangible sample. Furthermore, the damper may be omitted in relation to the strength of the filter when the suction pressure of the sample liquid is low.

  The present invention can be applied to a specimen preparation apparatus that is provided in a medical facility such as a hospital and that makes a pathological specimen of a tangible sample by filtering urine or cell suspension through a filter.

It is a configuration explanatory view showing the configuration of the filter filtration device of the specimen preparation device according to the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the principal part of the filter apparatus in FIG. It is a front view which shows the structure of the sample preparation apparatus concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the filter apparatus in this invention. (A) and (B) are composition explanatory views showing a modification of a diffusion plate. It is a structure explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd Example of the sample preparation apparatus concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a filter apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Specimen preparation apparatus main body 3 Pipette 3a Flow pipe part 3b Funnel part 4 Suction head 5 Filter 5a Preparation 5b Filter part 6 Case 7 Suction port 9 Diffusion plate 9a Outer wall 9b Diffusion member 9c Support arm 10 Damper 11 Container 12 Tangible sample

Claims (2)

The sample solution urine or cells or the like accommodated in the container, the suction port of the suction head for sucking through a pipette fitted with a number of filter alert the fine filter holes are formed is stuck to a slide having a hole A specimen preparation device for collecting a tangible sample in the sample liquid by filtering with a filter filter by sucking with the suction head, and preparing a specimen composed of the filter salt collected on the filter. There,
To the suction heads, arranged a diffusion plate for diffusing the flow path of the sample solution, the diffusion plate, the annular outer wall that fits into the suction port of the suction head, the pipette is formed in a funnel shape A specimen preparation apparatus comprising: a diffusion part provided at a position opposite to the flow pipe part of the above; and a bridge part that supports the diffusion part . The specimen preparation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a damper having a plurality of through holes and having elasticity is disposed in the suction head, and the damper is disposed on the filter plate side with respect to the diffusion plate .

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