JPH0346355Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention is a sample collection device (cell harvester) that collects samples such as blood, cells, lymphocytes, etc., which have been dispensed into a large number of holes arranged in a titration plate into a filter. The present invention relates to an improvement in a titration plate washing device that washes out a sample from the holes of the titration plate and collects it into a filter.

In order to take out each sample dispensed into each hole of the titration plate, the sample collection device supplies washing water to each hole through a separate discharge nozzle, and the washing water is applied to each hole separately. The sample is suctioned with the suction nozzle and washed out with the washing water, and collected by a filter installed in the middle of the suction flow path of each suction nozzle. Among the suction nozzles that aspirate, the suction port may become blocked or clogged with the specimen floating in the washing water, causing poor suction operation, resulting in insufficient specimen collection. Things arise. Insufficient specimens are excluded from the test, as this will disrupt the test results. However, it is difficult to quickly and accurately exclude samples that have been insufficiently sampled from among the large number of samples collected on a filter from the large number of holes in the titration plate.

The purpose of this invention is to propose a new means to accurately check for insufficiently collected specimens from among the specimens collected on this filter during the cleaning process. It is.

For this purpose, the means of the present invention includes suction ports installed in correspondence with suction nozzles provided on the filter mounting table below the sample collection head in line with the dispensing head, and a vacuum pump. are connected to the washing water recovery tank through separate suction channels, each of which is provided with a cylinder containing a float, and a flow rate detection sensor that detects the flow rate based on the movement of the float. are provided, respectively, and the detection results of these flow rate sensors are displayed on a display disposed on a control panel provided in the machine body in correspondence with the suction nozzle.

Next, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view of a sample collection device (cell harvester) A that can implement the present invention, 1 is its body, 10
1 is a plate mounting table that is installed on the machine body 1 to place the titration plate B, and a is a dispensing head that is arranged above the plate mounting table 10 and is mounted on the machine body 1 so that it can be raised and lowered. The head a may be fixedly mounted on the machine body 1 and the plate mounting table 10 can be moved up and down), 11 is a distribution tank storage provided on one side of the machine body 1, and 12 is a specimen collection on the other side of the machine body 1. b is a sample collection head that is arranged above the filter mounting table 12 and is mounted on the machine body 1 so as to be able to move up and down (the head b is also fixed on the machine body 1). In some cases, the filter mounting table 12 is mounted on the machine body 1 so as to be able to move up and down), and c indicates a control panel installed on the upper part of the machine body 1.

The body 1 is formed into a U-shape as shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the side.
is supported by a vertically movable column 14 hanging from the lower surface of an arm 13 that protrudes from the upper front side (left side in FIG. 2) of the fuselage 1. It is installed in Further, the above-mentioned dispensing head a is supported by a support arm 16 which is installed in the front of a rising part 15 rising at the rear of the machine body 1 so as to be movable up and down. Further, the plate mounting table 10 is supported by a guide 18 provided on the table portion 17 of the body 1 so as to be freely inserted and removed back and forth.

FIG. 3 shows details of the dispensing head a. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes the main body part of the dispensing head a supported by the aforementioned support arm 16, which is formed into a disk shape, and the lower surface of the main body part is made of a flexible elastic material such as rubber material or synthetic resin. A titration plate B is placed on the upper surface of the plate mounting table 10 below the dispensing head a.
The holes 30 are arranged and vertically arranged to correspond to each hole 30 . Although only three seal members 21 are shown in the drawing because the main body part 20 is partially shown and most are omitted, they correspond to all of the holes 30 provided in the titration plate B. There are as many as (96) installed. However, there are cases in which the sealing members 21 are provided in a row corresponding to the holes 30 in the titration plate B in a horizontal or vertical row, and the sealing members 21 are provided in a row in correspondence with the holes 30 in the titration plate B. Titration plates
Sometimes it is formed into a disc shape that is joined to the top surface of the board.

Each sealing member 21... has its upper end side attached to each hole 30 of the titration plate B mentioned above in the main body part 20.
A through hole 22 that penetrates vertically and is shaped to correspond to...
By screwing the nozzle holding fitting 23 into the nozzle holding fitting 23 which is slidably inserted vertically and whose downward movement from a predetermined position is regulated by the engaging flange 23a, the through hole 22 is fitted together with the nozzle holding fitting 23. The seal member 21 is supported by the main body portion 20 so as to move vertically therein, and is biased to be pushed downward by a spring 24 provided between the main body portion 20 and the upper end surface of the seal member 21 . The lower end 21a of each seal member 21 is connected to the dispensing head a.
As shown in FIG. 3, the titration plate B is shaped into a cone so as to fit into the upper opening 30a of each hole 30 of the titration plate B placed on the plate mounting table 10 and seal the upper opening 30a. It has been formed.

Further, the nozzle holding fitting 23 holds a discharge nozzle 25 (or a dividing needle) and a suction nozzle 26 (or a suction needle), respectively.
In this case, the nozzle holding fitting 23 is held so as to pass vertically through the axial center thereof, and the lower end thereof passes through the axial center of the seal member 21 and is held at the center of the lower end 21a of the seal member 21. The seal member 21 protrudes downward from the portion, and an opening 25a serving as a discharge port is opened at the lower end of the protrusion, and
In the case of the suction nozzle 26, the nozzle holding fitting 2
3, the lower end side is the nozzle holding fitting 23
is held in a state where it communicates with a cavity 27 formed in a region surrounding the discharge nozzle 25 in the inner cavity of the discharge nozzle 25;
The sealing member 21 is configured to extend the empty space 27.
A vacant room 28 formed in the central part of and the vacant room 28
The lower end 21 of the sealing member 21 having a cone shape
The opening 26a provided in the inclined surface is communicated with the opening 26a provided in the inclined surface via a conduit 29 directed toward the inclined surface of the sealing member 21. When the upper opening 30a of the hole 30 of the titration plate B is sealed with the lower end 21a, the hole 30
It is designed to be open to the inside.

As shown in FIG. 4, the suction nozzles 26 are connected to filter holders 41, which also function as discharge ports, and are arranged in line with the sample collection head b, as shown in FIG. The filter holders 41 are connected and communicated with each other, and when the sample collection head b is lowered, the filter holders 41 are arranged in line with the filter mounting table 12 in correspondence with the filter holders 41. By joining, the first cleaning water recovery tank 44 and its first cleaning water recovery tank 44 are connected and communicated with the suction ports 42 through the suction channels 43.
Second and third washing water recovery tanks 4 communicating with
5.45 to the vacuum pump P1, and as a result, when the vacuum pump P1 operates,
Suction is made through the opening 26a.

Next, the discharge nozzle 25 provided in the dispensing head a
Figure 5 shows details of the distribution tank that supplies washing water to...

In the same figure, 11 is a distribution tank storage provided in the fuselage 1, which is formed into a box shape with the top side open. A distribution tank 5 is installed in the form of a shelf. The bottom plate 50 of the distribution tank 5 is formed into a thick flat plate shape, and a part of the bottom plate 50 is cut out to form a recess 5a into which the bottom plate 50 is fitted. A discharge port 51 is provided in the bottom plate 50a of the recessed portion 5a, and communicates with the washing water tank T via a conduit 52 equipped with a solenoid valve SV. Further, the distribution tank 5 is provided with a discharge pump from the washing water tank T.
When the supply pipe 53 that supplies the washing water pumped out by P2 is connected and communicated, and the washing water supplied from the supply pipe 53 into the distribution tank 5 reaches a predetermined water level W, the water is discharged. A drain device d is equipped with a liquid level sensor S that stops the operation of the pump P2 and opens the aforementioned solenoid valve SV, and thereby drains the washing water when the washing water reaches a certain water level W. It consists of

6 are metering cylinders installed in the dispensing tank 5 in correspondence with the number of discharge nozzles 25 arranged in line with the dispensing head a, each of which is formed into the same cylindrical shape, and each cylinder has the same shape. The upper end side of the bottom plate 50 of the distribution tank 5 is formed into a thick flat plate.
0, and the lower end side hangs below the bottom plate 50, and is aligned and supported.

Each metering cylinder 6 has a funnel-shaped sheet 6b formed at the bottom of its inner cavity, and a discharge port 60 is opened at the bottom end of the sheet, and a vinyl tube is fitted into a discharge pipe 61 that is continuous with the discharge port 60. The discharge nozzles 25 are individually connected to the discharge nozzles 25 through pipe lines 54 consisting of the above-mentioned discharge nozzles 25. Then, the tube wall 6a of each metering cylinder 6
, an inlet is provided at a portion that protrudes upward from the bottom plate 50 and faces into the distribution tank 5, and allows the cleaning water filled in the distribution tank 5 to freely pass through the area up to a height that is aligned with the top surface of the bottom plate 50. 62... is formed, so that the washing water is filled in the distribution tank 5 to a predetermined water level W and then discharged, so that the bottom plate of the distribution tank 5 is formed in each metering cylinder 6... The upper surface of the container 50 is set at a level W so that the washing water is left behind.

7... is a float inserted into each of the above-mentioned metering cylinders 6 so as to be able to rise and fall, respectively, and is an outer float that forms a flow path for cleaning water between the outer peripheral surface and the inner surface of the conduit 6a of the metering cylinder 6. It is formed into a cylindrical shape with a diameter, and a shaft part 70 serving as a display part is installed at the upper part, and this shaft part 70 is connected to the distribution tank storage 1.
Support plate 7 provided to cover the upper opening of 1
By fitting into the guide hole 75 provided in each metering cylinder 4, it is possible to freely move up and down inside each metering cylinder 6 as the water level of the cleaning liquid in each metering cylinder 6 rises and falls.

At the bottom of this float 7 is a funnel-shaped sheet 6b provided at the bottom of the inner cavity of the metering cylinder 6.
is formed into a conical part corresponding to the inner surface of the conical part, and this conical part fits into the funnel-shaped sheet 6b,
The outer surface of the conical portion and the inner surface of the funnel-shaped sheet 6b are joined to form a valve 73 that closes the discharge port 60 at the bottom of the metering cylinder 6.

Each of the floats 7 also has a stopper 71 on the upper part of its shaft portion 70 that abuts against the lower surface of the support plate 74 and restricts its subsequent rise relative to the support plate 74.
The above-mentioned support plate 74 is also provided with a
A handle 76 that is exposed and provided on the front side of the
Each float 7...
The desired amount of cleaning liquid is forcibly fitted into each metering cylinder 6, causing the cleaning liquid in each metering cylinder 6 to overflow, thereby reducing the amount of cleaning liquid to be weighed into each metering cylinder 6. It is designed to also serve as an adjustment means for adjusting the. Further, a suitable float 7 among the floats 7 is provided with a pointer 72 that moves up and down together with it, and each float 7 is forcibly moved into the metering cylinder 6 by the lowering operation of the support plate 74 mentioned above. The amount of fitting when inserted is displayed on a gauge 78 provided in the distribution tank storage 11 using this pointer 72, and by reading this, the amount of cleaning liquid weighed into each metering cylinder 6 is detected. I have made it possible.

In addition, each metering cylinder 6... has an inlet port 62 at the lower end at which the level w of the cleaning liquid measured into the cylinder is set to be higher than the opening 25a of the discharge nozzle 25 in the state shown in FIG. It is provided on the fuselage 1 so as to be located above.

Referring again to FIG. 4, 8 indicates that the vacuum pump P1 communicates with each suction port 42 installed on the filter mounting table 12 in correspondence with each suction nozzle 26 provided on the dispensing head a. A suction flow path 4 that communicates with a washing water recovery tank 44 separately.
The cylinders are provided in the cylinders 3 and 3, respectively, and are made of a transparent material so that the inside can be seen through, and each float 80 is sealed in the washing water inside. Around these cylinders 8..., the parts facing the middle in the axial direction (vertical direction in Fig. 4) are as follows:
A flow rate detection sensor 81 consisting of a photo sensor for detecting the floats 80 is provided, and as the cleaning water flows through each suction channel 43 at a predetermined flow rate, each float 80 follows the flow rate. The flow rate is detected by the movement of sedimentation. The floats 80... and the flow rate detection sensors 81... only need to detect the movement of the floats 80 depending on the flow velocity, and the floats 80... are provided with a magnet or a magnetic metal material, and the flow rate detection sensors 81... Detection sensor 81...
may be configured as appropriate, such as by using a sensor that detects magnetic force instead of a photo sensor.

As shown in FIG. 1, these flow rate detection sensors 81... are connected to suction nozzles 26... provided on the control panel c provided on the front side of the machine body 1 in alignment with the aforementioned dispensing head a. When the flow rate detection sensor 81 performs a predetermined detection operation on the indicator 9 consisting of 96 lamps or light emitting diodes arranged in an array corresponding to As a result, when each suction channel 43... is suctioning cleaning water by the operation of the vacuum pump P1, the indicator 9... lights up for the suction channel 43 in poor suction condition. Or, it is displayed by not emitting light. Note that the lighting or light emission of the indicators 9 may be turned off when the floats 80 have descended to a predetermined depth position.

The embodiment device constructed in this manner operates as follows.

Activate the discharge pump P2 and drain the cleaning water tank T.
Pour a predetermined amount of washing water into each metering cylinder 6 in the distribution tank 5, move the dispensing head a down to the state shown in FIG. When the vacuum pump P1 is operated with the sample collection head b moved downward so that each filter holder 41 is connected to each draw port 42..., the washing water in each metering cylinder 6 is discharged. From each discharge nozzle 25... to titration plate B
The cleaning water is vigorously discharged into each hole 30, and the cleaning water is sucked by the suction nozzle 26, passes through the filter F, passes through each suction channel 43, and is collected in the cleaning water recovery tank 44, 45, 45. Ru. Each hole 30 was washed out with the washing water.
The specimen in... is collected and collected in the portion of the filter F that is held between the filter presser 41... and the draw port 42....

And also each hole 30 of titration plate B...
The flow of washing water that washes out the specimen is displayed on the display 9 arranged on the control panel c provided in the machine body 1 for each suction channel 43 connected and communicating with each hole 30. That is, in the suction channel 43 where the suction state of the suction nozzle 26 is poor and the amount of cleaning water sucked is reduced, the decrease in the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection sensor 81 and displayed on the display 9. . Since the indicators 9 are aligned in correspondence with the suction nozzles 26 arranged in line with the dispensing head a, the suction channels 43 where the suction condition is poor and sample collection is insufficient. …but,
Which hole 3 is to be detected in correspondence with each hole 30 arranged in the titration plate B.
0... is in a state where it should be excluded from inspection.

As explained above, the titration plate cleaning device in the sample collection device according to the present invention configured as described above cleans each hole 30 of the titration plate B.
The suction state of each suction channel 43 that sucks washing water that washes out the specimen from... is determined by the flow rate detection sensor 81 that detects the flow rate (flow velocity) of the washing water flowing through the suction channels 43... Controlled indicator 9...
, and since the display on the display 9 is made corresponding to each hole 30 of the titration plate B, it is possible to determine from which hole 30 the washing water is sucked, i.e. , it is now possible to clearly detect from which hole the specimen is insufficiently collected during the process of washing the specimen, and it is possible to quickly and accurately identify specimens that should be excluded from testing. It becomes like this.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sample collection device that can implement the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same as above, Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the dispensing head portion of the same as above, and Fig. 4 is a specimen collection head. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view of the distribution tank portion of the same as above. Explanation of drawing symbols, A...Sample collection device, B...Titration plate, a...Dispensing head, b...Sample collection head, c...Control panel, d...Drainage device, T
...washing water tank, 1...body, 10...plate mounting stand, 11...distribution tank storage, 12...filter mounting stand, 13...arm part, 14...pillar, 15...standing part, 16...support arm, 17...stand Part, 18... Guide, 20... Main body part, 21... Seal member, 21a
...Lower end, 22...Through hole, 23...Nozzle holding fitting,
23a...Engagement collar, 24...Spring, 25...Discharge nozzle, 26...Suction nozzle, 25a/26a...Opening,
27/28...vacant room, 29...pipeline, 30...hall,
30a...Top opening, 40...Flexible tube, 41...Filter holder, 41a...O ring,
42... Suction port, 42a... Wire mesh, 43... Suction channel,
44...First washing water recovery tank, 45, 45...Second and third washing water recovery tank, 5...Distribution tank, 5a...Recess, 50, 50a...Bottom plate, 51...Outlet, 52, 54... Pipe line, 53... Supply pipe line, 6...
Metering cylinder, 6a...tube wall, 6b...sheet, 60
...Discharge port, 61...Discharge pipe, 62...Inflow port, 7...Float, 70...Shaft rod portion, 71...Stopper, 72...Pointer, 73...Valve, 74...Support plate, 75...Guide hole, 7
6...handle, 77...post, 78...gauge, 8...
Cylinder, 80...Float, 81...Flow rate detection sensor,
9...Display, P1...Vacuum pump, P2...Discharge pump,
S...Liquid level sensor, SV...Solenoid valve, w...Level, W
...Water level, F...Filter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Separately connect each suction port, which corresponds to the suction nozzle installed on the filter mounting table below the sample collection head in line with the dispensing head, to the washing water recovery tank, which is connected to the vacuum pump. are connected via suction flow paths, each of which is provided with a cylinder containing a float and a flow rate detection sensor that detects the flow rate based on the movement of the float, and the detection results of these flow rate sensors are 1. A titration plate cleaning device for a sample collection device, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to display the information on a display device arranged in correspondence with the suction nozzle on a control panel provided on the machine body.