JPH04230862A - Liquid-sample moving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To transport a sample sooner by transporting the liquid sample in each row from a test tube to a cuvette by a distributor. CONSTITUTION: A device to transport a liquid sample from a test tube 3 to cuvettes placed in a plurality of rows by a distributor 5 for giving a proper amount of the liquid sample received from the test tube 3 into an injector 7 to each cuvette has a plurality of transport chips in one row to cause a liquid distributor 5 to simultaneously take a plurality of samples and give a proper amount of the sample, characterized in that distances between the centers of the chips coincides respectively with distances between the centers of the cuvettes.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a liquid sample from a test tube to each cuvette in a cuvette set, such as a microtitration plate. The invention is particularly suitable for use in the field of clinical analysis technology.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Blood samples for clinical analysis are generally taken in test tubes, the volume of which is several milliliters. For example, antibody testing involving EIA or such methods is generally performed in fairly small reaction vessels. Also, several samples are generally tested at the same time. The standardized microtitration plate used for this purpose has 8 x 12 cuvettes, with a cuvette spacing of 9 mm.

0003

Currently, when the spacing between sample receptacles on the plate is larger relative to the diameter of the test tube, such samples are transferred one at a time from the test tube to the analysis plate. samples are transferred. Therefore, this transfer takes a considerable amount of time.

[0004] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to create a device which makes it possible to carry out the above-mentioned sample transfer more quickly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an apparatus for transferring a liquid sample from a test tube to cuvettes placed in a plurality of rows by means of a distributor, whereby the sample is for receiving and dispensing into a syringe from a test tube and dispensing into a cuvette, the liquid distributor having a plurality of transfer tips in line for simultaneously taking and dispensing multiple samples; It is characterized in that the center-to-center distances of the chips match the center-to-center distances of the cuvettes.

[0006]

With this arrangement, the liquid sample can be received from the test tube into the syringe, and the liquid sample can be transferred from the test tube to each row of cuvettes simultaneously by the distributor, dispensing the appropriate amount of sample into each cuvette.

[0007]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the transfer of multiple samples, and FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the apparatus used for diagonally transferring from the front. Moreover, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the test tube is placed on a stand.

The sample is transferred to the cuvette receptacle 2 of the microtitration plate 1 . This plate 1 includes a plurality of receptacles 2 arranged in 8 rows and 12 columns and spaced apart by 9 mm. The diameter of the socket is approximately 7 mm. The sockets 2 in each row are marked with successive codes A to H on their outermost sides.

[0009] A plurality of samples are received in each test tube 3, which has a diameter of about 12 mm. Test tube 3 is placed on stand 4.

The test tubes 3 are lined up in two rows on this stand 4. Each row has four test tubes spaced 18 mm apart. For multiple samples, every other socket in the first row of plate 1 is named A, C, E, G, and each socket in the second row is named B.
, D, F, and H. Plate 1 and the test tube stand are placed on the same plane, each row of the plate and the stand are parallel, and the first test tube of the first row of the stand is collinear with the outermost receptacle A of plate 1, and similarly The first test tube of the second row is on the line corresponding to plate 1 receptacle B.

Above the transfer level is a movable liquid distributor 5 comprising four syringes 7 with replaceable tips in a row spaced 18 mm apart. This row of syringes 7 is parallel to the row of test tubes 3, and the device furthermore includes an actuation device for the liquid distributor 5.

The liquid distributor 5 is lowered and sucks the liquid into the chip tank 6 or transfers the liquid to the chip tank 6.
remove from The liquid distributor 5 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the rows of test tubes. Furthermore, the liquid distributor 5 can also be moved in the same direction as the rows so that samples can be taken from both rows of test tubes. Preferably, an adjustable amount of liquid is drawn into the chip tank and transferred to the desired location.

This transfer device includes packing of chips 8, and a chip tank 6 in a cuvette set of 8 rows and 12 columns.
has. The liquid distributor 5 also has tip moving means;
This means allows the used chips to be removed. This chip moving means is a used chip receptacle 9.
It is.

The liquid distributor 5 is a multi-channel line.
Pipette (Finland Patent No. 52025, No. 6)
No. 0137, No. 57704, No. 58875
No. 844906 and No. 73368)
It can be a device corresponding to This pipette is used here mechanically and its movements are preprogrammed into the control unit. The volume of liquid is controlled by hand. Pipettes are replaceable.

Furthermore, the present apparatus includes a reagent stand 10 whose shape corresponds to the test tube stand 4. The liquid distributor 5 takes reagents from the reagent stand and transfers them to the receptacles of the plate 1, if necessary.

When the apparatus is first used, the test tubes 3 of the test tube stand 4 are placed in place on the stand. When the apparatus is started, the liquid distributor 5 first takes the tip tank 6 from the packing 8 and receives the sample from the first row of the stand into the receptacles A, C, E, G of the first row of the plate 1 and then into the receptacle 9. Transfer chips.

[0017] With this method, the sample is placed in the receptacle B,
D, F, H, and then replaced with a new sample stand and the same process continues until the desired number of samples have been transferred to the plate receptacles. If necessary, reagents are added to multiple receptacles according to analytical procedures.

The amount of each sample in the test tubes can be varied. This is because by placing the test tubes on the stand at the desired height, the liquid surface of each test tube is at the same level. This is achieved by the flexible claws 11, which press against the test tube from the sides and allow frictional forces to hold the test tube in place.

[0019]

Effects of the Invention In the device of the present invention, the liquid distributor has a plurality of transfer tips arranged in a row so as to simultaneously take a plurality of samples and administer them in appropriate amounts, and the distance between the centers of the tips is Since each corresponds to the center-to-centre distance of the cuvettes, it is possible to transfer the liquid sample from the test tube to the cuvette row by column, resulting in faster sample transfer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an apparatus for transferring multiple samples according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the liquid distributor of the present invention in use for diagonal transfer from the front;

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view showing the arrangement of test tubes on a stand so that the samples according to the invention are at the same liquid surface level; 1 Microtitration plate 2 Socket 3 Test tube 4 Stand 5 Liquid distributor 6 Tip tank 7 Syringe 8 Tip 9 Receiver 10 Reagent stand 11 Claw

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for transferring a liquid sample from a test tube to a plurality of rows of cuvettes by means of a distributor, whereby the sample is received from the test tube into a syringe and dosed into the cuvette. In the liquid distributor, the liquid distributor has a plurality of transfer tips arranged in a line for simultaneously taking a plurality of samples and dispensing them in appropriate amounts, and the center-to-center distance of the tips corresponds to the center-to-center distance of the cuvettes, respectively. A device characterized by: 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid distributor is replaceable. 3. In order to transfer a sample from a test tube placed on the stand, the stand is provided with means for placing the test tube so that the liquid surface of the test tube is at the same level. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2.