JPH05172714A - Determining device of state of suction of specimen sucking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a determining device of a state of suction of a specimen sucking device which enables definite and easy determination of a state of idle suction, a state of half suction and a state of normal suction of a specimen by a nozzle, clogging of the nozzle, a failure of a sucking unit itself, etc. CONSTITUTION:Beside a sucking unit 12 of a specimen sucking device 10, a reference sucking unit 22 for determination in a closed loop made up of a cylinder 22a having an inner-hole sectional area smaller than the inner-hole sectional area of a cylinder 12a of the sucking unit 12 and of a piston 22b so designed as to move together with a piston 12b of the sucking unit 12 in accord with the motion thereof, is provided. A differential pressure gage 21 detecting a difference between a negative pressure generated by the reference sucking unit 22 for determination in the closed loop and a negative pressure generated by the sucking unit 12 of the specimen sucking device 10 is provided, and a comparing-displaying means 23 which compares the plus or minus of a differential pressure obtained and the degree thereof with reference values set beforehand and displays the state of suction, is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample inhaler which can be used for inhaling a part of a liquid sample, carrying it to another position and ejecting it, and providing it for inspection. And a device for determining.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sample inhaler is convenient as a means for sequentially inhaling, carrying and testing a large number of samples.
Conventionally used. This sample inhaler generally has an aspirator, a ventilation pipe connected to the aspirator, and a nozzle that is replaceably set at the tip of the aspirator.
With a new nozzle set each time, move the nozzle to the position of the container holding the liquid sample, insert the nozzle into the liquid sample, and draw a negative pressure with an aspirator, which causes the liquid sample to be discharged into the nozzle. The sample is sucked in, the nozzle is moved to another position necessary for the inspection, and the sample is ejected there. In such a case, it is necessary to judge whether or not the sample is normally sucked into the nozzle, but conventionally, a pressure gauge for detecting the pressure in the nozzle is provided for this need. There is provided an inhalation state determination device that makes a determination with the value indicated by.

[0003]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional inhalation state determining device simply measures the pressure generated in the nozzle, for example, if the inside of the nozzle becomes a negative pressure, the sample is inhaled. However, if the nozzle does not become negative pressure, it is judged whether it is in the state of empty suction even though it is sucked by the suction device, or whether it is due to the suction device itself not sucking. I couldn't. Moreover, since the pressure detected by the pressure gauge by the suction of the suction device is only a negative pressure of zero or less, there is a problem that it is difficult to clearly set the determination standard when determining the suction state based on the degree of the negative pressure.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inhalation state determination device of a sample suction device that can clearly and easily determine an empty suction state, a semi-suction state, a normal suction state, a nozzle clogging, a failure of the suction device itself, and the like by a nozzle.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a suction state determination device for a sample suction device according to the present invention comprises a suction device composed of a cylinder and a piston, and a nozzle drawn to a negative pressure by the suction device. In addition to a sample inhaler configured to inhale the sample into the nozzle by inserting the nozzle into a liquid sample held in a container or the like, an inhalation state determination device for the sample to be added is provided. Aside from the aspirator of the sample inhaler, the cylinder of the aspirator and the cylinder having an inner hole cross-sectional area smaller than the inner hole cross-sectional area of the aspirator and the piston of the aspirator move together. And a negative pressure generated by the closed-loop determination reference suction device and the suction device of the sample suction device. The differential pressure gauge which detects a difference between the negative pressure provided, is characterized in that a comparison display means and obtained is compared with a reference value set in advance the negative and extent of differential pressure inhales status.

[0006]

According to the above feature of the present invention, when the nozzle is moved to the sample position by the sample suction device, inserted into the sample, and sucked by the suction device, the same stroke is determined together with the piston of the suction device. The piston of the reference suction device is moved. Then, the pressure in the nozzle by the suction device of the sample suction device and the pressure by the judgment reference suction device enter the differential pressure gauge, and the latter is subtracted from the former. Since the inner hole cross-sectional area of the cylinder of the sample aspirator is larger than the inner hole cross-sectional area of the cylinder of the judgment reference aspirator, when the nozzle is inserted into the liquid of the sample and normally sucks,
The negative pressure in the nozzle becomes larger than the negative pressure by the reference suction device for determination, and the differential pressure gauge outputs a positive value. On the other hand, when the nozzle is in the state of air suction, the inside of the nozzle is hardly negative pressure, so only the negative pressure by the reference suction device for determination works and the differential pressure gauge outputs a negative value. Further, when the suction device of the sample suction device is not sucking due to a failure, the internal pressure of the nozzle and the pressure of the reference suction device for determination are the same, so the differential pressure gauge becomes approximately ± 0. Further, when the nozzle is clogged, the negative pressure in the nozzle becomes very large, and therefore the differential pressure gauge outputs a considerably large positive value compared to the case of the normal suction. Therefore, by setting a small value of ± centered on zero as the reference value, it is possible to determine and display a failure in the suction device within that range. By setting a negative constant value as the air sucking reference value, it is possible to judge and display if it is a negative value larger than that value and to display it as a half sucking state if it is a negative value smaller than that value. You can
Further, by setting a considerably large constant value out of the positive values as the nozzle clogging reference value, it is possible to judge and display a value exceeding the nozzle clogging as a nozzle clogging, and to judge and display a value less than that as normal. That is, since the inhalation state can be determined based on the positive / negative determination centered on zero and the degree of the positive / negative value, the determination can be easily divided and appropriate determination and display can be performed.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Is a block diagram of the comparison display means, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the comparison display means.

In FIG. 1, the sample inhaler 10 includes a nozzle.
11 has a suction device 12 and a ventilation pipe 13, and also has a hand dispenser 15 via a three-way valve 14. The hand dispenser 15 is used when the suction device 12 fails, and the three-way valve 14 normally connects the nozzle 11 and the suction device 12. The suction device 12 comprises a cylindrical cylinder 12a and a piston 12b inserted into the cylinder 12a. The inside of the nozzle 11 is sucked to a negative pressure by pulling the piston 12b. Sample inhaler
10, 10 moves the nozzle 11 to the position of the container containing the sample, inserts into the sample, sucks the sample into the nozzle 11 by suction with the aspirator 12, further moves the nozzle 11 to another position, Discharge and use for inspection. After discharging the sample, the used nozzle 11 is removed, a new nozzle is set, and the sample is again moved to the position of the container containing the sample.

The inhalation state determination device 20 includes a differential pressure gauge 21, a reference reference aspirator 22 provided in a pair with the aspirator 12, a comparison display means 23, and a differential pressure gauge 21 from the ventilation pipe 12 of the aspirator 12.
Ventilation pipe 24 to the differential pressure gauge 21
A ventilation pipe 25, a communication pipe 26 for both ventilation pipes 24 and an on-off valve 27 thereof. The determination reference suction device 22 is provided in a pair with the suction device 12 of the suction state determination device 20, and has a cylindrical cylinder 22a and a piston 22b. The cylinder 22a has a smaller inner hole cross-sectional area than the cylinder 12a, and is configured to have, for example, a quarter cross-sectional area. Further, the piston 22b is configured to move together with the movement of the piston 12b. The reference suction pipe 22 for determination is a closed loop including the ventilation pipe 25, and a negative pressure corresponding to the degree to which the piston 22b is pulled is reliably generated.

The differential pressure gauge 21 takes in the internal pressure of the nozzle 11 (which is considered to be the same as the internal pressure of the cylinder 12a) generated by the suction device 12 of the sample suction device 10 through the ventilation pipes 13 and 24, and also makes a reference suction for judgment. The pressure generated in the cylinder 22a and the ventilation pipe 25 generated by the container 22 is taken in, the value obtained by subtracting the former from the latter is detected, and this is sent to the comparison display means 23. The communication pipe 26 and the on-off valve 27 are for opening the on-off valve 27 once before using the device and connecting both the ventilation pipes 24 and 25 in advance to make the pressure in both pipes equal. is there.

The comparison display means 23, as shown in FIG.
For example, a comparison / determination unit 231, a display circuit unit 232, a reference value storage unit 233 configured in a microcomputer, a reference value setting unit 234 for setting and inputting a reference value in the reference value storage unit 233, and a display panel.
Has 235. The comparison / determination unit 231 compares the differential pressure value from the differential pressure gauge 21 with the reference value from the reference value storage unit 233, sends a signal value indicating the inhalation state to the display circuit unit 232, and the display circuit unit 232 sends the signal value. A corresponding display is displayed on the display panel 235 according to the received signal value. Of course, when the signal value indicating the inhalation state by the comparison / determination unit 231 is an abnormal value, a voice warning may be given together with the display on the display panel 235. Further, the three-way valve 14 may be closed or a safety operation such as stopping the operation of the sample inhaler 10 may be performed. In this case, the signal value indicating the inhalation state may be sent to the sample inhaler as the safe operation signal.

The operation of the comparison display means 23 will be further described with reference to FIG. As the reference values, the suction failure reference value ± A, the idle suction reference value −A, and the nozzle clogging reference value + B are determined and stored in the reference value storage unit 233 by the reference value setter 234.
Then, the detection value X detected by the differential pressure gauge 21 when the sample inhaling device 10 performs the suction operation is loaded into the comparison determination unit 231, and similarly, the reference value is loaded from the reference value storage unit 233, and first, the detection value X is + A. It is determined whether or not it is in the range between -A and -A (S1). If it is within the range, it is determined that the aspirator 12 is not operating, and a suction device failure display is displayed on the display panel 235 via the display circuit unit 232. (S2). When the suction device 12 does not operate, the pressure generated on the suction device 12 side and the reference suction device for judgment
Because there is no difference between the pressure generated on the 22 side and the pressure on the 22 side, the differential pressure gauge 21 indicates approximately ± 0. If it is not within the range, it is then determined whether or not the detection value X is less than the suction failure reference value −A (S3), and if YES, the empty suction display is performed (S3).
4). Of course, the empty suction alarm may be given. The three-way valve 14 may be closed or the operation of the sample inhaler 10 may be stopped.
When the nozzle 11 is sucking air, since the negative pressure in the nozzle 11 does not increase due to the air entering the nozzle 11, the negative pressure generated on the judgment reference suction device 22 side is superior, and as a result, , The differential pressure gauge detects a negative value above a certain level. If S3 is NO, it is further determined whether the detected value X exceeds the nozzle clogging reference value + B (S5), and if it exceeds (YES), the nozzle clogging is displayed (S5).
6). Of course, the empty suction warning may be given. Further, the operation of the sample inhaler 10 may be stopped. In the case of nozzle clogging, the negative pressure value inside the nozzle 11 (on the suction device 12 side) becomes a value considerably larger than the negative pressure value generated on the determination reference suction device 22 side. If S5 is NO, a normal display is performed (S
7). The normal display may not be performed.

In the above determination operation, the sample inhaler 10
If it is not necessary to detect a suction failure due to a malfunction of the aspirator 12 (if the malfunction of the aspirator 12 is detected by other means such as being detected by the sample suction device 10 itself), the suction is performed. It is not necessary to set the defect reference value ± A and determine S1. Therefore, in that case, when the detected value X is less than the empty suction reference value −A, the empty suction display is performed and the detected value X
When the value exceeds the nozzle clogging reference value + B, the nozzle clogging display may be performed. In this case, -A may be set as a low limit and + B may be set as an upper limit, and a value exceeding the limit may be displayed as an abnormality, or an abnormality alarm may be issued, or a safe operation such as operation stop of the sample inhaler 10 may be performed.

In the above determination operation, values less than the air suction reference value −A may be further classified to determine half air intake or complete air intake. Similarly, if the nozzle clogging standard value + B is classified, it is clogged during suction, or when the sample changes due to an increase in the viscosity of the sample liquid (half clogging) or when the sample is clogged from the beginning. It is also possible to determine (total clogging). In addition, when the sample inhaler 10 sets the disposable nozzle 11 (the process before suctioning with the aspirator 12), if the nozzle 11 is clogged, the inside of the nozzle 11 (aspirator 12
Since the pressure on the side) rises to some extent, this may be detected by the differential pressure gauge 21 to indicate the nozzle failure. It should be noted that when using the differential pressure gauge, compared with the case where the pressure gauge is used, the accuracy for accurately obtaining the absolute value of the pressure is not required, so that the cost can be reduced.

[0015]

According to the present invention, which has the above-described structure,
According to the inhalation state determination device of the sample inhaler described in (1), apart from the aspirator of the sample inhaler, a cylinder having an inner hole cross-sectional area smaller than the inner hole cross-sectional area of the cylinder of the aspirator and the aspirator A reference suction device for determination of a closed loop including a piston adapted to move together with the movement of the piston is provided, and a negative pressure generated by the reference suction device for determination of the closed loop and the suction device of the sample inhaler are generated. Since the differential pressure gauge for detecting the difference in negative pressure is provided and the comparison display means for displaying the suction state by comparing the positive and negative and the degree of the obtained differential pressure with a preset reference value, the idle suction state is made negative. Nozzle clogging with a positive value above a certain value,
Each of them can be easily and surely determined, and a defect of the sample inhaler can be determined with a value near zero. That is, since the inhalation state can be determined based on the positive / negative determination centered on zero and the degree of the positive / negative value thereof, the determination can be easily divided, and the appropriate inhalation state can be determined and displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of comparison display means.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a comparison display means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Specimen suction device 11 Nozzle 12 Suction device 12a Cylinder 12b Piston 20 Suction state determination device 21 Differential pressure gauge 22 Standard suction device for determination 22a Cylinder 22b Piston 23 Comparison display means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sample having at least a suction device comprising a cylinder and a piston, and a nozzle that is pulled by a negative pressure by the suction device, and by inserting the nozzle into a liquid sample held in a container or the like. A sample inhalation state determination device to be added to a sample inhalation device adapted to inhale into the nozzle, and the inner hole cross-sectional area of the cylinder of the aspirator is provided separately from the aspirator of the sample inhalation device. A reference suction device for determining a closed loop, which includes a cylinder having a smaller inner hole cross-sectional area and a piston adapted to move together with the piston of the suction device, is provided, and the reference suction for determination of the closed loop is also provided. Provided with a differential pressure gauge for detecting the difference between the negative pressure generated by the pressure gauge and the negative pressure generated by the suction means of the sample inhaler, and a preset standard for the positive and negative and the degree of the obtained differential pressure. An inhalation state determination device for a sample inhalation device, comprising comparison display means for displaying an inhalation state in comparison with a value.