JPH0612821Y2 - Sample agitator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] In the present invention, in a sample analyzer, when a sample is sucked from a sealed container, the sample is agitated by repeatedly inverting the sealed container in advance. The present invention relates to a sample stirrer.

[Conventional technology]

As a device for agitating the sample in a sealed container,
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 752. This publication describes a device in which the shaft of a motor and the shaft of a rotating body are eccentric, and the rotating body is eccentrically moved to stir the blood, and then the sampling nozzle is pierced into the stopper to suck the blood. In the case of this device, when the sample in the container is small, the stirring can be performed relatively well, but when the sample in the container is large, the stirring is insufficient.

It is effective to repeatedly invert the container in order to always perform good stirring regardless of the amount of the sample in the container. The following is a method for stirring the sample in the container by inverting the container.

(a) A container is radially set on a ferris wheel-shaped mount, the sample is stirred by rotating the mount, and then a sampling nozzle is pierced into the stopper to suck the sample.
The device described in Japanese Patent No. 4475411.

(b) The apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-500184, which agitates the sample by rocking the frame of the hermetically sealed container, and then pierces the stopper with a sampling nozzle to suck the sample.

(c) The sample is agitated by grasping the raised container on the gantry with the advanced hand, pulling it up, and reciprocally rotating it, and then moving the sample container further and holding it with the sealing plug part diagonally downward. Then, the device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-187158, in which a needle-like thin tube is pierced into the hermetically sealed portion to suck the sample.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, the above conventional technique has the following problems.

In (a), since the ferris wheel-shaped mount is rotated, the device becomes large. Blood, which is a sample, is collected at a blood collection site.If the number of samples is large, they are transported to the inspection site in a state that they are set up in order such as in a test tube stand, and then sent to the sample analyzer. Measured. Therefore, in the device (a), it is troublesome that the sample container has to be removed from the test tube stand and reattached to the gantry. For example,
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 15434/1985 discloses a test tube stand in which about 10 sample containers are mounted in a row. This stand can be used as a container stand when collecting blood,
It is convenient to carry, and as described in the above publication, it can be used as it is for a feeder (sampler) for a gantry, and is widely used in this field. Therefore, it would be very convenient if the sample container can be agitated or sucked while the sample container is mounted on the test tube stand.

In (b) and (c), the sealed container can be left standing on a test tube stand to be used for the apparatus, and the sample can be stirred and sucked. However, in the case of (b), since the stirring is due to the rocking, efficient stirring cannot be performed, and in the case of (c), it is necessary to make the hand holding the sample container move in a complicated manner. It becomes complicated and the device becomes large.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides a sample stirring device that can be repeatedly tumbled to stir a sample while the sealed container is mounted on a test tube stand, and that realizes a compact structure with a simple configuration. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the sample stirring and aspirating device of the present invention, as shown in the drawing, repeatedly agitates a sealed container and aspirates the sample by inserting a needle-like thin tube into the stopper of the sealed container. In the stirring and suction device, two pedestals 14 and 20 in which a plurality of hermetically sealed containers 10 and 16 are mounted in a line in the same direction, respectively, and these two pedestals and two hermetically sealed container groups that are mounted are held and A cradle holder 36 for holding the two pedestals and the sealed container group, and two held sealed container groups so that the container groups are substantially parallel to each other with the axis described later in the opposite directions. The shafts 44, 4 attached to both ends of the gantry holder 36 so that they are axisymmetric with each other.
6, support tools 52 and 54 that rotatably support the shaft, drive source 60 connected to the shaft, and detection means 72 and 7 that detect the position of the gantry holder 36.
4, a fixing means 76 for fixing the gantry holder 36 based on the detection of the detection means, and a sample suction device 83 for sequentially piercing the stopper of the hermetic container with a needle-shaped thin tube 86 to suck the sample. It is a thing.

In addition, the gantry holder 36 may be provided with an openable / closable door.

[Action]

A plurality of sealed containers 10 and 16 are mounted on a test tube stand 1
It is attached to 4 and 20. The two mounts 14 and 20 are held by a mount holder 36. At this time, the sealed containers 10, 1
6 is also retained. Since the shafts 44 and 46 are attached to the gantry holder 36 and the drive source 60 is connected to these shafts, the shafts 44 and 46 and the gantry holder 3 are connected by the drive source 60.
6 is rotated, the sealed containers 10 and 16 are also rotated, and repeated inversion stirring is performed. Moreover, two mounts 1
The axes 4 and 20 are held substantially parallel and in opposite directions and are symmetrical with respect to the axes 44 and 46 so that the axes are located between the two pedestals. Therefore, the mounts 14 and 20, the sealed container 1
Since 0 and 16 rotate, the volume of the space occupied can be small. In addition, when a door is provided on the frame holder 36,
Open the door to attach / detach the gantry, and close it to hold the gantry.

The detection means 72, 74 detect the number of times the gantry holder 36 has rotated and that the gantry holder 36 is in a predetermined position. When the gantry holder 36 reaches a predetermined state after rotating a predetermined number of times, the drive source 60 is stopped and the gantry holder is fixed by the fixing means 76. The sealed containers 10, 1
6 is stopped and fixed with the plugs 12 and 18 positioned below the bottom. Therefore, the needle-shaped thin tube is sealed in the sealed container 10,
The uniform sample in the containers 10 and 16 is sucked when the stoppers 12 and 18 of 16 are pierced.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the shape of the components described in this embodiment, the relative arrangement, etc., are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those unless otherwise specified, and are merely examples. Only.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the sample stirring device of the present invention.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a hermetically sealed container in which, for example, blood is put as a sample and hermetically sealed with a hermetically sealed stopper 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a test tube stand on which the sealed containers 10 are mounted. In this embodiment, ten sealed containers 10 are mounted on the mount 14. Reference numeral 20 is also a pedestal in which ten sealed containers 16 are mounted. The two pedestals 14 and 20 are mounted on the gantry mounting tool 21 so as to be parallel and in opposite directions. As a result, the sealed containers 10 and 16 are also held in parallel and opposite directions. The gantry mounting tool 21 includes a board 22, and L-shaped metal fittings 26, 28, 32, and 34 attached to both ends of the board 22 so as to sandwich the rack-shaped gantry 14, 20 therebetween. The metal fittings 26 and 32 are attached to the substrate 22 by the metal fittings 24 and 30. Sealed container 10, 16
Holes 29 are provided in the portions of the metal fittings 28 and 34 against which the sealing plugs 12 and 18 of FIG. Stands 14, 20
When the cradle mounting tool 21 is mounted, the cradle mounting tool 21 may be inserted from the left or right direction in FIG.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a gantry holder to which openable and closable doors 38 and 40 are attached to a U-shaped substrate, and holds the gantry attachment 21 to which the gantry 14 and 20 are attached. After opening the doors 38 and 40 and setting the gantry mounting tool 21 on the gantry holder 36 in the direction of the thick arrow D, the doors 38 and 40 are closed and fixed by the hooks 42. As a result, the sealed containers 10 and 16, the gantry 14 and 2,
0, the gantry mounting tool 21 is surrounded and firmly held by the gantry holder 36.

FIG. 2 is a view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. Shafts 44 and 46 are attached to both ends of the gantry holder 36, and are rotatably supported by supports 52 and 54 via bearings 48 and 50, respectively. One shaft 44 is connected to a shaft of a drive source 60 such as a motor via gears 56 and 58. Therefore, when the drive source 60 is operated, the gantry holder 36 is rotated around the shafts 44 and 46, the sealed containers 10 and 16 are repeatedly inverted, and the sample in the sealed container is effectively stirred. Two mounts 1
4 and 20 are symmetrical with respect to the axes 44 and 46. In other words, if the gantry holder 36 is rotated 180 degrees about the shafts 44 and 46, the gantry 20 (or 14) will move to the gantry 14 (or 2).
Stop at the same position as 0). Therefore, by controlling the stop position, the two mounts can be regarded as one mount and the sample can be sucked.

FIG. 3 is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. Plates 62 and 64 are attached to both ends of the frame holder 36. A protruding member 66 is attached to the plate 62, and protruding members 68 and 70 are also attached to the plate 64. The members 68 and 70 are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the shaft 46. The support 52 has a frame holder 36.
A detection means 72 such as a sensor for detecting the member 66 rotating together is attached, and a detection means 74 such as a sensor for detecting the members 68 and 70 is attached to the support tool 54. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the members 66 and 68 are both detected by the detecting means 72 and 74 (hereinafter, referred to as the first state). The frame holder 36
When rotated by 180 degrees, only the member 70 is detected by the detecting means 74 (hereinafter referred to as the second state). In this way
The number of rotations of the gantry holder 36 is detected by the detecting means 72 or 74. In addition, the detection means 72 and 74 detect whether it is in the first state or the second state. The rotation speed may be about one rotation for one second to several seconds. When it is detected that the gantry holder 36 has rotated a predetermined number of times and is in the first state, the fixing means 76 such as a solenoid attached to the support 52 is operated, and the moving portion 78 is moved.
3 protrudes to the right in FIG. 3, enters the hole 80 provided in the gantry holder 36, and fixes the gantry holder 36 so as not to rotate. Also in the second state, the moving portion 78 similarly enters the hole 82 to fix the gantry holder 36.

FIG. 4 is a view seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1, and shows a case where the sample in the sealed container 10 held by the frame holder 36 is sucked. Reference numeral 83 is a sample suction device for sucking the sample in the sealed container. A sample suction thin tube 86 having a needle-shaped tip is joined to a holder 88, and the holder 88 is further held by a holder 92 by a holder 89. A rack 96 that engages with the pinion 102 attached to the shaft 100 of the motor 98 is attached to the holder 92. Therefore, when the motor 98 operates, the pinion 102 rotates and the thin tube 86 moves back and forth. Further, the sample suction device 83 can be rotated by a predetermined sample suction device rotation motor (not shown) about the shaft 94 by a predetermined angle, and the tip of the sample suction thin tube 86 is at a right angle of 45 degrees. There can be an upward facing state and a downward facing state. Further, the sample suction device 83 can also be moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4 by another sample suction device moving means, and each of the 10 sealed containers mounted on one rack can be moved. It is possible to move to the installation location. The moving means can be implemented by using a conventional technique such as driving a belt by a motor. As an example, a timing belt is hung between timing pulleys attached to a rotating shaft of a motor and another fixed shaft, a sample suction device 83 is attached to a part of the timing belt, and the motor is driven to serve as a guide together with the timing belt. There is one in which the sample suction device 83 can be moved along.

As described above, the gantry holder 36 rotated a predetermined number of times for stirring is stopped in the first state and fixed by the fixing means 76. The sealed container 10 is fixed at an angle of 45 degrees so that the plug 12 side is located downward and the bottom side is located upward. The sample suction device 83 is rotated 135 degrees counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by the sample suction device rotation motor from a state in which the tip of the thin tube 86 is located right below. Next, the motor 98
Thereby, the thin tube 86 is advanced 45 degrees to the right. The advanced thin tube 86 penetrates through the washing tank 84 having a hollow inside for washing the thin tube 86, passes through the hole 29 provided in the L-shaped metal fitting 28, pierces the stopper 12, and enters the sealed container 10. . By operating the suction device connected to the tube 90, the uniformly stirred sample in the sealed container 10 is discharged from the opening provided near the tip of the thin tube 86 to the thin tube 8.
6. The sample is sampled by being guided to the outside through the tube 90.

When the sampling of the sample is completed, the shaft 100 of the motor 98 is
Rotating in the opposite direction causes the thin tube 86 to retract, and its opening is drawn into the cavity of the cleaning tank 84. By supplying a cleaning liquid from a cleaning device (not shown) connected to the tube 90, the inner wall of the thin tube 86 is cleaned. The outer wall of the thin tube 86 is likewise supplied with a cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supply port (not shown) provided in the upper portion of the cleaning tank 84 for cleaning. These drainages are discharged from a discharge port (not shown) provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 84.

Next, a sample suction device rotation motor (not shown) is driven, and the sample suction device 83 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 94 so that the tip of the thin tube 86 is located directly below the tube 135.
Rotate once and wait.

Again, the gantry holder 36 rotates to invert and stir the sample. When the frame holder 36 is rotated a predetermined number of times, the gantry holder 36 is stopped and fixed.
The sample suction device 83 is moved by one moving container by the moving means, and the sample of the next sample is sucked as described above. In this way, the gantry holder 36 is rotated and stopped in the first state repeatedly, while sequentially sucking the sample of the sealed container 10 mounted on the gantry 14. When the aspiration of the 10 samples is completed, the gantry holder 36 stops in the second state from the next. That is, in FIG. 2, the gantry holder 36 moves in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the shaft 46.
The tube is stopped in a state of being rotated by 0 °, the thin tube 86 is pierced into the sealed container 16 mounted on the gantry 20, and the sample is sucked. Since the gantry 14 and 20 are symmetrical with respect to the axes 44 and 46, even in the case of the gantry 20, the sample can be sucked at the same place as the gantry 14. That is, even when the sample suction device is the gantry 20, the sample suction can be sequentially performed by the same operation as in the case of the gantry 14.

[Effect of device]

Since the sample stirring device of the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

(a) Since the two mounts are held substantially parallel and in opposite directions, and the two mounts are axially symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation, the space required for rotation can be small. That is, the device becomes compact.

(b) By changing the stop position of the holder, the stop position of one of the mounts in one state and the stop position of the other mount in the other state can be made the same. Therefore, even if two gantry units are used, the sample can be sucked at the same position as in the case of one gantry unit, and the mechanism can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the sample stirring device of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are explanatory views seen from the directions of arrows A, B, and C in FIG. 1, respectively. Is. Incidentally, FIG. 4 shows a sample suction state. 10, 16 ... sealed container, 12, 18 ... stopper, 14, 2
0 ... Frame, 22 ... Board, 21 ... Frame mount, 2
4, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 ... Metal fittings, 29 ...
Holes, 36 ... Frame holders, 38, 40 ... Doors, 42 ...
Hooks, 44, 46 ... Shafts, 48, 50 ... Bearings, 52, 54 ... Supports, 56, 58 ... Gears, 60
...... Drive source, 62, 64 ...... Plate, 66, 68, 70 ......
Projecting member, 72, 74 ... Detecting means, 76 ... Fixing means, 78 ... Moving part, 80, 82 ... Hole, 83 ... Sample suction device, 84 ... Washing tank, 86 ... Thin tube, 88 ...... Holder, 89 ...... Fixture, 90 ...... Tube, 92 ...... Holder, 94 ...... Axis, 96 ...... Rack, 98 ...... Motor,
100 ... axis, 102 ... pinion

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sample stirring and aspirating device for repeatedly agitating a sealed container and piercing a stopper of the sealed container with a needle-shaped thin tube to aspirate a sample.
One pedestal, these two pedestals, and the two hermetically sealed container groups that are mounted are held, and the two hermetically sealed container groups are substantially parallel to each other with the axis described below in a mutually opposite direction. A gantry holder that holds the two gantry and the hermetically sealed container group, a shaft attached to both ends of the gantry holder so that the two hermetically sealed container groups that are held are axially symmetrical, and the shaft is rotatable. A support for supporting the pedestal, a drive source connected to the shaft, a detecting means for detecting the position of the gantry holder, a fixing means for fixing the gantry holder based on the detection of the detecting means, and the sealing. A sample aspirating and aspirating device including a sample aspirating device which sequentially pierces a stopper of a container with a needle-shaped thin tube to aspirate a sample.