JPH063360A - Method and device for unplugging specimen container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unplug a specimen container through a series of works in a completely automated state without allowing the specimen contained in the container to scatter around or adhere to somethings by grasping and pulling out a plug body after pushing out the plug body to a prescribed position by supplying a compressed gas into the container. CONSTITUTION:A hollow needle 2 for supplying a compressed gas is inserted into the space between a specimen and plug body 1c in a specimen container 1 after passing through the plug body 1c. When a compressed gas is then supplied into the container 1 with pressure from the front end of the needle 2, the body 1c is pushed to the opening side due to a pressure rise in the container 1. When the body 1c reaches a desired position before the body 1c completely comes out of the container 1, the supply of the gas is stopped and the pressure in the container 1 is reduced. At the same time, the pushed-out body 1c is caught with a chuck member 3 by its side face. Since the body 1c is pushed out to an easily removable position, the body 1c comes off the container 1 when the body 1c is lightly pulled with the member 3. Since a stopper 7 which locks the body 1c before the body 1c is completely pulled out is provided, the scattering of specimen contained in the container 1 can be surely prevented and the unplugging work of the container 1 can be safely carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention stores a sample such as blood,
The present invention relates to a method for opening a sample container closed with a lid such as a rubber stopper, and an opening device used for this method.

[0002]

A sample such as blood collected from a human body is enclosed in a container such as a test tube, and at the time of inspection, the stopper of the container is opened and sampling is performed. In recent years, meticulous attention has been paid to the handling of specimens for the prevention of infectious diseases, and various automated devices for treating specimens without touching them have been studied. However, it is difficult to completely automate the opening operation of the sample container because there is a part that requires manual work.

Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a method for opening a sample container which eliminates scattering and adhesion of the sample and which can be completely automated in a series of operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device used in the above-mentioned opening method.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, a method for opening and closing a sample container according to the present invention is such that a compressed gas supply needle is passed through a stopper of a container in which a sample is sealed, Press the compressed gas into the container and push the stopper up to a predetermined position in the opening direction of the container.After that, reduce the internal pressure of the container and hold the stopper with the chuck of the gripping device to remove the stopper from the sample container. Characterize.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, in the cap opening device of the present invention, a chuck member which opens and closes in a lateral direction is projected at the tip of a body which moves up and down and is surrounded by a claw 8 of the chuck member. In addition, a hollow needle for supplying compressed gas is provided extending toward the tip of the chuck member in the body axis direction. Preferably, a stopper may be provided at a predetermined position of the shaft of the hollow needle for supplying compressed gas, and a skirt-shaped cover may be integrally provided around the chuck member at the tip of the body.

[0007]

[Function] By pressing the compressed gas into the space between the sample and the stopper in the container from the tip of the hollow needle, the stopper is gradually pushed up to the opening side of the container due to the increase in the internal pressure of the container, and the position where it is easy to come out Move to. Immediately before it is completely pulled out, the inside of the container is decompressed, the stopper is gripped by the chuck material, and the stopper is pulled up, so that the stopper can be removed without giving an impact to the container and the specimen.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a sample container in which a sample 1b such as blood is placed in a container 1a such as a test tube and a stopper 1c such as a rubber stopper is sealed. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, according to the present invention, a hollow needle 2 for supplying a compressed gas such as air penetrates a stopper 1c of a specimen container and is inserted into a space between the specimen and the stopper in the container (see FIG. 2). Next, as shown in FIG. 8a, the solenoid valve 9 of the compressed gas supply device is operated to connect the circuit of the pump P to the needle, and the compressed gas is pressed into the sample container 1 from the tip of the needle 2 as shown in FIG. Plug 1c
Is pushed to the side of the opening 1d due to an increase in the internal pressure of the container 1a. Stop the supply of compressed gas at the desired position before exiting,
The internal pressure of the container 1 is reduced, and the stopper 1 is pushed out.
The side surface of c is gripped by the chuck member 3 (FIG. 4). Either the decompression of the container 1a or the grasping operation of the stopper 1c may be performed first, or may be performed simultaneously. The depressurizing method may be a method in which the solenoid valve 9 is switched to communicate the inside of the container 1 with the outside air, as shown in FIG. 8b, and the pump of the compressed gas supply device is rotated in the reverse direction from the tip of the needle to the inside of the container 1. You may deflate the air. Further, a method may be used in which the grasped plug 1c is inclined to form a gap and the compressed gas is allowed to escape from the gap. In this state, since the stopper 1c is pushed out of the container 1a to a position where it can be easily removed, the stopper 1c can be removed from the container 1a as shown in FIG. The opening is completed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 shows an uncapping device of the present invention, which is suitable for carrying out the above-mentioned uncapping method. The uncapping device 4 is vertically movable on an automatic capping device main body (not shown). Has a body 5 attached thereto, and a chuck member 3 which opens and closes in the direction of the horizontal arrow is incorporated in the body 5 with its tip claw 6 protruding downward.

Further, the body 5 is a claw 6 of the chuck member 3.
A hollow needle 2 for supplying compressed gas is attached at a position surrounded by. The hollow needle 2 has a tip penetrating the stopper 1c of the sample container 1 to supply compressed gas into the container 1a. Therefore, the tip of the hollow needle 2 in the axial direction of the body 5 is the claw 6 of the chuck member 3. Of the hollow needle 2 attached to the body 5 is communicated with a compressed gas supply source (not shown) such as a pump so that the compressed gas enters the specimen container 1 from the tip of the needle 2. Are to be supplied.

Preferably, as shown in the figure, a stopper 7 is provided on the shaft of the hollow needle 2 for locking the stopper 1b pushed out by the internal pressure of the container. This stopper 7 is shown in FIG.
1b pushed out by the rise of the internal pressure of the container 1a like
Is preferably attached to a position where the plug 1c is locked immediately before it is pulled out, and preferably, the shaft of the plug 1c is slidably press fitted to the shaft of the plug 1c so as to cope with the dimensional change of the plug 1c.

More preferably, the body 5 as shown in FIG.
A skirt-shaped cover 8 surrounding the chuck member 7 and the needle 2 may be provided in the lower part of the.

As shown in FIG. 7, the compressed gas supply hollow needle 2 preferably has a through hole 2b communicating with the internal gas passage 2a at the side of the shaft body, and the needle tip is preferably blind. By forming in this way,
The compressed gas is discharged toward the side wall of the container 1a and does not directly act on the sample, so that the sample is not disturbed and the needle tip can be blinded, so that clogging at the time of penetrating the stopper is eliminated.

[0014]

[Effect] According to the present invention, the compressed gas is supplied to the specimen container to push out the stopper to a predetermined position, and after that, the stopper which is in an easily removable state is grasped and pulled out. It can be pulled out lightly and smoothly without tying. Therefore, the scattering of the sample is completely eliminated.

Since the above-mentioned opening operation can be continuously performed in the opening apparatus of the present invention, the working efficiency is remarkably improved.

Further, if the stopper is pulled out only by compressed air pressure, the specimen may be scattered, which is dangerous. However, since the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a stopper for locking the stopper immediately before the stopper is pulled out, the specimen is scattered. It is certainly prevented and safe.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cap opening device and a sample container according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an opening operation process of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an opening operation process of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an opening operation process of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the opening operation process of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view of a cap opening device according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a hollow needle.

FIG. 8a is an explanatory diagram of compressed gas supply.

FIG. 8b is a decompression explanatory diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Sample container, 1a ... Container, 1b ... Sample, 1c ...
Plug body, 2 ... Hollow needle for supplying compressed gas, 2a ... Gas passage, 2b ... Through hole, 3 ... Chuck member, 4 ... Opening device, 5 ... Body, 6 ... Claw, 7 ... Stopper, 8
…cover. 9 ... Solenoid valve

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A compressed gas supply needle is pierced through a stopper body of a container in which a sample is enclosed, and compressed gas is pressed into the container from the tip of the needle to push the stopper body up to a predetermined position in the opening direction of the container. A method for opening a stopper container, which is characterized by reducing the internal pressure and holding the stopper with a chuck of a gripping device to separate the stopper from the sample container. 2. A chuck member 3 that opens and closes in a lateral direction is projected from the tip of a body 5 that moves up and down, and the chuck member 3 is surrounded by a claw 6 of the chuck member 3 in the axial direction of the body.
Device for opening a sample container, which is provided with a hollow needle 2 for supplying compressed gas to the end of the sample container 3. A sample container opening device which further comprises a stopper 7 provided at a predetermined position of the shaft of the hollow needle 2 for supplying compressed gas.