JPH07287013A - Hemocytometer and wiping-off method for probe thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To safely and certainly wipe off the blood adhered to a probe in a hemocytometer. CONSTITUTION:A probe 20 after the suction of blood rises in a blood sucking region. At this time, a probe wiping-off member 37 provided so as to permit the probe 20 to insert comes into contact with the contact part formed on the way of the rising route of the probe 20 to obstruct the rising of the probe 20. The probe 20 rises in such a state that the entire periphery thereof is brought into close contact with the probe wiping-off member 37 and the blood adhered to the probe 20 is wipen off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hemocytometer and a probe wiping method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of white blood cells and the number of red blood cells can be measured by an electric resistance detection method, or the hemoglobin concentration can be measured by a cyanmethemoglobin method, and data of eight items related to blood can be obtained based on these measurement results. A possible automatic blood measuring device has been developed, and the applicant of the present invention has filed a utility model registration application for the “blood cell measuring device” on April 17, 1993 (Practical application 5-25245). issue).

By the way, a high-grade device such as the blood cell counter according to the utility model registration application has a function of automatically cleaning the tip of a nozzle for drawing blood, which is a sample, from a blood container and supplying it to a cell. However, such an automatic washing function is generally not provided in an inexpensive blood cell counter used in, for example, a small hospital or a practitioner in a town.

Therefore, in a blood cell counter which does not have an automatic cleaning function, conventionally, after blood is sucked by a probe, the blood adhering to the probe is directly wiped off manually by using a gauze or a non-woven fabric. Was doing.

[0005]

However, in the case of wiping with the above-mentioned person's hand, individual differences may occur and the measurement results may vary, and it may not be possible to obtain highly accurate results. There is a risk of infection due to blood adhering to the human body, such as on your hands.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above matters, and provides a blood cell counter capable of safely and reliably wiping blood adhering to a probe and a method of wiping the probe. Has an aim.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the blood cell counter of the present invention has a probe mounted so as to be inserted into the probe when the probe after blood inhalation rises at the blood inhalation site. The wiping member comes into contact with a contact portion formed in the middle of the ascending path of the probe and is prevented from rising, and the probe rises in a state where the entire circumference of the probe is in close contact with the probe wiping member. It is characterized in that it is configured to be wiped off.

Further, in the method of wiping the probe of the blood cell counter of the present invention, the probe wiping member is attached to the probe at the blood inhalation portion so as to be inserted therethrough, and when the probe rises after the blood inhalation, the probe wiping member is attached to the probe. It is characterized in that the adhered blood is wiped off by the probe wiping member.

[0009]

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blood suction site 1
At 0, the probe wiping member 37 is attached to the probe 20 so as to be inserted therethrough. Then, the blood 36 in the blood container 35 is sucked by the probe 20. When the probe 20 after inhaling blood is raised in the direction of the probe unit 6, the probe wiping member 37 provided so as to be in close contact with the probe unit 6 rises together with the probe 20, but the probe wiping member 37 contacts the lower surface of the cover body 27 through which the probe 20 is inserted. They come in contact with each other and stop their ascent and stop.

Then, even after the probe wiping member 37 is stopped, the probe 20 continues to rise while being in close contact with the probe wiping member 37, whereby the probe 2
The entire circumference of 0 is wiped off by the probe wiping member 37, and even if blood is attached to the periphery of the probe 20 such as the tip portion, it is completely wiped off. When the probe 20 no longer projects from the lower surface of the cover body 27, the probe wiping member 37 loses its support and falls, and is housed in the recovery case 11.

Thus, the probe 20 is wiped by the probe wiping member 37 attached to the probe 20 by using the rising of the probe 20, and the gauze or the non-woven fabric is held by a human hand as in the conventional case. Probe 2
There is no need to wipe the outer peripheral surface of 0. Therefore, the probe 20 is always wiped off in a constant state, the measurement accuracy is not varied, and the infection due to the adhesion of blood to the human body can be eliminated.

[0012]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention,
In particular, FIGS. 1 to 3 show an example of the blood cell counter of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the side surface of the blood cell counter with the side panel removed. In this figure, 1 is the main body of the device, a fixed-volume instrument 2, solenoid valve parts 3 and 4 consisting of a plurality of solenoid valves, and waste liquid. The container 5, the probe unit 6 and the measuring unit 7 are provided at predetermined positions. It should be noted that the respective portions are appropriately connected by a resin tube, but this portion has no relation to the gist of the present invention, and the illustration thereof is omitted for the purpose of avoiding complication. Reference numeral 8 denotes a front panel, which is provided with an appropriate operation switch (not shown) such as a sample suction switch and a stop switch in addition to the measurement switch 9.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a space below the front panel 8 for sucking blood, which is hereinafter referred to as a blood sucking portion 10. A collection case 11 for accommodating a used probe wiping member 37 (described later) is provided below the blood suction site 10.

The probe unit 6 is constructed as follows, for example. That is, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 12 is a probe base, 13 is a probe base, and along the pair of guides 15 provided in the horizontal direction by the timing belt 14 provided in the horizontal direction, the measuring unit 7 and the blood suction It is configured to be capable of horizontally reciprocating with respect to the part 10.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a probe moving body which moves in the probe base 13 in the vertical direction, and is reciprocally moved in the vertical direction by a timing belt 17 provided in the vertical direction along a pair of guides 18 provided in the vertical direction. Is configured. The probe moving body 16 is provided with a probe 20 via a holder 19. The probe 20 has an outer diameter of, for example, about 1.5 mm and is made of stainless steel. The upper end of the probe 20 is connected to a suction device (not shown) via a resin tube 21, and the probe is always (when not measuring). It is housed in the unit 6.

The probe 20 comes out of the probe unit 6 by turning on the measurement switch 9 and turns on an appropriate operation switch, so that the measuring section 7 and the blood suction site 10 will be described later. It is configured to be able to descend below the cover body 27 and to rise above the cover body 27.

The measuring section 7 provided below the probe unit 6 is constructed as follows, for example. That is, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, 22 is a cell block, and 3
The two cells 23, 24, 25 are provided so as to be substantially in a straight line. The cells 23, 24 are open at the upper side, but the cell 25 is sealed by a lid 26. Although not shown, cells 23 and 25 are provided with a red blood cell counter and a white blood cell counter, respectively.
It is organized into cells. Moreover, the cell 24 in the middle is configured as a mixing cell.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a cover body which is provided substantially horizontally between the probe unit 6 and the measuring section 7. In this embodiment, it is provided so as to cover the entire moving range of the probe 20 in the horizontal direction. That is, this cover body 2
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reference numeral 7 includes a flat receiving portion 28 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, three side surfaces 29 slightly folded back upward, and one side surface 30 slightly folded back downward. , Using the set screw 31, for example, the probe base 12
Is attached to.

In the receiving portion 28, the positions corresponding to the openings 23a, 24a of the cells 23, 24 and the blood suction portion 1 are provided.
0, three holes 32, 3 having an inner diameter (for example, about 3 to 4 mm) sufficient to insert the tip of the probe 20.
3, 34 are formed. Further, in this embodiment, the peripheries of the openings of the holes 32 to 34 are slightly raised upward. The cover body 27 having such a configuration is
For example, it is formed by molding using an appropriate plastic.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 35 denotes a sample container such as a test tube containing blood 36 as a sample, which is held in the vertical direction by, for example, a human hand. Reference numeral 37 denotes a probe wiping member (hereinafter, referred to as a wiping member) which is attached so as to be inserted into the probe 20. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a disc-shaped member having a thickness of 10 mm and a diameter of about 20 mm is used. A mounting cut 38 is provided in the radial direction, and a circumferential side 38a of this slit 38 is formed in a groove shape. Such a wiping member 37 is formed of, for example, a water-absorbing sponge or nonwoven fabric, a water-absorbing resin such as a porous sintered molding resin, or felt.

Next, the operation of the blood cell counter constructed as described above will be described. The home position of the probe 20 is the blood suction site 10 and is housed in the probe unit 6. Then, when the measurement switch 8 is turned on in this state, the probe 20 comes out of the probe unit 6, passes through the hole 34 formed in the receiving portion 28 of the cover body 27, and descends. This probe 20
Then, the wiping member 37 is attached in a state of being penetrated by the probe 20 at a position where the blood suction by the probe 20 is not hindered from the lateral direction of the probe 20 by utilizing the cut 38.

When the probe 20 is inserted into the sample container 35 that holds the blood 36 and is held in a predetermined posture and the sample suction switch is turned on, the probe 20 causes the blood 3
Aspirate 6 by a predetermined amount.

After the blood is sucked, the measurement start switch is turned on to raise the probe 20 toward the probe unit 6. At this time, the wiping member 37 mounted so as to be in close contact with the probe 20 also rises, but the inner diameter of the hole 34 of the cover body 27 (in this case, 3 to 4 mm) is the outer diameter of the wiping member 37 (in this case, 20 mm). Since it is sufficiently smaller than the
It stops in contact with the bottom surface of the receiving portion 28 of the.

Then, even after the probe wiping member 37 is stopped, the probe 20 continues to rise while being in close contact with the wiping member 37, whereby the entire circumference of the probe 20 is wiped by the wiping member 37, and the tip portion and the like. Even if blood adheres to the periphery of the probe 20, the blood is entirely adsorbed by the wiping member 37 and wiped off. When the probe 20 no longer projects from the lower surface of the cover body 27,
The wiping member 37 loses its support and falls, and the collecting case 1
It is housed in 1.

In this way, by utilizing the rise of the probe 20, the probe 2 by the wiping member 37 attached thereto is used.
Since 0 is wiped, it is not necessary to wipe the outer peripheral surface of the probe 20 by holding a gauze or a non-woven fabric with a human hand as in the conventional case. Therefore, the probe 20 is always wiped off in a constant state, the measurement accuracy is not varied, and the infection due to the adhesion of blood to the human body can be eliminated.

By the way, even if the wiping member 37 is attached to the probe 20 in a dry state, the probe 2
The surface can be wiped off, but if it is made slightly wet in advance, the wiping effect is increased. A liquid having a composition similar to that of the blood 36 is preferable as the liquid that makes the wiping member 37 in a wet state, and for example, a diluting liquid or physiological saline used when measuring with the device is suitable.

When the wiping member 37 is attached to the probe 20, a slit 38 is formed from the side of the probe 20.
It is preferable to move the wiping member 37 along the line. By doing so, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as small fragments from entering the probe 20.

In the above-described embodiment, the cover body 2 covers the entire horizontal movement range of the probe 20.
7 is provided, and the probe 20 is provided with the cover body 27.
Since it is configured to be inserted through the hole 34 formed in the probe 20, even if blood is dropped from the tip of the probe 20, it is received by the cover body 27, and blood is scattered or attached to the blood inhalation site 10 or its periphery. There is nothing to do.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified in various ways. For example, the degree of extension of the cover body 27 toward the blood inhalation site 10 may be shortened, the front panel 8 may be extended horizontally by that amount, and a hole for inserting the probe 20 therein may be provided. In this case, the wiping member 37 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the horizontal portion of the front panel 8. When the front panel 8 is not extended as described above, the lower portion 13a (see FIG. 2) of the probe base 13 is extended to the front panel 8 side, and a hole for inserting the probe 20 is provided in this extended portion. The wiping member 37 may be in contact with the extended portion.
In short, when the probe 20 moves (raises) in the direction of being housed in the probe unit 6, a member that prevents the wiping member 37 mounted on the probe 20 from rising is a probe 2.
It may be formed in the middle of the ascending path of 0.

Further, the wiping member 37 has a larger wiping effect as the thickness thereof is larger, but it is preferable to set the thickness in consideration of the outer diameter of the probe 20 and the rising speed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the wiping member 37 may be simply provided with the slit 38, and as shown in FIG. 6, the wiping member 37 is provided with the slit 38 and is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the probe 20 in the central portion. Hole 39
May be provided. In any case, the slit 38 may be appropriately set depending on the material of the wiping member 37 and the outer diameter of the probe 20.

In addition to the materials described above, a rubber elastic body such as silicone rubber can be used as the material of the wiping member 37. In this case, as shown in FIG. The hole 41 for mounting on the probe 20 is opened, and this is mounted from below the probe 20. In this case, if the hole 41 is slightly tapered, it can be easily attached to the probe 20.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide an automatic washing device in the blood cell counter, so that the device can be constructed at low cost. And since it only uses the rise of the probe, the outer surface of the probe can be wiped very easily, and unlike conventional methods, gauze or non-woven fabric is not wiped by human hands. It is possible to always wipe off the blood in a constant state, and there is no variation in measurement accuracy, and blood does not adhere to human hands, etc.
Infection due to blood adhesion can be eliminated.

As described above, since the blood cell counter of the present invention is inexpensive, it can be suitably used in small hospitals and practitioners in towns.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a blood cell counter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a probe unit and a measuring unit in the blood cell counter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing essential parts of the probe unit and a measuring unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a probe wiping member used in the blood cell counter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the probe wiping member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the probe wiping member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the probe wiping member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Device body, 6 ... Probe unit, 7 ... Measuring unit, 1
0 ... Blood inhalation site, 20 ... Probe, 23, 24, 25
... cell, 27 ... member for inserting probe, 37 ... probe wiping member.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A probe which is provided in a main body of the apparatus, a measuring unit and a probe unit which horizontally moves between the measuring unit and a blood suction site, and which is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction of the probe unit. In a blood cell counter configured to appropriately inject the blood inhaled at the blood inhalation site into the cell of the measurement unit, when the probe after blood inhalation at the blood inhalation site rises, is inserted into the probe. The probe wiping member mounted in contact with the abutting portion formed on the ascending path of the probe is prevented from rising, and the probe rises in a state in which the entire circumference is in close contact with the probe wiping member,
A blood cell counter, wherein the blood adhered to the probe is wiped off. 2. The apparatus main body is provided with a measuring unit and a probe unit that horizontally moves between the measuring unit and the blood inhalation site, and the probe is movably provided in the vertical direction of the probe unit. In the blood cell counter configured to appropriately inject the blood inhaled at the blood inhalation site into the cells of the measurement unit, the probe wiping member is attached to the probe at the blood inhalation site so as to be inserted therethrough, A method of wiping a probe of a blood cell counter, wherein blood attached to the probe is wiped off by a probe wiping member when the probe rises after inhaling blood.