JPH0894641A - Cleaning device for dispensing nozzle in inspection apparatus of blood and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a cleaning device by which the outer face side of a dispensing nozzle can be cleaned accurately by a method wherein an outer tube which is shorter than the nozzle is fitted and inserted at the outer circumference of the dispensing nozzle and cleaning water or the like is supplied to its inner hollow. CONSTITUTION: An outer tube 1 whose inside diameter is a little larger than the outside diameter of a dispensing nozzle (c) and which is shorter than the nozzle (c) is installed at the outer circumference of the dispensing nozzle (c), and it is supported at a body (a) by means of a support member 5. In addition, a part between the opening part on the upper end side of the outer tube 1 and the outer wall face of the nozzle (c) is sealed so as to be watertight by a seal member, and a connection port 10 which is connected to a pipe 8 is formed near its upper end part. Then, opening and shutting valves V1 to V3, discharge pumps P1, P2 and an air pump AL are actuated, a cleaning liquid, cleaning water and air are supplied sequentially into the outer tube 1, and the outer face of the nozzle (c) is cleaned. At this time, when a dispensing head (b) is raised and lowered, the outer face can be cleaned more accurately. At the same time, cleaning water or the like is supplied into the inner hollow of the nozzle (c) by a pipe 9, and the inner hollow is cleaned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a test device for blood or the like, in which test samples such as blood cells, plasma, serum and the like, reagents, etc.
The present invention relates to improvement of a cleaning device for a dispensing nozzle that dispenses or sucks so as to subdivide or sample.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When dispensing a sample or reagent, a dispensing nozzle in an apparatus for testing blood or the like is usually installed at the tip end side of the sample or reagent to prevent contamination of the sample or reagent. , Insert and remove the insertable tip, and remove this tip for each dispensing operation and discard,
I try to change my new tip.

However, the means for replacing a new tip with respect to the dispensing nozzle each time the dispensing operation is performed has a problem that the running cost is increased by disposing the tip as a disposable product. -Means for cleaning the part that contacts the reagent with cleaning water have been developed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing device for the dispensing nozzle in this blood and other testing device is conventionally equipped with a dispensing head b provided on the body a of the testing device so as to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device. Below the dispensing nozzle c that can be installed and supported,
A washing cup d, which holds a fixed amount of washing liquid, is held in the overflow tank e, and is placed on a mounting shelf f mounted on the body a by switching with a titration plate or the like placed there. So that it is arranged.

This cleaning cup d is provided with a pump device P stored in the body a, and cleaning water in a cleaning water tank g installed outside the body a is supplied to a pipe on the outward path controlled by a solenoid valve SV. The washing water that is supplied from the bottom side of the cup d by the h and overflows into the overflow tank e from the upper edge of the washing cup d is supplied to the body a by the return pipe i connected to the bottom of the overflow tank e. The washing water is collected in the collecting tank j which is installed outside of the washing cup d so that new washing water always flows from the lower side to the upper side in the washing cup d.

When the dispensing nozzle c, which has finished dispensing the sample / reagent, is to be washed, a washing cup d is arranged below the dispensing head b and the dispensing head b is lowered to dispense. The tip portion of the nozzle c in contact with the sample / reagent is made to plunge into the flow of washing water flowing through the inside of the washing cup d, and in that state, suction and dispensing are performed on the syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle c. The operation of is repeated to wash the dispensing nozzle c.

[0007]

In the conventional cleaning means for the dispensing nozzle described above, the dispensing nozzle c, the tube connected to the dispensing nozzle c, and the inner surface of the syringe can be cleaned, but the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle c is Since the cleaning is performed by a gentle flow that overflows from the overflow tank e, the cleaning becomes insufficient, and there is a problem that the sample / reagent remaining on the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle c causes contamination.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problem that has occurred in this conventional means, and the cleaning of both the inner surface side and the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle can be performed accurately. The purpose is to provide new means.

[0009]

As a means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides, as means for achieving the above-mentioned object, on the outer circumference of a dispensing nozzle assembled to a dispensing head mounted on a body of an inspection device,
An inspection of blood, etc., characterized in that an outer cylinder formed in a tubular shape shorter than the nozzle is vertically and movably inserted into the nozzle, and a pipe for supplying cleaning water and detergent liquid is connected to the inner cavity of the outer cylinder. The present invention proposes a cleaning device for a dispensing nozzle in the device.

[0010]

In the means of the present invention, the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle c is
It is supplied into the outer cylinder 1 that surrounds the outer periphery of the dispensing nozzle c,
The narrow flow path formed between the inner wall surface of the outer cylinder 1 and the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle c is cleaned with cleaning water / cleaning liquid flowing at a high flow rate, and the inner space of the dispensing nozzle c and The tube 2 and the lumen of the syringe 3 connected to the dispensing nozzle c are cleaned by the cleaning water / cleaning liquid supplied to the proximal end side of the dispensing nozzle c, and the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle c is cleaned. Since the washing is appropriately performed similarly to the washing of the inner surface side, the contamination caused by the residual sample / reagent attached to the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle c even after the washing is eliminated.

[0011]

Embodiments Next, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for components having the same effects as those of the conventional means.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the whole blood and other test apparatus for carrying out the means of the present invention, in which a is a body,
b is a dispensing head mounted on a body a so as to be lifted by a lifting mechanism (not shown), c is a dispensing nozzle supported by the head b, and 1 is an outer cylinder fitted around the outer periphery of the dispensing nozzle c. Show.

The body a is a conventionally known one which is formed in a box shape like the body of an inspection apparatus for normal blood and the like, and the front side (the left side in FIG. 2) is a titration for dispensing a sample, reagent or the like. A mounting shelf f on which a plate, a test tube or the like is mounted is provided, and a dispensing head b is provided above the mounting shelf f.
However, it is mounted so as to be lifted and lowered by the operation of a lifting mechanism (not shown), and a dispensing nozzle c is attached to this.

In the dispensing head b, the dispensing nozzle c attached to the dispensing head b may move up and down relatively with respect to the titration plate or the test tube or the like placed on the placing shelf f described above.
There is a case where the table is fixedly mounted and the mounting table provided on the mounting shelf f is moved up and down.

The dispensing nozzle c attached to the dispensing head b is
Although only one is shown in the drawings, it is not limited to a single case, and may be assembled in parallel in the front-rear direction in multiple rows in the dispensing head b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dispensing nozzle c has its proximal end side (upper end side) connected to a syringe 3 via a tube 2, and the syringe 3 operates the drive mechanism 4. The suction / discharge operation is performed by means of the above method, and the sample / reagent is sucked and collected from the tip opening, and the discharge / dispensing operation is performed.

Outer cylinder 1 fitted around the outer periphery of this dispensing nozzle c
Is formed in a sheath tube shape having an inner diameter somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the dispensing nozzle c, and loosely surrounds the outer circumference of the dispensing nozzle c, and is freely movable up and down with respect to the nozzle c. It is arranged as follows. The outer cylinder 1 is formed to be shorter than the dispensing nozzle c, and is fixedly supported by the body a by the supporting member 5. The dispensing head b is operated to lower the dispensing nozzle c. The lower end side of the dispensing nozzle c is projected downward from the outer cylinder 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outer cylinder 1 is an elevating and lowering mechanism provided on the body a or the dispensing head b so as to ascend and descend with respect to the nozzle c when the dispensing nozzle c is fixed. 4, the mechanism 6 is operated so that the mechanism 6 is actuated to move upward relative to the dispensing nozzle c so that the lower half of the nozzle c is projected downward from the outer cylinder 1. There is a case.

Further, the outer cylinder 1 is watertightly sealed by a seal member 7 between the inner wall surface of the opening on the upper end side thereof and the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle c, and the sealed upper end. A connection port 10 is provided near the section, and a pipe 8 is connected to the connection port 10.

In the pipe 8, a wash water tank t1 for containing wash water and a detergent liquid tank t for containing a detergent liquid are provided.
2 and the pipe 80 connecting to the air filter k respectively.
81.82 are connected via opening / closing valves V1, V2, V3 which are controlled to be opened / closed by a solenoid or the like, and the opening / closing valves V1, V2.
By the operation of V3 and the operation of the discharge pumps P1 and P2 and the air pump AP, the detergent liquid, the cleaning water, and the air are sequentially switched and sent into the outer cylinder 1, and the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle c is cleaned. Is done.

At this time, the dispensing head b is moved up and down,
By moving the outer cylinder 1 up and down, the outer cylinder 1 is moved up and down with respect to the dispensing nozzle c, so that the cleaning of the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle c becomes more appropriate.

The above-mentioned conduits 80, 81, 82 are also connected to the inner cavity side of the dispensing nozzle c via a pipe 9,
Through the pipe 9, the above-mentioned washing water, detergent liquid, and air are simultaneously supplied into the outer cylinder 1, and at the same time, supplied to the inner cavity of the dispensing nozzle c.

At this time, the syringe 3 connected to the dispensing nozzle c via the tube 2 is sucked and driven by the drive mechanism 4.
By repeating the discharge operation, the lumens of the tube 2 and the syringe 3 are also cleaned.

Further, the solenoid valve SV1 is connected to the pipes 8 and 9.
The SV 2 is provided as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and by controlling this as desired, cleaning water / detergent liquid is fed into the outer cylinder 1 to clean the outer surface side of the dispensing nozzle c. The operation and the operation of supplying the cleaning water / detergent liquid to the inner cavity of the dispensing nozzle c to clean the inner surface side of the dispensing nozzle c may be performed simultaneously or separately.

FIG. 5 shows a receiving tank L and a recovery tank M for receiving the waste water of the cleaning water / detergent liquid used for cleaning the cleaning nozzle c. The receiving tank L is disposed below the waiting position of the dispensing nozzle c on the mounting shelf f, and the lower end side of the dispensing nozzle c is attached to the outer cylinder 1 on the lid plate that covers the upper surface of the receiving tank L. A through hole is provided for each of them, and a discharge port provided at the bottom is connected to the recovery tank M via a connection tube.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer cylinder 1 is fitted around the outer circumference of the dispensing nozzle c supported by the dispensing head b, and the cleaning water and the detergent liquid are supplied into the outer cylinder 1. This is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 described above, but this outer cylinder 1 is inserted into the outer circumference of the dispensing nozzle c so as to be movable up and down, and fixed to the dispensing nozzle c. It is supported by the base end portion of the dispensing nozzle c or the dispensing head b so as to move a distance, and is urged by the spring 11 toward the lower side with respect to the dispensing nozzle c, and at the lower end portion of the outer cylinder 1. , The flange portion 12 protruding in the outer peripheral direction is formed so as to abut against the opening edge of the test tube u or the opening edge of the test hole provided in the titration plate, and is lowered together with the dispensing nozzle c by the dispensing head b. When the test tube u or test hole is opened, the outer tube 1
When the lower surface of the collar portion 12 of the device abuts, the dispensing nozzle c only descends, leaving the outer cylinder 1 at the abutting position, and the lower end side thereof is made to plunge into the test tube u or the test hole. Here is an example.

In this embodiment, washing water / detergent liquid is supplied into the outer cylinder 1 fitted around the outer periphery of the dispensing nozzle c to dispense the dispensing nozzle c.
When the outer cylinder 1 is moved up and down with respect to the dispensing nozzle c when the outer surface side of the outer cylinder 1 is washed, the collar portion 12 of the outer cylinder 1 is set to the receiving tank L.
It will come into contact with the upper surface of the lid.

[0028]

As described above, the cleaning device for the dispensing nozzle in the blood and other testing apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on the dispensing head b mounted on the body a of the blood and other testing apparatus. An outer cylinder 1 formed to be shorter than the nozzle c is fitted around the outer periphery of the nozzle c so as to move vertically with respect to the nozzle c, and a pipe 8 for supplying cleaning water / detergent liquid to the inner cavity thereof. Since it is connected, the pipe 9 is placed in the lumen of the dispensing nozzle c.
When the cleaning water / detergent liquid is supplied through the nozzle to clean the inner surface side of the nozzle c, simultaneously or separately, the cleaning water / detergent liquid is supplied into the outer cylinder 1 to clean the outer surface side of the nozzle c. However, the washing water / detergent liquid that flows through the narrow flow path formed between the inner surface of the outer cylinder 1 and the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle c at a high flow rate can be accurately performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a cleaning device for a dispensing nozzle in an inspection device for blood or the like.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the dispensing nozzle cleaning device in the blood testing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of an essential part of another embodiment of the above-mentioned cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the above-mentioned embodiment of the above-mentioned cleaning device.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a receiving tank and a recovery tank for recovering waste water of cleaning water / detergent liquid of the same cleaning device.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of a main part of still another embodiment of the above washing device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

a ... Body, b ... Dispensing head, c ... Dispensing nozzle, d ... Washing cup, e ... Overflow tank, f ... Placement shelf, g ... Washing water tank, hi ... Piping, j ... Collection tank, k … Air filter, L… Receiving tank, M… Recovery tank, u… Test tube, P
... Pump device, P1, P2 ... Discharge pump, AP ... Air pump, SV / SV1, SV2 ... Electromagnetic valve, t1 ... Wash water tank, t2 ... Detergent liquid tank, 1 ... Outer cylinder, 10 ... Connection port, 11 ... Spring , 12 ... Collar part, 2 ... Tube, 3 ... Syringe, 4 ... Driving mechanism, 5 ... Support member, 6 ... Elevating / lowering mechanism, 7 ... Sealing member, 8 ... Piping, 80.81.82 ... Pipe line, 9 ... Piping.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An outer cylinder 1 formed in a tubular shape shorter than the nozzle c is attached to the outer circumference of a dispensing nozzle c attached to a dispensing head b mounted on a body a of an inspection apparatus, with respect to the nozzle c. A washing device for a dispensing nozzle in an inspection device for blood or the like, which is vertically movably fitted and has a lumen 8 connected to a pipe 8 for supplying washing water / detergent liquid. 2. An outer cylinder 1 formed in a tubular shape shorter than the nozzle c is attached to the outer periphery of a dispensing nozzle c mounted on a dispensing head b mounted on a body a of an inspection apparatus. With respect to the opening edge of the test tube u, the lower end portion of the outer cylinder 1 is fitted with a flange portion 12 protruding in the outer peripheral direction, or is fitted to the lower end portion of the outer cylinder 1 by being fitted and moved by a certain distance so as to move vertically. A cleaning device for a dispensing nozzle in an inspection device for blood or the like installed so as to collide with the opening edge of a test hole provided in a titration plate.