JPH10197523A - Method and device for measuring freshness of platelet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for measuring the freshness of platelets which can make objective and quantitative measurement of the freshness of the platelets accommodated in a platelet pack. SOLUTION: A specimen pressurizing member 3 presses a platelet pack 1 to give turbulence to the internal liquid of the pack 1. The region to be measured 1a of the platelet pack 1 is illuminated by the light from an illuminative optical system 4, and the diffusive light from this region 1a is received by a light receiving element 83. This causes the output of the element 83 to vary in compliance with the swirling phenomenon. Therefore, the degree of the swirling phenomenon can be determined quantitatively as a freshness index on the basis of the change in the output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a platelet freshness measuring device and a freshness measuring method for measuring platelet freshness in a platelet pack.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Platelets are prepared as concentrated platelets at a blood center, stored in a platelet pack, and transported to each hospital. At each hospital, the transported concentrated platelets are stored, and a doctor or a nurse removes the platelet pack from the storage location and transfuses the patient with blood as needed.

[0003] The expiration date of concentrated platelets is about three days after blood collection, but the quality of platelets varies greatly depending on the storage conditions after preparation. Therefore, there has been a demand for easily determining the quality of platelets contained in a platelet pack from the appearance before transfusing platelets into a patient.

[0004] Therefore, in order to meet such a demand, various appearance sample methods of platelet preparations have been proposed. For example, in the Japanese Society of Transfusion Society, Vol. 40, No. 2, page 392 and in the same magazine, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 207-212, when a disturbance is applied to a platelet pack with the platelet pack held over light, Liquid inside (hereinafter referred to as “internal liquid”)
There has been proposed a method of visually observing a phenomenon in which particles flow while shining, that is, a so-called swirling phenomenon, and an observer discriminating the freshness of platelets. That is, the method utilizes the fact that this swirl phenomenon is weakened with a decrease in platelet freshness. Platelet packs that are observed for a relatively long time (very high freshness) and (2) Platelet packs that have a weak swirl phenomenon and disappear in a relatively short time (high freshness)
(3) There is disclosed a technology of classifying the swirl phenomenon into almost three types even when a disturbance is applied (the swirl phenomenon is hardly observed (the freshness is low)).

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned method for measuring the freshness of platelets is based on visual observation, and must be called qualitative freshness measurement. In addition, since observers who observe the swirl phenomenon determine the freshness of platelets from the strength and duration of the swirl phenomenon, if different observers determine the freshness of the same platelet pack,
The results are not always the same, and different observers may reach different conclusions. in this way,
With the conventional platelet freshness measurement method, an objective and quantitative freshness measurement was not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a platelet freshness measuring apparatus capable of objectively and quantitatively measuring the freshness of platelets contained in a platelet pack. And a method for measuring freshness.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a disturbance applying means for applying a disturbance to a platelet pack containing an internal liquid containing platelets, and the disturbance adding means comprises: The swirl phenomenon (swirli phenomenon) generated in the internal liquid by applying disturbance to the platelet pack
(ng) as a platelet freshness index value.

[0008] In the present invention, the disturbance adding means applies a disturbance to the platelet pack to cause a swirl phenomenon in the platelet pack. Then, a value indicating the degree of the swirl phenomenon generated by the measuring means is measured, and this value is used as a platelet freshness index value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination optical system for irradiating the measurement area of the platelet pack with illumination light, and a light receiving optical system for receiving light emitted from the measurement area by a light receiving element. And a calculating means for obtaining a degree of the swirl phenomenon as a freshness index value based on a change in an output from the light receiving element.

According to the present invention, the measured area of the platelet pack is illuminated by the illumination light from the illumination optical system, and the light from the measured area is received by the light receiving element.
Then, the output from the light receiving element changes according to the swirl phenomenon. Therefore, the degree of the swirl phenomenon is quantitatively obtained as a freshness index value based on the output change.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the illumination optical system is a dark field illumination system.

In the present invention, since the illumination optical system is a dark-field illumination system, light incident on the light receiving element is only scattered light scattered by platelets due to the swirl phenomenon, and non-scattered light is incident on the light receiving element. Suppress.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving optical system includes a stop for guiding only light from the measured area to the light receiving element.

In the present invention, the aperture restricts the light incident on the light receiving element of the light traveling from the platelet pack side to the light receiving element side to only light from the measured area of the platelet pack, and restricts light other than the measured area. Of the light emitted from the region is suppressed from entering the light receiving element.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving optical system restricts the illumination light from directly entering the light receiving element and receives the illumination light and receives the scattered light scattered by the platelets. It is configured to have a light restricting member for guiding to the element side.

According to the present invention, the light restricting member restricts the light emitted from the illumination optical system and further transmitted through the platelet pack from directly entering the light receiving element, and also receives only the scattered light scattered by the platelets. Lead to the side. That is, the light limiting member restricts only light scattered by the platelets due to the swirl phenomenon to the light receiving element, and suppresses non-scattered light from entering the light receiving element.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit in which the measuring means stores in advance a correlation between an elapsed time after blood collection after platelets are collected and a freshness index value, and The apparatus is further provided with an elapsed time calculation section for calculating an elapsed time after blood collection of the platelets in the platelet pack from a freshness index value obtained based on a change in output from the element.

In the present invention, the obtained freshness index value and
The elapsed time calculation unit calculates the elapsed time after blood collection of the platelets from the correlation stored in the storage unit in advance.

The invention according to claim 7 further comprises display means for displaying the elapsed time after blood collection obtained by the elapsed time calculation section.

In the present invention, the display means displays the elapsed time after blood collection obtained by the elapsed time calculation section.

The invention according to claim 8 further comprises a holding means for holding the platelet pack in an upright or inclined posture.

In the present invention, the holding means holds the platelet pack in an upright or inclined posture, and a substance lighter than the internal liquid typified by bubbles present in the platelet pack collects on the upper end side of the platelet pack.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a part of the holding means is in close contact with the surface of the platelet pack corresponding to the area to be measured, and the light and the light incident on the area to be measured in the platelet pack are It is configured to keep the optical distance of light emitted from the measurement area constant.

According to the present invention, a part of the holding means is in close contact with the surface of the platelet pack corresponding to the area to be measured, so that the light incident on the area to be measured in the platelet pack and the light emitted from the area to be measured are emitted. The optical distance of the generated light is kept constant even when disturbance is applied.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element includes an A
A C output signal and a DC output signal are output, and the calculating means normalizes the AC output signal with the DC output signal, and determines a degree of the swirl phenomenon based on the normalized AC output signal as a freshness index value. It is configured to ask for.

According to the present invention, A is output from the light receiving element.
After the C output signal is normalized by the DC output signal also output from the light receiving element, the degree of the swirl phenomenon is quantitatively obtained as a freshness index value based on the AC output signal.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a platelet freshness measuring method for measuring platelet freshness in a platelet pack,
To achieve the above object, a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack to cause a swirl phenomenon in the platelet pack, and a value indicating the degree of the swirl phenomenon is measured as a platelet freshness index value.

In the present invention, a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack, which causes a swirl phenomenon in the platelet pack. Then, a value indicating the degree of the swirl phenomenon is measured, and this value is used as a platelet freshness index value.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the measurement area of the platelet pack is illuminated with illumination light, the light emitted from the measurement area is received by a light receiving element, and based on a change in output from the light receiving element. The degree of the swirl phenomenon is obtained as a freshness index value.

In the present invention, the degree of the swirl phenomenon is optically measured. That is, while the measurement area of the platelet pack is illuminated, light emitted from the measurement area is received by the light receiving element, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon is obtained as a freshness index value based on a change in output from the light receiving element. Can be

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a freshness index value is obtained based on a change in output from the light receiving element after the disturbance is applied.

In the present invention, a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack, and thereafter, a freshness index value is obtained based on a change in the output from the light receiving element.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a freshness index value is obtained based on a change in output from the light receiving element while applying the disturbance.

According to the present invention, while the disturbance is continuously or intermittently applied to the platelet pack, a freshness index value is obtained at the same time based on a change in the output from the light receiving element.

[0035]

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to the present invention, showing a mechanical configuration. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical and electrical configuration of the freshness measuring device of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the freshness measuring device includes a holding table 2 for holding a platelet pack 1 containing platelets serving as an object of freshness measurement, and the platelet pack 1 is placed on an upper surface 21 of the holding table 2. It can be held horizontally. In addition, a movable structure A that is configured to be able to contact and separate from the holding table 2 is disposed above the holding table 2.

This movable structure A is, as shown in FIG.
A sample pressurizing member 3 that is arranged to face the holding table 2 and functions as a disturbance applying unit that applies a disturbance to the platelet pack 1;
Illumination optical system 4 that emits illumination light toward platelet pack 1
And the pressing member 5 which directly receives the driving force from the advance / retreat driving unit 99 (FIG. 2) are attached to the substantially U-shaped support member 6. Then, when a downward driving force is applied to the pressing member 5 from the advance / retreat driving unit 99, the pressing force against the spring force of the spring member 61 inserted between the end of the support member 6 and the upper protrusion 22 of the holding table 2 is opposed. While moving, the entire movable structure A moves downward, and the sample pressing member 3 presses down the platelet pack 1 horizontally held by the holding table 2 to apply disturbance to the internal liquid in the platelet pack 1. Note that a stopper 62 is attached to the distal end of the support member 6, and the movable structure A moves downward as described above. In contact with a part, the downward movement of the movable structure A is restricted, thereby preventing the platelet pack 1 from being damaged, and positioning the movable structure A at the freshness measurement position. That is, the stopper 62 positions the movable structure A at a position that is a movement limit position and a freshness measurement position (hereinafter, referred to as a “specific position”). In addition, holding table 2
Is provided with a sensor 7, which can detect that the movable structure A has moved to a specific position as described above.

When the driving force from the forward / backward drive unit 99 is released, the movable structure A is moved by the spring force of the spring member 61.
The whole moves integrally upward, and the sample pressing member 3 separates from the platelet pack 1.

In this embodiment, after the movable structure A is moved to a specific position by the advance / retreat driving unit 99 as described later, the movable structure A needs to be positioned at the specific position until the freshness measurement is completed. However, in this case, the movable structure A may be positioned and held at the specific position against the spring force of the spring member 61 by the advance / retreat drive unit 99, or a locking member may be further provided to simultaneously move the movable structure A to the specific position. The movable structure A may be configured to be positioned and held at the specific position by a locking member.

Next, the optical and electrical configurations of the freshness measuring device configured as described above will be sequentially described with reference to FIG.

The illumination optical system 4 includes a light source 41, a condenser lens 42, and an aperture plate 43 having a ring-shaped aperture 431. The illumination light emitted from the light source 41 is transmitted through the condenser lens 42 and the aperture plate 4.
Irradiation is performed on the measurement area 1 a of the platelet pack 1 horizontally held on the holding table 2 via the reference 3. In this embodiment,
For example, the ring-shaped aperture 431 is formed by providing a light-blocking member on a transparent plate typified by a glass plate, an acrylic plate, or the like so as to leave a ring-shaped region.
The illumination light is oblique to the optical axis of
Incident on. That is, the illumination optical system 4 of this embodiment is a dark-field illumination system. Note that the illumination optical system 4 may be a so-called bright-field illumination system without providing the aperture plate 43. Further, not only the measured area 1a but also a minute area including the measured area 1a or the entire platelet pack 1 may be illuminated.

A light receiving optical system 8 is provided in the holding table 2 so as to face the illumination optical system 4 configured as described above with the platelet pack 1 interposed therebetween. In the light receiving optical system 8, light emitted from the measured area 1a is guided to the light receiving element 83 by the light receiving lens 81, and the light receiving element 83 generates an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light from the measured area 1a. In order to prevent light emitted from other than the measured area 1a from being incident on the light receiving element 83, as shown in FIG.
It is desirable that an aperture plate 82 provided with an aperture 831 having an aperture diameter corresponding to a solid angle in which the light receiving lens 81 can be seen from a be disposed on the optical axis of the light receiving optical system 8.

The optical system of the freshness measuring apparatus according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and is a so-called transmission type optical system. However, as shown in FIG. A reflection type optical system provided on the holding table 2 side may be configured. Further, the presence / absence of the aperture plate 43 and the aperture plate 82 or the arrangement position is not limited to the above embodiment.

Returning to FIG. 2, the electrical configuration of the freshness measuring device will be described. The electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light from the measured area 1 a by the optical system (illumination and light receiving optical systems 4 and 8) configured as described above is converted into a current / voltage converter 90.
After being converted into a voltage signal by the DC amplifier 91, the voltage signal is amplified by the DC amplifying unit 91 and is input to the band-pass filter unit 92. Since only signals in a predetermined frequency region are extracted by the band filter unit 92, noise and the like are removed. This band filter section 92
Is output as a DC output signal via an A / D conversion unit 93, the DC component is removed by an AC coupling unit 94, and the signal is further amplified by an AC amplification unit 95.
The signal is output as an AC output signal via the D conversion unit 93. Thus, DC and AC output from A / D conversion section 93 are output.
The output signal is supplied to a control unit 97 that controls the entire apparatus via an I / O 96.

The control unit 97 includes a CPU 971 for performing various arithmetic processes, a ROM 972 for storing an operation program and various data in advance, and a RAM 973 for temporarily storing data and the like, as well as the sensor 7 and the I / O 9.
The lighting circuit 98 of the light source 41 and the forward / backward drive unit 99 that drives the movable structure A up and down are electrically connected to each other via 6 to perform each control and calculation described later.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the freshness measuring device configured as described above. In this device, when the operator presses a measurement start command, for example, a start switch (not shown), the light source 41 is turned on in step S1. When the output of the light source 41 is stabilized, the forward / backward drive unit 99 applies a downward driving force to the pressing member 5, and moves the entire movable structure A to a specific position while opposing the spring force of the spring member 61.
As a result, the sample pressurizing member 3 presses down the platelet pack 1 horizontally held by the holding table 2, and a disturbance is added to the internal liquid in the platelet pack 1 (step S2).

When a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1 in this manner, a swirl phenomenon occurs according to the freshness of the platelets in the platelet pack 1. Therefore, the output from the light receiving element 83 (AC
And measurement of the DC output signal) (Step S)
3). Then, while the output measurement is performed until it is determined in step S4 that the predetermined measurement time t has elapsed from the start of the output measurement, the light source is turned off when it is determined in step S4 that the measurement time t has elapsed. And the output measurement is completed.

By measuring the output from the light receiving element 83 for a certain period of time, an output waveform shown in FIG. 5, for example, is obtained. FIG. 3 is a graph showing how the AC output signal changes with time. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the intensity of the AC output signal. In addition,
FIG. 7A is a waveform diagram when the measurement is performed on the platelet pack 1 which has been relatively short (T1) since the blood collection, and FIG. 7C is a platelet obtained after a long time (T3) since the blood collection. FIG. 6B is a waveform diagram when the measurement is performed for Pack 1;
FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram when measurement is performed on the platelet pack 1 after a lapse of only one time. As is clear from the figure, the amplitude, frequency, and the like of the AC output signal decrease as the time from blood collection elapses, that is, as the elapsed time after blood collection increases.
This is for the following reason.

When a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1, the platelets move around in the internal liquid in the platelet pack 1 while changing the direction. In addition, immediately after blood collection, the platelets have a flat shape, and as a result, have a strong anisotropy in light scattering characteristics. That is, the flat platelets move around the internal liquid due to the disturbance, and the intensity of the scattered light greatly changes. In the visual observation of the observer, a swirl phenomenon is observed in the platelet pack 1 horizontally held on the holding table 2. Can be In this embodiment, since the intensity of the scattered light (the output of the light receiving element 83) is measured by the light receiving element 83,
A change in the intensity of the scattered light is remarkably measured as a change in the output of the light receiving element 83 (FIG. 7A).

However, as the time elapses after blood collection, the degree of platelet flattening gradually decreases, and the anisotropy in light scattering characteristics decreases. As a result, the intensity of the scattered light and the change in the intensity gradually decrease as the time from blood collection increases. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the state of the change in the output (the intensity of the scattered light) from the light receiving element 83 differs according to the elapse of time after blood collection.

In this embodiment, attention is paid to this point, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon is obtained as a freshness index value based on a change in the output from the light receiving element 83 (the intensity of the AC output signal) (step S5). As a specific method of deriving the freshness index value, there is the following method.

(1) The output value from the light receiving element 83 increases or decreases, or decreases from the decrease until a certain time elapses after the start of measurement (between the start of measurement and the time t0). The number of times N0 at which the increase starts is derived as a freshness index value.

(2) The average frequency f0 of the output from the light receiving element 83 is derived as a freshness index value during a period from the start of measurement to the elapse of a predetermined time (between the start of measurement and time t0) after the application of disturbance. I do.

(3) The amplitude A1 of the AC output signal at the time (time t1) at which a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the measurement by adding a disturbance is derived as a freshness index value.

(4) From the start of measurement to the lapse of time different from each other after a disturbance is applied and measurement is started (time t
1 and between the start of measurement and the elapse of time t2), the number of times N1 and N2 at which the output value from the light receiving element 83 changes from increasing to decreasing or from decreasing to increasing is determined as follows. The value, N2 / N1, (N2-N1) / N1, N2-N1, or (t2-t1) / ln (N1 / N2) is calculated and used as a freshness index value.

(5) The amplitudes A1 and A2 of the AC output signals at different times (time t1, t2; t1 <t2) after the start of the measurement after the application of the disturbance are calculated. A2 / A1, (A2-A1) / A1, A2-A1, or (t2-t1) / ln (A1 / A2) is calculated as a freshness index value.

(6) The AC output signal at the time (time t1, t2; t1 <t2) different from each other after the start of the measurement by applying the disturbance is measured by the F / V conversion.
The detection outputs V1 and V2 are obtained, and the following values, V2 / V1, (V2-V1) / V1, V2-V1, or (t2-t1) / ln (V1 / V2) are calculated, and the freshness index is calculated. Value.

(7) The AC output signal obtained by executing the above steps S1 to S4 is Fourier-transformed, and the characteristic amount of the spectrum waveform, for example, the integrated value of the spectrum intensity in a specific frequency region or the spectrum intensity of a specific frequency is calculated. It is derived as a freshness index value.

As the freshness index value, any of the above-mentioned values (1) to (7) may be employed, but the output of the light receiving element 83 includes the intensity and speed of disturbance, the density of platelets in the platelet pack 1, and the like. These effects are small because they differ depending on
It is desirable to adopt the value of Further, a plurality of values obtained by the above (1) to (7) may be combined and used as a freshness index value.

When the freshness index value is obtained as described above, this freshness index value is stored in a table showing a correlation between a prestored elapsed time after blood collection (elapsed time after blood collection) and the freshness index value. The elapsed time after blood collection is obtained in light of the above, and is displayed on a display means not shown (step S6 in FIG. 4). Note that instead of displaying the elapsed time after blood collection, the freshness index value obtained in step S5 may be displayed as it is.

As described above, according to the freshness measuring apparatus of this embodiment, a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1 to cause a swirl phenomenon in the internal liquid in the platelet pack 1. Then, for a certain period of time, the measurement area 1a of the platelet pack 1 is irradiated with illumination light, and scattered light from the measurement area 1a is received by the light receiving element 83, and the output from the light receiving element 83 according to the swirl phenomenon is output. (The light intensity of the scattered light) is measured, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon can be quantitatively obtained as a freshness index value based on the output change. Therefore, the conventional problem that the freshness determination of the platelets differs depending on the observer is solved, and the freshness of the platelets contained in the platelet pack can be objectively and quantitatively measured.

Since the illumination optical system 4 is a dark-field illumination system as described above, the illumination light is transmitted through the platelet pack 1 and is prevented from being directly incident on the light receiving element 83, and is scattered in the measurement area 1a. Since only the scattered light is incident on the light receiving element 83, it is possible to accurately measure the change in the output (light intensity of the scattered light) from the light receiving element 83 according to the swirl phenomenon. , High measurement accuracy can be obtained. A light restricting member (not shown) that restricts the illumination light from directly entering the light receiving element 83 and guides the scattered light scattered in the measurement target area 1a to the light receiving element 83 side is provided.
The same effect can be obtained even if the light receiving optical system 8 is provided.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an optical and electrical configuration of the device of FIG. In this freshness measuring device, as shown in FIG.
3. A plate 24 for holding a platelet pack in a substantially central portion of
Are vertically erected, and a sample holding member 25 configured to be detachable from the fixed plate 24 is disposed. After the platelet pack 1 is arranged between the fixing plate 24 and the sample holding member 25, the sample holding member 25 is
When the platelet pack 1 is closely attached to the side 4, the platelet pack 1 is held substantially vertically. That is, in this embodiment, holding means for holding the platelet pack 1 substantially vertically by the fixing plate 24 and the sample holding member 25 is configured. When the platelet pack 1 is thus held vertically, the platelet pack 1
A substance lighter than the internal liquid such as bubbles contained therein moves to the upper end side. Therefore, it is possible to accurately measure the freshness of platelets while eliminating the influence of air bubbles. This will be described in detail later.

The illuminating optical system 4 is arranged on one end side (lower right side in FIG. 6) of the gantry 23, and the light receiving optical system 8 is arranged on the other end side (upper left side in FIG. 6). The illumination light L emitted from the illumination optical system 4 passes through the sample holding member 25, and the measurement target area 1 located substantially at the center of the platelet pack 1.
a (FIG. 7), and the light from the measured area 1a enters the light receiving optical system 8. Here, the configuration of the sample holding member 25 is arbitrary as long as the platelet pack 1 can be held in a vertical or inclined posture with the fixing plate 24 and the illumination light can be guided to the platelet pack 1. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a beam 251 extending vertically corresponding to the region to be measured 1a is projected from the fixed plate 24 side, and the beam 251 is located in the region to be measured 1a. It is in close contact with the platelet pack 1 while facing. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when the platelet pack 1 is held horizontally as in the previous embodiment, a substance lighter than platelets represented by air bubbles mixed into the platelet pack 1a may be located in the measurement target area 1a. As is clear from the above, it is difficult to accurately measure the freshness of platelets. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the platelet pack 1 is held in a substantially vertical or inclined posture, and the measurement target area 1a located substantially in the center of the platelet pack 1 is irradiated with illumination light. It is possible to reliably avoid the presence of air bubbles in the measurement area 1a, to always have the internal liquid in the measurement area 1a, to prevent the above-mentioned problems, and to accurately measure the freshness of platelets. Can be.

Further, in this embodiment, disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1 by moving the sample pressing rod 31 forward and backward with respect to a part of the platelet pack 1 by the forward / backward drive unit 99.
Although the swirl phenomenon is generated, the beam 251 is applied to the platelet pack 1 corresponding to the area to be measured 1a.
, The optical distance between the illumination light incident on the measured area 1a and the light emitted from the measured area 1a can be kept constant, and high measurement accuracy can be obtained.

Since the optical and electrical configurations are the same as those of the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

A beam 251 is provided on the sample holding member 25, and the beam 251 is in close contact with the platelet pack 1 to maintain the above-mentioned optical distance constant. Instead of the beam 251, for example, as shown in FIG. As described above, the block-shaped protrusion 252 corresponding to the measurement target area 1a may be provided.

Next, the operation of the apparatus for measuring platelet freshness configured as described above will be described. In this device, when the operator pushes a measurement start command to the device, for example, a start switch (not shown), the light source 41 is turned on.
9, the sample pressure rod 31 is continuously or intermittently moved back and forth to the platelet pack 1 to apply a periodic disturbance.

When a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1 in this manner, a swirl phenomenon occurs according to the freshness of the platelets in the platelet pack 1. Therefore, the output measurement from the light receiving element 83 is started almost simultaneously with the addition of the disturbance, and after the output measurement is performed until a predetermined measurement time t elapses, the light source is turned off. Thereby, for example, an output waveform shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. FIG. 10 is a graph showing how the intensity of the AC output signal changes over time, with the horizontal axis representing time and the vertical axis representing the intensity of the AC output signal. FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram when the measurement is performed on the platelet pack 1 which has been relatively short (T1) since the blood collection, and FIG. 6C is a long time (T3) after the blood collection. FIG. 7B is a waveform diagram when the measurement is performed for the collected platelet pack 1, and FIG. 9B shows the time T2 (where T1 <
It is a waveform diagram at the time of measuring about the platelet pack 1 which passed for T2 <T3).

The change with the lapse of time since the blood collection is as described above. In this embodiment, the degree of the swirl phenomenon is determined based on the change in the output from the light receiving element 83 as follows. As a value. That is, a freshness index value is obtained by the methods (1) to (6), or a Fourier transform is performed on the AC output signal obtained as described above to obtain a spectrum waveform as shown in FIG. A characteristic amount of a waveform, for example, an integrated value of a spectrum intensity in a specific frequency region or a spectrum intensity of a specific frequency is derived as a freshness index value.

Finally, the freshness index value is directly displayed on display means (not shown) as it is, or is compared with a previously stored table showing the correlation between the elapsed time after blood collection and the freshness index value. The elapsed time after blood collection is obtained and displayed on the display means.

As described above, according to the freshness measuring apparatus of this embodiment, disturbance is applied to the platelet pack 1 and
The swirl phenomenon is caused in the internal liquid in the platelet pack 1 and the scattered light from the measured area 1a is received by the light receiving element 83, and the output from the light receiving element 83 according to the swirl phenomenon (light intensity of the scattered light) And the degree of the swirl phenomenon can be quantitatively obtained as a freshness index value based on the output change. An effect similar to that of the previous embodiment can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
For example, in the above description, the AC output signal is supplied to the control unit 97 as the output from the light receiving element 83. However, the AC output signal is normalized by the DC output signal, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon is measured based on this. In this case, fluctuations in the amount of illumination light can be canceled by normalization, and measurement accuracy can be improved. Further, the light amount of the illumination light is changed so that the DC output signal is constant, or the measured area 1a
May be changed. In addition, AC
A value corresponding to the elapsed time from blood collection may be calculated from the effective value (RMS value) of the output signal. Further, instead of normalizing the output signal, the light source itself may be normalized.

In the above embodiment, the swirl phenomenon is captured by a change in the output (light intensity of the scattered light) of the light receiving element 83, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon is optically measured based on the change in the output. As a method of measuring the degree of the phenomenon, in addition to using light, ultrasonic waves, magnetism, and the like can be used. In addition, since the degree of the swirl phenomenon is closely related to the shape of the platelets as described above, the degree of the swirl phenomenon, that is, the elapsed time from the blood sampling is determined based on the image of the platelet in the measurement target area 1a. You may.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, a disturbance is applied to the platelet pack to cause a swirl phenomenon in the internal liquid in the platelet pack, and a value indicating the degree of the swirl phenomenon is measured. Since this value is used as the platelet freshness index value, the freshness of the platelets contained in the platelet pack can be objectively and quantitatively measured.

The area to be measured of the platelet pack is illuminated by dark field illumination, light from the area to be measured is received by a light receiving element, and the degree of the swirl phenomenon is determined based on a change in output from the light receiving element. Since it is obtained as an index value, light incident on the light receiving element is only scattered light scattered by platelets due to the swirl phenomenon, and it is possible to suppress non-scattered light from entering the light receiving element, thereby improving measurement accuracy. be able to.

In the light receiving optical system, a stop for guiding only the light from the measured area to the light receiving element is provided.
Of the light traveling from the platelet pack side to the light receiving element side, the light incident on the light receiving element is limited to only the light from the measured area of the platelet pack, and the light emitted from the area other than the measured area to the light receiving element Can be suppressed, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

Further, in the light receiving optical system, a light restricting member is provided for restricting the illumination light from directly entering the light receiving element and guiding the scattered light scattered by the platelets upon receiving the illumination light to the light receiving element side. Thus, the light incident on the light receiving element is limited to only the scattered light scattered by the platelets due to the swirl phenomenon, and the non-scattered light can be prevented from being incident on the light receiving element, so that the measurement accuracy can be improved.

Further, since the platelet pack is held by the holding means in an upright or inclined posture,
Since a substance lighter than platelets represented by bubbles present in the platelet pack is configured to be collected at the upper end side of the platelet pack, the influence of the substance is eliminated to improve the accuracy of platelet freshness measurement. be able to.

Further, by making a part of the holding means close to the surface of the platelet pack corresponding to the area to be measured, the optical distance between light incident on the area to be measured and light emitted from the area to be measured in the platelet pack is kept constant. , And the measurement accuracy can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical and electrical configuration of the freshness measuring device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the freshness measuring device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing how an AC output signal changes over time.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to the present invention.

7 is a diagram showing an optical and electrical configuration of the freshness measuring device of FIG.

8 is a perspective view of a sample holding member employed in the freshness measuring device of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the sample holding member.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing how an AC output signal changes with time in the freshness measuring device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a spectrum waveform obtained by Fourier-transforming an AC output signal.

[Description of Signs] 1 Platelet pack 1a Area to be measured 3 Sample pressing member (disturbance adding means) 4 Illumination optical system 8 Light receiving optical system 31 Sample pressing rod (disturbance adding means) 82 Aperture plate 83 Light receiving element 971 CPU (elapsed time) Time calculation unit) 972 ROM (storage unit) 973 RAM (storage unit)

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A disturbance adding means for applying a disturbance to a platelet pack containing an internal liquid containing platelets, and a swirl phenomenon (sw) generated in the internal liquid by applying a disturbance to the platelet pack by the disturbance adding means.
measuring means for measuring a value indicating the degree of irling) as a platelet freshness index value. 2. An illumination optical system for irradiating a measurement area of the platelet pack with illumination light, a light receiving optical system for receiving light emitted from the measurement area by a light receiving element, and the light receiving element. 2. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising calculating means for obtaining a degree of the swirl phenomenon as a freshness index value based on a change in output from the platelet. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said illumination optical system is a dark field illumination system. 4. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving optical system includes a stop for guiding only light from the measured area to the light receiving element. 5. The light receiving optical system restricts the illumination light from directly entering the light receiving element, and receives the illumination light and guides scattered light scattered by the platelets to the light receiving element side. The platelet freshness measuring device according to claim 2 or 4, further comprising a restriction member. 6. A storage unit for storing in advance a correlation between an elapsed time after blood collection after platelets are collected and a freshness index value, wherein an output change from the light receiving element is based on the correlation. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising: an elapsed time calculating unit that calculates an elapsed time after blood collection of the platelets in the platelet pack from a freshness index value obtained based on the following. 7. The apparatus for measuring platelet freshness according to claim 6, further comprising display means for displaying an elapsed time after blood collection obtained by said elapsed time calculation unit. 8. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising holding means for holding said platelet pack in an upright or inclined posture. 9. A part of the holding means is in close contact with the surface of the platelet pack corresponding to the area to be measured,
9. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an optical distance between light incident on the measured area and light emitted from the measured area in the platelet pack is kept constant. 10. An AC output signal and a DC output signal are output from the light receiving element, and the calculating means normalizes the AC output signal with the DC output signal.
3. The platelet freshness measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the degree of the swirl phenomenon is obtained as a freshness index value based on the normalized AC output signal. 11. A platelet freshness measuring method for measuring platelet freshness in a platelet pack, comprising: applying a disturbance to the platelet pack to cause a swirl phenomenon in the platelet pack and observing the swirl phenomenon. And measuring a value indicating the degree of the swirl phenomenon as a platelet freshness index value. 12. A measurement area of the platelet pack is irradiated with illumination light, light emitted from the measurement area is received by a light receiving element, and a degree of the swirl phenomenon is determined based on a change in output from the light receiving element. Is determined as a freshness index value. 13. A freshness index value is obtained based on a change in output from the light receiving element after the disturbance is applied.
The method for measuring platelet freshness according to the above. 14. A freshness index value is obtained based on a change in output from the light receiving element while adding the disturbance.
2. The method for measuring platelet freshness according to 2.