JPH11281564A - Member having orifice and particle detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To process to form a suspension pass orifice easily, highly accurately in a short time at lower costs by forming an orifice at a central part and mortar-shaped inclination parts coaxially with the orifice at both sides of the orifice and, setting a plurality of reinforcement parts at rear face parts of the inclination parts. SOLUTION: An orifice member 10 comprises a unite part having an orifice 1a, inclination parts of circular conical bodies formed like a mortar symmetrically in an up-down direction and nearly coaxially from both ends of the unite part, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs. The inclination parts are an upper inclination part 2a and a lower inclination part 2b which are opened outward at the entrance side and exit side of the orifice 1a and therefore shaped like a mortar. The inclination part has a front face 23 and a rear face 24 which form an entrance part and an exit part of the orifice 1a. The reinforcing ribs are obtained by erecting a plurality of plate-like elements in a direction of an axis of the orifice 1a centering the orifice 1a via an equal angle. The reinforcing ribs extend radially from a part corresponding to an outer circumference of the united part to outer circumferential ends of flange parts 21, 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a member having an orifice and a particle detector, and more particularly, to a fine particle (orifice) for passing a suspension of particles such as a blood cell suspension through a suspension. A member and a particle having an orifice used in a particle detector incorporated in a particle counter of a type (electric resistance type) for counting the number of particles by an electric change based on a difference in electric impedance between a flowing suspension and particles. It relates to a detector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A particle suspension is caused to flow through micropores for passing a suspension, and the number of particles is determined by an electric change based on a difference in electric impedance between the suspension passing through the micropores and particles in a liquid. There is known a particle counter of a type for measuring the number of particles.

[0003] A detector in such a particle counting apparatus is provided with an orifice forming member (also referred to as a "wafer" or "pellet") made of ruby, artificial ruby, sapphire, ceramics, or the like. ), And the orifice forming member is formed by fusing or bonding so as to communicate with the inside of a cylindrical sealing tube (detector main body) formed of glass or synthetic resin. Here, the use of ruby or sapphire as the material of the orifice forming member requires extremely high dimensional accuracy in both the diameter and depth of the micropores of the orifice forming member in order to accurately measure the number of particles with a particle counter. Therefore, these materials are excellent in securing their high dimensional accuracy.

[0004] The method of forming the orifice forming member is as follows.
For example, a CO ₂ laser or YAG laser etc.
A method has been adopted in which a prepared hole having a thickness of 100 μm is formed, and then the wall surface and edge of the prepared hole are polished. In addition, there has been proposed a detector body and an orifice forming member which are made of alumina ceramics and which are heated and fused in a furnace (Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-36277). Furthermore, there has been proposed an orifice forming member formed of synthetic resin in which an orifice is formed by excimer laser ablation (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-304265).

[0005]

As described above, artificial ruby, sapphire or alumina ceramic used as an orifice forming member is a hard material.
Providing one desired orifice in each pellet is an expensive part that is not easy to process and is not suitable for mass production.
Also, there is a disadvantage that it takes time to attach and detach the orifice forming member from the processing table during laser processing.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and one of its main objects is to provide a process for providing an orifice for passing a suspension easily, with high accuracy, and in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a member having an orifice and a particle detector which can reduce the cost.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect, the present invention has an orifice in the center, a mortar-shaped ramp coaxial with the orifice on each side of the orifice, and these ramps. A member is provided having an orifice integrally formed with one or more reinforcements between the backs of the portions.

That is, in the present invention, a member having an orifice (hereinafter, referred to as an orifice member) has an orifice having a predetermined diameter and a path length at the center, and is symmetrical coaxially with the orifice on both sides of the orifice. By forming a mortar-shaped inclined portion respectively,
The cross-sectional shape along the axis of the orifice is substantially "X" -shaped, so that it can be formed into a molded product having a substantially uniform thickness. Therefore, even when integrally molded by injection molding of synthetic resin, molten resin can be obtained. Flow can be prevented smoothly, and the orifice diameter and path length of desired dimensions can be obtained. Such a configuration is particularly effective for an orifice member requiring a small diameter and a path length of less than 1 mm.

In other words, if the orifice member has a cylindrical shape and has an orifice on its axis, a cylinder having a certain height (thickness) is formed, and the orifice introduction / exit is provided at both ends or one end of the cylinder. By forming a taper that contracts toward the portion, a desired minute path length can be formed. However, in such an orifice member, only the orifice portion is extremely thin, and it is difficult for the molten molding material to fill the mold cavity, and it is difficult to maintain the processing accuracy of the orifice diameter and the path length. The present invention solves this problem by adopting the above-described substantially “X” -shaped cross-sectional structure as a configuration around the orifice.

Further, the orifice member according to the present invention is provided with one or more reinforcing portions between the back surfaces of these inclined portions, so that the cross-sectional shape along the axis of the orifice is substantially "X" -shaped as described above. The fragility of the orifice portion can be reinforced. As the reinforcing portion, a rib-shaped reinforcing member which is provided upright at an equal angle in the axial direction of the orifice with the orifice as a center may be used.

The term "mortar-shaped inclined portion" in the present invention means a trumpet-like configuration in which a hollow portion corresponding to a similar body of a cone is formed inside a cone. The synthetic resin serving as the material of the orifice member in the present invention may be any of a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin.
A polyimide resin having good chemical resistance and good moldability is preferred. As a specific example, a polyetherimide resin (PE
I), polyester imide resin, polyimide sulfone resin or polyacetal resin. The orifice member in the present invention is particularly suitable for a member having a small path length or a diameter of less than 1 mm.

If the orifice member according to the present invention is formed as a molded article made of synthetic resin, a pilot hole is formed like a conventional orifice member made of artificial ruby or sapphire, and then the pilot hole is formed. Since the step of polishing the wall surface and the edge is not required, the formation of the suspension passage orifice can be performed easily, with high accuracy, in a short time, and at low cost. The orifice member according to the present invention can be used for a particle detector in an electric resistance type particle counting device as described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a member having an orifice and a sample chamber are integrally formed on both sides of the member having the orifice so that the sample chamber communicates with the orifice. Provide a container. As the particle detector according to the present invention, specifically, a pair of electrodes, an orifice member, and supporting the orifice member and the pair of electrodes so that the orifice member is located between the pair of electrodes, One provided with a sample chamber for introducing and discharging a sample into and out of the orifice of the orifice member. Such a particle detector can be manufactured by integrally molding a synthetic resin by a synthetic resin injection molding method and attaching a pair of electrodes. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of incorporating the orifice member into a part of the particle detector main body. Further, the orifice member has an orifice in the center, and has a mortar-shaped inclined portion coaxially with the orifice on both sides of the orifice, and has one or more reinforcing portions between the back surfaces of these inclined portions. By being integrally molded, the sample chamber and the orifice can be formed at the same time, and the labor for assembling the orifice member into the sample chamber can be omitted, and the orifice can be formed with high accuracy and in a short time, thereby improving productivity. An excellent particle detector can be provided.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, two embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by these.

Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 to 7 show an orifice member (FIG. 1 to FIG. 1) as a member having an orifice according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4), an electric resistance type particle detector and a particle analyzer incorporating the orifice member (FIGS. 5 and 6) and a mold for molding the orifice member (FIG. 7). 1 to 4, an orifice member 10 for a particle detector as an orifice member (a member having an orifice) according to Embodiment 1 is injection-molded using polyetherimide, which is a synthetic resin having electrical insulation. Outer diameter about 10mm, thickness about 4
mm is a substantially disk-shaped transparent member.

The orifice member 10 includes a joint portion 1 having an orifice 1a formed therein, and a conical inclined portion 2 formed substantially coaxially and vertically symmetrically from both ends of the joint portion 1 in a mortar-shaped (flapper-like) shape. It comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs 3 (reinforcing portions). At the center of the joining portion 1, an orifice 1a for a particle detector having an orifice having a mouth shape of a perfect circle, a diameter of 100 μm, and a path length of 120 μm is formed (FIG. 4).

The inclined portion 2 comprises an upper inclined portion 2a and a lower inclined portion 2b which are opened outward on the inlet side and the outlet side of the orifice 1a, respectively, and are formed in a mortar shape. Each inclined portion 2a and 2b is , The front face 23 forming the inflow port and the outflow port of the orifice 1a, and the back face 24 forming the back face of the front face 23, respectively. On the front surface 23 and the back surface 24, flat annular fixed fixing edges 21 and 22 for fixing to the particle detector 5 described later are formed.

With such a configuration, the cross-sectional shape along the axis of the orifice 1a is a substantially "X" shape constricted at the center of the joint 1 (FIG. 3), and a molded product having a substantially uniform wall thickness is obtained. Has become. The angle a formed between the back surfaces 24 of the pair of inclined portions 2a and 2b is 50 °,
front 2 centered on orifice 1a at a and 2b
The angle b (opening angle) formed by the three is 120 °.

The reinforcing rib 3 has four plate-like pieces erected at an equal angle in the axial direction of the orifice 1a around the orifice 1a.
1 and 22 extend to the outer peripheral ends. Thus, the reinforcing ribs 3 reinforce the fragility of the orifice member 10 having a substantially “X” -shaped cross section.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an electric resistance type particle analyzer 60 provided with the particle detector 5 in which the orifice member 10 according to the first embodiment is incorporated. Particle analyzer 60
Is composed of a particle detector 5 and peripheral devices including a measuring device connected to the particle detector 5. The electric resistance type particle detector 5 is, as shown in FIG.
And a first container 101 and a second container 102 as sample chambers.

The first container 101 contains a sample chamber 10 for storing a sample which is a particle suspension such as a blood cell suspension.
5 are provided. The sample chamber 105 has an upper opening and a lower funnel. Also, the sample chamber 1
A communication hole 105 a communicating with the second container 102 is provided on a lower left side wall of the sample chamber 105, and a sample discharge hole 111 is provided on a bottom surface of the sample chamber 105.

The second container 102 is disposed on the lower right side of the first container 101. The second container 102 is provided with a connecting portion 102a projecting leftward. Second container 102
Is provided with a collection chamber 106. The right end of the collection chamber 106 is open inside the connecting portion 102a. The collection chamber 106 communicates with an inclined hole 107 provided obliquely above the second container 102. This inclined hole 107 is provided with the nipple 1
08 and the outside of the second container 102.

The first container 101 and the second container 102 are connected to each other by the connecting member 107 interposed therebetween.
5a and the connecting portion 102a are connected to face each other. The positive electrode 103 is attached to the lower part of the left side wall of the first container 101 so as to penetrate from the outside to the inside of the sample chamber 105. The tip of the plus electrode 103
It is sharp and faces the communication hole 105a of the sample chamber 105.

The negative electrode 104 is attached to the right side wall of the second container 102 so as to reach the collection chamber 106 from the outside and to seal the right end of the collection chamber 106. The tip of the negative electrode 104 is flat and faces the connecting portion 102a of the second container 102.

At the center of the connecting member 107, one orifice member 10 is mounted. The orifice member 10 is connected to the connecting member 107 at the edges 21 and 22 thereof with the orifice 1a oriented substantially horizontally.
The container 102 is attached by being sandwiched between two ring-shaped seal packings 109 provided in a gap between the container 102 and the connecting portion 102a. One ring-shaped seal packing 110 is attached to a joint between the first container 101 and the connecting member 107.

Referring to FIG. 5, peripheral devices of the electric resistance type particle analyzer 60 connected to the particle detector 5 will be described. A power supply 61, a signal detector 62, and a particle analyzer 63 are connected to the plus electrode 103 and the minus electrode 104 of the particle detector 5 described above. Between the first container 101 and the second container 102, a drainage tank 64 and a fluid control device 65 including a pump and a sample introduction mechanism are connected.

In the particle analyzer 60 having such a configuration, the blood cell suspension (sample) contained in the sample chamber 105 of the first container 101 passes through the communication hole 105a, passes through the orifice 1a of the orifice member 10, and then flows into the second container. It flows toward the collection chamber 106 of 102.

A voltage is applied between the plus electrode 103 and the minus electrode 104, and a current flows through the orifice 1a. When the blood cell suspension passes through the orifice 1a of the orifice member 10, a particle signal appears between the plus electrode 103 and the minus electrode 104, so that the particle can be detected. An example in which leukocytes are measured using the particle analyzer 60 will be described. As a measurement sample, 6 ml of blood was diluted with 1 ml of a cell pack (a blood diluent manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.) and 0.5 ml of a stomalyzer 3WP (a hemolytic agent for measuring white blood cells manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.). A blood sample reacted for 13 seconds is used. FIG.
It is a measurement result obtained by incorporating an orifice member made of a conventional artificial ruby into a particle analyzer 60 and measuring. This measurement result can be represented in the particle size distribution as a three-peak distribution (small leukocytes corresponding to lymphocytes, medium-sized leukocytes corresponding to monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and large leukocytes corresponding to neutrophils). . FIG. 11 shows a measurement result obtained by using the particle analyzer 60 in which the orifice member 10 of the present invention is incorporated. This orifice member 10 also has the same leukocyte 3 as the conventional one.
The peak distribution can be well represented.

A method of manufacturing the orifice member 10 will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of the molding die shown in FIG. Molten resin injected from an injection molding machine (not shown) branches from the spool bush 201 of the molding die 200 to the cavities of the cavity bushes 204 and 205 into which the movable core pins 202 and the fixed core pins 203 are inserted. To reach the slide core 206. In the figure, a pair of slide cores 206 on the left and right
7 is driven, the oblique pin 208 is pulled out, separated in the direction perpendicular to the orifice axis of the orifice member 10, and the molded product can be taken out. In the drawings, the cooling water tank and the fastening bolt are omitted.

Embodiment 2 In the particle detector 300 according to Embodiment 2 of FIG.
The particle detector orifice member 310 is formed by a first container 301 and a second container 3 serving as a sample chamber by an injection molding method.
02 and a synthetic resin.

That is, the particle detector 300 includes a first container 301 and a second container 302 for introducing and discharging a sample to and from the orifice 301a of the orifice member 310. The first container 301 and the second container 302 are electrodes. Vs. 30
The first and second containers 301 and 302 are formed by injection molding of a polyetherimide resin.
And are integrally formed.

Further, the orifice member 310 includes a joint 311 having the orifice 301a formed therein and a joint 311 formed with the orifice 301a.
Mortar-shaped (horn-shaped), approximately coaxial from both ends
And a plurality of reinforcing ribs 313 (reinforcing portions) connecting the rear surfaces 314 of the conical bodies facing each other. The orifice 301a formed at the center of the joint 311 and having a perfect circular opening is 100 μm in diameter and 120 μm in path length.

The particle detector 300 has positive and negative electrode insertion portions 303a and 304a. A power supply 61, a signal detector 62 and a particle analyzer 63 are connected to the electrode pairs 303 and 304 inserted into the electrode insertion portions 303a and 304a, similarly to the electric resistance type particle analyzer 60 described in the first embodiment. Is done. First container 30
A drainage tank 64 and a fluid control device 65 including a pump and a sample introduction mechanism are connected between the first and second containers 302 (not shown).

In the particle analyzer 60 thus configured, the blood cell suspension (sample) stored in the first container 301 flows toward the second container 302 through the orifice 301a of the orifice member 310. . Plus electrode 3
A voltage is applied between the negative electrode 03 and the negative electrode 304, and a current flows through the orifice 301a. When the blood cell suspension passes through the orifice 301a, a particle signal appears between the plus electrode 303 and the minus electrode 304, so that the particle can be detected. Note that the particle detection accuracy of the particle detector 300 was good.

With such a configuration of the orifice member 310, it is possible to obtain a molded product having a substantially uniform thickness in which the cross section along the axis of the orifice 301a is substantially "X" -shaped, and a reinforcing rib. 313 can reinforce the fragility of the orifice 301a. The first container 3 as a sample chamber is formed by injection molding.
Since it is formed of synthetic resin integrally with the first and second containers 302, an operation step of attaching an orifice member is not required, and assembly of the particle detector is facilitated.

Particle detector 3 including orifice member 310
The manufacturing method of No. 00 will be described based on the schematic diagram of the molding die 400 of FIG. The molding die 400 includes a fixed upper die 401, a movable lower die 402, and a plurality of cores 403 to
408. The molten resin injected from the injection molding machine (not shown) is supplied to the spool bush 41 of the molding die 400.
From 0, the cavities of the fixed upper mold 401 and the movable lower mold 402 are filled. After the cores 407 and 408, the core 40
After the movable lower mold 402 is separated in the direction perpendicular to the orifice axis, the cores 405 and 406 are pulled out and the particle detector 3 including the orifice member 310 is extracted.
00 molded product can be taken out.

As described above, the formation of the orifice member 310 and the sample chamber can be performed at the same time, so that the labor for incorporating the small orifice member 310 into the sample chamber can be omitted, and the orifice 310 can be formed with high accuracy and in a short time. Thus, the particle detector 300 excellent in productivity can be provided.

[0038]

A member having an orifice according to the present invention has an orifice having a predetermined diameter and a path length at the center, particularly a small diameter and a path length of less than 1 mm, at both sides of the orifice. By forming a mortar-shaped inclined portion coaxially with the orifice, a cross-sectional shape along the axis of the orifice is substantially "X" -shaped, and a molded product having a substantially uniform thickness. Accordingly, even when the synthetic resin is integrally molded by injection molding, the flow of the molten resin can be smooth and the generation of distortion can be prevented, and the orifice diameter and the path length of desired dimensions can be obtained. Such a configuration is particularly effective for a member having an orifice requiring a small diameter and a path length of less than 1 mm.

Further, in the member having an orifice according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape along the axis of the orifice is substantially "X" -shaped by providing one or more reinforcing portions between the back surfaces of the inclined portions as described above. The fragility of the orifice opening can be reinforced. In the present invention, the particle detector includes a member having an orifice and a sample chamber,
Since the sample chamber is integrally formed on both sides of the member having the orifice so as to communicate with the orifice, the sample chamber can be easily manufactured by a synthetic resin injection molding method. The trouble of assembling into a part can be omitted. Furthermore, the member having an orifice has an orifice in the center, and has a mortar-shaped inclined portion coaxially with the orifice on both sides of the orifice, and has one or more reinforcing portions between the back surfaces of these inclined portions. By integrally molding as described above, a particle detector excellent in moldability and strength can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an orifice member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the orifice member of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the orifice member taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an orifice part of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a particle analyzer incorporating the particle detector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a central portion of the particle detector of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a central sectional view showing a mold for molding the orifice member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a central sectional view showing a particle detector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a central sectional view showing a molding die of the particle detector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a graph of a particle size distribution showing measurement results of leukocytes measured using a conventional orifice member.

FIG. 11 is a graph of a particle size distribution showing measurement results of leukocytes measured using the orifice member of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1a Orifice 2 Inclined portion 3 Reinforcing rib (reinforcement portion) 10 Orifice member (member having orifice) 23 Front (inclined portion) 24 Back 50 Particle detector

Claims (4)

[Claims] An orifice is provided at a central portion, and a mortar-shaped inclined portion is provided coaxially with the orifice on both sides of the orifice, and one or more reinforcing portions are provided between the back surfaces of these inclined portions. A member having an orifice formed. 2. The member having an orifice according to claim 1, which is used for a particle detector in an electric resistance type particle counting device. 3. A particle detector in which a member having an orifice and a sample chamber are integrally formed on both sides of the member having the orifice so that the sample chamber communicates with the orifice. 4. A member having an orifice has an orifice in the center, and has a mortar-shaped inclined portion coaxially with the orifice on both sides of the orifice, and one or more reinforcing members between the back surfaces of these inclined portions. The particle detector according to claim 3, wherein the particle detector is integrally formed so as to have a portion.