JPH11344473A - Air bubble detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid excessive crushing of a soft tube regardless of the material quality or diameter of the soft tube. SOLUTION: An outer cylindrical body 10 and the inner cylindrical body 20 movable axially with respect to the outer cylindrical body 10 are provided, either one of an oscillation acoustic lens 15 and a receiving acoustic lens 23 is fixed to the outer cylindrical body 10, and the other one of them is fixed to the inner cylindrical body 20. A compression coil spring 25 energizing the inner cylindrical body 20 to the outer cylindrical body 10 in the direction allowing the oscillation acoustic lens 15 and the receiving acoustic lens 23 to approach each other is provided between the outer and inner cylindrical bodies 10, 20, and the stoppers 17, 26 prescribing the closest approach position of the oscillation acoustic lens 15 and the receiving acoustic lens 23 by mutual contact are provided to the outer and inner cylindrical bodies 10, 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique in which a soft tube is sandwiched by means for transmitting and receiving a detection wave, such as an oscillating acoustic lens and a receiving acoustic lens for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The present invention relates to a bubble detector for detecting bubbles in a liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an air bubble detector for detecting the presence or absence of air bubbles in a liquid flowing through a soft tube such as a blood transfusion tube or an infusion tube, a soft tube is formed by opposing an oscillating acoustic lens and a receiving acoustic lens. Ultrasonic vibrations from the oscillating-side ultrasonic vibrator, which are sandwiched from both sides and acoustically connected to the oscillating-side acoustic lens, receive the ultrasonic vibrations on the receiving side acoustically connected to the receiving-side acoustic lens. There is known a tube sandwiching type ultrasonic bubble detector which detects whether or not bubbles are present in a liquid flowing through the soft tube by receiving by a probe.

[0003] Ultrasonic bubble detectors of the tube sandwiching type include a clip type such as a clothespin and a cylindrical type comprising an outer cylindrical body and an inner cylindrical body movably engaged with each other in the axial direction.

In the clip type, an oscillation-side acoustic lens and a reception-side acoustic lens that are acoustically connected to the oscillation-side and reception-side ultrasonic vibrators, respectively, face the claw end of a pair of clamp pieces. It is fixed in a state, and in the cylindrical type,
An oscillation-side acoustic lens and a reception-side acoustic lens acoustically connected to each of the oscillation-side and reception-side ultrasonic transducers are fixed to the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in an opposed state.

[0005] In each case, the oscillation-side acoustic lens and the reception-side acoustic lens are disposed so as to face each other, and the oscillation-side acoustic lens and the reception-side acoustic lens are urged by a spring in a direction in which they approach each other without limitation. The flexible tube is fixed to the flexible tube by sandwiching the flexible tube by the spring force of the spring.

[0006]

In a conventional tube-bubble type ultrasonic bubble detector, the oscillation-side acoustic lens and the reception-side acoustic lens are urged by a spring in a direction approaching each other without any limitation. Depending on the material of the tube and the diameter of the tube, the soft tube may be excessively crushed by the pinching pressure.

[0007] If the soft tube is excessively crushed, the flow of the liquid in the soft tube is deteriorated, so that a required amount of a fixed amount of infusion is not performed, and the detection of air bubbles becomes unstable.

In addition, a tube sandwiching type ultrasonic bubble detector has a minimum tube diameter that guarantees that bubble detection is performed accurately. Although the bubble detection becomes unstable even if it is pinched, in the conventional tube pinching type ultrasonic bubble detector, the spring-side acoustic lens and the receiving-side acoustic lens are urged unlimitedly by the spring in the direction approaching each other, There is a problem that a thin soft tube having a small tube diameter is pinched.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems in a bubble detector of the type in which a soft tube is sandwiched by a pair of transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving a detection wave, such as the above-mentioned ultrasonic bubble detector. A tube sandwiching type bubble detector that can ensure that the flexible tube is not crushed too much and that the bubble detection is performed accurately, regardless of the material and tube diameter of the flexible tube The purpose is to provide a vessel.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the bubble detector according to the first aspect of the present invention has a state in which a soft tube is sandwiched between opposed detection wave transmitting means and detection wave receiving means. A detection wave output from the detection wave transmitting unit toward the soft tube is received by the detection wave receiving unit, and the inside of the soft tube is detected based on the detection wave received by the detection wave receiving unit. In a bubble detector for detecting whether or not bubbles are present in a flowing liquid, a first case provided with one of the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means, the detection wave sending means, A second case provided with one of the detection wave receiving means, and one of the first case and the second case being provided with respect to the other case. A support mechanism that movably supports the detection wave receiving means in a direction in which the detection wave receiving means approaches and separates, and biases the other case relative to the one case in a direction in which the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means approach And a stopper mechanism provided at least in the first case to limit a maximum approach distance of the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means to a predetermined minimum tube diameter. It is.

The bubble detector according to the second aspect of the present invention is
The first case is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, the second case is formed so as to be partially housed inside the first case, and the support mechanism moves the second case to the second case. The stopper mechanism is supported so as to be able to protrude and retract from one case, and the stopper mechanism is configured to regulate an amount of protrusion of the second case from the first case. A predetermined portion of the second case portion housed inside the first case in a state where the amount of protrusion is regulated by a mechanism, and a first case portion of the first case corresponding to the second case portion. The detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave are provided from a predetermined portion of the second case portion to a predetermined portion of the first case portion spaced from each other in a direction in which the second case protrudes from the first case. Receiving means and A cutout for exposing the second case portion to the outside of the first case is formed in the first case portion, and the biasing means is provided in the first case portion with respect to the one case to the other case. Is aligned with the direction in which the predetermined location of the first case portion and the predetermined location of the second case portion approach.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bubble detector.
The second case portion advances into the cutout portion by increasing the amount of protrusion of the second case from the first case, and reduces the amount of protrusion of the second case from the first case. A recessed portion retracted from the notch portion is provided, a predetermined portion of the first case portion is provided in the notch portion, and a predetermined portion of the second case portion is provided in the recessed portion. In the state where the retractable portion is retracted from the cutout portion, the soft tube with respect to the inside of the first case portion via the cutout portion in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the retractable portion extends and retracts with respect to the cutout portion. Insertion and removal are performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bubble detector.
In at least one of the notch and the protrusion,
The soft tube sandwiched by the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means is provided at a predetermined position of the first case portion and at a predetermined position of the second case portion in a direction in which the soft tube is inserted into and removed from the inside of the first case portion. A guide groove is formed at a predetermined location to guide the guide groove.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bubble detector.
The support mechanism is formed in the one case and has a long hole extending in a direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach and separate from each other, and the long hole formed in the other case. A guide pin that is inserted into the hole and moves in the longitudinal direction in the elongated hole by moving the one case relative to the other case in a direction in which the detection wave sending unit and the detection wave receiving unit approach and separate from each other. It is configured to include.

The bubble detector according to the invention of claim 6 is
The stopper mechanism includes one end of the long hole in the longitudinal direction and the guide pin, and when the approach distance between the detection wave sending unit and the detection wave receiving unit is the predetermined minimum tube diameter. The guide pin abuts on the one end of the elongated hole to restrict further movement of the guide pin in the longitudinal direction, so that the detection wave transmitting unit and the detection wave receiving unit approach each other. The further movement of the one case with respect to the other case is restricted.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a bubble detector.
A third case slidably supported by the second case, wherein the third case has a direction in which the third case slides with respect to the second case and a direction in which the second case projects with respect to the first case. The first case is held so as to match, and the support mechanism is configured to include the third case.

The bubble detector according to the invention of claim 8 is:
A contact piece provided on the third case and capable of coming and going with respect to the second case, wherein an approach distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means is equal to or smaller than the predetermined minimum tube diameter. In some cases, when the contact piece comes into contact with the second case and the approach distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means exceeds the predetermined minimum tube diameter, the second case causes the contact piece to contact the second case. The contact pieces are configured to be separated from each other.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bubble detector.
The detection wave transmitting means or the detection wave receiving means is held in the third case, is provided in the first case via the third case, and is disposed at a predetermined position of the first case portion. Is what it is.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the bubble detector, the detection wave is an ultrasonic wave, the detection wave transmitting means is a transmitting acoustic lens, the detection wave receiving means is a receiving acoustic lens, At least one of the reception-side acoustic lens and the transmission-side acoustic lens, with the soft tube sandwiched between the transmission-side acoustic lens and the reception-side acoustic lens, in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the soft tube, It has a curved distal end surface protruding toward the soft tube from both ends toward the center.

According to the bubble detector according to the first aspect of the present invention, the other case is movable with respect to one case by the support mechanism so that the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means can move toward and away from each other. The other case is supported, and the other case is urged by the urging means toward one of the cases in a direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach.

However, the movement of the other case relative to one case in the direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach each other is performed by a stopper mechanism so that the distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means is a predetermined minimum. It is limited to the tube diameter, and the other case cannot move with respect to one case until the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means come closer to each other.

When the other case is moved relative to one case in a direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are separated from each other against the urging force of the urging means, The distance of the detection wave receiving means becomes larger than the predetermined minimum tube diameter, so that a soft tube to be sandwiched can be arranged between the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means.

According to the bubble detector according to the second aspect of the present invention, the second case partially accommodated in the first case formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape is protruded and retracted from the first case. The direction coincides with the direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means, in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are respectively arranged, move toward and away from each other.

When the second case moves relative to the first case such that the amount of protrusion from the first case decreases, a predetermined portion of the first case portion is separated from a predetermined portion of the second case portion, and When the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are separated from each other, and conversely, the second case moves with respect to the first case so as to increase the amount of protrusion from the first case, a predetermined portion of the first case portion becomes The detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach to a predetermined portion of the second case portion.

The predetermined portion of the first case portion is
When the soft tube is inserted and removed between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means in a state where the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are separated from a predetermined portion of the case portion, the cutout of the first case is notched. It will be done through the department.

The biasing means is provided in one case so that a predetermined location of the first case portion and a predetermined location of the second case portion where the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are respectively arranged approach. By activating the other case,
The second case is urged by the urging means with respect to the first case in a direction in which the amount of protrusion from the first case increases.

According to the bubble detector according to the third aspect of the present invention, the second case is urged by the urging means in the direction in which the amount of protrusion from the first case increases with respect to the first case. The projecting portion of the second case advances into the notch of the first case due to the urging force of the urging means, and the amount of protrusion of the second case from the first case against the urging force of the urging means is reduced. When moved in the decreasing direction, the retractable portion is retracted from the notch, and a state in which the soft tube can be inserted into and removed from the inside of the first case portion through the notch is provided.

According to the bubble detector according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the soft tube sandwiched by the transmitting-side acoustic lens and the receiving-side acoustic lens is connected to the detection wave transmitting means in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the inside of the first case portion. Since the wave receiving means is guided by the guide groove at a predetermined position of the first case portion and a predetermined position of the second case portion, each of which is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction with respect to the inside of the first case portion. By extending the soft tube, the center of the soft tube in the radial direction can be reliably arranged at a location where the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means have high sensitivity.

According to the bubble detector according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the long hole of one of the cases matches the direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach and separate. When the guide pin of the other case moves in the longitudinal direction of the long hole in the long hole of one case, the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means come close to and separate from each other.

According to the bubble detector according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the elongated hole and the guide pin serve as a supporting mechanism and a stopper mechanism, and the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are separated from each other. The relative movement between the first case and the second case in the direction of movement and the regulation of the maximum approach distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are realized using a common mechanism.

According to the bubble detector of the present invention, the support mechanism between the first case and the second case is an intermediate member different from the first case and the second case. Will be composed by

According to the bubble detector according to the present invention, the stopper mechanism is constituted by the second case and the third case independently of the support mechanism.

According to the bubble detector according to the ninth aspect, the detection wave transmitting means or the detection wave receiving means is not provided directly on the first case, but is provided on the first case via the third case. Will be done.

According to the bubble detector according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the most protruding portions of the tip surfaces of both the transmitting and receiving acoustic lenses for detecting bubbles in the soft tube are connected to the transmitting side and the receiving side. It extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the soft tube extends in a state of being sandwiched between the two acoustic lenses, and is arranged so as to straddle the soft tube.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 show Embodiment 1 of a bubble detector according to the present invention.

The bubble detector is connected to the upper external cylinder 10 (first
And a lower inner cylinder 20 which is fitted in the outer cylinder 10 and is movable in the axial direction (vertical direction in the figure).
(Corresponding to the second case). The upper end of the outer cylinder 10 is closed by an end wall 11, and the lower end of the inner cylinder 20 is closed by an end flange 21.

Below the outer cylinder 10, a cylindrical inner fixing member 12 located inside the inner cylinder 20 penetrates the outer cylinder 10 and the inner cylinder 20 in the radial direction to form the outer cylinder 10. It is fixed by mounting screws 13 which are screwed. A side opening 14 (corresponding to a notch) for inserting the soft tube C into the outer cylinder 10 is formed on one side of the outer cylinder 10.

One side of the internal cylinder 20 is
A side opening 22 for receiving the soft tube C therein is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the side opening 22 of the inner cylinder 20 is aligned with the side opening 14 of the outer cylinder 10 at the unclamping release position, and is opened from the side opening 14 in the side opening state. At the clamp position, the soft tube C is received, and at the clamp position, a part (corresponding to the protruding and retracting portion) of the upper end portion of the inner cylindrical body 20 with respect to the side opening 22 is exposed inside the side opening 14.

The internal fixing member 1 forming the bottom of the side opening 14
An oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 is fixed upward on an upper surface portion (corresponding to a predetermined portion of the first case portion) of the second case 2, and the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 is provided with an oscillation-side ultrasonic vibration provided on the internal fixing member 12. The child 16 is acoustically connected.

A receiving acoustic lens 23 is fixed downward at the ceiling of the side opening 22 (corresponding to a predetermined portion of the second case portion), and the receiving acoustic lens 23 is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 24 on the receiving side. Acoustically connected to the

Both the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23 have a contact surface (corresponding to a distal end surface) with the soft tube C, which is formed in a semi-cylindrical convex curved shape (see FIG. 3). The oscillating-side acoustic lens 15 and the receiving-side acoustic lens 23 are aligned in such a manner that the ridgelines 15a, 23a of the convex curved surfaces are aligned with each other in a direction transverse to the radial direction of the soft tube C received in the side openings 14, 22. Are vertically opposed to each other.

The end wall 11 in the outer cylinder 10 and the inner cylinder 20
A compression coil spring 25 (corresponding to an urging means) is provided between the outer cylinder 10 and the upper cylinder. The oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23 are urged in directions approaching each other.

A portion where the mounting screw 13 penetrates the inner cylindrical body 20 as the pin member 17 (corresponding to a guide pin) is an elongated hole 26 which is long in the axial direction of the inner cylindrical body 20. 26 constitutes a stopper that defines the closest position between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23.

The closest position is determined by the contact of the pin member 17 with the upper stroke end 26a of the elongated hole 26 as shown in FIG. 1, and the oscillation is determined by the axial length of the elongated hole 26. The closest position between the side acoustic lens 15 and the reception side acoustic lens 23 is defined.

The closest position is set according to the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection, and is a position where a soft tube smaller in diameter than the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection cannot be pinched and fixed. Thus, the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23 at the closest position
Can be set to about 3 mm.

The oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 in which the pin member 17 abuts on the upper stroke end 26a of the long hole 26
At the closest position to the receiving-side acoustic lens 23, a stopper is disposed in a portion other than the space portion into which the soft tube C defined by the side openings 14 and 22 is inserted.

In this embodiment, the unclamping release position is determined by the end flange 21 of the inner cylinder 20 abutting on the lower end face of the outer cylinder 10 as shown in FIG. This unclamping release position is the
Can be determined by contacting the pin member 17 with the lower stroke end 26b.

The outer cylinder 10, the inner fixing member 12,
Inside the inner cylinder 20, there is provided a wiring for electrically connecting the ultrasonic vibrators 16, 24 with the external wiring 27 (see FIG. 4), but this wiring may be performed in the same manner as the conventional one.
In order to avoid complication of the drawing and to clearly show the main parts of the present invention, the outer cylinder 10, the inner fixing member 12, and the inner cylinder 20
The illustration of the wiring of the ultrasonic vibrators 16 and 24 in FIG.

Next, the procedure for using the bubble detector having the above configuration will be described.

When detecting bubbles, first, the outer cylinder 10
The end wall 11 and the end flange 21 of the inner cylinder 20 are gripped by being sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and the inner cylinder 20 is pressed against the spring force of the compression coil spring 25, as shown in FIG. The internal cylinder body 20 is positioned at a proper unclamping release position.

In this state, the side opening 14 of the outer cylindrical body 10 and the side opening 22 of the inner cylindrical body 20 are aligned with each other. The tube C is inserted, and the soft tube C is disposed between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23.

When the disposition of the soft tube C is completed, the pressing of the inner cylinder 20 is stopped, and the inner cylinder 20 is returned to the initial state (tube clamp state) by the spring force of the compression coil spring 25.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
The soft tube C is sandwiched between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23 from both sides, and the oscillation-side ultrasonic vibrator 1
6 is received by the ultrasonic transducer 24 on the receiving side via the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the receiving-side acoustic lens 23, so that bubbles are present in the liquid flowing through the soft tube C. Is detected.

In this case, the whole of the abutting surface of the oscillation side acoustic lens 15 and the receiving side acoustic lens 23 is in a state where the ridge lines 15a and 23a of the convex curved surface are arranged in the direction crossing the soft tube C in the radial direction. Since the soft tube C is evenly contacted with the soft tube C, the soft tube C is reliably sandwiched, and the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are also reliably and stably performed.

In the released state where the pressing of the inner cylinder 20 is stopped, the inner cylinder 20 can return to the position where the pin member 17 abuts on the upper stroke end 26a of the elongated hole 26. In the above, the receiving side acoustic lens 23 cannot approach the oscillation side acoustic lens 15, and the upper stroke end 26 a of the long hole 26 and the pin member 17 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 1. Thereby, the interval between the receiving acoustic lens 23 and the oscillation acoustic lens 15 is regulated to the closest position, and the soft tube C is not crushed too much.

Accordingly, the soft tube C is not excessively crushed irrespective of the material and the tube diameter of the soft tube C, and the flow of the liquid in the soft tube C is deteriorated by excessively crushing the soft tube C. As a result, it is possible to prevent the required fixed volume infusion from being performed and the bubble detection from becoming unstable.

Further, since the stopper formed by the pin member 17 and the elongated hole 26 is located in a portion other than the space where the soft tube C defined by the side openings 14 and 22 is inserted, the soft tube C is erroneously inserted into the stopper portion. There is no biting, and the stopper does not malfunction.

The closest position between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 15 and the reception-side acoustic lens 23 is set according to the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection, and a soft tube smaller in diameter than the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection. Is set so that it cannot be pinched and fixed.
Application to thin flexible tubes with smaller tube diameters than the minimum tube diameter that ensures accurate bubble detection is necessarily prohibited. As a result, a mounting error of a soft tube having a diameter smaller than the minimum tube diameter that ensures normal detection can be avoided.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5 to 12 show Embodiment 2 of a bubble detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air bubble detector according to the second embodiment. The air bubble detector according to the second embodiment has an outer cylinder 30, an inner cylinder 40, and a compression coil spring 60. ing.

The outer cylindrical body 30 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape whose upper end is closed and whose lower end is opened as viewed in FIG. A notch 31 (corresponding to a notch in the claims) is formed, and a substantially semicircular shape is formed at the lower side of the notch 31 and spaced 180 ° in the circumferential direction at the back side. Guide groove 31a
(Only one is shown in FIG. 5).

Further, engaging holes 33 are formed at intervals of 180 ° in the circumferential direction at portions of the outer cylindrical body 30 slightly below the respective guide grooves 31a (only one is shown in FIG. 5). The outer cylindrical body 30 has a non-slip uneven groove 35 formed on the upper end surface thereof.

The inner cylinder 40 has a base 41 having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 30, and an outer cylinder 30.
And a flange 45 formed at the lower end of the base 41 with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the base 41.

A protrusion 41a for locking one end of the compression coil spring 60 is formed at the upper end of the base 41 as viewed in FIG. 5, and is slightly larger than the substantially central portion of the base 41 in the vertical direction. A notch 43 is formed in a portion closer to the upper end with a contour slightly larger than the notch 31 of the outer cylindrical body 30 and notched in a half or more in the circumferential direction. Substantially U-shaped concave portions 47 are respectively provided continuously at both lower side portions separated by 180 ° (only one is shown in FIG. 5).

The base 41 is configured so that it can be divided into two left and right divided bodies 41b and 41c on a dividing line passing through the center of the notch 43 in the circumferential direction, and a flange 45 is provided on one of the divided bodies 41b. They are integrally connected.

The base 4 closer to the upper end than the notch 43
As shown in a vertical sectional view in FIG. 6, inside the one portion (corresponding to the protruding portion), the oscillation-side ultrasonic vibrator 83 and the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 are directed downward. The tip of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 projects below the upper side of the notch 43 as described above.

The base 41 is located at the lower end of the notch 43, that is, inside the base 41 near the flange 45.
Is divided into two divided bodies 41b and 41c,
The intermediate cylinder 70 (corresponding to the third case) is housed.

The intermediate cylinder 70 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 40 and is formed so as to be able to slide up and down inside the inner cylinder 40, and the upper end of the intermediate cylinder 70 is open. ing.

On the outer peripheral surface near the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical body 70, the inner cylindrical body 4 is spaced apart by 180 ° in the circumferential direction.
A substantially U-shaped convex portion 71 corresponding to each of the concave portions 47 of 0 is formed by folding back (only one of the convex portions 71 is shown by a broken line in FIG. 6).
Each of the projections 71 is provided with an engagement pin 71a that can be engaged with each of the engagement holes 33 of the outer cylindrical body 30 (only one of them is shown by a broken line in FIG. 6).

A stopper piece 73 (corresponding to a contact piece) is protruded from the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical body 70 at a position shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction from each of the projections 71. The middle reference numeral 75 indicates a slit formed over the entire vertical direction of the intermediate cylinder 70 so as to cover one of the stopper pieces 73.

Further, inside the intermediate cylindrical body 70, a receiving-side ultrasonic vibrator 93 and a receiving-side acoustic lens 91 are supported and held by a substrate 95 such that the receiving-side acoustic lens 91 faces upward. The distal end of the receiving-side acoustic lens 91 is located between the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical body 70 and the distal end of the stopper piece 73.

Note that, also in the second embodiment, the wiring in the internal cylindrical body 40 and the intermediate cylindrical body 70 of the ultrasonic transducer 83 on the oscillation side and the ultrasonic transducer 93 on the receiving side are shown in the drawing. Omitted to ensure legibility.

In the state where the base 41 is restored by assembling the left and right divided bodies 41b and 41c, the convex portion 71 is guided by the concave portion 47 in the intermediate cylindrical body 70 thus formed, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the receiving side between the upper limit where the tip of the stopper piece 73 contacts the upper side of the notch 43 and the lower limit where the protrusion 71 is completely accommodated in the recess 47 as shown in FIG. The acoustic lens 91 is configured to be able to slide up and down with respect to the internal cylinder 40 so that the acoustic lens 91 approaches and separates from the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81.

Then, as shown in the vertical sectional view of FIG. 7, the tip of the stopper piece 73 contacts the upper side of the notch 43 so that the receiving-side acoustic lens 91 comes closest to the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81. At the upper limit 70, the closest position between the oscillation acoustic lens 81 and the reception acoustic lens 91 is defined.

The closest position is set in accordance with the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection, as in the first embodiment, so that a soft tube smaller in diameter than the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection cannot be pinched and fixed. Position. Thus, the distance between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 at the closest position can be set to about 3 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a non-slip concave / convex groove 45a is formed on the lower surface of the flange portion 45 of the inner cylindrical body 40, similarly to the upper end surface of the outer cylindrical body 30. .

Although not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 because of the cross sections, both the front end face of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the front end face of the reception-side acoustic lens 91 are closer to the front and rear of FIGS. 6 and 7. Is formed in a convex curved surface shape so that the height from the substrates 85 and 95 decreases toward
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the ridge lines 81a and 91a of the convex curved surface are indicated by straight lines at the tips of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91.

As described above, the inner cylindrical body 40 in which the intermediate cylindrical body 70 is accommodated inside the base portion 41 is provided with the compression coil spring 60 together with the compression coil spring 60 with one end of the compression coil spring 60 locked to the projection 41a. The internal coil 4 is compressed while the compression coil spring 60 is inserted until the flange 45 contacts the lower end of the external cylinder 30 by being inserted into the external cylinder 30 from the portion 41a side.
0 into the outer cylinder 30, the intermediate cylinder 7
The zero engagement pin 71a engages with each engagement hole 33 of the outer cylinder 30 from the inside, and the inner cylinder 40 is assembled to the outer cylinder 30.

In the air bubble detector completed by assembling the inner cylinder 40 to the outer cylinder 30 as described above, the upper end face of the outer cylinder 30 and the flange 45 of the inner cylinder 40 are pushed in so as to approach each other. By causing the flange portion 45 to abut on the lower end of the outer cylinder 30, as shown in FIG.
The intermediate cylinder 70 held by the outer cylinder 30 by engaging the engagement hole 33 with the engagement hole 33 is located at the lower limit with respect to the inner cylinder 40.

Then, the notch 43 of the inner cylinder 40 overlaps with the notch 31 of the outer cylinder 30, and the inner cylinder 40 is connected to the inside of the inner cylinder 40 via the notches 31 and 43. This is the unclamping release position where C can be inserted and removed. A side view of the bubble detector in this state,
As shown in FIG.

Therefore, as shown in the side view of FIG. 9, a soft tube C is inserted into the inner cylindrical body 40 through both cutouts 31 and 43 so that a soft tube C When the soft tube C is disposed in the guide groove 31a on the back side of the notch 31 so that the tube C is positioned, and the pushing of the outer cylinder 30 and the inner cylinder 40 is stopped, the spring of the compression coil spring 60 is released. The portion of the inner cylinder 40 closer to the flange 45 protrudes from the outer cylinder 30 due to the force.

Then, as the distal end face of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 of the inner cylinder 40 approaches and comes into contact with the soft tube C inserted into the inner cylinder 40 via the notches 31 and 43, The center line of the soft tube C is pressed by the guide groove 31a of the notch 31 so that the center line of the soft tube C is pressed against the tip surface of the oscillation side acoustic lens 81, and the ridge line 81a of the oscillation side acoustic lens 81 and the ridge line of the reception side acoustic lens 91 are formed. 91a
Are guided so as to be orthogonal to the center of the.

Then, the soft tube C guided as described above is sandwiched from both sides by the distal end surfaces of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 as shown in a side view in FIG. Ultrasonic vibration from the oscillation-side ultrasonic transducer 83 is received by the reception-side ultrasonic transducer 93 via the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91, and flows through the soft tube C. A detection is made as to whether bubbles are present in the liquid.

In this case, the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 have the entire contact surface in a state where the ridge lines 81a and 91a of the convex curved surface are arranged in the direction crossing the soft tube C in the radial direction. Since the soft tube C is evenly contacted with the soft tube C, the soft tube C is reliably sandwiched, and the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are also reliably and stably performed.

In the released state where the pressing of the inner cylinder 40 is stopped, as shown in the side view of FIG.
0 can return to the upper limit where the upper side of the notch 43 abuts on the tip of the stopper piece 73 of the intermediate cylindrical body 70 held by the outer cylindrical body 30. By the abutment of 73, the projecting movement of the inner cylinder 40 with respect to the outer cylinder 30 is regulated.
As shown in FIG. 6, the interval between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 is regulated to the closest position, and the reception-side acoustic lens 9 with respect to the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 beyond that.
Since it is impossible to approach 1, as shown in the side view in FIG. 12, even if the soft tube C is originally small in diameter, it does not collapse too much so that the inside is completely crushed.

Thus, regardless of the material and the diameter of the soft tube C, the soft tube C is not crushed too much, and the soft tube C is excessively crushed, so that the flow of the liquid in the soft tube C is deteriorated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the required fixed volume infusion from being performed and the bubble detection from becoming unstable.

The soft tube C inserted into the inner cylinder 40 through the notches 31, 43 of the outer cylinder 30 and the inner cylinder 40 is formed by the guide groove 31 a of the notch 31. Since the center line of C is guided so as to be located at the center of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 in the insertion / removal direction of the soft tube C with respect to the inside of the inner cylindrical body 40 through the notches 31 and 43. In addition, the soft tube C does not accidentally bite between the tip of the stopper piece 73 and the upper side of the notch 43, and the stopper does not malfunction.

In addition, the center line of the soft tube C is set to the ridge line 81 a of the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 9 by the guide groove 31 a of the notch 31.
Since it is guided so as to be located orthogonally to the center of the ridge line 91a, the soft tube C is reliably held by the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91,
In addition, the soft tube C can be positioned with respect to the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 such that the bubble detection sensitivity is maximized.

The closest position between the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 and the reception-side acoustic lens 91 is set according to the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection, and a soft tube smaller in diameter than the minimum tube diameter that guarantees normal detection. Is set so that it cannot be pinched and fixed.
Application to thin flexible tubes with smaller tube diameters than the minimum tube diameter that ensures accurate bubble detection is necessarily prohibited. As a result, a mounting error of a soft tube having a diameter smaller than the minimum tube diameter that ensures normal detection can be avoided.

In the second embodiment, the outer cylinder 3
A guide groove similar to the guide groove 31a formed in the 0 notch 31 may be formed in the notch 43 of the inner cylindrical body 40 or only in the notch 43. It may be formed in the side opening 14 of the tube 10 or the side opening 22 of the inner tube 20.

In the first embodiment, the pin member 1
The arrangement of 7 and slot 26 may be reversed between outer cylinder 10 and inner cylinder 20.

Further, the configuration adopted in Embodiments 1 and 2 for connecting large and small cylinders, ie, an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, so as to be able to protrude and retract is, for example, a method of connecting and disconnecting cylinders having the same diameter. You may change to the structure etc. which are connected as much as possible.

Further, in the first embodiment, the outer cylinder 10,
The oscillation-side acoustic lenses 15 and 81 are provided on the 30
Although the receiving acoustic lenses 23 and 91 are provided on the 0 and 40 sides,
The receiving-side acoustic lenses 23 and 91 are provided on the outer cylinders 10 and 30 side.
Oscillation-side acoustic lenses 15, 8 are provided on the inner cylinders 20, 40 side.
Needless to say, 1 may be provided.

Further, in the second embodiment, the oscillation-side acoustic lens 81 on the side of the outer cylinder 30 is not directly provided on the outer cylinder 30 but is provided on the intermediate cylinder 70 held by the outer cylinder 30.
However, it is needless to say that a configuration may be employed in which the oscillation-side acoustic lens is directly held by the external cylinder 30.

Further, the compression coil springs 25 and 60 employed in the first and second embodiments may be replaced with an elastic body having a high elastic coefficient such as rubber or a spring member other than the coil type.

[0097]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the bubble detector according to the first aspect of the invention, the maximum approach distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means is determined by the stopper mechanism by the predetermined minimum tube diameter. The flexible tube is not crushed too much, and the flexible tube is excessively crushed. Stability is avoided beforehand.

At the same time, a small-diameter soft tube for which the detection accuracy of bubbles cannot be guaranteed cannot be sandwiched and held between the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means. It can be prevented from being used.

According to the bubble detector according to the second aspect of the present invention, the second case is immersed in the first case against the urging force of the urging means, so that the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are received. The means is easily separated from the detecting means so that the soft tube can be inserted into and removed from the detecting wave transmitting means and the detecting wave receiving means through the cutout portion, and the second case is moved by the urging force of the urging means. By protruding against one case,
The detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means can be easily brought close to each other, and the soft tube can be sandwiched between the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means.

According to the bubble detector according to the third aspect of the present invention, the second case is immersed in the first case against the urging force of the urging means, so that the detection wave transmitting means or the detection wave receiving means is provided. The retractable portion provided with the means is retracted from the state in which it has advanced into the notch of the first case, so that the first
The insertion and extraction of the soft tube into and from the inside of the case portion can be performed after the protruding and retracting portions are in a state where they do not interfere.

According to the bubble detector according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the soft tube inserted between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means via the notch is inserted into and removed from the inside of the first case portion. When extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to
Since the soft tube is guided by the guide groove, and the radial center of the soft tube is securely disposed at a position where the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means have high sensitivity, the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means are provided. Can be detected with high accuracy.

According to the bubble detector according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the support mechanism includes the long holes and the guide pins, the structure of the support mechanism is simplified, and the parts and the manufacturing cost are reduced. Can be.

According to the bubble detector according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by using the elongated hole and the guide pin as a stopper mechanism, it is possible to prevent a complicated structure and an increase in the number of parts due to the provision of the stopper mechanism. Parts and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

According to the bubble detector according to the seventh aspect of the invention, the first case and the second case constitute a support mechanism by the third case which is an intermediate member different from the first case and the second case.
Compared with the case where the support mechanism is provided on a single part, the case or the second case, the space limitation of the support mechanism can be reduced and the manufacture of the support mechanism can be facilitated.

According to the bubble detector according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the stopper mechanism is constituted by the second case and the third case independently of the support mechanism, thereby limiting the space limitation of the stopper mechanism. Thus, the manufacturing of the stopper mechanism can be facilitated.

According to the bubble detector according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the detection wave is an ultrasonic wave, the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means are a transmitting acoustic lens and a receiving acoustic lens, Since the most protruding portion of the distal end surface is disposed over the soft tube sandwiched therebetween, the soft tube is securely sandwiched by the transmission-side acoustic lens and the reception-side acoustic lens. The soft tube can be positioned with respect to the transmitting acoustic lens and the receiving acoustic lens so that the detection sensitivity is maximized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a bubble detector according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a tube clamp state.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 1 in an unclamped state.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 1 in a tube clamp state.

4 is a perspective view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 1 in a tube clamp state.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a bubble detector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 5 in an unclamped state.

7 is a vertical sectional view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 5 in a tube clamp state.

8 is a side view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 5 in an unclamped state.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where a soft tube is inserted into the bubble detector of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the bubble detector in a state where the soft tube of FIG. 9 is clamped.

11 is a side view showing the bubble detector of FIG. 5 in a tube clamp state.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the bubble detector in a state where a soft tube smaller in diameter than the soft tube of FIG. 9 is clamped.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30 outer cylindrical body 11 end wall 12 internal fixing member 13 mounting screw 14 side opening 15, 81 oscillation side acoustic lens 16, 24, 83, 93 ultrasonic transducer 17 pin member 20, 40 inner cylindrical body 21 end Flange 22 Side opening 23 Receiving acoustic lens 25, 60 Compression coil spring 26 Slot 27 External wiring 31 Notch 70 Intermediate cylinder 73 Stopper piece

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kikuo Yoshitake 1311 Aobadai, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama Saginomiya Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] In a state where a soft tube is sandwiched between opposed detection wave transmitting means and detection wave receiving means, a detection wave output from the detection wave transmitting means toward the soft tube is received by the detection wave receiving means. A bubble detector that detects whether or not bubbles are present in the liquid flowing through the soft tube based on the detection wave received by the detection wave receiving unit. And a first case provided with any one of the detection wave receiving means; a second case provided with the other one of the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means; and the first case and the first case. A support mechanism for movably supporting one of the two cases with respect to the other case in a direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means move toward and away from each other; Urging means for urging the other case with respect to the one case in a direction in which the transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach; at least the detection wave transmitting means and the detection provided in the first case; A stopper mechanism for limiting the maximum approach distance of the wave receiving means to a predetermined minimum tube diameter. 2. The first case is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the second case is formed so as to be able to be partially accommodated in the first case. 2
The case is supported so as to be able to protrude and retract from the first case, and the stopper mechanism is configured to regulate an amount of protrusion of the second case from the first case, and A predetermined portion of the second case portion accommodated in the first case in a state where the amount of protrusion is regulated by the stopper mechanism, and a second portion of the first case corresponding to the second case portion. The detection wave transmitting means from a predetermined position of the second case portion to a predetermined position of the first case portion spaced in a direction in which the second case protrudes from the first case; And the detection wave receiving means are respectively arranged, and the first
The case portion is formed with a cutout for exposing the second case portion to the outside of the first case, and the direction in which the biasing means biases the other case relative to the one case is as follows. 2. The bubble detector according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined location of the first case portion and a predetermined location of the second case portion are aligned with the approaching direction. 3. The second case portion extends into the cutout portion by increasing an amount of projection of the second case from the first case, and projects the second case from the first case. A retractable portion which is retracted from the cutout portion by reducing the amount is provided, a predetermined portion of the first case portion is provided in the cutout portion, and a predetermined portion of the second case portion is retracted. Is provided in the portion, in a state perpendicular to the direction of emergence of the recessed portion with respect to the notch portion in a state where the retractable portion is retracted from the notch portion,
The bubble detector according to claim 2, wherein the soft tube is inserted into and removed from the inside of the first case portion through the notch. 4. The soft tube sandwiched between the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means is provided in at least one of the notch portion and the projecting portion with respect to the inside of the first case portion of the soft tube. 4. The bubble detector according to claim 3, wherein guide grooves are formed at predetermined positions of the first case portion and predetermined positions of the second case portion in the insertion / removal direction. 5. The support mechanism is formed in the one case and has a long hole extending in a longitudinal direction in a direction in which the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means approach and separate from each other, The one case is formed and inserted into the long hole, and the one case moves relative to the other case in a direction in which the detection wave sending means and the detection wave receiving means approach and separate, so that the inside of the long hole extends in the longitudinal direction. The bubble detector according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising a moving guide pin. 6. The stopper mechanism includes one end of the elongated hole in the longitudinal direction and the guide pin, and the approach distance between the detection wave transmitting unit and the detection wave receiving unit is the predetermined minimum. When the diameter of the tube is the same, the guide pin abuts on the one end of the elongated hole to restrict further movement of the guide pin in the longitudinal direction, so that the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means 6. The bubble detector according to claim 5, wherein further movement of said one case with respect to said other case in a direction in which is approached is restricted. And a third case slidably supported by the second case, wherein the third case slides the third case relative to the second case in the second direction relative to the first case. 3. The case is held by the first case so as to match a direction in which the case protrudes and retracts, and the support mechanism includes the third case. 4.
The bubble detector according to 3 or 4. 8. The detection mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the stopper mechanism includes a contact piece provided on the third case and capable of coming into contact with and separating from the second case. When the approach distance is the predetermined minimum tube diameter,
When the contact piece comes into contact with the second case and the approach distance between the detection wave transmitting means and the detection wave receiving means exceeds the predetermined minimum tube diameter, the contact piece separates from the second case. The air bubble detector according to claim 7, wherein the air bubble detector is configured to perform the operation. 9. The detection wave transmitting means or the detection wave receiving means is held in the third case, is provided in the first case via the third case, and is provided in the first case portion. The bubble detector according to claim 7, wherein the bubble detector is disposed at a location. 10. The detection wave is an ultrasonic wave, the detection wave transmission means is a transmission-side acoustic lens, the detection wave reception means is a reception-side acoustic lens, the reception-side acoustic lens and the transmission-side acoustic lens. At least one of the lenses, in a state where the soft tube is sandwiched between the transmitting acoustic lens and the receiving acoustic lens, in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the soft tube, the soft tube side is closer to the center from both ends. And a curved front end surface protruding from the front end.
A bubble detector as described.