JPS62299761A - Transporting device for centrifugal tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the processing time required for centrifugation by enabling a centrifugal tube to be replaced without stopping a rotor for the centrifugation. CONSTITUTION:A centrifugal separator A consisting of a rotor 10, a rotor 20 for centrifugal tube replacement constituting a transporting device for a centrifugal tube, a centrifugal tube supply device 30, and a controller 50. A centrifugal tube up/down device 25 transports the centrifugal tube 3 from a rotor 10 to the rotor 20 by a holder 12 or from the rotor 20 to the rotor 10 based on the signal from the device 50 when the rotating speeds of the rotors 10 and 20 become equal to each other. Namely, when light emitted by the light source 28 of the rotor 20 enters the photosensor 18 of the rotating rotor 10, a pulse waveform signal is inputted to the device 50. Then the rotating speed difference between the rotors 10 and 20 decreases as the interval of this signal increases and when the rotating speed difference between the rotors 10 and 20 becomes zero, the device 50 detects the zero state and sends an operation command signal to the device 25 thereby replacing the prescribed centrifugal tube 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a centrifugal tube transfer device for a centrifugal separator that centrifugally separates blood into serum and blood. The present invention relates to a centrifuge tube transfer device in a centrifugal separator that allows the centrifuge tube to be dynamically exchanged from one rotor to the other without stopping the rotor.

[Prior art]

As is well known, when performing various blood tests such as biochemical analysis and immunological analysis, blood is centrifuged as a pretreatment. They manually set the centrifuge tubes containing the separated blood into the centrifuge tube rotor, taking into account the rotational balance, and then turn on the start switch and centrifuge.1; The rotor is rotated at a constant speed. After rotating at high speed and turning on the off switch after a predetermined period of time, the centrifuge tube rotor is stopped. When the centrifuge tube rotor has completely stopped, the centrifuge tubes that have undergone centrifugation are manually removed from the centrifuge tube rotor. It had been removed.

(Problems with the prior art) However, in conventional centrifugal separators like this, as described in I. The operation efficiency required for centrifugation is very low due to the double time loss of extremely complicated and manual work, and also the time loss required for starting and stopping the centrifuge tube rotor. These factors have been the biggest factor hindering the full automation of various blood tests such as biochemical analysis and immunological analysis.

(Configuration and operation for solving the problem) This invention has the following features:
It was devised in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to automatically transfer centrifuge tubes that require centrifugation treatment to the rotating rotor, and also to transfer centrifuge tubes that have completed centrifugation. A centrifugal separation device that automates this type of blood centrifugation work by automatically taking blood out of the rotor, significantly reducing the processing time required for centrifugation, and greatly improving the operating efficiency of the device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge tube transfer device.

In order to achieve the above [j.
A centrifugal tube transfer device that transfers the centrifugal tube without stopping the rotation of the rotor; a centrifugal tube storage chamber and a centrifugal tube take-out chamber formed in a rotor for tube exchange; a centrifugal tube exchange means for transferring a centrifuge tube from one rotor to the other rotor when the rotational speeds of each rotor are the same; It is characterized by being composed of the following.

(Example) An example of the centrifuge tube transfer device according to the present invention will be described below.
A case in which the present invention is applied to the centrifugal S device A shown in the attached drawings will be described in detail as an example.

The centrifugal separator fiA shown in FIG.
A rotor 10 rotated by a rotor 10, a centrifuge tube exchange rotor 20 constituting the centrifuge tube transfer device according to this embodiment, and a centrifuge tube supply device 30 that supplies a new centrifuge tube 3 into the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 20. As shown in FIG. 7, a centrifugal tube removal device 40 that transfers the centrifugal tube 3 after centrifugation work to the outside of the centrifugal tube replacement rotor 20, and a It consists of a ML@2!150 that synchronizes the rotational speed and performs the necessary operations.4 Each of these components is housed in a nearly sealed case B.
are arranged respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the centrifuge tube holder 4 that holds the centrifuge tube 3 includes a main body 7 formed into a rectangular cylinder shape with a bottom made of metal, which is a material that is attracted to a magnet, and a filling main body 7. A centrifugal tube holding hole 7a formed on the top surface, a hole 8 formed at the top of each side wall of the main body 7, a slot hole 9 formed on each side wall of the main body 7, and an inner side of the main body 7. It consists of a cushion body that is fixed to a wall surface and holds the centrifuge tube 3 vertically, and a recording medium (not shown) is disposed on the surface of the main body 7.

This recording medium contains information necessary for blood processing, such as patient information, reception date, reception number, test instruction items, etc., and this information is supplied to the centrifuge tube holder 4 or the centrifugal separator A. It is read by a reading device (not shown) and input into the master computer before the centrifugation operation is completed and immediately after it is taken out from the centrifugal separator 22A.

The rotor 1O is composed of a base 11 fixed to the rotating shaft 5 of the lower pulse motor 1, and a holter 12 rotatably supported by the base 11.

The base 11 is formed into a turret shape as shown in FIG.
It is supported by two or more pivots. That is, a plurality of slits 13 for pivotally supporting the holder 12 are opened on the outer peripheral edge of the base 11, and the holder 12 is held at one end through a shaft 14 protruding from the inner side thereof. It is rotatably supported by the base 11. Further, a stopper piece 15 is formed at the slit portion of the base 11 to maintain the horizontal state of the holder 12 when the rotor 10 rotates at a constant speed.

The bottom portion 13a of each slit 13 is inclined at a required angle. The reason why the bottom part 13a of each slit 13 is formed as an inclined surface is that when the rotor 10 stops due to the drive switch being turned off or a malfunction, the centrifuge tube holder 4 may fall off from the holder 12 or blood may come out from inside the centrifuge tube 3. This is to prevent leakage.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the holder 12 includes a main body 16 formed in a rectangular shape, a concave holding hole 17 formed in the main body 16, and two sides of the upper end of the main body 16 as described above. It is composed of a shaft 14 protruding from the shaft 14 , a photosensor 18 , and a magnet 19 arranged on the wall of the holding hole 17 . The holding hole 17 has a volume that can completely accommodate a centrifugal tube holder 4, which will be described later. Therefore, it is configured so that it does not easily fall out from the holding hole 17.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the base 11 of the rotor IO configured in this manner is provided with a rotor transceiver that transmits and receives signals from the photosensor 18 and receives command signals from the control device and 50. R1 is attached. This rotor transmitter/receiver R2 is disposed in a chamber C of a support C fixed to the base 11 with screws, and receives a speed signal (pulse signal) from a photosensor 18 disposed on the holder 12 and a position The signal is sent to the rotor transceiver R2 disposed in the case B, and the control device 50 controls the rotational speed of the rotor IO based on this signal. When the rotational speed of the rotor lO does not reach the predetermined speed, the control device 50 sends a speed correction signal from the rotor transmitter/receiver It is controlled so that

In addition, these photosensor 1B, rotor transmission/reception W Rr
The driving power for the lower stage pulse motor 1 is supplied from a generator J disposed on the rotating shaft 5 of the lower stage pulse motor 1. Of course, the speed correction signal may be configured to be sent directly from the control device 50 to the hypomembrane pulse motor 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a centrifugal tube replacement rotor 20 constituting a centrifugal tube transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a turret fixed to a rotating shaft 6 of a single pulse motor 2. The rotor body 21 has a centrifugal tube storage chamber 22 and a centrifugal tube take-out chamber 23, each having an inverted vertical cross-section, which are opened in the rotor body 21, and each of these chambers 22. 23, which also acts as a balancer, and each of the above chambers 22.
．． It is composed of a centrifugal tube upper and lower case 25 disposed on the ceiling of the holder 23, a transmitter/receiver R3, and a light source 28.
Only one is disposed at a predetermined position of the rotor 20 for centrifugal tube replacement so as to face the rotor 8.

As shown in FIGS. 81(A) and 81(B), the centrifugal tube lowering device 25 includes a pair of arms 26.2 that sandwich the centrifugal tube holder 4.
It is configured to open and close via the shaft 27 o) f salmon,
At opposing predetermined positions of each of these arms 26° 26,
The centrifugal tube holder 4 is engaged with the hole 8 of the centrifugal tube holder 4.
Retaining protrusions 26a, 26a are provided to hold the swivels in place so that they can be rotated. Arm 26.26 configured in this way
The opening and closing is performed by a cam 28 rotated by a motor 29 connected to the five ends of each arm 26.26.

That is, the cam 28 rotates at a predetermined timing every 90 degrees, and when the long side portion is in pressure contact with the L portion of the arm 26.26, the arm 26.26 closes against the biasing force of the spring S. In other words, the centrifugal tube holder 4 is set in a state where it is engaged and held, and the cam 28 is rotated 90 degrees from the above state.
When the short side portion is in pressure contact with the upper part of the arm 26.26, the arm 26.26 is opened by the biasing force of the spring S, that is, set in a state in which the engagement with the centrifugal tube holder 4 is released.

Further, the arms 26, 26 are guided up and down by the rotational operation of a lifting mechanism G disposed on a motor m. This elevating mechanism G includes a frame 60 having a generally U-shaped side surface, the motor m attached to the frame 60, and the motor m.
A pulley 64 is attached to the rotating shaft of the arm 28.
A wire or timing belt 62, a part of which is fixed to the mounting piece 63 of the support 66 attached to the E
A pair of rails 65 that guide the support body 66 up and down a predetermined distance.
．． 65, and the support body 66 and the pair of rails 65, 65 are slidably disposed via bearings.

The rotor lO of the holder 12 by this centrifugal tube up/down device 25
Transfer from the rotor 20 for centrifugal tube replacement or from the rotor 20 for centrifugal tube replacement to the rotor IO is carried out at each rotor 1.
This is done based on a signal from the control device 50 when the rotation speeds of 0 and 20 match.

That is, the light irradiated from the light source 28 of the rotor 20 for centrifugal tube replacement or the photosensor 18 of the rotating rotor IO
When the light enters, a pulse waveform signal is input to the control device 50 as shown in FIG.

When the interval between the pulse waveform signals is narrow as shown in FIG. 9(a), the difference in rotational speed between the rotors 10 and 20 is large, and this interval becomes narrow as shown in FIG. 9(b). As the rotation speed increases, the difference in rotational speed between the two rotors 10 and 20 becomes smaller, and as shown in FIG. When set to "0", both rotors l
Since the rotational speed difference between O and 20 is "0", the control J1 device 50 detects this "0" state and sends an operation command signal to the centrifugal tube up/down device 25, and performs a predetermined operation to be described later. Replacement work will be carried out.

Further, when the centrifugal tube holder 4 that has completed the centrifugation operation in the rotor 10 is transferred to the centrifugal tube removal chamber 23 of the centrifugal tube replacement rotor 20, the transfer operation is performed according to the same procedure as described above.

The transmitter/receiver R exchanges speed signals of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20 and operation command signals to the centrifuge tube holder 2125 with the 1t111i device 50 via an upper transmitter/receiver R4 disposed on the top plate of the case B. The control device 50
controls the rotational speed of the rotor 20 and the operation of the centrifugal tube up/down device 25 based on this signal.

In addition, these centrifugal tube holders 2t25. Driving power to the light source 28 and the transceiver R1 is supplied from a generator J2 disposed on the rotation shaft 6 of the upper stage pulse motor 2.

Further, the electricity generated by the generator J is stored in the battery 24 and then supplied to each necessary location such as the light source 28.

As shown in FIG. 7, the centrifugal tube supply device 30 sequentially transfers centrifugal tube holders 4 holding centrifugal tubes 3 required for centrifugation work from the holder stocker Sl to the centrifugal tube storage chamber of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20. 22.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the centrifugal tube retrieval device 40 sequentially moves the centrifuge tube holder 4 holding the centrifuge tubes 3 that have undergone centrifugation work to the centrifuge tube retrieval chamber 20 of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20. It acts to transfer from the holder stocker S2 to the holder stocker S2.

These centrifugal tube supply device 30 and centrifugal tube take-out device 40
basically have the same configuration, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, they include a pair of arms 31.41 and a drive device such as an actuator (not shown) that moves the arms 31.41 forward and backward. The arm 31 transfers the centrifuge tube holder 4 to the centrifuge tube storage chamber 22, and the arm 41 transfers the centrifuge tube holder 4 from the centrifuge tube retrieval chamber 23 after centrifugation. Transfer from the same room 23 to outside case B, in this case 1. The arms 31 and 41 are press-fitted into the slits to holes 9 of the centrifugal tube holter 4, respectively, and
It is made of an elastic material so that it can be engaged with the peripheral wall surface of. Of course, the arms 31.degree. 41 may be configured to be openable and closable, and the tips of each arm 31.degree. 41 may be configured to engage with the peripheral wall surface of the slit hole 9.

Figure 1O is a centrifugal separator! This shows the connection status of each component of the IA, and the control device 50 is connected to the power supply 70. ! 1 device 50 includes transceivers R2 and R4, centrifuge tube E lower device 25. Synchronous control circuit 52. A manipulation unit 71 and an operation monitor circuit 72 are connected to each other.

Transmitters/receivers R1''R3 of the rotor lO and centrifuge tube exchange rotor 20 are connected to the transmitters/receivers 24 R2 and R4 respectively in a wireless manner, and control circuits 80 and 90 are further connected to these transmitters and receivers R1 and R:l. , batteries 81 and 24, and generators J1 and J2 are connected in series, respectively, and a lower stage pulse motor 1 and an upper stage pulse motor 2 are connected to the generators J and J2, respectively.

A motor drive circuit 53 is also connected to the synchronous control circuit 52, and the lower stage pulse motor 1 and the upper stage pulse motor 2 are connected to this motor drive circuit 53, respectively.

Furthermore, a display 73 and a printer 74 are connected to the operation monitor circuit 72, respectively.

Incidentally, the reference numeral "S" in FIG. 1 indicates a bearing.

Next, a procedure for transferring a centrifuge tube using the centrifuge tube transfer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

First, put the blood to be centrifuged into the centrifuge tube 3, or put the container (not shown) containing the blood to be centrifuged into the centrifuge tube 3, place the centrifuge tube 3 in the centrifuge tube holder 4, and set it in the holder stocker SI. do.

Next, the star 1 switch (not shown) is turned on to start the lower stage pulse motor 1 and rotate the rotor IO at a constant speed. As a result, the holder 12 is held in a wet state by centrifugal force.

On the other hand, the centrifuge tube storage chamber 22 of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20 is supplied via the centrifuge tube holder 4 or the centrifuge tube supply device 30, and the centrifuge tube holder 4 is engaged with the centrifuge tube upper'F type device 5. Retained. Thereafter, the rotational speed of the centrifugal tube replacement rotor 20 is gradually increased by the upper stage pulse motor 2, and as a result, the centrifugal tube holder 4 is held by the centrifugal tube up/down device 25, as shown in FIG. It is then gradually set to a horizontal position. When the speed of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20 reaches the same speed as the rotor IO, the centrifuge tube holder H
25 is lowered, and the centrifuge tube holder 4 is transferred into the holding hole 17 of the holder 12 determined in advance by the control device 50.

When the centrifugal tube holder 4 is transferred into the holding hole 17 in this way, the centrifugal tube holder 4 is pressed against the outer circumferential side wall of the holding hole 17 by the centrifugal force of the rotor 10, and is attracted and held by the magnet 19 for the required time. Centrifugal separation work will be carried out.

On the other hand, the centrifuge tube up/down device 25 that has finished transferring the centrifuge tube holder 4 to the holder 12 moves back to its original position when the same operation is completed, and when all these operations are completed, the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 20 is controlled. The centrifugal tube storage chamber 22 is driven and controlled so as to gradually speed up in accordance with instructions from the device 50 and stop at a position facing the centrifugal tube holder transfer port connected to the centrifugal separation device A.

Thereafter, new centrifuge tube holders 4 are successively transferred into the holders 12 defined by the control device 50 according to the above procedure. At this time, the control device 50 supplies the centrifugal tube holder 4 to a predetermined position so that the rotation of the rotor IO can be balanced.

In this way, the centrifugal tube holders 4 are set in all the holders 12, and after the required time has passed, the centrifugal tube holders 4, which have been centrifuged, are placed in the centrifugal tube replacement rotor 20, which is rotating at the same speed as the rotor IO. The centrifugal tube is taken out via the centrifugal tube upper bag 2125 disposed in the centrifugal tube taking out chamber 23 according to the same procedure as the transfer means.

When this work is completed, the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 20 is controlled to gradually reduce its speed according to instructions from the control device 50 so as not to disturb the centrifuged blood component layer, and finally the centrifuge tube replacement chamber 23 Alternatively, the drive is controlled so as to stop at a position facing the centrifugal tube outlet E connected to the centrifugal separator A. Thereafter, each centrifugal tube holder 4 whose centrifugation work has been completed according to the above procedure is sequentially transferred from the centrifugal tube removal chamber 23 to the outside of the centrifugal separator A.

As described above, the centrifugal tube holders 4 that require centrifugation are sequentially transferred into the centrifugal separator A, and the centrifugal tube holders 4 that have undergone centrifugation are transferred to the centrifugal separator 21A.
automatically taken out from inside.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention rotates and stops the centrifuge tube replacement rotor without stopping the centrifugation rotor at all, thereby removing the centrifuge tube holder containing the blood to be centrifuged. Not only can the centrifuge tube holder after centrifugation work be automatically transferred from the rotor to the centrifuge tube replacement rotor, but no human intervention is required. Moreover, the processing time required for centrifugation can be significantly shortened, and the operating efficiency of the centrifugal separator can also be greatly improved, among other excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of a centrifugal separator to which a centrifuge tube transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a centrifuge tube holder, and FIG. 3 is a centrifuge tube holder. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the rotor, Fig. 5 is a half-cut plan view of the rotor, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the centrifuge tube holder or a holder that is held, and Fig. 7 is a centrifugal separation. A plan view of the device, FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) are a side view and a front view showing the configuration of a centrifugal tube up-and-down device constituting a centrifugal tube transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 91A(a). (b) and (c) are signal explanatory diagrams showing the timing of replacing the centrifuge tube holder with the rotor and centrifuge tube replacement rotor, and FIG. 1O is a block diagram showing the connection structure of the centrifugal separation bag. [Explanation of symbols] A... Centrifugal separator 2... Pulse motor 3... Centrifugal tube 10... Rotor 20... Centrifugal tube replacement rotor 25... Centrifugal tube up/down device 50... NICHIKU ENGINEERING CO., LTD. Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 5 Figure 7 IE8rM (A) (B) Figure 9 Time Time Time Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] A centrifuge tube transfer device that transfers a centrifuge tube containing blood to be centrifuged to a rotating rotor without stopping the rotation of the rotor, the transfer device being driven by a drive device at the same speed as the rotor. A rotor for centrifugal tube replacement whose rotation is controlled and whose rotation is gradually stopped, a centrifugal tube storage chamber and a centrifugal tube retrieval chamber formed in the rotor for centrifugal tube replacement, and the rotational speed of each rotor is the same. 1. A centrifuge tube transfer device comprising: centrifuge tube exchange means for sometimes transferring a centrifuge tube from one rotor to another.