KR102168826B1 - Apparatus and method for separating sample - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for separating a sample to automatically separate a plurality of samples of various kinds. According to the present invention, an apparatus for automatically separating a sample comprises: a container storage module storing a plurality of containers; a container transfer module gripping each container received in the container storage module to transfer the container to a module requiring treatment; an automatic pipet module connected to the container transfer module and sucking fluid stored in the container or dividing fluid into each container; a decapper module opening or closing a cap of the container to allow the automatic pipet module to suck or divide the fluid; a bucket module for centrifugal separation receiving a plurality of containers requiring centrifugal separation among the containers; a centrifugal separation module receiving and rotating the bucket module to centrifugally separate the sample stored in the container received in the bucket module into each kind; and a height measurement module including light and a camera to measure the height of the centrifugally separated sample.

Description

Specimen separation device and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING SAMPLE}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating a specimen, and to an apparatus and method for separating a specimen capable of automatically separating specimens stored in various containers.

Specimen refers to serum, plasma, chromosomes, DNA, RNA, proteins, etc. collected from humans or animals or separated from tissues, cells, blood, body fluids, urine, feces, and the like.

In the conventional process of separating a sample, the operator separates the tube container containing the sample in principle and then opens the lid manually, and then PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell), plasma, RBC ( Red Blood Cell (red blood cells), etc., are sucked with a pipette and transferred to another tube container.

In the conventional sample separation process, since the operator must manually separate the sample necessary for analysis, the work efficiency is not high by directly performing a complicated procedure, and the sample may be contaminated by the operator during the separation process.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a specimen separation apparatus and a separation method capable of automatically separating a plurality of specimens of various types.

In addition, after centrifugation is performed to separate the sample, an image of the container containing the sample is acquired, and a sample separation device and separation method are provided that can automatically separate the necessary sample contents by separating the layers of the sample contents. I want to.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sample separation device for automatically separating a sample includes: a container storage module for storing a plurality of containers; A container transfer module that grips each container accommodated in the container storage module and transfers it to a module requiring processing; An automatic pipette module connected to the container transfer module and configured to suck the fluid contained in the container or dispense fluid into the container; A decapper module capable of opening or closing the container lid of the container so that the fluid can be sucked or dispensed by the automatic pipette module; A bucket module for centrifugation for accommodating a plurality of vessels requiring centrifugation among the vessels; A bucket transfer module for gripping the bucket module and transferring it to a centrifugal separator; A centrifugal separation module accommodating and rotating the bucket module to centrifuge the specimen in the container in the bucket module by type; And a height measurement module including a light and a camera to measure the height of the centrifuged specimen.

In addition, the automatic pipette module may be separated after a disposable pipette tip is combined or used.

In addition, the specimen separation device further includes a tool storage module, wherein the tool storage module includes: a tip box for storing the disposable pipette tip used in the automatic pipette module; A tip processing unit for processing the disposable pipette tip used in the automatic pipette module; And a fluid processing unit in which the used fluid is processed.

In addition, the sample separation device further includes a solution storage module, wherein the solution storage module includes: a solution storage container for storing a solution sucked by the automatic pipette module; A cover for preventing contamination of the solution storage container; And an actuator for automatically opening or closing the cover.

In addition, the height measurement module may obtain an image of the specimen through the camera, and may divide the layer of the specimen contents.

In addition, the container storage module may include at least one of a blood tube, a Conical-Tube (C-Tube), a Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) tube, and a tube for T-spot (Tuberculosis-Spot).

In addition, the centrifugal separation module may be provided with a door capable of automatically opening and closing the upper portion.

In addition, after the centrifugation is completed and the bucket module stops rotating, the centrifugal separation module may be moved to a proper position under the door so as to take out the bucket module.

In addition, the sample separation device further includes a frozen vial storage module for storing a plurality of cryovial containers, and the container transfer module is a module requiring processing by gripping each container accommodated in the frozen vial storage module. It may be transferable.

In addition, the container transfer module movable to the top of the decapper module may be provided, and the centrifugal separation module may be provided under the bucket transfer module.

In addition, the decapper module includes a decapper grip part for gripping the container body, the container transfer module includes a gripper for gripping the lid of the container, and the decapper grip part grips the container body. In the state, the gripper may open or close the lid by rotating the lid clockwise or counterclockwise.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for separating a sample using a sample separation device for automatically separating a sample is a first method of gripping a blood tube, C-Tube, and PBS tube in a container storage module with a gripper of a container transfer module. step; A second step of moving the container held by the gripper to a container operation module; A third step of gripping the main body of the container with a decapper module and opening the lid of the container using the gripper; A fourth step of suctioning blood in the blood tube and dispensing it into the C-Tube using an automatic pipette module; A fifth step of gripping the blood tube, the C-Tube, and the PBS tube with the decapper module, and closing the caps of the blood tube, the C-Tube, and the PBS tube using the gripper; A sixth step of transferring the blood tube and the PBS tube to the container storage module using the container transfer module, and transferring the C-Tube to a bucket module for centrifugation; A seventh step of transferring the bucket module to a centrifugation module and performing centrifugation using a bucket transfer module; An eighth step of removing the centrifuged C-Tube from the centrifugation module using the bucket transfer module and transferring the centrifuged C-Tube to the container working module using the container transfer module; A ninth step of gripping the main body of the C-Tube with the decapper module and opening the lid of the C-Tube using the gripper; A tenth step of obtaining an image of the C-Tube using a height measuring module and measuring the height of the PBMC from the obtained image; And an 11th step of suctioning and separating the PBMC using the automatic pipette module.

In addition, the height measurement module may obtain an image of the specimen through the camera, and may divide the layer of the specimen contents.

In addition, a 12th step of measuring the number of separated PBMC cells, inputting them to the specimen separation device, and automatically dispensing a frozen reagent to the automatic picket module according to the number of cells of the PBMC; A thirteenth step of transferring the container containing the frozen vial container and the PBMC to the container operation module; A 14th step of opening the lid of the frozen vial container and the lid of the container containing the PBMC using the decapper module and the gripper; A fifteenth step of dispensing the PBMC from which the frozen reagent is dispensed into the frozen vial container using the automatic pipette module; And a 16th step of freezing and storing the frozen vial container.

According to the specimen separation apparatus according to the present invention, various types of specimens can be automatically separated. Accordingly, compared with the conventional manual separation process, time and cost in the sample separation process can be saved, and contamination of the sample due to an operator's mistake can be prevented.

In addition, by separating the layer of the sample contents through centrifugation, the height of the sample contents is automatically measured through the camera image, and the necessary sample contents can be separated through the automatic pipette module.

In addition, a transfer module capable of transferring various containers and a decapper module that opens or closes the lid of a container containing a sample, and a bucket transfer module that automatically transfers a container requiring centrifugation to the centrifugation module. Thus, even the centrifugation process can be performed automatically.

1 is an overall perspective view of a specimen separation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a specimen separation device mounted in the specimen separation system in FIG. 1.
3 is a plan view of a sample separation device excluding a container transfer module in FIG. 2.
4 is a front view of the specimen separation device of FIG. 2.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a C-Tube including PBMC from which layers are separated.
6 is a perspective view showing a container transfer module and an automatic pipette module.
7 is a diagram showing a container transfer module and an automatic pipette module.
8 is a diagram showing a decapper module and a height measuring module.
9 is a perspective view showing a bucket transfer module and a centrifugal separation module.
10 is a plan view of the bucket transfer module and the centrifugal separation module of FIG. 9.
11 is a diagram showing a tool storage module.
12 is a diagram showing a solution storage module.
13 is a flow chart showing a method for separating a specimen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a flow chart showing dispensing a frozen vial according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

The terms used in this specification are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions may include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "comprise", "have", or "include" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specification. It may be understood that the presence or addition of other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, or further features, are not excluded in advance.

In addition, since it does not mean that the objects or effects presented in the present invention should be included in all or only those effects in a specific embodiment, it should not be understood that the scope of the present invention is limited by the specific embodiment. On the other hand, among the technical configurations described in the present invention and the functions exhibited by the technical configurations, the technical configurations and functions that are widely known and applied will be omitted from the detailed description thereof.

Hereinafter, in the description, descriptions indicating directions such as left and right, front and rear, and up and down are based on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in each drawing. That is, the Y axis is the front-rear direction, the X axis is the left and right direction, and the Z axis is the vertical direction. Of course, the left and right, front and rear, and up and down directions are relative concepts, and are not limited to specific directions, respectively, and may be understood differently depending on the viewing direction.

In addition, the term "fluid" hereinafter is not a concept limited to a specific phase. That is, “fluid” may be a liquid substance, a mixture of a fluid and a solid, or a colloidal or gel form. Therefore, in the present specification, “fluid” may be understood as a general “material”, and the meaning of “fluid” is not changed even if the term is used differently as “material”.

<Structure of specimen separation device 100>

1 is an overall perspective view of a sample separation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sample separation device mounted in the sample separation system of FIG. 1. 3 is a plan view of the sample separation device excluding the container transfer module in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the sample separation device of FIG. 2.

1 to 4, a sample separation system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided to separate a sample from a human body or an animal, and includes a sample separation device 100 in the housing. . Here, the specimen refers to serum, plasma, chromosomes, DNA, RNA proteins, etc. collected from a human body or an animal or separated from tissues, cells, blood, body fluids, urine, feces, and the like. The housing may have a front surface open so that an operator can manipulate the specimen separation device 100 provided therein, and a door 18 may be provided at the opened portion. In addition, as a user interface for operating the specimen separation device 100, a monitor 14, a keyboard 16, and the like may be provided. A HEPA filter 12 is provided on the upper part of the housing to purify the air inside the housing to keep it clean.

The sample separation device 100 includes a container storage module 170, a container transfer module 130, an automatic pipette module 140, a decapper module 150, a bucket module 124, a bucket transfer module 120, and a centrifugal It includes a separation module 190 and a height measurement module 110.

The container storage module 170 accommodates a plurality of containers 172 of various types, and the types of the container 172 are blood tubes, C-Tube (Conical-Tube), PBS (Phosphate-Buffered Saline) tubes, T -spot (Tuberculosis-Spot) may be included. The container 172 contains a specimen therein, and a lid (CAP) capable of opening and closing may be provided at the top. Meanwhile, separate from the container storage module 172, a lid may be opened or closed, and a container operation module 171 for storing a container in which a height measurement and fluid dispensing are performed may be included.

The container transfer module 130 may grip the containers 172 accommodated in the container storage module 170 and transfer them to a module requiring processing. Specifically, the frame 135 of the container transfer module 130 can be transferred in the X-axis direction along the guide groove 103 provided in the base 102 of the specimen separation device 100. Accordingly, the gripper 133 (see FIG. 7) and the automatic pipette module 140 can be transferred in the X-axis direction. In addition, the gripper 133 and the automatic pipette module 140 may be transported along the Y axis by the Y axis driving unit 137, and may be transported vertically along the Z axis by the Z axis driving unit 139.

The automatic pipette module 140 is connected to the container transfer module 130 and can be transferred in the X-axis and Y-axis directions together with the container transfer module 130, and sucks the fluid contained in the container 172 or other fluid into the container. Can be busy. The automatic pipette module 140 can be moved to a desired position because it can be transferred in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.

The decapper module 150 is provided to open or close the lid of the container 172 so that fluid can be sucked or dispensed by the automatic pipette module 140. The decapper module 150 can be transferred to the X-axis and the Y-axis through an X-axis transfer mechanism 151 and a Y-axis transfer mechanism 152 (see FIG. 8) composed of a rail and a motor actuator. Accordingly, it is possible to open the lid by accessing the lid of a required container among the containers accommodated in the container operation module 171.

The bucket module 124 is provided to collect and transport containers required for centrifugation among the containers accommodated in the container operation module 171, and can accommodate a plurality of containers and centrifuge samples contained in several containers at a time. .

The bucket transfer module 120 is provided to grip the bucket module 124 and transfer it to the centrifugal separation module 190. The bucket transfer module 120 includes a Y-axis bucket transfer mechanism 121 (see FIG. 9) and a Z-axis bucket transfer mechanism 122 (see FIG. 9) to transfer the bucket module 124 to the Y-axis and Z-axis. I can.

The centrifugal separation module 190 accommodates and rotates the bucket module 124 transferred by the bucket transfer module 120, thereby centrifuging samples of containers in the bucket module 124 for each type.

On the other hand, the specimen separation apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a frozen vial storage module 176 that stores a plurality of frozen vial (Cryovial) containers. The container transfer module 130 may grip containers accommodated in the frozen vial storage module 176 and transfer them to a module requiring processing.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a C-Tube including PBMC from which layers are separated.

Referring to FIG. 5, when blood is centrifuged from among the specimens, the layers are divided and separated. The C-Tube (172) container is provided with a cap on the top, and from the bottom layer to the top layer, RBC (Red Blood Cell; Red Blood Cell), PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell; peripheral blood mononuclear cells), plasma (Plasma) It is formed separately in order. Here, the C-Tube may include various tubes such as Leucosep, Unisep, SepMate, etc. in addition to the Conical Tube. The tubes are configured to be layered well with a membrane filter in the middle of the tube body, or have materials such as Ficoll-Plaque and Lymphoprep, so that layer separation can be performed due to a difference in density.

The height measurement module 110 may measure the height of the sample by obtaining an image of the sample in the container in which centrifugation has been completed. The height measurement module 110 may include a camera 114 (see FIG. 8) and a lighting 116 (see FIG. 8) to acquire an image of the specimen.

<Container transfer module and automatic pipette module>

6 is a perspective view showing a container transfer module and an automatic pipette module, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a container transfer module and an automatic pipette module.

2, 3, 6, and 7, in this embodiment, a plurality of containers are accommodated in the container operation module 171. The container transfer module 130 may grip and transfer the container in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Accordingly, the container transfer module 130 grips a desired container from among a plurality of containers stored in the container storage module 170 or a plurality of frozen vial containers stored in the frozen vial storage module 176, and the container operation module 171 Can be transferred to. In addition, a desired container may be gripped from among a plurality of containers accommodated in the container operation module 171 and transferred to the bucket module 124. In addition, the container accommodated in the bucket module 124 in which centrifugation is completed may be gripped again and transferred to the container operation module 171.

In this embodiment, the container transfer module 130 and the automatic pipette module 140 may be connected and moved together in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Container transfer module 130 is a gripper 133 for gripping the lid of the container and a solenoid 132 for adjusting the width of the gripper 133. And it may include a rotating mechanism 131 for rotating the gripper 133. When the container transfer module 130 approaches the desired container and is positioned on the lid of the container, the solenoid 132 operates to reduce the width of the gripper 133 to grip the lid of the container. With the gripper 133 holding the lid of the container, the lid can be opened or closed by rotating it clockwise or counterclockwise by the rotation mechanism 131.

The automatic pipette module 140 may include a tip 141 for sucking or dispensing a fluid and a solenoid 142 for moving the tip 141 up and down. The tip 141 is a disposable tip and may be discarded in the tool storage module 160 after use and replaced with a new tip. The automatic pipette module 140 may be equipped with a disposable tip to suck fluid in a container and dispense it into another container, and then remove and discard the disposable tip.

<Decapper module and height measurement module>

8 is a diagram showing a decapper module and a height measuring module.

2, 3, and 8, the decapper module 150 includes a decapper grip part 153 for holding a container and a solenoid 154 for adjusting the width of the decapper grip part 153, It includes an X-axis transfer mechanism 151 and a Y-axis transfer mechanism 152 for transferring the decapper module 150 to the X-axis and Y-axis.

With the decapper grip part 153 of the decapper module 150 holding the body at the bottom of the container, the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130 holding the container lid, the rotation mechanism of the container transfer module 130 ( Rotating 131) may open or close the container lid.

The height measurement module 110 may be connected to the decapper module 150 and moved together, and may include a camera 114 and a lighting 116 capable of acquiring an image to measure the height of the specimen in the container. . The height measurement module 110 may be transferred in the X-axis direction by the X-axis transfer mechanism 151. The height measurement module 110 may classify the layers of the sample contents through image processing.

<Bucket transfer module and centrifugation module>

9 is a perspective view showing the bucket transfer module and the centrifugal separation module, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bucket transfer module and the centrifugal separation module of FIG. 9.

9 and 10, the bucket transfer module 120 may be transferred in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction by the Y-axis bucket transfer mechanism 121 and the Z-axis bucket transfer mechanism 122. The bucket transfer module 120 includes a bucket gripper 128 capable of gripping the bucket module 124 and a solenoid 126 capable of adjusting the width of the bucket gripper 128. The bucket transfer module 120 transfers the bucket module 124 accommodating a container containing a sample requiring centrifugation in a gripped state, and mounts it in the case 192 of the centrifugation module 190.

The centrifugal separation module 190 may be located under the bucket transfer module 120 and under the base 102 of the specimen separation device 100. The centrifugal separation module 190 connects the case 192 in the form of a housing, a pocket part 195 for mounting the bucket module 124 in the case 192, and a pair of pocket parts 195 to each other. It may include a rotor 193 and a centrifugal separation motor 191 for rotating the rotor 193. In addition, a door 194 capable of automatically opening and closing may be provided on the upper part of the case 192. Accordingly, when the bucket module 124 is to be mounted, the door 194 is automatically opened and the pocket part 195 is positioned in the correct position, and the bucket module 124 is transferred by the bucket transfer module 120. It may be mounted on the pocket portion 195. Since the pair of pocket portions 195 are symmetrically connected with respect to the rotor 193, when the bucket module 124 is mounted on both of the pair of pocket portions 195, the center of gravity during the start of centrifugation Can reduce vibration and noise. When the centrifugation is completed, when the rotation of the pocket portion 195 is completely stopped, the pocket portion 195 is positioned in its original position and the door 194 is opened. Thereafter, the bucket transfer module 120 may grip the bucket module 124 and take it out of the centrifugation module 190. In this embodiment, since the centrifugal separation module 190 is located under the bucket transfer module 120, the overall size of the specimen separation device 100 can be reduced. In addition, by providing the door 194, it is possible to prevent contamination that may occur when air generated during centrifugation flows upward.

<Tool storage module and solution storage module>

11 is a diagram illustrating a tool storage module, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a solution storage module.

2 and 3. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the specimen separation apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a tool storage module 160. The tool storage module 160 includes a tip box 162 for storing the disposable pipette tip 141 used in the automatic pipette module 140 and a tip processing unit 164 in which the used disposable pipette tip 141 is processed. can do. In addition, the fluid processing unit 166 in which the used fluid is processed may be disposed adjacent to the tip processing unit 164. In addition, at the bottom of the tip processing unit 164 and the fluid processing unit 166, a disposable tip 141 discarded from the tip processing unit 164 and a recovery rack 167 for discarding the fluid discarded in the fluid processing unit 166 are provided. Can be.

The sample separation apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a solution storage module 180. The solution storage module 190 includes a container storage rack 188 capable of mounting a solution container 186 for accommodating a cryo reagent (refrigerant reagent such as DMSO), a washing solution (cleaning solution), and the like, and a cover for preventing contamination ( 182, and a solenoid 184 capable of automatically opening or closing the cover 182 may be included. When the automatic pipette module 140 is transferred to the solution storage module 180 by the container transfer module 130, the cover 182 is automatically opened by the solenoid 184, and the automatic pipette module 140 is a solution container. The solution within (186) can be inhaled.

<Sample separation method-PBMC separation>

Hereinafter, a method for separating a sample using the sample separating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

13 is a flow chart showing a method for separating a specimen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, in the sample separation method 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, in step S101, the blood tube, C-Tube, and PBS tube in the container storage module 170 are transferred to the container transfer module ( It is gripped using the gripper 133 of 130). Thereafter, in step S102, the container gripped by the gripper 133 is transferred to the container operation module 171. Thereafter, in step S103, the container body is held by the decapper module 150, and the container lid is rotated relative to the container body by rotating the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130 to open the container. do. Thereafter, in step S104, the blood in the blood tube is sucked using the automatic pipette module 140 and dispensed into the C-Tube. Here, when there are several specimens from the same patient, the above operation can be repeated. Next, in step S105, the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130 is rotated in reverse to close the lid of the blood tube, the C-Tube, and the PBS tube. Thereafter, in step S106, the blood tube and the PBS tube are transferred to the container storage module 170 using the container transfer module 130, and the C-Tube is transferred to the bucket module 124 for centrifugation. do. Here, if there are samples from several patients, the above process can be repeated. Next, in step S107, the bucket module 124 accommodating the C-Tube is transferred to the centrifugation module 190 using the bucket transfer module 120, and centrifugation is performed. Thereafter, in step S108, the C-Tube, which has been centrifuged from the centrifugation module 190, is taken out using the bucket transfer module 120, and then the C-Tube is removed by using the container transfer module 130. Transfer to the container operation module 171. Next, in step S109, the lid of the C-Tube is opened by using the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130 and the decapper grip part 153 of the decapper module 150. Next, in step S110, the image of the C-Tube is obtained using the height measuring module 110, and the height and position of the PBMC are measured from the acquired image. In step S111, the PBMC is sucked and separated using the automatic pipette module 140. Here, using the automatic pipette module 140, the plasma of the upper layer of the C-Tube is first sucked and discarded in the fluid processing unit, and the PBMC located in the next layer is sucked using the automatic pipette module 140 to obtain a new C- By dispensing into a tube, it is possible to complete the separation of the PBMC from the blood.

<Dispensing cryovial after separation of PBMC>

14 is a flow chart showing dispensing a frozen vial according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, the PBMC isolated in the above-described embodiment can be directly used for analysis such as ELISpot (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot), but can be stored frozen for a long time. In order to keep the separated PBMC frozen, it must be transferred to a frozen vial and stored. In the method of dispensing the PBMC into a frozen vial, first, in step S201, the number of cells in the PBMC is measured in advance, and the number of cells is input into a sample separation device. The amount of Cryo reagent required according to the ratio of the number of cells in the PMBC is automatically calculated, and the Cryo reagent is dispensed into a container containing the PBMC. Thereafter, in step S202, the container containing the processed PBMC is picked up by the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130 and moved to the container operation module 171. In addition, the frozen vial container in the frozen vial storage module 176 is picked up by the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130, and the frozen vial container is moved to the container operation module 171. Next, in step (S203), using the decapper grip portion 153 of the decapper module 150 and the gripper 133 of the container transfer module 130, the container containing the PBMC and the frozen vial container Turn the lid to open it. Thereafter, in step S204, the PBMC solution is aspirated using the automatic pipette module 140 and dispensed into the frozen vial container, and the Cryo reagent in the solution storage module 180 is sucked, and the frozen vial container Busy with Next, the frozen vial container is stored frozen in step S205.

According to the specimen separation apparatus according to the above-described embodiments, various types of specimens can be automatically separated. Therefore, compared to the conventional manual separation process, since the entire sample separation process is automatically performed, time and cost in the separation process can be saved, and contamination of the sample due to an operator's mistake can be prevented. .

In addition, it is possible to divide the layer of the sample contents through centrifugation, automatically measure the height of the sample contents through the camera image, and effectively separate the necessary sample contents through the automatic pipette module.

In addition, a container transfer module capable of transferring various containers and a decapper module that opens or closes the lid of a container containing a sample, and a bucket transfer module that automatically transfers containers that need centrifugation to the centrifuge module. Equipped with, it can automatically perform even the centrifugation process.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. .

Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be determined, and should not be determined by the claims to be described later, but also by those equivalents to the claims.

10: sample separation system 12: HEPA filter
18: door 100: sample separation device
102: base 103: guide groove
110: height measurement module 114: camera
116: illumination 120: bucket transfer module
121: Y-axis bucket transfer mechanism 122: Z-axis bucket transfer mechanism
124: bucket module 126: solenoid
128: bucket gripper 130: container transfer module
131: rotating mechanism 132: solenoid
133: gripper 135: frame
137: Y-axis driving unit 139: Z-axis driving unit
140: automatic pipette module 141: tip
142: solenoid 150: decapper module
151: X-axis transfer mechanism 152: Y-axis transfer mechanism
153: decapper grip 154: solenoid
160: tool storage module 162: tip box
164: tip treatment unit 166: fluid treatment unit
167: recovery rack 170: container storage module
171: vessel operation module 172: vessel
176: frozen vial storage module 180: solution storage module
182: cover 184: solenoid
186: solution container 188: container storage rack
190: centrifugation module 191: motor
192: case 193: rotor
194: door 195: pocket portion

Claims (14)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete As a sample separation method using a sample separation device that automatically separates the sample,
A first step of gripping the blood tube, C-Tube, and PBS tube in the container storage module with a gripper of the container transfer module;
A second step of moving the container held by the gripper to a container operation module;
A third step of gripping the main body of the container with a decapper module and opening the lid of the container using the gripper;
A fourth step of suctioning blood in the blood tube and dispensing it into the C-Tube using an automatic pipette module;
A fifth step of gripping the blood tube, the C-Tube, and the PBS tube with the decapper module, and closing the caps of the blood tube, the C-Tube, and the PBS tube using the gripper;
A sixth step of transferring the blood tube and the PBS tube to the container storage module using the container transfer module, and transferring the C-Tube to a bucket module for centrifugation;
A seventh step of transferring the bucket module to a centrifugation module and performing centrifugation using a bucket transfer module;
An eighth step of removing the centrifuged C-Tube from the centrifugation module using the bucket transfer module and transferring the centrifuged C-Tube to the container working module using the container transfer module;
A ninth step of gripping the main body of the C-Tube with the decapper module and opening the lid of the C-Tube using the gripper;
A tenth step of obtaining an image of the C-Tube using a height measuring module and measuring the height of the PBMC from the obtained image; And
The method for separating a specimen comprising; an 11th step of suctioning and separating the PBMC using the automatic pipette module.
The method of claim 12,
The height measurement module,
A method for separating a sample by acquiring an image of the sample through a camera to separate the layers of the sample contents.
The method of claim 12,
A twelfth step of measuring the number of separated PBMC cells and inputting them to the sample separation device, and automatically dispensing a frozen reagent to the automatic picket module according to the number of cells of the PBMC;
A thirteenth step of transferring the container containing the frozen vial container and the PBMC to the container operation module;
A 14th step of opening the lid of the frozen vial container and the lid of the container containing the PBMC using the decapper module and the gripper;
A fifteenth step of dispensing the PBMC from which the frozen reagent is dispensed into the frozen vial container using the automatic pipette module; And
The method of separating a sample comprising a; 16th step of freezing and storing the frozen vial container.

Images