JPH0688827A - Unplugging method and automatic unplugging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unplug liquid collecting tubes even when a tube having a different outside diameter, height, plug, etc., is mixed in the tubes by again pressing a different part of a plug after setting the plug to an intermediately unplugged state by pressing one part of the plug from one pressing direction. CONSTITUTION:After sealing the main body 1 of a liquid collecting tube containing a sample 4 with a plug 2, a fixture 3 fixes the main body 1. The fixture 3 can be rotated to an arbitrary angle by means of a rotating means while the fixture 3 fixes the main body 1. A pushing means 5 performs the first pushing on the plug 2 fitted to the main body 1 by pushing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the plug 2 toward the center axis of the plug 2 in the horizontal direction. As a result, the plug 2 is set to an intermediately unplugged state in which the plug 2 is obliquely tilted rightward. Then the main body 1 is rotated by 90 deg. together with the fixture 3 by operating the rotating means and the liquid collecting tube is unplugged by again pushing the plug 2 while the tube is fixed in the same state. Therefore, plugged tubes can be unplugged even with such a weak pushing force that cannot unplug the tubes at once.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for opening a collection tube and an automatic opening device, and more particularly, to a blood collection tube with a plug or the like which can be opened without touching a person directly in a clinical test. The present invention relates to a method for opening a sampling tube and an automatic opening device using the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Vacuum blood collection tubes are becoming more popular in the clinical examination field. This vacuum blood collection tube uses a rubber stopper as a sealing stopper in order to keep the degree of vacuum inside constant for a long period of time. After blood collection, the blood is centrifuged to separate it into serum and blood clots, and the rubber stopper must be removed to take out the serum thereafter. In the past, all this was done by manually twisting and removing the rubber stopper. However, when humans open a large number of hands, the fingers may be peeled off or tendonitis may occur. In addition, there is always a risk of hand injury due to container damage, catching on the container end surface, etc.Including the case of hand injury, there is a constant risk of infection due to highly infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. I had a big safety problem because I was concerned.

In order to improve these, for example, JP-A-1-
In the "vacuum blood collection tube opening device" in Japanese Patent No. 263558, the blood collection tube is fixed, and the rubber stopper is twisted by sequentially applying stress from the left and right directions, and the rubber stopper is gradually moved upward to open the blood collection tube. A method is disclosed. Also, the actual Kaihei 2-
The "rubber plug removing device" in Japanese Patent No. 128949 discloses a method of fixing a blood collection tube and pushing up the rubber plug from diagonally downward to diagonally upward to open it. However, the opening method that is the principle of these opening devices is
It is merely a mechanized operation of opening a stopper by a human hand, and the operation is complicated or a large force is required to open the stopper. Further, it is assumed that the opening devices disclosed in these are applicable to blood collection tubes having the same outer diameter, height, stopper, etc., and are compatible with the case where blood collection tubes having different shapes are mixed. The openable device that can be used has not been put to practical use yet.

[0004]

On the other hand, at the actual examination site such as a clinical examination center, it is difficult to narrow down the type of blood collection tube to one. That is, it may be necessary to receive an inspection request with a blood collection tube other than a blood collection tube designated by a clinical laboratory center, and the blood collection tubes other than such designation often have different shapes. Under such circumstances, there is a great demand for a cap opening device that can handle cases where blood collection tubes having different shapes are mixed.

However, as described above, such a device has not yet been put into practical use. The reason for this is that the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube cannot be easily removed because it is held in a well-sealed state. It can be cited that complicated operations such as twisting of the rubber stopper and large force were required at the time of stoppering. Therefore, in order to put into practical use a capping device that can handle cases where blood collection tubes with different shapes are mixed, it is not a method that merely mechanicalizes the operation that a person opens by hand, but compatibility of mechanization. There was a need to create an entirely new, more simplified opening method with. The object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, the outer diameter, the height, even if the sample tubes of different shapes such as stoppers are mixed, a person can open the stopper without directly touching it, and further,
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of opening a liquid collection tube with a stopper, which is more suitable for mechanization, and an automatic opening device using the method.

[0006]

The summary of the present invention is as follows.
It exists in the following (1)-(5). (1) In a method of opening a sampling tube with a stopper, in which the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube is pressed toward the central axis of the sampling tube by a pressing means, one part from one pressing direction A method for opening a sampling tube with a stopper, which comprises pressing the stopper to bring the stopper into an intermediate opened state and then pressing a different portion of the stopper again. (2) Automatic cap opening device including fixing means for fixing the sample tube and pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube In (1), a sample tube is fixed so that one part of the stopper of the fixed sample tube is pressed by the pressing means to bring the stopper into an intermediate open state, and then another part of the stopper can be pressed again by the pressing means. An automatic opening device which is provided with a rotating means for rotating.

(3) Automatic with a fixing means for fixing the sample tube and a pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube In the cap opening device, one part of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube is pressed by one pressing means to bring the plug into an intermediate opening state, and then another part of the stopper is pressed so that another part can be pressed again. An automatic opening device, characterized in that it is provided with means. (4) Automatic cap opening device including fixing means for fixing the sample tube and pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube In (1), one part of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, and then the liquid sampling tube is moved to move the different part of the stopper. Other fixing means for fixing the sample tube after the movement so as to be able to be pressed again, moving means for moving the sample tube between the respective fixing means, and other pressing means for pressing the stopper of the sample tube after the movement. An automatic opening device characterized by being provided.

(5) Automatic with a fixing means for fixing the sample tube and a pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube In the cap opening device, one portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opening state, and then the liquid collecting tube is moved to move the stopper. Other fixing means for fixing the sample tube after movement so as to be able to press a different part again, moving means for moving the sample tube between each fixing means, rotating means for rotating the sample tube, and sample after movement. An automatic cap opening device comprising another pressing means for pressing a stopper of a liquid pipe.

The shape of the outer diameter, height, etc. of the sampling tube with a stopper which is the object of the opening method of the present invention is not particularly limited, and the stopper attached to the sampling tube is made of rubber or heat. There is no particular limitation as long as it is made of a material having elasticity to some extent, such as a plastic elastomer or a plastic.

According to the opening method of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper attached to the fixed sampling tube is pressed toward the central axis of the sampling tube by the pressing means. In a method of opening a stoppered liquid collection tube for opening by pressing, in the intermediate opening state of the stopper by pressing one portion from one pressing direction,
It is characterized in that a different portion of the stopper is pressed again to open the stopper. Here, the pressing by the pressing means is performed toward the central axis of the sample tube, but the direction of the force may be any direction as long as it has a force component in the direction toward the central axis. . However, in order to enable opening with a weaker force, it is preferable to have a force component in the upper direction of the central axis (opening direction). The pressing is performed on the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper attached to the sample tube, and the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion refers to the outer peripheral surface of the plug head that is gripped during normal opening of the stopper.

In the present invention, the intermediate open state means a state in which the stopper is changed from the initial closed state but does not reach the open state, for example, a part or all of the stopper moves upward, or It refers to the state of being inclined.

[0012] The second pressing is to press a different portion of the stopper in such an intermediate opened state, but when the sampling tube is used as a reference, the pressing direction is always different from the first pressing direction. Therefore, the second pressing is performed. At this time, the first pressing and the second pressing each have a force component perpendicular to the central axis of the liquid sampling tube, but when the angle formed by each is θ, in the present invention, this θ is usually 30 ° to 18
The range is 0 °, preferably 90 ° to 180 ° (where θ is 0 ° to 180 °). When θ is smaller than 30 °, the effect of the second pressing becomes small and the meaning of changing the pressing direction becomes small.

As described above, the second pressing may be performed as long as it presses different parts of the stopper in the intermediate opened state. Even if the sample tube is fixed and the second pressing is performed by different pressing means. Alternatively, the liquid collection tube itself may be rotated, and the same pressing means may be used to press again from the same direction. In the present invention, it is desirable to open the stopper of the liquid collection tube by such double pressing, but in the case of a liquid collection tube that is difficult to open or when the pressing force is weak, it is possible to press from other pressing directions. You may press. The second pressing may be performed at the same place as the first pressing, but may be performed at a different place by moving the sample tube after the first pressing for the reason described later.

The automatic opening device of the present invention utilizes the above-described opening method, and the structure thereof is as follows. (1) A sample is collected so that one part of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube is pressed by the pressing means to bring the stopper into an intermediate opening state, and then another part of the stopper can be pressed again by the pressing means. It is equipped with rotating means to rotate the tube. (2) After pressing one portion of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube with one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, another pressing means is provided so that another portion of the stopper can be pressed again. The one provided.

(3) After one portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, the sampling tube is moved to stop the stopper. Other fixing means for fixing the sample tube after the movement so that the sample tube can be pressed again, moving means for moving the sample tube between the respective fixing means, and pressing the stopper of the sample tube after the movement Equipped with a pressing means. (4) After one portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to open the stopper in the intermediate state, the sampling tube is moved to a different portion of the stopper. So as to be able to press again, other fixing means for fixing the liquid collection tube after the movement, moving means for moving the liquid collection tube between the respective fixing means, rotating means for rotating the liquid collection tube, and liquid collection tube after the movement Other pressing means for pressing the stopper of.

The fixing means for fixing the sample tube is not limited as long as it can fix the sample tube body by sandwiching it. The pressing means is not limited as long as it can press the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper of the liquid collection tube fixed by such fixing means toward the central axis of the liquid collection tube. For example, the pressing head portion that comes into contact with the stopper may have a pressing force and a stroke that allow the stopper to be in the intermediate opened state. When a plurality of pressing means are provided, each pressing means may be installed so that the pressing direction changes by an amount corresponding to the above θ. The rotating means is not limited as long as it rotates the sample tube by the amount corresponding to the above θ, and may be the sample tube alone or the fixing means. . Further, in order to simplify and miniaturize the device, a rotating roller that is in pressure contact with the liquid sampling tube body may be used, and this may be used together with the fixing means.

When a plurality of fixing means are provided, the moving means is
It is not limited as long as it can move the sampling tube between the respective fixing means, and it can be moved by the sampling tube alone.
It may be moved together with a rack or the like. In this way, by providing the moving means and moving the liquid collection tube after the first pressing, and pressing at different places, the first pressing and the second pressing can be performed in parallel. It is possible to increase the opening speed of the plug. In the automatic cap opening device of the present invention, whether or not the cap is reliably opened may be detected by, for example, an optical sensor, and the next pressing may be performed only when the cap is not opened.

In the automatic opening device of the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously open a plurality of stoppers by providing a plurality of the above means and performing each operation in parallel. By doing so, it is possible to shorten the time for opening the stopper for each liquid collection tube performed by one device. Further, the automatic capping device of the present invention enables the continuous opening of a large number of stoppered sampling tubes in a fully automatic manner by controlling the above series of operations with a sequence controller or the like and repeating the operations. May be. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a plug can be detected by an optical sensor or the like to recognize in advance whether the plug needs to be opened.

[0019]

In the opening method and the automatic opening device of the present invention, by pressing different portions of the stopper of the sampling tube at least twice as described above, the stopper cannot be opened by only pressing once from one direction. Even when it is impossible, the opening force can be opened, and even when the opening can be performed by pressing from one direction, the pressing force can be made smaller. That is, in general, the stopper of the liquid collection tube has a maximum value before opening, which increases the stress due to the deformation as the deformation of the stopper progresses from the initial state by pressing, which may hinder the opening. .
In such a case, if the pressing is stopped, the plug is tilted or deformed (intermediate open state), but there is no great difference in the maximum value even if it is pressed again from the same direction, but like the present invention. By pressing from a direction different from the first pressing, it is possible to easily open the plug with a smaller pressing force as if pressing the plug in a loose state. In addition, even for a sampling tube that is initially in a depressurized state, a second pressing may be possible after a gap is created between the stopper and the sampling tube by the first pressing to return the inside pressure to atmospheric pressure. .

[0020]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1 In the opening method of the present invention, one part of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube was pressed by the pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, and then the rotation tube was used to rotate the sampling tube. 1 to 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the plug is rotated and different parts of the plug are pressed again by the pressing means. The liquid collection tube body 1 is sealed with a stopper 2, and a sample 4 is contained inside. The liquid collection tube body 1 is fixed by a fixture 3 (FIG. 1). The fixture 3 can be rotated at an arbitrary angle while the liquid collection tube body 1 is fixed by the operation of the rotating means.

The outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper 2 attached to the liquid sampling tube main body 1 thus fixed is pressed in the horizontal direction (direction at 90 ° to the central axis) toward the central axis. It was pressed by means 5 (pressing force: 1.0 kgf), and the first pressing was performed (FIG. 1). By this pressing, the stopper 2 was in an intermediate opened state in which it was inclined obliquely to the right (FIG. 2). Next, the rotating means is operated to rotate the sample tube body 1 together with the fixture 3 by 90 °, and the sample tube is pressed with the same force again by the pressing means 5 while being fixed in this state (FIG. 3). It was opened. As described above, according to the opening method of the present invention, the stoppered liquid collection tube can be opened even with a weak pressing force that cannot be opened by pressing once.

Comparative Example 1 In Example 1, except that the sample tube was not rotated.
Similarly, an attempt was made to open the sampling tube by pressing twice with the same pressing force as in Example 1. However, pressing from the same direction could not open the sampling tube.

Embodiment 2 In the opening method of the present invention, one portion of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube is pressed by one pressing means to bring the stopper into an intermediate opened state, and then another pressing means. The plug opening method of pressing the different parts of the plug again by means of will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collection tube body 1 is sealed with a stopper 2, and a sample 4 is contained inside. The liquid sampling tube body 1 is fixed by a fixture 3.

The outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper 2 attached to the liquid sampling tube main body 1 thus fixed is horizontally pressed toward the central axis by the pressing means 5 (pressing force:
The first pressing was performed at 1.0 kgf). Due to this pressing, the stopper 2 is in an intermediate opened state in which it is inclined obliquely to the right. Next, by using another pressing means 6 provided at a position where θ is 180 °, pressing (pressing force: 0.8 kgf) is performed in an obliquely upward direction (φ = 45 °) (FIG. 4), and the sampling tube Was opened. At this time, although the second pressing was performed with a weaker force than the first pressing, the stoppered liquid collection tube could be easily opened.

Example 3 A specific structural example of the automatic opening device of the present invention for opening five liquid collection tubes in parallel will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The liquid collection tube that can be used in the automatic opening device of the present invention is a blood collection tube used for blood tests in the field of clinical testing, and the size of the blood collection tube has an outer diameter of 13
φ or 16φ, height is 75mm or 100m
There are 4 types of m. Such a difference in size is recognized by using an optical sensor, and when the blood collection tube is fixed at the time of opening, the fixing position of the blood collection tube is mechanically adjusted. These blood collection tube stoppers are rubber or plastic stoppers and have a shape capable of sealing the blood collection tube. In addition, the blood collection tube body 18 is sealed with the stopper 2 and depressurized (0.3
kgf / cm ² ) and blood 19 is contained inside.

FIG. 5 is an overall view (plan view and right side view) of the automatic cap opening device of the present invention. First, the overall configuration will be described. The blood collection tube 15 is held by a rack 16 of a quintuple type. The rack 16 can be transferred with the blood collection tube 15 standing upright, and passes from the rack storage section 10 through the size determination section 11 and the opening section 12 to the rack collection section 13.
To be used for various operations such as opening. By performing the operation on the five blood collection tubes 15 in parallel in this way, it is possible to open the five blood collection tubes at the same time, and it is possible to enhance the efficiency of the apparatus for the opening treatment. Further, a plug disposal container 14 is provided in the lower front portion of the plug opening portion 12.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the cap opening portion 12 of the automatic cap opening device of FIG.
The structure of is shown by a partial left side view and a partial plan view, and the details of the opening operation will be described. The rack 16 transferred from the size determination section 11 stops at the opening section 12. The fixing means has a rack fixing tool 8 which is a movable portion, and moves in the direction of the rack 16 to fix the rack 16 such that it is sandwiched between the rack fixing tool 8 and the transfer guide 9. In this state, the blood collection tube 15 is rotatably held by the rack 16, and the rotating roller 7 further presses the blood collection tube body 18 to fix the blood collection tube body 18.

It is installed so that it can be pressed obliquely upward (φ = 30 °) toward the central axis of the blood collection tube against the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper 2 attached to the body 18 of the blood collection tube fixed in this way. The first pressing (pressing force: 0.8 kgf) is performed using the pressed pressing means 5. By this pressing, the stopper 2 is brought into an intermediate opened state in which the stopper 2 is inclined obliquely to the right. Next, the rotating roller 7 pressed against the blood collection tube main body 18 is rotated to rotate the blood collection tube main body 18 by 90 °. That is, the rotating roller 7 has a role of a rotating unit and a fixing unit, which allows the device to be simplified and downsized. In this way, the blood collection tube body 1
In the state where 8 is fixed, the pressing means 5 again presses with the same force to open the blood collection tube 15.

After the stopper is opened, the stopper 2 is guided by the inclined chute 17 and falls into the stopper waste container 14. On the other hand, the rack fixing tool 8 and the rotating roller 7 move to a position that does not hinder the transfer of the blood collection tube 15, the blood collection tube 15 is transferred together with the rack 16, and at the same time, the blood collection tube 15 in the closed state is opened. Are transferred to. By controlling the above-described series of operations with the sequence controller and repeating the operations, it is possible to open the multiple blood collection tubes with stoppers continuously and fully automatically.

[0031]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the method for opening a sampling tube with a stopper according to the present invention, even if a sampling tube having a different shape such as an outer diameter, a height and a stopper is mixed, the stopper is opened without a person directly touching it. In addition, this method does not require complicated operation or a large driving force, is a general-purpose and simplified opening method, and is extremely suitable for mechanization. Therefore, it is easy to automate, and the automatic opening device of the present invention using this can automatically open even the sampling tubes of different shapes and the like, and viral infection such as when humans manually open the tube. There is no danger of such as. Further, automation can save labor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of an opening method of the present invention (Example 1).
Is a front view.

FIG. 2 is an example of an opening method of the present invention (Example 1).
Is a front view.

FIG. 3 is an example of an opening method of the present invention (Example 1).
Is a front view.

FIG. 4 is an example of the opening method of the present invention (Example 2).
Is a front view.

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a right side view showing an example (Embodiment 3) of the automatic cap opening device of the present invention.

6 is a partial plan view and a partial left side view showing the structure of an opening portion of the automatic opening device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Liquid Collection Tube Main Body 2 Stopper 3 Fixing Tool 4 Sample 5 Pressing Means 6 Other Pressing Means 7 Rotating Roller 8 Rack Fixing Tool 9 Transfer Guide 10 Rack Storage Section 11 Size Determining Section 12 Opening Section 13 Rack Collection Section 14 Plug Disposal Container 15 Blood collection tube 16 Rack 17 Inclined shoot 18 Blood collection tube main body 19 Blood

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for opening a sampling tube with a stopper, wherein an outer peripheral surface of an exposed portion of a stopper of a fixed sampling tube is pressed toward a central axis of the sampling tube by a pressing means, and the method is applied from one pressing direction. A method for opening a sampling tube with a stopper, which comprises pressing an area of the stopper to an intermediate opening state and then pressing a different area of the stopper again. 2. Automatic opening provided with a fixing means for fixing the sample tube and a pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube. In the stopper device, one portion of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube is pressed by the pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, and then the different portion of the stopper is pressed again by the pressing means. An automatic opening device comprising a rotating means for rotating a liquid pipe. 3. Automatic opening provided with a fixing means for fixing the sample tube and a pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube. In the stopper device, after pressing one portion of the stopper of the fixed sampling tube by one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state,
Another automatic opening device is provided with another pressing means so that a different portion of the stopper can be pressed again. 4. An automatic opening equipped with a fixing means for fixing the sample tube and a pressing means for pressing the exposed outer peripheral surface of the stopper of the sample tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the sample tube. In the stopper device, one portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, and then the sampling tube is moved to change the stopper. Other fixing means for fixing the sample tube after movement so that the part can be pressed again, moving means for moving the sample tube between each fixing means, and other pressing for pressing the stopper of the sample tube after movement An automatic opening device, characterized in that it is provided with means. 5. An automatic opening device comprising a fixing means for fixing the liquid sampling tube and a pressing means for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the fixing means toward the central axis of the liquid sampling tube. In the stopper device, one portion of the stopper of the liquid sampling tube fixed by the one fixing means is pressed by the one pressing means to bring the stopper into the intermediate opened state, and then the sampling tube is moved to change the stopper. Other fixing means for fixing the liquid collection tube after the movement so that the region can be pressed again, moving means for moving the liquid collection tube between the respective fixing means, rotating means for rotating the liquid collection tube, and liquid collection after the movement. An automatic cap opening device comprising another pressing means for pressing a plug of a pipe.