JPS6046657B2 - A device for collecting samples separated into two layers - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sampling device for separately collecting two types of samples separated into two layers in one sample container.

For example, blood is separated into serum or plasma and blood cells in a single container, the upper layer of serum and the lower layer of blood cells are collected separately, and each sample is subjected to various tests using an analyzer. .

In this way, when collecting two types of samples separated into two layers in one container, care must be taken to prevent the two samples from mixing or contaminating each other, which may impair the accuracy of the test results and cause errors. There is a risk of giving rise to judgment.

In particular, when collecting a sample from the lower layer, if the sample collection tube is passed through the sample from the upper layer and then inserted into the sample from the lower layer, the sample from the upper layer may stick to the sample tube and be brought into the lower layer, or the boundary between the upper and lower layers may be disturbed. In many cases, the separated samples are mixed together again. Conventional equipment that collects samples separated into two layers is either a simultaneous collection type, in which two collection tubes are inserted into the samples in each layer at the same time, and each sample is inhaled and collected at the same time, or a sample is collected in the upper layer first, and then the sample is collected in the upper layer. It was a mobile collection type in which the sample container was moved and the lower layer sample was collected at a different location.

In the conventional simultaneous sampling type configuration, as mentioned above, the degree of sample mixing and contamination tends to increase when the lower sample collection tube is inserted, and in the mobile sampling type configuration, there is a moving device for the sample container and two stops for this. Since a mechanism is required, the structure of the apparatus is not only complicated, but also the sample container is moved in two stages, which significantly increases the time required for the movement and reduces the sample processing capacity.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain a sample collecting device that does not have the drawbacks of the conventional devices, and the first lifting device is raised and lowered so that the upper layer sample is first collected at one location, and then the lower layer sample is collected at one location. An upper layer sample collection tube held immovably via an arm of the rod and a lower layer sample collection tube supported vertically movably on the arm and raised and lowered by a second lifting device are provided adjacent to each other, Each collection tube was connected to a suction device that performs suction, storage, and discharge, and the suction device and the first and second lifting devices were electrically linked, and after the upper layer sample was collected, the tube was placed on standby outside the sample container. The lower layer sample collection tube descends to collect samples from the lower layer.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. Reference numeral 1 denotes an elevating rod that is vertically movably supported by a base plate 3 via a bearing fitting 2, and holds an upper sample sampling tube 5 immovably via arm pieces 4 and 4a, and allows a lower layer sample sampling tube 6 to be vertically movable. It is supported and is under pressure by a compression spring 7 inserted between the base plate 3 and the arm piece 4a. A first elevating device is composed of a motor fixed on the substrate 3, a cam 9 driven by a drive device 8 consisting of a speed reducer, and a lever 10 with one end in contact with the cam 9. The lever 10 has an intermediate portion pivoted to the case of the drive unit 8 through a shaft 11, and the other end is inserted under a collar 12 fixed to the upper end of the lifting rod, and the collar 12 is pushed downward by the spring 7.
It is in bullet contact with the On the lower surface of the substrate 3, a driving rod 13 and a rotary solenoid 1 for driving the rod are installed as a second lifting device.
4 is attached, and the tip of the striking rod 13 is opposed to a receiving plate 15 attached to the lower sample collection tube 6. The collection tube 6
A flange 16 is attached to the flange 16, a compression spring 17 is inserted between the arm piece 4 and the flange 16, the lower sample collection tube 6 is pushed upward, and the receiving plate 15 is brought into elastic contact with the tip of the rod 13. There is. 18 is a sample container, 19 is an upper layer sample separated in the container, 20 is a lower layer sample, 21 is a container for receiving both samples in a separated state, 22, 23
is a switch that sends a signal to each layer sample to enable inhalation.

In the above embodiment, the sample collection tube is raised and lowered by a cam mechanism, but the raising and lowering device is not limited to the cam mechanism, and a rack and pinion, piston mechanism, etc. may also be used. The conditions in which the sample collection device of the present invention is used are as follows.

In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates the positional relationship between the two collection tubes. (1
) Ready state Lifting rod 1 is pushed up by cam 9 to the position shown in chain lines in FIG. The receiving plate 15 is pushed up and is in contact with the tip of the striking rod 13,
The two sample collection tubes 5 and 6 are placed together in the sample container 1 with their lower ends aligned.
8 (Figure 2).

(2) When the upper sample sampling cam 9 is rotated and the lever 10 is moved to the solid line position in FIG. 1, the lifting rod 1 is pushed down by the compression spring 7, and
Only the upper sample collection tube 5 is lowered and inserted into the upper sample 19 (FIG. 2b).

When this state is reached, the switch 22 is pressed to output an electric signal, and a suction device (not shown) connected to the upper sample collection tube 5 is started to suck up the upper sample 19. At the end of suction, for example, when the suction piston of the suction device presses a switch, the suction device is stopped and the sample is stored in the collection tube 5. Usually, the amount of sample is about 2 cc or less. Note that when collecting this upper layer sample 19, the lower end opening of the upper layer sample collection tube 6 is positioned slightly above the boundary between the upper layer sample 19 and the lower layer sample 20; The ratio of the stroke amount of the lifting rod 1 to the sample container 1 is almost the same as long as the type of sample (for example, human blood) is the same.
By appropriately determining the device 8 and always injecting the same amount of sample into the sample container 18, the lower end opening of the lower sample collection tube 6 can always be stopped at an optimal position.

However, when processing other samples using, for example, a device configured for hematology, the upper sample collection tube 6 may be visually inspected.
Energization to the motor can be manually controlled while rotating the cam 9 at a low speed so that the lower end opening stops at an appropriate position. () Lower layer sample collection When the upper layer sample collection tube is finished, the rotary solenoid 14 is energized and the striking rod 13 is turned on.
is lowered to the solid line position in FIG. 1, the receiving plate 15 is pressed down, and only the lower sample collection tube 6 is lowered and inserted into the lower sample 20 (FIG. 2c).

In this state, when the switch 23 is pressed and an electric signal is output, the suction device (not shown) connected to the lower layer sample collection tube 6 starts to suck up the lower layer sample 20, and the same procedure as in the case of upper layer sample collection is performed. It is temporarily stored in the collection tube 6. 1) Injection into the container 21 When the cam 9 and the rotary solenoid 14 are rotated again to return the lever 10 and the rod 13 to their original states shown by the chain lines in Figure 1, the lifting rod 1 and the lower sample collection tube 6 rise. , both collection tubes 5,
6 is in the state shown in Fig. 2d by aligning the lower ends.

Then, the container 18 is removed, the container 21 is moved under the collection tubes 5 and 6, and each sample sucked in by the suction device is discharged.
Each sample is placed separately in a compartment of the container 21 (Fig. 2e
). Note that even after suction of the upper layer sample is finished, an amount of the upper layer sample remains in the container 18, so the lower layer sample is passed through this. A small amount of the upper layer sample is first sucked into the lower layer sample collection tube 6 inserted into the sample. If a small amount of the sample is left in the lower sample collection tube 6 to prevent the upper sample from being discharged when discharging the sample to the container 21, the upper sample sucked into the lower sample collection tube 6 will be contamination of the underlying sample is avoided.

The remaining sample is prepared separately as in the conventional device. The sample collection device of the present invention is constructed as described above and works in conjunction with the attached suction device, so that unlike the conventional simultaneous suction type, the lower sample collection tube is not able to pass through the upper layer sample that still has a large amount. There is no mixing or contamination due to adhesion or agitation, and unlike mobile sampling systems, the equipment is not complicated and processing capacity is not reduced, allowing accurate sample collection, which is highly effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the lower ends of the two sample collection tubes, illustrating the operation of the tubes.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 An upper layer sample collection tube 5 is held immovably by the lifting rod 1 of the first lifting device via arms 4 and 4a, and is vertically movably supported by the arms 4 and 4a and supported by the second lifting device. A lower layer sample collection tube 6 that can be raised and lowered by the lower layer is provided adjacently, and each of the collection tubes 5 and 6 is connected to a suction device that performs suction, storage, and discharge, and the suction device and the first and second lifting devices are connected to each other. Collection of a sample separated into two layers, characterized in that the lower layer sample collection tube, which is electrically interlocked and has been waiting outside the sample container, descends after the upper layer sample is collected to collect the lower layer sample. Device.