JP4042501B2 - Automatic centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improving the reliability of an automatic centrifuge that performs separation of useful substances such as cells and nucleic acids in fields such as medicine, agriculture, pharmacy, and science.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For automatic biochemical analysis of blood, the container loaded with the sample is loaded into a centrifugal bucket and the bucket is suspended in order to save labor for sample processing, quick response of test results, and prevention of infection by contact processing with the sample. A pretreatment automatic centrifuge has been developed that unloads a container from a bucket after rotating the rotating body to be lowered and ending the centrifugation step. In the biochemistry field, the shape of the sample container is constant in combination with an analytical instrument, and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of JP-A-10-277435 and FIG. 7 of JP-A-11-276933. As described above, the container is positioned by a method in which the container on which the specimen is mounted is moved on the line and stopped at a specific position, and the specimen is a tube containing blood, and the container is disclosed in JP-A-11 As shown in FIG. 3 of -276933, there was a certain length in the vertical direction, and the upper part was gripped and directly carried into the bucket in the centrifuge.
[0003]
On the other hand, in order to separate and extract genetic materials such as DNA, there is an operation of repeating a chemical reaction process by injecting various reagents and a centrifugal separation process. It is necessary to connect to the machine. In addition, a specimen container called a microplate is used for separating the genetic material, and after setting the specimen container at a specific location from the automatic dispenser side, as shown in FIG. 1 of JP-A-2000-176317, an automatic centrifugal separator The handling mechanism on the side is a process for directly carrying in, centrifuging, and carrying out the container.
[0004]
In many cases, genetic material separation / extraction work is at the research level, and there are few cases where a single company is configured as a whole system, and it is inevitable to connect with automatic dispensing machines of each company. Also, there are shallow and deep wells (holes for sample) in the specimen container (microplate) to be used, and they are directly gripped due to differences in height, etc., and are loaded into the bucket in the centrifuge from above. That is difficult. In order to maintain the positional accuracy in the bucket for various sample containers (microplates), it is necessary to reduce the dimensional difference between the bottom of the bucket and the bottom of the sample container. Since the operation amount of the mechanism is limited, it is difficult to grip and carry various sample containers directly from above.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, it is difficult to directly carry in and carry out specimen containers of different sizes by the conveying means. Therefore, a method of transporting using a holding container that can store sample containers of various sizes is effective. However, if the holding container is lifted from the bucket while water or other liquid is accumulated in the bucket, the bottom of the holding container and the bucket are brought into close contact with the surface tension and lifted up to the bucket, causing a problem of falling off the rotating body. . If you rotate it at high speed without knowing this abnormal situation, the automatic centrifuge will break down and splinters will break up, causing a serious accident that may injure your body.
An object of the present invention is to prevent the holding container and the bucket from coming into close contact under the influence of surface tension or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable automatic centrifugal separator that reliably detects an abnormal state even if the bucket drops from the rotating body for some reason when the holding container is lifted, and prevents accidents. To provide an apparatus.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a sample container containing a plurality of samples to be centrifuged, a holding container that holds and holds the sample container, a bucket that can hold the holding container, and a rotating body that suspends the bucket A centrifuge equipped with a servo motor that rotates the rotating body to centrifuge the sample to be centrifuged and executes positioning of the rotating body, a container port that exchanges the sample container and the holding container, In an automatic centrifuge having transport means for transporting the holding container between the container port and the bucket,
In order to remove liquid from the through hole and reduce the surface tension, the problem can be solved by providing a through hole in the bottom of the bucket and further providing a bottom convex portion outside the bottom surface of the holding container.
[0007]
Also, there are provided a process A for conveying the holding container accommodated in the bucket to the container port by the conveying means, and a process B for confirming whether the bucket is suspended from the rotating body immediately after the process A. Can be solved.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic centrifugal separator 1, and FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the automatic centrifugal separator 1. The automatic centrifuge 1 includes a centrifuge 4, a holding container 10, a conveying means 5, a door 7, a container port 8, a refrigerator 25, a rotating body chamber 27 having a loading / unloading port 26, and the like. It is controlled by the control unit 6.
[0009]
The centrifuge 4 rotates to centrifuge the sample container 22 to separate the sample.
[0010]
The transport means 5 transports the holding container 10 between the container port 8 and the bucket 13 in the centrifuge 4. Further, the conveying means 5 presses the door 7 from above in order to prevent the door 7 from lifting due to wind pressure when the door 7 is opened and closed and centrifuged.
[0011]
The refrigerator 25 cools the specimen to be centrifuged by ON / OFF control (temperature control) from the operation / control unit 6.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container port 8. The container port 8 has a role as a delivery place of the sample container 22 with an automatic dispenser (not shown), a sample container transfer unit 2 for setting the sample container 22, a holding container transfer unit 3 for setting the holding container 10, The transmission type sensor {circle around (1)} 9 detects the set of the specimen container 22 and the transmission type sensor {circle around (2)} 23 detects the set of the holding container 10 (fixed to the lower side of the holding container transfer section 3).
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the holding container 10. The holding container 10 has a role of mounting the sample container 22, and includes a side hole 11, a hook 24 having a groove 12, and a bottom convex part 20 on the outside as shown in FIG. The side hole 11 is provided to reduce bending stress due to wind pressure generated in the rotating body chamber 27 by centrifugation. Further, the bottom surface convex portion 20 has a role of reducing the surface tension generated due to the liquid accumulated in the bucket 13 when the holding container 10 is carried out by reducing the contact area with the bucket 13. In the case of water, the thickness of the bottom protrusion 20 is preferably about 0.5 mm or more, and has an effect of reducing the surface tension. The hook 24 is a part that supports the holding container 10 with the finger 18.
[0014]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the centrifuge 4. The centrifuge 4 includes a rotating body 15 and a bucket 13. The bucket 13 is cylindrically supported by a pin 16 fixed to the rotating body 15, and is driven by a motor (servo motor) not shown in the drawing. The rotating body 15 rotates by driving the motor, and the bucket 13 swings in the outer peripheral direction around the pin 16 by centrifugal force. The bucket 13 is provided with a through hole portion 14. The through-hole portion 14 is provided for discharging condensed water due to cooling of the refrigerator 25 and the liquid in the bucket 13 that has been spilled from the sample container 22 during transportation to the outside by the centrifugal force from the bucket 13. The bucket 13 can carry the holding container 10.
[0015]
FIG. 5 is a view showing the conveying means 5. The conveying means 5 moves in the horizontal and vertical directions by driving the two motors 30a and 30b shown in FIG. Further, the hand 18 is driven to open and close the finger 18 having the protrusion 19 via the cam mechanism. The finger 18 is always pulled in a closing direction by a spring (not shown). The holding container 10 is supported and released by opening and closing the fingers 18. Further, since the conveyance means 5 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting the opening / closing interval (stroke) of the finger 18, the holding container 10 is held, the bucket 13 is held, The state and the fully open state can be understood.
[0016]
The holding container 10 is supported by moving the centrifuge 4 and the container port 8 to the gripping / releasing position of the holding container 10 with the conveying means 5 opening the finger 18, and closing the finger 18 and moving it upward. . At this time, the protruding portion 19 of the finger 18 is accommodated in the groove portion 12 of the holding container 10 by the upward movement, and supports the hook 24 of the holding container 10 on the upper surface of the finger 18. The method for releasing the holding container 10 is performed in the reverse order of the method for supporting the holding container 10. The positional relationship between the holding container 10 and the finger 18 is determined in the center direction by the fitting of the protrusion 19 and the groove 12 and the closing operation of the finger 18. Further, the fitting of the protrusion 19 and the groove 12 suppresses the movement of the holding container due to the inertial force accompanying the movement of the conveying means 5.
[0017]
FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the door 7. A convex portion 21 is provided on the door 7. When the door 7 is closed, the convex portion 21 is accommodated in the loading / unloading port 26 of the rotating body chamber 27 and has a shape in which the concave portion is as small and smooth as possible with respect to the rotating body chamber 27. This is effective for reducing the windage loss accompanying the stirring of the air generated in the rotating body chamber 27 during centrifugation and preventing frictional heat.
[0018]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sample container 22 such as a microplate.
[0019]
FIG. 9 shows the transport state of the holding container 10 on which the thick specimen container 22a and the thin specimen container 22b are mounted. Since the holding container 10 is supported and transported, transport under the same conditions is possible regardless of the thickness of the sample container 22. In addition, it can be easily understood that the sample container 22 can be transported even when two or three layers are stacked.
[0020]
Next, a specific operation example of the apparatus will be described. First, the automatic centrifuge 1 is connected so that it can be controlled by a communication line (not shown) in order to deliver the sample container 22 to and from an automatic dispenser (not shown).
[0021]
The holding container 10 is previously placed in the bucket 13 before operation.
[0022]
A first command is issued from the automatic dispenser side, and the automatic centrifugal separator 1 moves the conveying means 5 and slides the door 7 by the finger 18 to open the loading / unloading port 26, which is shown in the figure. Positioning of the rotating body 15 (positioning at a position where the conveying means 5 takes out the holding container 10) is executed with a servo motor that is not present. Next, the transport unit 5 executes the process A of transporting the holding container 10 accommodated in the bucket 13 to the holding container transfer unit 3 of the container port 8. Immediately thereafter, the conveying means 5 moves to the position of the bucket 13, closes the finger 18, and executes step B for confirming whether the bucket 13 is suspended from the rotating body 15. If there is the bucket 13, it waits in the position which does not interfere with the automatic dispensing machine side. If there is no bucket 13, an alarm is issued to notify the automatic dispensing machine of the abnormality. After the holding container 10 is conveyed, the set of the holding container 10 is confirmed by a signal from the transmission type sensor (2) 23, and a command completion is transmitted to the automatic dispenser.
[0023]
On the automatic dispenser side, the sample container 22 is set in the sample container delivery unit, and the command 2 is transmitted.
[0024]
On the automatic centrifuge 1 side, the set of the sample container 22 is confirmed by the transmission type sensor (1) 9. If it is set correctly, the holding container 10 is transferred to the bucket 13 in the centrifuge 4 using the transfer means 5. At this time, the sample container 22 of the sample container transfer unit 2 is mounted on the holding container 10. After the conveyance, the conveyance means 5 moves to a position where the centrifuge 4 and the door 7 do not interfere, and transmits a command 2 completion. The operation according to the first and second commands is performed an even number of times (the sample container 22 mounted on the holding container 10 is set at a target position with respect to the rotation center), and the balance in the centrifuge 4 is maintained. .
[0025]
When the third command is issued from the automatic dispenser side, the automatic centrifugal separator 1 moves the conveying means 5 and slides the door 7 with the finger 18 to close the loading / unloading port 26. After closing, the conveying means 5 moves to a position where the bottom surface of the finger 18 contacts the center of the upper surface of the door 7 and presses the door 7. The door 7 pressing operation plays a role of preventing the door 7 from being lifted by the wind pressure generated in the rotating chamber 27 by centrifugation and preventing the conveyance means 5 from vibrating when the rotating body 15 is driven. Next, centrifugation is started according to the operating conditions (rotation speed, centrifugal speed, set temperature) in the third command already issued from the automatic dispenser. When the centrifugation is completed, the automatic centrifugal separator 1 moves the conveying means 5, slides the door 7 with the finger 18, opens the loading / unloading port 26, and transmits the completion of the third command.
[0026]
When the fourth command is issued from the automatic dispenser side, the automatic centrifuge 1 uses the transfer means 5 to transfer the holding container 10 from the bucket 13 in the centrifuge 4 to the holding container transfer unit of the container port 8. The process A conveyed to 3 is performed. In the middle, the sample container 22 mounted on the holding container 10 is set in the sample container transfer unit 2. Immediately thereafter, the conveying means 5 moves to the position of the bucket 13, closes the finger 18, and executes step B for confirming whether the bucket 13 is suspended from the rotating body 15. If there is the bucket 13, it waits in the position which does not interfere with the automatic dispensing machine side. If there is no alarm, an alarm will be issued. By confirming that the sample container 22 and the holding container 10 are present by using the transmission sensor (1) 9 and the transmission sensor (2) 23 provided in the container port 8, the conveying means 5 is positioned so as not to interfere with the automatic dispenser. It waits and transmits the 4th command completion to an automatic dispensing machine.
[0027]
On the automatic dispensing machine side, the sample container 22 is unloaded from the sample container transfer unit 2 and a fifth command is transmitted.
[0028]
The automatic centrifuge 1 uses the transfer means 5 to transfer the holding container 10 from the holding container delivery / reception unit 3 to the bucket 13 in the centrifuge 4 and transmits the completion of the fifth command.
[0029]
The fourth and fifth commands are executed an even number of times to process all containers on the automatic centrifuge 1 side.
[0030]
One embodiment of the present invention relating to the determination of whether or not the sample container 22 has been set correctly consists of the transmissive sensor {circle around (1)} 9 in the sample container transfer section 2. The upper transmission type sensor {circle around (1)} 9 is in a position where a signal is emitted from the side surface portion of the normal position of the sample container 22 and can detect the presence or absence of the sample container 22. The lower transmission type sensor {circle around (1)} 9 emits a signal from the normal position to the lower part and transmits when the sample container 22 is at the normal position. However, if the sample container 22 is not set normally due to vibration and abnormal operation on the automatic dispenser side and falls to the holding container delivery / reception unit 3 side, the signal of the lower transmission sensor (1) 9 is cut off. The The upper transmission sensor (1) 9 is blocked, the lower transmission sensor (1) 9 is transparent, and the upper transmission sensor (1) 9 is normal, regardless of the signal from the upper transmission sensor (1) 9. (1) When the signal of 9 is cut off, it can be determined that there is an abnormality. The presence / absence of the sample container 22 can be confirmed by the signals from the upper and lower two-stage transmissive sensors {circle around (1)} 9 and whether or not the sample container 22 is set at a normal position, and an alarm can be reliably issued when an abnormality occurs.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the through hole is provided in the bottom of the bucket and the bottom surface convex portion is provided outside the bottom surface of the holding container, the liquid can be extracted from the through hole, and when the holding container is carried out, Since the surface tension generated due to the accumulated liquid can be reduced, it is possible to prevent the bucket from being lifted.
In addition, since there is provided a process A for transporting the holding container accommodated in the bucket to the container port by transport means, and a process B for confirming whether the bucket is suspended from the rotating body immediately after the process A, the reliability is improved. An excellent automatic centrifugal separator can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic centrifugal separator showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container port showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holding container showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a centrifuge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conveying means showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a holding container showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a door showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sample container showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a state diagram of a holding container equipped with a sample container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an automatic centrifugal separator showing an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
In the figure, 1 is an automatic centrifuge, 2 is a specimen container exchanging section, 3 is a holding container exchanging section, 4 is a centrifuge, 5 is a transport means, 6 is an operation / control section, 7 is a door, and 8 is a container port. , 9 is a transmission type sensor (1), 10 is a holding container, 11 is a holding container side hole, 12 is a holding container hook groove, 13 is a bucket, 14 is a bucket through hole, 15 is a rotating body, 16 is a pin, 17 is a hand motor, 18 is a finger, 19 is a finger projection, 20 is a bottom projection, 21 is a door projection, 22 is a specimen container, 22a is a thick specimen container, 22b is a thin specimen container, and 23 is a transmission sensor. (2) and 24 are holding container hook portions, 25 is a refrigerator, 26 is a loading / unloading port of the rotating body chamber, and 27 is a rotating body chamber.

Claims (1)

A specimen container containing a plurality of specimens to be centrifuged, a holding container for containing and holding the specimen container, a bucket capable of containing the holding container, a rotating body for suspending the bucket, and rotating the rotating body A centrifuge provided with a servo motor for centrifuging a sample to be centrifuged and positioning the rotating body, a container port for transferring the sample container and the holding container, and between the container port and the bucket In the automatic centrifuge having a conveying means for conveying the holding container, an automatic centrifuge characterized by providing a through hole in the bottom of the bucket and further providing a bottom convex part outside the bottom of the holding container. Separation device.

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