JP6419609B2 - Biological sampler - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a biological sample collector, particularly a sampler used for analysis for analyzing components contained in a biological sample such as saliva and blood.

  Conventionally, a biological sample collection and analysis device has been used to analyze and measure components in various biological samples, and one of them is a saliva collection and analysis device. Leave the absorbent cotton inside for a while, so that the saliva is sufficiently soaked in the absorbent cotton, and then collect the saliva. And a method of analyzing components in saliva separated by using a centrifuge with absorbent cotton or the like containing saliva.

JP 2000-9728 A International Publication No. WO2009 / 017188

By the way, the present applicant has proposed a biological sample collector for collecting a biological sample in a short time and easily as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5A, 1 is a main body of a collector (stick), 2 is an absorber, 3 is a flexible trumpet-shaped covering portion, 4 is a substrate, and 5 is a flexible movable tube. As shown in FIG. 5B, the rear end side of the covering portion 3 is fixed to the front end portion of the main body 1 in a state where the rear portion of the absorber 2 is covered with the covering portion 3. The substrate 4 is provided with a sensor unit for detecting the collected sample, and the movable tube 5 is movable on the main body 1 while wrapping a part of the sampler, and the position shown in FIG. It can be made the state which covers the absorber 2 and the coating | coated part 3 by sliding to a front end side.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration when the sample collected by the biological sample collector is squeezed by the squeezer. As shown in FIG. 6 (A), the movable tube 5 is slid to the tip side. The absorber 2 and the covering portion 3 can be squeezed by setting the collector in the state on the base 7 of the squeezer and pushing the collector into the roller 8 side. That is, when the absorber 2 and the covering portion 3 move between the base 7 and the roller 8, the sample absorbed by the absorber 2 is squeezed, and this sample passes through the rear end side passage 3p of the covering portion 3. To the main body 1 and to the sensor section of the substrate 4.

However, the above-described biological sample collector has a problem that the sample cannot be fed well due to the following disadvantages.
First, as described above, the covering portion 3 is held so as to cover the absorber 2, but this holding power is weak, and there is an inconvenience that the absorber 2 comes off from the covering portion 3 or is displaced. is there. That is, if the absorber 2 is removed before the sample is collected, the collection itself cannot be performed, and if the absorber 2 is removed or displaced after the sample is collected, the sample cannot be sent to the sensor unit.
Further, since the inner diameter of the rear end side passage 3p of the trumpet-shaped covering portion 3 is as thin as about 1.1 mm, a passage having a uniform diameter can be formed when the covering portion 3 is molded with silicone resin or the like. There was a problem that the yield was poor. On the other hand, when a high-precision mold is used to make the uniform passage 3p, the cost becomes high.

  Secondly, the roller 8 for squeezing the sample is installed at a height of, for example, about 2 to 3 mm from the surface of the table 7, and the opening between the table 7 and the roller 8 is small as shown in FIG. The presence of a step in the portion of the main body 1 that holds the covering portion 3 has the disadvantage that the absorber 2 and the covering portion 3 including the sample cannot be pushed down to the end to narrow down. In addition, when the collector (stick) is passed between the table 7 and the roller 8, the front end side of the sampler is pressed against the table surface, and the rear end side (opposite side) of the sampler is pushed up by the reaction force, There are cases where a smooth push-in operation cannot be performed, and due to these disadvantages, the sample cannot be fed satisfactorily.

  Further, when the sampler is pulled out after the analysis / measurement is finished, there is a problem that the movable tube 5 is in a state of being detached and remains between the table 7 and the roller 8.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object thereof is to prevent the absorber from coming off from or slipping out of the covering portion, and to squeeze the absorber and the covering portion to the end and push the collector. An object of the present invention is to provide a biological sample collector that can improve the feeding of a sample by smoothing the operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes an absorber that absorbs a sample, a flexible cylindrical covering portion that covers at least a rear portion of the absorber, and a rear end side of the covering portion. A biological sample collector having a main body to be supported, the absorption being arranged on the rear end side of the covering portion and fixing a rear portion of the absorber while securing a transportation path for sending the sample to the sensor portion side A body fixing member is provided.
The absorber fixing member according to the invention of claim 2 is a hollow transport pipe whose inside is a transport path.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a living body including an absorber that absorbs a sample, a flexible cylindrical covering portion that covers at least a rear portion of the absorber, and a main body that supports the rear end side of the covering portion. In the sampler, an inclined surface that is inclined toward the covering portion is provided on a side surface of the covering portion supporting portion of the main body.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that an extension portion extending from the covering portion support portion of the main body to the tip side is provided on the opposite side of the inclined surface of the main body.
The invention of claim 5 is exposed on Ki吸 absorbent body during sampling, to move to a state of covering after sampling, the sample of the absorbent body by squeezing the absorbent body is covered state with the absorber Provided with a flexible movable tube to be sent to the covering portion side, and provided with an engaging portion that prevents the movable tube from coming out of the main body when moved to a state of covering the absorber. Features.

  According to the above configuration, the absorbent body such as absorbent cotton is fixed by the absorbent body fixing member, for example, a hollow transport tube, so that the absorbent body does not come off from the covering portion. ), The absorbent body and the covering portion are covered with, for example, a movable tube, and if the movable tube is deformed by applying a load with a roller or the like from the distal end side, the sample adsorbed on the absorbent body is squeezed to cover the covering portion. Collected. And this sample passes along the conveyance path in a hollow tube, and is sent to a sensor part favorably.

Moreover, by setting the side surface of the covering portion support portion of the main body as an inclined surface, the roller moves to the position of the covering portion support portion of the main body, and the absorber and the covering portion are crushed to the rear end so that the sample is squeezed well.
Furthermore, the extension part on the opposite side of the inclined surface stabilizes the position of the sampler that moves between the table and the roller, and the sample is squeezed and fed smoothly without the rear of the sampler being lifted by the reaction force. .

According to the biological sample collector of the present invention, the absorber fixing member does not cause the absorber to come off or shift from the covering portion, and the biological sample can be reliably squeezed and fed.
Moreover, the sample of the absorber and the covering portion can be squeezed to the end by the inclined surface, the pushing operation of the extractor becomes smooth, and the sample can be fed well.

It is a side view of an internal fluoroscopic state which shows the structure of the biological sample collector which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the absorber and the coating | coated part in the biological sample collector of an Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure [FIG. (A)] of the coating | coated part support part of the main body in the biological sample collector of an Example, and another example [FIG. (B)]. The state when squeezing the sample collected by the biological sampler of the embodiment is shown from the side, where FIG. (A) is a diagram immediately before squeezing and FIG. (B) is a diagram when squeezing. The structure of the proposed biological sampler is shown, in which FIG. (A) is a side view of the internal see-through state, and FIG. (B) is a side view of the absorber and the covering portion. The state when the sample collected by the proposed biological sampler is squeezed is shown from the side, where FIG. (A) is a diagram immediately before squeezing, and FIG. (B) is a diagram when squeezing.

  The structure of the biological sample collector (saliva collector) of the Example applied to a saliva analyzer is shown by FIGS. In FIG. 1, the main body 10 of the sampling device has a stick shape, and has a covering portion support portion 11 on the distal end side. The support portion 11 supports the covering portion 13 that holds the absorber 12 and the transport pipe 14. Is done. A substrate 15 having a reagent and a sensor unit is provided behind the transport tube 14, and a flexible movable tube 16 that slides in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) is attached to the outer periphery of the main body 10.

  The absorbent body 12 is absorbent cotton or the like, and is preferably subjected to a surface treatment with glue or the like in order to maintain a certain shape even when the sample is absorbed. The covering portion 13 is made of a flexible material such as a silicone resin, covers at least 1/3 of the absorbent body 12, and narrows toward the rear end (the tube diameter is reduced to about φ1.1 mm). It has a trumpet shape (cylinder shape with a tapered surface) having a (passage). The covering portion 13 serves to collect saliva squeezed out from the absorbent body 12 and serves to send saliva to the transport tube 14 by itself being crushed.

  The transport tube 14 is formed of a hollow tube, and the central passage serves as a saliva transport path (capillary tube) and functions as an absorber fixing member that fixes the absorber 12. For example, as in the production of a cotton swab, the transport pipe 14 fixes the absorbent body 12 made of cotton by attaching a paste to one end of the transport pipe 14 and winding the cotton. No slipping out of 13 or slipping away. In addition, you may attach the unevenness | corrugation which cotton tends to get entangled instead of said glue. There is also a method in which a hole for inserting the transport tube 14 is formed in the cotton ball, the transport tube 14 is inserted into the hole, and the cotton ball and the transport tube 14 are fixed with a heat shrink tape or the like. The assembly of the absorbent body 12, the covering portion 13, and the transport pipe 14 is held by the support portion 11 in a state where the transport tube 14 is inserted into a thin tube having a taper portion rearward of the covering portion 13.

  FIG. 2 shows the production of the absorbent body 12, the covering portion 13, and the transport pipe 14. As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the absorbent body 12 is wound around the tip of the transport pipe 14, or You may attach the coating | coated part 13 shape | molded in the tubular body with a taper part to the state which inserted and fixed the transport pipe 14 to the absorber 12. FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the heat sink tube 13h is attached to the absorbent body 12 and the transport pipe 14 manufactured in the same manner as described above, and the covering portion 13 is made to adhere to the transport pipe 14 by heating. It may be.

  In the embodiment, the transport pipe 14 is an absorber fixing member. However, instead of a hollow pipe, as shown in FIG. 2C which is a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. The rod-shaped body 18 can also be used as an absorber fixing member. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2C, a rod-like body 18 is fixed to the center of the circular passage 13p behind the covering portion 13, and the vertical space of the rod-like body 18 functions as a transport path (capillary). To be configured. In addition, a rod-like body having a cross-shaped cross section, a rod-like body having an arc shape, or the like can be used as the absorber fixing member.

  With such a configuration, the absorbent body 12 is firmly fixed by the absorbent body fixing member, and the saliva (sample) can be well squeezed without being pulled out or displaced from the covering section 13. Even if there is some distortion (unevenness) in the hollow diameter of the rear end portion, there is an advantage that a good transport path can be secured by the transport pipe 14 and saliva can be sent well.

  FIG. 3A shows the structure of the support portion 11 of the main body 10. In the embodiment, the covering portion 13 and the transport pipe 14 are held at the center of the cylindrical (or rectangular tube) support portion 11. A downwardly inclined surface (planar or curved surface) 11S is provided on the top surface of the support portion 11 toward the covering portion 13 (for example, 10 degrees or more), and on the opposite side of the inclined surface 11S from the support portion to the tip side An extending part 11D extending to the side is arranged. That is, by rotating and arranging a roller (8) of a diaphragm, which will be described later, on the inclined surface 11S, the absorber 12 and the covering portion 13 can be pressed to the end, and the extending portion 11D is provided. A stable squeezing operation by the roller is secured.

  FIG. 3B is another configuration example of the support portion 11. In this example, the entire cylindrical support portion 11 is cut obliquely to form the descending inclined surface 11S and the extending portion 11D at the same time. The covering portion 13 and the transport pipe 14 are arranged and supported at the center portion.

  Further, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a flexible movable tube (tube) 16 is provided outside the stick-shaped main body 10, and the movable tube 16 is formed from the outer diameter of the main body 10. 1 is a thin tube having a slightly larger inner diameter, and slides (moves) on the main body 10 in the axial direction to cover the absorber 12 and the covering portion 13 as shown in FIG. Position) and a rear side position (position at the time of sample collection) where the absorber 12 and the covering portion 13 are exposed.

  FIG. 4 shows a state when the saliva is squeezed by the squeezer of the analyzer. When the saliva is collected, the movable tube 16 is slid to the front position as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 (A). The movable tube 16 wraps the absorber 12, and the collector is set at a predetermined position of the throttle. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, when the sampler is pushed between the table 7 and the roller 8 with the main body 10, the movable tube 16, the absorber 12, and The covering part 13 will be crushed in order, and the saliva collected in the absorber 12 is collected in the covering part 13.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the roller 8 is guided to the inclined surface 11S of the main body support portion 11 and moves to the last end (base) of the covering portion 13. The collected saliva is squeezed well to the end, and the saliva passes through the transport tube 14 and is sent to the sensor unit on the substrate 15. In addition, when a load (press) is applied to the sampler by the roller 8, the stress applied to the sampler from the roller 8 is reduced due to the presence of the extending portion 11D of the support unit 11, and the reaction force on the rear side of the sampler is also reduced. It does not occur, and the push-in operation of the extractor passing between the table 7 and the roller 8 becomes smooth and stable. At the time of analysis, saliva analysis is performed by the descending probe 22 coming into contact with the electrode of the sensor unit.

  In the embodiment, an engaging portion is provided to prevent the movable tube 16 from coming off the main body 10 when moving to the absorber side. As shown in FIG. 1, a stepped portion 18 whose outer diameter decreases toward the rear side is provided behind the support portion 11 of the main body 10, and the movable tube 16 has a diameter corresponding to the stepped portion 18. An engagement portion 16G that is R-processed to be smaller is formed, and the engagement portion 16G of the movable tube 16 engages with the step portion 18 and stops. Therefore, in FIG. 4B, even when the analysis is completed and the sampler is pulled out between the table 7 and the roller 8 (moved to the right side in the figure), the movable tube 16 does not fall out of the main body 10.

  In the above embodiment, an example of a saliva collector that collects saliva has been described. However, the present invention can be applied not only to saliva but also to a collector and an analyzer that collect biological samples such as blood.

1,10 ... collector body, 2,12 ... absorber,
3, 13 ... covering part, 13p ... passage,
4, 15 ... a substrate having a sensor part,
5, 16 ... movable tube, 7 ... stand,
8 ... Roller, 11 ... Covering part support part,
11S ... inclined surface, 11D ... extension part,
14 ... transport pipe (absorber fixing member), 16 ... movable tube,
18 ... Rod-shaped body (absorber fixing member), 22 ... Probe.

Claims (5)

An absorber that absorbs the sample;
A flexible cylindrical covering covering at least the rear part of the absorber;
A biological sample collector including a main body supporting the rear end side of the covering portion,
A biological sample collector provided with an absorber fixing member that is arranged on the rear end side of the covering portion and secures the rear of the absorber while securing a transport path for sending the sample to the sensor portion side.   2. The biological sample collector according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body fixing member is a hollow transport pipe having a transport path inside. An absorber that absorbs the sample;
A flexible cylindrical covering covering at least the rear part of the absorber;
A biological sample collector including a main body supporting the rear end side of the covering portion,
The biological sample collector which provided the inclined surface which inclines downward toward the said coating | coated part in the side surface of the coating | coated part support part of the said main body.   4. The biological sample collector according to claim 3, wherein an extension portion extending from the covering portion support portion of the main body to the distal end side is provided on the opposite side of the inclined surface of the main body. Exposing the upper Ki吸 absorbent body during sampling, to move to a state of covering after sampling, by squeezing together the absorbent body covered state the absorber to send a sample of the absorbent body to the cover portion With a flexible movable tube
The biological sample collector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an engagement portion is provided on the movable tube so as not to be detached from the main body when moving to a state of covering the absorber.

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