JPH07236838A - Method for centrifugal separation treatment of specimen and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically correct imbalance and to perform centrifugal separation in a well-balanced state by loading the container loading part of a centrifugal separator with a specimen-containing container and subsequently detecting a non-loading part losing the balance of a rotor and mounting a dummy specimen-containing container on the detected non-loading part. CONSTITUTION:A specimen-containing container 1 is received in each of holders 2 and a plurality of the holders 2 are collected to form a speciment container set 3. This set 3 is extracted to be collectively sent into each of the container loading parts of a centrifugal separator main body 60 in succession to be set thereto and the holders 2 from which the containers 1 are extracted are sent to a standby region. After loading is completed, it is confirmed whether there is a non-loading part generating the imbalance of a rotor in the container loading part of the centrifugal separator main body 60 and, when the presence of the non-loading part generating the imbalance of the rotor is confirmed, the non-loading part is loaded with a dummy specimen container 36 to ensure the balance of the centrifugal separation rotor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for centrifuging a sample for centrifuging a sample such as blood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most conventional centrifuge processing apparatuses of this type are composed only of a combination of a centrifuge body and a drive source, and are integrated with a sample transport system for systematization. I can't find anything.

[0003]

In the prior art, the work of loading the sample into the centrifuge body, the work of taking out the sample from the centrifuge body after the centrifugation process is completed,
Etc. were all done manually. For this reason, there are many problems in hygiene, and there is a drawback that it is difficult to perform a rapid and accurate centrifugal separation process.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample centrifugation processing method and apparatus as described below. (1) A method for centrifuging a sample that enables efficient centrifugation of a large amount of sample within a short time.

(2) Sample centrifuge that can immediately bring the rotor of the centrifuge body into a balanced state even if the loading position distribution of the container containing the sample loaded in the rotor of the centrifuge body is imbalanced Separation processing method.

(3) The conveyed sample-containing container can be automatically loaded into the centrifuge body, and the processed sample-containing container can be automatically taken out of the centrifuge body and carried out. A sample centrifuge processing device that is capable of performing sanitary, hygienic, and efficient and accurate centrifugation.

(4) Even if there is an imbalance in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing container loaded on the rotor of the centrifuge body, the imbalance is automatically corrected and the centrifuge rotor is always in a balanced state. A sample centrifuge processing device that can perform stable centrifuge processing with.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a sample centrifugation processing method and apparatus of the present invention are configured as follows. (1) In the method for centrifuging a sample according to the present invention, first, a plurality of pre-treatment sample container sets in which a sample-containing container before the centrifugation process is stored in a container holder are collectively taken in.
A step, and a second step in which the sample-containing container group is extracted from each pre-processed sample container set group that is taken in in the first step and sequentially sent to the container loading sections of the centrifuge body in a batch The third step of sequentially sending each container holder group after the extraction operation of each sample-containing container group in the second step to a standby state by sequentially sending the container holder group to the centrifuge body in the second step. A fourth step of centrifuging the sample in the sample-filled container with the centrifuge body, and loading each of the container loading sections after the centrifugal separation process of the fourth step is completed. The fifth step of sequentially taking out all the container groups containing the respective specimens in a batch and re-setting them in a batch at a time in the container holder groups waiting in the standby area And a sixth step of sending out the post-processing sample container set group in a state where the sample-containing container groups after the centrifugal separation processes are reset to the container holder groups in the fifth step. . (2) The sample centrifugation treatment method of the present invention is the method described in (1) above, and when the operation of feeding the sample-containing container to the container loading section of the centrifuge body is completed,
A seventh step of confirming whether or not there is an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion of the centrifuge body, and a non-load portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion in the seventh step. When it is confirmed that there is a loading section, an eighth step of loading a dummy container containing a pseudo sample into the unloaded section to secure the balance of the centrifugal separation rotor is provided. (3) In the sample centrifugation processing apparatus of the present invention, the preprocessing sample container set in which the sample-containing container before centrifugation is stored in the container holder is carried into the container set transfer unit from the outside and subjected to centrifugal separation. The processed sample container set in a state where the processed sample-containing container is stored in the container holder is taken out from the transport device provided so as to carry out from the container set transfer unit to the outside, and the pre-processed sample container set. A centrifuge body which has a plurality of container loading parts capable of loading sample-containing containers around the rotor, and which centrifuges the sample in the sample-containing container, and the container loading part of the centrifuge body. During the period in which the sample-containing container is being sent, the standby device for holding the container holder with the sample-containing container pulled out, and the container set of the transport device The plurality of pre-processed sample container sets taken in by the sending unit are transferred to the container set transfer unit of the standby device, and the plurality of post-processed sample container sets taken in by the container set transfer unit of the standby device are A reversible transfer device for reverse transfer to the container set transfer unit of the transfer device, and a sample-containing container group is extracted from the unprocessed sample container set group transferred by the reversible transfer device, and the sample-containing container group is separated into the centrifuge body. The sample-containing containers are loaded by collectively sending to each container loading part of the above, and the sample-containing container group after the centrifugal separation process is collectively taken out from each container loading part of the centrifuge body, And a sample container operating device for forming a processed sample container set by re-setting the sample-containing container group in the standby container holder group. (4) The sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present invention is the apparatus described in (3) above, and is a dummy installed in the vicinity of the standby device so that a plurality of dummy containers containing pseudo samples can be taken out at appropriate times. Whether the container loading unit of the centrifuge body has an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in a state in which the operation of feeding the container containing the sample to the container feeder and the container loading unit of the centrifuge body is completed. When the presence of an unloaded portion detector that detects whether or not an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion is detected by the unloaded portion detector, the sample container operating device is activated. The dummy container containing dummy sample is taken out from the dummy container supply device, loaded into the unloaded portion, and the balance securing means for securing the balance of the centrifugal separation rotor is provided.

[0009]

As a result of taking the above-mentioned means, the following effects occur. (1) In the sample centrifuge processing method of the present invention, a plurality of sample-containing containers to be loaded are sequentially loaded into the container loading section of the main body of the centrifuge, and the sample-containing container is removed. The subsequent container holder will be in a standby state in the standby area. Thus, for example, a large centrifuge rotor can be loaded with a large number of containers containing samples at one time,
It is possible to centrifuge a large amount of sample at a high speed by a large centrifugal force. (2) In the method for centrifuging a sample of the present invention, is there an unloaded section for losing the balance of the rotor in the vessel loading section when the vessel containing the sample has been loaded into the vessel loading section of the centrifuge body? When it is confirmed whether or not the presence of the unloaded portion is confirmed, the dummy container containing the pseudo sample is loaded into the unloaded portion. Thus, the unbalance of the centrifugal separation rotor due to the unloaded portion is eliminated. Therefore, even if an imbalance occurs in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing container loaded on the rotor of the centrifuge body, the centrifuge body can be immediately brought into a balanced state. (3) In the sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present invention, the transported sample-containing container is automatically loaded into the centrifuge body by the transport device, the standby device, the reversible transfer device, the sample container operation device, and the like. Moreover, the processed sample-containing container is automatically taken out of the centrifuge body and carried out. Thus, all the centrifugal separation of the sample by the above-mentioned sample centrifugal separation method is automatically carried out, which is preferable from the viewpoint of hygiene, and moreover, the accurate centrifugal separation can be performed efficiently. (4) In the sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present invention, when the container containing the sample is completely loaded in the container loading part of the centrifuge body, is there an unloaded part in the container loading part that causes the rotor to lose balance. Whether or not it is detected by the detector.
When the presence of the unloaded portion is detected, a dummy container containing a pseudo sample is taken out from the dummy container supply device by the sample container operating device, and the dummy container is loaded into the unloaded part. Thus, the unbalance of the centrifuge rotor due to the presence of the unloaded part is eliminated. Therefore, even if there is an imbalance in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing container loaded in the rotor of the centrifuge body, the imbalance is automatically corrected, so that the centrifuging process can always be performed in a balanced state. It will be a matter.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire system of a sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Carrier device 10
Is a container (eg, test tube) containing the sample before centrifugation 1
Is loaded in the container holder 2 from the outside to the container set transfer section V, and the sample-containing container 1 after centrifugation is put in the container holder 2. The carrying-out lane 12 for carrying out the processed sample container set 3 from the container set transfer unit V to the outside is provided. The first in the carry-in lane 11
A moving lane 4 to which a stopper 13 is attached and which will be described later
A second stopper 14 is attached to 1.

The centrifuge 20 has a case 21 in which a centrifuge body 60 is housed. The upper side wall 22 of the case 21 is provided with a plurality of (5 in this embodiment) unprocessed sample-containing containers 1 each having a window 23 that can be inserted into and removed from the container loading section of the centrifuge body 60. .
The window 23 may have a structure having an opening / closing lid (not shown).

The standby device 30 includes an empty holder standby lane 31 having a rectangular shape, a stopper 32 attached near the end of the empty holder standby lane 31, and the standby lane 3 described above.
When a container set transfer section W in which a part of 1 is cut off and a transfer lane 41 of a reversible transfer device 40 described later are inserted in the container set transfer section W, the sample-containing container 1 exists in the transfer lane 41. And a container confirmation sensor 33 for confirming whether or not it is present.

Thus, the standby device 30 has an empty container holder in which the sample-containing container 1 is pulled out while the sample-containing container 1 is being sent to the container loading portion of the centrifuge body 60. It is supposed to keep 2 waiting.

A dummy container supply device 34 is installed near the container set transfer section W of the standby device 30. This dummy container supply device 34 includes a cylindrical holder 3
Among the plurality (five in this embodiment) of dummy containers 36 containing the pseudo sample held by 5, the specified specific one is provided so as to be selectively extrudable by the extruding mechanism 37.

The reversible transfer device 40 is provided for reciprocal movement between the container set transfer parts V and W, and a moving lane 41 provided so as to be connectable to a transport lane and a standby lane, respectively. And a drive mechanism 42 composed of an air piston / cylinder device for driving the moving lane 41 and selectively inserting it in the container set transfer section V or W. Thus, this reversible transfer device 4
0 transfers a plurality (5 in this embodiment) of unprocessed sample container sets 3 taken in the moving lane 41 in the container set transfer unit V of the transfer device 10 to the container set transfer unit W of the standby device 20. Or the container set transfer unit W
A plurality (5 in this embodiment) captured in the moving lane 41 at
Sample container set 3 after processing
And reverse transfer to the container set transfer unit V.

The sample container operating device 50 is a reversible transfer device 4.
The sample-containing container 1 group is extracted from the pre-processed sample container set 3 group transferred at 0, and the sample-containing container 1 group is collectively sent to each container loading section of the centrifuge body 60, and While loading the sample-containing container 1,
The sample-containing containers 1 group after the centrifugal separation treatment are collectively taken out from the container loading sections of the centrifuge body 60, and the sample-containing containers 1 group are re-set in the waiting container holders 2 groups, respectively. Then, the processed sample container set 3 is formed.

The sample container operating device 50 is attached to an arm 51 provided so as to be vertically and horizontally movable and a tip (a lower end in the drawing) of the arm 51, and a plurality of (in this embodiment, 5).
It is composed of a chucking mechanism 52 which is provided so as to be able to hold one individual sample-containing container 1 at a time.

The operation of each of the above-described devices 10 to 60 is controlled by a controller (CPU) C. The unloaded portion detector D does not cause rotor imbalance in the container loading portion of the centrifuge body 60 when the feeding operation of the sample-containing container 1 to the container loading portion of the centrifuge body 60 is completed. It is to detect whether or not there is a loading section. The controller (CPU) C detects, when the unloaded portion detector D detects the presence of an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion,
The sample container manipulating device 50 is operated to take out the dummy container 36 containing the pseudo sample from the dummy container supply device 34 and load it in the unloaded portion, and the balance securing means for securing the balance of the centrifugal separation rotor is included.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the centrifuge body 60 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, this separator main body 60
Is a main motor 61 for centrifuging, a drive shaft 62 coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor 61, a centrifuge rotor 70 to be described later attached to the tip (upper end in the drawing) of the drive shaft 62, and the drive. Brake mechanism 63 including disc 63a attached to shaft 62 and brake 63b
And the slit disk 6 also attached to the drive shaft 62
4a and an optical sensor 64b, a rotor rotation angle sensor 64, and a gear 65 also attached to the drive shaft 62.
A gear 67 attached to the tip of an arm 66 so as to be able to mesh with the gear 65 at appropriate times; an auxiliary motor 68 for rotating the gear 67; and a vibration sensor 69 for detecting abnormal vibration during centrifugal separation operation. It is composed of a lock mechanism 80 described later.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the centrifugal separation rotor 70.
FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side view of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the centrifugal separation rotor 70 includes the drive shaft 6
A shaft body 71 for fitting and fixing the central portion to the second body, and this shaft body 71
A plurality of spokes 72 radially provided on the annular body 73, an annular body 73 coupled to each tip of the spoke 72, and a plurality of supports provided on the outer periphery of the annular body 73 at predetermined intervals. It comprises a protrusion 74 and a container loading section 75 mounted between the respective support protrusions 74.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing only the container loading section 75 taken out. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the axis O of the container loading unit 75 is the centrifugal rotor 7
At the both ends of a rectangular parallelepiped base body M arranged so as to face the tangential direction of the outer peripheral portion of 0, the base body M is interposed between the support projections 74 so that the base body M can rotate about an axis O. A support bar 78 provided with shaft portions 76a and 76b for supporting the shaft and provided with a plurality (five in this embodiment) of tube support holes 77a to 77e in parallel along the axial direction of the base body M.
And container holding tubes 79a to 79e which are removably inserted with the neck portions locked to the support holes 77a to 77e of the support bar 78.

Thus, the container loading section 75 is attached to the outer periphery of the rotor 70 as shown in a suspended state in a free state. Therefore, when the rotor 70 is rotating, the sample-containing container 1 is not supported by the support bar 7.
8 and the container holding tubes 79a to 79e are rotationally displaced by the centrifugal force so as to face the rotor radial direction (horizontal direction). It should be noted that, on both side surfaces of the base body M of the support bar 78, there is an uneven portion N for eliminating wind noise when the rotor is rotating.
Are formed.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a part of the sample container operating device 50 and the lock mechanism 80 together with a part of the container loading section 75. As shown in the figure, the chucking mechanism 52 of the sample container operating device 50 is provided with a plurality of (five sets in this embodiment) gripping portions 54 on one side surface of the support base 53. Each holding part 54 can hold the neck of the sample-containing container 1 by widening or narrowing the distance between the pair of claws.

The lock mechanism 80 is installed below the container loading portion 75 of the centrifuge rotor 70, and the container holding tube 7 is provided.
It is composed of a chucking mechanism provided so that one of 9a to 79e can be chucked. That is, a pair of chucking gripping pieces 81, 82 can be moved toward and away from each other, and the gripping pieces 81, 82 are driven up and down as shown by an arrow by a drive mechanism 83 such as an air piston / cylinder device. It has become one. Thus, the container holding tube 79 is formed by the pair of holding pieces 81, 82.
By holding one of a to 79e, the rotor 70 is stopped at a predetermined position.

The apparatus constructed as described above operates as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, the unprocessed sample container set 3 conveyed on the carry-in lane 11 includes the second stopper 1
Since the transportation can be stopped by 4, the moving lane 41
Accumulated on top. When the five unprocessed sample container sets 3 are accumulated on the transfer lane 41, the first stopper 13 works to prevent the subsequent unprocessed sample container set 3 from further moving to the transfer lane 41. Therefore, the five pretreatment sample container sets 3 are loaded on the moving lane 41. Next, the moving lane 41 is moved upward by the drive mechanism 42 and fitted into the cutout portion of the standby device 30, that is, the container set transfer portion W. Here, the container confirmation sensor 33 confirms whether or not the sample-containing container 1 exists on the moving lane 41. If the required number of sample-containing containers 1 are present on the moving lane 41, the sample container operating device 50 is operated based on the sensor information, and five sample-containing containers 1 are gripped, and the container holder 2 Pulled out. Then, the extracted sample-containing container 1 is loaded into the container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60 from the window 23 of the centrifuge 20 at once.

On the other hand, the empty container holder 2 group after the sample-containing container 1 group is extracted is sent to the standby lane 31 of the standby device 30. The empty container holder 2 group sent to the standby lane 31 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow.
The first container holder 2 is stopped by the stopper 32, the subsequent container holders 2 are also sequentially stopped, and all the container holders 2 are in a standby state.

A batch loading operation of the above-mentioned group of specimen-containing containers,
By repeating the standby operation of the container holder 2 group, the loading operation of the container 1 containing the sample into the centrifuge body 60 is completed.

If the number of sample-containing containers 1 loaded at this time is equal to or greater than the total number of container holding tubes in the container loading unit 75 of the centrifuge body 60, the container loading unit 75 is loaded in a full state. If the number of sample-containing containers 1 to be carried in is less than the total number of container holding tubes in the container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60, the centrifuge rotor 7
At 0, there will be an unloaded section. If there is a risk of imbalance in the rotor 70 due to the presence of the unloaded portion, the imbalance elimination operation is performed by using the dummy container 36.

That is, when the unloaded portion that may cause rotor imbalance is detected by the detector D, the detection signal is input to the controller C. Then, the controller C gives a balance operation command to the sample container operation device 50 and the dummy container supply device 34. As a result, in the dummy container supply device 34, the pushing mechanism 3
The dummy containers 36 containing the pseudo sample at the position and the number designated by 7 are selectively pushed upward. On the other hand, in the sample container operating device 50, the arm 51 moves to above the dummy container supplying device 34. Then, the dummy container 36 containing the pseudo sample in the extruded state as described above is taken out and loaded into the unloaded portion of the centrifuge rotor 70. Thus, the balance of the centrifuge rotor 70 is ensured.

5A and 5B show the dummy container 36.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a rotor imbalance elimination action by the above. (A) is three container loading parts 75a, 75b, 75
When all the container holding tubes of c are empty, 5 of the one container loading part 75c in the asymmetric position is used.
This is an example in which five empty container holding tubes 79A are loaded with five dummy containers 36A to balance the whole.

(B) is a container loading section 75a, 75 at three locations.
Of the b and 75c, the container holding tubes of the two container loading parts 75a and 75b at the symmetrical position are all empty, and the remaining one container loading part 75c at the asymmetrical position.
In the case where the three container holding tubes are empty, by loading three dummy containers 36B into the above three empty container holding tubes 79B,
This is an example of the overall balance.

As described above, the dummy container 36 need only be loaded in an asymmetrical portion, and it is not necessary to fully load the unloaded portion. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the dummy container supply device 34 may be of any size as long as it can supply about five dummy containers 36.

When the container 1 containing the sample and the necessary dummy container 36 have been loaded into the centrifuge body 60, when the main motor 61 is rotated, the drive shaft 62 rotates and the centrifuge rotor 70 rotates at high speed. Therefore, a centrifugal force acts on the sample-containing container 1 housed in the container holding tube 79 of the rotor 70, and the sample-containing container 1 rotates 90 ° from its normal position and is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the drive shaft 62, that is, in the horizontal direction. In this posture, the sample in the sample-containing container 1 is centrifuged. By the action of the uneven portions N provided on both side surfaces of the base body M of the support bar 78, turbulent flow occurs in the air near the container loading portion 75 during rotation, and as a result, so-called wind noise is eliminated.

When the centrifugal separation process is completed, the main motor 61
Powers off. At this time, since the brake mechanism 63 operates, the motor 61, the drive shaft 62, and the centrifuge rotor 70 are decelerated within a short time and stop rotating. When the rotation is stopped, the sample-containing container 1, the container holding tube 79, and the support bar 78 return to their original vertical postures. The stop position, that is, the rotation angle of the centrifugal separation rotor 70 is detected by the rotor rotation angle sensor 64. When the stop position of the rotor 70 is deviated from the predetermined position, the gear 67 is meshed with the gear 65 and the auxiliary motor 68 operates based on the detection signal of the rotor rotation angle sensor 64. As a result, The rotation of the centrifuge rotor 70 is controlled to have a predetermined rotation angle. When the rotation angle of the rotor 70 reaches a specific rotation angle, the rotation control by the auxiliary motor 68 ends, and the engagement between the gears 65 and 67 is released. Thus, the container holding tube position is controlled.

When it is confirmed that the rotor 70 has stopped, the drive mechanism 83 of the lock mechanism 80 is actuated, and the holding pieces 81, 82 rise, and the holding pieces 81, 82 move to the container holding tube 79.
Hold one of a to 79e. Therefore, the rotor 70 is held stationary.

In this state, the sample container manipulating device 50 operates to take out one group of the sample-containing containers in the container holding tubes 79a to 79e all together and insert them into the container set transfer section W of the standby device 30. Carry to the moving lane 41. Of the empty container holders 2 in the standby state in the standby lane 31, the first five container holders 2 are fed to the moving lane 41 by the releasing operation of the stopper 32 or the like. Therefore, the processed sample-containing containers 1 group carried from the centrifuge body 60 to the moving lane 41 by the sample container operating device 50 are collectively put into the container holder 2 group sent to the moving lane 12. It is inserted and reset.

The reversible transfer device 40 operates and the moving lane 4
1 is the transfer device 1 from the container set transfer unit W of the standby device 30.
0 is transferred to the container set transfer unit V. Here, when the second stopper 14 is released, the sample container set 3 is sent to the carry-out lane 12.

Thus, the sample-containing container 1 carried in through the carry-in lane 11 is automatically loaded into the centrifuge body 60, the sample is centrifuged, and then automatically taken out from the centrifuge body 60. It is carried out to a desired place through the carry-out lane 12.

The configuration and operational effects of this embodiment are summarized as follows. (1) As shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the method for centrifuging a sample according to the present embodiment includes the sample container set 3 before processing in which the sample-containing container 1 before centrifugal processing is housed in the container holder 2. A plurality of (five in this embodiment) a first step S1 to be collectively taken in, and a sample-containing container 1 from each pretreatment sample container set 3 group taken in at the first step S1.
Each container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60 is extracted by pulling out the group.
The second step S2 in which the containers are loaded by sequentially sending them to the container and the container holders 2 groups after the sample-containing containers 1 group in the second step S2 are extracted.
The centrifuge body 60 is provided with respect to the samples in the sample-containing container 1 that have been loaded into the centrifuge body 60 in the third step S3 in which the samples are sequentially sent to the waiting area to enter the standby state, and in the second step S2. Step S4 of performing the centrifugal separation process according to step S4, and after completion of the centrifugal separation process according to the fourth step S4, one group of each sample-containing container loaded in each container loading section 75 is sequentially taken out collectively. , A fifth step S5 of sequentially resetting collectively to each container holder 2 group waiting in the waiting area, and each sample-containing container group 1 after each centrifuge process in each of the fifth step S5 A sixth step of sending out the processed sample container set 3 group in the state of being reset to the container holder 2 group.

Therefore, a plurality of the container 1 containing the sample to be carried in are sequentially loaded into the container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60 in groups, and the container holder 2 after the sample-containing container 1 is removed is A standby state is set in the standby area. In this way, for example, a large-sized centrifuge rotor 70 can be loaded with a large number of sample-containing containers 1 at one time, and a large amount of sample can be centrifugally separated at a high speed by a large centrifugal force. (2) The method for centrifuging a sample according to the present embodiment is the same as the above (1).
6 and as indicated by the broken line in FIG.
When the operation of feeding the sample-containing container 1 to the container loading unit 75 of the centrifuge body 60 is completed, whether or not the container loading unit 75 of the centrifuge body 60 has an unloaded unit that causes rotor imbalance. Confirm the 7th step S7
When it is confirmed in the seventh step S7 that there is an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion 75, the dummy container 3 containing the dummy sample is unloaded with respect to the unloaded portion.
Eighth step S8 in which 6 is loaded to ensure the balance of the centrifugal separation rotor 70.

Therefore, when the container 1 containing the sample is completely loaded in the container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60,
It is confirmed whether or not there is an unloaded portion that causes the balance of the rotor 70 to be lost in the container loading portion 75, and if the presence of the unloaded portion is confirmed, a pseudo sample is included in the unloaded portion. The dummy container 36 is loaded. Thus, the imbalance of the centrifugal separation rotor 70 due to the unloaded portion is eliminated. Therefore, even if there is an imbalance in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing container 1 loaded on the rotor of the centrifuge body 60, the centrifuge body 60 can be immediately brought into a balanced state. (3) In the sample centrifugation processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the unprocessed sample container set 3 in which the sample-containing container 1 before centrifugation is contained in the container holder 2 is carried into the container set transfer unit V from the outside. And a transporting device 10 provided to carry out the processed sample container set 3 in a state where the sample-containing container 1 after the centrifugal separation processing is stored in the container holder 2 from the container set transfer section W to the outside. A centrifuge having a plurality of container loading parts 75 capable of loading the sample-containing container 1 taken out from the pre-processed sample container set 3 in a peripheral portion of the rotor and performing a centrifugal separation process on the sample in the sample-containing container 1 During the period in which the sample-containing container 1 is being sent to the main body 60 and the container loading portion 75 of the centrifuge main body 60, the container holder 2 with the sample-containing container 1 pulled out is The standby device 30 to be operated and the plurality of pre-processing sample container sets 3 taken in by the container set transfer unit V of the transfer device 10 are transferred to the container set transfer unit W of the standby device 30 and the standby The plurality of processed sample container sets 3 taken in by the container set transfer unit W of the device 30 are transferred to the container set transfer unit V of the transfer device 10.
Reversible transfer device 40 for reverse transfer to and reversible transfer device 4
The sample-containing container 1 group is extracted from the pre-processed sample container set 3 group transferred at 0, and the sample-containing container 1 group is collectively sent to each container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60, and The sample-containing container 1 is loaded, and the sample-containing container 1 group after the centrifugal separation process is collectively taken out from each container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60.
A sample container manipulating device 50 is provided, which is a set of these sample-containing containers 1 for each of the group of container holders 2 in the standby state, and forms a processed sample container set 3.

Therefore, the carrier device 10, the standby device 30,
The container 1 containing the transported sample is automatically loaded into the centrifuge body 60 by the reversible transfer device 40, the sample container operation device 50, etc., and the processed sample container 1 is automatically fed from the centrifuge body 60. Are taken out and carried out. Thus, the centrifuge treatment of the specimen by the above-mentioned specimen centrifuge treatment method is all automatically performed, which is preferable in hygiene,
Moreover, the centrifugal separation process can be performed efficiently and accurately. (4) The sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present embodiment has the above (3)
The dummy container supply device 34 installed in the vicinity of the standby device 30 and the container loading unit of the centrifuge main body 60 so that the plurality of dummy containers 36 containing the pseudo sample can be taken out in a timely manner. An unloaded portion detector that detects whether or not there is an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion 75 of the centrifuge body 60 in a state in which the feeding operation of the sample-containing container 1 to the 75 is completed. D
And the container loading unit 75 by the unloaded unit detector D.
When the presence of an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance is detected, the sample container operating device 50 is operated to take out the dummy container 36 containing the dummy sample from the dummy container supply device 34 and load it in the unloaded part. , Centrifuge rotor 70
A balance securing means for securing the balance of.

Therefore, in the state where the container 1 containing the sample is completely loaded in the container loading section 75 of the centrifuge body 60,
The detector D detects whether or not an unloaded portion that causes the rotor 70 to lose balance is generated in the container loading portion 75.
When the presence of the unloaded portion is detected, the dummy container 36 is taken out from the dummy container supply device 34 by the sample container operating device 50, and the dummy container 36 is loaded in the unloaded part. Thus, the imbalance of the centrifuge rotor 70 due to the presence of the unloaded portion is eliminated. Therefore, the rotor 7 of the centrifuge body 60 is
Even if an imbalance occurs in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing container 1 loaded at 0, the imbalance is automatically corrected,
The centrifugal separation process can always be performed in a balanced state. (5) The sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the above (3).
The apparatus according to item 1, wherein the centrifuge body 60 includes:
An abnormal vibration detection sensor 69 is attached.

Therefore, when the centrifuge body 60 loses balance due to some cause and the centrifuge body 60 generates abnormal vibration, the abnormal vibration detection sensor 69 detects it and the centrifuge body 60 automatically The rotation will stop. Therefore, as described above, the dummy container 3
If the imbalance of the rotor 70 is not resolved even after the loading of No. 6, the apparatus is automatically stopped. Therefore, the safety of the device is high. (6) The sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the above (3).
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the centrifuge body 60 includes a main motor 61 for centrifugal separation, a rotor 70 rotatably driven by the main motor 61, and a plurality of containers provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 70. The container loading section 75 provided with a holding tube 79, the brake mechanism 63 for braking the rotor 70 when the main motor 61 is powered off, and the rotor 70 braked by the brake mechanism 63 and stopped in rotation. Rotor rotation angle sensor 6 for detecting rotation angle
4, an auxiliary motor 68 that stops the rotor 70 at a preset specific rotation angle based on the rotor rotation angle detected by the rotor rotation angle sensor 64, and the auxiliary motor 68 that stops at the specific rotation angle by the auxiliary motor 68. And a lock mechanism 80 that locks the rotor 70 in a stationary state.

Therefore, when the centrifuge body 60 is stopped, the brake mechanism 63 rapidly brakes the rotor 70. Therefore, the rotor 70 can be stopped within a very short time after the main motor 61 is turned off. Further, the rotor 70 has its rotation angle detected by the rotor rotation angle sensor 64, and is accurately stopped at the specific rotation angle set by the auxiliary motor 68 based on the detected angle. Therefore, the operation of loading the sample-containing container 1 before processing into the container loading unit 75 and the operation of taking out the processed sample-containing container 1 from the container loading unit 75 are always performed in a predetermined direction of the centrifuge body 60. It can be done in a corner position. Furthermore, when the rotor is stopped, the rotor 70 is kept stationary by the lock mechanism 80. Therefore, the loading / unloading operation of the container 1 containing the sample to / from the centrifuge body 60 can be performed extremely efficiently and stably. (7) The sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present embodiment has the above (6)
The lock mechanism 80 comprises a chucking mechanism for chucking one of the container holding tubes 79a to 79e.

Therefore, it is not necessary to specially provide a portion to be chucked by the chucking mechanism on a part of the rotor 70, and the structure is simplified. (8) The sample centrifugal separation processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the above (6).
The rotor 70 of the centrifuge body 60 has a structure in which a ring-shaped body 73 is coupled to a shaft body 71 via a plurality of spokes 72, and the outer peripheral portion of the ring-shaped body 73. The container loading unit 75 can be attached to the.

Thus, the rotor 7 of the centrifuge body 60 is
0 has a structure with spokes such as wheels of bicycles and motorcycles. That is, a space is provided in the flat plate portion of the rotor 70. Therefore, the weight of the rotating portion including the rotor 70 is reduced, and the capacity of the main motor 61 can be made relatively small. (9) The sample centrifuge processing apparatus of the present embodiment has the above (6)
The container loading section 75 is provided at both ends of a rectangular parallelepiped base body M arranged so that its axis is tangential to the rotor outer peripheral portion of the centrifuge body 60. Are provided with shaft portions 76a and 76b for pivotally supporting the base body M on the outer peripheral portion of the rotor so that the base body M can rotate about the axis line O, and a plurality of support holes 77a to 77a are provided along the axial direction of the base body M. A support bar 78 having juxtaposed 77e, and container holding tubes 79a to 79e that are removably inserted into the support holes 77a to 77e of the support bar 78 with their necks supported. When the rotor 61 rotates, the sample-containing container 1 is rotationally displaced together with the support bar 78 and the container holding tubes 79a to 79e so as to face the rotor radial direction by a centrifugal force.

Therefore, the container holding tubes 79a to 79e are inserted into the support holes 77a to 77e in the container loading section 75.
Since e is inserted and removed freely, if a defect occurs in the container holding tubes 79a to 79e, it can be easily replaced with a new one. Further, when the centrifugal separation process is performed, the entire container loading unit 75 including the sample-containing container 1 is rotationally displaced by the centrifugal force so as to face the rotor radial direction, so that the efficient centrifugal separation process is performed. (10) The sample centrifugation processing apparatus of the present embodiment is the apparatus described in (9) above, and the side surface of the base body M of the support bar 78 has irregularities for eliminating wind noise when the rotor is rotating. A portion N is formed. Therefore, when the rotor is rotating, a turbulent flow occurs in the air near the container loading portion 75, and so-called wind noise is eliminated. (11) The sample centrifugation processing method and apparatus of this embodiment include the following modifications.

A device having a standby device 30 having a standby lane having a substantially annular shape. A drive source such as a piston / cylinder device that utilizes hydraulic pressure is used as a drive source for the reversible transfer device 40 and the like.

The number of the sample-containing containers 1 which are collectively operated by the sample container operating device 50 is less than 5 or 5
More than one. -A container holding tube 79a to 79e having a locking mechanism 80 for locking a plurality or all of them collectively.

[0051]

According to the present invention, the following method and apparatus for centrifuging a sample can be provided. (1) A method for centrifuging a sample that enables efficient centrifugation of a large amount of sample within a short time.

(2) Sample centrifuge that can immediately bring the rotor of the centrifuge body into a balanced state even if there is an imbalance in the loading position distribution of the container containing the sample loaded in the rotor of the centrifuge body Separation processing method.

(3) The transported sample-containing container can be automatically loaded into the centrifuge body, and the processed sample-containing container can be automatically taken out from the centrifuge body and carried out. A sample centrifuge processing device that is capable of performing sanitary, hygienic, and efficient and accurate centrifugation.

(4) Even if there is an imbalance in the loading position distribution of the sample-containing containers loaded on the rotor of the centrifuge body, the imbalance is automatically corrected and the centrifuge body is always balanced. A sample centrifuge device that can perform stable centrifuge processing in a stable state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a centrifuge body of a sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a centrifuge rotor of a sample centrifuge processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view of a container loading section;
(B) is a perspective view showing a part of the sample container operating device and the lock mechanism together with a part of the container loading section.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an imbalance eliminating action by the dummy container of the sample centrifugation processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a sample centrifugation processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Container with Sample 2 ... Container Holder 3 ... Sample Container Set 10 ... Transport Device 20 ... Centrifuge 30 ... Standby Device 34 ... Dummy Container Supply Device 36 ... Dummy Container 40 ... Reversible Transfer Device 50 ... Sample Container Operating Device 60 ... Centrifuge body 70 ... Centrifuge rotor 75 ... Container loading section 79 ... Container holding tube 80 ... Lock mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first step of loading a plurality of pre-processing sample container sets in a state in which a sample-containing container before centrifugation is contained in a container holder, and each processing before being processed in the first step. A second step of loading the sample-containing container group from the sample container set group by sequentially sending the sample-containing container group to the container loading sections of the centrifuge body in a batch, and the extracting operation of each sample-containing container group in the second step With respect to the sample in the sample-containing container that has been loaded into the centrifuge main body in the third step of sequentially sending each of the latter container holder groups to a standby state by sequentially sending them to the standby region, A fourth step of performing a centrifugal separation process by the centrifuge body, and after completion of the centrifugal separation process by the fourth step, each of the container loading units is mounted. A fifth step of sequentially taking out the filled sample-containing container groups one by one and re-setting them in batch to each container holder group waiting in the waiting area, and performing the centrifugation in each of the fifth steps. And a sixth step of sending out the processed sample container set group in a state where the processed sample container groups are reset to the container holder groups. 2. When the operation of feeding the sample-containing container to the container loading section of the centrifuge body is completed, whether or not the container loading section of the centrifuge body has an unloaded section that causes rotor imbalance. And the presence of an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion is confirmed in the seventh step, a dummy container containing a dummy sample is placed in the unloaded portion. The sample centrifuging process method according to claim 1, further comprising: an eighth step of loading to ensure a balance of the centrifuge rotor. 3. An unprocessed sample container set in which a sample-containing container before centrifugation is contained in a container holder is carried into the container set transfer section from the outside, and the sample-containing container after centrifugation is a container. A transporting device provided to carry out the processed sample container set stored in the holder from the container set transfer unit to the outside, and a plurality of containers that can be loaded with the sample-containing containers taken out from the pre-processed sample container set A centrifuge main body having a container loading part in the vicinity of the rotor for centrifuging the sample in the sample containing container, and the sample containing container is sent to the container loading part of the centrifuge main body. During a certain period, a standby device that keeps the container holder in the state where the sample-containing container is pulled out, and a plurality of devices that are loaded by the container set transfer unit of the transport device. The pre-treatment sample container set is transferred to the container set transfer unit of the standby device, and the plurality of post-treatment sample container sets captured by the container set transfer unit of the standby device are transferred to the container set transfer unit of the transfer device. A reversible transfer device for reverse transfer, and a sample-containing container group is extracted from the unprocessed sample container set group transferred by the reversible transfer device, and the sample-containing container group is loaded into each container loading section of the centrifuge body. Send it all at once and load the container with the above sample,
After the centrifuge-processed sample-containing container group is collectively taken out from each container loading section of the centrifuge body, these sample-containing container groups are respectively set again to the waiting container holders and then processed. A sample centrifuge processing apparatus, comprising: a sample container operating device that forms a sample container set. 4. A dummy container supply device installed in the vicinity of a standby device so that a plurality of dummy containers containing a pseudo sample can be taken out at a proper time, and an operation of sending a container containing a sample to a container loading section of a centrifuge body. In the completed state, the unloaded portion detector that detects whether or not there is an unloaded portion that causes rotor imbalance in the container loading portion of the centrifuge body, and the unloaded portion detector detects the unloaded portion. When the presence of an unloaded part that causes rotor imbalance in the loading part is detected, the sample container operating device is operated to take out the dummy container containing the pseudo sample from the dummy container supply device and load it in the unloaded part. The sample centrifuge according to claim 3, further comprising: a balance securing unit that secures the balance of the centrifuge rotor.