阅读说明：本技术 用于从样本管去除盖的密闭去盖装置及方法 (Closed decapping device and method for decapping sample tubes ) 是由 甘裕明 王鑫润 朱星才 于 2020-05-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及一种用于从样本管去除盖的密闭去盖装置及方法。装置包括：固定机构,所述固定机构的侧壁与所述样本管的外壁贴合；去盖装置,包括罩体和收容于所述罩体的拔盖机构,所述罩体与所述固定机构配合形成密闭空间,所述样本管的盖体收容于所述密闭空间；与所述罩体连接的负压源,其用于在形成所述密闭空间后抽取密闭空间中的气体；第一驱动器,其用于驱动所述拔盖机构在所述密闭空间中对所述样本管进行拔盖。所述装置能够有效防止在去除样本管盖时产生的气溶胶的扩散。(The present application relates to a hermetic decapping device and method for decapping a sample tube. The device comprises: the side wall of the fixing mechanism is attached to the outer wall of the sample tube; the cover removing device comprises a cover body and a cover pulling mechanism accommodated in the cover body, the cover body is matched with the fixing mechanism to form a closed space, and the cover body of the sample tube is accommodated in the closed space; a negative pressure source connected to the cover for extracting gas from the enclosed space after the enclosed space is formed; and the first driver is used for driving the cover pulling mechanism to pull the cover of the sample tube in the closed space. The device can effectively prevent the dispersion of aerosol generated when the sample tube cover is removed.)

1. A closed decapping device for decapping a sample tube, the device comprising:

the side wall of the fixing mechanism is attached to the outer wall of the sample tube;

the cover removing device comprises a cover body and a cover pulling mechanism accommodated in the cover body, the cover body is matched with the fixing mechanism to form a closed space, and the cover body of the sample tube is accommodated in the closed space;

a negative pressure source connected to the cover for extracting gas from the enclosed space after the enclosed space is formed;

and the first driver is used for driving the cover pulling mechanism to pull the cover of the sample tube in the closed space.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the fixing mechanism is provided with a sealing groove, and the bottom of the cover body can be embedded into the sealing groove to form the closed space.

3. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the first driver drives the cap pulling mechanism to clamp the cap and move upward along the cap axis direction to pull out the cap.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a second driver, wherein the second driver drives the cap removing mechanism to rotate to remove the cap while the first driver drives the cap removing mechanism to clamp the cap and move upward along the axial direction of the cap.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cap pulling mechanism comprises a fixed support and a pulling claw connected with the fixed support, and the pulling claw can expand and contract around the fixed support.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a lid waste compartment, the lid waste compartment comprising a body and a hatch, the hatch being opened when the sample lid is transported to the lid waste compartment by the lid removing device, the sample lid entering the closed space formed by the body and the enclosure; when the cover body waste cabin finishes receiving the waste sample cover, the cabin door is closed, and the cabin body and the cabin door are matched to form a closed space.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the upper surface of the chamber has a sealing groove, and the bottom of the cover can be inserted into the sealing groove to form the sealed space.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising an ultraviolet light source lamp housed in the housing for inactivating the cover.

9. A sample analyzer comprising the hermetic decapping device according to claims 1 to 8, a blood collection needle for collecting a sample in a sample tube and injecting the sample into the reaction container to react with a reagent, a reaction container, and an analyzing device for analyzing a mixed solution in the reaction container.

10. A closed decapping method for decapping a sample tube, the method comprising:

driving a fixing mechanism to fix the sample tube;

driving a cover removing device to pull out a cover, wherein the cover removing device comprises a cover body and a cover pulling mechanism accommodated in the cover body, the cover body moves to the fixing mechanism to form a closed space, and the cover body of the sample tube is accommodated in the closed space;

extracting gas in the closed space;

and when the gas in the closed space is extracted or in the process of extracting the gas in the closed space, the cap pulling mechanism is driven to move so as to pull out the sample cap.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cap pulling mechanism is driven to rotate to pull out the sample cap while the cap pulling mechanism is driven to clamp the cap body to move upward in the cap body axis direction.

12. The method of any one of claims 10-11, further comprising, after removing the sample cap, driving the decapping device to move to the cap discard bin to discard the sample cap.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising driving the decapping device to move to a cap discarding compartment to discard the sample cap after a predetermined time of standing after removing the sample cap.

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of medical equipment, in particular to a closed cap removing device and a method for removing a cap from a sample tube.

Background

In the field of biochemical immunoassay, a sample tube is often required to be uncapped before a sample is sent to an analysis instrument for detection. In a full Automation Laboratory (TLA) System, two methods are currently used to remove a sample tube cover, one is a manual cover removal method, and the other is a cover removal module equipped in a Laboratory Automation System (LAS). However, whether manual decapping or automatic decapping, decapping is usually performed in an open space. Research has shown that aerosols are very likely to be generated at the moment the sample cap is pulled out of the sample tube. Also, prior to testing of the sample, it is often necessary to perform centrifugation, which is typically performed in a high-speed environment, whereas in TLA systems, the decapping module is typically in the next stage of the centrifugation module. Thus, a sample tube that has just been centrifuged is more likely to generate aerosol when the sample cap is removed.

The aerosol has great biological safety hidden danger, and in order to ensure the environmental safety of a laboratory, the propagation of the aerosol needs to be controlled, and particularly, the propagation of the aerosol needs to be inhibited in an operation link which is easy to generate the aerosol and is a decapping operation.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a closed decapping device and a closed decapping method suitable for a TLA system, which can effectively prevent aerosol generated when a sample tube cap is removed from diffusing.

To effectively solve the above technical problems, the object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a closed decapping device for removing a cap from a sample tube, the device comprising:

the side wall of the fixing mechanism is attached to the outer wall of the sample tube;

the cover removing device comprises a cover body and a cover pulling mechanism accommodated in the cover body, the cover body is matched with the fixing mechanism to form a closed space, and the cover body of the sample tube is accommodated in the closed space;

a negative pressure source connected to the cover for extracting gas from the enclosed space after the enclosed space is formed;

and the first driver is used for driving the cover pulling mechanism to pull the cover of the sample tube in the closed space.

In one embodiment, the upper surface of the fixing mechanism is provided with a sealing groove, and the bottom of the cover body can be embedded into the sealing groove to form the closed space.

In one embodiment, the first driver drives the cover pulling mechanism to clamp the cover body and move upwards along the axial direction of the cover body so as to pull out the cover body.

In one embodiment, the device further comprises a second driver, and the second driver drives the cover pulling mechanism to rotate to pull out the cover body while the first driver drives the cover pulling mechanism to clamp the cover body and move upwards along the axial direction of the cover body.

In one embodiment, the cover pulling mechanism comprises a fixed support and a pulling claw connected with the fixed support, and the pulling claw can expand and contract around the fixed support.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a lid waste bin, wherein the lid waste bin comprises a bin body and a bin door, when the sample lid is conveyed to the lid waste bin by the lid removing device, the bin door is opened, and the sample lid enters the closed space formed by the bin body and the cover body; when the cover body waste cabin finishes receiving the waste sample cover, the cabin door is closed, and the cabin body and the cabin door are matched to form a closed space.

In one embodiment, the upper surface of the cabin body is provided with a sealing groove, and the bottom of the cover body can be embedded into the sealing groove to form the closed space.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes an ultraviolet light source lamp, which is accommodated in the cover body and used for inactivating the cover body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample analyzer comprising a sealed decapping device, a blood collection needle for aspirating a sample in a sample tube and injecting the sample into a reaction container to react with a reagent, and an analysis device for analyzing a mixed solution in the reaction container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a closed decapping method of decapping a sample tube, the method comprising:

driving a fixing mechanism to fix the sample tube;

driving a cover removing device to pull out a cover, wherein the cover removing device comprises a cover body and a cover pulling mechanism accommodated in the cover body, the cover body moves to the fixing mechanism to form a closed space, and the cover body of the sample tube is accommodated in the closed space;

extracting gas in the closed space;

and when the gas in the closed space is extracted or in the process of extracting the gas in the closed space, the cap pulling mechanism is driven to move so as to pull out the sample cap.

In one embodiment, the cap pulling mechanism is driven to clamp the cap body and move upwards along the axis direction of the cap body, and simultaneously the cap pulling mechanism is driven to rotate so as to pull out the sample cap.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises driving the decapping device to move to the cap discarding compartment to discard the sample cap after removing the sample cap.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises driving the cover removing device to move to a cover body abandoning cabin to abandon the sample cover after standing for a preset time after removing the sample cover.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sealed decapping device for decapping a sample tube;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the process of securing a sample tube by a securing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a process of forming a sealed space by the decapping device and the fixing mechanism;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the process of discarding the sample cap by the decapping apparatus.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

The terms used in the present application are explained first.

The "sample tube," also interchangeably referred to herein as a "tube," has a closed end and an open end closed by a cap, which may be made of different materials, taking on different shapes.

"sample cap", also interchangeably referred to herein as "cap body", is used herein to indicate any type of cap, including screw-type caps and rubber caps, which may be opened and/or closed by pulling/pushing and/or screwing, respectively.

"connected", when referring to a relationship between the driver and the securing mechanism, the housing or the cap removing mechanism, means that the driver is coupled to the securing mechanism, the housing or the cap removing mechanism, thereby enabling the transmission of force or energy from the driver to the securing mechanism, the housing or the cap removing mechanism.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, a sealed decapping device for removing a sample cap 2 from a sample tube 1 includes a fixing mechanism 3, a decapping device 4, a negative pressure source (not shown), and a first driver (not shown).

The side wall of the fixing mechanism 3 is attached to the outer wall of the sample tube 1. Preferably, the upper surface of the fixing mechanism 3 is provided with a sealing groove 6, and the sealing groove 6 is matched with the cover removing device 4 to form a closed space. Fixing mechanism 3 not only can fix sample pipe 1 has sealed effect simultaneously, makes it extracts to go out to cover device 4 sample lid 2 goes on in narrower and small space.

Further, referring to fig. 2, the fixing mechanism 3 includes a clamping block 3-1 and a clamping block 3-2 capable of clamping the sample tube 1. The clamping blocks 3-1 and 3-2 are located on both sides of the LAS rail 11, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the LAS rail 11. The inner walls of the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 are arc-shaped and are attached to the outer wall of the sample tube 1. The gripper blocks 3-1 and 3-2 are connected to a fourth drive 16 and a fifth drive 17, respectively. Preferably, the fourth driver 16 and the fifth driver 17 are connected to the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 through a screw rod, and the fourth driver 16 and the fifth driver 17 respectively drive the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 to horizontally move to approach the sample tube 1 to clamp the sample tube 1.

Further, rubber sheets are arranged on the inner walls of the clamping blocks 3-1 and the clamping blocks 3-2. When the sample tube 1 is clamped, the rubber sheet can play a role in buffering, and meanwhile, the clamping blocks 3-1 and 3-2 are attached to the sample tube 1 more tightly, so that a sealing effect is further played.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the cap removing device 4 includes a housing 4-1 and a cap pulling mechanism 4-2 accommodated in the housing 4-1. The cover body 4-1 is matched with the fixing mechanism 3 to form a closed space, and the sample cover 2 is contained in the closed space. Preferably, the cover 4-1 and the fixing mechanism 3 may form a sealed space by contact, insertion, or the like. Preferably, the end of the cover 4-1 can be inserted into the sealing groove 6 to form a sealed space. The cap pulling mechanism 4-2 is used for pulling out the sample cap 2. Further, the cover 4-1 is provided with a gas passage 12 for gas circulation in the closed space. Preferably, the left wall and the right wall of the housing 4-1 are provided with gas passages 12. The cover 4-1 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) for extracting gas from the sealed space after the sealed space is formed. The enclosure 4-1 is connected to a third actuator 5. The third driver 5 drives the cover 4-1 to move to form a closed space with the fixing mechanism 3. Further, the third driver 5 can drive the cover 4-1 to move horizontally along the axial direction of the sample cover 2 to the fixing mechanism 3 to form a closed space. According to practical requirements, the third driver 5 can also drive the cover 4-1 to move vertically along the axial direction of the sample cover 2, so as to adjust the position of the cover 4-1. The third driver 5 may comprise a driving motor, and drives the cover 4-1 to move horizontally and/or vertically along the axial direction of the sample cover 2; two driving motors can also be included, one driving motor drives the cover 4-1 to move horizontally along the axial direction of the sample cover 2, and the other driving motor drives the cover 4-1 to move vertically along the axial direction of the sample cover 2. The number of the driving motors can be flexibly selected according to actual requirements and operation difficulty.

Further, the cover pulling mechanism 4-2 comprises a fixed bracket 4-2 'and a plurality of pulling claws 4-2' connected with the fixed bracket. The fixed support 4-2' is connected with the inner wall of the cover body 4-1 through a blind hole. Preferably, the fixing bracket 4-2' is connected with the upper inner wall of the cover 4-1. The pulling claw 4-2 'can do stretching and contracting motions around the fixed support 4-2'. The fingers 4-2 "cooperate with each other to grip or screw down the sample cap 2. The "clamping" or "tightening" described in the embodiments can also be done in other similar ways.

The cap pulling mechanism 4-2 is connected to a first driver (not shown) which drives the pulling claw 4-2 "to expand and/or contract to clamp/tighten the sample cap 2, and drives the fixing bracket 4-2' to move to pull out the sample cap 2 after the pulling claw 4-2" clamps/tightens the sample cap 2. Preferably, the first driver (not shown) drives the fixing bracket 4-2' to move upward along the axial direction of the sample cap 2 to pull out the sample cap 2. According to practical requirements, the first driver (not shown) can also drive the fixed bracket 4-2' to move vertically to the axial direction of the sample cap 2, so as to adjust the position of the cap pulling mechanism 4-2. The first driver (not shown) may comprise a driving motor for driving the pulling claw 4-2 "to clamp/screw the sample cap 2 and driving the fixing support 4-2' to move (including horizontal movement and/or vertical movement) to pull out the sample cap 2; two driving motors can also be included, one driving motor drives the pulling claw 4-2 'to clamp/screw the sample cover 2, and the other driving motor drives the fixing bracket 4-2' to move (including horizontal movement and/or vertical movement) along the axial direction of the sample cover 2 so as to pull out the sample cover 2; it is also possible to include three driving motors, one driving motor drives the pulling claw 4-2 "to clamp/tighten the sample cap 2, one driving motor drives the fixing bracket 4-2 'to move upward along the axial direction of the sample cap 2 to pull out the sample cap 2, and one driving motor drives the fixing bracket 4-2' to move vertically along the axial direction of the sample cap 2 to adjust the position of the cap pulling mechanism 4-2. The number of the driving motors can be flexibly selected according to actual requirements and the operation is difficult and easy.

Preferably, the cap pulling mechanism 4-2 is further connected to a second driver (not shown), and the second driver (not shown) drives the fixing frame 4-2 'to rotate to pull out the sample cap 2 while the first driver (not shown) drives the fixing frame 4-2' to move upward along the axial direction of the sample cap 2. The sample cover 2 can be pulled out more conveniently by driving the cover pulling mechanism 4-2 to rotate while driving the cover pulling mechanism 4-2 to move upwards along the axial direction of the sample cover 2, and especially for a spiral sample cover, the effect is more obvious.

Referring to fig. 4, the apparatus further includes a cap waste compartment 13 for receiving the waste sample cap 2. The cap waste bin 13 comprises a bin door 13-1 and a bin body 13-2. When the sample cover 2 is conveyed to the cover body waste cabin 13 by the cover removing device, the cabin door 13-1 is opened, and the sample cover 2 enters the closed space formed by the cabin body 13-2 and the cover body 4-1. When the cover body waste cabin 13 finishes receiving the waste sample cover 2, the cabin door 13-1 is closed, and the cabin body 13-2 and the cabin door 13-1 are matched to form a closed space. Further, the hatch 13-1 may open/close the waste compartment 13 by sliding or the like. Further, the upper surface of the cabin 13-2 has a sealing groove 15, and the bottom of the cover 4-1 can be inserted into the sealing groove 15 to form the sealed space. When the sample cap 2 is discarded, aerosol remaining on the sample cap 2 is easily diffused into the air, and in the closed space, the discarding of the sample cap 2 can effectively prevent the diffusion of the remaining aerosol.

Preferably, the decapping device further comprises an ultraviolet light source lamp 14, and the ultraviolet light source lamp 14 is accommodated in the cover body 4-1. The ultraviolet light source lamp 14 is used for inactivating the sample cover 2. Further, the decapping device may be provided with a plurality of ultraviolet light source lamps 14.

Further, the decapping device further comprises an air treatment device (shown and labeled) for treating the gas or aerosol extracted from the enclosed space.

As shown in fig. 2, in the LAS system, the sample tubes 1 from which the sample caps are to be removed are located in the sample tube buffer 9, and the sample tubes 1 are respectively placed on the sample holders 7. The front end of the sample tube buffer area 9 can be provided with a uncapping buffer stop block 8-1. When a decapping operation is performed, the sample holder 7 on which the sample tube 1 is placed is transported to a decapping station 10 through LAS rails 11. The front end of the decapping station 10 can be provided with a decapping work stopper 8-2.

When the sample holder 7 reaches the decapping station 10, the fourth driver 16 and the fifth driver 17 respectively drive the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 to move towards the direction close to the sample tube 1 to clamp the sample tube 1, and the inner walls of the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 are attached to the outer wall of the sample tube 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first driver (not shown) drives the jaws 4-2 "to open after the sample tube 1 is clamped by the sample tube clamping blocks 3-1 and 3-2. The third driver 5 drives the cover body 4-1 to move downwards, and the lower end of the cover body 4-1 is embedded into the sealing grooves 6 of the sample tube clamping blocks 3-1 and 3-2 to complete sealing work. The cover body 4-1, the sample tube clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 are matched to form a closed space, and the sample cover 2 is closed in the closed space. The step of the first driver (not shown) driving the pulling claw 4-2 "to open can be adjusted according to actual requirements, for example: can be driven before the fourth driver 5 drives the cover 4-1 to move, and can also be driven after the fourth driver 5 drives the cover 4-1 to form the closed space with the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2; the driving can also be carried out in the process that the fourth driver 5 drives the cover body 4-1, the clamping block 3-1 and the clamping block 3-2 to form the closed space.

As shown in fig. 1, after the enclosed space is formed, the negative pressure source extracts the gas in the enclosed space to generate a directional gas flow, so that the gas or aerosol in the enclosed space flows to the air treatment device. The first driver (not shown) drives the pulling claw 4-2 "to screw the sample cap 2 when or during the extraction of the gas in the closed space. After the sample cap 2 is tightened by the pulling claw 4-2 ", the first driver 5 (not shown) drives the fixing bracket 4-2' to move upward to pull out the sample cap 2. Preferably, after the sample cap 2 is tightened by the pulling claw 4-2 ″, the second driver (not shown) rotates the fixing holder 4-2 'to pull out the sample cap 2 while the first driver (not shown) moves the fixing holder 4-2' upward.

Preferably, the ultraviolet light source lamp 14 is maintained in an on state after the closed space is formed.

As shown in fig. 4, after the sample cap 2 is pulled out, the third driver 5 drives the decapping device 4 to move to the cap discarding compartment 13. When the sample cover 2 is conveyed to the cover body waste bin 13 by the cover removing device 4, the third driver 5 drives the cover body 4-1 to move downwards to the sealing groove 15 of the cover body 13-2 to form a closed space, and the sample cover 2 is accommodated in the closed space. The hatch 13-1 is slid open, the first actuator (not shown) drives the fingers 4-2 "open, and the sample cover 2 enters the waste hatch 13. After the sample cover 2 is discarded, the hatch 13-1 slides to close the waste compartment 13, and the compartment body 13-2 and the hatch 13-1 are matched to form a closed space.

Further, after the cover removing device 4 is left standing for a predetermined time, for example, 1s, 2s, 3s, etc., after the cover removing mechanism 4-2 extracts the sample cover 2, the fourth driver 5 drives the cover removing device 4 to move to the sample tube discarding chamber 13.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several embodiments of the present application, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but not construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that, for a person skilled in the art, several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, which falls within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present patent shall be subject to the appended claims.