Sample collection device

Abstract

Properly collect the sample from the gel sheet supporting the sample. [Solution] The sample collection device 100 comprises a hollow pin 141, a distance sensor 107, a drive unit, a pressure sensor 108, and a control unit. The reference position is the position of the hollow pin 141 immediately after the start of contact detection by the pressure sensor 108, or immediately before the end of contact detection. The reference distance is the distance between the distance sensor 107 and the pressure sensor 108 when the hollow pin 141 is in the reference position. The control unit performs a first measurement control that controls the drive unit so that the distance sensor 107 measures a first distance indicating the distance between the surface of the gel sheet GS and the distance sensor 107, and a descent control that controls the drive unit so that the hollow pin 141 descends and contacts the gel sheet GS. The descent control includes a first position control that controls the position of the tip of the hollow pin 141 relative to the gel sheet GS according to the first distance and the reference distance.

Claims

1. A first holding member having a holding surface for holding a gel plate composed of a gel sheet supporting a sample and a film placed beneath the gel sheet, A hollow pin from which the sample can be collected by cutting out a portion of the gel sheet, A distance sensor fixed to the hollow pin measures the distance to the object in the direction perpendicular to the holding surface, A first drive device that moves the hollow pin and the distance sensor relative to the first holding member, A pressure sensor that detects contact between the tip of the hollow pin and an object when the tip of the hollow pin is in contact with an object located below it, A storage device that stores information indicating a reference position, which is the position of the hollow pin in the vertical direction, immediately after the start of contact detection by the pressure sensor or immediately before the end of contact detection, and information indicating a reference distance, which is the distance between the distance sensor and the object in the vertical direction when the hollow pin is in the reference position. The control device includes a first measurement control that controls the first drive device so that the distance sensor measures a first distance indicating the distance between the surface of the gel sheet, which is the object, and the distance sensor, and a descent control that controls the first drive device so that the hollow pin descends in the vertical direction relative to the first holding member and contacts the gel sheet, A sample collection device in which the downward control includes a first position control that controls the position of the tip relative to the gel sheet in the vertical direction according to the first distance and the reference distance.

2. The first position control includes a first stop control that stops the tip at the first position in the vertical direction. The sample collection device according to claim 1, wherein the first position is determined according to the difference between the first distance and the reference distance and a predetermined amount of indentation of the tip into the gel sheet.

3. The device further comprises an observation device that recognizes a first region as a specific area on the surface of the gel sheet by optically observing the surface of the gel sheet, The first measurement control includes controlling the first drive device so that the distance sensor measures the distance between the distance sensor and the first region, The sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position control includes controlling the position of the tip relative to the first region in the vertical direction.

4. A discharge pin is configured to be insertable into the hollow pin and discharges the sample inside the hollow pin to the outside of the hollow pin, A second holding member that holds a container in which the sample discharged from the hollow pin can be placed, The system further includes a second drive device that lowers the discharge pin relative to the second holding member, The first drive device moves the hollow pin and the distance sensor relative to the second holding member, The control device further performs a second measurement control, which controls the first drive device so that the distance sensor measures a second distance, which indicates the distance between the bottom surface of the container containing the object and the distance sensor, and a positioning control, which controls the first drive device and the second drive device so that the hollow pin descends vertically relative to the second holding member and approaches the bottom surface, and the sample ejected from the hollow pin is placed inside the container. The sampling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement control includes a second position control that controls the position of the tip relative to the bottom surface in the vertical direction according to the second distance and the reference distance.

5. The second position control includes a second stop control that stops the tip at the second position in the vertical direction. The second position is determined according to the difference between the second distance and the reference distance and a predetermined offset amount of the tip from the bottom surface. The sample collection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the arrangement control includes, after the second stop control, a discharge control that controls the second drive device so that the discharge pin descends in the vertical direction.

6. The observation device further comprises an observation device that recognizes a second region as a specific area of ​​the bottom surface of the container by optically observing it. The second measurement control includes controlling the first drive device so that the distance sensor measures the distance between the distance sensor and the second region. The sample collection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second position control includes controlling the position of the tip relative to the second region in the vertical direction.

7. The system further includes an input device that receives user input to instruct the start of sample collection, In response to the user operation, the control device shall Contact control controls the first drive device so that the tip contacts the object, A third measurement control that controls the first drive device so that the distance sensor measures the distance between the object, which is the target object, and the distance sensor, A first determination process that determines the reference position according to the detection result of the pressure sensor in the contact control, The sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second determination process for determining the reference distance according to the measurement result of the distance sensor in the third measurement control.

8. The sample collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the object is the pressure sensor.

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