Blood collection device and blood collection method

Abstract

The present invention provides a blood collection device and a blood collection method that make it possible to monitor the progress of blood collection into a container and to highly accurately measure the amount of blood collected in the container regardless of the type of the container into which blood is collected. A blood collection device (1) comprises: a light source (141) that emits planar light; a container (151) into which blood is collected; up-down movement mechanisms (121, 122) that move the container (151) up and down; and a light detector (142) that detects light transmitted through the container (151). The blood collection device (1) further comprises a light shielding member (160) that forms a light projection window (180) for blocking a portion of the light emitted from the light source (141) and projecting a portion of the light to the container (151). The light shielding member (160) is provided in a movable manner so as to be capable of changing the size of the light projection window (180). This blood collection method comprises: an operation for changing the size of the light projection window when blood is collected into the container, and projecting light projected from a side of the container to the whole of a blood storage space inside the container; and an operation for projecting light projected from the side of the container to a part of the blood storage space that is located at a predetermined height of the container.

Description

Blood collection device and blood collection method

[0001] The present invention relates to a blood sampling device and a blood sampling method for sampling blood from the fingers of a subject.

[0002] In medical care and health management, it is important to know the condition of blood from the perspective of diagnosing and preventing disease. Medical institutions conduct blood tests during consultations and checkups. In blood tests, the components of blood drawn from the patient are quantitatively analyzed. During consultations and checkups, the condition of tissues and organs throughout the body is diagnosed based on the results of blood tests.

[0003] General blood tests are often performed at medical institutions such as general hospitals. Blood samples for blood tests are taken from the forearm or cubital fossa, and blood is collected from the cephalic vein, median cubital vein, basilic vein, etc. Blood tests can also be performed at home by self-collecting blood for limited purposes such as measuring blood glucose levels.

[0004] Self-blood collection is often performed from capillaries such as those in the fingers. A blood collection lancing device is used for self-blood collection. In recent years, single-use safety lancets have become commercially available. When an automatic safety lancet is pressed against the recipient's finger, it projects a tiny puncture needle and punctures the capillary vessels in the finger. The blood that flows out from the puncture site is collected in a blood collection tube to be mailed to a testing institution or in a simple test kit.

[0005] Finger blood sampling, which targets capillaries, is easier and does not require sophisticated techniques compared to arm blood sampling, which targets the forearm or cubital fossa. Therefore, finger blood sampling has been considered as a means of collecting blood needed for blood tests. However, finger blood sampling tends to result in a small amount of blood being collected per sampling. To consistently obtain the amount of blood needed for blood testing, complicated procedures are required, such as compressing the finger and squeezing the area around the puncture site.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a blood collection device that automatically collects blood from a subject's finger. This blood collection device includes a cartridge that holds a lancing device, a collection tube, and a bandage, a drive mechanism for changing the position of the cartridge, a fixing mechanism for fixing a part of the fingertip, and a compression mechanism for compressing the base of the finger. After compressing the fingertip, the lancing device punctures the fingertip, blood is collected in a collection tube, and bleeding is stopped after the pressure is released.

[0007] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for determining the amount of blood collected in a blood collection tube by analyzing an image of the tube during collection. The method irradiates a fingertip with near-infrared light from a light source and measures the amount of light reflected from the fingertip (returned light that is not absorbed by hemoglobin from the irradiated near-infrared light) with a photodetector.

[0008] Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-040834 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-088391

[0009] Because blood collection places a significant burden on both the recipient and the person collecting the blood, there is a need to reduce the burden and improve the efficiency of the process. Furthermore, finger blood collection poses a challenge in ensuring a stable supply of the blood volume required for blood testing. The amount of blood that bleeds from the puncture site on the finger varies depending on the recipient and their health condition. Therefore, blood collection devices that automatically collect blood from the recipient's finger are expected to be equipped with a function to measure the amount of blood collected.

[0010] One method for measuring the amount of collected blood utilizes the correlation between the level of blood collected in a blood collection tube and the amount of blood in the tube. As described in Patent Document 1, the level of blood collected in a blood collection tube can be measured with high reliability using an optical technique. In Patent Document 1, the planar intensity distribution of light passing through a container is measured while blood bleeding from the puncture site is collected into a container. The intensity distribution from the bottom to the top of the container is measured to derive the amount of blood in the container.

[0011] However, when optical techniques are used to measure the amount of collected blood, there is a problem in that measurement errors are likely to occur depending on the type of blood collection tube. There are various types of blood collection tubes depending on the test item of the blood test and the manufacturer of the blood collection tube. Each type of blood collection tube differs in terms of the shape of the container and whether or not it contains a separating agent for separating serum. The behavior of light scattering and reflection differs depending on the shape of the bottom of the container and the shape around the opening. The separating agent is made of a gel or the like and has the property of scattering light.

[0012] Therefore, when measuring the intensity of the transmitted light that passes through the sidewall of the blood collection tube and the blood collected in the tube, the measurement results vary depending on the type of blood collection tube, which is a problem. If the influence of scattered light and reflected light is significant when measuring the intensity of the transmitted light, it becomes impossible to accurately determine the amount of blood collected. The amount of blood required for a blood test may differ depending on the test item. If there is variation in the measurement results, it becomes difficult to consistently ensure the amount required for each test item.

[0013] In particular, blood collection devices that automatically collect blood from the subject's finger are desirably equipped with a function for monitoring the progress of blood collection. If there is insufficient bleeding from the puncture site, it may be necessary to stop the blood collection or start the collection again. Therefore, it is desirable to continuously measure the amount of blood collected into the collection tube from the start of blood collection until the target amount of blood is collected. To continuously measure the amount of blood collected, it is desirable to have a function that can project measurement light from the bottom side to the top side of the collection tube.

[0014] On the other hand, when checking whether the target amount of blood required for a blood test has been collected, it is desirable to perform high-precision measurement by projecting measurement light only onto a portion of the space located at a predetermined height in the blood collection tube. It is important to project light only onto the vicinity of the height where the blood level of the target amount of blood is reached to avoid the influence of unnecessary scattered light and reflected light. However, conventional blood collection devices do not have a function that can achieve both a light projection range suitable for monitoring the progress of blood collection and a light projection range suitable for high-precision measurement of the amount of blood collected.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a blood collection device and a blood collection method that can monitor the progress of blood collection into a container and measure the amount of blood collected in the container with high accuracy, regardless of the type of container from which the blood is collected.

[0016] In order to solve the above problems, the blood collection device of the present invention has a light source that emits planar light, a container in which blood is collected, an up-and-down movement mechanism that moves the container up and down, and a photodetector that detects light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the container, and is provided with a light-blocking member that forms a light-projection window that blocks part of the light emitted from the light source and projects part of the light onto the container, and the light-blocking member is movable so that the size of the light-projection window can be freely changed.

[0017] Furthermore, the blood collection method of the present invention uses a blood collection device having a light source that emits planar light, a container in which blood is collected, a vertical movement mechanism that moves the container up and down, and a photodetector that detects light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the container, and includes the following operations: forming a light projection window that blocks a portion of the light emitted from the light source and projects a portion of the light onto the container; changing the size of the light projection window when collecting blood into the container; projecting the light projected from the side of the container onto the entire space inside the container where the blood is stored and detecting the transmitted light that has transmitted through the entire space; and projecting the light projected from the side of the container onto a portion of the space where the blood is stored that is located at a predetermined height of the container and detecting the transmitted light that has transmitted through the portion of the space.

[0018] According to the present invention, a blood collection device and a blood collection method can be provided that are capable of monitoring the progress of blood collection into a container and measuring the amount of blood collected in the container with high accuracy, regardless of the type of container from which the blood is collected.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a turntable and a holder built into the blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of equipment built into the blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration related to control of the blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a blood collection amount measurement mechanism.

[0020] A blood collection device and a blood collection method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that common components in the following drawings will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a finger blood collection device, which automatically collects blood from the fingers of a person to be collected, as an example of a blood collection device. The illustration in FIG. 1 is a partial view showing the finger rest area of ​​the blood collection device as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 1, the blood collection device 1 according to this embodiment includes, on the top surface of a housing 10, a hand rest area where the person to be collected places their hand 15 and a finger rest area 131 where the person to be collected places their finger 134.

[0022] The finger rest 131 is provided with a pressure band 130 that applies pressure to the subject's finger 134. The subject's finger 134, from which blood is to be collected, is placed in the finger rest 131 and is compressed by the pressure band 130 so that the fingertip is congested, after which blood is collected by a mechanism built into the housing 10. The pressure around the finger makes the fingertip more susceptible to bleeding when punctured with a puncture needle. The position of the fingertip can also be fixed relative to the puncture needle, etc.

[0023] The housing 10 is formed from a plurality of structural materials, decorative panels, etc. Inside the housing 10, there are built-in components such as a turntable 11, a plurality of holders for holding blood collection tubes, puncture devices, hemostatic materials, protective materials, etc., a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the turntable 11, an elevation drive mechanism for raising and lowering the holders, and a pressure adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pressure of the compression cuff 130.

[0024] The compression cuff 130 is supported at a position where it contacts the vicinity of the first joint of the subject's finger 134 placed in the finger rest area 131. As shown in the partial view, the finger rest area 131 is provided with a blood sampling window 132, which is an opening that passes through the finger rest area 131 from top to bottom. The subject's finger 134 is placed so that the pad side of the fingertip faces downward from the blood sampling window 132. The finger rest area 131 may be formed from disposable parts, or may be formed by covering a structural material for placing the finger with a disposable part.

[0025] The compression cuff 130 is in the form of a flexible bag. A working fluid such as air is sealed in the compression cuff 130. For example, an airbag or a belt-like cuff with an airbag built in can be used as the compression cuff 130. The compression cuff 130 is connected to a valve and a pump via a tube. The valve and the pump constitute a pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts the pressure of the compression cuff 130. By adjusting the internal pressure of the compression cuff 130, the pressure on the subject's finger 134 can be adjusted.

[0026] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the turntable and holders built into the blood collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a state in which multiple holders 111 to 115 are attached to the turntable 11 built into the blood collection device 1. As shown in Figure 2, multiple holders 111 to 115 that perform operations related to blood collection are attached to the turntable 11 built into the blood collection device 1.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows an example of the configuration of holders attached to the turntable 11. In Fig. 2, a puncture device holder 111 that holds a puncture device 1111, blood collection tube holders 112 and 113 that hold blood collection tubes 1121 and 1131, a hemostatic material holder 114 that holds a hemostatic material 1141 such as gauze, and a protective material holder 115 that holds a protective material 1151 such as a bandage are installed on the turntable 11. As the blood collection tubes 1121 and 1131, a blood collection tube 1121 for a blood count test and a blood collection tube 1131 for a biochemistry / immunology test are installed.

[0028] Holders 111 to 115 are movable relative to finger rest area 131 by rotating turntable 11 or by raising and lowering turntable 11. By the movement of holders 111 to 115, a puncturing operation of inserting the puncture needle into finger 134 of the blood recipient, a blood collection operation of collecting blood from the puncture site inserted with the puncture needle into blood collection tubes 1121 and 1131, and a treatment operation of treating the puncture site with hemostatic material 1141 or protective material 1151 are sequentially performed on finger 134 of the blood recipient placed on finger rest area 131.

[0029] The turntable 11 is formed in the shape of a disk with a portion cut out. The turntable 11 is rotatably supported inside the housing 10 with its main surface facing up and down. The turntable 11 is formed with holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152 that hold the holders 111 to 115. The holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152 are provided as through holes that pass through the turntable 11 from top to bottom.

[0030] The holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152 are arranged on a circumference of a predetermined diameter that is concentric with the turntable 11. The holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152 are arranged at intervals from one another along the circumferential direction of the turntable 11 on a circumference of a predetermined diameter that passes directly below the finger rest area 131. In each of the holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152, one of the holders 111 to 115 is installed at a pre-designated position.

[0031] The holders 111 to 115 are detachably attached to the turntable 11. Each of the holders 111 to 115 has a portion formed therein whose outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152. Each of the holders 111 to 115 is inserted into the holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152, and the portion with the larger outer diameter is supported from below. With this structure, each of the holders 111 to 115 is held on the turntable 11 in a state in which it can be raised and lowered by being pushed up from below.

[0032] The blood collection tube holders 112 and 113 are locations where blood collection tubes are placed, and various types of blood collection tubes are placed depending on the test items of the blood test to be performed after blood collection. An outer tube containing a blood collection tube can be placed in the blood collection tube holders 112 and 113. As the blood collection tube, a micro blood collection tube with a capacity on the order of several hundred μL can be used. The outer tube is used for purposes such as adjusting the size of the object to be placed in the location where the blood collection tube is placed.

[0033] The blood collection tubes 1121 and 1131 are containers from which blood is collected. The blood collection tube 1121 for blood count tests is a container from which blood is collected for blood count tests, and contains an anticoagulant such as EDTA-2K. The blood collection tube 1131 for biochemistry and immunological tests is a container from which blood is collected for biochemistry tests and immunological tests, and contains a separating agent for separating serum. When collected blood is centrifuged, it can be separated into clots and serum due to the difference in specific gravity. The clots and serum are separated from each other by a separating agent made of gel or the like, so that they can be easily collected from the blood collection tube.

[0034] The puncture device 1111 includes a puncture needle (lancet) and a holder serving as a housing that houses the puncture needle. A single-use skin puncture device can be attached to the puncture device holder 111 as the puncture device 1111. When the puncture device 1111 is pressed against the subject's finger 134, it projects the puncture needle and punctures the skin or capillaries. Blood flowing out from the puncture site is collected in blood collection tubes 1121, 1131 transported below the puncture site.

[0035] The hemostatic material 1141 is an absorbent cloth such as gauze that is pressed against the puncture site to absorb and stop the blood that has bled from the puncture site. The protective material 1151 is an adhesive sheet such as a bandage with an absorbent cloth attached that is pressed against and attached to the puncture site to stop the bleeding and protect the puncture site. The protective material 1151 is attached to the protective material holder 115 with the absorbent cloth and adhesive surface facing upward.

[0036] The upper surface of the turntable 11 can be protected during blood collection by a protective sheet 116. The protective sheet 116 can be installed so as to cover the upper surface of the turntable 11 by forming through holes at positions corresponding to the holding holes 1112, 1122, 1132, 1142, and 1152. Covering the turntable 11 with the protective sheet 116 prevents contamination due to blood adhesion. The protective sheet 116 can be made of an inexpensive, lightweight, disposable material, such as paper, cloth, or resin film.

[0037] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the devices built into the blood collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. This diagram schematically shows the configuration of the turntable 11 built into the blood collection device 1, the drive mechanism 12 that drives the rotation of the turntable 11 and the elevation of the holders 111 to 115, the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 that measures the amount of collected blood, the control mechanism 16 that controls each mechanism, the pressure adjustment mechanism 17 that adjusts the pressure of the pressure cuff 130, and the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 that acquires blood vessel images of the fingertip.

[0038] The upper diagram in Fig. 3 shows the periphery of the turntable 11 as viewed from above. The lower diagram in Fig. 3 shows the periphery of the turntable 11 as viewed from the side, together with the configuration of the control mechanism 16 and the pressure adjustment mechanism 17. In Fig. 3, the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected is placed on a finger rest 131 (not shown). The position on the turntable 11 directly below the finger rest 131 is the blood collection position where blood is collected from the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected. At the blood collection position, the holders 111 to 115 perform the puncturing operation, blood collection operation, and treatment operation.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the turntable 11 is placed below the finger rest area 131. A drive mechanism 12 is placed below the turntable 11 to drive the rotation of the turntable 11 and the elevation of the holders 111 to 115. A blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 is placed to the side of the turntable 11 so as to face the side of the holders 111 to 115 placed on the turntable 11. A pressure cuff 130 and a blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 are placed around the finger rest area 131. A pressure adjustment mechanism 17 is connected to the pressure cuff 130 via a tube.

[0040] The drive mechanism 12, blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14, pressure adjustment mechanism 17, and blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 are connected to a control mechanism 16 via signal lines. The control mechanism 16 controls the operation of each mechanism, processes signals sent to and received from each mechanism, and performs image analysis of blood vessel images acquired by the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19. The control mechanism 16 is connected to an input / output device 18 via wired or wireless signal lines.

[0041] The input / output device 18 inputs instructions regarding the operation of each mechanism, inputs instructions regarding image analysis, inputs settings regarding blood collection conditions, etc., outputs results regarding the operation of each mechanism, outputs measurement results of the amount of collected blood, etc. The input / output device 18 may be built into the blood collection device 1 or may be connected externally to the blood collection device 1. As the external input / output device 18, a personal computer, tablet, etc. can be used.

[0042] The drive mechanism 12 is composed of a rotation drive mechanism 120 that drives the rotational movement of the turntable 11, an elevation drive mechanism 121 that drives the elevation of the holders 111 to 115, and a push rod 122 that pushes up the holders 111 to 115 from below to lift them up. The rotation drive mechanism 120 is installed below the turntable 11. The elevation drive mechanism 121 and the push rod 122 are installed below the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. The power source for the drive mechanism 12 may be an external power source, an internal battery, or a mechanical power source such as a spring. When a spring is used as the power source, it can be used in places where it is difficult to supply electricity.

[0043] The rotation drive mechanism 120 is formed by a shaft coupled to the center of the turntable 11, a motor connected to the shaft, and the like. The turntable 11 is driven to rotate by a predetermined step angle by the rotation drive mechanism 120. The rotation of the turntable 11 transports and removes the holders 111 to 115 to and from the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. At the blood collection position, the holders 111 to 115 are raised and lowered by the lift drive mechanism 121.

[0044] The lifting drive mechanism 121 is an electric actuator and is formed by a combination of a solenoid, a motor, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into linear motion, etc. The push rod 122 is connected to the lifting drive mechanism 121, and is driven to move up and down by the lifting drive mechanism 121.

[0045] When push rod 122 is driven to rise, it pushes up holders 111 to 115 at the blood sampling position from below, causing them to rise. Lancing devices 1111 and the like held in holders 111 to 115 are raised by being pushed up by push rod 122 to a position where they are pressed against finger 134 of the person to be sampled, or to a position close to finger 134 of the person to be sampled. On the other hand, when push rod 122 is driven to fall, it lowers holders 111 to 115 at the blood sampling position to a position where they are supported on turntable 11.

[0046] The blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 is a mechanism that measures the amount of blood collected in a blood collection tube. The blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 is composed of a light source that emits planar light and one or more photodetectors. The light source and photodetector are installed facing each other across the blood collection tube to be measured that has been transported to the blood collection position. The planar light emitted from the light source is projected from the side onto the side of the blood collection tube held in the blood collection tube holders 112, 113. The photodetector detects the planar light emitted from the light source that has passed through the blood collection tube.

[0047] Planar light emitted from a light source is scattered, reflected, absorbed, etc. by blood, and the intensity of the transmitted light decreases when blood is collected in a blood collection tube. When the transmitted light that has passed through the blood collection tube is detected and the intensity of the transmitted light is measured, the attenuation of the intensity of the transmitted light due to the blood is observed depending on the level of the blood collected in the blood collection tube. Therefore, the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube can be determined based on the correlation between the level of the blood collected in the blood collection tube and the amount of blood in the blood collection tube, or based on the correlation between the amount of light transmitted through the blood collection tube and the amount of blood in the blood collection tube.

[0048] The correlation between the level of the blood collected in the blood collection tube and the amount of blood in the blood collection tube, and the correlation between the amount of light transmitted through the blood collection tube and the amount of blood in the blood collection tube, can be determined by multiple measurements using samples with known blood volumes in the blood collection tube. Measurements using samples with known blood volumes are performed for each type of blood collection tube using a blood collection tube that corresponds to the test items of the blood test to be performed after blood collection. The level of the blood collected in the blood collection tube and the amount of light transmitted through the blood collection tube can be determined according to the displacement of the drive mechanism 12 by recording the operation of the drive mechanism 12.

[0049] The blood level can be measured as the distance from the bottom of the blood collection tube to the level of the blood collected in the tube. If the blood collection tube contains a separating agent, for example, the average height of the top of the separating agent can be used as the zero reference point for the blood level.

[0050] The amount of transmitted light can be measured as an integrated amount over a predetermined range. For example, the amount of transmitted light can be measured by projecting light onto the entire internal space of the blood collection tube, the space below the liquid level reached by the target blood collection volume and where blood is stored, or a part of the space near the liquid level reached by the target blood collection volume and located at a predetermined height inside the blood collection tube, as viewed from the side.

[0051] Examples of light sources that can be used to emit planar light include LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), COB (Chip On Board) LEDs, and OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes). Planar light refers to light that spreads in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Using planar light makes it possible to measure the light intensity of light that has passed through a wide range of measurement targets. This makes it possible to monitor the progress of blood collection into blood collection tubes and to perform measurements with low error using the integrated value or average of measurement results for a wide range of measurement targets.

[0052] Planar light can be generated by a light-emitting element array in which light-emitting elements are arranged. Alternatively, it can be generated by a light-emitting element equipped with a light guide plate, a scattering layer, etc., or a planar-emitting OLED. As the planar light, visible light or near-infrared light with a wavelength of 300 to 1000 nm is preferably used, and blue light with a wavelength of approximately 400 to 480 nm is more preferably used. Blue light allows for highly sensitive detection of attenuation of light intensity due to scattering and reflection by blood. Near-infrared light allows for highly sensitive detection of attenuation of light intensity due to absorption by hemoglobin.

[0053] A photodiode array or the like can be used as the photodetector. The photodiode array can measure the two-dimensional distribution of the light quantity or light intensity of the transmitted light that has passed through the blood collection tube. The light-receiving element of the photodetector is preferably installed so as to have a spread in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and more preferably installed in a range that includes the optical axis of the planar light emitted from the light source. The photodetector may also include optical elements such as an optical filter that attenuates wavelengths other than the emission wavelength of the light source, a lens that changes the detection range by focusing or diverging light, or a mirror that changes the light path.

[0054] The photodetector may be an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor). The image sensor detects transmitted light that has passed through the blood collection tube, and an image of the blood collection tube containing information corresponding to the two-dimensional distribution of the amount and intensity of the transmitted light that has passed through the blood collection tube can be captured. By analyzing the image captured by the image sensor, the liquid level of the blood collected in the blood collection tube and the amount of transmitted light that has passed through a predetermined area of ​​the blood collection tube can be determined.

[0055] The pressure adjustment mechanism 17 is composed of a tube that connects the pressure cuff 130 to a source of working fluid, a pressure sensor 171 that measures the internal pressure of the pressure cuff 130, a valve 172 that adjusts the amount of working fluid by opening and closing the tube, and a pump 173 that supplies working fluid to the pressure cuff 130. The pressure on the subject's finger 134 is adjusted by the release of working fluid by the valve 172 and the supply of working fluid by the pump 173.

[0056] The blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 is a mechanism for acquiring a blood vessel image of the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected. The blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 is composed of an infrared light imaging device 191 and a near-infrared light source 192. The infrared light imaging device 191 and the near-infrared light source 192 are installed so as to sandwich the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected, which is placed in the finger rest area 131. The infrared light imaging device 191 is arranged so as to face the pad side of the fingertip. The near-infrared light source 192 is arranged so as to face the nail side of the fingertip.

[0057] The vascular image is a two-dimensional image of the fingertip of the subject's finger 134, and is an image that represents the course of blood vessels at the fingertip using pixel contrast. Hemoglobin in blood absorbs near-infrared light, thereby attenuating the near-infrared light that passes through the subject's finger 134. Therefore, by projecting near-infrared light onto the subject's finger 134 and measuring the light intensity distribution of the near-infrared light that passes through the subject's finger 134, the vascular network at the fingertip can be imaged.

[0058] In a blood vessel image, the course of blood vessels is represented by the contrast of pixel shading. The attenuation of the light intensity of transmitted light due to hemoglobin can be displayed as the gradation of each pixel, for example, the difference in brightness of each pixel. By generating such a blood vessel image, blood vessels running under the skin of a fingertip can be visualized as dark lines consisting of a series of low-brightness pixels with low transmitted light intensity surrounded by surrounding pixels with high transmitted light intensity.

[0059] The infrared light imaging device 191 detects near-infrared light that has passed through the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected that is placed in the finger rest area 131, and captures an image of the blood vessels of the person to be blood-collected, the finger 134. As the infrared light imaging device 191, an infrared camera that can detect infrared light and near-infrared light, a near-infrared camera that can detect near-infrared light with high sensitivity, or the like can be used.

[0060] The near-infrared light source 192 is a light source that emits near-infrared light, and irradiates the near-infrared light onto the subject's finger 134 placed in the finger rest area 131. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like having an emission wavelength that includes the near-infrared light range can be used as the near-infrared light source 192. The near-infrared light may have a wavelength of 700 nm or more and 2500 nm or less, for example, about 940 nm.

[0061] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration related to control of the blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration related to control of the main components involved in the operation of the blood collection device 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the rotation drive mechanism 120, the elevation drive mechanism 121, the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14, the pressure adjustment mechanism 17, and the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 are controlled by the control mechanism 16 according to a predetermined program.

[0062] The control mechanism 16 executes processes according to programs, reads programs and data, and controls the main components involved in the operation of the blood collection device 1. The control mechanism 16 is configured by, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

[0063] The rotation drive mechanism 120 is connected to the control mechanism 16 via a motor controller 201 so as to be able to communicate signals. The lift drive mechanism 121 is connected to the control mechanism 16 via a motor controller 202 so as to be able to communicate signals. The photodetector of the blood sample amount measurement mechanism 14 is connected to the control mechanism 16 via an A / D converter 203 so as to be able to communicate signals. The light source of the blood sample amount measurement mechanism 14 is connected to the control mechanism 16 so as to be able to communicate signals.

[0064] The pressure adjustment mechanism 17 is connected to the control mechanism 16 so as to be able to communicate signals with it via a pressure adjustment controller 204. The infrared light imaging device 191 of the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 is connected to the control mechanism 16 so as to be able to communicate signals with it via an I / O interface 205. The near-infrared light source 192 of the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 is connected to the control mechanism 16 so as to be able to communicate signals with it.

[0065] The control mechanism 16 can be provided as a system controller, and sets target values ​​for control of the rotation drive mechanism 120, the elevation drive mechanism 121, the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14, the pressure adjustment mechanism 17, and the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 according to a program and detection results from various sensors. The control mechanism 16 also performs sequence control of each mechanism. Control signals for the target values ​​are sent from the control mechanism 16 to the motor controllers 201 and 202, the pressure adjustment controller 204, and the infrared light imaging device 191.

[0066] The rotation drive mechanism 120, the lift drive mechanism 121, and the pressure adjustment mechanism 17 are controlled by motor controllers 201 and 202 and a pressure adjustment controller 204, respectively, so as to operate at set target control amounts in accordance with the puncturing operation, blood collection operation, and treatment operation. These mechanisms can also be configured to sense the control amounts as necessary. By sensing the control amounts, the control amounts can be feedback-controlled.

[0067] The photodetector of the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 detects light transmitted through the blood collection tube and blood, and inputs an analog detection signal indicating the detection result to the A / D converter 203. The A / D converter 203 converts the analog detection signal into a digital detection signal. The digital detection signal is amplified as necessary and then input to the control mechanism 16.

[0068] The infrared light imaging device 191 of the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 captures an image of the blood vessels of the finger 134 of the subject, and transmits the image capture result data to the control mechanism 16 via the I / O interface 205. The optical conditions, field of view, etc. of the image captured by the infrared light imaging device 191 can be set via the input / output device 18. The optical conditions, field of view, etc. of the image can be controlled by the control mechanism 16 in accordance with the input settings.

[0069] When the blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 19 captures a blood vessel image of the subject's finger 134, it transmits the data of the image capture result to the control mechanism 16. The blood vessel image is visualized based on the data of the image capture result, and can then be displayed on a display or the like of the input / output device 18. Based on such a blood vessel image, the control mechanism 16 determines the distribution of blood vessels in the fingertip, the thickness of the blood vessels, and the like.

[0070] The puncture position of the puncture needle on the subject's finger 134 is determined by the control mechanism 16 based on the results of determining the distribution of blood vessels in the fingertip, the diameter of the blood vessels, etc. The puncture position of the puncture needle can be specified as the intersection of the arc-shaped trajectory of the puncture needle caused by the rotation of the turntable 11 and a representative blood vessel running through the fingertip. Representative blood vessels include blood vessels with a high blood flow, blood vessels with a large diameter, and blood vessels running shallow from the surface of the finger.

[0071] When the target puncture position of the puncture needle is determined based on the blood vessel image, control mechanism 16 controls rotation drive mechanism 120 to rotate turntable 11 so that the position of the puncture needle in a planar view coincides with the target puncture position. Then, control mechanism 16 controls elevation drive mechanism 121 to raise puncture device holder 111 to a height at which puncture device 1111 is pressed against finger 134 of the blood sample recipient. When puncture device 1111 is pressed against finger 134 of the blood sample recipient, it protrudes the puncture needle and punctures the blood vessel at the target puncture position.

[0072] After the puncturing operation is completed, the control mechanism 16 controls the rotation drive mechanism 120 to rotate the turntable 11 so that the blood collection tube holders 112, 113 are sequentially transported to the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. After the turntable 11 has rotated, the control mechanism 16 controls the elevation drive mechanism 121 to sequentially raise the blood collection tube holders 112, 113 to a height at which the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131 are pressed against the puncture site. Blood bleeding from the puncture site is collected in the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131 transported to the blood collection position.

[0073] The blood collection operation is usually performed in the order of the biochemistry / immunology test blood collection tube 1131 and the blood count test blood collection tube 1121. At the start of the blood collection operation, the control mechanism 16 controls the lifting drive mechanism 121 to repeatedly lift and lower the blood collection tube holders 112, 113 in a short period of time. By repeatedly lifting and lowering the blood, blood can be quickly collected into the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131, as if wiping off blood that has bled from the puncture site.

[0074] During the blood collection operation, the control mechanism 16 controls the blood collection volume measurement mechanism 14 to measure the volume of blood collected in the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131. The control mechanism 16 also measures the blood collection time using a built-in timer. The blood collection time is the time elapsed since the start of blood collection into the blood collection tube. The blood collection time affects the time it takes for blood to clot and the components that flow out from the puncture site. Therefore, the upper limit of the blood collection time is limited for each type of blood collection tube depending on the test items of the blood test.

[0075] During the blood collection operation, the control mechanism 16 compares the amount of blood collected measured by the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 with a target blood collection amount preset for each type of blood collection tube to determine whether the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube has reached the target amount. Also, the control mechanism 16 compares the blood collection time measured by the built-in timer with a maximum blood collection time preset for each type of blood collection tube to determine whether the blood collection time elapsed since the start of blood collection into the blood collection tube has reached the maximum blood collection time.

[0076] If, as a result of measuring the amount of collected blood, the amount of blood collected in the collection tubes 1121, 1131 is less than the target blood amount and the blood collection time has not exceeded the upper limit, blood collection continues into the collection tubes 1121, 1131. On the other hand, if the amount of blood collected in the collection tubes 1121, 1131 is less than the target blood amount and the blood collection time has exceeded the upper limit, collection of blood into the collection tubes 1121, 1131 is stopped because it may be difficult to secure the amount of blood required for the blood test, or tissue fluid may have been mixed in or blood coagulation may have progressed.

[0077] On the other hand, if the measurement of the blood collection volume indicates that the volume of blood collected in the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131 is equal to or greater than the target blood volume, blood collection into the blood collection tubes 1121, 1131 is terminated. The control mechanism 16 controls the rotation drive mechanism 120 to transport the blood collection tube holders 112, 113 from the blood collection position. Another blood collection tube holder 112, 113 is transported to the blood collection position, and blood flowing out from the puncture site is collected. Alternatively, a hemostatic material holder 114 or a protective material holder 115 is transported, and a treatment operation is performed on the puncture site.

[0078] After the blood sampling operation is completed, when hemostatic material holder 114 and protective material holder 115 are transported sequentially to the blood sampling position, control mechanism 16 controls lifting drive mechanism 121 to sequentially raise hemostatic material holder 114 and protective material holder 115 to a height at which hemostatic agent 1141 and protective material 1151 are pressed against the puncture site. The puncture site is stopped from bleeding or protected by the pressing of hemostatic agent 1141 and protective material 1151.

[0079] In the blood collection device 1, when measuring the amount of collected blood using the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14, planar light emitted from a light source of the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 is projected onto the blood collection tube through a light projection window whose size can be freely changed. During the blood collection operation, measurement light limited by the light projection window is projected onto the blood collection tube and blood, and the transmitted light that has passed through the blood collection tube and blood is detected by a photodetector, thereby measuring the amount of collected blood with high accuracy while avoiding disturbances caused by unnecessary scattered light and reflected light.

[0080] The light projection window limits the optical path of planar light emitted from the light source of the collected blood amount measurement mechanism 14 and projected onto the blood collection tube. The size of the light projection window is changed for each type of blood collection tube according to the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube.

[0081] There are various types of blood collection tubes, including those distinguished by their shape and those distinguished by the presence or absence of a separating agent inside the blood collection tube. The shapes of blood collection tubes vary depending on the size of the blood collection tube, such as the inner diameter, outer diameter, and height, as well as the shape of the bottom of the blood collection tube, the shape of the area around the opening where the cap is attached at the top of the blood collection tube, and the shape of the scoop-shaped protrusion formed at the top opening of the blood collection tube. Separating agents include those made of gel and those containing fine particles.

[0082] The type of blood collection tube can be identified by attaching an information label indicating the type of blood collection tube to the blood collection tube as a barcode or the like, and reading the information label attached to the blood collection tube with a reader built into the blood collection device 1. The information label can be attached by any appropriate method, such as attaching a barcode label, printing a barcode, attaching a two-dimensional code label, printing a two-dimensional code, attaching a data matrix code label, printing a data matrix code, or embedding an IC chip.

[0083] The size of the light projection window is changeable between at least a first size, in which planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube is projected onto the entire space inside the blood collection tube where blood is stored, and a second slit-shaped size, in which planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube is projected onto a portion of the space where blood is stored at a predetermined height in the blood collection tube. The first size allows for bird's-eye monitoring of the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube. The second size allows for high-precision measurement of the amount of blood collected by monitoring only the vicinity of the height at which the blood level of the target amount of blood to be collected reaches.

[0084] Next, an example of a mechanism for changing the size of the light projection window and a blood collection method using the blood collection device 1 in which a light projection window whose size can be freely changed will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0085] In a blood collection method using the blood collection device 1, a light projection window is formed that blocks a portion of the planar light emitted from the light source and projects the portion of the planar light onto the blood collection tube, and the size of the light projection window is changed according to the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube during collection of blood into the blood collection tube. This blood collection method includes at least the following operations: projecting planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube where the blood is stored, and detecting transmitted light that has passed through the entire storage space; and projecting the planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube onto a portion of the storage space where the blood is stored, located at a predetermined height of the blood collection tube, and detecting transmitted light that has passed through the portion of the storage space.

[0086] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of the blood collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows the structure of the periphery of light projection window 180 formed at the blood collection position directly below finger rest area 131 of blood collection device 1, as viewed from the center of turntable 11. Fig. 5 shows the state in which push rod 122 is at its lowest point and light projection window 180 is at its maximum opening.

[0087] 5, after the puncture needle has punctured the finger 134 of the subject, the turntable 11 rotates to transport the blood collection tube holder 150 to the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. The shape of the blood collection tube 151 held in the blood collection tube holder 150 and the presence or absence of a separating agent inside the blood collection tube 151 can be identified by reading the information label attached to the side of the blood collection tube with a reader (not shown).

[0088] Rails 118 and a light-blocking member 160 are provided below the turntable 11 at the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. The rails 118 form a track that allows the light-blocking member 160 to move up and down from a lower position spaced apart from the underside of the turntable 11 to a position close to the underside of the turntable 11. The rails 118 are supported by surrounding structural materials so as not to interfere with the turntable 11. The light-blocking member 160 is a movable member that is supported on the rails 118 so as to be able to move up and down freely.

[0089] A light projection window 180 is formed below the turntable 11 at the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131, through which light for measuring the amount of collected blood is projected onto the blood collection tube 151. The light projection window 180 blocks a portion of the planar light emitted from the light source of the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 and projects the portion of the planar light onto the blood collection tube 151. By blocking a portion of the planar measurement light, the influence of scattered light and reflected light on the detection of transmitted light is reduced. The size of the light projection window 180 is adjustable. The size of the light projection window 180 is changed by raising and lowering the light blocking member 160.

[0090] The light projection window 180 has a lower end of the optical path at the upper end of the light blocking member 160 and an upper end of the optical path at the lower end of the structural material on the turntable 11 side. The light projection window 180 may or may not have left and right side edges. The left and right side edges can be formed, for example, by extending light blocking plates inward from the left and right rails 118, etc. Forming left and right side edges can further reduce the effects of scattered light and reflected light from surrounding structural materials, etc.

[0091] 5, stoppers 119 are formed at the lower end of the structural material on the turntable 11 side. The stoppers 119 are formed so as to protrude downward on both the left and right sides of the structural material on the turntable 11 side at positions that do not block the light projection window 180. The stoppers 119 limit the upper limit of the elevation of the light blocking member 160. When the light blocking member 160 rises to a height where the light receiving window 180 becomes slit-shaped, the light blocking member 160 abuts against the stoppers 119 and cannot rise any further. This structure prevents the light projection window 180 from being blocked.

[0092] The resizable light projection window 180 allows for flexible adjustment of the range over which the measurement light is projected onto the blood collection tube 151. This makes it possible to simultaneously monitor the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 and measure the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube 151 with high accuracy. From the start of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 until a predetermined liquid level is reached, planar light emitted from the light source is projected onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube 151, allowing the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 to be monitored. On the other hand, once the blood has reached the predetermined liquid level, the planar light emitted from the light source is projected onto only a portion of the storage space located at the predetermined height in the blood collection tube 151, blocking unnecessary scattered light and reflected light that can cause measurement errors, allowing the amount of collected blood to be measured with high accuracy.

[0093] The storage space refers to the space inside the blood collection tube 151 where the target volume of blood is stored, i.e., the space that will be occupied by the target volume of blood upon completion of proper blood collection. The size and shape of the storage space vary depending on the type of blood collection tube. The upper end of the storage space coincides with the liquid level of the target volume of blood to be collected in the blood collection tube 151. The lower end of the storage space coincides with the height of the bottom of the blood collection tube 151 or the average height of the upper end of the separating medium 152.

[0094] The position of the upper end of the storage space is the position where the blood level must be determined with high accuracy when collecting the target amount of blood. The position of the upper end of the storage space can be stored in the control mechanism 16 as a parameter of the blood collection conditions for each type of blood collection tube 151 by reading the information label attached to the blood collection tube 151 with a reader. The control mechanism 16 can raise the light blocking member 160 toward the upper end position of the storage space that is preset for each type of blood collection tube 151.

[0095] Figure 6 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of the blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a state in which the push rod 122 is at its lowest point and the light projection window 180 is at its maximum opening. In Figure 6, the bottom edge of the light projection window 180 is flush with the bottom of the blood collection tube 151.

[0096] As shown in Figure 6, the blood collection tube holder 150 is supported on the turntable 11 by supporting the portion with the larger outer diameter from below. The blood collection tube 151 is held in the blood collection tube holder 150 while being housed in an optically transparent outer tube (not shown). A protrusion 155 is formed at the opening at the top of the blood collection tube 151. The protrusion 155 protrudes upward from part of the outer periphery of the opening, forming a receptacle-like scoop on one side of the opening. The protrusion 155 functions as a receiving surface for receiving blood flowing from the puncture site, a portion for wiping off blood, etc.

[0097] A light source 141 that emits planar light and a photodetector 142 that constitute the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 are installed to the side of the turntable 11 at the blood collection position directly below the finger rest area 131. The light source 141 and the photodetector 142 are installed facing each other across the blood collection tube holder 150 that has been transported to the blood collection position. In Figure 6, an optical filter 143 that limits the wavelength of transmitted light is installed between the blood collection tube holder 150 and the photodetector 142.

[0098] The light source 141 projects planar light onto the side surface of the blood collection tube 151 from the side of the blood collection tube 151. The planar light emitted from the light source 141 is projected onto the blood collection tube 151 transported to the blood collection position through a light projection window 180, the size of which can be freely changed, and then passes through the side wall of the blood collection tube 151 and the blood collected in the blood collection tube 151, and enters the photodetector 142. The photodetector 142 detects the transmitted light that is emitted from the light source 141 and has passed through the blood collection tube 151 and the blood, and measures the light intensity of the transmitted light.

[0099] The light intensity of the transmitted light may be measured as a light amount, which is an integrated amount over a predetermined range, or as a two-dimensional distribution of light intensity over a predetermined range. When measured as a light amount, the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube 151 can be calculated by simple arithmetic processing using the correlation between the light amount of the transmitted light and the amount of blood in the blood collection tube. When measured as a two-dimensional distribution, the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube 151 can be calculated with high accuracy even when planar light is projected over a wide area including areas other than blood.

[0100] The light-blocking member 160 is a member that blocks a portion of the planar light emitted from the light source 141. The light-blocking member 160 is non-light-transmitting and has a roughly cylindrical shape. The light-blocking member 160 has an inner width that is larger than the outer diameter of the blood collection tube holder 150. The light-blocking member 160 is supported below the turntable 11 and above a push rod 122 that is connected to the elevation drive mechanism 121 so as to be able to move up and down. The light-blocking member 160 moves up and down by the elevation of the push rod 122 to a position where it covers the blood collection tube holder 150 from the outside that has been transported to the blood collection position.

[0101] The light-blocking member 160 is provided so as to be movable at least vertically between a first position where the size of the light-projecting window 180 is a first size and a second position higher than the first position where the size of the light-projecting window is a second size. In the first size, planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube is projected onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube where blood is stored. In the second size, the light-projecting window 180 is slit-shaped, and planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube is projected onto a portion of the storage space where blood is stored, located at a predetermined height of the blood collection tube.

[0102] Push rod 122 is formed by an outer member (first part) 1221 that pushes up light-blocking member 160 from below to raise it, an inner member (second part) 1222 that pushes up blood collection tube 151 from below to raise it, and an elastic member 1223 that elastically connects outer member (first part) 1221 and inner member (second part) 1222. Push rod 122 and lifting drive mechanism 121 that drives the up and down movement of inner member (second part) 1222 form a vertical movement mechanism that moves blood collection tube 151, puncture device 1111, hemostatic material 1141, and protective material 1151 up and down.

[0103] The outer member 1221 is provided, for example, in a roughly cylindrical shape. The outer member 1221 is provided with inner and outer diameters equivalent to those of the light blocking member 160 so that it can support the light blocking member 160 from below and can insert the inner member 1222 into the inside. In Fig. 6, a middle plate with a through hole provided in the center is formed in the axial middle part of the outer member 1221. The upper end of the elastic member 1223 is fixed to the lower surface of the middle plate.

[0104] The inner member 1222 is roughly rod-shaped. The main body of the inner member 1222 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the through-hole of the outer member 1211 so that the main body can move up and down relative to the outer member 1221 inside the outer member 1221. In Fig. 6, a flange having an outer diameter larger than that of the main body of the inner member 1222 is formed at the axial middle portion of the inner member 1222. The lower end of the elastic member 1223 is fixed to the upper surface of the flange.

[0105] The elastic member 1223 is formed by, for example, a coil spring. The elastic member 1223 may also be formed by a leaf spring, a disc spring, etc. The elastic member 1223 elastically biases the outer member 1211 so that the outer member 1211 is supported by the inner member 1222, and changes the relative distance between the outer member 1211 and the inner member 1222 in accordance with the load applied to both ends of the push rod 122.

[0106] The elastic member 1223 is not substantially deformed by the load when the light blocking member 160 is pushed up from below by the outer member 1221, but is elastically deformed by the load when the light blocking member 160 in contact with the stopper 119 is pushed from below by the outer member 1221. The elastic member 1223 moves the outer member 1221 up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the inner member 1222 by the lifting drive mechanism 121.

[0107] The light blocking member 160 is driven to move up and down to change the size of the light projection window 180 by the raising and lowering of the outer member 1211 of the push rod 122. When the outer member 1211 rises, the light blocking member 160 is pushed up by the outer member 1211 and rises on the rail 118. On the other hand, when the outer member 1211 descends, the light blocking member 160 descends on the rail 118 while being supported from below by the outer member 1211.

[0108] In a state where the light blocking member 160 is not in contact with the stopper 119, when the inner member 1222 is driven to rise by the lifting drive mechanism 121, the outer member 1221 also rises without deforming the elastic member 1223. In a state where the elastic member 1223 is stretched, the outer member 1221 rises in conjunction with the inner member 1222 driven to rise by the lifting drive mechanism 121, and pushes up the light blocking member 160 from below, causing it to rise.

[0109] The lifting of the light blocking member 160 by the outer member 1211 is stopped when the light blocking member 160 abuts against a stopper 119 provided at the upper end of the trajectory of the up and down movement of the light blocking member 160. When the light blocking member 160 is lifted, the size of the light projection window 180 becomes smaller. In this state, scattered light and reflected light generated depending on the type of blood collection tube 151 are blocked, making it difficult for the scattered light and reflected light to reach the photodetector 142, and reducing variation in the measurement results of the light intensity of the transmitted light.

[0110] On the other hand, when the light blocking member 160 is in contact with the stopper 119, the elastic member 1223 is deformed and the inner member 1222 is raised when the lifting drive mechanism 121 drives the inner member 1222 to rise. When the light blocking member 160 is in contact with the stopper 119, the elastic member 1223 is compressed and the inner member 1222 moves upward relative to the outer member 1211, thereby pushing up the blood collection tube 151 from below and raising it. The blood collection tube 151 is pressed against the finger 134 of the person to be blood-collected by being pushed up from below.

[0111] Thereafter, when the elevating drive mechanism 121 drives the inner member 1222 to descend, the elastic member 1223 returns to its original position due to its restoring force, and the inner member 1222 descends relative to the outer member 1211. Due to the relative descent of the inner member 1222, the blood collection tube holder 150 descends while being supported from below. When the restoring force of the elastic member 1223 decreases, the outer member 1221 also descends, and the light blocking member 160 descends while being supported from below. Due to the descent of the light blocking member 160, the size of the light projection window 180 increases. The outer member 1221, the inner member 1222, and the light projection window 180 return to their initial states.

[0112] 5 and 6, the push rod 122 is at its lowest point, and the light blocking member 160 is also at its lowest point. The light blocking member 160 is positioned at a height where the lower end of the light projection window 180 is at the same height as the bottom of the blood collection tube 151. In this state, the size of the light projection window 180 is at its largest, and planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is projected onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube 151. With this state as the initial state, the size of the light projection window 180 can be changed. Since the up and down movement of the light blocking member 160 is driven by the elastic member 1223,

[0113] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a state in which the push rod 122 is between its lowest and highest points and the light projection window 180 is at an intermediate opening. In Figure 7, a blood collection tube 151 contains a separating agent 152 for separating serum. The lower end of the light projection window 180 is at the same average height as the upper end of the separating agent 152.

[0114] 7 , when blood is collected into a blood collection tube 151 containing a separating agent 152, the light blocking member 160 can be raised at the start of the blood collection operation to a height where the bottom end of the light projection window 180 coincides with the average height of the top end of the separating agent 152. With this state as the initial state, the blood collection operation into the blood collection tube 151 containing the separating agent 152 can be started. Blood flowing out from the puncture site is collected above the separating agent 152 inside the blood collection tube 151.

[0115] When blood is collected into a blood collection tube 151 containing separating agent 152, the position of the bottom end of the storage space coincides with the average height of the top end of the separating agent 152. The position of the bottom end of the storage space can be stored in the control mechanism 16 as a parameter of the blood collection conditions for each type of blood collection tube 151 by reading the information label attached to the blood collection tube 151 with a reader. The control mechanism 16 can raise the light blocking member 160 toward the bottom end position of the storage space that is preset for each type of blood collection tube 151.

[0116] 7, the light-blocking member 160 is positioned at a height such that the lower end of the light-projecting window 180 coincides with the average height of the upper end of the separating material 152. In this state, the size of the light-projecting window 180 is slightly smaller, and planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is not projected onto the separating material 152, but is instead projected onto the space above the separating material 152 in the storage space inside the blood collection tube 151. Because no scattered light or reflected light is generated by the separating material 152, it is possible to measure the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube 151 containing the separating material 152 with high accuracy.

[0117] Figure 8 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 8 shows a state in which the outer member 1221 of the push rod 122 is at its highest point, the light projection window 180 is at its minimum opening, and the inner member 1222 is not raised. In Figure 8, a blood collection tube 151 contains a separating agent 152 for separating serum. The lower end of the light projection window 180 is located above the average height of the upper end of the separating agent 152.

[0118] 8, at the start of the blood collection operation, the light blocking member 160 can be raised to a height where the bottom end of the light projection window 180 is positioned above the average height of the top end of the separating medium 152. The light blocking member 160 is preferably raised to a height where the bottom end of the light projection window 180 is positioned near the top end of the storage space, i.e., near the liquid level reached by the target blood collection volume. The light blocking member 160 can be stopped, for example, at a height where the distance between the top end of the light blocking member 160 and the bottom end of the structural material on the turntable 11 side is within a few mm, for example, about 1 mm.

[0119] 8, the light blocking member 160 is positioned at a height where the lower end of the light projection window 180 is close to the lower end of the structural material on the turntable 11 side. In this state, the size of the light projection window 180 is reduced, and the light projection window 180 becomes slit-shaped. The light blocking member 160 has a limited movable range by a stopper 119, so the light projection window 180 is not completely closed. The planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is not projected onto the bottom or top of the blood collection tube 151 or the separating medium 152, but is projected only near the liquid level where the blood level of the target blood collection volume will reach.

[0120] At the start of the blood collection operation, the light-shielding member 160 is raised from the first position, which is the lowest point, to the second position, which is the highest point, and then measurement light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is projected onto a part of the storage space where blood is stored, which is located at a predetermined height in the blood collection tube 151, and the transmitted light that passes through the part of the storage space where there is no blood can be detected as the blank. When light is projected onto a part of the storage space, no scattered light or reflected light is generated by the separating agent 152, making it possible to measure the blank for determining the amount of collected blood with high accuracy.

[0121] Figure 9 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 9 shows a state in which the outer member 1221 of the push rod 122 is at its highest point, the light projection window 180 is at its minimum opening, and the inner member 1222 is raised. In Figure 8, a separating agent 152 for separating serum is contained inside the blood collection tube 151.

[0122] 9 , when blood is collected from the subject's finger 134, the blood collection tube holder 150 holding the blood collection tube 151 is raised toward the subject's finger 134. The inner member 1222 of the push rod 122 can be further raised relative to the outer member 1221 from a state in which the outer member 1221 has been raised to its highest point.

[0123] When the outer member 1221 is at the highest point, the lifting drive mechanism 121 drives the inner member 1222 to rise, and the elastic member 1223 is compressed, causing the inner member 1222 to rise further without changing the height of the light-shielding member 160. The rising of the inner member 1222 pushes up the blood collection tube holder 150, pressing the blood collection tube 151 against the subject's finger 134, and starting the collection of blood from the puncture site into the blood collection tube 151.

[0124] When collecting blood from the subject's finger 134, the lifting drive mechanism 121 can be controlled to repeatedly raise and lower the blood collection tube holder 150 in a short period of time. By repeatedly pressing the protrusion 155 of the blood collection tube 151 against the ventral surface of the subject's finger 134, blood that has bled from the puncture site can be wiped away, allowing the blood droplets to be collected. This operation allows blood to be collected quickly into the blood collection tube 151.

[0125] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 10 shows a state in which the push rod 122 has been returned to a position between the lowest and highest points, and the inner member 1222 has descended. In Figure 10, a blood collection tube 151 contains a separating agent 152 for separating serum and blood 153 collected from the subject's finger 134.

[0126] As shown in Figure 10, at the beginning of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151, the size of the light projection window 180 is increased so that the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 can be monitored. The inner member 1222 of the push rod 122 is lowered from its uppermost position. The outer member 1221 is also lowered to return the shielding member 160 to its initial position. The lower end of the light projection window 180 can be aligned with the average height of the upper end of the separating medium 152. When blood is collected into a blood collection tube 151 that does not contain separating medium 152, the lower end of the light projection window 180 can be aligned with the height of the bottom of the blood collection tube 151.

[0127] 10 , the light-blocking member 160 is positioned at a height such that the lower end of the light-projecting window 180 coincides with the average height of the upper end of the separating medium 152. In this state, the size of the light-projecting window 180 is increased, and planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is projected widely into the upper space within the storage space of the blood collection tube 151 that does not contain the separating medium 152. Because light is not scattered or reflected by the separating medium 152 and light can be projected over a wide area onto the blood 153 collected in the blood collection tube 151, it becomes possible to continuously measure the light intensity of the transmitted light, which changes depending on the amount of collected blood.

[0128] At the beginning of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151, while the light-shielding member 160 is stopped at the first position, which is the lowest point, measurement light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is projected onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube 151 where the blood is stored, and transmitted light that has passed through the entire storage space can be detected. Because the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube 151 increases irregularly, it is necessary to continuously measure the collected blood amount. Since the change over time inside the blood collection tube 151 can be continuously measured, the approximate reached position of the liquid level of the blood 153 can be monitored from a bird's-eye view as the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151. Furthermore, because transmitted light that has passed through a wide range of the blood collection tube 151 can be detected, measurements with little error can be performed by using the integrated value or average of the detection results.

[0129] Figure 11 is a diagram showing the periphery of the light projection window of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5. Figure 11 shows a state in which outer member 1221 of push rod 122 is raised to its highest point and light projection window 180 is opened to its minimum position. In Figure 11, blood collection tube 151 contains separating agent 152 for separating serum and blood 153 collected from finger 134 of a blood collection subject.

[0130] 11 , after the start of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151, the size of the light projection window 180 is reduced to form a slit. As in the case of blank measurement, the light blocking member 160 is preferably raised to a height where the bottom end of the light projection window 180 is located near the top end of the storage space, i.e., near the liquid level reached by the target blood collection volume.

[0131] The control to reduce the size of the light projection window 180 can be executed when the liquid level of the blood 153 collected from the subject's finger 134 reaches a preset target height after the start of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 or while the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 is being monitored. The target height can be set to the height reached by the blood level of the target amount of blood to be collected, or an intermediate height close to the height reached by the blood level of the target amount of blood to be collected.

[0132] After blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 begins, the height of the blood collection tube holder 150 can be raised for each type of blood collection tube 151. The height of the blood collection tube holder 150 is preferably raised so that the height reached by the blood surface of the target blood collection volume inside the blood collection tube 151 is the height between the upper and lower ends of the slit-shaped light projection window 180. For example, the target blood collection volume for blood collection tubes for blood count tests is approximately 250 μm, and the target blood collection volume for blood collection tubes for biochemistry and immunological tests is approximately 500 μm. The range of light projection through the slit-shaped light projection window 180 can be changed to accommodate these differences in the target blood collection volume.

[0133] 11 , the light-blocking member 160 is positioned at a height where the lower end of the light-projection window 180 is close to the lower end of the structural material on the turntable 11 side. In this state, the size of the light-projection window 180 is reduced, and the light-projection window 180 is slit-shaped. Planar light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is not projected onto the bottom or top of the blood collection tube 151 or the separating medium 152, but is projected only onto a portion of the storage space inside the blood collection tube 151 that is located at a predetermined height inside the blood collection tube 151.

[0134] After blood collection into the blood collection tube 151 begins, while the light-shielding member 160 is stopped at the second position, which is the highest point, measurement light projected from the side of the blood collection tube 151 is projected onto a portion of the storage space where the blood is stored, which is located at a predetermined height in the blood collection tube 151, and the transmitted light that has passed through the portion of the storage space in which the blood has been collected is detected, thereby measuring the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube 151. When light is projected onto a portion of the storage space, it is less susceptible to the influence of scattered light and reflected light due to the shape of the blood collection tube 151 and does not generate scattered light or reflected light due to the separating agent 152, making it possible to measure the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube 151 with high accuracy.

[0135] When the size of the light projection window 180 is large, light is easily projected onto the bottom and top of the blood collection tube 151 and the separating agent 152 contained in the blood collection tube 151, resulting in various scattering and reflection depending on the shape of the blood collection tube 151 and the presence or absence of the separating agent 152. For example, different types of blood collection tubes produce different scattered and reflected light depending on the shape of the bottom of the blood collection tube 151, the scoop-shaped protrusion 155 provided at the opening at the top of the blood collection tube 151, the gel-like separating agent 152, etc. Even if the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube 151 is the same, the detected light intensity may vary due to the effects of scattering and reflection. When the size of the light projection window 180 is large, there is a problem in that the light intensity of the transmitted light varies depending on the shape of the blood collection tube 151 as a container and the presence or absence of the separating agent 152.

[0136] In contrast, if light projection window 180 is slit-shaped, scattered light and reflected light with an inclined optical path are more likely to be blocked, and transmitted light with an uninclined optical path that travels straight is more likely to be detected by photodetector 142. It is possible to project measurement light traveling straight from light source 141 only near the liquid level that will be reached by the target blood collection volume. When the liquid level of blood 153 collected in blood collection tube 151 exceeds light projection window 180, the light intensity detected by photodetector 142 drops significantly, and by detecting this drop, it is possible to confirm whether the target blood collection volume has been reached.

[0137] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a blood collection volume measurement mechanism of a blood collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 shows the configuration of a blood collection volume measurement mechanism 14 suitable for a case where a barcode label 180 is affixed to the measurement target. In Fig. 12, a blood collection tube 151 is housed in an outer tube 170. The barcode label 180 is affixed to the side surface of the outer tube 170.

[0138] 12 , the blood collection tube 151 may be identified by a barcode label 180 on which predetermined information is recorded. The barcode label 180 is coded with, for example, information identifying the subject of blood collection, information indicating the type of blood collection tube, information identifying the blood test specimen, etc. The barcode label 180 is usually affixed to the side surface of the outer tube 170, but may also be affixed to the side surface of the blood collection tube 151.

[0139] When measuring the amount of collected blood from a blood collection tube 151 identified by a barcode label 180, the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 preferably includes a light source 141 that emits planar light, a photodetector 142 that detects transmitted light, an optical filter 143, and a lens array 144. The lens array 144 can be installed between the blood collection tube 151 and the photodetector 142. The optical filter 143 can be installed between the lens array 144 and the photodetector 142.

[0140] The optical filter 143 is an optical element such as a color filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range and blocks light in other wavelength ranges. The optical filter 143 is disposed between the rear focal point of the lens array 144 and the light receiving surface of the photodetector 142. The use of the optical filter 143 limits the wavelength range of light transmitted by blood, making it possible to detect the attenuation of the transmitted light with high sensitivity.

[0141] A bandpass filter, a shortpass filter, a longpass filter, a wavelength conversion filter, etc. can be used as the optical filter 143. The wavelength range transmitted by the optical filter 143 preferably corresponds to the emission wavelength of the light source 141, and when the light source 141 emits blue light, it is preferably around 400 to 480 nm, which corresponds to the blue light.

[0142] The lens array 144 is an optical element in which optical lenses that converge light rays are arranged in a two-dimensional direction. The lens array 144 is arranged so that the rear focal point thereof coincides with the light receiving surface of the photodetector 142. By using the lens array 144, the detection range of transmitted light per detection element can be limited, enabling the transmitted light to be detected with high sensitivity.

[0143] Lens array 144 is preferably positioned so that its front focal point coincides with the light projection surface of barcode label 180, or so that its front focal point is located behind the light projection surface of barcode label 180, where photodetector 142 is located. When the front focal point coincides with the light projection surface, blood image 181 projected on barcode label 180 can be formed on the light receiving surface of photodetector 142, allowing transmitted light to be detected with high sensitivity.

[0144] However, when the front focal point of lens array 144 is likely to coincide with printed portion 182 of barcode label 180, it is more preferable to position the front focal point rearward of the light projection surface of barcode label 180. When the front focal point is spaced rearward, transmitted light that has passed through a wide area, including printed portion 182, can be detected per detecting element. Because the image of printed portion 182 is blurred, blood image 181 can be detected with high sensitivity even when printed portion 182 has a large area or is likely to interfere with light.

[0145] When lens array 144 is positioned so that its front focal point is located behind the light projection surface of barcode label 180, it is preferable to set the distance between lens array 144 and the light projection surface of barcode label 180 to be between two and four times the focal length of lens array 144. With this setting, it is possible to improve the accuracy of measuring the amount of collected blood while suppressing the influence of printed portion 182.

[0146] When measuring a blood collection tube 151 identified by a barcode label 180, the blood collection amount measurement mechanism 14 may include an image sensor instead of the photodetector 142. When including an image sensor, an optical lens is disposed so that its rear focal point coincides with the light receiving surface of the image sensor, instead of the lens array 144. It is preferable that the front focal point of the optical lens coincides with the light projecting surface of the barcode label 180. It is also preferable to use an optical filter 143 from the viewpoint of avoiding the influence of hue on image analysis.

[0147] According to the blood collection device 1 and blood collection method described above, planar light emitted from a light source can be projected onto a blood collection tube through a light projection window whose size can be adjusted, allowing the light projection range to be freely switched during blood collection, etc. By making the light projection window small and slit-shaped, planar light emitted from the light source can be projected onto only a portion of the storage space located at a predetermined height of the blood collection tube, actively detecting only transmitted light that has passed through the sides of the blood collection tube and the blood. This allows the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube to be measured with high accuracy by detecting mainly transmitted light necessary for measuring the amount of collected blood and avoiding the effects of unnecessary scattered light and reflected light. Furthermore, by making the light projection window large, planar light emitted from the light source can be projected onto the entire storage space inside the blood collection tube, allowing changes in the level of the collected blood to be observed and the progress of blood collection into the blood collection tube to be monitored. Even if the shapes of the blood collection tubes used for blood collection or the presence or absence of a separating agent differ among the multiple blood collection tubes, variations in the light intensity of transmitted light for the same amount of blood collected in the blood collection tubes are unlikely to occur, making it possible to stably ensure the amount of blood required for blood testing for each type of blood collection tube. If the light projection window is pre-slit-shaped, it is difficult to continuously measure the amount of blood collected, which gradually increases inside the blood collection tube. However, by varying the size of the light projection window, it is possible to both monitor the progress of blood collection and measure the amount of blood collected with high accuracy. Therefore, a blood collection device and a blood collection method can be provided that are capable of monitoring the progress of blood collection into a container and measuring the amount of blood collected in the container with high accuracy, regardless of the type of container from which the blood is collected.

[0148] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations of the above-described embodiments. It is possible to replace part of the configuration of an embodiment with another configuration, add part of the configuration of an embodiment to another form, or omit part of the configuration of an embodiment.

[0149] 1 Blood collection device 10 Housing 11 Turntable 12 Drive mechanism 14 Blood collection amount measurement mechanism 16 Control mechanism 17 Pressure adjustment mechanism 18 Input / output device 19 Blood vessel image acquisition mechanism 111 Puncture holder 112 Blood collection tube holder 113 Blood collection tube holder 114 Hemostatic material holder 115 Protective material holder 116 Protective sheet 118 Rail 119 Stopper 120 Rotation drive mechanism 121 Lifting drive mechanism 122 Push rod 130 Pressure cuff 131 Finger rest 132 Blood collection window 134 Finger of blood collection recipient 141 Light source 142 Photodetector 143 Optical filter 150 Blood collection tube holder 151 Blood collection tube 152 Separating agent 153 Blood 155 Protrusion 160 Light-shielding member 171 Pressure sensor 172 Valve 173 Pump 180 Light projection window 191 Infrared light imaging device 192 Near-infrared light source

Claims

1. In a blood collection device having a light source that emits planar light, a container into which blood is collected, a vertical movement mechanism that moves the container up and down, and a photodetector that detects light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the container, a light-shielding member is provided that forms a light projection window for shielding a part of the light emitted from the light source and projecting a part of the light onto the container. The light-shielding member is provided in a movable manner such that the size of the light projection window can be changed.

2. In the blood collection device according to claim 1, the size of the light projection window is changed for each type of the container.

3. In the blood collection device according to claim 2, the type of the container is a type distinguished by the shape of the container or a type distinguished by the presence or absence of a separating agent inside the container.

4. In the blood collection device according to claim 1, the size of the light projection window is provided such that it can be changed at least between a first size in which the light projected from the side of the container is projected onto the entire space where blood is stored inside the container, and a slit-shaped second size in which the light projected from the side of the container is projected onto a part of the space where blood is stored at a predetermined height of the container.

5. In the blood collection device according to claim 4, the light-shielding member is provided such that it can move at least vertically between a first position where the size of the light projection window is the first size and a second position higher than the first position where the size of the light projection window is the second size.

6. In the blood collection device according to claim 5, while the light-shielding member is stopped at the first position, the light projected from the side of the container is projected onto the entire space where blood is stored inside the container, and the transmitted light that has passed through the entire space is detected.

7. In the blood collection device according to claim 5, after the light-shielding member is raised from the first position to the second position, the light projected from the side of the container is projected onto a part of the space where blood is stored at a predetermined height of the container, and the transmitted light that has passed through the part of the space where there is no blood is detected as a blank.

8. The blood collection device according to claim 5, wherein while the light shielding member is stopped at the second position, light projected from the side of the container is projected onto a part of the space where blood is accumulated at a predetermined height of the container, and transmitted light that has passed through a part of the space in a state where blood has been collected is detected to measure the amount of blood collected in the container.

9. The blood collection device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical movement mechanism includes a first part that pushes up and raises the light shielding member from below, a second part that pushes up and raises the container from below, an elastic member that elastically connects the first part and the second part, and an actuator that drives the vertical movement of the second part.

10. The blood collection device according to claim 9, wherein the first part rises in conjunction with the second part that has been driven to rise by the actuator in a state where the elastic member is extended, and pushes up and raises the light shielding member from below.

11. The blood collection device according to claim 10, wherein the raising of the light shielding member by the first part is stopped when the light shielding member abuts against a stopper provided on the upper end side of the track of the vertical movement of the light shielding member.

12. The blood collection device according to claim 11, wherein the second part pushes up and raises the container from below when the elastic member is compressed and the second part moves relatively upward with respect to the first part in a state where the light shielding member abuts against the stopper.

13. The blood collection device according to claim 1, wherein the light detector is a photodiode array, and measures the two-dimensional distribution of the amount or intensity of the transmitted light that has passed through the container.

14. The blood collection device according to claim 1, wherein the light detector is an image sensor, and captures an image of the container with the transmitted light that has passed through the container.

15. In a blood collection method using a blood collection device having a light source that emits planar light, a container into which blood is collected, a vertical movement mechanism that moves the container up and down, and a photodetector that detects light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the container, a light projection window is formed by blocking a part of the light emitted from the light source and projecting a part of the light onto the container. When collecting blood into the container, the size of the light projection window is changed. An operation of projecting the light projected from the side of the container onto the entire space where blood is stored inside the container and detecting the transmitted light that has passed through the entire space, and an operation of projecting the light projected from the side of the container onto a part of the space where blood is stored at a predetermined height of the container and detecting the transmitted light that has passed through the part of the space are performed.

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