Sample container holding device

Abstract

Provided is a sample container holding device capable of stably positioning the positions in a first horizontal direction and a second horizontal direction and the rotational position in a plan view. A sample container holding device for holding a sample container formed in a rectangular shape having a first side surface, a first corner portion, a second side surface, a second corner portion, a third side surface, a third corner portion, a fourth side surface, and a fourth corner portion in this order in a clockwise direction in plan view, the sample container holding device being provided with: a first restricting portion for restricting the first side surface, the first corner portion, the second side surface, the second corner portion, the third side surface, the fourth side surface, and the fourth corner portion; the limiting part limits the position and the rotation position of the first side surface in the first horizontal direction; a second restricting portion that restricts a position and a rotational position of the second side surface in a second horizontal direction; a first pressing part that presses the first side surface against the first restricting part by pressing the third side surface; and a second pressing part that presses the second side surface against the second restricting part by pressing the fourth side surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sample container holding device. Background Art

[0002] There is known a sample container holding device that holds a sample container (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 6050546

[0004] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-99256

[0005] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-192763

[0006] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-98286

[0007] Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-180411 Summary of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a specimen container holding device capable of stably achieving predetermined positioning of positions in a first horizontal direction and a second horizontal direction and a rotational position in a plan view.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

[0010] [1] A sample container holding device for holding a sample container, wherein the sample container is formed into a rectangle having a first side surface, a first corner portion, a second side surface, a second corner portion, a third side surface, a third corner portion, a fourth side surface, and a fourth corner portion in the clockwise direction in a plan view, wherein:

[0011] The sample container holding device comprises:

[0012] a loading portion for loading the sample container;

[0013] a first limiting portion that limits the position of the first side surface in the first horizontal direction and the rotational position in the plan view by contacting the first side surface;

[0014] a second limiting portion that limits the position of the second side surface in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and the rotational position in the plan view by contacting the second side surface;

[0015] a first pressing portion that presses the third side surface to press the first side surface against the first restricting portion; and

[0016] The second pressing portion presses the fourth side surface to press the second side surface against the second restricting portion.

[0017] [2] The sample container holding device according to [1], wherein the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are each composed of a direct-acting device.

[0018] [3] The sample container holding device according to [1] or [2], wherein the first pressing portion is located between both ends of the first restricting portion in the second horizontal direction,

[0019] The second pressing portion is located between both ends of the second restricting portion in the first horizontal direction.

[0020] [4] The sample container holding device according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the first limiting portion has a reference surface that contacts the first side surface along the second horizontal direction,

[0021] The second restriction portion has a reference surface that contacts the second side surface along the first horizontal direction.

[0022] [5] The sample container holding device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the placement portion is composed of shelf portions located at four corners of an opening portion opened downward.

[0023] [6] A sample analysis device, comprising the sample container holding device according to any one of [1] to [5].

[0024] [7] The sample analyzer according to [6], wherein the sample analyzer includes a moving unit that moves the sample container holding device that holds the sample container.

[0025] [8] The sample analysis device according to [7], wherein the sample analysis device includes an analysis unit that analyzes the sample contained in the sample container by moving the sample container holding device holding the sample container using the moving unit.

[0026] Effects of the Invention

[0027] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sample container holding device capable of stably achieving predetermined positioning of the positions in the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction and the rotational position in a plan view. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 It is a top view of a sample container holding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 AA cross-section diagram.

[0030] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The specimen container holding device is shown in a top view showing a state where the specimen container is held.

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 BB cross-section diagram.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a plan view showing a state in which a sample container holding device of a comparative example improperly holds a sample container.

[0033] Figure 6 Is has Figure 1 A block diagram of a sample analysis device showing a sample container holding device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] like Figure 1 to Figure 4 As shown, a specimen container holding device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention holds a specimen container 2, which is formed into a rectangular shape having a first side surface 2a, a first corner portion 2b, a second side surface 2c, a second corner portion 2d, a third side surface 2e, a third corner portion 2f, a fourth side surface 2g, and a fourth corner portion 2h in the clockwise direction in a plan view (see FIG. 2 ). Figure 3 ), the sample container holding device 1 comprises: a loading portion 3 on which the sample container 2 is loaded; a first limiting portion 4 which limits the position of the first side surface 2a in a first horizontal direction D1 and the rotational position when viewed from above by contacting the first side surface 2a; a second limiting portion 5 which limits the position of the second side surface 2c in a second horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the first horizontal direction D1 and the rotational position when viewed from above by contacting the second side surface 2c; a first pressing portion 6 which presses the third side surface 2e to move the first side surface 2a

[0036] The first restricting portion 4 is pressed; and the second pressing portion 7 presses the second side surface 2c against the second restricting portion 5 by pressing the fourth side surface 2g.

[0037] According to the above configuration, the first side surface 2a is pressed against the first limiting portion 4 by pressing the third side surface 2e by the first pressing portion 6, thereby limiting the position of the first side surface 2a in the first horizontal direction D1 and the rotational position when viewed from above, and the second side surface 2c is pressed against the second limiting portion 5 by pressing the fourth side surface 2g by the second pressing portion 7, thereby limiting the position of the second side surface 2c in the second horizontal direction D2 and the rotational position when viewed from above. Therefore, in the case where the position restriction is first performed by the first pressing portion 6, the second pressing portion 7 is pressed in the state where the position restriction is performed by the first pressing portion 6, so that the sample container 2 is not easily tilted when pressed by the second pressing portion 7, and thus the positioning that specifies the position in the first horizontal direction D1 and the second horizontal direction D2 and the rotational position when viewed from above can be stably achieved. Furthermore, when the position restriction by the second pressing portion 7 is first performed, the first pressing portion 6 is used to press while the position restriction by the second pressing portion 7 is being performed. Therefore, when the first pressing portion 6 is pressed, the sample container 2 is not easily tilted, and thus the positioning can be stably achieved in this case. Furthermore, even when the position restriction by the first pressing portion 6 and the position restriction by the second pressing portion 7 are performed simultaneously, the positioning can be stably achieved. In contrast, Figure 5 As shown in the comparative example, the first limiting portion 4 and the second limiting portion 5 are provided, but in the case of a structure having a corner pressing portion 8 that presses the first side surface 2a and the second side surface 2c to the first limiting portion 4 and the second limiting portion 5 by pressing the third corner portion 2f, instead of the first pressing portion 6 that presses the first side surface 2a to the first limiting portion 4 by pressing the third side surface 2e and the second pressing portion 7 that presses the second side surface 2c to the second limiting portion 5 by pressing the fourth side surface 2g, the above-mentioned effect cannot be obtained, and sometimes the structure is maintained as shown in FIG. Figure 5 The tilted state shown in the figure causes positioning failure.

[0038] The first pressing portion 6 and the second pressing portion 7 are respectively constituted by direct-acting devices. According to the above structure, the stability of positioning can be improved. The direct-acting device can be constituted by, for example, a fluid pressure actuator that utilizes fluid pressure such as air, or an electric actuator that utilizes electricity. It is preferred that the working direction (pressing direction) of the direct-acting device constituting the first pressing portion 6 is parallel to the first horizontal direction D1, but it is not limited to this. It is preferred that the working direction (pressing direction) of the direct-acting device constituting the second pressing portion 7 is parallel to the second horizontal direction D2, but it is not limited to this.

[0039] The first pressing portion 6 is located between the two ends of the first limiting portion 4 in the second horizontal direction D2, and the second pressing portion 7 is located between the two ends of the second limiting portion 5 in the first horizontal direction D1. According to the above structure, when the first side surface 2a is pressed against the first limiting portion 4 by the first pressing portion 6, the rotation position of the first side surface 2a can be easily restricted, and when the second side surface 2c is pressed against the second limiting portion 5 by the second pressing portion 7, the rotation position of the second side surface 2c can be easily restricted, so that the stability of positioning can be improved.

[0040] The first limiting portion 4 has a reference surface 4a in contact with the first side surface 2a along the second horizontal direction D2, and the second limiting portion 5 has a reference surface 5a in contact with the second side surface 2c along the first horizontal direction D1. According to the above structure, the rotation position can be easily limited by the reference surfaces 4a and 5a, so the stability of positioning can be improved.

[0041] The loading section 3 is composed of shelf sections 3a located at four corners of an opening section 9 that opens downward. According to the above structure, the sample 10 contained in the sample container 2 held by the sample container holding device 1 can be well processed by the optical system 13a (see FIG. 1 ) that passes through the opening section 9. Figure 4 ) analysis.

[0042] like Figure 6 As shown, the sample analyzer 11 of this embodiment includes a sample container holder 1. According to the above structure, the noise during the analysis of the sample 10 can be reduced by the stable positioning of the sample container holder 1, so that the output accuracy can be improved. In addition, the analysis / observation area can be reduced by the stable positioning of the sample container holder 1, so that the output speed can be increased. The sample analyzer 11 can be suitably used as a pharmaceutical preparation supporting device, for example.

[0043] The sample analyzer 11 includes a moving unit 12 that moves the sample container holding device 1 holding the sample container 2. According to the above configuration, accurate movement based on stable positioning of the sample analyzer 11 can be achieved.

[0044] The sample analyzer 11 includes an analyzer 13 that analyzes a sample 10 contained in the sample container 2 by moving a sample container holder 1 that holds a sample container 2 by a moving unit 12. According to the above configuration, accurate analysis by the moving unit 12 and the analyzer 13 can be achieved by stable positioning. In addition, the moving unit 12 may be configured to move the sample container holder 1 that holds the sample container 2 in order to transport the sample container to the analyzer 13 in addition to the movement of the sample container 2 being analyzed by the analyzer 13. In addition, the moving unit 12 may be configured to move the sample container holder 1 that holds the sample container 2 in order to transport the sample to the analyzer 13 without moving the sample container 2 being analyzed by the analyzer 13.

[0045] The moving section 12 includes a moving stage 12a that can move the sample container holding device 1 holding the sample container 2 in parallel with respect to the first horizontal direction D1, and can move the sample container holding device 1 holding the sample container 2 in parallel with respect to the second horizontal direction D2. With the above configuration, the moving stage 12a can accurately move the sample container holding device 1 in the horizontal direction during analysis by the analysis section 13.

[0046] The loading unit 3 is composed of shelf units 3a located at four corners of an opening 9 opened downward, and the analysis unit 13 has an optical system 13a for detecting that the sample 10 contained in the sample container 2 held by the sample container holding device 1 has passed through the opening 9. According to the above structure, the sample 10 can be analyzed well. In particular, in the analysis by the analysis unit 13, the sample container 2 can be accurately moved by the moving unit 12 based on stable positioning, such as Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the detection field of view 13b overlaps the sample container 2, so that the detection field of view 13b of the optical system 13a can be stably aligned with the appropriate position in the sample container 2. Figure 5 In the comparative example shown, the detection field of view 13b is easily shifted as shown in the figure.

[0047] The optical system 13a includes a microscope 13c. According to the above structure, it is possible to perform high-precision analysis using the microscope 13c. In this case, the moving unit 12 may be configured to move the sample container holding device 1 at a micrometer level during analysis using the microscope 13c.

[0048] The sample 10 is, for example, a cell, a tissue, etc. The sample container 2 is a microplate, but is not limited to this. The microplate is not particularly limited, but preferably has an outer dimension recommended in the SBS standard. The optical system 13a can be configured to irradiate the sample 10 with light (for example, excitation light) and detect light from the sample 10 (for example, light emitted by the sample 10 after being excited by the excitation light). The sample analysis device 11 can be configured to have a processing unit (computer) that generates an image based on the detection result of the optical system 13a. The moving unit 12 moves the sample container holding device 1 while keeping the sample container 2 in a horizontal position, but is not limited to this. The sample analysis device 11 can be configured to have a robotic arm that places the sample container 2 on the sample container holding device 1, or it can be configured to have a structure that places a person.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0050] Description of the label

[0051] 1 Sample container holder

[0052] 2 Sample container

[0053] 2a Side 1

[0054] 2b 1st corner

[0055] 2c Side 2

[0056] 2d 2nd corner

[0057] 2e Side 3

[0058] 2f 3rd corner

[0059] 2g Side 4

[0060] 2h 4th corner

[0061] 3 Loading section

[0062] 3a Shelf

[0063] 4 Restriction 1

[0064] 4a Reference plane

[0065] 5. Section 2 Restriction

[0066] 5a Reference plane

[0067] 6 1st pressing part

[0068] 7 Second pressing part

[0069] 8 Corner pressing part

[0070] 9 Opening

[0071] 10 Samples

[0072] 11 Sample analysis device

[0073] 12 Mobile Department

[0074] 12a Mobile stage

[0075] 13Analysis Department

[0076] 13a Optical system

[0077] 13b Detection Field of View

[0078] 13c Microscope

[0079] D1 1st horizontal direction

[0080] D2 2nd horizontal direction

Claims

1. A sample container holding device for holding a sample container, wherein the sample container is formed into a rectangle having a first side surface, a first corner portion, a second side surface, a second corner portion, a third side surface, a third corner portion, a fourth side surface, and a fourth corner portion in the clockwise direction in a plan view, wherein: The sample container holding device comprises: a loading portion for loading the sample container; a first limiting portion that limits the position of the first side surface in the first horizontal direction and the rotational position in the plan view by contacting the first side surface; a second limiting portion that limits the position of the second side surface in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and the rotational position in the plan view by contacting the second side surface; a first pressing portion that presses the third side surface to press the first side surface against the first restricting portion; and The second pressing portion presses the fourth side surface to press the second side surface against the second restricting portion.

2. The specimen container holding device according to claim 1, wherein: The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are respectively constituted by direct-acting devices.

3. The specimen container holding device according to claim 1, wherein: The first pressing portion is located between both ends of the first restricting portion in the second horizontal direction. The second pressing portion is located between both ends of the second restricting portion in the first horizontal direction.

4. The specimen container holding device according to claim 1, wherein: The first limiting portion has a reference surface that contacts the first side surface along the second horizontal direction. The second restriction portion has a reference surface that contacts the second side surface along the first horizontal direction.

5. The specimen container holding device according to claim 1, wherein: The placement portion is composed of shelf portions located at four corners of an opening portion opened downward.

6. A sample analysis device, wherein: The sample analysis device includes the sample container holding device according to claim 1 .

7. The sample analysis device according to claim 6, wherein: The sample analyzer includes a moving unit that moves the sample container holding device holding the sample container.

8. The sample analysis device according to claim 7, wherein: The sample analyzer includes an analyzing unit that analyzes the sample contained in the sample container by moving the sample container holding device holding the sample container using the moving unit.

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