Clamp for test tube rack

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a clamp for a test tube rack, which can correct the posture of a test tube mounted on a test tube rack of various shapes and can easily insert and pull out the test tube. A jig (1) for a test tube stand is used in a test tube stand (102) having an open bottom surface, and a protruding portion of a test tube holding protruding portion (201) that holds a test tube (101) is provided with a test tube contact surface (401a) that comes into contact with the test tube (101), and the test tube contact surface (401a) has an inner surface shape that imitates the lower shape of the test tube (101).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamp for a test tube rack used in a test tube rack on which test tubes for identifying and storing samples such as blood for research or inspection are mounted, and more particularly to a clamp for a test tube rack that corrects the posture of the test tubes in the test tube rack and enables easy insertion and removal of the test tubes. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, when measuring blood components in blood, blood is collected using a syringe and placed in a test tube for blood collection. The test tube containing the blood is then placed in a test tube rack for storage and transportation, and then the blood is tested using various analysis devices.

[0003] As a test tube rack, a sample storage kit that can prevent stored test tubes from falling out of a sample container has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-275476 Summary of the invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] However, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 targets dedicated test tubes and test tube racks, but not other test tubes, and therefore cannot cope with test tubes and test tube racks that are intended to be used in different facilities.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for a test tube rack that can correct the posture of a test tube mounted on a test tube rack of various shapes and can easily insert and remove the test tube.

[0010] Means for solving problems

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the clamp for a test tube rack of the present invention is a clamp used for a test tube rack with an open bottom, wherein the protrusion of the test tube holding protrusion holding the test tube has a test tube contact surface that contacts the test tube, and the test tube contact surface has an inner surface shape that imitates the lower shape of the test tube.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a test tube rack clamp capable of correcting the posture of a test tube mounted on a test tube rack of various shapes and easily inserting and removing the test tube.

[0014] For example, when pulling out a test tube, it is possible to prevent the test tube rack from being lifted.

[0015] The other problems, structures, and effects than those described above will become clear from the following description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a state where the test tube rack clamp according to Example 1 of the present invention is attached to a test tube rack.

[0017] Figure 2 It means that Figure 1 The test tube rack clamp shown is attached to the test tube rack.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a top view of the clamp for the test tube rack of Example 1.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing a state when a test tube is mounted on the test tube rack jig of Example 1.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main parts showing a state where a test tube is mounted on the test tube rack jig of Example 1.

[0021] Fig. 6A This is a plan view of a general test tube rack made of foamed resin and having a positioning portion.

[0022] Figure 6B This is a cross-sectional perspective view of a general test tube rack made of foamed resin and having a positioning portion.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing a state in which the jig for the test tube rack of Example 1 is attached to the test tube rack having the positioning portion and a test tube is mounted.

[0024] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing a state when a test tube is mounted on the jig for a test tube rack according to Example 2 of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main parts showing a state where a test tube is mounted on the test tube rack jig of Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In this specification, the test tube includes a specimen container, a blood collection tube, and the like.

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described using the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments shown below for explanation. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the specific structure can be changed within the scope of the idea or purpose of the present invention.

[0028] In the structures of the invention described below, for the same parts or parts having the same functions, the same reference numerals are used between different drawings, and repeated descriptions are sometimes omitted. In order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each structure shown in the drawings and the like sometimes do not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings and the like.

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a state where the test tube rack clamp according to Example 1 of the present invention is attached to a test tube rack.

[0032] like Figure 1 1 , there are shown a test tube 101 for holding a sample such as blood, a test tube rack 102 for arranging and storing a plurality of test tubes 101 , and a test tube rack fixture 1 of this embodiment mounted on the test tube rack 102 from the bottom surface.

[0033] Figure 2 It means that Figure 1 The test tube rack shown in FIG. is mounted on the test tube rack using a clamp. Figure 2 As shown, in order to mount the test tubes 101, the test tube rack 102 has a grid-shaped test tube storage section 202 (for example, as shown in the figure, a test tube storage section that can mount 50 test tubes in 5 rows × 10 columns). The test tubes 101 are vertically arranged and stored in this test tube storage section 202 for storage and transportation. Then, the test tube rack 102 is set in a predetermined automatic device for inspection and the like. In addition, in this embodiment, the outer shape of the test tube rack clamp 1 is a quadrilateral shape, but it does not necessarily have to be such an outer shape, and can be changed in accordance with the automatic device to be set.

[0034] The test tube rack 102 used in this embodiment is provided with a test tube storage section 202 that penetrates the bottom surface of the test tube rack 102. In this embodiment, the test tube rack 102 is installed in the test tube rack jig 1 by inserting it from the top in the direction of the arrow. The test tube rack jig 1 has a groove that matches the bottom surface shape 203 of the test tube rack 102, and has a connection section 204 to which the test tube rack 102 can be installed. In addition, the test tube rack jig 1 is provided with a test tube holding protrusion 201 for fixing and holding the test tube 101. As in this embodiment, by being able to install the test tube rack jig 1 from the bottom surface of the test tube rack 102, the test tube rack 102 can be easily inserted and removed when it is not needed. In addition, even in a state where the test tube 101 is stored in the test tube storage section 202 of the test tube rack 102, the test tube rack jig 1 can be easily inserted and removed.

[0035] Figure 3 FIG. 2 is a top view of the clamp for the test tube rack of this embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the test tube holding protrusion 201 is provided with four protrusions 201a to 201d in each storage portion. Thus, the test tube 101 can be stably fixed to the test tube storage portion 202. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the test tube holding protrusion 201 has a contact surface for stably fixing the test tube 101, and at least one protrusion 201 is sufficient.

[0036] In addition, the test tube holding protrusions 201 are provided for all the test tube storage sections 202 arranged in a grid shape. In the present embodiment, the test tube holding protrusions 201 are provided corresponding to the positions of 50 test tube storage sections 202 arranged in 5 rows×10 columns in the test tube rack 102. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as a general test tube rack 102, in the case of a test tube rack 102 having 100 test tube storage sections 202 in 10 rows×10 columns, 10 test tube storage sections 202 in 1 row×10 columns, or 5 test tube storage sections 202 in 1 row×5 columns, the test tube holding protrusions 201 may be provided in a similar manner to correspond to the positions of the test tube storage sections 202.

[0037] Next, use Figure 4 , Figure 5 The following describes the situation when the test tube of this embodiment is set up.

[0038] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state when the test tube 101 is mounted on the jig 1 for the test tube rack of this embodiment. Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main parts showing a state where a test tube 101 is mounted on the jig 1 for a test tube rack according to the present embodiment.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, when the test tube 101 is inserted into the test tube storage portion 202 ( Figure 2 ), the test tube 101 is received and supported by the inner surface of the test tube holding protrusion 201 formed to match the bottom surface shape 101a of the test tube 101, namely, the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b. In other words, the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b respectively have a first area having a shape imitating a cylinder and a second area having a shape imitating a part of a sphere. Figure 4 In the cross-sectional view, two test tube holding protrusions 201 are shown, but as shown in FIG. Figure 5As shown, the two opposite sides with the test tube 101 as the center also have the same test tube contact surface, and are configured to support the test tube 101. Thus, the test tube 101 can be stably fixed to the test tube storage portion 202. Here, the test tube holding protrusion 201 is preferably formed of a resin material such as polyacetal resin (POM) or ABS resin (a general term for a copolymerized resin of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene). However, it is not limited to this, and it can also be formed of a metal material such as Al.

[0040] As described above, in the test tube rack jig 1 of the present embodiment, the test tube rack 102 is provided with the test tube holding protrusion 201, and the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b are provided to match the bottom surface shape 101a of the test tube 101. And by supporting the test tube 101 by the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b, the test tube 101 mounted on the test tube storage portion 202 can be fixed and held. This is because the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b respectively have a first region having a shape imitating a cylinder and a second region having a shape imitating a part of a sphere, and thus have a shape in which the contact area between the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b and the test tube 101 is increased.

[0041] In addition, as described above, the test tube rack clamp 1 can be mounted in a state where the test tube 101 is previously stored in the test tube rack 102. Thus, by mounting the clamp 1 later, even if the test tube 101 is inserted obliquely into the test tube storage portion 202, the test tube 101 is supported by the test tube holding protrusion 201 during mounting of the test tube rack clamp 1, and the posture of the test tube 101 can be corrected straight.

[0042] Next, use Fig. 6A as well as Figure 6B , a situation in which a test tube is placed on a general test tube rack made of a foamed resin having a positioning portion is described.

[0043] Fig. 6A This is a top view of a general test tube rack made of foamed resin with a positioning portion. Figure 6B 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a general test tube rack made of foamed resin having a positioning portion. Fig. 6A as well as Figure 6BAs shown, in a general commercially available test tube rack 601 made of foamed resin, a positioning portion 603 and a positioning portion 604 are provided inside a test tube storage portion 602. This is provided for positioning the test tube in a manner that the test tube is kept at the center as much as possible by contacting the test tube being mounted. However, in this positioning method, since the positioning accuracy is determined by the hardness of the foamed resin, there is a case where the positioning accuracy is low and the test tube is stored at an angle. In addition, since the test tube rack 601 is made of foamed resin as a whole, it is very light. When pulling out the stored test tube, the pulling force generated by the friction with the positioning portion 603 and the positioning portion 604 is greater than the weight of the test tube rack 601, and sometimes the test tube rack 601 cannot be pulled and lifted.

[0044] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state in which the jig 1 for a test tube rack of this embodiment is attached to the test tube rack having a positioning portion and a test tube 101 is mounted.

[0045] like Figure 7 As shown, when the test tube 101 is inserted into the test tube rack 601 ( Fig. 6A as well as Figure 6B ), by providing the test tube holding protrusion 201 with the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b above the positioning portion 604, the test tube 101 supported by the positioning portion 603 and the positioning portion 604 is supported by the positioning portion 604 and the test tube contact surface 401a and the test tube contact surface 401b. As a result, the pulling force generated by the friction with the positioning portion 604 can be reduced, and the test tube 101 can be pulled out more easily. In addition, the test tube holding protrusion 201 is formed in a form inserted into the gap of the positioning portion 604 provided on the bottom surface side of the test tube rack 601, and is provided so as not to interfere when the test tube rack clamp 1 is attached to the test tube rack 601. In this embodiment, the test tube holding protrusions 201 at four positions are provided to be accommodated in the gap of the positioning portion 604 of the test tube rack 601, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the test tube holding protrusion 201 may be provided so as to be accommodated in the gap at the center of the positioning portion 604 and provided to have a contact surface for stably fixing the test tube 101 .

[0046] Furthermore, at this time, the weight of the test tube rack clamp 1 is adjusted by placing a heavy object on a material or a wall surface to fix the weight so that the total weight of the test tube rack 601 and the test tube rack clamp 1 becomes larger relative to the pulling force of the test tube 101. In other words, the weight of the test tube rack 601 to which the test tube rack clamp 1 is attached becomes at least greater than the pulling force of the mounted test tube 101. Thus, the test tube rack 601 can be prevented from being lifted when the test tube 101 is pulled. That is, even when the test tube rack 601 is used, the test tube 101 can be smoothly inserted and removed.

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a test tube rack clamp that can correct the posture of a test tube mounted on a test tube rack of various shapes and can easily insert and remove the test tube. For example, when pulling out the test tube, it is possible to prevent the test tube rack from being lifted.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] Figure 8 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing a state where a test tube is mounted on a clamp for a test tube rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main parts showing a state where a test tube is mounted on the test tube rack clamp of Example 2. In this example, the shape of the bottom surface of the test tube and the shape of the inner surface of the test tube holding protrusion, that is, the test tube contact surface, are different from those of Example 1. The same components as those of Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0050] like Figure 8 As shown, when the test tube 801 is inserted into the test tube storage portion 202 ( Figure 2 ), the test tube 801 is received and supported by the inner surface of the test tube holding protrusion 802a formed to match the bottom surface shape 801a of the test tube 801, namely the test tube contact surface 803a, and the inner surface of the test tube holding protrusion 802b, namely the test tube contact surface 803b. In other words, the test tube contact surface 803a and the test tube contact surface 803b respectively have a first area having a shape imitating a cone and a second area having a shape imitating a part of a sphere. In addition, in Figure 8 In the cross-sectional view, the test tube holding protrusion 802a and the test tube holding protrusion 802b are shown, but Fig. 9 As shown, two test tube holding projections 802 on the opposite sides with the test tube 801 as the center also have the same test tube contact surface, and are configured to support the test tube 801. Thus, the test tube 801 can be stably fixed to the test tube storage portion 202. In addition, in this embodiment, four test tube holding projections 802 are also provided, but it is sufficient to provide at least one with a contact surface for stably fixing the test tube 801.

[0051] As shown in this embodiment, the test tube holding protrusion 802 of the test tube rack clamp 1 forms a test tube contact surface in accordance with the bottom surface shape of a predetermined test tube stored in the test tube rack 102, and can cope with test tubes of various shapes. In addition, as described above, this test tube rack clamp 1 can be easily detached from the test tube rack 102, so even if the test tube is changed, it can be easily handled by changing the test tube rack clamp 1 without changing the test tube rack 102. In addition, as in the first embodiment, by installing later, even if the test tube 801 is inserted obliquely into the test tube storage portion 202, the test tube 801 is supported by the test tube holding protrusion 802 during the installation of the test tube rack clamp 1, and the posture of the test tube 801 can be corrected straight.

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0053] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications.

[0054] For example, the above-mentioned embodiments are examples described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to having all the structures described. In addition, a part of the structure of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the structure of other embodiments, and in addition, the structure of other embodiments can be added to the structure of a certain embodiment.

[0055] Explanation of symbols

[0056] 1: Clamp for test tube rack

[0057] 101,801: test tube

[0058] 101a, 801a: Bottom shape

[0059] 102,601: Test tube rack

[0060] 201, 201a~d, 802a, 802b: test tube holding protrusion

[0061] 202, 602: Test tube storage

[0062] 203: Bottom shape

[0063] 204: Connection

[0064] 401a, 401b, 803a, 803b: Test tube contact surface

[0065] 603, 604: Test tube positioning unit

Claims

1. A clamp for a test tube rack, which is a clamp used for a test tube rack with an opening at the bottom, characterized in that: The protrusion of the test tube holding protrusion that holds the test tube includes a test tube contact surface that comes into contact with the test tube, and the test tube contact surface has an inner surface shape that follows the shape of the lower portion of the test tube.

2. The test tube rack clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner shape portion is formed with a connecting portion that can be mounted to match the shape of the bottom of the test tube rack, The test tube holding protrusion is aligned with the position of the test tube mounted on the test tube rack to hold the test tube.

3. The clamp for a test tube rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The test tube holding protrusion is arranged in a gap of a positioning portion provided on the bottom surface side of the test tube rack.

4. The clamp for a test tube rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The test tube contact surface is arranged above a positioning portion provided at the bottom of the test tube rack.

5. The clamp for a test tube rack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The weight of the test tube rack to which the test tube rack clamp is attached is at least greater than the pulling force of the test tube mounted thereon.

6. The clamp for a test tube rack according to claim 5, characterized in that: The test tube contact surface has a first region having a shape modeled after a cylinder and a second region having a shape modeled after a portion of a sphere.

7. The clamp for a test tube rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The tube contact surface has a first region having a shape modeled after a cone and a second region having a shape modeled after a portion of a sphere.

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