Constant-temperature test tube rack with sample management function

Abstract

The invention discloses a constant temperature test tube rack with a sample management function, the constant temperature test tube rack comprises a bearing frame and a bearing base, the bearing frame is provided with a test tube placing groove, the test tube placing groove is internally provided with a tray used for supporting the bottom of a test tube, the bottom of the tray is connected with a lifting rod, the lifting rod slidably extends into the bearing frame, and the bearing base is provided with a sample storage groove. The side wall of the lifting rod is movably connected with a swing arm, a pivoting fulcrum is arranged in the middle of the swing arm, and a balancing weight is arranged at the tail end of the swing arm; a prompting element is arranged on the bearing frame; a sensor is arranged in the bearing base and arranged on the stroke path below the lifting rod. Medical staff can be reminded of the state of the test tubes on the test tube rack, and the accuracy of sample management is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of test tube racks, and in particular to a constant temperature test tube rack with a sample management function. Background Art

[0002] Egg retrieval is an assisted reproductive technology procedure that aims to remove follicular fluid containing oocytes from a woman's ovaries for fertilization with sperm in the laboratory to form embryos, which can then be transferred back into the uterus. After the surgeon aspirates the follicular fluid into a test tube, the medical staff transfers the tube to a laboratory technician for further processing. During this process, the tube is placed in a constant-temperature test tube rack for temporary storage.

[0003] In the prior art, a national invention patent discloses a constant temperature test tube rack for reproductive medicine (authorization announcement number: CN216879486U), which discloses the following technical solution: including a test tube storage rack, a heating device is provided in the test tube storage rack, and the heating device is used to heat the test tube storage rack. At present, the average daily number of egg retrieval operations in mature reproductive medical centers is between 15 and 20 cases, and the number of follicular fluid tubes for each patient is different. In addition to accurately recording the number of follicular fluid tubes of the patient, medical staff must also ensure that samples from different patients are not mixed up and left on the constant temperature test tube rack due to omissions, causing irreversible errors and accidents. The long and intense inventory and verification work puts tremendous pressure on medical staff and can easily lead to fatigue and mistakes. Although the aforementioned patent solves the technical problem of heating the test tube storage rack, it has not yet solved the problem of missing test tubes or recording errors. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide a constant temperature test tube rack with a sample management function, which can remind medical staff of the status of the test tubes on the test tube rack and improve the accuracy of sample management.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A constant temperature test tube rack with a sample management function comprises a carrier frame and a carrier base, wherein the carrier frame is provided with a test tube placement slot, wherein the test tube placement slot is provided with a tray for supporting the bottom of the test tube, wherein the bottom of the tray is connected to a lifting rod, wherein the lifting rod is slidably extended into the carrier frame, and a swing arm is movably connected to the side wall of the lifting rod, wherein the middle portion of the swing arm is provided with a pivot fulcrum, and the end of the swing arm is provided with a counterweight block;

[0007] The carrier is provided with a prompting element;

[0008] A sensor is provided in the bearing base, and the sensor is arranged on the lower travel path of the lifting rod.

[0009] The empty test tube is placed in the test tube placement slot. Since there is a counterweight block connected to the swing arm, the empty test tube will not press down the tray. After the follicles are sucked into the empty test tube, the empty test tube has weight, and the weight exceeds the counterweight block, which will press down the tray. The lifting rod at the bottom of the tray contacts the sensor, and the sensor sends a signal to the prompt component, indicating that the test tube here is loaded with follicles.

[0010] In order to prevent the test tubes from falling out of the test tube placement slots, in some embodiments, the carrier is provided with a heat preservation plate covering the test tube placement slots, and a fixing plate is provided at the front end of the heat preservation plate.

[0011] In order to enable the tray to support the test tube, in some embodiments, the tray is located at the bottom of the test tube placement slot.

[0012] In some embodiments, the lifting rod and the swing arm are hingedly connected to ensure that the lifting rod slides upward and does not swing in an arc with the swing arm.

[0013] In some embodiments, a cross bar is provided in the carrier.

[0014] According to a further development of the above solution, a circular ring is provided in the middle of the swing arm, and the circular ring is rotatably mounted on the cross bar to form a pivot point of the swing arm.

[0015] Compared to the prior art, the present application achieves at least the following beneficial effects: the test tube rack uses a gravity-triggered detection mechanism to determine whether a test tube in a test tube placement slot is loaded with a follicular fluid sample. When the test tube is empty, its weight is insufficient to overcome the balancing force provided by the counterweight on the support component. The tray and its connected lifting rod remain in their initial raised position, and the lifting rod does not contact the sensor in the support base. At this time, the prompt element is in an inactive state. When the test tube is loaded with a follicular fluid sample, the weight of the sample is applied to the tray, overcoming the balancing force of the counterweight, driving the tray and lifting rod downward under the action of gravity, causing the lifting rod to contact the sensor below. The contact signal from the sensor triggers a controller, activating the corresponding prompt element on the support rack. By significantly changing the state of the prompt element, medical staff can be intuitively reminded of the sample loading status of the test tube in the corresponding test tube placement slot, effectively avoiding confusion and significantly improving the accuracy and reliability of follicular fluid sample management. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] One or more embodiments of the present application will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a test tube rack provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 A front cross-sectional view of a test tube rack provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 A side cross-sectional view of a test tube rack provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the tray, lifting rod and sensor in the test tube rack provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0021] The numbers in the figure are:

[0022] 1. Load-bearing base;

[0023] 2. Fixed plate;

[0024] 3. Insulation board;

[0025] 4. Carrying frame;

[0026] 5. Screws;

[0027] 6. Prompt component;

[0028] 7. horizontal bar;

[0029] 8. Counterweight;

[0030] 9. Sensor;

[0031] 10. Controller;

[0032] 20. Arm swing;

[0033] 30. Heating source;

[0034] 40. Tray; 401. Auxiliary guide rod;

[0035] 50. Lifting rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in a variety of different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided herein to make the disclosure of the present application more complete and to fully convey the concepts of the present application to those skilled in the art.

[0037] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "front", "back", "left", "right", "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0038] The problem in the prior art is that medical staff are prone to omissions or recording errors in the process of counting and checking test tubes after working for a long time. The main reason for the above problem is that mature reproductive centers handle an average of 15-20 egg retrieval operations per day, and each patient needs to manage 3-6 tubes of follicular fluid samples. Medical staff need to complete sample reception, counting, temporary storage and transportation in a short period of time while ensuring zero confusion. In this high-pressure environment, manual recording is very likely to make mistakes due to fatigue or distraction, and the existing constant temperature equipment only provides physical insulation function and does not integrate an automatic tracking module. Based on the above analysis, the inventors have made structural improvements to the constant temperature test tube rack.

[0039] like Figure 1-3 As shown, in at least one embodiment of the present application, a constant temperature test tube rack with a sample management function includes a carrier 4 for heat-insulating and storing test tubes and a carrier base 1 for supporting the carrier 4, and the carrier 4 is fixedly connected to the top of the carrier base 1. The front and rear faces of the carrier 4 are respectively provided with test tube placement grooves that are concave and match the shape of the test tubes; the bottom of each test tube placement groove is provided with a tray 40 for supporting the bottom of the test tube; the bottom of the tray 40 is fixedly connected to a cylindrical lifting rod 50, and the bottom of the test tube placement groove is provided with a through hole that penetrates the carrier 4 and extends into the carrier base 1. The lifting rod 50 passes through the through hole and can slide therein, and its lower end extends into the carrier base 1. Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The sidewall of the lifting rod 50 is movably connected to a long swing arm 20. A pivot point is provided in the middle of the swing arm 20, allowing the swing arm 20 to swing about the pivot point, thereby driving the lifting rod 50 up or down. A counterweight 8 is fixedly connected to the distal end of the swing arm 20 (i.e., the end away from the lifting rod 50). The weight of the counterweight 8 is configured to be greater than the weight of the empty test tubes acting on the tray 40.

[0040] A plurality of prompting elements 6 are mounted on the carrier 4 , and each prompting element 6 is used to prompt medical staff of the status of the test tube in the test tube placement slot at that location.

[0041] A fixing plate 2 is fixedly connected to the supporting base 1 , and a plurality of fixing holes are opened on the fixing plate 2 . A sensor 9 (the model can be an optional Keller pressure sensor) is installed in each fixing hole. The sensor 9 is located on the lower travel path of the lifting rod 50 .

[0042] The carrier 4 is made of aluminum and has a hollow structure, and a heating source 30 for providing a constant temperature environment is installed inside it. The specific structure of the heating source 30 is prior art and is not the technical point to be protected by this application, so it will not be repeated here.

[0043] A transparent acrylic fixing plate 2 is fixed to the front and rear ends of the carrier 4 by screws 5 respectively, which is used to cover the opening of the test tube placement slot to prevent the test tube from falling out; an insulation board 3 is arranged between the acrylic fixing plate 2 and the carrier 4; through holes are opened at the four corners of the insulation board 3, and it is fastened to the carrier 4 together with the fixing plate 2 by screws 5; the insulation board 3 is made of aluminum plate, for example, to facilitate rapid absorption and transfer of heat.

[0044] The tray 40 is a bowl-shaped structure and is arranged at the bottom of the test tube placement groove. When the test tube is placed into the test tube placement groove from top to bottom, its bottom contacts the top of the tray 40.

[0045] In order to prevent the lifting rod 50 from swinging in the through hole due to clearance fit and causing the tray 40 to tilt, auxiliary guide rods 401 are fixedly connected vertically downward on both sides of the bottom of the tray 40; an auxiliary through hole that penetrates into the supporting base 1 is opened at the corresponding position of the bottom of the test tube placement groove; the auxiliary guide rod 401 passes through the corresponding auxiliary through hole and extends slidably into the supporting base 1; the auxiliary guide rod 401 is used to limit the horizontal movement of the tray 40 to prevent it from lateral displacement or tilting.

[0046] The lifting rod 50 and the swing arm 20 are hingedly connected. Figure 4 As shown, a slot is formed on the side of the lifting rod 50, and a rotating shaft (not shown) is disposed within the slot. The end of the swing arm 20 closest to the lifting rod 50 is hinged via this rotating shaft. A transverse circular crossbar 7 is fixedly mounted within the carrier 4, located below the front and rear test tube slots of the carrier 4. A circular ring is disposed in the middle of the swing arm 20, rotatably mounted on the crossbar 7 and forming the pivot point of the swing arm 20. An axial stop groove is formed on the crossbar 7 for each ring, and the ring is embedded in the stop groove to prevent the ring from moving axially along the crossbar 7.

[0047] The total weight acting on the tray 40 is less than the balancing force provided by the counterweight 8. At this time, the tray 40 is in a raised position, and its height is higher than the position of the counterweight 8. When a test tube filled with follicular fluid is placed on the tray 40, the total weight acting on the tray 40 is greater than the balancing force provided by the counterweight 8. Figure 4 As shown, the tray 40 drives the lifting rod 50 to move downward, and the counterweight block 8 rises at the same time. At this time, the position of the tray 40 is lower than the counterweight block 8; the hinged connection between the lifting rod 50 and the swing arm 20 enables the swing of the swing arm 20 around the pivot point to be converted into a linear lifting motion of the lifting rod 50.

[0048] The prompt element 6 is an indicator light, which is used to remind medical staff of the status of the test tubes in the corresponding test tube placement slots through visual signals; the indicator lights are installed on the aforementioned transparent fixing plate 2, and their number is consistent with the number of test tube placement slots.

[0049] A controller 10, typically an Arduino Uno development board, is also mounted within the rack 4. Its signal input is connected to the sensors 9, while its signal output is connected to the indicator elements 6. The controller 10 receives contact signals from the sensors 9 and controls the on / off status of corresponding indicator lights based on these signals. The circuit diagrams for the controller 10, sensors 9, and indicator elements 6 are prior art and will not be further described here. This test tube rack is powered by 200W AC power and has a preheating time of 10 minutes.

[0050] The core of this test tube rack lies in its gravity-triggered detection and status indication function, which is used to accurately determine whether the test tubes in each test tube placement slot are loaded with follicular fluid samples. Its working principle is as follows: when an empty test tube is placed in the test tube placement slot, the test tube itself is relatively light and cannot effectively overcome the reverse balancing torque provided by the counterweight block 8 at the end of the swing arm 20 in the supporting component. At this time, the tray 40 is maintained in the initial lifting position under the action of the counterweight block 8, and the lifting rod 50 rigidly connected to it is also in a relatively high position, and its bottom end does not make physical contact with the sensor 9 set inside the supporting base 1. Accordingly, the prompt element 6 corresponding to the test tube placement slot on the support rack 4 remains in an inactive state (extinguished), intuitively indicating that the test tube in this slot is empty.

[0051] Conversely, when a test tube containing a follicular fluid sample is placed in the test tube placement slot, the combined weight of the test tube and sample increases significantly. This weight acts on the tray 40, generating a downward torque that is greater than the counterbalancing torque generated by the counterweight 8. This imbalance causes the swing arm 20 to rotate about its central pivot point (the ring mounted on the crossbar 7), driving the end hinged to the lifting rod 50 downward. As a result, the tray 40 and lifting rod 50 as a whole steadily move downward a predetermined distance under the action of gravity. When fully lowered, the bottom end of the lifting rod 50 forms a reliable contact with the sensor 9 within the support base 1.

[0052] When sensor 9 detects the lifting rod 50's contact, it generates an electrical signal. This signal is transmitted to controller 10, which then activates the indicator element 6 on carrier 4 corresponding to the specific test tube placement slot. The display of the activated indicator element 6 depends on the design, typically illuminating a bright LED indicator to produce a clear visual signal. Possible designs also include changing the color of the light.

[0053] Through this gravity-triggered mechanical displacement-electrical signal conversion and status indication mechanism, the test tube rack can automatically and in real time identify the actual loading status (empty tube or loaded tube) of each test tube placement slot. Medical staff no longer need to examine each test tube individually or rely on error-prone manual labeling. They can simply glance at the status of the prompt element 6 (e.g., whether the light is on or off) to quickly and accurately determine the sample presence in all test tubes. This significantly reduces the risk of sample confusion, misoperation, or missed tests in a busy laboratory environment, fundamentally improving the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of follicular fluid sample processing, storage, and management.

[0054] It should be understood that all the above embodiments are illustrative rather than restrictive, and various modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above based on the concept of this application should be within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A constant temperature test tube rack with sample management function, characterized in that: The device comprises a carrier frame and a carrier base, wherein the carrier frame is provided with a test tube placement slot, wherein the test tube placement slot is provided with a tray for supporting the bottom of the test tube, wherein the bottom of the tray is connected to a lifting rod, wherein the lifting rod can slide into the carrier frame, and wherein the side wall of the lifting rod is movably connected to a swing arm, wherein the middle part of the swing arm is provided with a pivot fulcrum, and the end of the swing arm is provided with a counterweight block; The carrier is provided with a prompting element; A sensor is provided in the bearing base, and the sensor is arranged on the lower travel path of the lifting rod.

2. The test tube rack according to claim 1, characterized in that The carrier is provided with a fixing plate covering the test tube placement slot.

3. The test tube rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The tray is located at the bottom of the test tube placement slot.

4. The test tube rack according to claim 3, characterized in that Auxiliary guide rods are respectively provided on both sides of the bottom of the tray, and the auxiliary guide rods can be slidably extended into the bearing base.

5. The test tube rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting rod and the swing arm are hingedly connected.

6. The test tube rack according to claim 1, characterized in that A cross bar is provided in the bearing frame.

7. The test tube rack according to claim 6, characterized in that: A circular ring is provided at the middle of the swing arm, and the circular ring is rotatably sleeved on the cross bar to form a pivot point of the swing arm.

8. The test tube rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The prompt element is an indicator light.

9. The test tube rack according to claim 8, characterized in that: The prompt element is arranged on the fixing plate.

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