Blood processing module for automatic blood viscosity measuring device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device, and more particularly, to a blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device, which can completely prevent erythrocyte sedimentation that may occur during waiting by scanning blood collection tube information by scanning and mixing blood samples by rotating the blood collection tube by 360 degrees, and further, can accurately measure blood viscosity of the blood collection tube. According to the blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device, secondary mixing of blood is achieved by sucking and packaging the blood through a pipette suction head, and therefore the accuracy of blood viscosity measurement can be improved by evenly mixing blood samples.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device, and more specifically, to a blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device that scans blood collection tube information by scanning and mixes blood samples by rotating the blood collection tube 360°, thereby completely preventing erythrocyte sedimentation that may occur during the waiting period. Furthermore, it achieves secondary mixing of blood by using a pipette tip to draw in and dispense blood, thereby improving the accuracy of blood viscosity measurement through uniform mixing of blood samples. Background Technology

[0002] Blood viscosity is a physical property that represents the resistance to flow caused by blood flow within blood vessels. It can be specifically divided into whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity. An abnormal increase in blood viscosity increases the shear stress and flow resistance acting on the inner walls of blood vessels, thereby significantly increasing the risk of acute cardiovascular and microvascular diseases.

[0003] In addition, plasma viscosity is not only used to diagnose inflammatory conditions in the body, but it is also one of the main causes of increased whole blood viscosity.

[0004] Whole blood viscosity exhibits flow characteristics that continuously change according to the systolic and diastolic phases of the heart. The reason for this is that, due to the complex interactions between red blood cells and plasma proteins in whole blood, viscosity decreases when blood flows rapidly (at a high shear rate), while conversely, viscosity increases when blood flows slowly (at a low shear rate).

[0005] Fluids exhibiting such flow characteristics are called non-Newtonian fluids. To accurately understand the non-Newtonian flow characteristics of blood, it is necessary to accurately measure the whole blood viscosity at the entire shear rate (e.g., 1-1000 s^-1).

[0006] In recent years, blood viscosity measuring devices have been developed to measure blood viscosity or blood cell aggregation rate by passing blood obtained from the body through a flow restrictor tube and measuring the flow characteristics of the blood within the flow restrictor tube.

[0007] As prior art, Korean Utility Model No. 20-0331884 (A device for simultaneously measuring blood viscosity and blood cell aggregation rate) is disclosed.

[0008] However, because the equipment operator needs to manually inject blood with a syringe to measure the blood viscosity, it is difficult to supply blood at a constant pressure and a constant flow rate, thus making it difficult to measure the blood viscosity under the same conditions.

[0009] In addition, the manual operation results in long working hours and is also prone to blood infection problems.

[0010] To address these issues, an automated blood viscosity measurement device is currently under development. However, it requires a significant amount of time to measure the viscosity of one blood sample before proceeding to the next.

[0011] Furthermore, when measuring a large number of blood samples, the viscosity of blood samples taken later in the sequence is measured as red blood cells settle over time, which reduces the accuracy of viscosity measurement.

[0012] As another prior art for solving the above problems, Korean Patent No. 10-2331945 (Multi-channel module blood viscosity measuring device) has been disclosed.

[0013] However, in the other existing technologies mentioned above, the blood collection tubes, pipette tips and test kits are transferred separately, so there are relatively many transfer-related devices that need to be housed inside the casing, resulting in higher manufacturing costs and limitations that require the device to be designed to be large-scale.

[0014] In addition, the aforementioned existing technologies have the problem of being cumbersome to change blood collection tubes, pipette tips, and test kits. Furthermore, mixing blood by shaking the blood collection tubes left and right within a certain angle range can lead to a decrease in the accuracy of blood viscosity measurement if the blood is not mixed sufficiently. Summary of the Invention

[0015] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0016] The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device that can effectively mix blood.

[0017] Solution for solving the problem

[0018] To achieve the above objectives, the blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention includes: a pretreatment unit for pretreating a blood collection tube held by a first gripper and transferred by a transfer actuator within the automatic blood viscosity measuring device; a blood aspiration / injection unit for aspirating and dispensing blood samples from the pretreated blood collection tube using a pipette tip held by a second gripper; and a monitoring / control unit for status confirmation and operation control of the pretreatment unit and the blood aspiration / injection unit, wherein the pretreatment unit includes: a scanning unit. The scanning unit includes: a blood collection tube for acquiring information about the blood collection tube; a blood mixing unit for mixing blood samples contained in the blood collection tube; and a cap separation unit for separating the sealing cap from the blood collection tube. The scanning unit further includes: a first rotary motor for rotating the blood collection tube, which is held and moved to a set scanning position by the first clamp, around the Z-axis; and a blood collection tube scanner disposed at the scanning position for scanning the blood collection tube rotated by the operation of the first rotary motor to acquire blood collection tube information marked on the blood collection tube.

[0019] The blood mixing unit includes: a blood collection tube clamp for holding the main body of a blood collection tube that is held by the first clamp and moved to a set mixing position; and a mixing rotary motor for rotating the blood collection tube clamp so that the blood collection tube held by the blood collection tube clamp rotates 360° around the X-axis or Y-axis as the rotation center, thereby mixing the blood sample.

[0020] The cap separation unit includes: a cap clamp, which can hold the sealing cap tightened on the upper end of the blood collection tube when the main body of the blood collection tube is held by the blood collection tube clamp; and a cap rotation motor / actuator, which can make the cap clamp rotate around the Z-axis and move up and down at the same time.

[0021] The aforementioned cover clamp is replaced by the aforementioned first clamp, and the aforementioned cover rotation motor / actuator is replaced by a combination of the aforementioned first rotation motor and the aforementioned transfer actuator.

[0022] Furthermore, in the blood processing module of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention, the pretreatment unit has a multi-space structure that can accommodate at least two or more blood collection tubes and can pre-process each of the accommodated blood collection tubes independently. The monitoring / control unit controls the transfer actuator so that the blood collection tubes held and transferred by the first clamp are sequentially accommodated in the empty spaces of the multi-space of the pretreatment unit.

[0023] The second clamp is configured to press the rear end of the pipette tip into a fixed position. The blood aspiration / injection section includes a piston that communicates with the rear end of the pipette tip via the second clamp, so that the pipette tip can aspirate and dispense blood samples.

[0024] Furthermore, in the blood processing module of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device, when a blood sample is drawn from a blood collection tube that has been separated from its sealed cap by the aforementioned pipette tip, in order to be able to draw the blood sample at a certain depth with the surface of the blood sample as a reference, the aforementioned monitoring / control unit controls the aforementioned transfer brake to raise and lower the aforementioned pipette tip according to the height change of the blood sample contained in the aforementioned blood collection tube.

[0025] Furthermore, in the blood processing module of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention, when a blood sample is drawn from a blood collection tube that has been separated from the sealed cap by the pretreatment section using the pipette tip, in order to enable the blood to be drawn in a mixed state, the monitoring / control unit controls the blood aspiration / injection unit by repeatedly drawing and dispensing the blood aspirated a set number of times.

[0026] Furthermore, the blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention also includes a waste processing unit, which is capable of discarding used pipette tips. The monitoring / control unit reverses the operation of the cap separation unit to re-tighten the sealing cap separated from the used blood collection tube to the blood collection tube, and controls the transfer actuator to return the used blood collection tube, which is in the state of re-tightening the sealing cap, to the first position using the first clamp, and controls the transfer actuator to transfer the used pipette tip to the waste processing unit using the second clamp.

[0027] Invention Effects

[0028] Based on the above structure, the blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention has the following advantages: by rotating the blood collection tube 360° to mix the blood sample once, and then using a pipette tip to mix the blood sample a second time, the accuracy of blood viscosity measurement can be improved by uniformly mixing the blood sample. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a top view of an automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the outer casing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the first insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the second insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the third insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the transfer unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figures 12 to 14 This is a usage diagram of the first, second, and third transfer units according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 15 This is a front perspective view of the main part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figures 16 to 18 This is a perspective view of the preprocessing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 19 This is a diagram showing the usage state of the blood aspiration / mixing section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figures 20 to 23 This is a perspective view of a viscosity measuring unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention includes: a pretreatment unit for pretreating a blood collection tube held by a first clamp and transferred by a transfer actuator within the automatic blood viscosity measuring device; a blood aspiration / injection unit for aspirating and dispensing blood samples from the pretreated blood collection tube using a pipette tip held by a second clamp; and a monitoring / control unit for status confirmation and operation control of the pretreatment unit and the blood aspiration / injection unit, wherein the pretreatment unit includes: a scanning unit for acquiring... The scanning unit includes: a blood collection tube; a blood mixing unit for mixing a blood sample contained in the blood collection tube; a cap separation unit for separating a sealing cap from the blood collection tube; and a scanning unit comprising: a first rotary motor for rotating a blood collection tube held by the first clamp and moved to a set scanning position about a Z-axis; and a blood collection tube scanner disposed at the scanning position for scanning the blood collection tube rotated by the operation of the first rotary motor to obtain blood collection tube information marked on the blood collection tube.

[0042] Best Implementation of the Invention

[0043] Hereinafter, the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention and the blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0044] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a top view of an automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the outer casing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the first insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the second insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the third insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the transfer unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 12 to 14 This is a usage diagram of the first, second, and third transfer units according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 This is a front perspective view of the main parts according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 16 to 18 This is a perspective view of the preprocessing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 This is a diagram showing the usage state of the blood aspiration / mixing section according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 20 to 23This is a perspective view of a viscosity measuring unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 3 According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automatic blood viscosity measuring device 1 includes a housing 10, an input part 20, a transfer part 30, a pretreatment part 40, a blood intake / injection part 50, a viscosity measuring part 60, a waste treatment part 70, and a monitoring / control part 80.

[0046] The blood processing module of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention can be composed of a combination of the pretreatment unit 40, the blood intake / injection unit 50, the waste treatment unit 70 and the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0047] The aforementioned outer casing 10 is the structure that constitutes the overall appearance of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and may include an outer casing body 11, a management door 12, a door locking unit 13, a lower support frame 14, and a blower fan 15.

[0048] The aforementioned outer casing 11 is a structure that provides an internal space for the internal structure of an automatic blood viscosity measuring device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and may be composed of a combination of a frame and a cover plate.

[0049] The aforementioned management door 12 is made of a transparent material such as transparent acrylic so that the user can observe the internal state of the aforementioned housing 10. In order to enable the interior of the aforementioned housing 10 to be opened when the device 1 needs to be managed, the aforementioned management door 12 can be configured to cover the upper front part of the aforementioned housing body 11 and to be opened and closed.

[0050] The aforementioned door locking unit 13 is a structure that can lock the aforementioned management door 12 to prevent it from being opened, and can be composed of an interlocking device, a solenoid, a manual locking key, etc.

[0051] The monitoring / control unit 80 is configured to control the door locking unit 13 according to the user's operation or the status of the device 1, thereby locking or opening the management door 12.

[0052] That is, for the aforementioned management door 12, when the device 1 is in operation, for safety reasons, the management door 12 is controlled to remain locked by the door locking unit 13, while when the device 1 is stopped by operation such as the power button 82 or the emergency stop switch 83, the management door 12 is controlled to be in an openable state.

[0053] like Figure 4As shown, the lower support frame 14 is a structure that supports the lower part of the outer shell body 11. It can be configured such that the device 1 can be easily moved by the moving wheels respectively provided at the lower corners of the outer shell body 11. Furthermore, when the installation position of the device 1 has been set, the device 1 can be horizontally adjusted and fixed in position by means of an adjustable base that can absorb vibration, and the vibration generated by the drive device 1 can be minimized.

[0054] The aforementioned air supply fan 15 is a structure used to exhaust the hot air generated inside the aforementioned housing 10 to the outside. Multiple air supply fans 15 may be provided on the upper part of the aforementioned housing body 11.

[0055] On the other hand, in order to improve the cooling efficiency of the aforementioned air supply fan 15, an air intake port (not shown) for drawing in external air can be formed in the aforementioned housing 10.

[0056] The aforementioned insertion section 20 is a structure that inserts the blood collection tube A, the pipette tip B, and the test kit C into the first, second, and third positions P1, P2, and P3 inside the outer casing 10, respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is composed of first, second, and third insertion sections 20A, 20B, and 20C.

[0057] Figure 3 The top view shows an embodiment of the first, second, and third positions P1, P2, and P3 inside the aforementioned housing 10.

[0058] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the first insertion part 20A is a structure for inserting a blood collection tube A containing a blood sample and with its upper end sealed with a cap A1 into the first position P1 inside the outer casing 10. It includes a first replacement drawer 211, a first tray 221, a first tray holder 231, a first drawer locking unit 241, a first tray detection sensor 251, and a first status indicator light 261.

[0059] The aforementioned first replacement drawer 211 is a structure that allows the blood collection tube A to be replaced outside the aforementioned outer casing 10 and can be slidably supported on the aforementioned outer casing 10 in a manner that allows it to move back and forth between the aforementioned outer casing 10 and the aforementioned first position P1.

[0060] The first tray 221 described above is a structure that allows multiple blood collection tubes A to be vertically installed in an aligned state.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first tray 221 is configured to allow 24 blood collection tubes A to be vertically installed in a 4×6 arrangement.

[0062] The first tray holder 231 is a structure that secures the first tray 221 when the first tray 221 is placed in the first replacement drawer 211.

[0063] When the first clamp 311 of the transfer unit 30 clamps and lifts the blood collection tube A that is vertically installed on the first tray 221, the first tray holder 231 prevents the first tray 221 from shaking.

[0064] The first drawer locking unit 241 described above is a structure that can lock the first replacement drawer 211 when the first replacement drawer 211 is in the first position P1.

[0065] The first drawer locking unit 241 mentioned above is controlled by the monitoring / control unit 80. It is a structure used to prevent the first replacement drawer 211 from being accidentally opened while the device 1 is running. It can be composed of an interlocking device, a solenoid, a manual locking key, etc.

[0066] The first tray detection sensor 251 is a structure used to detect whether the first tray 221 is placed in the designated position of the first replacement drawer 211.

[0067] The first tray detection sensor 251 can be configured to detect at least two points, preferably three points, so as to detect whether the first tray 221 is horizontally installed at the designated position of the first replacement drawer 211.

[0068] The aforementioned first status indicator light 261 is located near the aforementioned first replacement drawer 211 and is a structure that can visually display the status of the first insertion part 20A related to the aforementioned blood collection tube A by means of color change, in order to distinguish the status of the device 1 as determined by the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0069] That is, the first status indicator light 261 can be set in front of the first replacement drawer 211 and configured to visually display the insufficient status of the blood collection tube A, the improper placement status of the first tray 221, and the improper locking status of the first replacement drawer 211 through different colors such as red, blue, green, orange, and white.

[0070] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the second input section 20B is a structure that inserts a disposable pipette tip B capable of aspirating and dispensing blood samples into the second position P2 inside the outer casing 10. It includes a second replacement drawer 212, a second tray 222, a second tray holder 232, a second drawer locking unit 242, a second tray detection sensor 252, and a second status indicator light 262.

[0071] The aforementioned second replacement drawer 212 is a structure that allows the pipette tip B to be replaced outside the aforementioned housing 10 and can be slidably supported on the aforementioned housing 10 in a manner that allows it to move back and forth between the aforementioned housing 10 and the aforementioned second position P2.

[0072] The second tray 222 described above is a structure that allows multiple pipette tips B to be vertically mounted in an aligned state.

[0073] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second tray 222 is configured such that 96 pipette tips B can be vertically installed in an 8×12 arrangement.

[0074] The aforementioned second tray 222 can be made of a dual structure consisting of an upper bracket and a lower bracket.

[0075] The second tray holder 232 is a structure that secures the second tray 222 when the second tray 222 is placed in the second replacement drawer 212.

[0076] When the second clamp 312 of the transfer unit 30 clamps and lifts the pipette tip B that is vertically mounted on the second tray 222, the second tray holder 232 prevents the second tray 222 from shaking.

[0077] The second drawer locking unit 242 described above is a structure that can lock the second replacement drawer 212 when the second replacement drawer 212 is in the second position P2.

[0078] The aforementioned second drawer locking unit 242 is controlled by the monitoring / control unit 80 and is a structure used to prevent the aforementioned second replacement drawer 212 from being accidentally opened while the device 1 is in operation. It may be composed of an interlocking device, a solenoid, a manual locking key, etc.

[0079] The second tray detection sensor 252 is a structure used to detect whether the second tray 222 is placed in the designated position of the second replacement drawer 212.

[0080] The second tray detection sensor 252 described above can be configured to detect at least two points, preferably three points or more, thereby enabling it to detect whether the second tray 222 is horizontally installed at a designated position in the second replacement drawer 212.

[0081] The aforementioned second status indicator light 262 is located near the aforementioned second replacement drawer 211 and is a structure that can visually display the status of the second insertion part 20B related to the aforementioned pipette tip B by changing color, in order to distinguish the status of the device 1 as determined by the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0082] That is, the second status indicator light 262 can be set in front of the second replacement drawer 212 and configured to visually display the insufficient state of the pipette tip B, the improper placement state of the second tray 222, and the improper locking state of the second replacement drawer 212 through different colors such as red, blue, green, orange, and white.

[0083] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the third input section 20C is a structure for inserting a disposable blood viscosity measurement test kit C into the third position P3 inside the outer casing 10, including a third replacement drawer 213, a third tray 223, a third tray holder 233, a third drawer locking unit 243, a third tray detection sensor 253, and a third status indicator light 263.

[0084] The aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 is a structure that allows the test kit C to be replaced outside the aforementioned housing 10 and can be slidably supported on the aforementioned housing 10 in a manner that allows it to move back and forth between the aforementioned housing 10 and the aforementioned third position P3.

[0085] The third tray 223 described above is a structure that allows multiple test kits C to be vertically mounted in an aligned state.

[0086] In one embodiment of the present invention, the third tray 223 is configured such that the 12 test kits C described above can be arranged in a row and installed vertically.

[0087] On the other hand, the first, second, and third trays 221, 222, and 223 are respectively configured to make the number of blood collection tubes A, pipette tips B, and test kits C that can be installed in a multiple relationship with each other.

[0088] With the above structure, the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to the present invention enables the replacement cycles of the blood collection tube A, pipette tip B and test kit C to be linked together, thereby minimizing the replacement time.

[0089] Therefore, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first tray 221 is configured to hold 24 blood collection tubes A, the second tray 222 is configured to hold 96 pipette tips B, and the third tray 223 is configured to hold 12 test kits C.

[0090] The aforementioned third tray holder 233 is a structure that secures the aforementioned third tray 223 when the aforementioned third tray 223 is placed on the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213.

[0091] When the third clamp 313 of the transfer unit 30 clamps and lifts the test kit C that is vertically mounted on the third tray 223, the third tray retainer 233 prevents the third tray 223 from shaking.

[0092] The aforementioned third drawer locking unit 243 is a structure that can lock the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 when the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 is in the aforementioned third position P3.

[0093] The aforementioned third drawer locking unit 243 is controlled by the monitoring / control unit 80. It is a structure used to prevent the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 from being accidentally opened while the device 1 is in operation. It may be composed of an interlocking device, a solenoid, a manual locking key, etc.

[0094] The aforementioned third tray detection sensor 253 is a structure used to detect whether the aforementioned third tray 223 is placed in the designated position of the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213.

[0095] The aforementioned third tray detection sensor 253 may be configured to detect at least two points, preferably three points or more, thereby enabling it to detect whether the aforementioned third tray 223 is horizontally installed at a designated position in the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213.

[0096] The aforementioned third status indicator light 263 is located near the aforementioned third replacement drawer 211, and is a structure that can visually display the status of the third input section 20C related to the aforementioned test kit C by changing color, in order to distinguish the status of the device 1 as determined by the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0097] That is, the aforementioned third status indicator light 263 can be set in front of the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 and configured to visually display the insufficient status of the aforementioned test kit C, the improper placement status of the aforementioned third tray 223, and the improper locking status of the aforementioned third replacement drawer 213 through different colors such as red, blue, green, orange, and white.

[0098] On the other hand, the aforementioned input unit 20 includes an input detection sensor 27, which is used to detect the position and quantity of the blood collection tube A, pipette tip B, and test kit C respectively inserted into the first, second, and third positions P1, P2, and P3.

[0099] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 12 As shown, the above-mentioned input detection sensor 27 can be configured as an amplifier-integrated beam scanning sensor that moves with the transfer actuator 32 attached to the transfer unit 30 and is capable of detecting the position and quantity of the blood collection tube A, pipette tip B and test kit C respectively placed at the first, second and third positions P1, P2 and P3.

[0100] On the other hand, by applying a laser or visible light beam to the aforementioned input detection sensor 27, the user can directly confirm the position of the detection spot with the naked eye, thereby enabling the immediate detection of measurement errors.

[0101] The aforementioned input detection sensor 27 can be configured to detect the position and quantity of blood collection tube A, pipette tip B, and test kit C respectively inserted into the first, second, and third positions P1, P2, and P3 during the initial operation of the device 1. Subsequently, the monitoring / control unit 80 determines the state of the device 1 based on the information detected by the input detection sensor 27 through software, according to the degree of measurement.

[0102] The aforementioned transfer section 30 is a structure capable of separately transferring the aforementioned blood collection tube A, pipette tip B, and test kit C, as shown below. Figure 11 As shown, it includes a gripper 31 and a transfer actuator 32.

[0103] The aforementioned clamp 31 is composed of a single first, second, and third clamp 311, 312, and 313 capable of clamping the blood collection tube A, pipette tip B, and test kit C that are inserted into the housing 10 by the aforementioned insertion part 20, respectively.

[0104] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first clamp 311 is configured as a clamp capable of holding the sealing cap A1 of the blood collection tube A at its upper part.

[0105] Figure 12 This illustrates the state in which, when the first transfer unit 30A is used to transfer blood collection tube A, the first clamp 311 clamps any one of the multiple blood collection tubes A that are vertically mounted on the first tray 221, and then the transfer actuator 32 performs the transfer.

[0106] That is, such as Figure 12 As shown in (a), the first clamp 311 moves to the upper part of the blood collection tube A, which is the object to be clamped; as Figure 12 As shown in (b), move vertically downwards from that position; as Figure 12 As shown in (c), the first clamp 311, in the form of a clip, holds the sealing cap A1 of the blood collection tube A; as Figure 12 As shown in (d), the first clamp 311 moves vertically upward, thereby moving the held blood collection tube A upward.

[0107] Subsequently, the blood collection tube A held by the first clamp 311 is moved along the X-axis, Y-axis or Z-axis direction by the operation of the transfer actuator 32 under the control of the monitoring / control unit 80, and is transferred to a set position such as the scanning position or the mixing position.

[0108] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the second clamp 312 is formed in a shape that allows the rear end of the pipette tip B to be pressed in and fixed.

[0109] Figure 13 This illustrates the state in which, when the second transfer unit 30B is used to transfer a pipette tip B, the second gripper 312, after gripping any one of the plurality of pipette tips B vertically mounted on the second tray 222, is transferred by the transfer actuator 32.

[0110] That is, such as Figure 13 As shown in (a), the second clamp 312 moves to the upper part of the pipette tip B, which is the object to be clamped; as Figure 12 As shown in (b), move vertically downwards from this position to press and fix the rear end of pipette tip B; as Figure 12 As shown in (c), the second clamp 312 moves vertically upward, thereby moving the fixed pipette tip B upward.

[0111] After that, as Figure 13 As shown in (d), the pipette tip B, which is fixed by the second clamp 312, moves along the X-axis, Y-axis or Z-axis direction by the operation of the transfer actuator 32 under the control of the monitoring / control unit 80, and is transferred to the state where it is separated from the sealing cap A1. The main body is held by the blood collection tube clamp 421 on the upper part of the blood collection tube A, ready for blood aspiration. When blood aspiration is completed, it moves to the upper part of the test kit C installed on the viscosity measurement unit 70, ready for blood dispensing.

[0112] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the third clamp 313 may be configured as a clamp capable of holding the upper central portion of the test kit C.

[0113] Figure 14 This illustrates the state in which the third gripper 313, after gripping any one of the multiple test kits C vertically mounted on the third tray 223, is transferred by the transfer actuator 32 when the third transfer unit 30C is used to transfer the test kit C.

[0114] That is, such as Figure 14 As shown in (a), the third clamp 313 moves to the upper part of the test kit C, which is the object to be clamped; as Figure 14 As shown in (b), after moving vertically downwards from this position, the third clamp 313, in the form of a clip, holds the upper center of the test kit C; as Figure 14 As shown in (c), the third gripper 313 moves vertically upward, thereby moving the held test kit C upward.

[0115] After that, as Figure 14As shown in (d), the test kit C held by the third clamp 313 moves along the X-axis, Y-axis, or Z-axis direction under the control of the transfer actuator 32 of the monitoring / control unit 80, and moves to the upper part of the viscosity measuring unit 60; Figure 14 As shown in (e), move vertically downwards from this position to insert and install the held test kit C into the channel unit 61; as Figure 14 As shown in (f), the third clamp 313 moves vertically upward when it releases the grip on the test kit C.

[0116] On the other hand, for the first clamp 311 and the third clamp configured as clips, anti-slip grooves can be formed on the contact surfaces with the blood collection tube A or the test kit C, and the blood collection tube A or the test kit C can be prevented from breaking due to excessive gripping force by applying gripping force monitoring technology.

[0117] The aforementioned transfer actuator 32 is a structure that enables the first, second, and third grippers 311, 312, and 313 to move in conjunction with each other.

[0118] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transfer actuator 32 may be configured as a linear actuator, wherein the linear actuator has the following structure: Figure 11 As shown, the first, second, and third grippers 311, 312, and 313 are arranged side by side on the X-axis. The first, second, and third grippers 311, 312, and 313 can move forward, backward, left, and right along the X-axis and Y-axis as a whole, and the first, second, and third grippers 311, 312, and 313 can each move up and down along the Z-axis independently.

[0119] By combining the single first, second, and third grippers 311, 312, and 313 as described above with the transfer actuator 32, and the control of the transfer sequence by the monitoring / control unit 80, the device 1 according to the invention can achieve full automation of the process, while also reducing manufacturing costs and being able to be manufactured in a medium size.

[0120] The aforementioned pretreatment unit 40 is a structure that pretreatments the blood collection tube A that is held and transferred by the aforementioned first clamp 311, such as... Figures 16 to 18 As shown, it includes a scanning unit 41, a blood mixing unit 42, and a cap separation unit 43.

[0121] The scanning unit 41 described above is a structure for acquiring information about the blood collection tube A. In one embodiment of the present invention, the scanning unit 41 includes a first rotary motor 411 and a blood collection tube 412.

[0122] The first rotary motor 411 is a structure that rotates the first clamp 311 to make the blood collection tube A, which is clamped by the first clamp 311 and moved to the set scanning position, rotate around the Z-axis as the rotation center.

[0123] The aforementioned blood collection tube scanner 412 is positioned at the aforementioned scanning position and is a structure that obtains blood collection tube information marked on the aforementioned blood collection tube A by scanning the blood collection tube A that is rotated by the operation of the aforementioned first rotary motor 411.

[0124] That is, the blood collection tube A usually has a barcode with built-in blood collection tube information attached. Since the attached barcode is not always aligned with the direction facing the blood collection tube scanner 412, when the blood collection tube A is moved to the scanning position by the transfer unit 30, the blood collection tube A is rotated horizontally by the first rotary motor 411. Thus, during the rotation, the blood collection tube scanner 412 can scan the barcode attached to the blood collection tube A.

[0125] Furthermore, for the aforementioned blood collection tube scanner 412, it is preferable to use a device with a certain or greater scanning range to resolve scanning errors caused by the tilt or attachment position of the barcode attached to the aforementioned blood collection tube A. Also, depending on the circumstances, the scanning range can be extended by using an actuator (not shown) that enables the aforementioned blood collection tube scanner 412 to move along the Z-axis direction.

[0126] The blood mixing unit 42 described above is a structure for mixing blood samples contained in the blood collection tube A. In one embodiment of the present invention, the blood mixing unit 42 includes a blood collection tube clamp 421 and a mixing rotary motor 422.

[0127] The aforementioned blood collection tube clamp 421 is a structure that holds the main body of the blood collection tube A, which is clamped by the aforementioned first clamp 311 and moved to a set mixing position.

[0128] The aforementioned rotary motor 422 is a structure that rotates the aforementioned blood collection tube clamp 421.

[0129] like Figure 17 As shown, the blood collection tube A held by the blood collection tube clamp 421 rotates 360° around the X-axis or Y-axis as the rotation center by the above-mentioned mixing rotary motor 422, thereby mixing the blood sample contained inside. This can completely prevent the red blood cell sedimentation that may occur during the waiting period before the blood is aspirated / injected by the blood aspiration / injection section 50, and can maintain the homogeneity of blood components.

[0130] The cap separation unit 43 is a structure that separates the sealing cap A1 from the blood collection tube A. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cap separation unit 43 includes a cap clip 431 and a cap rotation motor / actuator 432.

[0131] The cap clip 431 is a structure that can hold the sealing cap A1 screwed on the upper end of the blood collection tube A when the main body of the blood collection tube A is held by the blood collection tube clip 421.

[0132] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 13 As shown, the cover clip 431 can be replaced by the first clamp 311.

[0133] The aforementioned cover rotation motor / actuator 432 is a structure that enables the aforementioned cover clamp 431 to rotate around the Z-axis while moving up and down.

[0134] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 13 As shown, the aforementioned cover rotation motor / actuator 432 can be replaced by a combination of the aforementioned first rotation motor 411 and the aforementioned transfer actuator 32.

[0135] like Figure 18 As shown in (a), with the main body of the blood collection tube A held by the blood collection tube clamp 421, as Figure 18 As shown in (b), the combination of the cover clip 431 and the cover rotation motor / actuator 432 causes the sealing cover A1 to move upward while rotating, as shown in the figure. Figure 18 As shown in (c), it is separated from the above-mentioned blood collection tube A.

[0136] For the blood collection tube A whose sealing cap A1 is separated by the cap separation unit 43, the blood sample contained inside is drawn in by the blood aspiration / injection unit 50. When the blood sample is drawn in from the blood collection tube A, the cap separation unit 43 is controlled to reverse its operation by the monitoring / control unit 80, so that the sealing cap A1 that was separated from the used blood collection tube A is tightened back onto the blood collection tube A. The used blood collection tube A, which is in the state of tightening the sealing cap A1, returns to the first position P1 under the control of the first clamp 311 and the transfer actuator 32.

[0137] On the other hand, such as Figure 16 As shown, the pretreatment unit 40 has a multi-space structure that can accommodate at least two or more blood collection tubes A and can pretreat each of the accommodated blood collection tubes A independently. The monitoring / control unit 80 is configured to control the transfer actuator 32 so that the blood collection tubes A, which are clamped and transferred by the first clamp 311, are sequentially accommodated in the empty spaces of the multi-space structure of the pretreatment unit 40.

[0138] Thus, the pretreatment unit 40 has a multi-space structure, thereby, according to the device 1 of the present invention, it is possible to take into account the blood mixing time, which requires a long time, to achieve transfer sequence control, and to shorten the processing time of the device 1.

[0139] The blood aspiration / injection section 50 described above has the following structure: It utilizes a pipette tip B, which is held and transferred by the second gripper 312, such as... Figure 19 As shown in (a), a blood sample is drawn from blood collection tube A, whose sealing cap A1 has been separated by the pretreatment section 40, as follows: Figure 19 As shown in (b), it can be injected into the test kit C installed in the viscosity measurement unit 60 described above.

[0140] In one embodiment of the present invention, the blood aspiration / injection part 50 includes a piston 51, which is connected to the rear end of the pipette tip B via a second clamp 312, so that the pipette tip B aspirates and dispenses blood samples, wherein the second clamp is formed in a shape that allows the rear end of the pipette tip B to be pressed in and fixed.

[0141] For the blood aspiration / injection section 50 described above, in order to precisely adjust the aspiration and discharge volume of blood required for the examination, a conductive disposable pipette tip B can be used to apply a precision volume control technology within ±1.0% based on the change in conductivity. Alternatively, a pressure-type disposable pipette tip B can be used to apply a precision volume control technology based on the change in pressure.

[0142] On the other hand, regarding the blood aspiration / injection unit 50, when a blood sample is aspirated from the blood collection tube A (the sealing cap A1 is separated by the pretreatment unit 40) using the pipette tip B, in order to aspirate at a certain depth with the surface of the blood sample as a reference, the monitoring / control unit 80 controls the transfer actuator 32 to raise and lower the pipette tip B according to the height change of the blood sample contained in the blood collection tube A.

[0143] That is, according to the device 1 of the present invention, when mixing blood samples, the blood mixing unit 42 performs a first mixing and the blood aspiration / injection unit 50 performs a second mixing, thereby improving the accuracy of blood viscosity measurement by uniformly mixing the blood samples.

[0144] The viscosity measuring unit 60 is a structure in which a test kit C is mounted and transferred by the third clamp 313, and is capable of measuring the viscosity of a blood sample injected into the test kit C by the blood aspiration / injection unit 50.

[0145] like Figures 20 to 23 As shown, the viscosity measuring unit 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a channel module 61, a constant temperature holding unit 62, a viscosity measuring unit 63, a reagent kit detection sensor 64, a progress indicator light 65, and a vibration damping unit 66.

[0146] The aforementioned channel module 61 is a structure that allows the test kit C, which is held and transferred by the aforementioned third clamp 313, to be inserted in the vertical direction for installation.

[0147] In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel module 61 has a clamping interference prevention groove 611 formed at the center of its upper end to prevent interference from the third clamping device 313, and an elastic spring 612 is provided inside.

[0148] like Figure 23 As shown, the elastic spring 612 is a structure for elastically pressurizing the test kit C inserted into the channel module 61 in a direction that is in close contact with the side where the blood flow detection sensor 631 is located.

[0149] In one embodiment of the present invention, three elastic springs 612 are used to apply elastic pressure to the test kit C inserted into the channel module 61 in the direction of one end and one side where the blood flow detection sensor 631 is provided.

[0150] The structure of the elastic spring 612 ensures that the test kit C is as close as possible to the blood flow detection sensor 631, thereby minimizing measurement error.

[0151] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the channel modules 61 are configured as a plurality of channels to have a multi-channel structure, wherein the monitoring / control unit 80 is configured to control the transfer actuator 32 so that the test kit C, which is held and transferred by the third clamp 313, is sequentially installed in the empty channel modules 61 among the plurality of channel modules 61.

[0152] As an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 15 An example of configuring the above channel module 61 into 6 units is shown, but it is not limited to this.

[0153] Through the multi-channel structure of the channel module 61 described above, the device 1 according to the present invention can take into account the viscosity measurement time, which requires a lot of time, realize transfer sequence control, shorten the processing time of the device 1, and process multiple blood samples simultaneously.

[0154] The aforementioned constant temperature holding unit 62 is a structure that heats or cools the aforementioned test kit C so that the test kit C installed in the aforementioned channel module 61 can maintain a set temperature.

[0155] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned constant temperature holding unit 62 may include a temperature sensor 621, a heater 622, a cooling fan 623 and a temperature controller (not shown).

[0156] The temperature sensor 621 described above is a structure for detecting the temperature of the test kit C installed in the channel module 61 described above. The temperature detection part can be attached to the inner side of the channel module 61, but is not limited to this.

[0157] The heater 622 described above is a structure capable of heating the test kit C installed on the channel module 61. It may be composed of a patch-type U-shaped heater with a flexible structure and a shape that can cover both sides of the channel module 61, but is not limited to this.

[0158] The cooling fan 623 described above is a structure capable of cooling the test kit C installed in the channel module 61. It may be located on the side of the channel module 61, but is not limited thereto.

[0159] The temperature controller (not shown) is a structure that selectively operates the heater 622 or the cooling fan 623 so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 621 can be maintained at a set temperature similar to body temperature.

[0160] The temperature controller (not shown) can be provided as a separate structure in the viscosity measuring unit 60, or it can be configured to have its function performed by the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0161] The viscosity measuring unit 63 described above is a structure used to measure the viscosity of a blood sample injected into the test kit C described above.

[0162] In one embodiment of the present invention, the test kit C includes a U-shaped tube C1. When a blood sample is injected from the upper end of one side of the U-shaped tube C1, the injected blood sample can flow to the other side of the U-shaped tube C1 by means of the height difference.

[0163] Regarding the test kit C including the aforementioned U-shaped tube C1, the "Small Blood Viscosity Measurement Kit and Cartridge" disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-21-0087898 can be used.

[0164] In one embodiment of the present invention, the viscosity measuring unit 63 includes a blood flow detection sensor 631, which is disposed on one side of the channel module 61 and is used to detect the speed of the blood sample flowing to the other side of the U-shaped tube C1.

[0165] The blood flow detection sensor 631 described above may be based on a contact image sensor (CIS), but is not limited to it.

[0166] On the other hand, as described above, by means of the structure of the elastic spring 612 provided in the channel module 61, the test kit C is made to be as close as possible to the blood flow detection sensor 631, thereby minimizing measurement error.

[0167] The viscosity calculator (not shown) described above is a structure that calculates the viscosity of a blood sample by using the velocity of the blood sample detected by the blood flow detection sensor 631 described above.

[0168] That is, when the viscosity of the blood sample is high, the speed of the blood sample flowing into one side of the U-shaped tube C1 and flowing to the other side will decrease. The viscosity calculator (not shown) uses this phenomenon to calculate the viscosity of the blood sample by the speed of the blood sample flowing to the other side of the U-shaped tube C1.

[0169] The viscosity calculator (not shown) can be a separate component of the viscosity measuring unit 63, or it can be configured to have its function performed by the monitoring / control unit 80.

[0170] The above-mentioned reagent kit detection sensor 64 is a structure used to detect whether the above-mentioned test kit C is installed in the above-mentioned channel module 61.

[0171] The aforementioned progress indicator light 65 is a structure that can visually display the information detected by the aforementioned reagent kit detection sensor 64 and the progress of the measurement in the aforementioned channel module 61.

[0172] In one embodiment of the present invention, the process indicator light 65 is configured to illuminate light from the lower part to the upper part of the channel module 61, so that the user can instantly confirm the status of each of the plurality of channel modules 61 by means of the light emitted through the test kit C.

[0173] The vibration damping unit 66 is disposed at the lower part of the channel module 61 and is a structure used to attenuate the vibration transmitted to the channel module 61.

[0174] The aforementioned vibration damping unit 66 can be applied to multi-layer vibration damping structures, such as crystalline plates, square vibration damping pads, base plates, and circular vibration damping pads.

[0175] The aforementioned waste disposal unit 70 is a structure capable of disposing of used pipette tips B and test kits C.

[0176] In one embodiment of the present invention, the waste disposal unit 70 includes a waste drawer 71, which is slidably supported on the outer casing 10 so as to receive and accommodate the discarded pipette tip B and test kit C after being clamped and transferred to the designated waste location by the second and third clamps 312 and 313 inside the outer casing 10, and can be moved out of the outer casing 10 according to the user's operation.

[0177] The monitoring / control unit 80 controls the transfer actuator 32 to transfer the used pipette tip B and the test kit C to the waste disposal unit 70 using the second and third clamps 312 and 313, respectively.

[0178] The aforementioned monitoring / control unit 80 is a structure used for status confirmation and operation control of the aforementioned housing 10, input unit 20, transfer unit 30, pretreatment unit 40, blood aspiration / injection unit 50, viscosity measurement unit 60 and waste treatment unit 70.

[0179] As the externally exposed structure of the aforementioned monitoring / control unit 80, such as Figure 1 As shown, it may include a touch screen 81 capable of inputting and outputting information, a power button 82 capable of switching the power supply of device 1 on and off, an emergency stop switch 83 for emergency stop, and a tower light 84 for warning alarm.

[0180] On the other hand, the aforementioned monitoring / control unit 80 may be equipped with a computer (not shown) for calculation, state determination and control of the device 1.

[0181] Specifically, the monitoring / control unit 80 can control the door locking unit 13 according to the user's operation or the status of the device 1, thereby locking or opening the management door 12.

[0182] Furthermore, the monitoring / control unit 80 can control the first, second, and third drawer locking units 241, 242, and 243 according to the user's operation or the confirmed status of the device 1, thereby locking or opening the first, second, and third replacement drawers 211, 212, and 213.

[0183] In addition, the monitoring / control unit 80 may use the information detected by the first, second, and third tray detection sensors 251, 252, and 253 to determine the status of the device 1.

[0184] Furthermore, the aforementioned monitoring / control unit 80 can determine the status of the device based on the information detected by the aforementioned input detection sensor 27, according to the degree of measurement.

[0185] Furthermore, the monitoring / control unit 80 can control the transfer actuator 32 so that the blood collection tube A, which is held and transferred by the first clamp 311, is sequentially accommodated in the empty space of the multiple spaces in the pretreatment unit 40.

[0186] Furthermore, when a blood sample is drawn from a blood collection tube A, whose sealing cap A1 has been separated by the pretreatment unit 40, using the pipette tip B, the monitoring / control unit 80 controls the transfer actuator 32 to raise and lower the pipette tip B according to the height of the blood sample contained in the blood collection tube A in order to draw the blood sample at a certain depth with the surface of the blood sample as a reference.

[0187] Furthermore, when a blood sample is drawn from blood collection tube A (the sealing cap A1 is separated from the pretreatment unit 40) using the pipette tip B, the monitoring / control unit 80 controls the blood aspiration / injection unit 50 to repeatedly aspirate and dispense the sample in a mixed state in order to achieve this.

[0188] Furthermore, the monitoring / control unit 80 can control the transfer actuator 32 so that the test kit C, which is held and transferred by the third clamp 313, is sequentially installed in the empty channel module 61 among the plurality of channel modules 61.

[0189] Furthermore, the monitoring / control unit 80 can control the cap separation unit 43 to reverse its operation, re-tightening the sealing cap A1, which has been separated from the used blood collection tube A, onto the blood collection tube A; control the transfer actuator 32 to return the used blood collection tube A, which is in the state of re-tightening the sealing cap A1, to the first position P1 using the first clamp 311; and control the transfer actuator 32 to transfer the used pipette tip B and the test kit C to the waste disposal unit 70 respectively using the second and third clamps 312 and 313.

[0190] Furthermore, the monitoring / control unit 80 is configured to perform transfer sequence control on a single first, second, and third gripper 311, 312, 313 and transfer actuator 32 by taking into account the blood mixing time in the pretreatment unit 40 with a multi-space structure and the viscosity measurement time in the viscosity measurement unit 60 with a multi-channel structure, thereby enabling the automatic viscosity measurement of multiple blood samples in a short time.

[0191] Taking the transfer sequence control performed by the aforementioned monitoring / control unit 80 as an example, in the initial stage of driving the device 1, such as Figure 15As shown, the input detection sensor 27, which controls the movement of the transfer actuator 32, can detect the position and quantity of the blood collection tube A, pipette tip B, and test kit C placed at the first, second, and third positions P1, P2, and P3 respectively (first action).

[0192] After that, as Figure 12 As shown, the first clamp 311 is controlled to clamp the blood collection tube A located at the first position P1 (second action).

[0193] After that, as Figure 13 As shown, the second gripper 312 is controlled to grip the pipette tip B located at the second position P2 (third action).

[0194] After that, as Figure 16 As shown, the control moves the blood collection tube A, which is held by the first clamp 311, to the scanning position of the preprocessing unit 40, and obtains the blood collection tube information through the scanning unit 41 (fourth action).

[0195] After that, as Figure 17 As shown, the control moves the blood collection tube A, which is held by the first clamp 311, to the mixing position, so that the blood collection tube clamp 421 holds the main body of the blood collection tube A, and the mixing rotary motor 422 is operated to mix the blood through the blood mixing unit 42 (fifth action).

[0196] After that, as Figure 14 As shown, the third clamp 313 is controlled to clamp the test kit C located at the third position P3 and insert it into the channel unit 61 of the viscosity measurement unit 60 (sixth operation).

[0197] After that, as Figure 18 As shown, the control separates the sealing cap A1 from the blood collection tube A held by the blood collection tube clamp 421 via the cap separation unit 43 (seventh action).

[0198] After that, as Figure 19 As shown, the blood aspiration / injection unit 50 draws blood samples from the blood collection tube A (the sealing cap A1 is separated by the pretreatment unit 40) and injects them into the test kit C installed in the viscosity measurement unit 60 (eighth operation).

[0199] Then, the used pipette tip B is disposed of through the waste disposal unit 70 (ninth operation).

[0200] Then, the control cover separation unit 43 performs... Figure 18 The reverse operation of the sequence shown will re-tighten the sealing cap A1, which has been separated from the used blood collection tube A, onto the blood collection tube A, and use the first clamp 311 to return the used blood collection tube A, which is in the state of re-tightening the sealing cap A1, to the first position P1 (tenth operation).

[0201] Subsequently, in order to achieve viscosity measurements of other blood samples, the second to tenth actions described above were repeatedly performed.

[0202] On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, in order to utilize the pretreatment unit 40 with a multi-space structure, the second and fourth actions can be controlled to be performed during the execution of the second to tenth actions; and in order to utilize the viscosity measurement unit 60 with a multi-channel structure, the test kit C that has been used and whose viscosity measurement has been completed can be disposed of by the waste disposal unit 70 during the execution of the second to tenth actions.

[0203] The automatic blood viscosity measuring device described above and shown in the accompanying drawings is merely one embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation on the inventive concept. The scope of protection of the present invention is determined solely by the matters set forth in the claims. Any improvements and modifications made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, as long as they are obvious to those skilled in the art, are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A blood processing module for an automatic blood viscosity measuring device, comprising: The pretreatment unit is used to pretreat the blood collection tubes that are held by the first clamp and transferred by the transfer actuator in the blood viscosity measuring device. A blood aspiration / injection unit for aspirating and dispensing blood samples from pre-treated blood collection tubes in the pretreatment unit using a pipette tip held and transferred by a second gripper; and A monitoring / control unit is used for status confirmation and operational control of the pretreatment unit and the blood aspiration / injection unit. The preprocessing unit includes: A scanning unit for acquiring information about the blood collection tube; a blood mixing unit for mixing the blood sample contained in the blood collection tube; And a cap separation unit for separating the sealing cap from the blood collection tube. The scanning unit includes: A first rotary motor is used to rotate the blood collection tube, which is held by the first clamp and moved to a set scanning position, around the Z-axis as the rotation center by rotating the first clamp. as well as A blood collection tube scanner, configured at the scanning position, scans the blood collection tube that is rotated by the operation of the first rotary motor to obtain blood collection tube information marked on the blood collection tube.

2. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blood mixing unit includes: A blood collection tube clamp for holding the main body of a blood collection tube that has been clamped by the first clamp and moved to a designated mixing position; and A mixing rotary motor is used to rotate the blood collection tube clamp so that the blood collection tube held by the clamp rotates 360° around the X-axis or Y-axis as the rotation center, thereby mixing the blood sample.

3. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover separation unit includes: A cap clamp, which, while the main body of the blood collection tube is held by the blood collection tube clamp, is capable of holding the sealing cap screwed onto the upper end of the blood collection tube; and A cover rotation motor / actuator enables the cover clamp to rotate around the Z-axis while moving up and down.

4. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cover clip is replaced by the first clamp. The cover rotation motor / actuator is replaced by a combination of the first rotation motor and the transfer actuator.

5. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pretreatment section has a multi-space structure capable of accommodating at least two blood collection tubes and independently pretreating each of the blood collection tubes. The monitoring / control unit controls the transfer actuator so that the blood collection tubes held and transferred by the first clamp are sequentially accommodated in the empty spaces of the multiple spaces in the pretreatment unit.

6. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second clamp is shaped to press the rear end of the pipette tip into place. The blood aspiration / injection section includes a piston that is connected to the rear end of the pipette tip via the second clamp, so that the pipette tip can aspirate and dispense blood samples.

7. The automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 6, characterized in that, When a blood sample is drawn from a blood collection tube that has been separated from its sealed cap by the pretreatment section using the pipette tip, in order to draw the blood sample at a certain depth with reference to the surface of the blood sample, the monitoring / control unit controls the transfer brake to raise and lower the pipette tip according to the height of the blood sample contained in the blood collection tube.

8. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 6, characterized in that, When a blood sample is drawn from a blood collection tube that has been separated from its sealed cap by the pretreatment section using the pipette tip, the monitoring / control unit controls the blood aspiration / injection unit to repeatedly draw the blood and dispense it after a set number of times in order to ensure that the blood is drawn in a mixed state.

9. The blood processing module for the automatic blood viscosity measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blood processing module of the automatic blood viscosity measuring device also includes a waste disposal unit, which can dispose of used pipette tips. The monitoring / control unit reverses the rotation of the cap separation unit, re-tightening the sealing cap, which had been separated from the used blood collection tube, onto the blood collection tube. Furthermore, the transfer actuator is controlled to return the used blood collection tube, which is in the state of having its sealing cap re-tightened, to the first position using the first clamp. And control the transfer actuator to transfer the used pipette tip to the waste disposal section using the second gripper.

Images