A urine sample tube cap opening system

Abstract

The present application relates to a urine sample tube cap opening system, belonging to the technical field of medical detection equipment, solving one of the following technical problems existing in the prior art: aerosol diffusion is generated in the urine sample cap opening process; it is difficult to capture the instantaneous high-speed aerosol of the steady negative pressure during cap opening; aerosol is easy to escape during single negative pressure suction, and protection is not complete. The cap opening system comprises a cap opening mechanism and a biological safety protection unit, the cap opening mechanism is used for identifying the type of the urine tube cap and performing the cap opening operation, and the biological safety protection unit is used for preventing aerosol diffusion during cap opening. The cap opening system reduces the diffusion of aerosol during cap opening, reduces the risk of infection of the operator, and also reduces the biological pollution to the surrounding environment, ensuring the biological safety of the laboratory or detection operation site; moreover, the cap opening operation is carried out in a relatively closed, purified and sterile negative pressure environment, reducing the pollution of external factors to the urine sample.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical testing equipment technology, and in particular to a urine sample tube capping system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of medical testing standards, urine testing, as a crucial part of clinical diagnosis, has seen a growing demand for automated processing. Opening the urine sample tube is a critical step in urine pretreatment, directly impacting the efficiency and accuracy of subsequent tests. Currently, opening urine sample tubes mainly relies on manual operation or semi-automated equipment, resulting in low efficiency and high biosafety risks.

[0003] While various urine sample processing systems have attempted to automate the cap-opening process, existing technologies still exhibit significant shortcomings in biosafety. The cap-opening process generates aerosols that may carry pathogens, posing a biosafety risk to operators and the laboratory environment. However, current equipment generally lacks effective negative pressure isolation and filtration systems, failing to effectively prevent aerosol diffusion and thus increasing the risk of cross-contamination, impacting the safety and reliability of the testing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above analysis, the present invention aims to provide a urine sample tube opening system to solve one of the following technical problems existing in the prior art: aerosol diffusion is generated during the opening of urine samples; it is difficult to capture the instantaneous high-speed aerosol during steady-state negative pressure; aerosols are easy to escape during single negative pressure aspiration, resulting in incomplete protection.

[0005] The objective of this invention is mainly achieved through the following technical solutions: In a first aspect, a urine sample tube capping system is provided, comprising a capping mechanism and a biosafety protection unit, wherein the capping mechanism is used to identify the type of urine tube cap and perform the capping operation, and the biosafety protection unit is used to prevent aerosol diffusion during the capping process.

[0006] Furthermore, the cap-opening mechanism includes a wheeled gripper for gripping and releasing the urine sample cap.

[0007] Furthermore, the cap-opening mechanism also includes a rotary drive unit, which is connected to the wheeled gripper to provide rotational power for the cap-opening action.

[0008] Furthermore, the cap-opening mechanism also includes a force feedback component, which is used to monitor the resistance torque and vibration during the rotation process in real time.

[0009] Furthermore, the cap-opening mechanism also includes a cap-recovery device for recovering the urine tube cap.

[0010] Furthermore, the wheel clamp includes a clamp body, a first clamping wheel, and a second clamping wheel. Both the first clamping wheel and the second clamping wheel are rotatably mounted on the clamp body. The rotation drive unit is connected to the first clamping wheel or the second clamping wheel to drive the first clamping wheel or the second clamping wheel to rotate.

[0011] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a barcode recognition module, a urine volume recognition module, and a tubing type recognition module. The barcode recognition module is used to recognize the barcode of the urine sample tube, the urine volume recognition module is used to recognize the urine volume in the urine sample tube, and the tubing type recognition module is used to recognize the tubing type of the urine sample tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the urine sample tube to the cap-opening mechanism for cap-opening operation.

[0013] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a control device connected to the cap-opening mechanism to control the operation of the cap-opening mechanism, and the control device connected to the biosafety protection unit to control the start and stop of the biosafety protection unit.

[0014] The technical solution of this invention can achieve at least one of the following effects: (1) The urine sample tube opening system of the present invention includes an opening mechanism and a biosafety protection unit. The opening mechanism and biosafety protection unit reduce the diffusion of aerosols during the opening process, reduce the risk of infection of operators, and also reduce biological pollution to the surrounding environment, thus ensuring the biosafety of the laboratory or testing site. Moreover, the opening operation is carried out in a relatively closed, purified and sterile negative pressure environment, which reduces the contamination of urine samples by external factors and solves the technical problem of aerosol diffusion during the opening of urine samples.

[0015] (2) The urine sample tube opening system of the present invention forms a local high-speed negative pressure environment around the tube opening. The annular aerosol capture device can capture the source of aerosol pulse leakage at the moment, which solves the technical problem that it is difficult to capture high-speed aerosols at the moment of opening the cap under steady negative pressure. It changes the protection from post-dilution to pre-blocking, reduces the risk of aerosol spillage at the moment of opening the cap, and improves the reliability of biosafety protection.

[0016] (3) The urine sample tube opening system of the present invention forms a reverse blowing air curtain by combining the blowing chamber with the annular blowing port, pushing the aerosol that attempts to overflow back to the suction area. This structure works in conjunction with the suction chamber to achieve a combination of blowing and suction, making up for the escape gap that may exist in a single negative pressure, and solving the technical problem that aerosols are easy to escape and the protection is not thorough when suctioning under a single negative pressure.

[0017] In this invention, the above-described technical solutions can be combined with each other to achieve more preferred combinations. Other features and advantages of this invention will be set forth in the following description, and some advantages may become apparent from the description or be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of this invention can be realized and obtained from what is particularly pointed out in the description and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the urine sample tube capping system in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cap-opening mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the wheel clamp in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cap recycling device in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the annular aerosol capture device in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air intake chamber and air blowing chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure label: 1-Cap opening mechanism, 11-Wheel gripper, 111-Gripper body, 1111-Cap removal hole, 112-First gripping wheel, 113-Second gripping wheel, 114-Lifting frame, 12-Rotation drive unit, 13-Cap recycling device, 131-Drive motor, 132-Swing frame, 133-Cap suction cup, 14-Bracket, 141-Cap storage, 101-Rotating shaft; 2-Biosafety protection unit, 21-Negative pressure chamber, 22-HEPA filter device, 23-Ultraviolet module; 3-Annular aerosol capture device, 31-Annular cavity, 311-Inhalation chamber, 312-Blowing chamber, 313-Annular blowing port, 32-Annular suction groove. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of the present invention and are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to illustrate the principles of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0022] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments.

[0023] Example 1 Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a urine sample tube opening system, which aims to solve the technical problem of aerosol diffusion during the opening of urine samples.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the cap-opening system includes a cap-opening mechanism 1 and a biosafety protection unit 2. The cap-opening mechanism 1 is used to identify the type of urine catheter cap and perform the cap-opening operation. The biosafety protection unit 2 is used to prevent aerosol diffusion during the cap-opening process. The biosafety protection unit 2 includes a negative pressure chamber 21, a HEPA filter 22, and an ultraviolet module 23. The cap-opening mechanism 1 is set inside the negative pressure chamber 21 to obtain a negative pressure environment. The HEPA filter 22 is set inside the negative pressure chamber 21 to capture small particulate matter inside the negative pressure chamber 21. The ultraviolet module 23 is set inside the negative pressure chamber 21 to disinfect the environment inside the negative pressure chamber 21.

[0025] The cap-opening mechanism 1 calls the corresponding mechanical program (such as rotation direction, torque magnitude, gripping method, etc.) to unscrew or pull off the cap based on the identified cap type, replacing the traditional manual operation. The biosafety protection unit is used to prevent aerosols (containing potential pathogens) that may be generated during the cap-opening process from spreading to the external environment, ensuring the safety of operators and the environment.

[0026] Specifically, the negative pressure chamber 21 provides a relatively closed and negative pressure environment for the cap-opening mechanism 1. The negative pressure environment can prevent aerosols and other pollutants generated during the cap-opening process from spreading to the outside, keeping the pollutants inside the chamber, ensuring the safety of the operating environment, and reducing potential hazards to operators and the surrounding environment. For example, the negative pressure chamber 21 is made of transparent plexiglass, and a variable frequency fan is used to achieve a stable negative pressure environment to prevent aerosols generated during the cap-opening process from spreading outward. The HEPA filter 22 is used to capture small particulate matter inside the negative pressure chamber 21. In the actual cap-opening process, the aerosols and other pollutants generated contain a large number of small particles. The HEPA filter 22 can efficiently filter these particles, further purifying the air inside the negative pressure chamber and preventing pollutants from re-entering the environment. The ultraviolet module 23 uses the bactericidal effect of ultraviolet light to disinfect the environment inside the negative pressure chamber 21, which can kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may exist inside the negative pressure chamber 21, reduce the risk of biological contamination, and ensure that the entire cap-opening process is carried out in a relatively sterile environment.

[0027] In summary, by combining the negative pressure chamber 21, the HEPA filter 22, and the ultraviolet module 23, the diffusion of aerosols and the spread of microorganisms during the cap-opening process are reduced, lowering the risk of infection for operators and minimizing biological contamination of the surrounding environment, thus ensuring biosafety in the laboratory or testing site. Furthermore, performing the cap-opening operation in a relatively closed, purified, and sterile negative pressure environment reduces external contamination of urine samples, ensuring sample quality and stability, which is beneficial for subsequent accurate detection and analysis.

[0028] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the cap-opening mechanism includes a wheeled gripper 11, a rotary drive unit 12, a force feedback component, and a cap-retrieval device 13. The wheeled gripper 11 is used to grip and release the urine catheter cap, the rotary drive unit 12 is used to provide rotational power for the cap-opening action, the force feedback component is used to monitor the resistance torque and vibration during the rotation process in real time, and the cap-retrieval device 13 is used to retrieve the released urine catheter cap.

[0029] The wheeled gripper 11 can grasp and secure the urine tube cap, and after completing the opening action, it can release the urine tube cap for collection by the cap recovery device 13. The rotary drive unit 12 is used to drive the wheeled gripper 11 and the gripped urine tube cap to rotate, thereby realizing the cap-unscrewing operation from the urine tube. It should be noted that its rotation speed and torque can be adjusted according to different urine tube cap types and tightening degrees to adapt to various cap-unlocking needs. The force feedback component is used to monitor the resistance torque from the urine tube cap on the rotary drive unit 12 during the cap-unlocking process in real time. The cap recovery device 13 is used to collect the cap to prevent it from scattering in the working area.

[0030] For example, the main body of the wheel clamp 11 is made of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and lined with a medical-grade silicone elastic pad to provide a stable and flexible clamping contact surface. As an improvement, the wheel clamp 11 can adjust the clamping force in real time and automatically according to the actual shape and material of the sample cap to ensure that the clamping is firm and does not damage the cap.

[0031] The rotary drive unit 12 can be a servo motor. Specifically, the rotary drive unit 12 can be connected to the wheel clamp 11 through a reducer to achieve a smooth, low-vibration rotary motion and avoid violent shaking of the liquid in the sample tube during the opening process.

[0032] The force feedback component can be equipped with a torque sensor and a vibration sensor to monitor the dynamic resistance during the cap opening process in real time. The two work together to capture and feedback minute changes in the cap torque and abnormal vibration signals.

[0033] The cap recycling device 13 can adsorb and collect the unscrewed caps and unload them into the cap compartment 141 provided on the support 14.

[0034] The wheeled gripper 11 provides gripping and releasing functions, the rotary drive unit 12 provides rotational power, and the force feedback component monitors and adjusts the parameters in real time during the cap opening process. The three work together to effectively meet the cap opening requirements of different types of urine tube caps, improve the success rate of cap opening, and reduce sample waste and operation time extension caused by cap opening failure.

[0035] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the cap-opening mechanism 1 also includes a bracket 14, a wheeled clamp 11 is mounted on the bracket 14, and the bracket 14 is mounted inside the negative pressure chamber 21.

[0036] The bracket 14 serves as the load-bearing frame of the cap-opening mechanism, providing a mounting base for the wheel gripper 11 and other related components (such as parts of the drive unit).

[0037] Furthermore, in order to solve the technical problem of cap opening failure caused by unstable clamping or improper rotational power during the cap opening process, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the wheel clamp 11 includes a clamp body 111, a first clamping wheel 112 and a second clamping wheel 113. The first clamping wheel 112 and the second clamping wheel 113 are both rotatably mounted on the clamp body 111. A rotation drive unit 12 is connected to the first clamping wheel 112 or the second clamping wheel 113 to drive the first clamping wheel 112 or the second clamping wheel 113 to rotate.

[0038] The clamp body 111 is used for support and connection. As the basic structure of the entire wheel clamp 11, it provides installation positions and support for the first clamping wheel 112 and the second clamping wheel 113, ensuring that the two clamping wheels can be stably set in a specific position and maintain a relatively fixed spacing and angle relationship, providing a stable mechanical frame for subsequent clamping operations. The two clamping wheels cooperate with each other and clamp the cap by contacting the surface of the urine tube cap and using friction to clamp the cap. During the cap opening process, sufficient clamping force needs to be provided to ensure that the cap will not slip under the action of rotational force, while avoiding damage to the cap or urine tube due to excessive clamping force. Thus, through the cooperation of the two rotatable clamping wheels, adaptive adjustment can be made according to the shape and size of the urine tube cap, providing precise and stable clamping force. The rotation drive unit 12 provides precisely controlled rotational power to the clamping wheels, so that the cap opening action can be performed smoothly and accurately, improving the success rate and reliability of cap opening and reducing cap opening failures caused by unstable clamping or improper rotational power.

[0039] The clamp body 111 has a cap removal hole 1111. The cap retrieval device 13 removes the urine tube cap through the cap removal hole 1111 and delivers it into the cap compartment 141 set on the bracket 14.

[0040] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, both the first clamping wheel 112 and the second clamping wheel 113 include a rotating shaft 101. The rotation drive unit 12 drives the first clamping wheel 112 and / or the second clamping wheel 113 to rotate by driving the rotating shaft 101.

[0041] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the wheel clamp 11 also includes a lifting frame 114, which is vertically and flexibly mounted on the bracket 14.

[0042] The lifting frame 114 is used to achieve precise positioning and motion control of the wheeled gripper 11 in the vertical direction. As a movable part connecting the wheeled gripper 11 and the bracket 14, the lifting frame 114 descends to a suitable height before opening the cap, so that the wheeled gripper 11 can accurately grab the sample tube cap located at the fixed work position. After opening the cap, the lifting frame 114 carries the wheeled gripper 11 holding the loosened tube cap to the preset cap removal position, creating accurate spatial docking conditions for the subsequent cap recovery operation.

[0043] Specifically, the lifting action of the lifting frame 114 can be achieved by converting rotational power into linear power through a ball screw or synchronous belt under the control of the control system via a servo motor.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, the cap recycling device 13 includes a drive motor 131, a swing frame 132, and a cap suction cup 133. The swing frame 132 is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 131 and swings with the rotation of the output shaft. The cap suction cup 133 is mounted on the swing frame 132 and is used to adsorb the top of the cap and disengage from the wheel clamp 11 by the swing of the swing frame 132.

[0045] The drive motor 131 provides the swing power, the swing frame 132 converts the rotational motion into an arc-shaped swing trajectory, and the cap suction cup 133 adsorbs the top of the cap to achieve non-destructive gripping. For example, the cap suction cup 133 can use vacuum adsorption or electromagnetic adsorption. The three work together to make the cap smoothly detach from the wheel holder 11 during the swing and move it to the recycling position, realizing the automatic collection of the cap, reducing the risk of contamination from manual contact and the risk of cap scattering, and improving recycling efficiency and safety.

[0046] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a barcode recognition module, a urine volume recognition module, and a tubing type recognition module. The barcode recognition module is used to recognize the barcode on the urine sample tube, the urine volume recognition module is used to recognize the amount of urine in the urine sample tube, and the tubing type recognition module is used to recognize the tubing type of the urine sample tube.

[0047] Before opening the cap, the barcode recognition module, urine volume recognition module, and tubing type recognition module capture the identity, quality, and three-dimensional information of the container for the same urine sample. The barcode recognition module reads and decodes the one-dimensional / two-dimensional barcode on the tube body using a high-speed image-based barcode reader, and compares the sample ID with the LIS system in real time to reduce false detections and missed detections. The urine volume recognition module uses a low-position time-of-flight (ToF) camera or infrared beam array to measure the liquid level non-contactly and calculate the actual urine volume. When the urine volume is lower or higher than a set threshold, it immediately issues an alarm for low volume or overflow to prevent detection failure and contamination caused by insufficient sample or aerosol overflow. The tubing type recognition module is based on a lateral contour scanning camera combined with a deep learning classification network to output tubing type codes such as skirtless conical bottom, skirted flat bottom, and urine culture screw port.

[0048] During the actual testing process, when the urine sample tube is delivered to or located at the cap-opening station, the barcode recognition module automatically scans and reads the barcode information on the tube. The read barcode data communicates and interfaces with the Laboratory Information System (LIS). The system associates the sample tube with its electronic application form (containing patient information, test items, etc.) in the LIS database. After successful identification and verification, the system sends a "sample is in place, ready to be capped" status back to the LIS. At the same time, it also obtains the subsequent processing instructions for the sample from the LIS.

[0049] The urine volume recognition module automatically measures the urine volume before the sample cap is opened and compares and interfaces this data with the minimum requirements of the preset test items in the Laboratory Information System (LIS) in real time. This enables automated initial screening and intelligent decision-making for sample quality before testing. Based on the comparison results, the system automatically generates a pass or reject status command and uploads it to the LIS, thereby directly determining the subsequent process of the sample. In this way, unqualified samples are intercepted at the source, avoiding the waste of reagents and machine time.

[0050] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a delivery mechanism for transporting the urine sample tube to the cap-opening mechanism for cap-opening operation.

[0051] The conveying mechanism is used to transport urine sample tubes to the capping mechanism, enabling the capping mechanism to perform the capping operation on the urine sample tubes. The conveying mechanism works in conjunction with the capping mechanism to achieve automatic feeding of urine sample tubes and ensure that the capping operation is carried out continuously.

[0052] Specifically, the conveying mechanism can be either a track-type or a six-axis robotic arm-type conveying mechanism, depending on the laboratory's needs.

[0053] Furthermore, the cap-opening system also includes a control device connected to the cap-opening mechanism to control the operation of the cap-opening mechanism, and the control device connected to the biosafety protection unit to control the start and stop of the biosafety protection unit.

[0054] The control device is electrically connected to both the cap-opening mechanism and the biosafety protection unit. It sends action commands to the cap-opening mechanism to control its clamping, rotation, cap-opening, and retrieval processes. At the same time, it sends start / stop signals to the biosafety protection unit to activate or deactivate the negative pressure, HEPA filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection according to a set sequence. Through the unified commands of the control device, the cap-opening mechanism and the biosafety protection unit are linked. Before cap opening, the negative pressure and filtration are activated first, and after cap opening, ultraviolet disinfection is activated in a timely manner. The entire cap-opening process is completed in a controlled negative pressure and sterile environment, preventing aerosol leakage and reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

[0055] During the actual cap-opening process, the delivery mechanism transports the urine sample from the placement area to the cap-opening mechanism; the cap-opening mechanism performs the cap-opening operation; the biosafety protection unit handles the aerosol; and the delivered sample is then transported to the urine analysis instrument via the delivery mechanism.

[0056] First, the sample is automatically located and transported from its initial placement position to the capping station. Then, the physical capping action is performed; the system can sense and adjust the force and strategy of cap rotation in real time. Next, biosafety measures are implemented; this unit can immediately capture and process any harmful aerosols that may be generated during capping, preventing the spread of potential biological contamination. Finally, the capped sample is automatically handed over and transported.

[0057] As a result, not only has the throughput and efficiency of sample processing been greatly improved through full-process automation, but the risk of biological contamination during operation has also been completely eliminated through professional biosafety protection units, thereby improving the overall quality, safety and standardization of the urine sample pretreatment process.

[0058] Example 2 Embodiment 2 of the present invention is a further improvement based on Embodiment 1, aiming to solve the technical problem of difficulty in capturing high-speed aerosols instantaneously when the cap is opened under steady-state negative pressure.

[0059] In existing automated urine sample tube opening systems, biosafety protection typically relies on a negative pressure chamber to achieve steady-state protection. However, the inventors discovered that a high-speed pulsed aerosol jet (initial velocity reaching 3-5 m / s) is generated at the moment of opening, especially when the cap seal detaches from the tube opening, while the steady-state negative pressure airflow velocity is only 0.3-0.8 m / s, resulting in a significant order-of-magnitude mismatch. Traditional protection methods cannot capture this pulsed leakage at its source during opening, leading to the risk of aerosol spillage.

[0060] like Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the cap-opening system also includes an annular aerosol capturing device 3, which is installed on the clamp body 111 and is used to create a local high-speed negative pressure environment around the pipe opening during the cap-opening process, so as to capture aerosols from the source at the moment of aerosol pulse leakage.

[0061] By creating a localized high-speed negative pressure environment around the pipe opening, the annular aerosol capture device 3 can capture aerosols at the source during pulse-like leaks, solving the technical problem of difficulty in capturing high-speed aerosols at the moment the cap is opened under steady-state negative pressure. This device transforms protection from post-dilution to pre-emptive blocking, reducing the risk of aerosol spillage at the moment the cap is opened and improving the reliability of biosafety protection.

[0062] Specifically, such as Figure 6 As shown, the annular aerosol capture device 3 includes an annular cavity 31 and an annular suction groove 32. The annular cavity 31 is connected to a negative pressure source to provide a negative pressure suction space. The annular suction groove 32 is opened on the side of the annular cavity 31 facing the pipe opening to transfer the negative pressure in the annular cavity 31 to the pipe opening area and form a high-speed suction airflow around the pipe opening.

[0063] The annular cavity 31 provides a concentrated suction space for negative pressure, while the annular suction groove 32 accurately transmits the negative pressure to the pipe opening area, forming a high-speed suction airflow at the leakage source point. This structure transforms the negative pressure effect from overall dilution of the cavity to localized strong capture at the pipe opening. The airflow velocity can be matched with the initial velocity of the aerosol jet, thereby achieving source interception at the moment the cap is opened, solving the protection loophole problem caused by low steady-state negative pressure velocity and capture lag.

[0064] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the annular cavity 31 includes an air intake cavity 311, which is connected to the annular air intake groove 32 to generate a negative pressure suction airflow.

[0065] The suction chamber 311 is connected to the annular suction groove 32, so that the negative pressure is concentrated on the leakage source point of the pipe opening and the pressure is avoided. This structure ensures that the high-speed suction airflow is formed instantaneously and the pulsed aerosol is intercepted from the source.

[0066] Example 3 Embodiment 3 of the present invention is a further improvement based on Embodiment 2, aiming to solve the technical problem that aerosols are easy to escape and the protection is not thorough when using single negative pressure suction.

[0067] like Figure 6 As shown, the annular cavity 31 also includes a blowing chamber 312 and an annular blowing port 313. The blowing chamber 312 is connected to a positive pressure source, and the annular blowing port 313 is provided on the side of the blowing chamber 312 facing away from the pipe opening, which is used to form a purge air curtain around the pipe opening to bounce the outward-escaping aerosol back to the suction direction.

[0068] When the annular aerosol capture device 3 is activated, the negative pressure source forms a high-speed suction airflow in the pipe opening area through the suction chamber 311 and the annular suction groove 32. Simultaneously, the positive pressure source generates an outward-sloping or downward-sloping purge airflow through the blowing chamber 312 and the annular blowing port 313. This purge airflow forms an air curtain barrier above the pipe opening, rebounding aerosol particles attempting to escape back into the suction direction, causing them to be recaptured by the annular suction groove 32. The blowing chamber 312, in conjunction with the annular blowing port 313, forms a reverse purge air curtain, pushing aerosols attempting to overflow back into the suction area. This structure, in conjunction with the suction chamber 311, achieves a combined blowing and suction effect, compensating for any escape gaps that might exist with a single negative pressure.

[0069] The combination of blowing chamber 312 and annular blowing port 313 achieves a dual protection mechanism of blowing and suction: the suction chamber 311 is responsible for active suction at the source, while the blowing chamber 312 is responsible for intercepting escaped particles and pushing them back to the suction area. This structure compensates for the escape gaps that may occur during single negative pressure suction due to airflow velocity attenuation or direction mismatch, further reducing the risk of aerosol leakage during cap opening and improving the reliability of biosafety protection.

[0070] To address the technical issue of secondary contamination of samples and the cavity environment caused by purge gas, the positive pressure source includes an air pump and a high-efficiency air filter or sterilization-grade filter connected in series in the outlet pipeline. The high-efficiency air filter is used to filter microbial particles in the air source.

[0071] By connecting a high-efficiency air filter or a sterile filter in series on the positive pressure source outlet pipe, microbial particles in the air source can be effectively filtered out, ensuring that the purge air curtain reaches a sterile level. This avoids contamination of open body fluid samples or negative pressure chamber environments due to unclean purge gas, preventing cross-infection and deviations in test results.

[0072] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A urine sample tube capping system, characterized in that, It includes a cap-opening mechanism (1) and a biosafety protection unit (2). The cap-opening mechanism (1) is used to identify the type of urine tube cap and perform the cap-opening operation. The biosafety protection unit (2) is used to prevent aerosol diffusion during the cap-opening process.

2. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cap-opening mechanism (1) includes a wheeled gripper (11) for gripping and releasing the urine sample cap.

3. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cap-opening mechanism (1) further includes a rotary drive unit (12), which is connected to the wheel clamp (11) to provide rotational power for the cap-opening action.

4. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cap-opening mechanism (1) also includes a force feedback component, which is used to monitor the resistance torque and vibration during the rotation process in real time.

5. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cap-opening mechanism (1) further includes a cap-recovery device (13) for recovering the urine tube cap.

6. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The wheel clamp (11) includes a clamp body (111), a first clamping wheel (112) and a second clamping wheel (113). The first clamping wheel (112) and the second clamping wheel (113) are rotatably mounted on the clamp body (111). The rotation drive unit (12) is connected to the first clamping wheel (112) or the second clamping wheel (113) to drive the first clamping wheel (112) or the second clamping wheel (113) to rotate.

7. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cap-opening system also includes a tube type recognition module, which is used to identify the tube type of the urine sample tube.

8. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cap-opening system also includes a barcode recognition module and a urine volume recognition module. The barcode recognition module is used to recognize the barcode of the urine sample tube, and the urine volume recognition module is used to recognize the amount of urine in the urine sample tube.

9. The urine sample tube capping system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cap-opening system also includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the urine sample tube to the cap-opening mechanism (1) for cap-opening operation.

10. The urine sample tube capping system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, It also includes a control device connected to the cap-opening mechanism (1) to control the operation of the cap-opening mechanism (1), and the control device is also connected to the biosafety protection unit (2) to control the start and stop of the biosafety protection unit (2).

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