Cleaning swab

Abstract

A cleaning swab comprises N containing parts, N is larger than or equal to 2, each containing part is provided with a cleaning cavity, each containing part is further provided with a liquid inlet hole and a liquid outlet hole, and the liquid inlet hole and the liquid outlet hole are communicated with the cleaning cavity. The input part is provided with a liquid inlet connector and used for being connected with a first power source and inputting cleaning liquid into the cleaning swab; the input flow channel is connected between the liquid inlet connector and the liquid inlet holes of the N containing parts; the output part is provided with a liquid outlet connector and used for being connected with a second power source and outputting the cleaning liquid from the cleaning swab; and the output flow channel is connected between the liquid outlet holes and the liquid outlet interfaces of the N accommodating parts. According to the cleaning swab, on the premise that the number of devices such as a power source is not increased, parallel and simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of the multiple sampling needles is supported, the system cost and the cleaning cost are reduced, and the space in the cleaning swab is more compact.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a cleaning swab for cleaning a sampling needle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In medical instruments, after the sampling needle is in contact with liquid such as sample and reagent, the outer wall of the sampling needle will inevitably have residual liquid. If the cleaning is not thorough, cross contamination will be caused, which will adversely affect the test results. At the same time, the cleaning process should save the amount of cleaning liquid and shorten the cleaning time as much as possible.

[0003] A cleaning swab structure is provided, which can move relative to the sampling needle and has a liquid inlet connected to a first power source and a liquid outlet connected to a second power source. The cleaning liquid enters the local space between the swab and the outer wall of the sampling needle through the liquid inlet, and then leaves through the liquid outlet, completing the cleaning of the local outer wall. In combination with the up and down movement of the swab relative to the sampling needle, the cleaning of the entire outer wall is finally completed. However, this cleaning swab has only one cleaning channel, which only supports the cleaning of the outer wall of one sampling needle, and cannot simultaneously clean the outer walls of two or more sampling needles. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a cleaning swab, comprising:

[0005] N receiving portions, wherein N≥2, each of the receiving portions is provided with a cleaning cavity, and each of the receiving portions is further provided with a liquid inlet hole and a liquid outlet hole, the liquid inlet hole and the liquid outlet hole respectively communicating with the cleaning cavity;

[0006] an input portion provided with a liquid inlet interface for connecting a first power source and inputting cleaning liquid to the cleaning swab;

[0007] an input flow channel connected between the liquid inlet interface and the liquid inlet holes of the N receiving portions;

[0008] an output portion provided with a liquid outlet interface for connecting a second power source and outputting cleaning liquid from the cleaning swab; and

[0009] an output flow channel connected between the liquid outlet holes of the N receiving portions and the liquid outlet interface.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the receiving portion includes opposite top and bottom ends, and the direction along the top end pointing to the bottom end is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the cleaning cavity extends through the top end and along the longitudinal direction.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, in each of the receiving portions, along the longitudinal direction, the liquid outlet hole is located between the top end and the liquid inlet hole.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the cleaning cavity comprises, in sequence along the longitudinal direction, a first sub-cavity, a second sub-cavity, and a third sub-cavity, the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity, and the third sub-cavity having different inner diameters.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the inner diameter of the first sub-cavity < the inner diameter of the second sub-cavity < the inner diameter of the third sub-cavity.

[0014] In at least one embodiment, the liquid outlet hole directly communicates with the first sub-cavity, and the liquid inlet hole directly communicates with the third sub-cavity.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, in each of the accommodation portions, the projection of the liquid inlet hole and the liquid outlet hole along the longitudinal direction does not overlap.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the input flow channel comprises a flow channel structure divided into N parts, and through one or at least two times of step-by-step branching, the final branch is N first branch flow channels, and the N first branch flow channels are connected one by one with the cleaning cavities of the N accommodation portions.

[0017] The output flow channel is a flow channel structure divided into N parts, and through one or at least two times of step-by-step branching, the final branch is N second branch flow channels, and the N second branch flow channels are connected one by one with the cleaning cavities of the N accommodation portions.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, each of the accommodation portions is provided with two liquid inlet holes, and the two liquid inlet holes are oppositely spaced.

[0019] The input flow channel further comprises 2N sub-flow channels, each of the first branch flow channels is connected with two sub-flow channels, and the two sub-flow channels are connected one by one with the two liquid inlet holes of the same accommodation portion.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, the N first branch flow channels have the same flow resistance, and the N second branch flow channels have the same flow resistance.

[0021] The cleaning swab of the present application is provided with N accommodation portions, each of which can place a sampling needle, an input flow channel of a flow channel structure divided into N parts is further provided, which is used for dividing the cleaning liquid of a single inlet into N streams, an output flow channel of a flow channel structure divided into N parts is further provided, which is used for converging the N streams of liquid flow to a single outlet, so that the parallel and simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of multiple sampling needles can be supported without increasing the number of power sources and other devices, the system cost and the cleaning cost are reduced, and the space in the cleaning swab is more compact. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional schematic view of the cleaning swab of the embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 2 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a cleaning swab according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cross-section along line A-A of the cleaning swab of Figure 1.

[0024] Figure 3 Figure 3 is a schematic view of a cross-section along line B-B of the cleaning swab of Figure 1. Figure 1 Figure 4 is a schematic view of a cross-section along line C-C of the cleaning swab of Figure 1.

[0025] Figure 4 Figure 5 is a schematic view of a cross-section along line D-D of the cleaning swab of Figure 1. Figure 1 Figure 6 is a schematic view of a cross-section along line E-E of the cleaning swab of Figure 1.

[0026] Figure 5 Figure 7 is a schematic view of four flow channel structures of a cleaning swab according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Explanation of main component symbols

[0028] Cleaning swab 100, housing 10, cleaning cavity 101, liquid inlet hole 102,

[0029] Liquid outlet hole 103, input portion 20, output portion 30, liquid inlet interface 21,

[0030] Liquid outlet interface 31, input flow channel 50, output flow channel 60, top end 11,

[0031] Bottom end 13, first input end 510, first output end 520, second input end 610,

[0032] Second output end 620, first-stage flow channel 51, 61, second-stage flow channel 52, 62,

[0033] Third-stage flow channel 53, 63, sub-flow channel 54, frame body 80. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present application provides a cleaning swab for cleaning sampling needles in medical equipment. Compared with existing single-channel cleaning swabs, the cleaning swab of the present application can support simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of two or more sampling needles without increasing the number of power sources and other devices, thereby improving cleaning efficiency without significantly increasing system cost and cleaning cost, and making the space in the cleaning swab more compact.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 1The cleaning swab 100 of the embodiment of the present application comprises N containing portions 10, where N≥2. Each containing portion 10 is provided with a cleaning cavity 101, and each cleaning cavity 101 is used to place a sampling needle (not shown in the figure) for cleaning. The cleaning swab of the present application can support the simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of N sampling needles. The embodiment of the present application will be described taking N=4, i.e. the cleaning swab 100 comprises four containing portions 10. Each containing portion 10 is further provided with a liquid inlet hole 102 and a liquid outlet hole 103, which respectively communicate with the cleaning cavity 101. The cleaning cavity 101 inputs cleaning liquid through the liquid inlet hole 102 and discharges waste liquid of the cleaning liquid through the liquid outlet hole 103.

[0036] The cleaning swab 100 further comprises an input portion 20 and an output portion 30. The input portion 20 is provided with a liquid inlet interface 21. The output portion 30 is provided with a liquid outlet interface 31. The input portion 20 is used to be connected with a first power source (not shown in the figure) and a cleaning liquid container (not shown in the figure) to input cleaning liquid to the liquid inlet interface 21. The liquid outlet interface 31 is used to be connected with a second power source (not shown in the figure) and a waste liquid container (not shown in the figure) to discharge cleaning liquid to the liquid outlet interface 31. The first power source and the second power source can be water pumps, but are not limited thereto.

[0037] The cleaning swab 100 further comprises an input flow channel 50 and an output flow channel 60. The input flow channel 50 is connected between the input portion 20 and the N containing portions 10. The output flow channel 60 is connected between the output portion 30 and the N containing portions 10.

[0038] The input flow channel 50 is a flow channel structure divided into N parts, which can divide the cleaning liquid of a single inlet into N streams. In combination with reference to Figure 2 , the input flow channel 50 comprises a first input end 510 and N first output ends 520. The first input end 510 is connected to the liquid inlet interface 21. The N first output ends 520 are connected to the cleaning cavities 101 of the N containing portions 10 one by one, and each first output end 520 is connected to the liquid inlet hole 102 of one containing portion 10.

[0039] The output flow channel 60 is a flow channel structure divided into N parts, which can converge the N streams of cleaning liquid to a single outlet. In combination with reference to Figure 3 , the output flow channel 60 comprises N second input ends 610 and a second output end 620. The N second input ends 610 are connected to the cleaning cavities 101 of the N containing portions 10 one by one, and each second input end 610 is connected to the liquid outlet hole 103 of one containing portion 10. The second output end 620 is connected to the liquid outlet interface 31.

[0040] As Figure 1As shown, the receiving portion 10 is generally cylindrical, including an opposing top end 11 and a bottom end 13. The direction from the top end 11 to the bottom end 13 is defined as longitudinal. The cleaning chamber 101 passes through the top end 11 and extends longitudinally. A sampling needle can be inserted into the cleaning chamber 101 from the side where the top end 11 of the receiving portion 10 is located.

[0041] In each receiving section 10, along the longitudinal direction, an outlet hole 103 is located between the top end 11 and the inlet hole 102. The height of the inlet hole 102 along the longitudinal direction is lower than the height of the outlet hole 103, that is, the outlet hole 103 is located above the inlet hole 102. In some other embodiments, the height of the inlet hole 102 along the longitudinal direction may also be higher than the height of the outlet hole 103, that is, the outlet hole 103 is located below the inlet hole 102. With this arrangement, the input flow channel 50 connecting the inlet hole 102 and the output flow channel 60 connecting the outlet hole 103 can be arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the input flow channel 50 is located on a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the output flow channel 60 is located on another horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown in this embodiment, the inner diameter of the longitudinal cleaning chamber 101 is not a constant value. The cleaning chamber 101 includes a first sub-groove 105, a second sub-groove 106, and a third sub-groove 107 connected sequentially along the longitudinal direction. The first sub-groove 105, the second sub-groove 106, and the third sub-groove 107 each have different inner diameters, wherein the inner diameter of the first sub-groove 105 < the inner diameter of the second sub-groove 106 < the inner diameter of the third sub-groove 107. The inner diameter of the cleaning chamber 101 gradually increases along the longitudinal direction towards the bottom end 13. The purpose of this arrangement is mainly to prevent the reagent on the outer wall of the sampling needle from contaminating the lower part of the cleaning chamber 101 (i.e., the position near the third sub-groove 107) when the receiving part 10 moves from top to bottom relative to the sampling needle, thus avoiding cross-contamination.

[0043] In this embodiment, the liquid outlet 103 is directly connected to the first sub-slot 105, and the liquid inlet 102 is directly connected to the third sub-slot 107, but this is not a limitation.

[0044] In each receiving section 10, the longitudinal projections of the inlet hole 102 and the outlet hole 103 do not overlap. The staggered angles of the inlet hole 102 and the outlet hole 103 effectively prevent the cleaning liquid from flowing only along one side of the outer wall of the sampling needle. In this way, the cleaning liquid can flow from multiple directions on the outer wall of the sampling needle, making the cleaning of the sampling needle more thorough.

[0045] In this embodiment, the cleaning swab 100 includes four receiving portions 10, such as... Figure 2As shown, the input flow channel 50 includes, in sequence, a first stage flow channel 51, two second stage flow channels 52, and four third stage flow channels 53, starting from the position of the liquid inlet interface 21. The first stage flow channel 51 includes opposite two ends, one of which is connected to the liquid inlet interface 21, and the other of which is connected to the two second stage flow channels 52. Each second stage flow channel 52 includes opposite two ends, one of which is connected to the first stage flow channel 51, and the other of which is connected to the two third stage flow channels 53. The four third stage flow channels 53 are respectively connected to one containing portion 10.

[0046] In the embodiment of the present application, each containing portion 10 is provided with two liquid inlet holes 102, and the two liquid inlet holes 102 are oppositely spaced. By providing two liquid inlet holes 102 for each containing portion 10, when the sampling needle is located in the cleaning cavity 101, the cleaning liquid can flush the outer wall of the sampling needle from two different directions of the containing portion 10, avoiding the situation that only one side of the sampling needle is flushed by the cleaning liquid, thereby effectively improving the flushing effect of the sampling needle.

[0047] Correspondingly, in order to cooperate with the two liquid inlet holes 102 of each containing portion 10, as shown in Figure 2 As shown, the input flow channel 50 further includes a sub-flow channel 54. Each third stage flow channel 53 includes opposite two ends, one of which is connected to the second stage flow channel 52, and the other of which is branched to connect two sub-flow channels 54. The input flow channel 50 includes eight sub-flow channels 54, and the sub-flow channel 54 corresponds to the fourth stage flow channel of the input flow channel 50. Each sub-flow channel 54 includes opposite two ends, one of which is connected to the third stage flow channel 53, and the other of which is connected to one liquid inlet hole 102 of one corresponding containing portion 10. In this way, the two sub-flow channels 54 connected to the same third stage flow channel 53 one-to-one correspond to the two liquid inlet holes 102 of the same containing portion 10. As shown in Figure 2 As shown, the two sub-flow channels 54 connected to the same third stage flow channel 53 form a semicircle that partially surrounds the containing portion 10.

[0048] In this way, the cleaning liquid from the liquid inlet interface 21 first enters the first stage flow channel 51, then enters the two second stage flow channels 52, then enters the four third stage flow channels 53, then enters the eight sub-flow channels 54, and finally enters the cleaning cavities 101 of the four containing portions 10.

[0049] In the present application, the number of liquid inlet holes 102 provided for each containing portion 10 is not limited to one or two, but can also be three, or four or more, for which only the number of sub-flow channels 54 connected to each third stage flow channel 53 needs to be correspondingly increased, and the number of sub-flow channels 54 connected to each third stage flow channel 53 is equal to the number of liquid inlet holes 102 provided for each containing portion 10.

[0050] In summary, in this application, for each of the N receiving sections 10, the input channel 50 is a channel structure divided into N. Specifically, starting from the position where the input channel 50 is connected to the liquid inlet interface 21, it branches once or at least twice in successive stages, eventually branching into N first branch channels. Since each receiving section 10 is provided with two liquid inlet holes 102, each of the N first branch channels further branches and connects to two sub-channels, and the two sub-channels are respectively connected to the two liquid inlet holes 102 of the same receiving section 10.

[0051] It should be noted that in order to ensure the consistency of flow resistance at each stage of the flow channel, the length and inner diameter of each stage of the flow channel are equal. For example, the two second-stage flow channels 52 have equal length and inner diameter, the four third-stage flow channels 53 have equal length and inner diameter, and the eight sub-flow channels 54 have equal length and inner diameter.

[0052] like Figure 3 As shown, starting from the liquid outlet 31, the output flow channel 60 includes a first-stage flow channel 61, two second-stage flow channels 62, and four third-stage flow channels 63 connected sequentially. The first-stage flow channel 61 has two opposite ends, one connected to the liquid outlet 31, and the other branching to connect to the two second-stage flow channels 62. Each second-stage flow channel 62 has two opposite ends, one connected to the first-stage flow channel 61, and the other branching to connect to the two third-stage flow channels 63. The four third-stage flow channels 63 are each connected to a receiving section 10. Each third-stage flow channel 63 has two opposite ends, one connected to the second-stage flow channel 62, and the other connected to the liquid outlet 103 of the corresponding receiving section 10.

[0053] Thus, the cleaning fluid from the four containment sections 10 first enters the four third-stage flow channels 63, then enters the two second-stage flow channels 62, then converges into the first-stage flow channel 61, and finally flows out from the liquid outlet 31 of the output section 30.

[0054] It should be noted that, in order to ensure the consistency of flow resistance, the length and inner diameter of each stage of the output flow channel 60 are equal. For example, the two second-stage flow channels 62 have equal length and inner diameter, and the four third-stage flow channels 63 have equal length and inner diameter.

[0055] In summary, in this application, for each of the N containment sections 10, the output channel 60 is a channel structure divided into N. Specifically, starting from the position connected to the liquid outlet interface 31, it branches once or at least twice, and finally branches into N second branch channels. Each second branch channel is connected to the liquid outlet hole 103 of one containment section 10.

[0056] It is understood that the structure of the input channel 50 is not limited to the embodiments of this application. Figure 2The input flow channel structure is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and can be other structures as long as it is a one-to-N flow channel structure, N ≥ 2. Figure 5 The four schematic diagrams of the one-to-N flow channel structure are shown in FIG. 1. Figure 5 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1, the flow channel structure includes a first flow channel 51 and four second flow channels 52 connected to the first flow channel 51 in sequence along the extension direction of the first flow channel 51, and the four second flow channels 52 are located on the same side of the first flow channel 51. Figure 5 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1, the flow channel structure includes a first flow channel 51, two second flow channels 52 connected to the first flow channel 51, and four third flow channels 53 connected to each second flow channel. Figure 5 As shown in (c) of FIG. 1, the flow channel structure includes eight first flow channels 51 distributed in a cross shape. Figure 5 As shown in (d) of FIG. 1, the flow channel structure includes a first flow channel 51 and four second flow channels 52 connected to the first flow channel 51, and the four second flow channels 52 are located on opposite sides of the first flow channel 51.

[0057] Similarly, the structure of the output flow channel 60 is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and can be other structures as long as it is a one-to-N flow channel structure, N ≥ 2. Figure 3 As shown in the drawings, as long as it is a one-to-N flow channel structure, the specific structure can be understood with reference to the description of the input flow channel structure. Figure 5 As shown in the drawings, as long as it is a one-to-N flow channel structure, the specific structure can be understood with reference to the description of the input flow channel structure. Figure 5 As shown in the drawings, as long as it is a one-to-N flow channel structure, the specific structure can be understood with reference to the description of the input flow channel structure.

[0058] The cleaning swab 100 can further include a frame 80, and the input flow channel 50 and the output flow channel 60 are arranged inside the frame 80, and at least part of the receiving part 10, the input part 20, and the output part 30 protrude outside the frame 80.

[0059] When the cleaning swab 100 of the present application works, N sampling needles are moved one by one into the cleaning cavities 101 of the N receiving parts 10 through a transmission mechanism (not shown in the drawings), and the needle tips of the sampling needles are located on the same horizontal plane as the liquid inlet holes 102 of the cleaning cavities 101 along the longitudinal direction downward. After the sampling needles are moved into position, the first power source connected to the liquid inlet interface 21 and the second power source connected to the liquid outlet interface 31 are turned on, and the cleaning liquid will be injected from the liquid inlet interface 21 into the input flow channel 50, and then split into N cleaning liquid streams to flush the local outer wall of the N sampling needles. Subsequently, the cleaning liquid in the N cleaning cavities 101 will be collected into a cleaning liquid stream through the output flow channel 60, and then leave through the liquid outlet interface 31, thereby taking away the samples or reagents remaining on the local outer wall of the sampling needles. The above steps and actions continue to be performed along with the up-and-down movement of the sampling needles relative to the cleaning swab, and the parallel and simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of the N sampling needles can be completed.

[0060] The cleaning swab 100 of the present application is provided with N receiving parts, each of which can place a sampling needle, and is further provided with an input flow channel 50 of a 1 / N flow channel structure for dividing the cleaning liquid of a single inlet into N streams, and an output flow channel 60 of a 1 / N flow channel structure for converging the N streams of liquid into a single outlet. In this way, the parallel and simultaneous cleaning of the outer walls of multiple sampling needles can be supported without increasing the number of power sources and other devices, thereby reducing the system cost and the cleaning cost, and making the space in the cleaning swab more compact.

[0061] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present application, and are not used as a limitation to the present application. Any appropriate changes and variations made to the above embodiments within the spirit and principle of the present application fall within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A cleaning swab, characterized in that, The application relates to a cleaning swab device, comprising: N receiving parts, wherein N>=2, each of the receiving parts is provided with a cleaning cavity, each of the receiving parts is further provided with a liquid inlet hole and a liquid outlet hole, and the liquid inlet hole and the liquid outlet hole respectively communicate with the cleaning cavity; an input part provided with a liquid inlet interface for connecting a first power source and inputting cleaning liquid to the cleaning swab; an input flow channel connected between the liquid inlet interface and the liquid inlet holes of the N receiving parts; an output part provided with a liquid outlet interface for connecting a second power source and outputting cleaning liquid from the cleaning swab; and an output flow channel connected between the liquid outlet holes of the N receiving parts and the liquid outlet interface.

2. The cleaning swab of claim 1, wherein, The receiving part comprises opposite top and bottom ends, and a direction along the top end and pointing to the bottom end is defined as a longitudinal direction, and the cleaning cavity penetrates through the top end and extends along the longitudinal direction.

3. The cleaning swab of claim 2, wherein, In each of the receiving parts, along the longitudinal direction, the liquid outlet hole is located between the top end and the liquid inlet hole.

4. The cleaning swab of claim 2, wherein, Along the longitudinal direction, the cleaning cavity comprises a first sub-groove, a second sub-groove and a third sub-groove connected in sequence, and the first sub-groove, the second sub-groove and the third sub-groove have different inner diameters.

5. The cleaning swab of claim 4, wherein, The inner diameter of the first sub-groove < the inner diameter of the second sub-groove < the inner diameter of the third sub-groove.

6. The cleaning swab of claim 5, wherein, The liquid outlet hole directly communicates with the first sub-groove, and the liquid inlet hole directly communicates with the third sub-groove.

7. The cleaning swab of claim 2, wherein, In each of the receiving parts, projections of the liquid inlet hole and the liquid outlet hole along the longitudinal direction do not overlap.

8. The cleaning swab of claim 1, wherein, The input flow channel comprises a flow channel structure divided into N parts, and is finally branched into N first branch flow channels through one or at least two times of step-by-step branching, and the N first branch flow channels are connected with the cleaning cavities of the N receiving parts one by one; The output flow channel is a flow channel structure divided into N parts, and is finally branched into N second branch flow channels through one or at least two times of step-by-step branching, and the N second branch flow channels are connected with the cleaning cavities of the N receiving parts one by one.

9. The cleaning swab of claim 8, wherein, Each of the receiving parts is provided with two liquid inlet holes, and the two liquid inlet holes are oppositely spaced; The input flow channel further comprises 2N sub-flow channels, each of the first branch flow channels is connected with two sub-flow channels, and the two sub-flow channels are connected with the two liquid inlet holes of the same receiving part one by one.

10. The cleaning swab of claim 8, wherein the absorbent material is a porous material. The N first branch flow channels have the same flow resistance, and the N second branch flow channels have the same flow resistance.

Images