Fish specimen holding device

Abstract

To provide a fish specimen holding device capable of stabilizing and holding a fish specimen in a prescribed attitude in a holding groove with damage minimized as much as possible.SOLUTION: A fish specimen holding device includes a holding groove 12 for holding a fish specimen F inside thereof, the fish specimen put therein together with water W from a groove upper opening part 12a, the opening on an upper surface 10a side, in a holder installation state in which a holder 10 with flexibility is installed in a holder installation part 30. The holder installation part 30 has water retention means A for retaining water W inside the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 in the holder installation state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a test fish holding device comprising a holder made of a flexible material, open on the top side and having a holding groove extending along the front-to-rear direction, and a holder installation section on which the holder is installed in a removable manner, wherein the holding groove holds a test fish inside that is dropped in together with water from the groove open section, which is the open section on the top side, when the holder is installed on the holder installation section. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, zebrafish have been attracting much attention as experimental animals. In animal experiments using test fish such as zebrafish, when holding the test fish during a specific treatment such as intraperitoneal administration, it is important to hold the test fish as gently as possible while minimizing damage to the test fish, that is, without damaging the body surface or causing burns. In view of this, a specimen fish holding device has been proposed that can hold the specimen fish reliably in a predetermined posture while minimizing damage to the specimen fish (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the test fish holding device described in Patent Document 1, the test fish are held inside a holding groove formed in a holder made of a flexible material, and are inserted along with water from the groove upper opening, which is the open part on the upper surface.This allows the test fish to be gently held by the flexible material, making it possible to minimize damage to the test fish. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 210397 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional test fish holding devices, water poured into the holding groove along with the test fish does not stagnate inside the holding groove, but is instantly discharged from the groove end openings on both the front and back sides. As a result, the test fish held inside the holding groove is not submerged in water and may become thrashy and lose their stability. In addition, in order to prevent the test fish from thrashing about, it is possible to anesthetize the fish and hold them there, but in that case it becomes unclear whether the experimental results are due to the effect of the target substance administered to the test fish or the effect of the anesthesia. Furthermore, in the case of experiments involving repeated administration of the target substance, the effects would be repeated if anesthesia was administered each time, making it impossible to conduct experiments involving repeated administration. In view of this situation, the main object of the present invention is to provide a specimen fish holding device that can hold a specimen fish in a holding groove in a stabilised position while minimising damage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a holder made of a flexible material, which is open on the upper surface side and has a holding groove extending along the front-rear direction; A holder installation section in which the holder is installed, The holding groove holds the test fish that is introduced together with water from the groove upper opening, which is the upper opening, in a holder installation state in which the holder is installed in the holder installation part. The holder installation portion has water retention means for retaining water inside the holding groove when the holder is in the holder installed state.

[0006] According to this configuration, the water retention means of the holder installation section allows water to be moderately retained inside the holding groove when the holder is installed. Then, the test fish is put into the holding groove with water retained inside, so that the test fish is always submerged in water, and the test fish can be kept inside the holding groove in a stable posture without being disturbed. Therefore, before putting the test fish into the holding groove, it is not necessary to adjust the posture of the test fish by sliding it, for example, inside a pipe in an inclined posture, so that the burden and damage to the test fish caused by the slide can be avoided. Furthermore, when the holder holding the test fish inside the holding groove is removed from the holder storage section, water can be moderately retained inside the holding groove to stabilize the test fish. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to provide a specimen fish holding device that can hold a specimen fish in a holding groove stably in a predetermined posture while minimizing damage.

[0007] A second characteristic configuration of the present invention is a holder installation portion having a pair of groove end closing wall portions that close groove end open portions that are opening portions on the front and rear sides of the holding groove in the holder in the holder installation state, The pair of groove end closing walls function as the water retention means.

[0008] According to this configuration, by blocking the groove end open portions on the front and rear sides of the retaining groove in the holder with a pair of groove end blocking wall portions, the pair of groove end blocking wall portions can function as the water retention means described above, thereby allowing water to be retained appropriately inside the retaining groove.

[0009] A third characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the holder installation portion has a cylindrical outer wall portion consisting of a pair of side wall portions extending along each of the two side surfaces of the holder when the holder is installed and a pair of groove end closing wall portions, and the holder is accommodated inside the outer wall portion.

[0010] According to this configuration, the holder can be stably and reliably installed in the holder installation section by being housed inside a cylindrical outer wall section consisting of a pair of side wall sections and a pair of groove end closing wall sections, and can be easily removed from the holder installation section by pulling it out upward.

[0011] A fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the holder installation section is configured as a holder accommodating and water storage section in which a bottom portion of the outer peripheral wall portion is closed by a bottom plate portion, water is stored inside the outer peripheral wall portion, and the holder is stored inside the outer peripheral wall portion in a state where the holder is installed and immersed in the stored water inside, In the outer peripheral wall portion, a height of a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the pair of side wall portions is set lower than a height of a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the pair of groove end closing wall portions, The holder-accommodating water storage section stores water therein in such a manner that the stored water overflows to the outside from the lowermost upper end portions of the pair of side walls.

[0012] According to this configuration, in the holder installation state, the holder can be installed in a state in which it is immersed in the stored water in the holder accommodating water reservoir. Furthermore, since the stored water in the holder accommodating water reservoir overflows from the lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the pair of side wall portions of the outer peripheral wall portion, the height of the lowest upper end portion can be set to a set water level above the bottom surface of the holding groove, for example, so that the water level in the holder accommodating water reservoir can be maintained at the set water level, and water can be reliably retained inside the holding groove. Furthermore, on the outer wall of the retaining device accommodating water storage section, the height of the lowest upper end portions of a pair of groove end closing wall portions that close the groove end open portions on the front and rear sides of the holding groove is made sufficiently high so that overflow of the stored water does not occur at the lowest upper end portion of the groove end closing wall portion adjacent to the holding groove, but occurs at the lowest upper end portion of the side wall portion not adjacent to the holding groove, thereby preventing the test fish held inside the holding groove from being guided by the overflow of the stored water and escaping from the lowest upper end portion of the groove end closing wall portion.

[0013] A fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the holder installation section is configured as a holder accommodating and water storage section that stores water inside a cylindrical outer peripheral wall section and accommodates the holder inside the outer peripheral wall section in a state where the holder is installed and is immersed in the stored water inside, a water level maintaining means for maintaining the water level of the retaining device storage section at a set water level above a bottom surface of the retaining groove in the retaining device storage section in the retaining device installation state, The water level maintaining means functions as the water retaining means.

[0014] According to this configuration, when the holder is installed, the holder is installed in a state where it is immersed in the stored water in the holder-accommodating water storage section, and the water level of the stored water in the holder-accommodating water storage section is maintained at a set water level above the bottom surface of the holding groove by the water level maintaining means, so that the water level maintaining means can function as the water retention means described above, thereby allowing water to be appropriately retained inside the holding groove.

[0015] A sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the set water level is set to a water level lower than the vicinity of the groove-top open portion of the holder housed in the holder housing water storage portion.

[0016] According to this configuration, the water level of the stored water in the holder-accommodating water storage section is maintained at a set water level below the vicinity of the groove-top opening, thereby preventing the test fish held inside the holding groove of the holder housed in the holder-accommodating water storage section from escaping upward from the groove-top opening.

[0017] A seventh characteristic configuration of the present invention is a holder accommodating water storage portion that stores water therein in a manner that the stored water overflows to the outside from a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the outer peripheral wall portion, The lowest upper end portion of the outer peripheral wall is positioned at the height of the set water level and functions as the water level maintaining means.

[0018] According to this configuration, the stored water in the holder accommodating water storage section overflows from the lowest upper end portion of the outer wall portion, and by positioning the height of the lowest upper end portion at a set water level, the water level of the stored water in the holder accommodating water storage section can be maintained at the set water level.

[0019] The eighth characteristic configuration of the present invention is a tube-shaped discharge chute extending downward, and a feed tool that discharges a test fish fed into an input port opened upward together with water from a discharge port at the lower end of the discharge chute, The holder has a chute insertion recess into which the discharge chute is inserted from above when the holder is in the installed state, and the holding groove is formed in the bottom of the chute insertion recess.

[0020] According to this configuration, the cylindrical discharge chute of the insertion tool is inserted into the chute insertion recess formed in the holder. This prevents the test fish discharged from the outlet at the lower end through the discharge chute from falling out of the holder. The holder can be easily positioned in an appropriate position by simply inserting the discharge chute into the chute insertion recess, and the test fish discharged from the outlet at the lower end of the discharge chute can be reliably inserted into the holding groove formed at the bottom of the chute insertion recess. Furthermore, if the insertion device does not have a structure in which the test fish is slid from the insertion port toward the discharge chute into an inclined pipe, but instead has an insertion port above the discharge chute and guides the test fish directly from the insertion port into the discharge chute, the test fish can be stably inserted into the holding groove while reducing the burden and damage to the test fish.

[0021] A ninth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the holder installation portion has an insertion depth regulating portion that prevents the insertion depth of the discharge chute into the chute insertion recess from exceeding a predetermined set insertion depth when the holder is installed.

[0022] According to this configuration, when the discharge chute of the insertion tool is inserted into the chute insertion recess of the holding tool, the insertion depth regulating section prevents the insertion depth from exceeding the set insertion depth.Therefore, even if the discharge chute of the insertion tool is firmly inserted into the chute insertion recess of the holding tool, the lower end of the discharge chute is prevented from pressing against the bottom surface of the chute insertion recess of the holding tool, and the state of the holding groove with the groove upper opening section opened to the bottom surface can be maintained appropriate.

[0023] A tenth characteristic configuration of the present invention includes a feed tool support part for supporting the feed tool, The insert device support portion is configured to be able to change the position of the insert device between a discharge chute insertion position in which the discharge chute is inserted into the chute insertion recess and a discharge chute removal position in which the discharge chute is removed from the chute insertion recess.

[0024] According to this configuration, the position of the insert tool supported by the insert tool support portion can be easily changed between the discharge chute insertion position and the discharge chute removal position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disassembled state of a test fish holding device. [Diagram 2] Front view of the state shown in Figure 1 [Diagram 3] Left side view of the state shown in Figure 1 [Figure 4] Top view of the insert [Diagram 5] Bottom view of the insert [Figure 6] Plan view of the holder installation case [Figure 7] Bottom view of the holder installation case [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which a test fish is put into a holding groove in the test fish holding device with the holding tool installed; [Figure 9] 9 is a left side cross-sectional view of the state shown in FIG. 8 . [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing the test fish holding device with the holding device installed and the insertion tool in the discharge chute removal position. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing the state in which the holder holding the test fish inside the holding groove is removed from the holder installation case. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 shows the state of oral administration to test fish held in a holder. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the insert tool is set in a position for removing the insert tool from the discharge chute using the insert tool support device. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the insert tool is placed in the ejection chute insertion position using the insert tool support device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] An embodiment of a test fish holding device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The test fish holding device of this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "this holding device") is configured to hold a relatively small test fish F, which is the subject of observation or experiment, securely in a predetermined posture in a holding groove 12 of a holder 10 while minimizing damage, in equipment for holding a test fish F for various live organism observations or live organism experiments, as shown in Fig. 11 for example. The test fish F held in the holding groove 12 of the holder 10 can be subjected to a predetermined treatment, and for example, a test substance can be directly orally administered using an administration device 60 consisting of a syringe 61, as shown in Fig. 12.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, the holding device comprises a holder 10, a holder installation case 30, an insertion tool 40, and the like. Although details will be described later, holder 10 is made of a flexible material and has holding groove 12 that is open on the upper surface 10a side and extends along the front-rear direction X. On the other hand, holder installation case 30 is configured as a container-shaped holder installation section that houses holder 10 therein. In the holder installation state in which the holder 10 is installed in the holder installation case 30 (for example, the state shown in Figures 8 and 9), the holding groove 12 is configured to hold inside a test fish F that is dropped in together with water W from the groove upper opening 12a, which is the opening on the upper surface 10a side. In this embodiment, the test fish F is assumed to be a zebrafish, but any small fish used in live experiments can be used as the test fish F, such as a fathead minnow, ricefish, or guppy.

[0028] The holder 10 is made of a material having flexibility, water permeability, and water retention, such as a sponge. Note that, although the entire holder 10 is made of sponge in this embodiment, it may be made of other materials having flexibility, water permeability, and water retention, such as a nonwoven fabric. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9, the holder 10 has a holding groove 12 that is open on the upper surface 10a side and extends along the front-rear direction X. That is, the shape of the holder 10 is formed to be rectangular in a plan view, and is formed to be substantially convex in a front view with the width of the upper part being smaller than the width of the lower part, as shown mainly in Figures 2 and 8. Then, on the upper surface 10a side of the holder 10, the holding groove 12 is formed as a groove that extends in the front-rear direction X, the upper part is opened by a substantially linear groove upper opening part 12a, and the space below serves as a storage part for storing the test fish F.

[0029] In the holder 10, the holding groove 12 is provided over the entire length from the rear end to the front end of the holder 10 so that the length in the front-rear direction X is longer than the entire length (the length from the tip of the mouth to the rear end of the tail fin) of the test fish F. For example, when the test fish F is a zebrafish with a total length of about 40 mm, the length of the holding groove 12 is desirably set to about 50 mm. The depth of the holding groove 12 is slightly greater than the vertical height of the test fish F. For example, when the test fish F is a zebrafish with a total length of approximately 40 mm, it is desirable to set the depth of the holding groove 12 within the range of 5 to 25 mm. The dimensional values ​​of the above-mentioned holding groove 12 may be changed as appropriate, for example, may be increased or decreased within a range of about 30%.

[0030] The test fish F can be inserted directly into the holding groove 12 of the holder 10 from a beaker or the like, but in order to minimize damage to the test fish F, a specified insertion tool 40 is used. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the insertion tool 40 has a cylindrical discharge chute 42 extending downward, and is configured to discharge the test fish F inserted into the insertion port 41 opened upward from the discharge port 42a at the lower end of the discharge chute 42 together with the water W. That is, the insertion tool 40 does not adopt a configuration in which the test fish F slides from the insertion port 41 toward the discharge chute 42 in a pipe in an inclined position, but is configured to provide the insertion port 41 above the discharge chute 42 and guide the test fish F directly from the insertion port 41 into the discharge chute 42. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the test fish F inserted into the insertion port 41 together with the water W by a beaker 55 or the like is guided directly into the discharge chute 42 together with the water W without sliding inside the pipe in an inclined position, and then discharged from the discharge port 42a at the lower end of the discharge chute 42 toward the holding groove 12 of the holder 10. This reduces the burden and damage on the test fish F, and allows the test fish F to be stably placed into the holding groove 12.

[0031] The upper surface 10a of the holder 10 is formed with a chute insertion recess 15 into which the discharge chute 42 of the inserting tool 40 is inserted from above, and the holding groove 12 is formed in the bottom 15a of the chute insertion recess 15. That is, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the cylindrical discharge chute 42 extending downward in the inserting tool 40 is inserted into the chute insertion recess 15 formed in the holder 10, and the lower end opening of the discharge chute 42 abuts against the bottom 15a of the chute insertion recess 15. By inserting the discharge chute 42 into the chute insertion recess 15 in this manner, the test fish F discharged from the discharge opening 42a at the lower end of the discharge chute 42 is prevented from falling out of the holder 10. Furthermore, the holder 10 is easily positioned at an appropriate position relative to the inserting tool 40 by simply inserting the discharge chute 42 into the chute insertion recess 15. With these configurations, the test fish F discharged from the inside of the discharge chute 42 reliably enters the holding groove 12 formed in the bottom 15a of the chute insertion recess 15.

[0032] The width of the chute insertion recess 15 along the left-right direction Y perpendicular to the front-rear direction X in a plan view is set slightly smaller than the width of the discharge chute 42 along the left-right direction Y, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, when the discharge chute 42, which is slightly wider than the chute insertion recess 15, is inserted as shown in Fig. 8, the side walls 12d on both the left and right sides of the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 are pushed open to the left and right, and the width of the holding groove 12 formed between those side walls 12d is pushed open to the left and right slightly. In this state, the test fish F discharged through the discharge chute 42 can be smoothly introduced into the holding groove 12 of the holder 10.

[0033] The overall size of the holder 10 in this embodiment is approximately 50 mm in height in the up-down direction, approximately 100 mm in width in the left-right direction Y, and approximately 50 mm in thickness in the front-rear direction X, with reference to the front view shown in Fig. 2 and the left side view shown in Fig. 3. The size of the chute insertion recess 15 formed on the top surface 10a of the holder 10 is approximately 15 mm in depth in the up-down direction, and approximately 15 mm in width in the left-right direction Y.

[0034] 2 etc., in the holder 10, the holding groove 12 is formed to have a cross-sectional shape of a substantial isosceles triangle with the apex being a groove open portion 12a that is open to the bottom 15a of the upper chute insertion recess 15. The size of this holding groove 12 is such that the height in the up-down direction is approximately 15 mm, the width of the base in the left-right direction Y is approximately 10 mm, and the width of the groove open portion 12a is approximately 2 mm. When a test fish F is held inside the holding groove 12 having a cross-sectional shape of a substantially isosceles triangle with the groove open portion 12a as the apex, the test fish F is gently held in a relatively wide space, and the width of the groove open portion 12a on the upper surface 10a side is narrower than the width of the space, so that the test fish F is suitably prevented from falling out of the groove open portion 12a. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 11, if the user pinches the side walls 12d on both the left and right sides of the holding groove 12 from the outside with fingers D, the test fish F can be even more suitably prevented from falling out of the holding groove 12.

[0035] 1 and 2, the retainer 10 is formed with a groove forming portion 18 in which the retaining groove 12 is formed, and a pair of side wing portions 19 extending to both sides from the lower left and right sides of the groove forming portion 18. More specifically, the side wing portions 19 each having a width of about 25 mm extend to both sides from the lower left and right sides of the groove forming portion 18 having a width of about 50 mm, and the lower surfaces of the groove forming portion 18 and the pair of side wing portions 19 are formed on the same plane. Furthermore, the side wing portions 19 are located in an area from the lower end surface of the groove forming portion 18 to a height of about 20 mm. The dimensional values ​​of the above-mentioned holder 10 may be changed as appropriate, for example, may be increased or decreased within a range of about 30%.

[0036] 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, the holder installation case 30 is configured as a container-like holder installation section that is detachably installed with the holder 10 housed therein. That is, as also shown in Figures 8 and 9, the holder installation case 30 is configured as a holder housing / water storage section in which the bottom of the square cylindrical outer peripheral wall section 31 is closed with a bottom plate section 34, water W is stored inside the outer peripheral wall section 31, and the holder 10 inserted from above is housed inside the holder installation case 30 in a holder installation state in which the holder 10 is installed in the holder installation case 30 and is immersed in the stored water W inside. When accommodating the holder 10 in the holder installation case 30, the inner dimensions of the outer wall 31 can be set appropriately to be approximately the same as the outer dimensions of the holder 10, slightly smaller, or slightly larger, taking into consideration the support stability of the holder 10 against the outer wall 31 and the ease of attachment and removal.

[0037] The holder installation case 30 has a pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 that close the groove end open portions 12b, which are the openings on the front and rear sides of the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 in the holder installation state, and a pair of side wall portions 33 that extend along each of the two side surfaces 10b of the holder 10 in the holder installation state, and the pair of side wall portions 33 and the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 form an outer peripheral wall portion 31. 8 and 9, a pair of groove end closing walls 32 close the groove end open portions 12b on the front and rear sides of the holding groove 12 in the holder 10, thereby allowing a moderate amount of water W to remain inside the holding groove 12. That is, the pair of groove end closing walls 32 function as water retaining means A that retains water inside the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 when the holder is installed. Then, a test fish F is thrown into the holding groove 12, where a moderate amount of water W remains, together with the water W, so that the test fish F is always immersed in the water W and remains inside the holding groove 12 in a stable posture without thrashing about. In addition, since water remains inside the holding groove 12, the test fish F placed inside the holding groove 12 moves in the extension direction of the holding groove 12 and approaches the groove end opening 12b on either the front or rear side with its head first, making it easy to adjust the position of the test fish F held in the holding groove 12 during oral administration as shown in Figure 12.

[0038] In this embodiment, the entire outer peripheral wall 31 of the holder installation case 30 is made of a transparent material. That is, since the groove end closing wall 32 is made of a transparent material, the state of the test fish F remaining inside the holding groove 12 can be observed from the outside through the groove end closing wall 32 and the groove end open portion 12b closed by it. In this embodiment, the entire outer peripheral wall 31 is made of a transparent material, but even if the outer peripheral wall 31 is made of a non-transparent material, the state of the test fish F remaining inside the holding groove 12 can be observed from above through the groove top open portion 12a. In addition, multiple types of holder installation cases 30 with different colors of the outer peripheral wall 31, etc., can be prepared for each type of treatment, etc. for the test fish F, to suppress contamination between each treatment.

[0039] In the outer peripheral wall portion 31, the minimum upper end height (height of the upper end portion 33a) of at least a part of the pair of side wall portions 33 is set lower than the minimum upper end height (height of the upper end portion 32a) of at least a part of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32. Specifically, the upper end portions 32a, 33a of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 and the pair of side wall portions 33 are horizontally linear and of the same height as a whole. Furthermore, the upper end portions 33a of the pair of side wall portions 33 are set lower than the upper end portions 32a of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32. 8, the holder installation case 30 is configured to store water W inside in a form in which the stored water W overflows to the outside from the entire upper end portions 33a of the pair of side wall portions 33. That is, since the stored water W inside the holder installation case 30 overflows from the entire upper end portions 33a of the pair of side wall portions 33, by positioning the height of the upper end portions 33a at a predetermined set water level WL, the water level of the stored water W inside the holder installation case 30 can be maintained at the set water level WL. The upper end portions 33a of a pair of side wall portions 33, which form the lowest upper end portions of at least a portion of the outer peripheral wall portion 31, are positioned at the height of the set water level WL and function as a water level maintaining means B that maintains the water level of the stored water W in the holder installation case 30 at a predetermined set water level WL.

[0040] Furthermore, in the holder installation case 30 housing the holder 10 therein, the height of the upper end portions 32a of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 is higher than the height of the upper end portions 33a of the pair of side wall portions 33, so that overflow of the stored water W occurs at the upper end portions 33a of the pair of side wall portions 33, but overflow of the stored water W does not occur at the upper end portions 32a of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32. As a result, the test fish F held inside the holding groove 12 is prevented from being guided by the overflow of the stored water W and escaping from the upper end portions 32a of the groove end closing wall portions 32.

[0041] The above-mentioned set water level WL is a water level above the bottom surface 12c of the retaining groove 12 in the holder 10 housed in the holder installation case 30, and is set to a water level below the vicinity of the groove upper open portion 12a in the holder 10 housed in the holder installation case 30. In the holder installation state shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the holder 10 is installed in a state immersed in the stored water W in the holder installation case 30, and the water level of the stored water W in the holder installation case 30 is maintained at a set water level WL above the bottom surface 12c of the holding groove 12, and the water W is moderately retained inside the holding groove 12. That is, the water level maintaining means B, which is functioned by the upper end parts 33a of the pair of side walls 33, functions as a water retaining means A that retains water inside the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 in the holder installation state. Then, the test fish F is introduced into the holding groove 12, where the water W is moderately retained, together with the water W, so that the test fish F is always immersed in the water W. Then, the test fish F introduced into the holding groove 12 is in a stable posture without thrashing about, and remains inside the holding groove 12.

[0042] 8 and 9, the water level of the stored water W in the holder installation case 30 is maintained at a set water level WL below the vicinity of the groove-top open portion 12a. Therefore, since there is no water W above the vicinity of the groove-top open portion 12a, the test fish F held inside the holding groove 12 of the holder 10 housed in the holder installation case 30 is prevented from escaping upward from the groove-top open portion 12a. Furthermore, the above-mentioned set water level WL is preferably set near the groove top opening 12a including a range from a height slightly above the groove top opening 12a to a height slightly below the groove top opening 12a, and it is even more preferable to set it at the same height as the groove top opening 12a.

[0043] The holder installation case 30 has an insertion depth regulating section C that prevents the insertion depth of the discharge chute 42 into the chute insertion recess 15 from exceeding a predetermined set insertion depth in the holder installation state shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. That is, the insertion tool 40 has a flange section 43 that extends horizontally outward from the upper end side portion of the discharge chute 42. When the discharge chute 42 of the insertion tool 40 is inserted into the chute insertion recess 15 of the holder 10, the upper end portions 32a of the pair of groove end closing wall sections 32 that protrude upward from the pair of side wall sections 33 in the outer circumferential wall section 31 come into contact with the lower surface of the flange section 43 of the insertion tool 40, thereby functioning as the insertion depth regulating section C and preventing the insertion depth of the discharge chute 42 into the chute insertion recess 15 from exceeding the desired insertion depth. Therefore, even if the discharge chute 42 of the inserting device 40 is firmly inserted into the chute insertion recess 15 of the holding device 10, the lower end of the discharge chute 42 is prevented from pressing against the bottom 15a of the chute insertion recess 15 of the holding device 10, so that the state of the holding groove 12 with the groove upper opening portion 12a open to the bottom 15a can be maintained appropriately.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the holding device is provided with an insertion tool support device 50 that functions as an insertion tool support section that supports the insertion tool 40. The insertion tool support device 50 is configured to include an arm portion 51 whose tip end is joined to the flange portion 43 of the insertion tool 40, a swinging shaft portion 52 that supports the base end side of the arm portion 51 while allowing the arm portion 51 to swing freely up and down, and a support pillar 53 that supports the swinging shaft portion 52. The insert tool support device 50 is configured to easily change the position of the insert tool 40 between a discharge chute insertion position in which the discharge chute 42 is inserted into the chute insertion recess 15 (see Figures 10 and 13) and a discharge chute removal position in which the discharge chute 42 has been removed from the chute insertion recess 15 (see Figures 8, 9, and 14) by swinging the arm portion 51 up and down and displacing the insert tool 40 joined to the tip end of the arm portion 51 up and down. In addition, in the holder installation case 30, the upper edge portion of the groove end closing wall portion 32 on the side closer to the swing shaft portion 52 is formed as an outwardly spreading upper edge portion 32b that inclines toward the swing shaft portion 52 as it goes upward. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the discharge chute 42 of the input tool 40 and the outwardly spreading upper edge portion 32b of the groove end closing wall portion 32, particularly when the input tool support device 50 swings the arm portion 51 to change the position of the input tool 40.

[0045] [Another embodiment] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the configurations of the embodiments described below are not limited to being applied alone, but may also be applied in combination with the configurations of other embodiments.

[0046] (1) In the above embodiment of the retainer 10, a pair of side wing portions 19 are provided extending outwardly from the lower sides of both the left and right sides of the groove forming portion 18 in which the retaining groove 12 is formed. However, the shape of the retainer 10 can be modified as appropriate, and for example, the side wing portions 19 may be omitted.

[0047] (2) In the above embodiment of the retainer 10, a retaining groove 12 is provided having a cross-sectional shape that is approximately an isosceles triangle with the groove-top open portion 12a as the vertex. However, the shape of the retaining groove 12 can be modified as appropriate, and it may have a cross-sectional shape of another shape, such as an ellipse or a rectangle.

[0048] (3) In the above embodiment, the holder installation case 30 is provided as a holder installation section for installing the holder 10, but the configuration of this holder installation case 30 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the upper end portions of the outer peripheral wall portion 31 of the holder installation case 30 can all be set to the same height, and the stored water W inside can be configured to overflow to the outside from the entire upper end portion. In addition, in the above embodiment, the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 of the holder installation case 30 are configured to close the groove end open portions 12b on the front and rear sides of the holding groove 12 in the holder 10 accommodated in the holder installation case 30, but the configuration of the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 can be changed as appropriate, for example, by providing the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 separately from the holder installation case 30 or by omitting the holder installation case 30 and installing the pair of groove end closing wall portions 32 alone.

[0049] (4) In the above embodiment, the test fish F was introduced into the holding groove 12 of the holder 10 together with the water W using the introduction tool 40. However, the configuration of the introduction tool 40 can be modified as appropriate, and the test fish F may be introduced into the holding groove 12 of the holder 10 together with the water W by another means without using such an introduction tool 40.

[0050] (5) In the above embodiment, an insert tool support device 50 is provided, but it is also possible to change the position of the insert tool 40 between the discharge chute insertion position (see Figure 10) and the discharge chute removal position (see Figures 8 and 9) by holding the insert tool 40 by hand without providing such an insert tool support device 50.

[0051] (6) In the above embodiment, the pair of groove end blocking wall portions 32 and the water level maintaining means B are configured to function as water retention means A for retaining water inside the retaining groove 12 when the retaining device 10 is in the retaining device installed state. However, it is also acceptable to configure the retaining groove 12 to retain water using a different configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 Holder 10a Top 10b side 12 Retaining groove 12a Groove top opening 12b Groove end opening 12c bottom 12d side wall 15 Chute insertion recess 15a bottom 30 Holder installation case (holder installation section, holder storage section) 31 Outer wall 32 Groove end blocking wall (water retention means) 32a Upper end part (insertion depth control part) 33 Side wall 33a Upper end part (water retention means, water level maintenance means) 34 Bottom plate part 40 Insertion tool 41 Inlet 42 Discharge Chute 42a Outlet 50 Loading tool support device (loading tool support part) A Water retention means B Water level maintenance means C Insertion depth control part F Test fish W Water, stored water WL setting water level X Anteroposterior direction

Claims

1. A holder made of a flexible material, the holder having an open upper surface and a holding groove extending along the front-rear direction; A holder installation section in which the holder is installed, The holding groove holds the test fish inserted together with water from the groove upper opening, which is the upper opening, in a holder installation state in which the holder is installed in the holder installation part. A test fish holding device in which the holder installation section has a water retention means for retaining water inside the holding groove when the holder is in the holder installed state.

2. the holder installation portion has a pair of groove end closing wall portions that close groove end open portions that are opening portions on the front and rear sides of the holding groove in the holder in the holder installed state, A test fish holding device as described in claim 1, wherein the pair of groove end closing wall portions function as the water retention means.

3. A test fish holding device as described in claim 2, wherein the holder installation portion has a cylindrical outer wall portion consisting of a pair of side wall portions extending along each of both sides of the holder when the holder is installed and a pair of groove end closing wall portions, and the holder is accommodated inside the outer wall portion.

4. the holder installation section is configured as a holder accommodating and water storage section in which a bottom portion of the outer peripheral wall portion is closed with a bottom plate portion, water is stored inside the outer peripheral wall portion, and the holder is stored inside the outer peripheral wall portion in a state where the holder is installed and is immersed in the stored water inside, In the outer peripheral wall portion, a height of a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the pair of side wall portions is set lower than a height of a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the pair of groove end closing wall portions, A test fish holding device as described in claim 3, wherein the holder accommodating water storage section stores water therein in a manner that causes the stored water to overflow to the outside from the lowest upper end portions of the pair of side wall sections.

5. The holder installation section is configured as a holder accommodating and water storage section that stores water inside a cylindrical outer peripheral wall section and accommodates the holder inside the outer peripheral wall section in a state where the holder is installed and is immersed in the stored water inside, a water level maintaining means for maintaining the water level of the retaining device storage section at a set water level above a bottom surface of the retaining groove in the retaining device storage section in the retaining device installation state, A test fish holding device as described in claim 1, wherein the water level maintaining means functions as the water retention means.

6. A test fish holding device as described in claim 5, wherein the set water level is set to a water level below the vicinity of the groove open portion of the holder housed in the holder housing water storage section.

7. The holder accommodating water storage section stores water therein in such a manner that the stored water overflows to the outside from a lowest upper end portion of at least a part of the outer circumferential wall section, A test fish holding device as described in claim 5 or 6, wherein the lowest upper end portion of the outer wall portion is positioned at the height of the set water level and functions as the water level maintaining means.

8. The apparatus has a cylindrical discharge chute extending downward, and is provided with an input device that discharges the test fish, which is input into an input port that opens upward, together with water from a discharge port at the lower end of the discharge chute; A test fish holding device as described in claim 1, 2 or 5, wherein the holding device has a chute insertion recess into which the discharge chute is inserted from above when the holding device is installed, and the holding groove is formed at the bottom of the chute insertion recess.

9. A test fish holding device as described in claim 8, wherein the holding device installation section has an insertion depth regulating section which prevents the insertion depth of the discharge chute into the chute insertion recess from exceeding a predetermined set insertion depth when the holding device is installed.

10. A throw-in tool support part is provided to support the throw-in tool, The test fish holding device of claim 8, wherein the insertion tool support portion is configured to be able to change the position of the insertion tool between a discharge chute insertion position in which the discharge chute is inserted into the chute insertion recess and a discharge chute removal position in which the discharge chute is removed from the chute insertion recess.

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