Sample rack, adapter for sample rack, and automatic analysis device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12313642-B2
Application number	US-201917419320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

The present invention is provided with: a sample rack body in which test tubes are inserted from insertion openings; a plurality of leaf springs that are provided to the sample rack body and press and hold the test tubes; and adaptors inserted from the insertion openings. The adaptors respectively have cylindrical bodies inserted from the insertion openings. The cylindrical bodies each have formed therein notch sections which cause the corresponding leaf spring to pass through a portion at which the leaf spring is in contact with the test tube and cause the test tube having a small outer diameter than the insertion opening to be held by the leaf spring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A specimen rack comprising:
a specimen rack main body into which a specimen container is inserted through an upper opening;
a plurality of elastic portions that are provided in the specimen rack main body and press and hold the specimen container; and
an adapter that is inserted through the upper opening, wherein
the adapter includes a cylinder that is inserted through the upper opening,
the cylinder includes a notch portion that is formed in a portion where each of the elastic portions comes into contact with the specimen container such that the elastic portion penetrates into the notch portion and holds another specimen container having a smaller outer diameter than the upper opening, and
the plurality of elastic portions are configured to cancel out each other's reaction forces to hold the other specimen container at the center of the cylinder and vertical.

2. A specimen rack comprising:
a specimen rack main body into which a specimen container is inserted through an upper opening;
a plurality of elastic portions that are provided in the specimen rack main body and press and hold the specimen container; and
an adapter that is inserted through the upper opening, wherein
the adapter includes a cylinder that is inserted through the upper opening,
the cylinder includes a wall portion that faces each of the elastic portions, and an elastic support portion that presses and supports another specimen container having a smaller outer diameter than the upper opening,
the elastic support portion includes a plurality of plate springs that are arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction and each of the plate springs includes an upward plate portion that extends in an axial direction and of which an upper side forms a free end, and a protrusion portion that is formed to protrude to an inner surface of the upward plate portion on a free end side,
on an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, a retaining protrusion that prevents the cylinder that has engaged with the specimen rack main body from being separated from the specimen rack main body is formed, and
the retaining protrusion is formed on an outer surface of the upward plate portion.

3. The specimen rack according to claim 2 , wherein
the protrusion portion includes a groove that is recessed toward an inside in a radial direction.

4. The specimen rack according to claim 2 , wherein
the cylinder includes a downward plate portion that extends in an axial direction and of which a lower side forms a free end, and
on an outer surface of the downward plate portion, a retaining protrusion that prevents the cylinder from being separated from the specimen rack main body is formed.

5. The specimen rack according to claim 4 , wherein
the upward plate portion is positioned above the downward plate portion.

6. The specimen rack according to claim 1 , wherein
on an inner wall surface of the cylinder, a plurality of abutting portions, which abut against the other specimen container, are formed at intervals in a circumferential direction.

7. The specimen rack according to claim 6 , wherein the abutting portions are formed on an upper portion and/or a lower portion of the cylinder.

8. The specimen rack according to claim 6 , wherein
the abutting portions are formed on an upper portion and a lower portion of the cylinder, and
the abutting portions of the lower portion are formed to be higher than the abutting portions of the upper portion.

9. The specimen rack according to claim 1 , wherein
the cylinder includes a slit that is formed along a side opening of the specimen rack main body, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the side opening.

10. The specimen rack according to claim 2 , wherein
the elastic support portion is supported at two points.

11. An automatic analysis device comprising:
the specimen rack according to claim 1 ;
a transport unit for transporting the specimen rack;
a specimen dispensing mechanism that dispenses a specimen into a reaction container from the other specimen container mounted on the specimen rack;
a reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent into the reaction container into which the specimen is dispensed; and
an analyzing unit that analyzes a liquid in which the specimen and the reagent are mixed with each other.

12. The specimen rack according to claim 2 , wherein
on an inner wall surface of the cylinder, a plurality of abutting portions, which abut against the other specimen container, are formed at intervals in a circumferential direction.

13. The specimen rack according to claim 2 , wherein
the cylinder includes a slit that is formed along a side opening of the specimen rack main body, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the side opening.

14. An automatic analysis device comprising:
the specimen rack according to claim 2 ;
a transport unit for transporting the specimen rack;
a specimen dispensing mechanism that dispenses a specimen into a reaction container from the other specimen container mounted on the specimen rack;
a reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent into the reaction container into which the specimen is dispensed; and
an analyzing unit that analyzes a liquid in which the specimen and the reagent are mixed with each other.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Miyazaki Masaru
• Mori Takamichi

Classifications

• B01L9/06 Primary

  Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders · CPC title

• G01N2035/0405

  manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers · CPC title

• G01N2035/00801

  Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks · CPC title

• G01N35/1002

  Reagent dispensers · CPC title

• B01L2200/023

  adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container · CPC title