Abstract:
The invention discloses an automatic detection instrument for stool specimen, comprising an automatic controller; a dilution device used for adding quantitative diluent into the stool specimen; a stirring and blending device used for stirring and blending the diluted stool specimen; a detecting unit used for detecting the stool specimen, and an aspirating and cleaning device connected with the detecting unit through pipelines and used for transmitting the stool specimen to the detecting unit and cleaning the detecting unit and the connecting pipelines after detection. The detection instrument of the invention can automatically carry out quantitative dilution, physical microscopic examination and partial chemical detection for specimen completely in comparatively sealed pipelines, thereby reducing the link of air contact, reducing the contamination for the environment and laboratory, and improving the work efficiency by using computer software for automatic control.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     The present application is the US national stage of PCT/CN2010/070581 filed on Feb. 9, 2010, which claims the priority of the Chinese patent application No. 200910046365.7 filed on Feb. 19, 2009, which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a medical detecting device, particularly to an automatic detection instrument for stool specimen. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The existing methods employed for the detection of stool specimen, such as stool routine detection and partial chemical detection of stool specimen are relatively backward. The disadvantages of the above methods are as follows: 1) All the links, for example, from the collection of specimen to the operation and examination of specimen, and the final specimen waste liquid treatment may result in contamination for the environment and laboratory; 2) in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, cotton swabs used for collecting the specimen of the patient and containers for holding the specimen of the patient must be subject to special treatment; the more the treatment links are, the higher the chance of contamination is; moreover, it is very insanitary during the examination and operation process; 3) there is no uniform and standard report format. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a detection instrument capable of automatically performing quantitative dilution and detection for stool specimen and automatically cleaning after detection to avoid contamination. 
     To solve the above technical problem, the invention adopts the following technical solution: an automatic detection instrument for stool specimen, comprising the following parts: an automatic controller; a dilution device used for adding quantitative diluent into the stool specimen; a stirring and blending device used for stirring and blending the diluted stool specimen; a detecting unit used for detecting the stool specimen; an aspirating and cleaning device connected with the detecting unit through pipelines and used for transmitting the stool specimen to the detecting unit and cleaning the detecting unit and the connecting pipelines after detection. 
     Moreover, detecting unit comprises a physical detecting sub-unit and a chemical detecting sub-unit. 
     More preferably, the physical detecting sub-unit comprises microscope, microscope camera mounted on the microscope, and counting chamber positioned on the stage of the microscope; the counting chamber is connected with the aspirating and cleaning device through pipelines. 
     Moreover, the aspirating and cleaning device comprises—a sample aspirating needle, a diluent intake, and an aspirating peristaltic pump connected between the sample aspirating needle and the diluent intake; the counting chamber is connected between the sample aspirating needle and the aspirating peristaltic pump. 
     Moreover, both ends of the counting chamber are provided with an electromagnetic pinch-off valve respectively. 
     Moreover, a sample adding needle is fixed on a first lifting frame which is driven by a first motor. 
     Moreover, the dilution device comprises a sample injector communicated with the diluent intake; the sample injector is communicated with the sample aspirating needle via a one-way valve. 
     Preferably, the sample injector is a syringe typed sample injector. 
     Moreover, the sample injector is connected to a second lifting frame which is driven by a second motor. 
     Preferably, the chemical detecting sub-unit comprises a chemical detecting chamber, and the chemical detecting chamber is also connected between the sample aspirating needle and the aspirating peristaltic pump. 
     Preferably, the chemical detecting sub-unit comprises a chemical detecting chamber, wherein an end of the chemical detecting chambers connected with the counting chamber, the other end is connected with a waste liquid peristaltic pump, and the waste liquid peristaltic pump is connected with a waste liquid aspirating needle. 
     Preferably, an electromagnetic pinch-off valve is arranged between the chemical detecting chamber and the counting chamber. 
     Preferably, a specimen box holder is arranged below the first lifting frame. 
     Moreover, the detection instrument further comprises a video camera opposite to the side surface of the specimen box holder. 
     Moreover, a specimen box identification photoelectric sensor arranged above the video camera. 
     Moreover, the specimen box holder is mounted on a linear guide track which is driven by a step motor. 
     Moreover, said specimen box holder further comprises a specimen box inside. 
     Moreover, said stirring and blending device comprises a stirring motor and a rotatable sampling spoon, and the sampling spoon is positioned in the specimen box; when the first lifting frame descends, the sample adding needle is inserted into the specimen box, and the stirring motor is connected with the sampling spoon coaxially. 
     Preferably, the detection instrument further comprises a display which is connected with the automatic controller. 
     The automatic controller in the invention can control the dilution device to perform quantitative dilution for the stool specimen automatically, control the stirring and blending device to blend the specimen, and control the aspirating and cleaning device to transmit the specimen to the detecting unit for detection through pipelines, and clean the detecting unit and the connecting pipelines after detection. The whole process is carried out in comparatively sealed pipelines completely, thereby reducing the link of exterior contact, reducing the contamination for the environment and laboratory, and improving the work efficiency by using computer for automatic control. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a composition schematic drawing of functional modules of the automatic detection instrument for stool specimen according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a pipeline connection schematic drawing according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a pipeline connection schematic drawing according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a structural schematic drawing of the invention (in the front view direction). 
         FIG. 5  is a structural schematic drawing of the invention (in the left view direction). 
         FIG. 6  is a structural schematic drawing of a specimen box. 
     
    
    
     Drawing reference signs are as follows: 
       11 . sample injector 
       12 . diluent intake 
       13 . specimen box 
       14 . counting chamber 
       15 . chemical detecting chamber 
       16 . sample aspirating needle 
       17 . waste liquid aspirating needle 
       18 . sample aspirating peristaltic pump 
       19 . waste liquid peristaltic pump 
       21 . first pipeline tee 
       22 . second pipeline tee 
       23 . third pipeline tee 
       24 . tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve 
       32 . one-way valve 
       33 . first electromagnetic pinch-off valve 
       34 . second electromagnetic pinch-off valve 
       35 . third electromagnetic pinch-off valve 
       41 . first lifting frame 
       42 . second lifting frame 
       43 . linear guide track 
       44 . regularly-shaped rotating joint 
       51 . first motor 
       52 . second motor 
       53 . step motor 
       54 . stirring motor 
       61 . specimen box holder 
       62 . specimen box identification photoelectric sensor 
       63 . video camera 
       7 . display 
       8 . microscope 
       81 . microscope camera 
       82 . microscope stage 
       131 . box cover 
       132 . open hole 
       133 . rotating shaft 
       134 . sampling spoon 
       135 . filter screen 
       136 . buffer chamber 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention is described below with reference to accompanying drawings in details. 
     Firstly as shown in  FIG. 1 , the automatic detection instrument for stool specimen according to the invention comprises an automatic controller, a dilution device, a stirring and blending device, a detecting unit and an aspirating and cleaning device, wherein the dilution device is capable of adding quantitative diluent into the stool specimen under the control of the automatic controller; and the stirring and blending device is capable of stirring and blending the diluted stool specimen under the control of the automatic controller; and the detecting unit is used for detecting the stool specimen; and the aspirating and cleaning device is connected with the detecting unit through pipelines and is capable of, under the control of the automatic controller, transmitting the stool specimen to the detecting unit and automatically cleaning the detecting unit and the connecting pipelines after detection, in order to facilitate the next detection. The detecting unit may comprise a physical detecting sub-unit and a chemical detecting sub-unit, the automatic controller may be a computer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the collected stool specimen is put into a specimen box  13 , a sample aspirating needle  16  is inserted into the specimen box  13 , and a sample injector  11  is connected with a diluent intake  12  through pipelines. A tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24  and a first pipeline tee  21  are arranged between the sample injector  11  and the diluent intake  12 , while the sample aspirating needle  16  is connected with the tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24  via a second pipeline tee  22  and a one-way valve  32 . When the tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24  is communicated with the sample injector  11  and the diluent intake  12 , simultaneously the pipelines between the sample injector  11  and the sample aspirating needle  16  are disconnected, the sample injector  11  may aspirate quantitative amount of diluent from the diluent intake  12 , then the tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24  switches actions, so that the pipelines between the sample injector  11  and the diluent intake  12  are disconnected, at the same time the pipelines between the sample injector  11  and the sample aspirating needle  16  are connected, then the sample injector  11  is pressed, and the diluent is injected into the specimen box  13  via the one-way valve  32  and the sample aspirating needle  16 , such that the quantitative dilution of the stool specimen is finished. The above diluent intake  12 , the tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24 , the sample injector  11 , the one-way valve  32 , the sample aspirating needle  16  and the connecting pipelines thereof constitute the diluent device. 
     One end of a sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  is communicated with the diluent intake  12  via the first pipeline tee  21 , the other end is connected with the sample aspirating needle  16  through the pipelines and the second pipeline tee  22  so as to constitute the aspirating and cleaning device. The counting chamber  14  of the physical detecting sub-unit and the chemical detecting chamber  15  of the chemical detecting sub-unit are connected in series between the sample aspirating needle  16  and the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18 . When the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates positively, the specimen liquid is aspirated out from the specimen box  13  by the sample aspirating needle  16 , and enters the counting chamber  14  and the chemical detecting chamber  15  to facilitate physical and chemical detection. Both ends of the counting chamber  14  are provided with a first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33 , and a second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34 , respectively, and when the valves are closed, the specimen liquid inside the counting chamber can be made stable as soon as possible, in order to facilitate observation and counting under microscope; meanwhile, when the counting chamber is back flushed, the first and the second electromagnetic pinch-off valves  33 ,  34  are opened and closed repeatedly, so that the pressure inside the pipelines can be increased, and the flushing effect can be improved. After the detection is finished, the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, and the diluent enters along the pipelines to clean the counting chamber  14 , the chemical detecting chamber  15  and the sample aspirating needle  16 , and the cleaning waste liquid flows into the specimen box  13  through the sample aspirating needle  16  to be treated collectively. Due to the action of the one-way valve  32 , the waste liquid can be avoided from entering the dilution pipelines and causing contamination. 
       FIG. 3  is another embodiment of the invention. Different from the  FIG. 2 , the chemical detecting chamber  15  is not connected to the aspirating and cleaning pipelines in series with the counting chamber  14 . One end of the chemical detecting chamber  15  is connected with the counting chamber  14  via a third electromagnetic pinch-off valve  35  and a third pipeline tee  23 , the other end is connected with a waste liquid peristaltic pump  19 , and the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  is connected with a waste liquid aspirating needle  17 , and the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  is also inserted into the specimen box  13 . When the third electromagnetic pinch-off valve  35  is closed, the specimen liquid only enters the counting chamber  14  for the physical detection. If the chemical detection is needed, under the condition that the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  is closed and the second and the third electromagnetic pinch-off valves  34 ,  35  are opened, the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  and the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  are opened to transmit the specimen liquid into the chemical detecting chamber  15  for chemical detection. The chemical detecting chamber  15  can be provided with a test strip in a casing, and the specimen is automatically fed to the test strip. After the detection is finished, the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  and the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  are continued to be opened, the counting chamber  14  and the chemical detecting chamber  15  are cleaned by diluent, and the waste liquid enters the specimen box  13  through the waste liquid aspirating needle  17 , then the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  is opened to clean the sample aspirating needle  16 . If the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates positively, the function of aspirating the specimen into the counting chamber  14  can be completed, and if the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, the cleaning of the counting chamber  14 , the chemical detecting chamber  15 , and the pipelines can be completed, and the operation time and speed of rotation of the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  are adjustable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the specimen box  13  can be provided with a box cover  131 , the box cover  131  is provided with an open hole  132  in order to facilitate the insertion of the sample aspirating needle  16  and the waste liquid aspirating needle  17 . The box cover  131  is also provided with a rotating shaft  133 , and the rotating shaft  133  can rotate freely relative to the box cover. The upper end of the rotating shaft  133  may be connected with a motor, and the lower end is connected with a sampling spoon  134 , which can be used for collecting the stool specimen, and after the specimen is put into the specimen box and diluent is added, the sampling spoon  134  can then play the role of stirring and blending, when the motor drives the rotating shaft  133  to rotate. The specimen box  13  is provided with a filter screen  135 , the filter screen  135  isolates the space inside the box into an upper cavity and a lower cavity, wherein the lower cavity is the buffer room  136 , and the sample aspirating needle  16  can be inserted into the buffer room  136  to aspirate filtered specimen liquid. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the invention further comprises a first lifting frame  41 . The sample aspirating needle  16 , the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  and a regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  are all mounted on the first lifting frame  41 , and the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  is connected with a stirring motor  54 . The first lifting frame  41  is driven by a first motor  51 , for driving the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44 , the sample aspirating needle  16  and the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  to rise and fall, wherein one function is to make the sample aspirating needle  16  and the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  be inserted into the specimen box  13  and enter the designed working position, the second function is to make the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  be engaged with the rotating shaft on the specimen box cover, so that the stirring motor  54  drives the sampling spoon  134  to rotate to perform stirring and blending. The stirring motor  54  and the sampling spoon  134  thus constitute the stirring and blending device. 
     A syringe typed sample injector is employed as the sample injector  11 . The pintle of the sample injector  11  is connected to the second lifting frame  42 , and the second lifting frame  42  drives the pintle to be pulled out and pushed in so as to aspirate and discharge the diluent. The second lifting frame  42  is driven by a second motor  52 . The second motor  52  operates to set positions under the control of the photoelectric sensor. 
     The specimen box  13  is placed on the specimen box holder  61 , and the specimen box holder  61  serves as the test tube rack positioned below the first lifting frame  41  for holding a plurality of specimen boxes. The specimen box holder  61  is placed on a linear guide track  43 , and the linear guide track  43  is driven by a step motor  53 . The linear guide track  43  fixes and drives the specimen box holder  61  to operate, and there are strict requirements on the operation frequency and distance of each operation, and the operation is controlled according to programs, and the location is validated by the photoelectric sensor. 
     A video camera  63  is mounted near the specimen box holder  61  and opposite to the side surface of the specimen box holder  61 , and connected with the automatic controller (computer) for observing the diluting and stirring working status of the specimen, and observing the shape and color of the specimen simultaneously. A specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62  is arranged above the video camera  63  and faces the position of the specimen box cover for identifying the specimen box. When the linear guide track  43  drives the specimen box holder  61  to operate, the specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62  works to scan the existence or absence of specimen box on the specimen box holder  61 , the number of the specimen boxes, and the position of the specimen box on the specimen box holder  61 . The instrument performs operation automatically according to the scanning data provided by the specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62 . If the specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62  does not receive the signal of the specimen box, the next detection operation is not needed to be performed. 
     A display  7  is connected with the automatic controller (computer) to be capable of performing program operation and displaying the video signal acquired by the video camera  63 . 
     The physical detecting sub-unit comprises a microscope  8 , a microscope camera  81  mounted on the microscope, and a counting chamber  14  positioned on the microscope stage  82  of the microscope for observing and counting by using the microscope, and the image acquired by the microscope camera  81  is also displayed on the display  7 . 
     When the invention is used, the main power is firstly connected, the specimen box  13  is placed on the specimen box holder  61 , then the specimen box holder  61  is pushed into the instrument from the specimen box holder window, and a switch is triggered, such that the step motor  53  rotates positively to drive the linear guide track  43  to operate along the positive direction, and then operate along the reverse direction after the positive direction operation reaches the end of the positive rotation. At this moment, the specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62  works to detect the existence or absence of the specimen box  13  on the specimen box holder  61 ; if the specimen box  13  is not detected, an informing dialog box appears to prompt to put in the specimen box  13 , and if the specimen box  13  is detected, the next operation is continued to be performed. The linear guide track  43  stops at a position at which the first specimen box on the specimen box holder  61  is aligned with the sample aspirating needle  16 , the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  and the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  on the above first lifting frame  41 . Now, observation can be performed according to the color comparison on the software, and the video camera  63  is opened for observing the operation status of the instrument, for example, whether the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  is aligned with the interface on the specimen box cover. 
     The first motor  51  rotates positively to drive the first lifting frame  41  to operate downwards, meanwhile the stirring motor  54  rotates at a slow speed, the first lifting frame  41  drives the sample aspirating needle  16 , the waste liquid aspirating needle  17  and the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  to be inserted into the designed position of the specimen box  13 . The sample aspirating needle  16  enters the buffer chamber after passing through the filter screen of the specimen box  13 . Meanwhile, the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  is meshed with the rotating shaft of the specimen box. The second motor  52  rotates positively to drive the second lifting frame  42  to operate downwards, pull out the pintle of the syringe typed sample injector  11  and suck the diluent. This process is a process of aspirating diluent by the sample injector  11 . 
     In combination with  FIG. 3 , the tee-pipeline electromagnetic pinch-off valve  24  then switches to the inner passage, the second motor  52  rotates reversibly, the second lifting frame  42  operates upwards, and the diluent is added into the specimen box  13  by the one-way valve  32 , the second pipeline tee  22  and the sample aspirating needle  16 , so that the process of filling the pipeline with diluent is completed. This process is a process of adding diluent into the specimen box. 
     The stirring motor  54  then drives the regularly-shaped rotating joint  44  to rotate along the positive and reverse directions at the designed speed, and drives the sampling spoon inside the test tube to rotate in order to complete the designed rotation time, and the blending of specimen inside the specimen box  13  is thereby realized. 
     The sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  then rotates positively, and the diluted and blended specimen is pumped into the counting chamber  14  through the sample aspirating needle  16 , the second pipeline tee  22 , and the third pipeline tee  23 . The aspirated specimen liquid stops at the following second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34 . After the sample aspiration is finished, the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  and the second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34  at both ends of the counting chamber  14  are closed to close the silica gel pipelines, and the sample inside the counting chamber  14  is made still quickly to facilitate observation by the microscope. The connecting pipelines between the counting chamber  14  and the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  is long enough, so that the specimen will not be aspirated into the diluent via the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18 . The above process is a process of sent the diluted and blended specimen liquid into the counting chamber  14  for detection. 
     At this moment, the stirring motor  54  stops operating. The software then displays the prompt to open the microscopic examination, after the operator clicks the button, the microscope inside the instrument starts working. The microscope camera sends the microscopic examination image to the display of the computer, and after one field is observed and the result is recorded, the operator can perform operation based on software button, and click on the ‘manual sample add on’ button. The sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates positively, and the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  and the second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34  are opened, and a small amount of specimen liquid is aspirated. The operation continues for only one second, then the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  stops operating, the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  and the second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34  are closed again, the pipelines are occluded, and the operator records the microscopic examination result again. The above process can be performed for four times at most, and the operator can control the movement of the stage of the microscope to achieve the purpose of converting fields. The above is the microscopic examination process of the specimen liquid. 
     After the microscopic examination is completed, if some necessary chemical detections, such as occult blood are required to be performed for the patient specimen on the laboratory sheet, then chemical detection should be performed for the specimen liquid. The operator clicks the ‘chemical detection’ button of the software. Then the second electromagnetic pinch-off valve  34  is opened, the first electromagnetic pinch-off valve  33  is closed, and the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, and the specimen liquid is sent into the chemical detecting chamber  15  finally after passing through the counting chamber  14  and the third pipeline tee  23 . The operator now adds the test strip template at the test strip template adding window of the front panel of the instrument, and clicks the ‘chemical detection’ button again, then the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, and the specimen liquid is added to the test strip template, and the template is then taken out for waiting for the observation result. This operation can be performed for four times. 
     After the operator presses the ‘print’ key upon the completion of microscopic examination and chemical detection, the instrument enters the cleaning process. The chemical detecting pipelines are firstly cleaned, and the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, and the diluent cleans the first pipeline tee  21 , the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18 , the counting chamber  14 , the third pipeline tee  23  and the chemical detecting chamber  15  by passing therethrough, meanwhile the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  rotates positively, and the waste liquid is discharged into the specimen box  13  via the chemical detecting chamber  15 , the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  and the waste liquid aspirating needle  17 . 
     After the cleaning process is finished, the waste liquid peristaltic pump  19  stops working, the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates positively, and the diluent inside the chemical detecting chamber  15  and the third pipeline tee  23  is drained, then the third electromagnetic pinch-off valve  35  is closed, and the pipelines are closed, the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18  rotates reversibly, and the diluent is discharged into the specimen box  13  via the first pipeline tee  21 , the sample aspirating peristaltic pump  18 , the counting chamber  14 , the third pipeline tee  23 , the second pipeline tee  22  and the sample aspirating needle  16 , and meanwhile the counting chamber  14  is cleaned. During the process, if an abnormal operation occurs, an alarm dialog box automatically appears. During the process, the first and the second electromagnetic pinch-off valves  33 ,  34  alternate one second of work with half a second of stop, and the opening and closing are repeatedly performed. By the method, the pressure inside the cleaned pipelines is increased, and the cleaning effect is improved. 
     The above process is a process of detecting a specimen box and cleaning the instrument. 
     After the cleaning process is finished, the first lifting frame  41  operates upwards. After the first lifting frame  41  is in place, the syringe typed sample injector  11  aspirates diluent again, and the position of the next specimen box is located by the linear guide track  43  according to the signal input by the specimen box identification photoelectric sensor  62 , and the same operation is performed for the next specimen. After all the specimen operations for a specimen box holder  61  are finished, the instrument transmits the specimen box holder  61  to the designed position, enters the standby status, and prints the detection report. 
     If there is no chemical detection item to be performed on the laboratory sheet, the operator can press the ‘print’ key after the microscopic examination recording is completed, the instrument then enters the cleaning process for the counting chamber  14 , and the subsequent operations are the same. 
     The operation, operation time and operation direction of the motor in the invention are all controlled by software, and all the circuit principles are the known technologies. 
     All literatures described herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. It should also be understood that, one skilled in the art can make various modifications or changes to the present invention after reading the above disclosures of the present invention, and these equivalent forms are still in the scope limited by the attached claims of this application.