Method of syringing reaction bead in examination of blood or the like and apparatus thereof

A method of syringing reaction beads in examination of blood or the like comprises the steps of pouring a syringing liquid from a supply nozzle into a flask containing a reaction bead, withdrawing the syringing liquid with a suction nozzle to end the syringing of the beads and subsequently withdrawing the remaining syringing liquid in the flask with the suction nozzle on one side of the interior of the flask by blowing air from an air jet nozzle into the other side of the flask interior. An apparatus for syringing the reaction beads comprises a suction nozzle, a supply nozzle and an air jet nozzle or a supply/air jet nozzle provided such that they depend from a supply head and face the flask provided on a table below the supply head, free end portions of the suction nozzle and air jet nozzle being disposed on one side of the interior of the flask and on the other side of the interior of the flask, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to improvements in a method and an apparatus for 
syringing reaction beads produced as a result of reaction of sample and 
reagent with a syringing liquid in the examination of blood or the like, 
which is performed using reaction beads with coating of an antibody. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The syringing of reaction beads in the examination of blood or the like is 
usually performed using an apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus has 
a titration plate 2 which supports a plurality of flasks 20 like test 
tubes, into which reaction beads 1 are charged together with samples and 
reagent for reaction and which are arranged in a matrix array. The plate 2 
is held on top of a table 3 of a body a of a syringing apparatus A. A 
syringing liquid is poured into the flasks 20 from supply nozzles 41 which 
depend from a supply head 4 mounted in the body a above the table 3. The 
supply head 4 also has suction nozzles 40 extending parallel to the supply 
nozzles 41, thereby sucking out the poured syringing liquid by the nozzles 
40. 
For the syringing of reaction beads in the examination of blood or the like 
which is performed with this apparatus, the supply nozzles 41 and suction 
nozzles 40 are brought into a state with their free ends intruding into 
the flasks 20 as shown in FIG. 2, by raising the table 3 with a lifter 30 
operated by a motor M or lowering the supply head 4 by operating a lifter 
(not shown). In the syringing operation, the syringing liquid is supplied 
from the supply nozzles 41 into the flasks 20 and is also sucked by the 
suction nozzles 40 therefrom. During this operation, the free open ends of 
the suction nozzles 40 are submerged in the syringing liquid which has 
been supplied continuously from the supply nozzles 41 and collected in the 
flasks 20. In this state, the suction nozzles 40 suction out the collected 
syringing liquid, whereby the reaction beads 1 and flasks 20 are syringed 
efficiently. When the syringing process is ended, the supply of syringing 
liquid is stopped, and the syringing liquid remaining in the flasks 20 is 
sucked out by the suction nozzles 40. At this time, the level of syringing 
liquid in each flask 20 is progressively reduced, and each free open end 
of the suction nozzles 40 eventually comes out of the liquid level so that 
it now withdraws air together with the syringing liquid. When this occurs, 
the suction pressure is no longer sufficient to withdraw all the syringing 
liquid remaining under the reaction bead 1 on the bottom of the flask 20. 
Consequently, a slight amount of syringing liquid remains on the bottom of 
the flask 20. 
When the syringed reaction bead 1 is transferred from the flask 20 into a 
separate test vessel for the purpose of measurement of the status of the 
surface of the syringed reaction bead 1 with a colorimeter or like 
measuring instrument, the syringing liquid remaining on the bottom of the 
flask 20 after end of the syringing liquid suctioning operation is poured 
together with the reaction bead 1 into the test vessel. This causes an 
error of measurement of the changes of antibodies on the surface of the 
reaction bead 1. For this reason, it is desired to remove the syringing 
liquid completely from the flask. For the disposal of the remaining 
syringing liquid, however, drying means can not be used because an error 
is caused in the measurement of the reaction bead 1 if the surface thereof 
becomes dry. 
Therefore, it has been proposed such means to have an end portion of the 
suction nozzle 40 depending from the supply head 4 to be capable of being 
flexed by a spring member and have a shape such that it reaches the bottom 
of the flask 20 under the reaction bead 1. This means, however, has a 
problem in maintenance in that an open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40 is 
deformed into a irregular shape when it is used many times. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been intended in order to preclude the various 
problems inherent in the prior art means, and its object is to provide 
novel means, with which an operation of removing a syringing liquid in 
flasks subsequent to the operation of syringing reaction beads in the 
flasks can be done quickly to completely remove the syringing liquid in 
the flasks. 
To attain the above object of the present invention, there is provided a 
method of syringing reaction beads in examination of blood or the like 
comprising the steps of pouring a syringing liquid from a supply nozzle 
into a flask containing a reaction bead, withdrawing the syringing liquid 
with a suction nozzle to complete the syringing of the reaction beads, and 
subsequently withdrawing the remaining syringing liquid in the flask with 
the suction nozzle on one side of the interior of the flask by blowing air 
from an air jet nozzle into the other side of the flask interior.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail 
with reference to the drawings. Parts providing the same effects as with 
the prior art means are designated by like reference numerals. 
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation, partly in section, of an essential 
part of an apparatus A for syringing reaction beads for examination of 
blood or the like used to carry out the method according to the present 
invention. In the Figure, reference numeral 4 designates a supply head, 
numeral 40 a suction nozzle, numeral 41 a supply nozzle, numeral 42 an air 
jet nozzle, numeral 2 a titration plate, numeral 20 a flask, and numeral 1 
a reaction bead. 
The supply head 4, although its support means is not shown, is supported at 
a fixed position or for vertical movement in a body a of the syringing 
apparatus A as in the prior art apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. According to 
the present invention, however, the supply head 4 includes a liquid 
chamber 43, in which is received a syringing liquid (or sample liquid) 
supplied from a syringing liquid (or sample liquid) tank T1 through a duct 
50 by a syringing liquid (or sample liquid) pump P1, a chamber 44, which 
is communicated with the suction side of a compressor P2 through ducts 51 
and 52, and an air chamber 45, which is communicated with the discharge 
side of the compressor P2 through the ducts 53 and 54. A vacuum pump for 
suction, which communicates with the chamber 44, may be provided 
separately of the compressor P2 communicating with the air chamber 45. 
Pluralities of suction nozzles 40, supply nozzles 41 and air jet nozzles 
42 depend from the supply head 4, but they are shown only one for each. 
Each supply nozzle 41 has its stem communicating with the liquid chamber 
43, each suction nozzle 40 has its stem communicating with the chamber 44, 
and each air jet nozzle 42 has its stem communicating with the air chamber 
45 respectively. 
In operation, a valve V1 provided on the duct 50 is opened, a valve V3 
provided between the ducts 53 and 54 is closed, a valve V4 provided on the 
duct 55 is opened, and a valve V5 provided on the duct 56 is closed. In 
this state, the syringing liquid pump P1 and compressor P2 are operated. 
As a result, the syringing liquid is supplied through the liquid chamber 
43 into the individual supply nozzles 41 to be issued from the open ends 
thereof. Also, the syringing liquid withdrawn by the individual suction 
nozzles 40 is collected in the air chamber 44 and thence recovered in a 
recovery tank T2 through a duct 52. When the compressor P2 is operated 
with the valves V1 and V4 closed and valves V3 and V2 opened, the 
syringing liquid collected in the liquid chamber 43 and syringing liquid 
withdrawn from the suction nozzles 40 are recovered in the recovery tank 
T2. At the same time, compressed air discharged from the discharge side of 
the compressor P2 is supplied to the air chamber 45 and thence distributed 
into the individual air jet nozzle 42 to be issued from these air jet 
nozzles 42. 
The inner diameter of the suction nozzle 40 is set to be greater than the 
inner diameter of the supply and air jet nozzles 41 and 42, so that the 
rate of suction by the suction nozzle 40 is higher than the rate of 
discharge from the supply and air jet nozzles 41 and 42. The suction, 
supply and air jet nozzles 40, 41 and 42 depend from the supply head 4 as 
sets each of three nozzles such that these nozzle sets face corresponding 
flasks 20 arranged in the titration plate 2 when the titration plate 2 is 
set on the table 3 below the supply head 4. The nozzles are brought into a 
state intruding into each flask 20 as shown in FIG. 5 by lowering the 
supply head 4 or raising the table 3. In this state, the free open end 40a 
of the suction nozzle 40 is located adjacent to one side of the inner wall 
of the flask 20, while the free open ends 41a and 42a of the supply and 
air jet nozzles 41 and 42 are located adjacent to the other side of the 
inner wall of the flask 20. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the air jet nozzle 42 is 
shown overlapped over the supply nozzle 41. 
A cap-mounting sleeve 6 is fitted on stem portions of the three nozzles in 
the set, i.e., suction nozzle 40, supply nozzle 41 and air jet nozle 42, 
so as to surround totally an outer periphery of said three nozzles, and 
the stem portion (i.e., upper end) of the nozzles are secured to the 
underside of the supply head 4. 
A cap 7 of a soft, elastic material, e.g., rubber, is fitted on the lower 
end of the sleeve 6, as shown in FIG. 6. End portions of the three nozzles 
in the set downwardly projecting from the sleeve 6 penetrate through-holes 
70 formed in the cap 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the cap 7 has an axially 
central partition member 71 which has a width small enough to be inserted 
into the flask 20 supported in the titration plate 2. The partition member 
71 partitions the open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40 located on one 
side and the open ends 41a and 42a of the supply and air jet nozzles 41 
and 42 located on the other side (FIG. 5). 
The cap 7 has on the outer periphery thereof a skirt-like cover 71 capable 
of being extended and contracted in vertical directions like bellows. When 
the ends of the nozzles are inserted into the flask 20 as shown in FIG. 7, 
the cover 7 isolates an opening 20a of the flask 20 from the external 
atmosphere. 
The titration plate 2 is well-known per se, and it supports a multiplicity 
of flasks 20 arranged at predetermined intervals. The table 3 is mounted 
on the body of the syringing apparatus A. The titration plate 2 is held on 
the table 3 such that the individual flasks 20 supported by it face the 
corresponding nozzles depending from the supply head 4. The table 3 is 
raised and lowered like the prior art means. However, it may be secured to 
the body in case where the supply head 4 is movable by the lift. 
The embodiment of the apparatus having the above construction has the 
following function. 
With the ends of the nozzles slightly intruded into the flasks 20 as shown 
in FIG. 9, the valves V2 and V3 are closed, the valves V1 and V4 are 
opened, and the syringing water pump P1 and compressor P2 are operated. 
Then, the syringing liquid in the syringing liquid tank T is distributed 
through the liquid chamber 43 into the individual supply nozzles 41 to be 
poured from the open ends 41a thereof into the individual flasks 20. The 
syringing liquid is withdrawn by the open ends 40a of the suction nozzles 
40 to be recovered into the recovery tank T2. In this way, the inner 
peripheral surface of the flasks 20 and surface of the reaction beads 1 
are syringed. At this time, the syringing liquid is discharged from the 
supply nozzle 41 on one side of the interior of the flask 20, while it is 
withdrawn by the suction nozzle 40 on the other side of the interior of 
the flask 20. Syringing liquid W flows through the flask 20 in the 
direction of arrow as shown in FIG. 9. The reaction bead 1 is caused to 
rotate in the flask 20 by the flow of the syringing liquid W. Thus, the 
inner peripheral surface of the flask 20 and surface of the reaction bead 
1 are syringed efficiently. 
When the syringing operation is ended, the syringing liquid pump P1 is 
stopped, the valve V1 is closed, and the valve V2 is opened, whereby the 
syringing liquid remaining in the liquid chamber 43 is recovered from the 
supply nozzle 41 into the recovery tank T2 in several seconds. 
When the recovery of the remaining syringing liquid is ended, a state is 
brought about, in which the valves V1 and V2 are closed, the valve V3 is 
opened and the valve V4 is closed. Also, the nozzles are brought to be 
deeply inserted into the flasks 20, as shown in FIG. 10. In consequence, 
compressed air is discharged from the discharged side of the compressor P2 
to be supplied into the air chamber 45 with the operation of the 
compressor P2 and thence distributed into individual air jet nozzles 42, 
and air is jet from the free open end 42a of each air jet nozzle 42 
downwardly into one side of the interior of the flask 20 as shown by arrow 
in FIG. 10. At the same time, the free open end 40a of each suction nozzle 
40 starts to withdraw the syringing liquid on the other side of the 
interior of the flask 20. Air jet from the air jet nozzle 42 is forced 
from one side of the interior of the flask 20 along the bottom thereof to 
the other side toward the free open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40 
located on the other side, whereby the syringing liquid remaining in the 
flask 20 is raised by the jet air to be withdrawn by the suction nozzle 
40. 
At this time, an arcular lower end notch 71a of the partition wall 71 
provided on the cap 7 is brought to the vicinity of the outer periphery of 
the reaction bead 1, so that it divides the interior of the flask 20 in 
co-operation with the reaction bead 1 into two parts, i.e., one in which 
air jet from the free open end 42a of the air jet nozzle 42 is jet and the 
other in which negative pressure is produced as air is withdrawn by the 
free open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40. This arrangement promotes the 
jetting of air from the air jet nozzle 42 and movement of the syringing 
liquid by the suction pressure due to the suction nozzle 40. 
The skirt-like cover 72 of the cap 7 which is capable of being extended and 
contracted closes the space surrounding the opening 20a of the flask 20 to 
prevent the syringing liquid from being blown out of the flask 20 by the 
air jet from the air jet nozzle 42 and obtain the effect of suction from 
the flask 20 due to the suction nozzle 40. 
The above embodiment may be with the cap 7 removed. In this case, it is 
impossible to obtain the advantages of the efficiency increase of movement 
of the syringing liquid due to partitioning of the interior of the flask 
20 by the partition member 71 of the cap 7 into parts, one into which air 
is jet and the other in which suction pressure is received and efficiency 
increase of the suction pressure due to the suction nozzle 40 by closing 
the opening 20a of the flask 20 with the skirt-like cover 72. However, it 
is possible to obtain the advantage of causing the syringing liquid 
remaining in the flask 20 to be forced along the bottom of the flask 20 
and toward the free open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40 due to the air 
jet nozzle 42 so that the syringing liquid can be withdrawn until there is 
no remaining syringing liquid in the flask 20. 
Further, in this embodiment when the cap 7 provided with the skirt-like 
cover 72 is provided on the ends of the nozzles so as to close the gap 
surrounding the opening 20a of the flask 20 when removing the remaining 
syringing liquid in the flask 20 by suction of the suction nozzle 40, the 
stem 42b of the air jet nozzle 42 may not be communicated with the 
compressor P2, but may be exposed to external atmosphere above the cover 
72 as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 4. In this case, external air is 
withdrawn through the air jet nozzle 42 into the flask 20 by suction 
pressure produced in the flask 20 closed by the cover 72 by the suction 
operation of the suction nozzle 40 to be issued as air jet from the free 
open end 42a of the air jet nozzle 42 into the flask 20. 
FIG. 11 shows a different embodiment of the apparatus. In this embodiment, 
the liquid chamber 43 and air chamber 45 are provided as a common chamber 
in the supply head 4, and the supply nozzle 41 and air jet nozzle 42 are 
provided as a common nozzle. Therefore, the duct 56 and valve V2 in the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are omitted. The cap 7 fitted on an end portion 
of the sleeve 6, as shown in FIG. 12, as two through holes 70, i.e., one, 
in which the supply nozzle 41 which also serves as the air jet nozzle 42 
is fitted, and one, in which the suction nozzle 40 is fitted. The rest of 
the construction of the embodiment is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 
4, and like parts are designated by like reference numerals and are not 
described. 
In this embodiment, with the ends of the nozzles held slightly inserted 
into the flasks 20 through the openings 20a thereof, and with the valves 
V1 and V4 held open and the valve V3 closed, the syringing liquid pump P1 
and compressor P2 are operated. In consequence, the inner wall surface of 
the flask 20 and surface of the reaction bead 1 are syringed in the same 
manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 4. 
When the syringing operation is ended, the syringing liquid pump P1 is 
stopped, the valve V1 is closed, and the nozzles are brought to a state 
that their ends are deeply inserted into the flask 20 as shown in FIG. 14. 
In this state, the valve V3 is opened, and the valve V4 is closed. As a 
result, compressed air discharged from the discharge side of the 
compressor P2 is forced into the liquid chamber 43 with continual 
operation of the compressor P2. The remaining syringing liquid thus is 
forced out from each supply nozzle 41 into the flask 20, and compressed 
air continually forced out into the liquid chamber 43 is distributed 
through the liquid chamber 43 as the air chamber 45 into the individual 
supply nozzles 41. The supply nozzles 41 now serve as the air jet nozzles 
42, thus causing air to be jet from the free open end 42a of each air jet 
nozzle 42 into one side of the interior of the flask 20. At the same time, 
on the other side of the interior of the flask 20 the suction nozzle 40 
effects suction operation, and the syringing liquid which is forced up 
toward the free open end 40a of the suction nozzle 40 by the air jet blown 
out from the air jet nozzle 42 is withdrawn. In this way, even the 
syringing liquid that will remain under the reaction bead 1 on the bottom 
of the flask 20 is completely removed as in the previous embodiment of 
FIG. 4. 
Again this embodiment may be used without the cap 7. 
As has been described in the foregoing, according to the present invention 
the syringing liquid is poured from the supply nozzle into the flask 
containing the reaction bead and is withdrawn from the flask by the 
suction nozzle. When removing the syringing liquid remaining in the flask 
after the reaction bead has been syringed, air is blown from the air jet 
nozzle into one side of the interior of the flask, causing the syringing 
liquid in the flask to be forced through the underside of the reaction 
bead positioned on the bottom of the flask and then upwards on the other 
side of the flask interior to be withdrawn by the suction nozzle from the 
other side. Thus, it is possible to completely remove even the syringing 
liquid which would otherside remain under the reaction bead on the flask 
bottom.