Patent Publication Number: US-2022236296-A1

Title: Transfer system and automatic analysis system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a transfer system and an automatic analysis system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In some cases, an automatic analysis system in which a preprocessing device that performs a preprocess of a sample such as whole blood, serum, plasma, or urine, and an analysis device such as a liquid chromatograph that performs an analysis of a sample subjected to a predetermined preprocess in the preprocessing device are combined, and a series of operations from the preprocess to the analysis of the sample is fully automatically performed is constructed (see, Patent Literature 1). 
     The automatic analysis system as described above requires a transfer system that transfers a sample subjected to the preprocess in a preprocessing device to an analysis device. The transfer system includes an arm that holds and conveys a sample container containing a sample, and is configured to place the sample container at a predetermined position in an autosampler of the analysis device by the arm. The autosampler of the analysis device collects a sample from a sample container disposed at a predetermined position by an arm of a transfer system using a needle. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: WO 2016/017042 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the autosampler of the analysis device, it is desirable that the internal space is sealed and thermally isolated from the outside air in order to maintain the temperature of the sample constant. On the other hand, in order to enable the transfer system to transfer the sample container from the preprocessing device to the autosampler, the arm of the transfer system is required to be able to access the autosampler from the preprocessing device. Therefore, an opening and closing door that is opened only while the arm of the transfer system moves the sample container into the autosampler is provided on the side face of the autosampler. 
     While the sample is collected from the sample container in the autosampler, the arm of the transfer device holding the sample container waits in a state of accessing the internal space of the autosampler. Meanwhile, since the opening and closing door of the autosampler is opened, there is a problem that the internal space of the autosampler is exposed to the outside air, the temperature of the internal space of the autosampler fluctuates, and dew condensation occurs or power consumption increases. In addition, when the arm of the transfer device accesses the inside of the autosampler, the arm may interfere with the mechanism of the autosampler and inhibit the operation of the autosampler. 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to shorten the time during which the arm of a transfer system accesses the inside of a transfer destination device. 
     A transfer system according to the present invention is a transfer system that transfers a sample container containing a sample from a transfer source device to a transfer destination device disposed adjacent to the transfer source device, and the transfer system includes an arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end facing the transfer destination device, the arm having, at a distal end portion, a first catcher for detachably holding the sample container, a drive mechanism that is provided in the transfer source device and is configured to move the first catcher between a first position in the transfer source device and a second position in the transfer destination device by driving the arm, and a second catcher that is provided in the transfer destination device, and the second catcher being provided so that the sample container is delivered and received between the second catcher and the first catcher when the first catcher reaches the second position. 
     An automatic analysis system according to the present invention includes a transfer source device, a transfer destination device disposed adjacent to the transfer source device, and a transfer system described above that transfers a sample container containing a sample from the transfer source device to the transfer destination device. 
     The transfer system according to the present invention has a configuration in which a first catcher provided at the distal end of the arm detachably holds the sample container, and when the arm reaches a second position in the transfer destination device, the sample container is delivered and received between the first catcher at the distal end of the arm and the second catcher provided in the transfer destination device. With such a configuration, after the sample container is delivered from the first catcher to the second catcher, the arm can be retracted to the transfer source device side with the sample container left in the transfer destination device, and the time during which the arm of the transfer system accesses the inside of the transfer destination device can be shortened. 
     In the analysis system according to the present invention, since the above-described transfer system is used as a transfer system that transfers the sample container between the transfer source device and the transfer destination device, it is possible to shorten the time during which the arm of the transfer system accesses the inside of the transfer destination device. As a result, after the arm of the transfer system is retracted to the transfer source device, the internal space of the transfer destination device can be sealed, and the time during which the internal space of the transfer destination device is exposed to the outside air can be shortened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a transfer system incorporated in an automatic analysis system when viewed from above; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a container holder in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a state in which a sample container is transferred to an analysis device in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a state after the sample container is transferred to the analysis device in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a view for explaining the structure of a lock mechanism in the embodiment, and is a view illustrating a state in which the holding of the container holder by a first catcher is locked; 
         FIG. 6  is a view for explaining the structure of the lock mechanism in the embodiment, and is a view illustrating a state in which the holding of the container holder by the first catcher is unlocked; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sample transfer operation from the preprocessing device to the analysis device in the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a transfer system and an automatic analysis system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an automatic analysis system is constructed by a preprocessing device  100  and an analysis device  200  disposed adjacent to each other. The preprocessing device  100  is a device that performs a preprocess of a sample to be analyzed, and may have a configuration equivalent to that of the preprocessing device disclosed in WO 2016/017042. The analysis device  200  is a device that performs an analysis of a sample subjected to the preprocess in the preprocessing device  100 , and may be a liquid chromatograph or the like. 
     The automatic analysis system incorporates a transfer system  1  that transfers a preprocessed sample from the preprocessing device  100  (transfer source device) to the analysis device  200  (transfer destination device). The preprocessed sample is transferred to the analysis device  200  while being accommodated in a sample container S (see  FIG. 3  and the like). In the analysis device  200 , the sample in the sample container S transferred by the transfer system  1  is collected by a needle or the like and used for analysis. 
     The transfer system  1  mainly includes an arm  2 , a first catcher  4 , a container holder  6 , a solenoid  10 , a linear guide  12 , a motor  14 , a second catcher  16 , and a controller  22 . 
     The arm  2  is provided so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction, and a distal end thereof faces the analysis device  200 . The first catcher  4  is provided at the distal end of the arm  2 . The first catcher  4  can detachably hold the container holder  6  by two claws  4   a  provided to extend toward the analysis device  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container holder  6  has a hole  8  opened upward, and is set by fitting the sample container S into the hole  8 . The container holder  6  includes a flange portion  6   a  protruding in a substantially horizontal direction from an upper portion of a side face. When the first catcher  4  holds the container holder  6 , the claws  4   a  of the first catcher  4  enter under the flange portion  6   a  and support the lower face of the flange portion  6   a . The solenoid  10  constitutes a lock mechanism that locks/unlocks the holding state of the container holder  6  by the first catcher  4 . The lock mechanism will be described later. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the description will be continued. The linear guide  12  slides the arm  2  in the axial direction (left-right direction in the figure), and is provided to extend substantially horizontally in the preprocessing device  100 . The motor  14  moves the arm  2  by rotating a pinion gear  15  (see  FIG. 3 ) meshing with a rack gear (not illustrated) provided in the arm  2 . The linear guide  12  and the motor  14  constitute a drive mechanism that moves the arm  2  in the axial direction. 
     When the motor  14  is driven, the arm  2  is in a state where the first catcher  4  is disposed at the first position in the preprocessing device  100  and a state where the first catcher  4  is disposed at the second position in the analysis device  200 . That is, the arm  2  is axially driven such that the first catcher  4  moves between the first position in the preprocessing device  100  and the second position in the analysis device  200 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a state in which the first catcher  4  is disposed at the first position, and  FIG. 3  illustrates a state in which the first catcher  4  is disposed at the second position. 
     The second catcher  16  is provided in the analysis device  200 . The second catcher  16  is configured to receive and removably hold the container holder  6  from the first catcher  4  when the first catcher  4  of the arm  2  reaches the second position. The second catcher  16  includes an elastic element  18  such as a leaf spring for holding the outer face of the container holder  6  by an elastic force. The second catcher  16  holds the container holder  6  by inserting the container holder  6  into the elastic element  18 , and opens the container holder  6  by pulling out the container holder  6  being held toward the preprocessing device  100 . That is, the second catcher  16  passively holds and opens the container holder  6 . 
     In the embodiment, the second catcher  16  is provided at an end portion of a sample rack  20  provided in the autosampler which is a component of the analysis device  200 . The sample rack  20  is a rack in which a plurality of sample containers each of which accommodates a sample to be analyzed is set. In addition, an opening and closing door  202  for allowing the arm  2  to pass is provided on a wall face of the autosampler of the analysis device  200  on the preprocessing device  100  side. The opening and closing door  202  is pushed open by the arm  2  when the arm  2  of the transfer system  1  moves toward the second catcher  16 , and when the arm  2  is in the first state (the state of  FIG. 1 ), the internal space of the autosampler of the analysis device  200  is sealed. In  FIG. 3 , the opening and closing door  202  is indicated by a broken line to indicate that the opening and closing door  202  is pushed open by the arm  2 . 
     When the arm  2  conveys the container holder  6 , the container holder  6  is locked while being held by the first catcher  4  by a lock mechanism including the solenoid  10 . When the container holder  6  is conveyed to the second position illustrated in  FIG. 3  by the arm  2 , the state in which the container holder  6  is held by the first catcher  4  is unlocked. In this state, when the arm  2  is retracted toward the preprocessing device  100 , the container holder  6  is left in the analysis device  200  while being held by the second catcher  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As a result, while the sample is being collected from the sample container S in the analysis device  200 , the arm  2  is retracted into the preprocessing device  100 , whereby the opening and closing door  202  can be closed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lock mechanism for locking/unlocking the holding of the container holder  6  by the first catcher  4  includes the solenoid  10 , a bar  24 , a shaft  26 , a lock pin  28 , and a fixing metal fitting  30 . The bar  24  is turnably supported by the shaft  26 . The solenoid  10  is provided so as to press one end of the bar  24  when the solenoid  10  is turned on, and the position of the other end of the bar  24  is displaced when the solenoid  10  is turned on and off. The lock pin  28  is attached to one end of the bar  24 . The fixing metal fitting  30  is attached to the back face of the container holder  6  (the face facing the proximal end of the arm  2 ). The fixing metal fitting  30  extends substantially horizontally from the plane of the container holder  6 . The fixing metal fitting  30  is provided with a through hole  30   a  into which the lock pin  26  of the bar  24  is inserted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the solenoid  10  is turned off while the container holder  6  is held by the first catcher  4 , the lock pin  28  is inserted into the through hole  30   a  of the fixing metal fitting  30 , and the container holder  6  is locked while being fixed to the first catcher  4 . Then, when the solenoid  10  is turned on, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the lock pin  28  is pulled out from the through hole  30   a  of the fixing metal fitting  30 , and the state in which the container holder  6  is fixed to the first catcher  4  is unlocked. This state is a state in which the container holder  6  can be detached from the first catcher  4 . 
     Operations of the motor  14  constituting the drive mechanism and the solenoid  10  constituting the lock mechanism are controlled by the controller  22 . The controller  22  is realized by an electronic circuit including a CPU and the like. Such an electronic circuit may be realized by an electronic circuit provided in the preprocessing device  100  to control the operation of each component of the preprocessing device  100 . Note that the configuration of the lock mechanism is not limited to that described here, and may have another mechanical or electromagnetic configuration. 
     An example of a sample transfer operation from the preprocessing device  100  to the analysis device  200  realized by the controller  22  will be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 7  together with  FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 . 
     When the preprocess of the sample to be analyzed is completed in the preprocessing device  100 , the preprocessed sample is set in the container holder  6  held by the first catcher  4  waiting at the first position in a state of being accommodated in the sample container S. When the sample container S is set in the container holder  6 , the controller  22  moves the arm  2  toward the analysis device  200  until the first catcher  4  reaches the second position in the analysis device  200  (steps  101  and  102 ). 
     When the first catcher  4  reaches the second position in the analysis device  200 , the container holder  6  is held by the second catcher  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). In this state, the controller  22  unlocks the holding of the container holder  6  by the first catcher  4  (step  103 ), and retracts the arm  2  to the preprocessing device  100  (step  104 ). The sample container S held by the container holder  6  together with the container holder  6  is left in the analysis device  200  (see  FIG. 4 ). In the analysis device  200 , a sample in the sample container S is collected using a needle. The controller  22  causes the arm  2  to stand by in the preprocessing device  100  until the collection of the sample from the sample container S in the analysis device  200  is completed (step  105 ). Whether the collection of the sample from the sample container S in the analysis device  200  is completed can be detected based on a signal from a controller (not illustrated) that integrally manages the preprocessing device  100  and the analysis device  200 . 
     When the collection of the sample from the sample container S in the analysis device  200  is completed, the controller  22  again moves the arm  2  toward the analysis device  200  until the first catcher  4  reaches the second position in the analysis device  200  (steps  106  and  107 ). When the first catcher  4  reaches the second position in the analysis device  200 , the container holder  6  is held by the first catcher  6  (see  FIG. 3 ). In this state, the controller  22  locks the holding of the container holder  6  by the first catcher  4  (step  108 ), and retracts the arm  2  to the preprocessing device  100  (step  109 ). As a result, the container holder  6  held by the first catcher  4  is detached from the second catcher  16  and returned to the preprocessing device  100  together with the sample container S. As a result, the transfer of the sample from the preprocessing device  100  to the analysis device  200  is completed. Thereafter, the used sample container S returned to the preprocessing device  100  is conveyed to the disposal port by another conveyance mechanism provided in the preprocessing device  100  and discarded. 
     Note that the embodiment described above merely illustrates an example of an embodiment of the transfer system and the automatic analysis system according to the present invention. Embodiments of the transfer system and the automatic analysis system according to the present invention are as follows. 
     In an embodiment of a transfer system according to the present invention, in a transfer system that transfers a sample container containing a sample from a transfer source device to a transfer destination device disposed adjacent to the transfer source device, the transfer system includes an arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end facing the transfer destination device, the arm having, at a distal end portion, a first catcher for detachably holding the sample container, a drive mechanism that is provided in the transfer source device and is configured to move the first catcher between a first position in the transfer source device and a second position in the transfer destination device by driving the arm, and a second catcher that is provided in the transfer destination device, and the second catcher being provided so that the sample container is delivered and received between the second catcher and the first catcher when the first catcher reaches the second position. 
     In a first aspect of the embodiment of the transfer system, the transfer system further includes a controller configured to control an operation of the drive mechanism to move the first catcher to the first position immediately after the sample container is delivered from the first catcher to the second catcher. With such an aspect, a time during which the arm accesses the inside of the transfer destination device is shortened. 
     In the first aspect, the arm may include a lock mechanism configured to perform locking and unlocking of holding of the sample container by the first catcher, and wherein the controller may be configured to control the lock mechanism to perform the unlocking at the time when the sample container is delivered from the first catcher to the second catcher. 
     In the above case, the controller may be configured to perform the locking when the sample container is delivered from the second catcher to the first catcher. 
     The lock mechanism may include a solenoid for switching between the locking and the unlocking. 
     Further, in a second aspect of the embodiment of the transfer system, the second catcher is configured to passively hold the sample container using an elastic force of an elastic element. According to such an aspect, the structure of the second catcher is simple, and the cost required for the transfer system can be reduced. This second aspect can be combined with the first aspect. 
     In a third aspect of the embodiment of the transfer system, the transfer system includes a container holder in which the sample container is set, and wherein the first catcher and the second catcher are configured to detachably hold the sample container in a state of being set in the container holder. As described above, by adopting an aspect in which the sample container is left in the transfer destination device together with the container holder in which the sample container is set, it is not necessary to take out the sample container from the container holder when transferring the sample container from the transfer source device to the transfer destination device, so that the system configuration is simplified and the cost can be reduced. 
     In an embodiment of an automatic analysis system according to the present invention, the automatic analysis system includes a transfer source device, a transfer destination device disposed adjacent to the transfer source device, and a transfer system described above that transfers a sample container containing a sample from the transfer source device to the transfer destination device. 
     In the embodiment of the automatic analysis system, the transfer system may include a container holder in which the sample container is set, wherein the transfer source device may be a processing device configured to perform a predetermined process on a sample and to set a sample container containing the sample subjected to the predetermined process in the container holder of the transfer system at a first position in the transfer source device, and wherein the transfer destination device may be an analysis device configured to collect the sample from the sample container transferred from the transfer source device into the transfer destination device by the transfer system and to analyze the collected sample. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               1 : transfer system 
               2 : arm 
               4 : first catcher 
               4   a : claw 
               6 : container holder 
               6   a : flange portion 
               8 : hole 
               10 : solenoid 
               12 : linear guide 
               14 : motor 
               15 : pinion gear 
               16 : second catcher 
               18 : elastic element 
               20 : sample rack 
               22 : controller 
               24 : bar 
               26 : shaft 
               28 : lock pin 
               30 : fixing metal fitting 
               30   a : through hole 
               100 : preprocessing device (conveyance source device) 
               200 : analysis device (conveyance destination device) 
               202 : opening and closing door 
             S: sample container