Patent Abstract:
Disclosed are a sample inspection apparatus and a control method thereof. The sample inspection apparatus includes a housing, a cartridge insertable into one side of the housing and configured to receive a sample, a pressing member disposed within the housing and configured to press the cartridge to inspect the sample, a fluid storage part configured to transfer a fluid to the pressing member so that the pressing member presses the cartridge, and a fluid supply part configured to supply the fluid into the fluid storage part.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0011406, filed on Jan. 29, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/978,395, filed on Apr. 11, 2014 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a sample inspection apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a sample inspection apparatus which has an improved structure to reduce a size thereof, and a control method thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    An apparatus and method of analyzing a fluid sample is needed in various fields such as environment monitoring, food inspection, and medical diagnosis. Conventionally, in order to perform an inspection by a predetermined protocol, a skilled experimenter manually carries out various processes such as reagent injecting, mixing, separating and moving, reacting and centrifugal separating over several times, and these processes often cause errors in inspection results. 
         [0006]    In order to address this problem, there has been developed a small and automatic apparatus for rapidly analyzing an inspection material. 
         [0007]    In order to detect the inspection material contained in the sample, a characteristic reaction between the inspection material and a specific material may be used. And optical data of the fluid sample is measured using an optical sensor, and the concentration of the inspection material is obtained from a size or a changed amount of the measured optical data. 
         [0008]    In the sample inspection, a cartridge configured to receive the sample is pressed by a pressing member, the sample is moved, and the inspection is performed. To this end, a device for moving the pressing member toward the cartridge is needed, and due to such a device, it is difficult to reduce a size of the sample inspection apparatus. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Therefore, according to one or more exemplary embodiments, a sample inspection apparatus is provided which may move a pressing member to apply a pressure to a cartridge and which has an improved structure to reduce a size thereof, and a control method thereof. 
         [0010]    Additional exemplary aspects and advantages of exemplary embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a sample inspection apparatus includes a housing, a cartridge insertable into one side of the housing and configured to receive a sample, a pressing member disposed in the housing and configured to press the cartridge to inspect the sample, a fluid storage part configured to transfer a fluid to the pressing member so that the pressing member presses the cartridge, and a fluid supply part configured to supply the fluid into the fluid storage part. 
         [0012]    A valve may be disposed in communication with passages connected to the pressing member, the fluid storage part, and the fluid supply part, to open and close each passage. 
         [0013]    The valve may be a 3-way valve which is rotatable to open and close each port thereof. 
         [0014]    The sample inspection apparatus may further include a control part configured to determine whether the pressing member is normally located at the cartridge and to control an operation of the fluid supply part and an opening and closing of the valve. 
         [0015]    The control part may stop the operation of the fluid supply part when the pressing member is normally located at the cartridge, and control the fluid to be moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member. 
         [0016]    The fluid supply part may be an air pump configured to inject air. 
         [0017]    The fluid storage part may be a metering chamber configured to receive a fixed amount of fluid. 
         [0018]    The fluid supply part may be a manual pump which is grasped and manually operated. 
         [0019]    In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a sample inspection apparatus includes a housing, a cartridge insertable into one side of the housing and configured to receive a sample, a pressing member disposed in the housing and configured to press the cartridge to inspect the sample, a valve configured to open and close a communication port communicating with the pressing member, and a control part configured to control an opening and closing of the valve so that a fixed amount of fluid is introduced into the pressing member, wherein the pressing member applies a pressure to the cartridge due to the fluid introduced to the pressing member. 
         [0020]    The sample inspection apparatus may further include a fluid storage part configured to transfer the fluid to the pressing member so that the pressing member presses the cartridge. 
         [0021]    The sample inspection apparatus may further include a fluid supply part configured to supply the fluid to the fluid storage part. 
         [0022]    The valve may be a 3-way valve including communication ports which are respectively in communication with the pressing member, the fluid storage part, and the fluid supply part. 
         [0023]    When the fluid is moved from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part, the valve may be located at a first position, and when the fluid is moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member, the valve may be rotated and located at a second position. 
         [0024]    The fluid storage part may be a metering chamber configured to receive a fixed amount of fluid. 
         [0025]    The fluid supply part may be an air pump configured to inject air. 
         [0026]    The fluid supply part may be a manual pump which is grasped and manually operated. 
         [0027]    In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a control method of a sample inspection apparatus includes moving a fluid from a fluid supply part to a fluid storage part, moving the fluid stored in the fluid storage part to a pressing member, and pressing a cartridge by the pressing member using the fluid moved from the fluid storage part, and performing an inspection of a sample in the cartridge. 
         [0028]    When the fluid stored in the fluid storage part is moved to the pressing member, the fluid supply part may be stopped. 
         [0029]    The moving of the fluid from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part, and the moving of the fluid from the fluid storage part to the pressing member may include converting a flow direction of the fluid by rotation of a valve. 
         [0030]    When fluid is moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member, a control part may determine whether the pressing member is normally located on the cartridge. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    These and/or other exemplary aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exterior of a sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an opened state of a door of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating a principle of driving a pressing member of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views illustrating a fluid flow in the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with n exemplary embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a view schematically illustrating a principle of driving a pressing member of a sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exterior of a sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an opened state of a door of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sample inspection apparatus  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  10 , defining an interior space, and a door module  20  provided at a front side of the housing  10 . 
         [0041]    The door module  20  may include a display part  21 , a door  22 , and a door frame  23 . The display part  21  and the door  22  may be disposed at a front side of the door frame  23 . The display part  21  may be disposed above the door  22 . The door  22  is slidable, such that the door  22  may be located at a rear side of the display part  21  when the door  22  has been slid into an open position. 
         [0042]    The display part  21  may display information of analysis contents of a sample, states of sample analysis operation, or the like. The door frame  23  may have an installation member  32  into which a cartridge  60  configured to receive a fluid sample may be installed. A user may open the door  22  by sliding it upward, may install the cartridge  60  at the installation member  32 , slide the door  22  downward and close the door  22 , and then perform the analysis operation. 
         [0043]    A fluid sample is injected into the cartridge  60  and reacts with a reagent at an inspection part (not shown). The cartridge  60  is then inserted into the installation member  32 , and a pressing member  50  presses the cartridge  60  so that the fluid sample in the cartridge  60  is introduced into the inspection part (not shown). 
         [0044]    Further, an output part  11 , configured to output inspection results as a printed document, may be further provided separately from the display part  21 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating a principle of driving the pressing member of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and  FIGS. 4 and 5  are views illustrating a fluid flow in the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in order to drive the pressing member  50  toward the cartridge  60 , a fluid storage part  80  and a fluid supply part  70  may be used. An air pump illustrated in the drawing is an example of the fluid supply part  70 . A membrane pump may be used for the air pump used as the fluid supply part  70 . In the membrane pump, a check valve is opened and closed by an internal pressure difference generated by movement of a membrane when the membrane is vibrated up and down, and thus the fluid is moved. However, this example is not limiting, and any of various types of pumps may be used. 
         [0047]    The fluid storage part  80  may be a metering chamber which may receive the fluid. Therefore, a predetermined amount of the fluid may be received in the fluid storage part  80 . That is, the fluid is moved toward the pressing member  50 , and the pressing member  50  presses the cartridge  60 . According to an exemplary embodiment air is used, but this is not limiting. 
         [0048]    A valve  90  may be disposed among the fluid storage part  80 , the fluid supply part  70 , and the pressing member  50 . The valve  90  may be a  3 -way valve including a first communication port  91 , a second communication port  92 , and a third communication port  93 . Each communication part  91 ,  92 , and  93  may be in communication with the fluid storage part  80 , the fluid supply part  70 , and the pressing member  50 . The pressing member  50  may be provided to be connected with a first pipe  65  in communication with one communication port of the 3-way valve  90 . A pipe connecting the fluid storage part  80  and the valve  90  is defined as a second pipe  66 , and a pipe connecting the air pump  70  and the valve  90  is defined as a third pipe  67 . 
         [0049]    A control part (not shown) may control opening and closing of the valve  90 . Therefore, the control part (not shown) determines whether the pressing member  50  is normally located at the cartridge  60 , and stops an operation of the fluid supply part  70  or controls the opening and closing of the valve  90 . When the pressing member  50  is normally located at the cartridge  60 , the control part (not shown) stops the operation of the fluid supply part  70  and controls the fluid to be moved from the fluid storage part  80  to the pressing member  50 . To this end, rotation of the valve  90  may be used, and this will be described later. 
         [0050]    The pressing member  50  may include a body portion configured to press the cartridge  60 , and the first pipe  65  which is in communication with one communication port of the valve  90 . The body portion and the first pipe  65  may integrally formed, but the device is not limited thereto. The body portion and the first pipe  65  may be separately provided, and the first pipe may be inserted into the pressing member. The first pipe  65  may be coupled to a holder  44  of the housing  10 . The pressing member  50  may be formed of a flexible material. As an example, the pressing member  50  may be formed of silicone, urethane, or rubber, but is not limited thereto. And the pressing member  50  may be formed of a deformable material. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  illustrates a process in which the fluid is moved from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part, and  FIG. 5  illustrates a process in which the fluid is moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member. 
         [0052]    The fluid is firstly moved from the fluid supply part  70  to the fluid storage part  80 . At this time, the valve  90  is positioned so that the first communication port  91  is in communication with the fluid storage part  80 , and the second communication port  92  is in communication with the fluid supply part  70 . The third communication port  93  is positioned toward the pressing member  50 , but not in communication with the pressing member  50  so that the fluid is not moved to the pressing member  50 . 
         [0053]    Then, the fluid stored in the fluid storage part  80  is moved to the pressing member  50 . At this time, the valve  90  is rotated so that the first communication port  91  is in communication with the pressing member  50 , and the second communication port  92  is in communication with the fluid storage part  80 . The third communication port  93  is positioned toward the fluid supply part  70 , but not in communication with the fluid supply part  70  to prevent the fluid from flowing backward. 
         [0054]    That is, when the fluid is moved from the fluid supply part  70  to the fluid storage part  80 , the valve  90  is positioned in a first position, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Further, when the fluid is moved from the fluid storage part  80  to the pressing member  50 , the valve  90  is rotated and positioned in a second position, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0055]    Since the fluid is firstly received in the fluid storage part  80  and then moved to the pressing member  50 , a fixed amount of fluid may be moved to the pressing member  50 , and thus the pressing member  50  may apply a constant pressure to the cartridge  60 . Further, when the fluid is directly moved from the fluid supply part  70  to the pressing member  50 , vibration may occur due to the operation of the fluid supply part  70 , and this may be prevented. 
         [0056]    Since the fluid storage part  80  is the metering chamber, an amount of fluid transferred to the pressing member  50  may be adjusted, and thus a pressing level may be also controlled. Further, a pressing time may be controlled according to a pressure supply level of the fluid supply part  70 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a view schematically illustrating a principle of driving a pressing member of a sample inspection apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0058]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a fluid supply part  170  may be a manual pump which may be grasped and manually operated. If the user manually presses the manual pump and supplies air to the fluid storage part  80 , air in the fluid storage part  80  is moved to the pressing member  50 . 
         [0059]    At this time, the valve  90  may be the 3-way valve. The valve  90  may rotate to close a communication port connected to the fluid supply part  170  or close a communication port connected to the pressing member  50 . 
         [0060]    Further, a check valve (not shown) may be additionally provided between the fluid supply part  170  and the valve  90 . This is to prevent the fluid from flowing backward, i.e., to enable an air flow generated by a grasping motion of the user to move in a direction away from the fluid supply part  170 , thereby preventing the air flow from flowing backward into the fluid supply part  170 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the sample inspection apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a control method of the sample inspection apparatus  1  according to an exemplary embodiment includes (S 100 ) moving the fluid from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part, (S 500 ) moving the fluid stored in the fluid storage part to the pressing member, and the pressing member pressing the cartridge by the fluid moved from the fluid storage part. Thereby, an inspection of the sample in the cartridge is performed. Here, the fluid supply part may be the air pump. 
         [0063]    When the fluid stored in the fluid storage part is moved to the pressing member (S 500 ), the fluid supply part is stopped (S 200 ). Further, the valve is rotated to close the communication port connected with the fluid supply part (S 300 ). Therefore, the fluid of the fluid storage part is prevented from being moved to the fluid supply part, and also the fluid is prevented from being moved from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part or the pressing member. Thus, only the predetermined amount of fluid metered in the fluid storage part is moved to the pressing member. 
         [0064]    Further, when the fluid is moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member (S 500 ), it is possible to additionally determine whether the pressing member is normally located on the cartridge (S 400 ). That is, when the pressing member is normally located on the cartridge, the fluid is moved from the fluid storage part to the pressing member, and when pressing member is not normally located on the cartridge, the fluid is moved from the fluid supply part to the fluid storage part. 
         [0065]    According to an exemplary sample inspection apparatus, the sample inspection apparatus can have a small size by improving the structure of moving the pressing member. 
         [0066]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1