US-12625154-B2 - Sample measuring method, cartridge, and sample measuring device

Abstract

A sample measuring device reduces the frequency with which a user introduces a measurement aid into the sample measuring device is provided. A sample measuring method measures a sample using a container containing a measurement aid which is a solid. The sample measuring method includes loading a predetermined number of measurement aids into a container from a storage chamber in which a plurality of measurement aids are movably stored in a cartridge attached to a sample measuring device, dispensing the sample into the container, and measuring the sample in the container into which the measurement aid has been loaded.

Inventors

• Kohei Oda
• Hironori KATSUMI
• Yoshinori Nakamura

Assignees

• SYSMEX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20221223

Priority Date

20211228

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method of a platelet aggregation test for a blood sample using a container and a cylindrical-shaped stirrer made of a solid material, the method comprising: loading the stirrer into the container from a cartridge provided with a storage chamber in which a plurality of the stirrers are movably stored, the cartridge being attached to a sample measuring device; dispensing the blood sample into the container; and measuring the blood sample in the container into which the stirrer has been loaded, wherein in the measuring the blood sample, the blood sample in the container is measured while being stirred by the stirrer.
2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer is moved among the plurality of the stirrers stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge to a discharge outlet disposed in the cartridge, and is discharged therefrom.
3. 3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer is fallen from the discharge outlet to be discharged.
4. 4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer is moved to the discharge outlet by magnetic force.
5. 5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer is loaded from the discharge outlet into a loading inlet of the sample measuring device by aligning a position of the discharge outlet and a position of the loading inlet by relatively moving the discharge outlet and the loading inlet.
6. 6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein in the loading, the cartridge is rotated around a vertically central axis of the cartridge to align the position of the discharge outlet and the position of the loading inlet.
7. 7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer discharged from the cartridge is loaded into the container through a passage disposed in the sample measuring device.
8. 8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the loading, the stirrer discharged from the cartridge is loaded into the container held by a container holding unit disposed in the sample measuring device.
9. 9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the measuring, the blood sample is irradiated while being stirred by the stirrer and an absorbance or a transmittance of the irradiated blood sample is measured, and the method further comprises: calculating a platelet aggregation rate based on the absorbance or the transmittance of the blood sample.
10. 10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: detecting attachment of the cartridge to the sample measuring device.
11. 11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is rotatably attached to the sample measuring device, and wherein the storage chamber rotates at 50 rpm or more and 100 rpm or less.
12. 12 . A cartridge detachably installed to a sample measuring device operable to measure a blood sample using a container and a measurement aid made of a solid material, the cartridge comprising: a plurality of the measurement aids; a cartridge body provided with (i) a storage chamber in which the plurality of measurement aids is stored and (ii) a discharge chamber communicating with the storage chamber and having a discharge outlet shaped to allow the measurement aid to be discharged from the storage chamber; and an attaching/detaching part configured to allow the cartridge body to be attached/detached to/from the sample measuring device, wherein the discharge chamber has dimensions to store a predetermined number of measurement aids, wherein the discharge chamber is positioned higher than the storage chamber when attached to the sample measuring device.
13. 13 . A sample measuring device operable to measure a blood sample using a container and a measurement aid made of a solid material, the sample measuring device comprising: the cartridge according to claim 12 ; a mounting unit to which the cartridge is detachably mounted; a removing unit configured to remove the measurement aid from the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit; a transfer unit configured to transfer the measurement aid removed from the cartridge to the container; a dispensing unit configured to dispense the blood sample into the container; and a measuring unit configured to measure the blood sample in the container to which the measurement aid has been transferred.
14. 14 . The cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of measurement aids are a plurality of stirrers.
15. 15 . The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein each stirrer and the discharge chamber are dimensioned such that the discharge chamber is capable of accommodating one and only one stirrer at a time.
16. 16 . The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the discharge chamber has an elongated shape extending in a radially outward direction with respect to the storage chamber.
17. 17 . The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the discharge chamber has a height dimension of from 1 to 2 mm, and a width dimension of from 1 to 2 mm.
18. 18 . The cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein each of the height and width dimensions is less than twice a diameter of the stirrer.
19. 19 . A cartridge detachably installed to a sample measuring device operable to measure a blood sample using a container and a measurement aid made of a solid material, the cartridge comprising: a plurality of the measurement aids; a cartridge body provided with (i) a storage chamber in which the plurality of measurement aids is stored and (ii) a discharge chamber communicating with the storage chamber and having a discharge outlet shaped to allow the measurement aid to be discharged from the storage chamber; and an attaching/detaching part configured to allow the cartridge body to be attached/detached to/from the sample measuring device, wherein the cartridge body further comprises: an inclined surface that gradually rises from a bottom surface of the storage chamber toward a bottom surface of the discharge chamber.
20. 20 . A device, comprising: the cartridge according to claim 14 ; a rotation drive shaft configured to receive the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is capable of being detachably mounted to the rotation drive shaft; at least one magnet configured to exert a magnetic force on at least one stirrer to remove the at least one stirrer from the storage chamber; a passage to allow the at least one stirrer removed from the cartridge to be transferred to a sample container; and a dispenser configured to dispense the blood sample into the sample container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from prior Japanese Patent Application(s) No. 2021-213753, filed on Dec. 28, 2021, entitled “SAMPLE MEASURING METHOD, CARTRIDGE, AND SAMPLE MEASURING DEVICE”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sample measuring method, a cartridge, and a sample measuring device. BACKGROUND There are known methods for measuring a sample using a container containing a measurement aid which is a solid. For example, in a platelet aggregation test, a container containing a stirrer as a measurement aid is used to measure while stirring a sample. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-16468 discloses an apparatus for automatically loading a stirrer into a reaction vessel. The apparatus has a function of separating a plurality of stirrers introduced from the introducing aperture and filling the reaction vessel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-16468, it is necessary for an user to introduce a plurality of stirrers into the introducing aperture. In conjunction with the increase in the frequency of measuring samples using a reaction container with a stirrer introduced, there is a need to reduce the frequency with which the user introduces a stirrer into the device. In view of this issue, the present invention provides a sample measuring method, a cartridge, and a sample measuring device that enable a user to reduce the frequency of introducing measurement aids such as stirrers and metal balls into the device. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 17, the sample measuring method of the present invention is a sample measuring method for measuring a sample using a container (B) containing a measurement aid (F) which is a solid, the method including loading (T1) a predetermined number of measurement aids (F) into the container (B) from a storage chamber (100) in which a plurality of measurement aids are stored so as to be respectively movable, the storage chamber being disposed in a cartridge attached to a sample measuring device; dispensing (T2) the sample into the container (B); and measuring (T5) the sample in the container (B) into which the measurement aid (F) has been loaded. According to the sample measuring method of the present invention, since the measurement aid (F) is loaded in the container (B) from the storage chamber (100) of the cartridge (50) mounted to the sample measuring device, the frequency of the user loading measurement aids (F) into the device can be reduced. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 19 and 20, the cartridge (50) of the present invention is a cartridge to be attached to and detached from a sample measuring device for measuring a sample using a container (B) containing a measurement aid (F) which is a solid, the cartridge including a plurality of measuring aids (F) which are respectively a solid; a storage chamber (100) in which the plurality of measurement aids (F) are stored; a discharge chamber (101) communicating with the storage chamber (100) and having a discharge outlet (150) for discharging the measurement aid (F) in the storage chamber (100); and an attaching/detaching part (102) for attaching/detaching to/from the sample measuring device. According to the cartridge (50) of the present invention, since the cartridge (50) containing a plurality of measurement aids (F) is attached to the sample measuring device and the measurement aids (F) are discharged from the cartridge (50), the frequency with which the user loads the measurement aid (F) into the device can be reduced. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8, 11 and 16, the sample measuring device of the present invention is a sample measuring device for measuring a sample using a container (B) containing a measurement aid (F) which is a solid, the sample measuring device including a mounting unit (200) to which a cartridge (50) storing a plurality of measurement aids (F) is detachably mounted; a removing unit (201) for removing the measuring aid (F) from the cartridge (50) mounted on the attaching/detaching part (102); a transfer unit (202) for transferring the measurement aid (F) removed from the cartridge (50) to the container (B); a dispensing unit (700) for dispensing the sample into the container (B); and a measuring unit (405) for measuring the sample in the container (B) to which the measurement aid (F) has been transferred. According to the sample measuring device of the present invention, since the cartridge (50) containing a plurality of measurement aids (F) is attached to the sample measuring device and the measurement aids (F) are removed from the cartridge (50) and transferred to the container (B), the frequency with which the user loads the measuring aid (F) into the device can be reduced. According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the frequency with which the user loads the measurement aid into the sample measuring apparatus