Suction generating device and sample analysis apparatus using the same

• US 6,325,975 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Koike, Masafumi, Naka, Michio, Hirayama, Kouji, Okuda, Hisashi, Higuchi, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K.
• Application Number:
  US09/137,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/81, 422/82, 422/61, 422/60, 422/50, 422/58, 422/55, 436/48, 436/49, 436/44
• US Class Current: 422/430
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00

Abstract

A suction generating device for a sample analysis device is provided. The device comprises four parts, namely, a cover plate 61, a middle plate 62, a bottom plate 63 and an operation plate 64. A protruding portion 642 for compressing the suction generating chamber is formed in an approximately center portion on the lower side of the operation plate 64, a protruding portion 641 for operation is formed in an approximately center portion on the upper side of the operation plate 64. A cavity 631 for inserting the sample analysis device therein is formed in an approximately center portion in the bottom plate 63, and a hole 632 for light irradiation is punched in a determined portion in the cavity 631. A concave portion 623 for fitting the operation plate 64 therein is formed in the middle plate 62, and a window section 621 is formed in the center of the concave portion 623 to let the lower protruding portion 642 on the operation plate 64 protrude therethrough. A window section 611 is formed in the cover plate 61 to let the upper protruding portion 641 on the operation plate 64 protrude therethrough.

Claims

1. A sample analyzing assembly comprising a sample analysis device and a suction generating device for developing suction in the suction generating chamber in a sample analysis device, the sample analysis device comprising a suction generating chamber having elasticity, a drawing channel in communication with the suction generating chamber, an analysis section formed in the drawing channel, and a suction opening formed at the end of the drawing channel, said suction generating device comprising a compressor for compressing the suction generating chamber and a releaser for releasing the chamber from compression.

2. The sample analyzing assembly according to claim 1, which further comprises a cavity into which is inserted a sample analysis device and which holds said sample analysis device therein, and a protruding portion capable of compressing the suction generating chamber as the sample analysis device is inserted into the cavity, the protruding portion being movable such that the suction generating chamber can be released from compression by moving the protruding portion.

3. The sample analyzing assembly according to claim 2, in which after moving the protruding portion to release the suction generating chamber from compression, the protruding portion automatically returns to its original position.

4. The sample analyzing assembly according to claim 3, which further comprises a spring in communication with the protruding portion, and the spring does not develop its elasticity before the suction generating chamber is released from compression, and when the protruding portion is moved to release the suction generating chamber from compression, the spring develops its elasticity, which enables the protruding portion to return to its original position after the chamber is released from compression.

5. The sample analyzing assembly according to claim 2, in which a window for transmitting light irradiated from the outside is formed in the cavity.

6. The sample analyzing assembly according to claim 1 for developing suction in a sample analysis device with a suction generating chamber having an air vent hole formed therein, which further comprises a cavity into which the sample analysis device is inserted, the insertion including two stages, and which further comprises a first protruding portion capable of compressing the suction generating chamber as the sample analysis device is inserted into the cavity in a first stage, and a second protruding portion capable of closing the air vent hole in the suction generating chamber as the sample analysis device is inserted deeper into the cavity in a second stage, during which the suction generating chamber is released from compression.

8. A sample analyzing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sample analyzing assembly has overall dimensions of 15 to 60 mm in length, 5 to 20 mm in width, and 1 to 3 mm in thickness.

9. A sample analyzing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sample analyzing assembly is formed by laminating a plurality of films and is approximately rectangular plate shaped.

7. A sample analyzing assembly comprising a sample analysis device and a suction generating device for developing suction in the suction generating tube in a sample analysis device, which sample analysis device comprising a suction generating tube having elasticity, a drawing channel in communication with the suction generating tube, an analysis section formed in the drawing channel, and a suction opening formed at the end of the drawing channel, one end of the suction generating tube being open and the other end communicating with the drawing channel, and the suction generating tube being arranged in such a manner that its open end is turned towards the end of the sample analysis device having the suction opening, and which suction generating device comprises a cavity into which is inserted the sample analysis device and which holds the sample analysis device therein, and a protruding portion provided inside the cavity which is capable of sequentially deforming the suction generating tube to generate suction as the sample analysis device is inserted into the cavity.