Sample feeding apparatus, flow cytometer, and sample feeding method

摘要

A sample feeding apparatus includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a sealing section. The first cylinder is configured to be mounted with a sample tube. The second cylinder is configured to move the first cylinder between a first position and a second position, the first position being for mounting of the sample tube, the second position being for feeding of a sample in the sample tube. The sealing section is configured to cover the sample tube, the sample tube being mounted to the first cylinder being at the second position, the first cylinder applying pressure to an inner space of the sealing section at the second position.

主权项

1. A sample feeding apparatus comprising:
a frame; a sample tube unit including a base, a sample tube holder supported by the base, and a sample tube including an opening, and that is supported by the sample tube holder; a first piston-cylinder apparatus coupled to the sample tube unit and configured to move the sample tube unit between a first position and a second position; a second piston-cylinder apparatus that is coupled to the first piston-cylinder apparatus by a coupling section, and that is configured to move both the sample tube unit and the first piston-cylinder apparatus between different positions; a housing coupled to the frame and including a housing opening, the housing including an inner space that can house at least portions of the sample tube holder and the sample tube; a control unit including a computer that is configured to control at least one of the first piston-cylinder apparatus and the second piston-cylinder apparatus to move the sample tube unit between different positions relative to the housing, wherein the first position of the sample tube unit corresponds to a position in which the sample tube and sample tube holder are not enclosed by the housing, and the second position of the sample tube unit corresponds to a position in which the sample tube and sample tube holder are enclosed by the housing, and the base of the sample tube unit is configured to seal the opening of the housing as the sample tube unit is in the second position, and wherein the computer is configured to control the first piston-cylinder apparatus as the sample tube unit is in the second position such that the base of the sample tube unit is applied against the housing with an amount of pressure.