JP2001095557A - Aseptic testing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform various works on a culture tube for test such as washing and filling while saving the labor as far as possible. SOLUTION: The testing apparatus is provided with an air valve operation mechanism 31 attached to a deaeration shut-off plug 18 and opening and closing the plug 18 placed parallel to an inlet port 17 of a culture tube 16 connected with a transport tube 25 through a pump 27, a bottom valve controlling mechanism 33 attached to a bottom valve 32 of a liquid discharging port 19 for discharging the liquid at the bottom of the culture tube 16 and opening and closing the bottom valve 32, a shut-off valve 28 placed in the middle of the transport tube 25 connected to the inlet port 17 of the culture tube 16 and a controlling means to operate the air-valve controlling mechanism 31, the bottom valve controlling mechanism 33 and the shut-off valve 28 and control the drive of the pump 27. A specimen is introduced into the culture tube 16 provided with a membrane filter 20, the specimen is filtered and then washed with a washing liquid introduced into the tube and the culture tube 16 is filled with a culture liquid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterility test apparatus for examining the presence of bacteria and fungi in a specimen such as a liquid by capturing the bacteria or fungi in a membrane filter set in a culture tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of testing for the presence of bacteria and fungi in a sample liquid, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Biological Standards (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
And those specified in the Japanese Antibiotic Drug Standard,
As these methods, there are a direct method in which a sample liquid is inoculated into a medium with a pipetter, and a membrane filter method in which bacteria and fungi are captured by a membrane filter and the membrane filter is immersed in the medium.

In the case of conducting a test by such a direct method or a membrane filter method, if humans intervene in the operation and operation, bacteria are mixed in and the possibility of false positives increases. Therefore, an unmanned operation by a machine is preferred as much as possible. Conventionally, an automatic sterility test apparatus as disclosed in JP-A-63-230077 has been proposed.

[0004] This conventional automatic sterility test apparatus is an apparatus for testing a sample liquid contained in a vial bottle by a membrane filter method. Specifically, a vial case transport section is provided in an upper stage of the device, and a lower portion of the device is provided in a lower stage of the device. A membrane filter test unit (Millipore: Steritest Unit (trade name)) is provided, and a vial case in which a vial, a washing liquid bottle, and a medium liquid bottle are set is transported to a predetermined position.
At this position, the mouth of the bottle closed with the rubber stopper is turned upside down so that the suction needle of the membrane filter test unit is pierced from below into the rubber stopper at the mouth of the bottle, and the sample liquid, washing liquid or medium The structure is such that the liquid is sucked and supplied to a medium tube in which a membrane filter is set.

[0005]

However, the conventional automatic sterility test apparatus described above has a complicated mechanism for rotating a vial used as a sample container from an upright state to an inverted state. There is a drawback that the whole device becomes large, and also, each vial is handled individually, and when there are a plurality of vials, each vial is sequentially rotated in an inverted state, and transport and insertion of a suction needle are performed. There is a drawback that the workability is low and the processing time is long. In addition, since all of the configurations are automated, there is a disadvantage that it is not possible to easily change the test content when the test content is changed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention makes it possible to handle a container such as a vial containing a sample liquid or the like with a simple mechanism without using a complicated mechanism. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sterility test apparatus that can rapidly perform processing even if there are a plurality of containers, and that can perform processing such as liquid collection and test without using human hands as much as possible. And

[0007]

Next, means for solving the above problems will be described with reference to the drawings corresponding to the embodiments. In the sterility test apparatus of the present invention, a sample is caused to flow by a pump 27 into the culture tube 16 in which the membrane filter 20 is set, passed through the membrane filter 20, and the bacteria are captured by the membrane filter 20,
The washing liquid is flowed into the culture tube 16 by the pump 27 to wash the culture tube 16, and then the culture solution is flowed into the culture tube 16 by the pump 27 to fill the culture tube 16, and the captured bacteria In the sterility test apparatus 1 for culturing the culture tube 16 in the culture tube 16, an air vent opening / closing plug 18 provided in parallel with the inflow port 17 of the culture tube 16 to which the transport tube 25 is connected via the pump 27. An air valve opening / closing means 31 for opening and closing the opening / closing stopper 18; and a bottom provided at a bottom of the culture tube 16 and provided at a drainage port 19 for discharging a liquid flowing into the culture tube 16. A bottom valve opening / closing means 33 provided in the valve 32 for opening and closing the bottom valve 32; a closing valve 28 provided in the middle of the transport tube 25 connected to the inflow port 17 of the culture tube 16; Valve opening / closing means 31 and front A bottom valve closing means 33, and the shutoff valve 28 while opening and closing control, respectively, the pump 2
And control means for controlling the driving of the control unit 7.

According to the sterility test apparatus 1, the culture tube 16
The opening and closing and driving of the opening / closing stopper 18, the drainage port 19, the transport tube 25 and the pump 27 are controlled by the control means, so that the filtration step performed when the sample flows into the culture tube 16 and the washing of the culture tube 16 are performed. , Such as the operation of filling the culture tube 16 with the culture solution, bleeding and draining the culture tube 16, pump 27
You can automate complicated tasks such as starting and stopping
That is, the operator is released from the troublesome work process.

The sterility test apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises a pump 2 in a culture tube 16 in which a membrane filter 20 is set.
At 7, a sample is allowed to flow, passed through the membrane filter 20, and the bacteria are captured by the membrane filter 20,
Next, the washing liquid was flowed into the culture tube 16 by the pump 27 to wash the culture tube 16, and thereafter, the culture solution was flowed into the culture tube 16 by the pump 27 to be filled and captured. In a sterility test apparatus for culturing the bacteria in the culture tube 16, an air vent opening / closing plug 18 provided in parallel with an inflow port 17 of the culture tube 16 to which a transport tube 25 is connected via the pump 27. An air valve opening / closing means 31 for opening / closing the opening / closing plug 18;
A bottom valve opening / closing means 33 which is provided at the bottom of the tube 6 and is provided at a drain port 19 for discharging the liquid flowing into the culture tube 16 and which opens and closes the bottom valve 32; ,
A shutoff valve 28 provided in the middle of the transport tube 25 connected to the inflow port 17 of the culture tube 16, a cleaning solution container 3 containing at least the cleaning solution, and a culture solution container 4 containing the culture solution. One end is provided with a plurality of branch tubes 8 connected to each other, and the other end is provided in the middle of each connection tube 7 connected to the transport tube 25 and each branch tube 8 of the connection tube 7. 8, the air valve opening / closing means 31, the bottom valve opening / closing means 33, and the closing valve 28.
And control means for controlling the opening and closing of the valve 11 and the driving of the pump 27.

According to this sterility test apparatus, the opening / closing stopper 18 and the drain port 19 of the culture tube 16, the transport tube 25 and the pump 2
Since opening and closing and driving of the control unit 7 are controlled by the control unit, each operation such as a filtration step performed when the sample flows into the culture tube 16, a washing of the culture tube 16, and a filling of the culture solution into the culture tube 16 is performed. A complicated process such as bleeding and draining the culture tube 16 and starting and stopping the pump 27, in particular, a step portion such as a repetitive washing operation, and a plurality of washing solution containers 3 and culture solution containers 4 for the culture tube 16. Can be automated, that is, the operator is freed from laborious work steps.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a sterility test apparatus of the present invention will be described. The container used in the sterility test apparatus of the embodiment described below is a container in which a liquid such as a sample is stored, for example, an ampoule bottle or a vial bottle. The container is sealed in a closed state with a stopper, and is a container in which the liquid inside does not leak even in an inverted state. When the sample container 2 is an ampoule bottle, the opening is formed in advance in a cutting step, and the sample container 2 is handled in an upright state.

The container containing the specimen is the specimen container 2, the container containing the cleaning liquid is the cleaning liquid container 3, the container containing the culture liquid is the culture liquid container 4, and the air is sealed therein. Air container 5.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an embodiment of a sterility test apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the washing solution container 3, the culture solution container 4
The following description will be made assuming that two containers are provided, one air container 5 and one sample container 2.

The sterility test apparatus 1 of this embodiment is generally constituted by a container holder 6, a connection tube 7, and a membrane filter test unit 15.

The container holding section 6 is provided on the apparatus base 13 and, in the present embodiment, has a structure for holding the respective side portions of the washing liquid container 3, the culture solution container 4, and the air container 5 of each container. In addition, the containers 3, 4, and 5 are held in parallel. Also, in this container holding section 6,
Each of the containers 3, 4, 5 is held in an inverted state with the mouth portions 3a, 4a, 5a facing downward in the hanging direction. As means for holding the containers 3, 4, and 5, there are gripping means for holding the containers, and a frame structure for holding the containers in a mounted state in an inverted state.

Next, the connection tube 7 is provided with a plurality of branch tubes 8 at one end and a connection port 9 at the other end. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the branch tube 8 is provided with each of the containers 3, 4, 5 and 5 held by the container holding portion 6.
The number of lines corresponds to the number of lines.

A suction needle 10 is provided at the tip of each branch tube 8, and an opening / closing valve 11 as a valve for opening and closing individually and closing the branch tube 8 is provided halfway. . Each suction needle 10
The lower part of the container holding part 6 is disposed on the apparatus base 13 via a bracket 14, and is respectively directed vertically upward,
Each opening / closing valve 11 is also attached to the device base 13. Each branch tube 8 has a base end connected to one end of the connection tube 7.

Each of the branch tubes 8 of the connection tube 7 has its suction needle 10 inserted into a rubber stopper of each of the containers 3, 4, and 5 held in the container holding section 6. ing. The connection port 9 provided at the other end of the connection tube 7 is provided with a rubber stopper, and is provided with a suction needle 26 of the membrane filter test unit 15 described later.
Are inserted and connected.

Next, the membrane filter test unit 1
Reference numeral 5 generally comprises a culture tube 16, a suction needle 26, and a transfer pump 27.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the culture tubes 16 are, for example, formed as a pair. Each of the culture tubes 16 has a tube connection port 17 at an upper portion thereof, and an air opening / closing opening / closing port provided in parallel with the connection port 17. A plug 18 is provided (see FIG. 3), and a drain port 19 is formed at the center of the bottom to form a substantially cylindrical shape. A membrane filter 20 is provided at the bottom. And each culture tube 16
It is held substantially vertically in parallel with a substantially vertical base plate 23 provided on the device base 13.

In the present embodiment, the opening / closing plug 18 for removing air provided in each culture tube 16 is provided.
Valve opening / closing mechanism 3 as an air valve opening / closing means for opening / closing a valve
1 and a drain port 19 at the bottom of each culture tube 16.
Is provided with a bottom valve 32, and a bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33 as bottom valve opening / closing means for opening / closing the bottom valve 32 is provided. These air valve opening / closing mechanism 31 and bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33
For example, an actuator is used, and drive control is performed by a control unit described later.

A waste liquid passage 21 is provided below the base plate 23 in which the culture tubes 16 are set, so that the liquid passing through the culture tubes 16 can be discharged downward.

Each end of a pair of transport tubes 25 is connected to each tube connection port 17 of each culture tube 16. The other ends of the transport tubes 25 are connected to each other to form one connection port, and a suction needle 26 is provided in this connection port.

The suction needle 26 is normally disposed vertically upward and, for example, is mounted on the base 13 of the bracket 2.
4 and the like. The suction needle 26 is fitted with a cap except during use, so that it is not exposed. Also, this suction needle 26
It can be set downward.

The transfer pump 27 is disposed substantially at the center of the base plate 2 and is composed of a handling pump. The transfer pump 27 is disposed in the middle of each transport tube 25.

It is to be noted that a halfway portion of each transport tube 25 close to the suction needle 26, that is, the transfer pump 27 and the suction needle 2
Between them, shut-off valves 28 that are individually operated are arranged.

Further, each opening / closing plug 18 and each closing valve 2 described above are provided.
Although not shown in the figure, a sensor such as a limit switch and an optical sensor is provided to monitor the operation status of each part. Liquid flows through the waste liquid passage 21 through the waste liquid passage 21. A sensor 22 such as an optical sensor for monitoring whether the liquid is flowing is further provided. Further, the base plate 23 holding each culture tube 16 monitors the level of the liquid flowing into each culture tube 16, that is, culture. A liquid level sensor such as a photo sensor for monitoring the amount of liquid flowing into the pipe 16 may be provided.

Although not shown, the valves 11 of the branch tubes 8, the closing valves 28 of the membrane filter test unit 15, the air valve opening / closing mechanism 31, the bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33, and the transfer pump 27 are not shown. It is connected to control means provided in the main body, and the operation of each operation is controlled by this control means. Further, detection signals from the above-described sensors and the like are input to the control unit, and control of each operation and feedback of the operation of each unit are performed.

This control means is composed of electronic equipment such as a microcomputer, for example, and displays operation procedures.
It is displayed on a CRT screen or the like, and is provided with an input device such as a keyboard and a switch panel. With this input device, it is possible to input numerical values and instruct the start and stop of driving.

Next, the procedure of a sterility test method using the sterility test apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to schematic diagrams of FIGS.

First, the culture tube 16 is set in the membrane filter test unit 15, and the washing solution container 3, the culture solution container 4, and the air container 5 are each placed in the container holding unit 6.
Set to. Each container 3, 4, 5 has a mouth 3a, 4a, 5
a is turned downward and set in the container holding section 6 in an inverted state. At this time, the respective suction needles 10 of the respective branch tubes 8 are inserted into the rubber stoppers of the respective containers 3, 4, 5 simultaneously with the setting of the respective containers 3, 4, 5 in the container holder 6.

Next, the cap of the suction needle 26 is removed,
A sample container 2 containing a sample to be tested, in this example, a sample made of a liquid, is inserted into the suction needle 26. At this time, when the sample container 2 is a vial bottle, the sample is placed in an inverted state with the mouth 2a facing downward.
The suction needle 26 is inserted into the rubber stopper a. When the sample container 2 is an ampoule bottle, an opening is formed in advance in a cutting step, the suction needle 26 is pulled out, set downward, and the suction needle 26 is inserted from the upward opening into the ampoule bottle. Is inserted into the sample container 2.

Next, the operator inputs an instruction to start filtration of the sample to the control means to start the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, when the sterility test apparatus 1 starts to start, first, the transport tube 25 of the membrane filter test unit 15 is moved.
Is opened, and the air opening / closing mechanism 31 operates to close the air vent opening / closing plug 18 of each culture tube 16, and the bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33 operates to operate the bottom valve of each culture tube 16. 32 is opened, and the drain port 19 is opened. And
The transfer pump 27 starts to operate, aspirates the sample liquid from the sample container 2, and transfers each culture tube 16 via the transport tube 25.
Infusion to In addition, the same amount of the sample liquid from the sample container 2 is simultaneously sent to each culture tube 16.

The sample liquid supplied to each culture tube 16 passes through the membrane filter test unit 15 and passes through the drain port 1.
9, that is, filtration is performed, whereby the bacteria in the sample liquid are captured by the membrane filter 20. When a plurality of specimen containers 2 are to be filtered, the number of the specimen containers 2 is input to the control unit, and the filtration process is repeatedly performed until the input numerical value is reached. In such a case, the control means is configured to control the waste liquid passage 21
When the state in which the passing liquid is exhausted is detected by monitoring the sensor 22, the transfer pump 27 is temporarily stopped, and the worker who confirms the suspension replaces the sample container 2 and instructs the control means to restart. Then, the filtration step is repeated again.

When the supply of the sample solution is completed and the passage through the membrane filter 20 in each culture tube 16 is completed, the transfer pump 27 is stopped, and each closing valve 28 is closed so that air does not flow from the transport tube 25. Is done. Further, the bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33 operates to close the drainage port 19 in the open state by the bottom valve 32. At this time, the sensor 22 monitors whether or not the sample liquid flows in the waste liquid passage 21, and after confirming that there is no flow, the above operation is performed. And the control means,
A screen display notifying the end of the filtration step is performed.

Next, the operator removes the sample container 2 into which the suction needle 26 is inserted, and inserts the connection port 9 of the connection tube 7 into the suction needle 26 as shown in FIG.

When the inserting operation is completed, an instruction to start the next step of washing and filling the medium is input to the control means. The on-off valve 11 of the branch tube 8 inserted into the washing liquid container 3 is opened, the closing valve 28 of the transport tube 25 is opened, and the air valve opening / closing mechanism 31 is operated to open / close the on-off valve 1.
8 is opened and the operation of the transfer pump 27 starts at the same time. Then, the washing liquid in the washing liquid container 3 is sucked, and a predetermined amount, for example, 100 ml of the washing liquid is sent into each culture tube 16 via the connection tube 7 and the transport tube 25, and the culture tube 16 and each membrane filter 20 are washed. Will be This washing step is usually repeated three times. In addition, this cleaning method is performed by a method determined by the local law.

When the washing is completed, the transfer pump 27 is stopped, and each closing valve 28 of the transport tube 25 and the opening / closing valve 11 of the branch tube 8 are closed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the open / close valve 11 of the branch tube 8 inserted into the air container 5 is opened, the shut-off valve 28 of the transport tube 25 is opened, and the open / close of the culture tube 16 is further opened. Each of the stopper 18 and the drain port 19 is opened by the operation of the air opening / closing mechanism 31 and the bottom valve opening / closing mechanism 33,
When the transfer pump 27 starts operating, the air sealed in the air container 5 is sent into each culture tube 16 and the washing liquid remaining in each tube 7, 8, 25 is discharged.

Next, the culture solution contained in the culture solution container 4 is sent to the culture tube 16 and filled in the culture tube 16. In the present embodiment, the culture solution container 4 includes two culture solution containers. In addition, since the culture tubes 16 are also composed of two tubes, two different culture solutions are used, for example, TGC and SCD, and each culture solution is filled into each culture tube 16.

As shown in FIG. 6, the opening / closing stopper 18 for air release of one culture tube 16 is opened by an air valve opening / closing mechanism 31, and the opening / closing stopper 18 for air release of the other culture tube 16 is closed. The drainage port 19 of each culture tube 16 is closed by the bottom valve 32.

Next, the open / close valve 11 of the branch tube 8 inserted in the one culture solution container 4 is opened, and the one stop valve 28 of the transport tube 25 is opened. Start. Then, the culture solution in one culture solution container 4 is aspirated and sent into one culture tube 16 via the connection tube 7 and one transport tube 25, and the inside of the culture tube 16 is filled with the culture solution, for example. Fill 100 ml.

When the filling of the culture solution into one culture tube 16 is completed, the air vent opening / closing stopper 18 of the one culture tube 16 is closed by the air valve opening / closing mechanism 31 and inserted into the one culture solution container 4. The open / close valve 11 of the branch tube 8 thus closed is closed, and one of the closing valves 28 of the transport tube 25 is closed, so that the operation of the transfer pump 27 is stopped.

Next, as shown in FIG.
6 is opened by the air valve opening / closing mechanism 31, the opening / closing valve 11 of the branch tube 8 inserted into the other culture solution container 4 is opened, and the other closing valve of the transport tube 25 is opened. 28 is opened, and at the same time, the operation of the transfer pump 27 starts. Then, the culture solution in the other culture solution container 4 is sucked, sent to the other culture tube 16 via the connection tube 7 and the other transport tube 25, and the inside of the culture tube 16 is filled with the culture solution, for example. Fill 100 ml.

In each culture tube 16, the opening / closing stopper 18 for bleeding air is closed by the air valve opening / closing mechanism 31, and the steps of washing and medium filling are completed, and the display is performed by the control means.

Thereafter, the bottom of each culture tube 16 is closed with a lower stopper cap, and the bacteria captured by the membrane filter 20 are cultured for each culture solution.

According to the sterility test apparatus 1 configured as described above, the air vent opening / closing plug 18 and the drainage port 19 of the culture tube 16 constituting the membrane filter test unit 15, the closing valve 28 of the transport tube 25, and the transfer The opening and closing and driving of the pump 27 are controlled by the control means, respectively.
Such as a filtration step performed when the sample flows into the culture tube, washing of the culture tube 16, and filling of the culture solution into the culture tube 16, bleeding and draining of the culture tube 16, starting of the transfer pump 27, and the like. It is possible to automate complicated steps such as stoppage, in particular, step parts such as repetitive washing operations, and repetitive operations using a plurality of washing solution containers 3 and culture solution containers 5 with respect to the culture tube 16. The worker is released from such a work process.

Further, instead of treating the washing solution container 3 and the culture solution container 4 individually and connecting them to the membrane filter test unit 15, the containers 3 and 4 are connected to the branch tube 8 in advance, respectively. The control of the valve 11 provided in the branch tube 8 and the closing valve 28 and the transfer pump 2 on the membrane filter test unit 15 side
7, the washing operation and the filling operation are automatically performed in sequence, so that there is no need to replace needles for each container, and the operator does not touch each of the containers 3, 4 and the suction needles 10. In addition, the reliability of the test is not reduced due to contamination by bacteria. Then, it is possible to automate a monotonous operation for a long time, for example, by repeating the same operation process such as washing the culture tube 16 a plurality of times. It is possible to reliably reduce the reliability and the possibility of false positives.

Further, since the containers 2, 3, and 4 are previously set in an inverted state, and the liquid in each container is handled by connecting the branch tube of the connection tube to each container, complicated rotation of these containers is required. A simple mechanism is not required, the structure of the device is simplified, and the entire device can be reduced in size.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the sample is a liquid has been described. However, when the sample is not a liquid but is a lyophilized product or a hardly soluble powder,
The sterility test device of the present invention can be used by dissolving these specimens with a dissolving liquid or diluting them with a diluting liquid to make them liquid. In the case of such a non-liquid sample, the transfer pump 27 of the membrane filter test unit 15 is used as shown in FIG.
A liquid transfer tube 41 is provided at each end, and a vial 42 containing a solution or a diluent is connected to both ends, for example, the upper end of the liquid transfer tube 41, and the sample container 2 containing a sample made of powder or the like is connected at the lower end. Connected, a closing valve 43 is provided in the middle of the liquid transfer tube 41, and the control means drives and controls the closing valve 43 and the transfer pump 27 so that the lysis solution or the diluting solution flows into the sample container 2, The sample in the sample container 2 is made into a liquid, and the operation is performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid container 3, the culture liquid container 4, and the cleaning liquid container 3
In the above description, two containers are used as examples. However, as shown in FIG. 9, various containers may be used one by one, or a plurality of containers may be used. Furthermore, although the culture tubes 16 are configured as a pair, the number of the culture tubes 16 may be one or more.

[0052]

As described above, according to the sterility test apparatus according to the present invention, the opening / closing stopper and drainage port of the culture tube, the closing valve and the transfer pump of the transport tube are opened and closed by the control means, respectively. Since the drive is controlled, such as a filtration process performed when the sample flows into the culture tube, a washing process of the culture tube, and each operation process of filling the culture tube with the culture solution, air bleeding and drainage of the culture tube, Start and stop of the transfer pump, such as complicated work, especially the step parts such as repeated washing work, and the repetitive work using a plurality of washing solution containers and culture solution containers for the culture tube can be automated, that is, Thus, the operator is released from the troublesome work process.

Instead of separately handling the washing solution container and the culture solution container and connecting them to the culture tube, each container is connected to a branch tube in advance, and the valves provided for these branch tubes are connected. Washing and filling operations are automatically performed sequentially by control and the drive control of the shut-off valve and the transfer pump. This eliminates the need to replace needles for each container, and allows the operator to replace each container and suction needle. Without touching, the deterioration of the test reliability due to contamination by bacteria is not caused. In addition, it is possible to automate monotonous work over a long period of time, such as repeating the same work process such as washing the culture tube several times. It is possible to reliably reduce the reliability of test results and the possibility of false positives.

Further, since the structure is such that the liquid in each container is handled by connecting the branch tube of the connecting tube to each container in advance, a complicated mechanism for rotating these containers is not required, and the apparatus is used as an apparatus. Is simplified, and the entire device can be reduced in size.

Further, the structure is such that the branch tube inserted into each container is connected to the connection tube, so that the liquid sending portion is shared, and the pump which is the means for sending the liquid is a common one. Since the configuration is performed by one pump, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, and from this, it is possible to simplify the structure of the device and to obtain the effect of saving space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a sterility test apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a membrane filter test unit constituting the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the sterility test apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the sterility test apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the sterility test apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sterility test apparatus 3 ... Washing liquid container 4 ... Culture solution container 7 ... Connection tube 8 ... Branch tube 11 ... Valve (open / close valve) 16 ... Culture tube 17 ... Connection port 18 ... Open / close plug 19 ... Drainage port 20 ... Membrane filter 25 ... Transport tube 27 ... Pump (transfer pump) 28 ... Close valve 31 ... Air valve opening / closing means (Air valve opening / closing mechanism) 32 ... Bottom valve 33 ... Bottom valve opening / closing means (Bottom valve opening / closing mechanism)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sample is introduced by a pump into a culture tube in which a membrane filter is set, passed through the membrane filter to capture bacteria on the membrane filter, and then a washing solution is introduced into the culture tube by the pump. Then, the culture tube is washed, and thereafter, the culture solution is flowed into the culture tube by the pump and filled therein, and in the sterility test device for culturing the captured bacteria in the culture tube, A transport tube is provided on an air vent opening / closing stopper juxtaposed to an inlet of the culture tube to which the transport tube is connected,
An air valve opening / closing means for opening and closing the opening / closing stopper; and a bottom valve provided at a bottom portion of the culture tube and provided at a drain port for discharging a liquid flowing into the culture tube; Bottom valve opening / closing means for opening / closing, a closing valve provided in the middle of the transport tube connected to the inflow port of the culture tube, the air valve opening / closing means, the bottom valve opening / closing means, and the closing valve And a control means for controlling opening and closing of the pump and driving of the pump. 2. A sample is introduced into a culture tube in which a membrane filter is set by a pump by a pump, passed through the membrane filter to capture bacteria in the membrane filter, and then a washing solution is introduced into the culture tube by the pump. Then, the culture tube is washed, and thereafter, the culture solution is flowed into the culture tube by the pump and filled therein, and in the sterility test device for culturing the captured bacteria in the culture tube, A transport tube is provided on an air vent opening / closing stopper juxtaposed to an inlet of the culture tube to which the transport tube is connected,
An air valve opening / closing means for opening and closing the opening / closing stopper; and a bottom valve provided at a bottom portion of the culture tube and provided at a drain port for discharging a liquid flowing into the culture tube; Means for opening and closing a bottom valve, a closing valve provided in the middle of the transport tube connected to the inflow port of the culture tube, and a washing solution container containing at least the washing solution and containing the culture solution A plurality of branch tubes connected to each of the culture solution containers is provided at one end, the other end is provided with a connection tube connected to the transport tube, and provided in the middle of each branch tube of the connection tube,
A valve that closes each branch tube, and the air valve opening / closing means, the bottom valve opening / closing means, the closing valve, and the valve are controlled to open and close, respectively.
A sterilization test apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control driving of the pump.