JP2006223948A - Centrifugal separation system, and container for sample - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifugal separation system capable of reliably preventing outflow of a liquid sample inside thereof by sealing a sample inlet of the container for sample by a simple work without requesting any special device. <P>SOLUTION: The centrifugal separation system comprises a driving means, and a rotor 1 capable of storing a container 5 for sample in a storage hole 4, the rotor 1 is rotated by the driving means, and a liquid sample in the container 5 for sample stored in the storage hole 4 of the rotor 1 is centrifugally separated. A sample inlet 7 is formed in a side face of the container 5 for sample, and the sample inlet 7 is sealed with an adhesive tape 8. For example, the adhesive tape (a synthetic resin or a film) 8 is adhered to an outer surface of the container 5 for sample to seal the sample inlet 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a centrifuge system for separating a liquid sample in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, and the like, and a sample container containing the liquid sample.

  A centrifuge used for separation of a liquid sample includes a rotor capable of accommodating a plurality of sample containers containing a liquid sample therein in a receiving hole, and a driving unit such as a motor that rotationally drives the rotor in the rotor chamber. And the liquid sample in the sample container is centrifuged by rotating the rotor at a high speed in the rotor chamber.

  By the way, as the material of the sample container for containing the liquid sample therein, a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, polyethylene, or polypropylene, or a metal such as stainless steel is used from the viewpoint of chemical resistance to the liquid sample to be contained.

  The sample container has the same shape as a general test tube, and one end of the cylindrical portion is closed and the other end is opened. As one form, the sample injection port portion is made thinner than the cylindrical portion in order to make it easier to seal by welding after sample injection, and the sample injection port is welded to prevent the sample from flowing out (patent) Reference 1). In this case, a thermoplastic resin that is easily welded is used as the material for the sample container, and the thickness of the sample container is within a range from 0.381 mm to 0.635 mm in order to facilitate welding. It is about 75 mm.

  As a means for sealing the liquid sample contained in the sample container, in addition to the above-described sealing method by welding, the sample inlet is sealed with a rubber stopper, or a metal screw is screwed into the sample inlet and the sample is sealed. Things that prevent spillage are known.

Japanese Patent No. 2503649

  However, in order to carry out the sealing method by welding, a dedicated welding device is necessary, and this welding device requires a power source, so that there are restrictions on the place of use, and after welding, there is a surplus of welding in the welding part. Since it is easy to occur, it was necessary to remove it, and there was a problem that the operation became complicated.

  In addition, sealing the sample inlet with a rubber stopper or screwing a metal screw into the sample inlet to prevent the sample from flowing out requires parts such as a rubber stopper and screws, and also prevents the sample from flowing out. There was a problem that it was difficult to complete.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the intended processing is to prevent the outflow of the liquid sample inside by sealing the sample inlet with a simple operation without requiring a special device. An object of the present invention is to provide a sample container and a centrifuge system for centrifuging a liquid sample using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a driving means and a rotor capable of accommodating the sample container in the accommodation hole, and the rotor is rotationally driven by the driving means, and the accommodation hole of the rotor is provided. In the centrifuge system for centrifuging the liquid sample stored in the sample container, a sample inlet is formed on a side surface of the sample container, and the sample inlet is sealed with an adhesive tape. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the sample injection ports are formed at two locations above and below the side of the sample container.

  A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is attached to an outer surface of the sample container to seal the sample inlet.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the sample container is accommodated in the accommodation hole of the rotor so that the sample injection port formed in the sample container faces the side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided positioning means for positioning the sample container so that the sample injection port faces a side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the positioning means is constituted by a protrusion protruding from an axial center of the upper surface of the sample container.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the positioning means includes a positioning convex portion protruding from a side portion of the sample container and a positioning concave portion formed in the rotor. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 8 is capable of being accommodated in the accommodating hole of the rotor that is rotationally driven by the driving means, the sample container containing the liquid sample therein, and the sample injection port formed on the side surface thereof. The sample inlet is sealed with an adhesive tape.

  According to the first and eighth aspects of the invention, without using a special apparatus such as a welding apparatus, the sample inlet formed in the sample container can be sealed with an adhesive tape with a simple operation. It is possible to reliably prevent the liquid sample from flowing out.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the sample inlets are formed at the upper and lower two positions on the side of the sample container, the liquid sample can be injected into the sample container from either the upper or lower sample inlet. Workability is improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the sample inlet can be sealed by a simple operation of simply sticking the adhesive tape to the outer surface of the sample container.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the sample injection port of the sample container accommodated in the accommodation hole of the rotor faces the position farthest from the rotation center of the rotor (the rotation axis far side), the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotor As a result, the far side of the rotation axis of the sample container is brought into close contact with the storage hole, and the sample injection port formed in that portion and the adhesive tape that seals it are pressure-bonded between the storage hole and the sample container, and the liquid sample from the sample container Is more reliably prevented.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the sample container can be positioned by the positioning means so that the sample inlet is directed to the side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor (the rotation axis far side), The liquid sample can be reliably prevented from flowing out of the container.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, if the positional relationship between the projection protruding from the upper surface of the sample container and the sample inlet is determined in advance, the direction of the sample inlet is visually confirmed by the direction of the projection. Therefore, the sample container can be easily and accurately positioned so that the sample injection port faces the side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor (the rotation axis far side).

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, if the positional relationship between the positioning convex portion protruding from the side portion of the sample container and the sample injection port is determined in advance, the positioning convex portion is used for positioning on the rotor side. By engaging with the recess, the sample container can be easily and accurately positioned so that the sample inlet is directed to the side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor (the side away from the rotation axis).

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a centrifuge constituting a centrifuge system according to the present invention.

  The illustrated centrifuge 20 includes a rectangular box-shaped casing 21, and the interior of the casing 21 is partitioned into two upper and lower spaces by a horizontal frame 22, and a drum whose upper surface opens in the upper space. The chamber 23 is accommodated. A heat insulating portion 24 and a protective wall 25 are disposed around the chamber 23. Further, a rotor chamber S sealed by a door 26 is formed in the chamber 23, and the rotor 1 is rotatably accommodated in the rotor chamber S. The rotor chamber S is opened and closed by the door 26. In addition, an operation / display unit 27 is provided at the top of the housing 21.

  On the other hand, in the lower part of the housing 21 partitioned by the frame 22, a drive unit 28 is supported and accommodated by the frame 22, and an electric motor 30 as drive means is provided in a housing 29 of the drive unit 28. Built in. A rotating shaft (motor shaft) 6 extending vertically upward of the electric motor 30 passes through the chamber 23 and faces the rotor chamber S, and the rotor 1 is detachably mounted on the upper end thereof. .

  Next, the structure of the rotor 1 and the sample container 5 accommodated therein will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a partial sectional view of the rotor, FIG. 3 is a front view of the sample container, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the sample container.

  The rotor 1 is formed in a substantially truncated truncated cone shape, and a plurality of circular hole-like receiving holes 4 are formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof in a uniform manner in the circumferential direction. A test tube sample container 5 containing a sample 10 is inserted and stored from above. A metal cap 3 is attached to the upper portion of the sample container 5 accommodated in each accommodation hole 4 of the rotor 1 to hold the sample container 5, and the sample container 5 is retained in each accommodation hole 4. Is stored, the rotor lid 2 is attached to the upper surface opening of the rotor 1 to seal the upper surface opening.

  Here, the sample container 5 is integrally formed in a cylindrical shape whose upper and lower ends are hermetically sealed with a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. A protrusion 9 that is used when the storage hole 4 is taken out is protruded integrally.

  A sample inlet 7 is formed in the lower part of the side surface of the sample container 5 by using the surface tension of the liquid sample 10 so that the liquid sample 10 does not flow out in the natural state. A liquid sample 10 is injected into the container 5 using, for example, a syringe (not shown). That is, the liquid sample 10 is injected into the sample container 5 by inserting the needle of the syringe containing the liquid sample 10 into the sample inlet 7 of the sample container 5 and pushing out the liquid sample 10 from the syringe. In this case, as described above, the size of the sample inlet 7 is set to such a value that the liquid sample 10 does not flow out in a natural state due to its surface tension, so that it is injected into the sample container 5. The liquid sample 10 does not flow out of the sample inlet 7. The size of the sample injection port 7 is set to a diameter of φ0.4 mm to φ2 mm, preferably φ0.4 mm to φ0.8 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 5, if the sample inlets 7 are formed at two locations on the upper and lower sides of the sample container 5, the liquid sample 10 is injected into the sample container 5 from either the upper or lower sample inlet 7. This improves the workability of the injection.

  As described above, when the liquid sample 10 is injected into the sample container 5, the adhesive tape 8 is attached to the outer surface of the sample container 5, and the sample injection port 7 is sealed by the adhesive tape 8. In this case, if the adhesive is prevented from adhering to the portion of the adhesive tape 8 that contacts the sample inlet 7 and is provided with adhesiveness around it, the contamination of the liquid sample 10 is prevented, and aseptic processing is performed. It is also possible to apply. As shown in FIG. 5, when the sample inlets 7 are formed at two places above and below the side of the sample container 5, both of the sample inlets 7 are sealed with the adhesive tape 8.

  The adhesive tape 8 is made of a synthetic resin or film made of cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or the like and coated with an adhesive. The thickness of the adhesive tape is 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. preferable. The specific gravity of the adhesive tape 8 is preferably equal to or less than the specific gravity of the liquid sample 10 and the sample container 5. This is because, for example, when the adhesive tape 8 is wound around and attached to the entire circumference of the sample container 5, the sample container 5 is required because the side close to the rotating shaft 6 (rotating shaft side 12) of the adhesive tape 8 is centrifugal force. This is because the liquid sample 10 in the sample container 5 is pressurized and flows out of the sample inlet 7 due to being crushed as described above.

  Thus, after the liquid sample 10 is injected inside, the sample container 5 in which the sample injection port 7 is sealed with the adhesive tape 8 is attached with the cap 3 on the top thereof as shown in FIG. In this case, the sample inlet 7 is inserted into the receiving hole 4 of the rotor 1 from above, and the sample inlet 7 is at the farthest side from the rotation center of the rotor 1 (rotating shaft 6) (hereinafter referred to as “rotating shaft distant side 11”). ”).

  Thus, as described above, when the sample container 5 is accommodated in each accommodation hole 4 of the rotor 1 and the rotor lid 2 is attached to the upper surface opening of the rotor 1, the door 26 shown in FIG. 1 is closed. The rotor chamber S in the chamber 23 is sealed, and the rotor 1 is driven to rotate at high speed by the electric motor 30 in this state. Then, the liquid sample 10 in the sample container 5 rotating with the rotor 1 is centrifuged.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the sample inlet 7 can be sealed by a simple operation of simply sticking the adhesive tape 8 to the outer surface of the sample container 5 without using a special device such as a welding device. Thus, the outflow of the liquid sample 10 in the sample container 5 can be reliably prevented.

  Further, while the rotor 1 is rotating, a centrifugal force acts radially outward on the sample container 5, so that the rotation axis distal side 11 of the sample container 5 is in close contact with the inner surface of the storage hole 4. In this embodiment, as described above, the sample container 5 in the accommodation hole 4 is positioned so that the sample injection port 7 faces the rotation axis distant side 11, so that the sample injection port 7 formed in that portion and The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 8 is sealed between the storage hole 4 and the sample container 5, and the liquid sample 10 is more reliably prevented from flowing out of the sample container 5. According to experiments, it was confirmed that the liquid sample 10 did not flow out from the sample inlet 7 until a centrifugal acceleration of about 600,000 × g (g is gravitational acceleration).

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  6A is a plan view of the sample container, FIG. 6B is a side sectional view of the sample container, and FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the rotor. In these figures, FIGS. The same elements as those shown are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the present embodiment, positioning means for positioning the sample container 5 is provided so that the sample injection port 7 faces the rotation axis far side 11.

  That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 9 is integrally projected at a position deviated from the axial center of the upper surface of the sample container 5, and in accordance with this, is formed on the upper portion of the sample container 5. The cap 3 to be attached is formed with a fitting hole 3a for fitting the projection 9 of the sample container 5 at a position eccentric from the axis.

  Here, if the circumferential position of the projection 9 formed on the sample container 5 is matched with the circumferential position of the sample inlet 7, the direction of the sample inlet 7 is visually confirmed by the direction of the projection 9. Therefore, the sample container 5 can be easily and accurately positioned so that the sample injection port 7 faces the rotation axis distant side 11, and the liquid sample 10 flows out of the sample container 5 as described above. Can be prevented more reliably.

  In the present embodiment also, the sample inlet 7 can be sealed by a simple operation of simply attaching the adhesive tape 8 to the outer surface of the sample container 5.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  8A is a plan view of the sample container, FIG. 8B is a side sectional view of the sample container, FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the rotor, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the rotor. In FIG. 2, the same elements as those shown in FIGS.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, positioning means for positioning the sample container 5 is provided so that the sample injection port 7 faces the rotation axis far side 11.

  That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the positioning convex portion 16 is formed on the upper side portion opposite to the side on which the sample inlet 7 of the sample container 5 is formed. And as shown in FIG. 10, the notch groove-shaped positioning recessed part 17 is formed in a part of upper-end periphery of each storage hole 4 of the rotor 1. As shown in FIG.

  Here, the circumferential position of the positioning convex portion 16 formed in the sample container 5 is formed on the side opposite to the circumferential position of the sample inlet 7 (rotating shaft side 12), and the positioning concave portion 17 is also formed. Since the positioning convex portion 16 is formed on the same side as the positioning convex portion 16, by engaging the positioning convex portion 16 with the positioning concave portion 17 on the rotor 1 side, the sample container 5 is oriented so that the sample injection port 7 faces the rotation axis far side 11. Can be positioned easily and with high precision, and the outflow of the liquid sample 10 from the sample container 5 can be prevented more reliably as described above.

  In the present embodiment also, the sample inlet 7 can be sealed by a simple operation of simply attaching the adhesive tape 8 to the outer surface of the sample container 5.

  The present invention is applicable to a centrifuge system that rotates a rotor at high speed and centrifuges a liquid sample in a sample container accommodated in the rotor.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the centrifuge which comprises the centrifuge system which concerns on this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the rotor in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the sample container which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the container for samples concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the modification of the container for samples which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) is a top view of the sample container concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention, (b) is a sectional side view of the sample container. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the rotor in Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) is a plan view of the sample container, (b) is a side sectional view of the sample container, FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the rotor, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the rotor. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the rotor in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a top view of the rotor in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotor 2 Rotor lid 3 Cap 3a Fitting hole 4 Accommodating hole 5 Sample container 6 Rotating shaft 7 Sample inlet 8 Adhesive tape 9 Protrusion 10 Liquid sample 11 Rotating shaft far side 12 Rotating shaft side 16 Positioning convex portion 17 Positioning Recessed part 20 Centrifuge 21 Case 22 Frame 23 Chamber 24 Heat insulation part 25 Protective wall 26 Door 27 Operation / display part 28 Drive part 29 Housing 30 Electric motor (drive means)
S Rotor chamber

Claims (8)

A driving means and a rotor capable of accommodating the sample container in the accommodation hole; the rotor is driven to rotate by the driving means; and the liquid sample in the sample container accommodated in the accommodation hole of the rotor is centrifuged. Centrifuge system
A centrifuge system, wherein a sample injection port is formed on a side surface of the sample container, and the sample injection port is sealed with an adhesive tape.   The centrifuge system according to claim 1, wherein the sample injection ports are formed at two locations above and below the side of the sample container.   The centrifugal separation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive tape is attached to an outer surface of the sample container to seal the sample injection port.   The said sample container is accommodated in the accommodation hole of a rotor so that the said sample injection port formed in this may face the side farthest from the rotation center of the said rotor. Centrifuge system.   5. The centrifugal separation system according to claim 4, further comprising positioning means for positioning the sample container so that the sample injection port faces a side farthest from the rotation center of the rotor.   6. The centrifugal separation system according to claim 5, wherein the positioning means is constituted by a protrusion protruding at a position eccentric from the axial center of the upper surface of the sample container.   The centrifuge system according to claim 6, wherein the positioning means includes a positioning convex portion protruding from a side portion of the sample container and a positioning concave portion formed in the rotor. A sample container that can be accommodated in a receiving hole of a rotor that is rotationally driven by a driving means, and that contains a liquid sample therein,
A sample container comprising a sample injection port formed on a side surface and the sample injection port sealed with an adhesive tape.

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