JP2009168595A - Sample injector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample injector capable of certainly removing air bubbles mixed with a sample to be inspected. <P>SOLUTION: The sample injector 1 is equipped with an injector body 2. The injector body 2 is equipped with an elastically deformable container part 2A, a suction pipe part 2B and a discharge pipe part 2C and a suction port is formed by the leading end opening part 10 of the suction pipe part 2B while a discharge port is formed by the leading end opening part 15 of the discharge pipe part 2C. Further, a check valve 9 is provided in the suction pipe part 2B while a filter 16 impregnated with a defoaming agent and a filter 17 impregnated with a conditioning agent which accelerates the chemical reaction of the sample to be inspected and sets the sample to be inspected to a definite measuring condition are arranged in the discharge pipe part 2C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample injector suitable for use in testing for bacteria in milk, peptides present in blood and urine, and the like.

  As a device for measuring real-time interactions between bacteria in milk, peptides present in blood and urine, molecules that occur in vivo (immune reaction, protein-protein interaction, etc.) A surface plasmon resonance phenomenon measuring apparatus disclosed in No. 3 is known.

  When measuring a liquid test sample using the above-described surface plasmon resonance phenomenon measuring apparatus, a predetermined amount of the test sample is collected using a capillary action with a sample injector and leaked into the cell from a small hole in the sample cell. Inject so that there is no.

Japanese Patent No. 3462179 JP 2001-194298 A Japanese Patent No. 3356213

  However, since the conventional sample injector used in the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon measuring apparatus described above uses a dropper having a general simple structure, air (bubbles) should not be mixed into the test sample. There was a problem that it was difficult to collect and skill was required. In addition, since conventional sample injectors are difficult to remove if air bubbles are mixed in the test sample, they affect the measurement (change in the refractive index of the test sample, decrease in the amount of light to be measured, etc.) Inspection is not possible.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sample injector that can reliably remove bubbles mixed in a sample. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention includes a container part that is elastically deformable, and an injector main body that includes a suction pipe part and a discharge pipe part that are connected to the container part. A sample injector for sucking a test sample from the suction tube portion or discharging the test sample from the discharge tube portion due to a change in internal pressure due to elastic deformation caused by pressing of the suction tube, Incorporates a check valve and a filter impregnated with a defoaming agent in the discharge pipe.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the discharge pipe section further incorporates a filter impregnated with a conditioning agent that promotes a chemical reaction of the sample to be tested or makes a certain measurement condition.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the filter is further impregnated with a conditioning agent that promotes a chemical reaction of a test sample or makes the measurement conditions constant.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides the first chamber according to any one of the first, second, and third aspects, wherein the inside of the container portion communicates with the suction pipe portion by a partition wall that can be elastically deformed. And partitioning into a second chamber communicating with the discharge pipe portion, and forming a communicating hole in the partition wall for communicating the first and second chambers with each other, the communicating hole being formed by the pressing of the container portion. A check valve is configured together with the partition wall by closing it by elastic deformation of the partition wall and opening it by restoring the original shape of the partition wall by releasing the pressure.

  In the present invention, since the filter is impregnated with the defoaming agent, bubbles mixed in the test sample can be removed. In the present invention, since the check valve is provided, it is possible to prevent leakage of the test sample from the suction tube portion.

  Further, in the present invention, the filter is further impregnated with a conditioning agent that promotes the chemical reaction of the test sample or makes the measurement conditions constant, so that the chemical reaction of the test sample is promoted or the test sample is Constant measurement conditions can be obtained. Making the measurement conditions constant includes, for example, setting the pH value of the test sample to a predetermined value.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the communication hole formed in the partition wall is closed by the elastic deformation of the partition wall due to the pressing deformation of the container portion, and is opened by the elastic deformation returning to the original state by releasing the pressure. For this reason, the communication hole and the partition wall function as a check valve.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a sample injector according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a sample injector 1 includes an injector body 2.

  The injector body 2 includes an elastically deformable container part 2A, and a suction pipe part 2B and a discharge pipe part 2C attached to the container part 2A.

  The container portion 2A is formed in a rugby ball shape by an elastic material such as rubber, and one end in the major axis direction is opened, and the suction pipe portion 2B is connected to the opening portion 3.

  The suction tube portion 2B has a first tube body 4 formed in a tapered shape so as to be reduced in diameter toward the distal end, and a second tube portion inserted into and connected to the distal end side opening portion 5 of the first tube body 4. And the tube body 6. The first tubular body 4 is formed of glass or plastic, and the proximal end opening edge 7 is fitted into an annular groove 8 formed in the opening end surface of the container portion 2A, and is fixed by ultrasonic welding or the like. .

  The second tubular body 6 is integrally formed of plastic, has a check valve 9 at the inner back, and the distal end protrudes outward from the distal opening 5 of the first tubular body 4, and is ultrasonic. It is fixed to the first tubular body 4 by welding or the like. The tip of the second tube 6 forms a tapered portion 6A, and the tip opening 10 forms a suction port (hereinafter referred to as the suction port 10) through which the sample L is sucked.

  The check valve 9 is in the form of a tongue having moderate elasticity and is formed integrally with the second tube 6, and the end on the suction port 10 side is connected to the inner wall of the second tube 6. The container part 2A side end is normally in close contact with the inner wall of the second tubular body 6, and is configured to open as indicated by a two-point bell line when the container part 2A has a negative pressure. . The check valve is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a frusto-conical floating check valve 11 is used, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a check valve 12 that is composed of two tongue pieces 12a and 12b facing each other and in which the tip portions of both tongue pieces are usually in close contact may be used.

  The discharge pipe portion 2C is integrally provided on the base end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first tube body 4 so as to be perpendicular to the axis of the first tube body 4, and the distal end portion thereof is a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon. In order to easily and surely insert the sample cell 13 used in the measuring apparatus into the sample introduction port 14, it is formed in a tapered shape, and the tip opening 15 is an ejection port (hereinafter referred to as an ejection port) of the sample L to be tested. 15). A filter 16 impregnated with a defoaming agent and a filter 17 impregnated with a conditioning agent are incorporated in the discharge pipe portion 2C. In order to prevent the filters 16 and 17 from coming out of the discharge port 15 on the inner wall of the discharge pipe portion 2 </ b> C, a protruding drop prevention portion 18 is provided so as to protrude.

  As materials for the filters 16 and 17, suitable materials such as absorbent cotton, non-woven fabric, non-woven paper, membrane filter, and filter paper are used.

  The defoaming agent is used to remove bubbles mixed in the test sample L. For example, trade names Antiform 204, Antiform A, Antiform B emulsion, and Antiform C emulsion manufactured by Sigma Antifoam O-30, Antifoam SE-15, etc. are used.

  The conditioning agent is used to promote the chemical reaction of the test sample or to set the test sample at a certain measurement condition, for example, to set the pH value to a predetermined value. For example, tween20, Poly (Oxyethylene) sorbitanmonoulate, Phosphate buffer dried product, Tris buffer dried product, Kathon antibacterial agent and the like are used.

  In such a sample injector 1, when a test sample such as milk is collected, the distal end portion 6A of the second tube 6 is inserted into the test sample, and the container portion 2A is crushed by hand. The air is discharged from the discharge pipe portion 2C. And if the state which crushed the container part 2A was released rapidly, the container part 2A will elastically return and will return to an original shape. At this time, since the inside of the container part 2A becomes negative pressure, the check valve 9 opens as indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the test sample L passes through the suction pipe part 2B and is sucked into the container part 2A. On the other hand, since the filters 16 and 17 become resistance, the outside air does not enter the container part 2A through the discharge pipe part 2C. When the container part 2A returns to its original shape, the check valve 9 is closed by the internal pressure in the container part 2A and the suction pipe part 2B. For this reason, the test sample L in the injector body 2 is not likely to leak from the suction port 10, and the sample injector 1 is easy to handle. However, if the check valve 9 is not completely closed, the sample L is expected to leak slightly, but there is no problem with the measurement.

  When supplying the test sample L collected by the sample injector 1 to the sample cell 13, the tip of the discharge tube portion 2C is inserted into the sample inlet 14 of the sample cell 13, and the container portion 2A is slowly pushed by hand. It is crushed and discharged from the internal test sample L discharge pipe portion 2 C and injected into the sample cell 13. At this time, the test sample L passes through the filter 16 in the discharge pipe portion 2C, so that bubbles mixed in the test sample L are removed by the defoaming agent. Therefore, there is no influence on measurement due to bubbles, and accurate measurement can be performed. In addition, the test sample L passes through the filter 17 so that the chemical reaction is promoted by the conditioning agent or is set to a certain measurement condition. Therefore, rapid measurement is possible, and it is suitable for use in the sample injector of the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon measuring apparatus. Such a sample injector 1 is a disposable type that is discarded once it is used.

  FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view. In these drawings, the sample injector 30 includes a plastic injector body 31. The injector body 31 includes a flat container portion 32 that is circular in plan view, and a suction tube portion 33 and a discharge tube portion 34 that are integrally projected on the outer periphery of the container portion 32. The injector body 31 is formed by welding the divided surfaces of the two case pieces 35A, 35B divided at the center in the thickness direction in close contact with each other.

  The front surface plate 32a and the rear surface plate 32b of the container part 32 are formed sufficiently thin so that they can be elastically deformed as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The interior of the container part 32 is partitioned into first and second chambers 36 and 37 by a partition wall 35, and the interior of the first chamber 36 and the suction pipe part 33 is always in communication with the second chamber. 37 and the inside of the discharge pipe portion 34 are always in communication. Further, the partition wall 35 is provided by being displaced from the center of the container portion 32 toward the suction pipe portion 33 so that the volume of the second chamber 37 is larger than the volume of the first chamber 36. The partition wall 35 is formed to be sufficiently thin so that it can be bent in the same manner as the front surface plate 32a and the back surface plate 32b, and a communication hole 38 for communicating the first and second chambers 36, 37 at the center in the longitudinal direction. Is formed. The communication hole 38 is formed flat so as to be closed by elastic deformation of the partition wall 35.

  Furthermore, the surface plate 32a and the back plate 32b of the container part 32 are gripped when a sample A is gripped and pressed with a finger when the sample L is collected, and when the collected sample L is discharged. The portion B to be pressed is displayed in different colors. The pressing part A at the time of collection is an intermediate part between the discharge pipe part 34 and the partition wall 35, in other words, a central part part of the second chamber 37. The pressing part B at the time of discharge is a part corresponding to the communication hole 38 of the partition wall 35.

  The suction pipe portion 33 is formed of a tapered tube having a diameter that decreases toward the tip, and protrudes in a tangential direction from the outer periphery of the container portion 32.

  The discharge pipe portion 34 is formed of a straight pipe body or a pipe body having a tapered tip, and a filter 40 impregnated with a defoaming agent and a conditioning agent is incorporated therein.

  In such a sample injector 30, when the test sample L is taken, the tip of the suction tube portion 33 is inserted into the test sample in the container, and the front and back surfaces 32a, 32b of the container portion 32 are inserted. The pressing part A at the time of collection is grasped with a finger and slowly crushed to discharge the internal air from the discharge pipe part 34. And after crushing fully, pressing force is removed rapidly and the front and back surfaces 32a and 32b are returned to the original shape. Thus, a predetermined amount of the test sample L is sucked into the first and second chambers 36 and 37 of the container portion 32 through the suction tube portion 33.

  After collecting the test sample L, the distal end of the discharge tube portion 34 is inserted into the sample inlet 14 (FIG. 1) of the sample cell 13, and the front and back surfaces 32a and 32b of the container portion 32 indicate the pressing portion B during discharge. Is gripped and pressed, and the front and back surfaces 32a and 32b are slowly elastically deformed inward. As a result, the test sample L in the second chamber 37 is injected into the sample cell through the discharge pipe portion 34 as the pressure in the chamber increases. Further, when the pressing portion B is pressed with a finger, the portion of the partition wall 35 where the communication hole 38 is formed bends, and the hole walls of the communication hole 38 are brought into close contact with each other. That is, the communication hole 38 is closed by the bending of the partition wall 35. For this reason, the partition wall 35 and the communication hole 38 function as a check valve, and the test sample in the second chamber 37 flows back to the first chamber 36 through the communication hole 38, and from the suction pipe portion 33. There is no leakage to the outside.

  In such a sample injector 30, since the check wall is constituted by the partition wall 35 and the communication hole 38 that can be elastically deformed, the manufacture is simpler than a tongue-shaped check valve.

It is sectional drawing of the sample injector which concerns on this invention. (A), (b) is sectional drawing of the principal part which shows other embodiment of a non-return valve, respectively. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

Discharge tube portion, 9, 11, 12 ... check valve, 10 ... suction port, 15 ... discharge port, 16, 17 ... filter, 30 sample injector, 31 ... injector body, 32 ... container portion, 33 ... suction tube 34, discharge pipe part, 35 ... partition wall, 38 ... communication hole, 40 ... filter.

Claims (4)

An elastically deformable container part, and an injector main body composed of a suction pipe part and a discharge pipe part connected to the container part, and the internal pressure change due to elastic deformation caused by the pressing of the container part, A sample injector for sucking a test sample from a suction tube part or discharging the test sample from the discharge pipe part,
A sample injector, wherein a check valve is incorporated on the suction pipe part side, and a filter impregnated with a defoaming agent is incorporated in the discharge pipe part. The sample injector of claim 1, wherein
A sample injector, further comprising a filter impregnated with a conditioning agent for accelerating a chemical reaction of a test sample or setting a certain measurement condition in the discharge pipe portion. The sample injector of claim 1, wherein
A sample injector, wherein the filter is further impregnated with a conditioning agent that promotes a chemical reaction of a test sample or makes a certain measurement condition. The sample injector according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3,
The inside of the container part is partitioned into a first chamber communicating with the suction pipe part by a partition wall that can be elastically deformed and a second chamber communicating with the discharge pipe part. A communication hole is formed to allow the two chambers to communicate with each other. The communication hole is closed by elastic deformation of the partition wall due to the pressing of the container part, and reverses together with the partition wall by being opened by restoring the original shape of the partition wall by releasing the pressure. A sample injector comprising a stop valve.

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