JP2010131480A - Centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply detect and correct the weight imbalance of a rotor even if the weight of an individual centrifugal separation container is unknown. <P>SOLUTION: This centrifugal separator 1 includes a rotary shaft body 2 having a horizontal shaft body 2a extending in a horizontal direction and rotated around a vertical axis, a support arm 3 supporting two centrifugal separation containers 6a and 6b so as to hold the rotary shaft body 2 in a radial direction and swingably supported around the horizontal shaft body 2a, a fixing mechanism 3c for fixing the support arm 3 to the rotary shaft body 2, a level 4 which is fixed to the support arm 3 and in which air bubbles 4a and a liquid are sealed, a detection part 5 for detecting the positions of the air bubbles 4a in the level 4 and a regulation means 7 for regulating the weight balance of the support arm 3 on the basis of the position data of the air bubbles 4a detected by the detection part 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator.

  In conventional centrifuges, the weight of each centrifuge container is reduced in order to prevent the suspension from rotating properly in an imbalanced state so that the suspension is not properly centrifuged or the device is damaged by vibration. The inner volume is adjusted in advance so as to be equal, and the centrifuge container is mounted symmetrically about the rotating shaft body.

  In addition, when centrifuging a suspension (such as a cell suspension containing various cells) that requires maintenance of sterility, such as blood or a biological sample, the supernatant is discharged or the processing solution is supplied. In order to perform smoothly, a centrifuge container into which a supply / discharge tube is inserted in advance is used. The tube is connected to a liquid feed pump and other containers outside the centrifuge, and can be supplied and discharged into the centrifuge container with the centrifuge container attached to the centrifuge.

  On the other hand, a technique is known in which a level is provided in the apparatus as means for detecting the tilt and vibration magnitude of the apparatus, and the operation of the apparatus is controlled by electrically detecting the position of bubbles (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).

JP 2002-355493 A

  However, in the case of a centrifuge container connected to the outside by a tube, it is difficult to accurately measure its weight. Therefore, there is no means for detecting whether or not the rotor is imbalanced, other than judging from the vibration at the time when the rotor is rotated once. Moreover, even if the weight of each centrifuge container is different and imbalance is detected, it is impossible to accurately know which centrifuge container is light. For this reason, there is a problem that even if an attempt is made to adjust the weight deviation by the balancer, the centrifuge container to be adjusted and the weight of the balancer to be used are unknown.

  Therefore, when imbalance occurs, the rotor is stopped once, a fixed amount of liquid is supplied to one centrifuge container, and the rotor is rotated again to check the imbalance state. Imbalance correction is performed. However, such work requires time and human labor, and has a problem that it is very inefficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is a centrifuge capable of easily detecting and correcting the rotor imbalance even if the weight of each centrifuge container is unknown. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention has a horizontal shaft that extends in the horizontal direction and is rotated around a vertical axis, and supports two centrifuge containers sandwiching the rotary shaft in the radial direction, and around the horizontal shaft. A support arm supported so as to be able to swing, a fixing mechanism for fixing the support arm to the rotating shaft body, a level that is fixed to the support arm and in which bubbles and liquid are enclosed, and Provided is a centrifuge provided with a detection unit for detecting the position of the bubble in the level and an adjustment unit for adjusting the weight balance of the support arm based on the position information of the bubble detected by the detection unit. To do.

  According to the present invention, when the centrifuge container is supported by the support arm and the rotating shaft body is rotated in a state where the support arm is fixed to the rotating shaft body by the fixing mechanism, the support arm and the centrifuge container are also rotated. It is rotated around the body and a centrifugal force acting radially outward acts. Therefore, by storing the suspension in the centrifuge container, a centrifugal force having a magnitude corresponding to the specific gravity can be applied to each component in the suspension, and the components can be separated by the difference in specific gravity. .

  In this case, when the support arm is not fixed by the fixing mechanism, both sides of the support arm can swing in the vertical direction with the horizontal shaft body as a fulcrum. Therefore, if the weight balance of the support arm is biased about the rotating shaft body, the support arm is swung so that the larger weight is lowered.

  At this time, the level is also tilted integrally with the support arm, and the position of the bubble moves upward in the level, that is, toward the lighter centrifuge container, and the displacement is detected by the detection unit. Then, the adjusting means adjusts the weight balance of the support arm so that the position of the bubble is returned to the position (horizontal position) where the bubble is disposed when the support arm is horizontal.

  That is, according to the present invention, when the weights of the two centrifuge containers are imbalanced, the support arm is inclined by the imbalance, so that the centrifuge container weight can be reduced even if the rotation is stopped. Balance can be easily detected. Furthermore, it is possible to easily recognize the direction in which the weight is biased and the degree thereof by visual observation from the tilt direction and the angle of the support arm.

  Further, by providing the level, the tilt of the support arm, that is, the imbalance is detected with higher accuracy. Thus, by adjusting the weight balance so that the position of the bubbles returns to the horizontal position, the weight of the centrifuge container can be adjusted easily and accurately even if the magnitude of the weight deviation is unknown. .

  Further, by providing a fixing mechanism for fixing the support arm to the rotary shaft body, the support arm can be safely rotated while preventing the support arm from swinging and vibrating during rotation.

In the above invention, the adjusting means may include a supply mechanism for supplying a weight balancer into the centrifuge container or into a housing provided in the support arm.
By doing so, when the support arm is tilted due to imbalance and the bubbles move, the weight balancer is supplied into the centrifuge container or the accommodating portion arranged in the moving direction, and the imbalance of the rotor can be corrected. it can.

  Moreover, in the said invention, the said support arm is provided so that a movement in the direction orthogonal to the said horizontal axis body is possible, and the said adjustment means moves the said support arm in the direction orthogonal to the said horizontal axis body. It is good also as providing.

In this way, when the weight of the support arm is biased about the horizontal shaft, the position of the center of gravity of the support arm moves from the horizontal shaft in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal shaft. Therefore, by moving the horizontal shaft body to the moved new center of gravity position, the rotational moments of the support arms on both sides of the horizontal shaft body become equal, and the imbalance of the support arms can be corrected.
In addition, since it is only necessary to move the support arm in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal shaft, a complicated mechanism for adjusting the weight by the balancer is not required, and the configuration can be simplified.

  In the above invention, the support arm has a groove portion that opens toward the rotating shaft body, and the horizontal shaft body protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the rotating shaft body into the groove portion. A movable member made of a magnetic material, which is inserted and brought into close contact with the upper side wall of the groove, and is movable in the vertical direction from the lower part of the horizontal shaft body, and a magnetic force acts on the movable member. It is good also as providing the magnetic force generation means to which the said movable member is closely_contact | adhered to the lower side wall of the said groove part by making it move to a vertical-axis direction and making it move vertically downward.

By doing in this way, a support arm can be easily moved to the direction orthogonal to a horizontal axis body, and the position of a horizontal axis body can be easily adjusted in a groove part.
Further, when a magnetic force is applied to the movable member by the magnetic force generating means, the movable member is moved downward or upward.

  That is, when a magnetic force is generated so that the movable member is pulled downward, the movable member comes into close contact with the inner wall below the groove portion, and the support arm is fixed to the rotating shaft body. Further, when the magnetic force is generated so that the movable member is pulled upward, or the generation of the magnetic force is stopped, the fixation between the horizontal shaft body and the inner wall of the groove portion is released, and the support arm can swing. Thereby, the state which can rock | fluctuate a support arm and the state fixed to the rotating shaft body can be switched easily.

  In the above invention, the magnetic force generating means applies a magnetic force so as to move the movable member vertically upward, and the fixing mechanism biases the movable member vertically downward with respect to the horizontal shaft body. It is good also as providing the biasing member to do.

  By doing so, the movable member is brought into close contact with the inner wall on the lower side of the groove portion by the urging member, and the support arm and the rotating shaft body are fixed. Further, when the magnetic force generating means applies a magnetic force so as to move the movable member upward against the urging force of the urging member, the fixing by the movable member is released and the support arm can swing. Thereby, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the support arm is fixed with respect to the rotating shaft body and a state in which the support arm can swing.

  According to the present invention, even if the weight of each centrifuge container is unknown, the rotor weight imbalance can be easily detected and corrected.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the centrifugal separator 1 according to this embodiment includes a rotary shaft 2 that is rotated around a vertical axis, and an arm (support arm) 3 that is supported across the rotary shaft 2. A level 4 fixed to the arm 3, an optical sensor (detector) 5 for detecting the position of the bubble 4 a in the level 4, and a centrifuge container 6 a, based on the output of the optical sensor 5, A liquid feed pump (adjusting means, supply mechanism) 7 for feeding a cleaning liquid (weight balancer) A is provided in 6b.

  The rotary shaft body 2 has an upright columnar shape, and includes two horizontal shaft bodies 2a that protrude horizontally outward in the radial direction from the position of the center axis of the outer surface. The rotating shaft body 2 is rotated around the vertical axis by the motor 2b.

  The arm 3 is provided so as to face the rotary shaft body 2 in the radial direction, and holders 3a for accommodating the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are swingably supported at both ends. A circular groove 3b is provided at a substantially central position of the surface of the arm 3 facing the rotary shaft body 2, and the horizontal shaft body 2a is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the groove 3b via a bearing 3c. Yes. As a result, the arm 3 can swing in the vertical direction with the horizontal shaft 2a as a fulcrum while fixing the substantially center position of the arm 3 to the rotary shaft 2.

  When the rotating shaft body 2 is rotated, the arm 3 and the holder 3a are also rotated. The holder 3a is swung in a direction away from the rotary shaft 2 by a radially outward centrifugal force about the rotary shaft 2, and as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is rotated while the longitudinal direction is held in the horizontal direction.

  The level 4 is provided on the upper surface of the arm 3 in parallel with the arm 3. When the arm 3 is held horizontally, the position of the bubble 4 a is arranged at the center in the level 4. It has become. When the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b accommodated in the holder 3a have different weights and the arm 3 is inclined, the bubbles 4a are moved to the lighter centrifuge container 6a side in the level.

  The optical sensor 5 is disposed above the level 4. The optical sensor 5 irradiates each position of the level 4 with the detection light L, and detects the position of the bubble 4a based on the intensity of the reflected light from each position. Information on the position of the detected bubble 4 a (horizontal displacement information) is output to the liquid feed pump 7.

  The centrifuge containers 6a and 6b contain the cell suspension B therein, and the openings are closed with stoppers. One end of the tube 8 for supplying the cleaning liquid A is inserted from the stopper, and the other end of the tube 8 is connected to the liquid feed pump 7. Further, a rotary joint (not shown) is provided in the middle of the tube 8 so that the centrifugal containers 6a and 6b rotate around the rotary shaft 2 while preventing the tube 8 from being twisted.

  When the bubble 4a moves from the central position, the liquid feed pump 7 switches the path to the tube 8 connected to the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b in the moved direction and feeds the cleaning liquid A, and sequentially inputs from the optical sensor 5. The liquid supply is stopped when the position of the bubble 4a to be reached becomes the center position.

The operation of the centrifugal separator 1 configured as described above will be described below.
In order to centrifuge the cell suspension B using the centrifuge 1 according to this embodiment, the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are accommodated in the holders 3a. When the weights of the centrifugal containers 6a and 6b are equal, the rotary shaft body 2 is started to rotate as it is. When the weights of the centrifugal containers 6a and 6b are different, the cleaning liquid A is supplied into the lighter centrifugal container 6a, and the supply of the cleaning liquid A is stopped when the weight of the other centrifugal container 6b is equal. Thus, the rotating shaft body 2 is started to rotate. Then, the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are rotated for a predetermined time, and the cell suspension B is centrifuged into a cell mass and a supernatant.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the centrifuges 6a and 6b are inclined when the weights of the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are different, so that each centrifuge can be separated even if the rotating shaft 2 is not rotating. There is an advantage that the imbalance of the weights of the containers 6a and 6b can be easily detected.

Further, the imbalance correction may be performed by supplying the cleaning liquid A so that the inclination of the arm 3 is horizontal with the rotary shaft 2 stopped, so that the weights of the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b and the difference between them are different. There is an advantage that it can be easily performed without understanding.
Furthermore, by detecting and adjusting the inclination of the arm 3 based on the position of the bubble 4a of the level 4, there is an advantage that the imbalance can be detected and corrected with higher accuracy.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid is used as the weight balancer and is supplied into the centrifuge container. Instead of this, the arm may be provided with a storage portion for storing the weight balancer, for example, a cavity provided therein, and the weight balancer may be supplied into the storage portion. Moreover, it is good also as using another liquid, powder, and solid as a weight balancer.

In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid is supplied by the liquid feeding pump to adjust the weight of each centrifuge container. Instead, the weight is checked while the operator confirms the position of the bubble of the level. A balancer may be supplied.
The level 4 allows the operator to accurately see the imbalance, and further adjusts the weight of the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b with the rotating shaft 2 stopped, so that the operator can adjust the weight. Even so, it can be adjusted easily and accurately.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
In addition, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the centrifugal separator 1 according to the present embodiment has a rotating shaft body 2, an arm 3, a level 4, an optical sensor 5, and a direction in which the arm 3 intersects the horizontal shaft body 2 a. And a solenoid coil (magnetic force generating means) 10, and connected to the horizontal shaft 2 a by a spring (biasing member) 11 as shown in FIG. A stainless steel (SUS) ring (movable member) 12 is provided.

  The groove 3b provided in the arm 3 is formed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the arm 3, and the horizontal shaft 2a is movable in the longitudinal direction of the arm 3 in the groove 3b. As a result, the arm 3 is supported so as to be swingable with the horizontal shaft body 2a as a fulcrum, and the arm 3 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal shaft body 2a.

  The actuator 9 is arranged on an extension line in the longitudinal direction at both ends of the arm 3. When the information on the position of the bubble 4a is input from the optical sensor 5, the actuator 9 presses the holder 3a arranged in the direction opposite to the moving direction from the center position of the bubble 4a in the direction of the rotary shaft body 2, and the bubble 9 The arm 3 is moved until 4a returns to the center position.

  When the weights of the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b stored in the holders 3a are different and the arm 3 is tilted, the arm 3 is moved to the lighter centrifuge container 6a side by the actuator 9. Thereby, the position of the fulcrum of the arm 3 moves to the heavier centrifuge container 6b side, and the rotational moment acting on both ends of the arm 3 becomes equal, and the weight balance around the horizontal shaft 2a of the arm 3 becomes equal. It has come to be adjusted.

In the groove 3 b of the arm 3, the SUS ring 12 is disposed between the horizontal shaft body 2 a and the lower side wall of the groove 3 b and covers the outer periphery of the rotary shaft body 2. The spring 11 is housed in a groove 3d provided on the lower surface of the horizontal shaft body 2a. Both ends of the spring 11 are connected to the bottom wall of the groove 3d and the SUS ring 12 to urge the SUS ring 12 upward. Yes.
The solenoid coil 10 has a rotating shaft 2 inserted therein and is disposed below the arm 3. When a current is applied, the solenoid coil 10 generates a magnetic field that applies a downward magnetic force to the SUS ring 12.

  When no current is applied to the solenoid coil 10, as shown in FIG. 3A, the SUS ring 12 is urged upward by the spring 11, and the arm 3 can swing about the horizontal shaft 2a. Supported by When a current is applied to the solenoid coil 10, as shown in FIG. 3B, the SUS ring 12 is pulled downward by a magnetic force to extend the spring 11, and is moved downward. The arm 3 is fixed to the rotary shaft 2 by the SUS ring 12 being in close contact with the lower side wall of the groove 3b.

The operation of the centrifugal separator 1 configured as described above will be described below.
In order to centrifuge the fine suspension B using the centrifuge 1 according to this embodiment, the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are accommodated in the holders 3a as in the first embodiment. When the weights of the two centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are equal, current is continuously applied to the solenoid coil 10 and the rotating shaft 2 starts to rotate.

  When the weights of the two centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are different, the actuator 9 arranged on the heavier centrifuge container 6b side is actuated to move the arm 3, and the inclination of the arm 3 is adjusted horizontally. . Thereafter, an electric current is applied to the solenoid coil 10 and the rotating shaft body 2 starts to rotate, and the cell suspension B is separated into a cell mass and a supernatant.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, the fulcrum position of the arm 3 can be varied by making the arm 3 movable in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal shaft body 2a. Thereby, even if the weights of the centrifuge containers 6a and 6b are imbalanced, the weight balance can be adjusted by adjusting the fulcrum to a position where the rotational moments acting on both ends of the arm 3 become equal.

  Further, by providing a mechanism for fixing the arm 3 to the rotating shaft body 2, the centrifugal separator 1 can be operated safely. Further, as the mechanism, by using the solenoid coil 10 and the magnetic material, it is possible to easily switch between the state in which the arm 3 is fixed to the rotating shaft 2 and the state in which the arm 3 can swing by simply applying and stopping the current. it can.

In the above embodiment, the SUS ring is biased upward by the spring and pulled downward by the magnetic force. Instead, it is biased downward by the spring and pulled upward by the magnetic force. Also good.
In this case, when no current is applied to the solenoid coil 10, the SUS ring 12 is in close contact with the lower side wall of the groove 3 b and the arm 3 is fixed to the rotary shaft 2. When a current is applied, the SUS ring 12 is pulled upward against the bias of the spring 11 by a magnetic force, and the arm 3 can swing.

  In the above embodiment, the cell suspension to be centrifuged is not particularly limited, but for example, a fat-derived cell suspension containing cells derived from fat is preferable. Here, examples of the adipose-derived cells include vascular endothelial cells, fibroblasts, hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and the like. This stem cell is a cell collected from adipose tissue for the purpose of cell therapy or the like, and refers to a cell having multipotency and self-renewal ability.

It is a whole block diagram of the centrifuge which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a whole block diagram of the centrifuge which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The detailed structure of the horizontal axis | shaft body vicinity of the centrifuge of FIG. 2 is shown, (a) When enabling arm swing, (b) The figure explaining operation | movement of the SUS ring when fixing an arm. is there.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centrifugal apparatus 2 Rotating shaft body 2a Horizontal shaft body 2b Motor 3 Arm (support arm)
3a Holder 3b Groove 3c Bearing (fixing mechanism)
3d groove 4 level 4a bubble 5 optical sensor (detection unit)
6a, 6b Centrifugal container 7 Liquid feed pump (regulation means, supply mechanism)
8 Tube 9 Actuator (Adjustment means, moving mechanism)
10 Solenoid coil (fixing mechanism, magnetic field generating means)
11 Spring (fixing mechanism)
12 SUS ring (fixing mechanism, movable member)
A Washing solution B Cell suspension L Detection light

Claims (5)

A rotating shaft that has a horizontal shaft extending in the horizontal direction and is rotated about a vertical axis;
A support arm supported so as to be swingable around the horizontal shaft body, while supporting the two centrifuge containers with the rotating shaft body sandwiched in the radial direction;
A fixing mechanism for fixing the support arm to the rotating shaft body;
A level that is fixed to the support arm and in which bubbles and liquid are enclosed;
A detector for detecting the position of the bubble in the level;
A centrifuge having adjustment means for adjusting the weight balance of the support arm based on the position information of the bubbles detected by the detection unit.   The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit includes a supply mechanism that supplies a weight balancer into the centrifuge container or a housing provided in the support arm. The support arm is provided to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal shaft body;
The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit includes a moving mechanism that moves the support arm in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal shaft body. The support arm has a groove that opens toward the rotating shaft;
The horizontal shaft body protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the rotating shaft body and is inserted into the groove portion, and is in close contact with the upper side wall of the groove portion,
The fixing mechanism is a movable member made of a magnetic material provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction from the lower part of the horizontal shaft body, and moves the movable member in the vertical axis direction by applying a magnetic force to the movable member, and moves vertically downward. The centrifugal separator according to claim 3, further comprising: a magnetic force generating unit that causes the movable member to closely contact the lower side wall of the groove. The magnetic force generating means acts a magnetic force to move the movable member vertically upward,
The centrifuge according to claim 4, wherein the fixing mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the movable member vertically downward with respect to the horizontal shaft body.

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