JP2011109933A - Adapter for culture vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adapter for culture vessel that holds a culture vessel so as not to be moved even if the outer diameter of the culture vessel has a dimensional change caused by production error or culture vessels have different sizes. <P>SOLUTION: The adapter for culture vessel has a base member 31 on which the culture vessel 4 is placed, holding members 34 for holding culture vessel 4 placed on the base member 31 and a pressing force imparting means for imparting pressing force to move the holding members 34 along guide grooves 35 extending in the radial direction formed on the base member 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a culture vessel adapter for holding a culture vessel when culturing cells or the like.

  Conventionally, in an apparatus for culturing cells over time and observing the cells, a plurality of culture containers containing the cells are stored in the cell culture apparatus and moved to an observation stage during observation. At this time, it is necessary to hold the culture vessel so that it does not move, and a culture vessel adapter for solving this has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-333823

  However, in the conventional culture vessel adapter, the outer periphery of the culture vessel is fitted and held on the wall formed with a predetermined size. When there is a variation (for example, 35-39 mm for a 35 mm culture vessel, the variation is 35 to 39 mm), after setting the culture vessel on the culture vessel adapter, this culture vessel adapter can be set on the automatic culture observation device or for cell observation When the culture vessel adapter in which the culture vessel is set is moved in the automatic culture observation apparatus, the set culture vessel is moved in the culture vessel adapter and the initially set observation cell position is shifted and moved. There is a problem that it becomes impossible to determine whether the cell position is caused by the movement of the cell during the culture or caused by the shift of the culture vessel.

  Moreover, since the conventional culture container adapter cannot respond to culture containers of different sizes, there is a problem that the adapter has to be manufactured for each size of the culture container, and the manufacturing cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and holds the culture container so that the outer diameter of the culture container has a dimensional change due to a manufacturing error or the like, or even if the culture container has a different size, the culture container does not move. It is an object of the present invention to provide a culture vessel adapter that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured such that a base member on which a culture vessel is placed, a holding member that holds the culture vessel placed on the base member, and the holding member are formed on the base member. There is provided a culture vessel adapter characterized by having a pressing force applying means for applying a pressing force that moves along a guide groove extending in a radial direction.

  According to the present invention, the culture vessel adapter that can hold the culture vessel so that the culture vessel does not move even if the culture vessel has a dimensional difference due to a manufacturing error or the like, or even if the culture vessel has a different size. Can be provided.

The block diagram of the automatic culture observation apparatus which uses the culture container adapter which concerns on embodiment is shown. The culture container adapter which concerns on embodiment is shown, (a) is a top view including a partial cross section, (b) is a sectional view along the AA line of (a), (c) is a side surface including a partial cross section. Each figure is shown. The state at the time of the culture container installation start of the culture container adapter which concerns on embodiment is shown, (a) is a top view including a partial cross section, (b) shows sectional drawing along the BB line of (a), respectively. . The state after the culture container installation of the culture container adapter which concerns on embodiment is shown, (a) is a top view including a partial cross section, (b) shows sectional drawing along CC line of (a), respectively. The holder which mounts the culture vessel adapter which concerns on embodiment is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing along the DD line of (a), (c) is a culture vessel adapter. The top view of the attached state is shown, respectively.

  Hereinafter, a culture vessel adapter and an automatic culture observation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and excluding additions and substitutions that can be performed by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. It is not intended.

  First, the overall configuration of the automatic culture observation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present application will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic culture observation apparatus 1 accommodates a culture vessel 4 into which a specimen 2 and a culture solution 3 are injected and maintains a constant temperature and humidity atmosphere, and observes the cultured specimen 2. A phase-contrast microscope 6. The culture container 4 is held by a culture container adapter 30 according to an embodiment of the present application described later, and is placed on a holder 29 shown in FIG. 5 used when transported by the transport arm 12 of the transport device 8.

  In the thermostat 5, a stacker 7 that accommodates a plurality of culture vessel adapters 30 and a transfer device 8 for transferring the culture vessel 4 to the phase contrast microscope 6 are provided.

  The stacker 7 includes a plurality of shelves 9 on which the culture vessels 4 are placed.

  The transfer device 8 includes a support column 10 extending in the vertical direction and a transfer arm 12 that can be moved up and down along the support column 10 by a drive unit 11. The transport arm 12 can also be moved in the horizontal direction by the drive unit 13. With this configuration, the transfer arm 12 can transfer the culture container 4 on the holder 29 accommodated in the stacker 7 together with the holder 29 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  The phase-contrast microscope 6 is provided on the lower side of the thermostatic device 5 and includes an illumination device 15, a stage 16, and a microscope main body 17. The microscope main body 17 of the phase contrast microscope 6 includes an objective lens 20, an imaging lens 21, and an imaging unit 22 in order from the stage 16 side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a part of the phase-contrast microscope 6 extends into the thermostatic device 5, and the illumination device 15 is disposed in this part. In the phase-contrast microscope 6, the microscope main body 17 is provided at a position below the thermostatic device 5 and facing the illumination device 15. The stage 16 is disposed on the bottom surface in the thermostat 5 and at a position between the illumination device 15 and the microscope body 17. In the thermostat 5 and the phase contrast microscope 6, the wall surface of each housing corresponding to the optical path of the phase contrast microscope 6 is made of a transparent member.

  With the above configuration, in the automatic culture observation apparatus 1, a plurality of culture containers 4 can be accommodated in the thermostatic apparatus 5 and a large number of specimens 2 can be cultured, and these can be observed with the phase contrast microscope 6. In the automatic culture observation apparatus 1, the phase contrast microscope 6 and the drive units 11 and 13 of the transport apparatus 8 are provided outside the thermostat 5, so that the thermal influence on the thermostat 5 is reduced. Can do.

  Next, the culture vessel adapter according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the culture vessel adapter according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the culture vessel adapter 30 includes a bottomed cylindrical base member 31 composed of a cylindrical portion 31a and a bottom portion 31b, and a substantially ring-shaped rotationally movable member 32 that is rotatably disposed on the bottom portion 31b. And have. The bottom 31b of the base member 31 also serves as a placement part for placing the culture vessel 4, and the central part of the bottom 31b is provided with an opening 31c for transmitting illumination light when observed with the phase contrast microscope 6 described above. It has become. The diameter of the opening 31c is smaller than the smallest diameter of the bottom of the culture vessel 4 to be placed.

  Further, the outer peripheral portion of the rotationally moving member 32 is slidably disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 31a. Further, the center O of the bottom 31b of the base member 31 and the rotational center of the rotationally moving member 32 are configured to be the same.

  The rotationally moving member 32 is supported by three pins 33 arranged on the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 31 a of the base member 31 so as not to drop off from the base member 31 and to be rotatable.

  Further, the bottom 31b of the base member 31 has three substantially columnar shapes that hold the culture vessel 4 at regular intervals (120 ° in the case of the illustration) in the circumferential direction with respect to the center O of the bottom 31b. The holding members 34a, 34b, 34c are arranged. The bottom 31b is formed with three guide grooves 35a, 35b, 35c for moving the three holding members 34a to 34c in the radial direction. The guide grooves 35a to 35c are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the center O of the bottom portion 31b (in the illustrated case, 120 ° intervals).

  The holding members 34a to 34c are supported movably along the guide grooves 35a to 35c with screws or the like inserted from the back side of the bottom 31b of the base member 31 into the guide grooves 35a to 35c.

Contact portions 32a, 32b, and 32c that contact the outer diameter portions of the three holding members 34a to 34c, respectively, are formed on the inner peripheral side of the rotary moving member 32 that is formed in a ring shape.
Each contact part 32a-32c has at least the circumferential direction length for the circumferential direction length of the groove part 38 mentioned later. The radial width of the rotationally moving member 32 at each of the contact portions 32a to 32c is the distance from one circumferential end of each contact portion to the center O of the bottom portion 31b and the center O of the bottom portion 31b from the other circumferential end portion. It changes along the circumferential direction of the rotationally moving member 32 so that the distance up to is different.

  The main culture vessel adapter 30 is configured so that the radial movement distances along the guide grooves 35a to 35c of the three holding members 34a to 34c can be changed substantially equally by the rotation of the rotation moving member 32. Yes. As a result, the holding members 34a to 34c that are in contact with the contact portions 32a to 32c rotate the rotationally moving member 32 in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, so that the distance from the center O of the bottom portion 31b becomes closer or longer. , And can move along the radial direction (indicated by the arrows in the figure).

  Further, the rotation moving member 32 includes a rotation knob 36 that an operator picks with a finger when rotating the rotation movement member 32, and a groove 38 that engages with a fixed knurled screw 37 that fixes the rotation of the rotation movement member 32. Is formed. The groove portion 38 is formed in a part of the rotationally moving member 32 along the circumferential direction, and has a role of regulating the rotational movement amount of the rotationally moving member 32. The fixed knurled screw 37 is screwed to the bottom 31 b of the base member 31. By tightening the fixed knurled screw 37, the rotationally moving member 32 can be sandwiched and fixed between the bottom 31b and the fixed knurled screw 37, and by loosening the fixed knurled screw 37, the rotationally moving member 32 can be rotated. it can.

  Further, a spring member 39 arranged along the circumferential direction in order to give a clockwise rotational force to the rotationally moving member 32 is provided with a predetermined fixing member (for example, a fixing pin) on the base member 31 and the rotationally moving member 32. Connected through.

  In this way, the culture vessel adapter 30 according to the embodiment of the present application is configured.

  Next, how to hold the culture vessel 4 in the main culture vessel holding member 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, the operator loosens the fixed knurled screw 37 in order to place the culture vessel 4 on the placement part (bottom part) 31 b of the base member 31, picks the rotary knob 36 with his / her finger, and moves the rotary moving member 32 against By rotating clockwise, the rotary knob 36 is brought into contact with one end portion in the circumferential direction of the groove portion 38, and the fixed knurled screw 37 is tightened to fix the rotationally moving member 32. At this time, the spring member 39 extends to apply a clockwise rotational force to the rotationally moving member 32. In this state, the three holding members 34a to 34c can move freely in the radial direction.

  The operator installs the culture container 4 at a predetermined position of the placement unit 31b. Since the vicinity of the upper end portions of the three holding members 34a to 34c is formed in a taper shape inclined in the direction of the center O of the bottom portion 31b of the base member 31, the bottom surface of the culture vessel 4 is set to the upper end portions of the holding members 34a to 34c. By pressing, the three holding members 34a to 34c move radially outward, and the culture vessel 4 can be placed on the placement portion 31b.

  The operator loosens the fixed knurled screw 37 while holding the culture vessel 4 lightly by hand so that the culture vessel 4 can be slid on the mounting portion 31b from above the culture vessel 4 so that the culture vessel 4 does not float up. The rotationally movable member 32 that is free to rotate is rotated in the clockwise direction by the biasing force of the spring member 39, and the contact portions 32a to 32c of the rotationally movable member 32 apply a pressing force to the holding members 34a to 34c to hold them. The members 34a to 34c are moved in the center O direction along the guide grooves 35a to 35c, respectively, and the outer peripheral portions of the holding members 34a to 34c are in contact with the outer diameter portion of the culture vessel 4 and the urging force of the spring member 39 is applied to the culture vessel. 4 is pressed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rotational movement member 32 is rotated by the urging force of the spring member 39, and the three holding members 34 a to 34 c are given substantially equal pressing force toward the center O of the bottom portion 31 b of the base member 31. It is done. As a result, the culture container 4 slides to a position where the center thereof substantially coincides with the center O of the bottom 31b of the base member 31, and the pressing forces of the three holding members 34a to 34c balance and stop. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance (X, Y, Z) from the contact portion between the outer peripheral portion of the culture vessel 4 and the holding members 34a to 34c to the center O of the bottom portion 31b of the base member 31 is substantially equal. The distance (X = Y = Z) can be set.

  Thereafter, the operator fixes the rotationally moving member 32 so as not to rotate by tightening the fixed knurled screw 37. Accordingly, the culture vessel 4 is held and fixed to the base member 31 by the holding members 34a to 34c. As a result, the culture vessel 4 is fixed and maintained without shifting its position even when the culture vessel adapter 30 is moved by an operator or the like or when it is moved by the transfer arm.

  Thus, according to the main culture container adapter 30, the center of the culture container 4 and the center of the culture container adapter 10 can be easily matched. In the automatic observation apparatus 1, since the center positions coincide with each other, the observation position from the center position in each culture vessel is set in advance at the time of automatic observation. You can quickly move to a position.

  Moreover, even if the outer diameter dimension of the culture container 4 varies, the main culture container adapter 30 can absorb the dimensional change by changing the radial position of the holding members 34a to 34c, and the outer diameter dimension accuracy is improved. An inexpensive culture vessel 4 that varies can be used.

  In addition, since the main culture vessel adapter 30 can move the holding members 32a to 32c in the radial direction, the culture vessel adapter 4 is a culture vessel 4 having a different outer diameter (for example, a φ35 mm culture vessel or a φ60 mm culture vessel). Can also be held securely.

  Next, a modified example of the culture vessel adapter will be described.

(Modification 1)
The culture vessel adapter according to Modification 1 is a culture vessel adapter 30 according to the above-described embodiment in which a spring member 39 that applies a clockwise rotational force to the rotationally moving member 32 is not installed. The pressing force applied to the culture vessel 4 is determined by the operator rotating the rotary moving member 32 counterclockwise to set the culture vessel 4 on the mounting portion 31b, and then picking the rotary moving member 32 with a finger. After rotating clockwise and pressing the contact portions 32a to 32c of the inner peripheral portion of the rotationally moving member 32 against the retaining members 34a to 34c, the retaining member 34 is stopped by tightening the fixed knurled screw 37 and stopping the rotationally moving member 32 from rotating. Is configured to press the culture vessel 4. Other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment. Thereby, the culture container adapter which concerns on the modification 1 can have the same effect as embodiment.

(Modification 2)
The culture vessel adapter according to Modification 2 includes a cam groove that moves the holding members 34a to 34c along the radial direction by rotating the rotation moving member 32 in the culture vessel adapter 30 of the above embodiment, and the cam groove It has a cam mechanism with which the holding members 34a to 34c are engaged. Other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment. Thereby, the culture container adapter which concerns on the modification 2 can have the same effect as embodiment. In the case of the culture vessel adapter according to the second modification, a disk-shaped member made of an optically transparent member may be used as the rotation moving member 32. Thereby, it is not necessary to open the opening part for light transmission in the center part of a rotational movement member, and the intensity | strength of a rotational movement member can be improved.

(Modification 3)
The culture container adapter according to Modification 3 biases the holding members 32a to 32c that move in the radial direction in the culture container adapter 30 of the above-described embodiment in the direction of the center O of the bottom 31b of the base member 31, for example, a spring member The elastic members and other elastic members are arranged between the holding members 32 a to 32 c and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31 a of the base member 31. By comprising in this way, the rotation moving member 32, the rotation knob 36, the fixed knurled screw 37, and the spring member 39 become unnecessary, and the structure of the culture vessel adapter can be simplified and reduced in price.

  When setting the culture container 4 to the culture container adapter, the operator places the culture container 4 on the bottom 31b of the base member 31 while expanding the holding members 32a to 32c. After placement, the holding members 32a to 32c are pressed in the direction of the center O of the bottom 31b by the elastic members arranged respectively, and the culture containers 4 placed on the bottom 31b are placed in the culture vessel adapter in the holding members 32a to 32c. The culture vessel 4 can be held so as not to move.

  Next, the holder 29 for placing the culture vessel adapter 30 described in the above embodiments and modifications will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the holder 29 includes a rectangular bottom portion 23, a standing wall portion 24 that extends upward from a longitudinal side portion of the bottom portion 23, and a lateral side from the upper end of the standing wall portion 24. The bottom portion 23 is provided with two circular hole portions 26 spaced apart in the vertical direction and surrounding each hole portion 26 so as to surround each hole portion 26. The culture vessel adapter holding recess 27 for holding the culture vessel adapter 30 according to the embodiment is configured. The diameter of the hole 26 is configured to be equal to the diameter of the opening 31 c of the culture vessel adapter 30, and the diameter of the culture vessel adapter holding recess 27 is configured to be equal to the outer diameter of the culture vessel adapter 30. In the present embodiment, the holder 29 having the two hole portions 26 is shown as an example. However, the holder used for the culture vessel adapter 30 is not limited to this, and for example, a holder having only one hole portion or three or more holes. You may use the holder which has.

  FIG. 5C shows a state in which the culture vessel adapter 30 in which the culture vessel 4 is installed is installed in the recess 27 for holding the culture vessel adapter. At this time, the culture vessel adapter 30 is fitted into the culture vessel adapter concave portion 27 in a state where the outer peripheral portion is in contact with the wall portion 27 a of the culture vessel adapter holding concave portion, and is firmly fixed to the holder 29.

  Such a holder and the culture vessel adapter may be prepared separately so that an operator can install the culture vessel adapter 30 in the holder 29 at the time of use. The culture vessel adapter 30 may be fixed in advance on the culture vessel adapter concave portion 27 of the holder 29 by fixing or the like, and the culture vessel adapter 30 and the holder 29 may be configured integrally. Moreover, it is good also as a holder with a culture container adapter which arrange | positioned the member which comprises the culture container adapter 30 on a holder, without preparing a holder and a culture container adapter as a different body.

  In addition, the following content can be suitably employ | adopted in the range which does not impair the effect of the culture container adapter of this application.

  In the culture vessel adapter, when an even number of holding members are arranged, it is preferable to arrange the holding members at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the base member. The culture vessel can be stably held by disposing at symmetrical positions.

  In the culture vessel adapter, when arranging the odd number of holding members, it is preferable to arrange them at positions where the angle (center angle) of the movement direction of the holding member with respect to the center of the base member becomes substantially equal. By making the central angle substantially equal, the culture vessel can be stably held.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the shape of the holding member is preferably a shape that makes point contact with the culture vessel. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the holding member may be formed in a polygonal (pentagonal) longitudinal cross section so that one apex contacts the culture vessel. By adopting a point contact shape, the holding member can be stably held even in the case of a culture vessel formed with an inclined outer side.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the shape of the holding member is preferably a shape in line contact with the culture vessel. For example, the holding member may be formed to have a circular or polygonal (pentagonal) cross section, and one apex may contact the culture vessel. By adopting a line contact shape, the holding member can be stably held even in the case of a culture vessel formed with an inclined outer side.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the shape of the portion where the holding member comes into contact with the culture vessel is preferably formed in a U-shaped cross section. By forming the shape of the holding member in a U shape, the outer peripheral part of the culture vessel in which one holding member is formed in a cylindrical shape can be held at two locations, so that the culture vessel can be held stably. it can.

  In the culture container adapter, the contact portion of the holding member with the culture container is preferably formed of an elastic body such as rubber or plastic. The holding member can be stably held even in a culture container formed by inclining the outside by elastically deforming the contact portion.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the number of holding members moving in the radial direction may be at least one. By arranging at least one holding member that moves in the radial direction and providing the remaining holding member as a protruding member (fixing member) for holding the culture vessel on the mounting portion, the culture vessel can be held.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the base member is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be a rectangular shape. At this time, if the outer diameter of the rotating member that rotates is inscribed inside the rectangle, the same effects as in the embodiment can be obtained.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the center of the base member may be shifted from the center of the culture vessel. If the culture container can be securely held on the base member, the culture container can be prevented from moving during the movement in the automatic culture observation apparatus.

  In the culture vessel adapter, when the base member is formed of metal, opaque plastic, or the like, it is preferable to provide an opening for transmitting observation light in the base member. Further, the opening may be covered with a transparent glass member or plastic member. The stability of the culture vessel placed by covering the opening can be ensured.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the base member, the rotationally moving member, the holding member and the like are preferably formed of an optically transparent plastic member, particularly a heat resistant plastic, a reinforced plastic or the like. At this time, the base member may or may not have an opening. By comprising with a plastic member, a culture container adapter can be manufactured in large quantities and cheaply by the resin molding method.

  The culture vessel adapter is preferably formed of a member that can be cleaned with a disinfecting solution such as hydrogen peroxide. The culture vessel adapter can be used repeatedly because the quality does not change even after washing with a disinfectant solution, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the elastic member of the holding member is preferably formed of rubber, plastic or the like that does not deteriorate with the disinfectant. The culture vessel adapter can be used repeatedly because the quality does not change even after washing with a disinfectant solution, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the culture vessel adapter, the spring member can be made of metal, plastic, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic culture observation apparatus 2 Sample 3 Culture solution 4 Culture container 5 Constant temperature apparatus 6 Phase contrast microscope 7 Stacker
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Conveyance device 9 Shelf 10 Support | pillar 11, 13 Drive part 15 Illumination device 16 Stage 17 Microscope main body 20 Objective lens 21 Imaging lens 22 Imaging part 30 Culture vessel adapter 31 Base member 32 Rotation member 33 Pin 34 Holding member 35 Guide groove 36 Rotating knob 37 Fixed knurled screw 38 Groove 39 Spring member

Claims (6)

A base member for placing the culture vessel;
A holding member for holding the culture vessel placed on the base member;
A culture vessel adapter comprising: a pressing force applying means for applying a pressing force for moving the holding member along a radially extending guide groove formed in the base member. The base member has an opening centered on the center of the base member;
The culture container adapter according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the holding members are provided, and the holding members are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the center of the base member.   The plurality of holding members move integrally in the radial direction by the pressing force of the pressing force applying means, and are formed in a shape that contacts the culture vessel in a dotted or linear shape. The culture vessel adapter according to claim 2, further comprising an elastic body. The pressing force applying means comprises a substantially ring-shaped member disposed rotatably on the base member,
The substantially ring-shaped member has a contact portion of a predetermined length that contacts the holding member on the inner periphery thereof,
The said contact part is formed in the shape which moves the said holding member to the said radial direction when rotating the said substantially ring-shaped member, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Culture vessel adapter. The pressing force applying means comprises a substantially ring-shaped member disposed rotatably on the base member,
The substantially annular zone member is formed with a cam groove that engages the holding member,
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the substantially ring-shaped member is rotated, the holding member moves in the radial direction as the holding member moves along the cam groove. 5. The culture vessel adapter as described. A fixing member for fixing the substantially ring-shaped member;
The culture vessel adapter according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a biasing force applying member that applies a biasing force for rotating the substantially ring-shaped member in one direction.

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