JP2013141456A - Cell strainer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cell strainer having remarkably improved usability.SOLUTION: There is provided the cell strainer 30 fitting to an opening 14 of a cylindrical centrifugation tube 10 formed by a circumferential wall 12 and having the round opening 14. The cell strainer 30 includes a filtering part 34 having an opened top, held in the opening 14 of the centrifugation tube 10 and filtering a cell-containing suspension, a rib 47 as a holder for holding the filtering part 34 in the opening 14 of the centrifugation tube 10, and a connection part 58 to interconnect the inside and the outside of the centrifugation tube 10 when the cell strainer 30 is fit to the centrifugation tube 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cell strainer.

  Conventionally, cell suspensions (hereinafter also referred to as suspensions) containing cells and tissues have been prepared by various methods from various organs, cultured cells, and cultured tissues. However, since this suspension may contain unnecessary ones, it is possible to obtain single cells contained in the suspension, extract cell populations such as colonies of a certain size, In order to remove the filter, a filter having a resin filter called a cell strainer is used. For example, in Patent Document 1, a suspension is prepared, and an operator pours the suspension with a Komagome pipette or the like into a cell strainer fitted on a centrifuge or a tube such as a centrifuge tube used for clinical examination. An apparatus for collecting cells in a tube is used.

  In such an apparatus, the tube and the cell strainer are provided in a fitted state. For this reason, when a certain amount of suspension (for example, the amount that completely covers the filter on the bottom of the cell strainer) is poured into the cell strainer, the tube opening is covered with the suspension. The space inside the tube is sealed. In this state, even if the suspension attempts to fall through the filter and into the tube, the suspension does not fall because the inside of the tube is at a positive pressure.

No. 7-2007

  For this reason, when the filtration stagnates and when the filtration progresses slowly, the operator can take measures such as slanting the cell strainer with respect to the tube by his / her own hand or other means. The sealed state was eliminated.

  In such a case, since the holding of the cell strainer becomes unstable, the suspension may be spilled during the treatment. In addition, when the cell strainer is held by an operator's hand, there is a possibility that contamination to the suspension or filtrate occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and intends to propose a cell strainer that can significantly improve the usability.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the cell strainer of the present invention, the cell strainer that is held in the opening of the tube having a circular opening formed in the upper part by the peripheral wall having a bottomed cylindrical shape is open at the top and is liquid. A filtration unit that filters the filter, a holding unit that holds the filtration unit in the opening, and a communication unit that communicates the inside and the outside of the tube when held by the tube.

  This cell strainer can exhaust the gas inside the tube to the outside through the communication part even when it is fitted to the opening of the tube, and passes the liquid to be filtered even when the filtration part is covered with the suspension. Thus, the filtration function can be improved.

  According to the present invention, even when a cell strainer is fitted in the opening of the tube, the gas inside the tube can be exhausted to the outside through the communication portion, and the filtration is performed even when the filtration portion is covered with the suspension. The liquid to be passed can be passed to improve the filtration function. Thus, the present invention can realize a strainer that is easy to use.

The cell strainer and centrifuge tube by 1st Embodiment are shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows the front and a plane, (b) is a bottom view of a cell strainer. The cell strainer and centrifuge tube by 1st Embodiment are shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows a right side surface and a plane, (b) is a bottom view of a cell strainer. It is a perspective view which shows the front and plane of a cell strainer and a centrifuge tube by 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the right side surface and plane of a cell strainer and a centrifuge tube by 1st Embodiment. The cell strainer and centrifuge tube by 2nd Embodiment are shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows the front and a plane, (b) is a bottom view of a cell strainer. The cell strainer and centrifuge tube by 3rd Embodiment are shown, (a) is a top view of a cell strainer, (b) is a perspective view which shows the front and a plane. The cell strainer and centrifuge tube by 4th Embodiment are shown, (a) is a top view of a cell strainer, (b) is a perspective view which shows the front and a plane.

  An embodiment of a cell strainer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as an example when a centrifuge tube is used as a tube. This embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the centrifuge tube 10 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and has an upper end opened and a lower end closed.

  The centrifuge tube 10 is made of polypropylene or polystyrene, has a bottomed cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and has a circular opening 14 at the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 12 having a predetermined thickness. The peripheral edge 16 which is the upper end surface is formed flat. Moreover, the inner wall surface of the surrounding wall 12 is formed smoothly.

  The cell strainer 30 includes a holding portion 32 formed in a flange having an opening at the center, and a filtration portion 34 formed below the holding portion 32 and formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a circular bottom surface and open upward. And is held in the opening of the centrifuge tube 10.

  In the cell strainer 30, a suspension containing cells and tissues is poured into the filtration unit 34, and impurities such as collagen and bone fragments are separated from the suspension to obtain desired cells and tissues. Filter.

  The holding part 32 is made of polypropylene or polypropylene, has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the centrifuge tube 10, and has a flat bottom surface.

  A handle 36 is formed on the holding portion 32. For this reason, the operator can move the cell strainer 30 while holding the handle 36, and can prevent contamination due to the operator touching the filtration part 34 in contact with cells or tissues.

  The filtration part 34 is composed of a framework 38 made of polypropylene or polystyrene and integrally formed with the holding part 32, and a nylon filter 40 having a predetermined pore size. The filter 40 processed into a bottomed cylindrical shape is attached to the frame 38, or a plurality of sheet-like members are attached to the frame 38 to form a bottomed cylindrical shape.

  The skeleton 38 includes an upper frame body 42 formed at the upper end portion of the filtration portion 34, a lower frame body 44 formed at the lower end portion of the filtration portion 34, and the upper frame body 42 and the lower frame body 44. The four columnar bodies 46 are connected in the direction.

  The upper frame body 42 is formed in a ring shape having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 12 in the opening 14 of the centrifuge tube 10. The lower frame body 44 is formed in a ring shape having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper frame body 42.

  For this reason, the filtration part 34 has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter gradually decreases from the upper side toward the lower side by forming the outer diameter of the lower frame body 44 smaller than that of the upper frame body 42.

  With this shape, when the cell strainer 30 is held by the centrifuge tube 10, the filtering part 34 is less likely to contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10. Therefore, the cell strainer 30 can prevent the filtrate from falling along the inner wall surface of the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, the cell strainer 30 can be applied to one in which the diameter of the centrifuge tube 10 is gradually reduced as it goes from the upper side to the lower side.

  Thus, the operator can easily fit the cell strainer 30 into the centrifuge tube 10 and remove it.

  The column bodies 46 are equally arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions in the upper frame body 42 and the lower frame body 44, and the linear front column bodies 46f and rear columns that connect the upper frame body 42 and the lower frame body 44 in the vertical direction. The body 46b, the left column 46l, and the right column 46r are configured.

  In the filtering part 34, the filter 40 is fixed to the upper side of the lower frame body 44 in the framework 38 and between the upper frame body 42, the lower frame body 44 and the adjacent column bodies 46, that is, inside the framework 38.

  L-shaped ribs are provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the holding portion 32 and the front side of the front column body 46f in the frame 38, and on the lower surface of the rear end portion of the holding portion 32 and the rear side of the rear column body 46b of the frame 38, respectively. 47 is formed integrally with the holding portion 32 and the frame 38 and protrudes therefrom.

  Of the ribs 47, the filtration portion ribs 48, which are portions disposed outside the framework 38, are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and forward and rearward from the front side of the front column body 46f and the rear side of the rear column body 46b, respectively. Projects in the direction.

  Therefore, in the state where the cell strainer 30 is fitted into the centrifuge tube 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer surface of the filtering portion rib 48 contacts the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10, while the right side The outer surface of the column 46r, the left column 46l, and the frame 38 do not contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Thereby, a gap is formed between the frame 38 of the cell strainer 30 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12.

  Of the ribs 47, the holding portion ribs 50 arranged on the lower surface of the holding portion 32 are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and project downward from the lower surfaces of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the holding portion 32. .

  For this reason, in the state (FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the cell strainer 30 is fitted in the centrifuge tube 10, the lower surface of the holding portion rib 50 abuts on the upper surface of the peripheral edge portion 16 of the centrifuge tube 10, while The lower surface does not contact the peripheral edge portion 16. As a result, a gap is formed between the lower surface of the holding portion 32 and the peripheral edge portion 16.

  Thus, the cell strainer 30 is formed with a gap with the peripheral edge 16 of the centrifuge tube 10 and with a gap with the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10, whereby the inside of the centrifuge tube 10. A communication portion 58 is provided for communicating the outside and the outside. The air inside the centrifuge tube 10 is exhausted to the outside through the communication part 58.

  In the above configuration, when an operator pours a suspension into the cell strainer 30 fitted in the centrifuge tube 10, the suspension covers the filter 40, or a membrane is formed in the mesh hole of the filter 40 by the surface tension of the suspension. Is stretched.

  At this time, the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 passes through the communication portion 58 provided in the cell strainer 30 and is exhausted to the outside of the centrifuge tube 10. For this reason, the inside of the centrifuge tube 10 is not sealed. Thereby, the atmospheric pressure inside the centrifuge tube 10 is not higher than the external atmospheric pressure, and the same atmospheric pressure as the outside is maintained.

  As a result, the cell strainer 30 can smoothly drop the filtrate into the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, in the conventional cell strainer, when a highly viscous suspension such as bone marrow is filtered, the filtrate entering the gap between the lower frame body 44 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 stretches the membrane, and the inside of the centrifuge tube 10 Sometimes it was sealed.

  On the other hand, in the cell strainer 30 according to the present embodiment, since the lower frame body 44 is sufficiently spaced from the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12, the filtrate is accumulated between the lower frame body 44 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Without falling, it can be dropped into the centrifuge tube 10.

  Thus, even if the filter 40 is covered with the suspension, the filtrate falls smoothly, so that the operator does not need to hold the cell strainer 30 with one hand so as to float from the centrifuge tube 10. For this reason, the cell strainer 30 can improve the operativity at the time of an operator working.

  Further, in the conventional cell strainer, in order to prevent the centrifuge tube 10 from being sealed, the operator pours the suspension while holding the cell strainer by hand, so that contamination due to the operator's mistake is likely to occur. . On the other hand, the cell strainer 30 according to the present embodiment does not require the operator to hold the cell strainer 30 by hand, and thus can prevent contamination.

  Furthermore, the conventional cell strainer may spill the suspension if the operator slides his hand when the operator pours the suspension while holding the cell strainer by hand. On the other hand, the cell strainer 30 according to the present embodiment does not require the operator to hold the cell strainer 30 by hand, so that the operator can eliminate the risk of spilling the suspension by sliding the hand.

  By the way, conventionally, when the filter 40 is covered with the suspension, the filtrate can pass through the filter 40 if the operator pours the suspension while applying pressure by pressing a pipette or the like against the filter 40 of the cell strainer 30. There is also. In that case, however, the collected cells may be damaged.

  On the other hand, in the cell strainer 30 according to the present embodiment, since the filtrate can pass through the filter 40 without the operator pouring the suspension while applying pressure to the cell strainer 30, it can be collected without damaging the cells. .

  According to the above configuration, the cell strainer 30 is fitted to the opening 14 of the centrifuge tube 10 as a tube in which the circular opening 14 is formed at the top by the peripheral wall 12 having a bottomed cylindrical shape. In FIG. 30, the upper part is opened and accommodated in the opening 14 of the centrifuge tube 10, and the filtration part 34 for filtering the suspension containing cells, and the holding for holding the filtration part 34 in the opening 14 of the centrifuge tube 10. When the cell strainer 30 is fitted to the centrifuge tube 10 with the holding portion 32 and the rib 47 as a portion, a gap is formed between the cell strainer 30 and the centrifuge tube 10 to communicate the inside and the outside of the centrifuge tube 10. A communication part 58 is provided.

  Thereby, the cell strainer 30 can exhaust the gas inside the centrifuge tube 10 to the outside through the communication portion 58 in a state where the cell strainer 30 is fitted in the opening 14 of the centrifuge tube 10.

<Second Embodiment>
Compared with the cell strainer 30 (FIGS. 1 to 4) according to the first embodiment, the cell strainer 130 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. Although it is different from the filtration part 34, other than that is comprised similarly.

  The upper frame body 142 is formed to have an outer diameter larger than that of the upper frame body 42, but has an outer diameter that does not allow the cell strainer 130 to be tightly fitted into the centrifuge tube 10.

  The lower frame body 144 has an outer diameter larger than that of the lower frame body 44, and a plurality of communication portions 158 that are notched in a concave shape toward the inner circumferential direction are formed over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral portion.

  Therefore, in a state where the cell strainer 130 is placed on the centrifuge tube 10, the outer surface of the lower frame body 144 abuts on the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10, while the communication portion 158 of the lower frame body 144 is It does not contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Thereby, a gap is formed between the frame 138 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12.

  For this reason, the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 passes through the communication portion 158 and is exhausted to the outside of the centrifuge tube 10. Here, the cell strainer 130 is fitted slightly loosely to such an extent that the outer surface of the upper frame 144 lightly touches the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, since the cell strainer 130 is formed to be lightweight, there is a slight gap between the holding portion 32 and the peripheral edge portion 16 for sufficient ventilation when placed on the centrifuge tube 10.

  As a result, the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 passes through the gap between the upper frame 142 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10 and the gap between the holding portion 32 and the peripheral portion 16 via the communication portion 158. The air is exhausted outside the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, since the cell strainer 130 according to the present embodiment has the communication portion 158 in the lower frame body 144, the communication portion 158 is not accumulated between the lower frame body 144 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Through the centrifuge tube 10.

<Third Embodiment>
In the cell strainer 230 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the filtering part 234 has a D shape in plan view.

  The filtering unit 234 includes a framework in which an upper frame body arc portion 269 having an upper frame body 242 having an arc shape and an upper frame body linear portion 270 having a linear shape, and a filter attached to the frame. It is configured. As in the first embodiment, this filter may be processed into a shape that matches the framework, or a plurality of sheet-like members may be used.

  Further, the lower frame body 244 is positioned below the upper frame arcuate portion 269 and has a lower frame arcuate portion 271 having an arc shape, and below the upper frame body rectilinear portion 270 and a lower frame rectilinear portion having a rectilinear shape. 272 and 272.

  The holding part 232 is formed along the outer peripheral side of the upper part of the upper frame arcuate part 269, but is not formed on the outer peripheral side of the upper part of the upper frame linear part 270.

  For this reason, in the state where the cell strainer 230 is placed on the centrifuge tube 10, the outer surfaces of the upper frame arc portion 269 and the lower frame arc portion 271 are in contact with the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10, The outer side surfaces of the upper frame straight portion 270 and the lower frame straight portion 272 do not contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Thereby, a gap is formed between the frame 238 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12.

  As described above, the cell strainer 230 has a communication portion 258 that forms a gap between the upper frame straight portion 270 and the lower frame straight portion 272 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 and communicates the inside and the outside of the centrifuge tube 10. Is provided.

  For this reason, the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 passes through the communication portion 258 and is exhausted to the outside of the centrifuge tube 10.

  In addition, since the cell strainer 230 according to the present embodiment has the communication portion 258 in the lower frame body 244, the communication portion 258 is not accumulated between the lower frame body 244 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Through the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, in the cell strainer 230, the rear end of the filtering unit 234 is linearly cut as compared with the filtering unit 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2), but the length of the column 246 is changed to a column. By making it longer than 46, the capacity of the filtration part 234 is made substantially the same as the capacity of the filtration part 34.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the cell strainer 330 according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the filtering part 334 has an I shape in plan view.

  The filtering unit 334 includes a frame in which two upper frame arc portions 369 in which the upper frame body 342 has an arc shape and two upper frame linear portions 370 in a linear shape are combined with each other. It is composed of an attached filter. As in the first embodiment, this filter may be processed into a shape that matches the framework, or a plurality of sheet-like members may be used.

  The lower frame body 344 includes a lower frame arc portion 371 having a circular arc shape located below the upper frame arc portion 369, and a lower frame linear portion having a linear shape positioned below the upper frame linear portion 370. 372 in combination.

  The holding part 332 is formed along the outer peripheral side of the upper part of the upper frame arcuate part 369, but is not formed on the outer peripheral side of the upper part of the upper frame linear part 370.

  For this reason, in a state where the cell strainer 330 is placed on the centrifuge tube 10, the outer surfaces of the upper frame arc portion 369 and the lower frame arc portion 371 abut against the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the centrifuge tube 10, The outer side surfaces of the upper frame straight portion 370 and the lower frame straight portion 372 do not contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Accordingly, two gaps are formed between the frame 338 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12.

  As described above, the cell strainer 330 is provided with two communication portions 358 that form a gap with the centrifuge tube 10 and communicate the inside and the outside of the centrifuge tube 10. For this reason, the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 passes through the communication portion 358 and is exhausted to the outside of the centrifuge tube 10.

  In addition, since the cell strainer 330 according to the present embodiment includes the communication portion 358 in the lower frame body 344, the communication portion 358 is not accumulated between the lower frame body 344 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12. Through the centrifuge tube 10.

  Further, in the cell strainer 330, the front and rear ends of the filtering unit 334 are linearly cut as compared with the filtering unit 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2), but the length of the column 346 is changed to a column. By making it longer than 46, the capacity of the filtering unit 334 is made substantially the same as the capacity of the filtering unit 34.

<Other embodiments>
In the first embodiment described above, the case where two ribs 47 are provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or three or more ribs 47 may be provided. In addition, the rib 47 may be formed with only one of the holding portion rib 50 and the filtering portion rib 48.

  In the second embodiment described above, the case where a plurality of communication portions 158 are formed over the entire outer periphery of the lower frame 144 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or more communication portions 158 are provided. Only need to be provided.

  Further, in the third and fourth embodiments described above, the case where the filtering part 234 has a D-shaped cross section and the filtering part 334 has an I-shaped cross section has been described. As long as a gap is formed between the centrifuge tube 10 and the inside of the centrifuge tube 10 can communicate with the outside, the filtration unit may be configured in various shapes.

  In short, in the cell strainer held by the substantially cylindrical centrifuge tube 10 in which the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 12 is formed smoothly and the peripheral edge portion 16 of the upper end portion is formed flat, the inside and the outside of the centrifuge tube 10 are connected to each other. Any shape of a cell strainer may be used as long as a communicating portion is formed to allow the air inside the centrifuge tube 10 to be exhausted to the outside.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the holding part 32 is formed in the upper part of the filtering part 34, and the holding part 32 is hooked on the peripheral edge part 16 of the centrifuge tube 10, thereby holding the filtering part 34 in the opening part 14. Said about the case.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and the filtering part may be held in the centrifuge tube 10 by using the rib formed on the filtering part 34 as a holding part without forming the flange-shaped holding part 32.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cell strainer that separates impurities composed of solid components such as collagen and bone fragments from the suspension containing cells and tissues has been described. The present invention may be applied to a strainer for separating impurities such as solid components from the liquid, cells and colonies larger than the mesh holes.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cell strainer 30 as the cell strainer is configured by the filtration unit 34 as the filtration unit, the holding unit 32 or the rib 47 as the filtration unit holding, and the communication unit 58 as the communication unit. Said about the case.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and a cell strainer may be configured by a filtration unit, a holding unit, and a communication unit having various other configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Centrifuge tube, 12 ... Perimeter wall, 14 ... Opening part, 16 ... Peripheral part, 30, 130, 230, 330 ... Cell strainer, 32, 232, 332 ... Holding part, 34, 134, 234, 334 ... Filtration part, 36 ... handle, 38, 138, 238, 338 ... frame, 40 ... filter, 42, 142, 242, 342 ... upper frame, 44, 144, 244, 344 ... lower frame, 46, 246, 346 ... column , 47 ... Rib, 48 ... Filtration part rib, 50 ... Holding part rib, 58, 158, 258, 358 ... Communication part, 269, 369 ... Upper frame body arc part, 270, 370 ... Upper frame body straight part, 271 371: Lower frame arc portion, 272, 372: Lower frame straight portion.

Claims (7)

In the cell strainer to be held in the opening of the tube in which a circular opening is formed in the upper part by a peripheral wall having a bottomed cylindrical shape,
A filtration part that opens upward and filters the liquid;
A holding part for holding the filtration part in the opening;
A cell strainer having a communication portion that communicates the inside and the outside of the tube when held by the tube. The filtering portion includes an upper frame body having a shape corresponding to the opening of the tube, a lower frame body having a shape corresponding to the peripheral wall of the tube and provided below the upper frame body, and the lower frame body. A frame composed of pillars connecting the upper frame and a filter fixed to the frame;
The cell strainer according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is a holding portion rib that is connected to the upper frame body and is in contact with a peripheral edge that is an upper end surface of the peripheral wall.   The cell strainer according to claim 2, wherein a filtration portion rib that is continuous with the holding portion rib and is formed on the outer side of the column body and is fitted to the inner peripheral wall of the tube. The holding portion has an outer periphery larger than the inner periphery of the upper end portion of the tube,
2. The filter part is provided below the holding part, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens upward, and the communication part is formed between the filter part and an inner wall surface of the peripheral wall. Cell strainer as described in 1.   The cell strainer according to claim 4, wherein a filtration part rib is formed in the filtration part, and the communication part has the communication part at a position where the filtration part rib does not contact the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall.   The holding part has an outer periphery larger than the inner periphery of the peripheral part that is the upper end part of the tube, and the filtering part is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is provided below the holding part and opens upward. The cell strainer according to claim 1, wherein the communication part is formed between the holding part and the peripheral part.   The cell strainer according to claim 6, wherein a holding portion rib is formed in the holding portion, and the communicating portion is provided at a position where the holding portion rib does not contact the peripheral edge portion.

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