JP2015104374A - Isolator, and centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an isolator equipped with decontamination gas supply means for supplying decontamination gas to a workroom and a centrifugal separation chamber in which the isolator is capable of securely decontaminating the centrifugal separation chamber.SOLUTION: There is provided an isolator in which a suction holes 27 and a discharge holes 28 for communicating a workroom 2 with a centrifugal separation chamber 3 are formed on an opening/closing door 22 which opens/closes an opening formed on a boundary between the workroom and the centrifugal separation chamber in a closed state of the opening/closing door. As the opening/closing door is set to the closed state and a centrifugal machine of the centrifugal separation chamber is rotated, and decontamination gas supply means 6 supplies decontamination gas to the workroom in that state, the decontamination gas is sucked from the workroom to the centrifugal separation chamber via the suction holes of the opening/closing door, and the decontamination gas is discharged from the discharge holes to the workroom, by which the centrifugal separation chamber can be securely decontaminated.

Description

  The present invention relates to an isolator and a centrifuge, and more particularly to an isolator having a centrifuge chamber equipped with a centrifuge and a centrifuge having a centrifuge chamber equipped with a centrifuge.

Conventionally, an isolator having a working chamber whose interior is maintained in a sterile state is known, and cells, bacteria, and the like are cultured in such an isolator. Further, since it is necessary to sterilize the work chamber at a required timing, the isolator is provided with a decontamination gas supply means for supplying a decontamination gas to the work chamber.
Further, in order to centrifuge cells and the like under aseptic conditions, a centrifuge chamber is formed adjacent to the work chamber, and a centrifuge is provided in the centrifuge chamber so as to be rotatable. There is also known an isolator in which an opening / closing door is provided in an opening formed at a boundary with a separation chamber (Patent Document 1).
In Patent Document 1, when the decontamination gas supply means supplies the decontamination gas into the work chamber, the centrifuge chamber is removed together with the work chamber by opening the open / close door of the centrifuge chamber. It has come to dye.
On the other hand, in the case of performing the centrifuge operation in an isolator that does not include the centrifuge chamber, a centrifuge device may be separately installed in the work chamber.
Even in such a case, in order to decontaminate the centrifuge chamber of the centrifuge device inside the isolator, the decontamination gas supply means is disposed in the work chamber while the open / close door of the centrifuge device is opened. Need to supply.

JP 2011-177091 A

Here, when performing decontamination with the decontamination gas with the open / close door of the centrifugal separation chamber opened as in Patent Document 1, the decontamination gas flowing into the centrifugal separation chamber flows by natural convection.
However, the centrifuge having a complicated shape is provided in the centrifuge chamber, so that the decontamination gas cannot be sufficiently distributed throughout the centrifuge chamber, and reliable decontamination cannot be performed. was there.
In view of such a problem, an isolator capable of reliably decontaminating a centrifuge chamber is provided, and a centrifuge device suitable for use inside the isolator is provided.

That is, the isolator according to claim 1 includes a work chamber whose interior is maintained in a sterile state, a centrifuge chamber formed adjacent to the work chamber, and a centrifuge provided rotatably inside the centrifuge chamber. An isolator comprising: a machine; an open / close door that opens and closes an opening formed at a boundary between the work chamber and the centrifuge chamber; and a decontamination gas supply unit that supplies a decontamination gas to the work chamber and the centrifuge chamber In
The opening / closing door is formed with a suction hole and a discharge hole for communicating the working chamber and the centrifugal separation chamber in a closed state,
By rotating the centrifuge of the centrifuge chamber with the open / close door closed, the decontamination gas supply means supplies decontamination gas to the working chamber in that state,
The decontamination gas is sucked from the work chamber to the centrifugal separation chamber through the suction hole of the open / close door, and further, the decontamination gas is discharged from the discharge hole to the work chamber.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centrifuge device comprising: a casing having a centrifuge chamber formed therein; a centrifuge provided rotatably in the centrifuge chamber; and an opening formed in the casing. In a centrifuge provided with an open / close door that is opened and closed, and installed in a work chamber of an isolator that is decontaminated by the decontamination gas of the decontamination gas supply means and maintained in a sterile state,
The opening / closing door is formed with a suction hole and a discharge hole for communicating the working chamber and the centrifugal separation chamber in a closed state,
By rotating the centrifuge of the centrifuge chamber with the open / close door closed,
The decontamination gas supplied to the work chamber is sucked into the centrifugal separation chamber through the suction hole of the open / close door, and the decontamination gas is further discharged from the discharge hole.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the centrifuge of the centrifuge chamber is operated while the door is closed, and the decontamination gas is supplied to the working chamber in this state, the suction hole of the door is rotated by the rotation of the centrifuge. The decontamination gas can be sucked into the centrifugal separator and then discharged from the exhaust hole.
Since the decontamination gas is forced to flow by the rotation of the centrifuge inside the centrifuge chamber, the decontamination gas can be sufficiently distributed to the centrifuge chamber, and reliable decontamination can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 3, when the centrifuge provided in the centrifuge chamber is operated with the work door closed, outside air is sucked into the centrifuge chamber from the suction hole of the open / close door by the rotation of the centrifuge. And then discharged from the exhaust hole. As a result, the outside air that has flowed in can be sufficiently distributed to the centrifuge chamber.
Therefore, if the centrifuge according to the present invention is installed inside the isolator, the centrifuge chamber of the centrifuge can be decontaminated when the inside of the isolator is decontaminated with the decontamination gas.

The front view which shows one Example of this invention. The top view of an opening-and-closing door. The top view of the centrifuge chamber which opened the opening-and-closing door. The front view which shows 2nd Example of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an isolator 1 that performs operations necessary for culturing bacteria and cells, and is an isolator 1 that can centrifuge cells and the like as will be described later. .
The isolator 1 includes a work chamber 2 in which the interior is maintained in a sterile state, a centrifuge chamber 3 formed adjacent to the work chamber 2, an incubator 4 for culturing cells and the like, and the work chamber 2 A pass box 5 for carrying in / out cells and other necessary materials, a decontamination gas supply means 6 for supplying decontamination gas to the work chamber 2 and the centrifuge chamber 3, and a control means 7 for controlling them. It has.
A transparent wall surface is provided on the front of the work chamber 2 in the figure, and a plurality of globes G are provided on the wall surface. An operator can perform a required work in the work chamber 2 by wearing the glove G.
The incubator 4 can be brought into and out of contact with the work chamber 2 by connection means 4a, and can be partitioned by an opening / closing door (not shown) constituting the connection means 4a. For this reason, the work chamber 2 and the incubator 4 can be communicated with each other while maintaining the aseptic condition by opening the open / close door while being connected by the connecting means 4a.
Further, the incubator 4 can be moved by a carriage, and when cells or the like that have undergone a required work are accommodated in the work chamber 2, they can be separated by the connecting means 4a and moved to a required position. It has become.
Similarly to the incubator 4, the pass box 5 can be connected to and separated from the work chamber 2 by connection means (not shown), and can be partitioned by an opening / closing door (not shown) constituting the connection means.
The pass box 5 is portable, and when necessary materials, cells for culturing, etc. are accommodated, they are transported by an operator and connected by the connecting means, and these are maintained in a sterile state. Materials and cells can be transferred.

The decontamination gas supply means 6 is provided in the upper part of the work chamber 2, and includes a gas generation source 11 for generating decontamination gas, and first and second HEPA filters F1, provided on the top surface of the work chamber 2. F2, a decontamination gas passage 12 disposed between the gas generation source 11 and the first HEPA filter F1, and an intake passage 13 having one end connected to the first HEPA filter F1 and the other end opened to the outside air. And an exhaust passage 14 having one end connected to the second HEPA filter F2 and the other end open to the outside air.
The decontamination gas passage 12 is provided with a pump P1 and an electromagnetic on-off valve V1, and the intake passage 13 is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve V2, a pump P2 and a catalyst C1, and the exhaust passage 14 Is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve V3, a pump P3 and a catalyst C2.

And the isolator 1 of a present Example has the centrifuge chamber 3 as mentioned above, and can perform the centrifuge operation | work, without carrying out a cell etc. from the isolator 1. FIG.
The centrifuge chamber 3 is formed inside a casing 21 protruding downward from the bottom of the work chamber 2, and an opening 21 a formed at the boundary between the work chamber 2 and the centrifuge chamber 3 is illustrated in FIG. 2 is provided.
The casing 21 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the entire upper end of the casing 21 forms a substantially circular opening 21a. The opening 21a is formed on the same horizontal plane as the bottom 2A of the work chamber 2. Yes.
Further, a centrifuge 23 is rotatably provided in the centrifuge chamber 3 as shown in FIG. 3, and the centrifuge 23 is a rotary shaft 23a that is rotated by a motor (not shown) at the approximate center of the casing 21. The rotary shaft 23a is provided with holding arms 23b that hold the four buckets 24 radially.
The number of rotations of the motor for driving the rotating shaft 23a can be controlled by the control means 7, and it is rotated at a different number of rotations when centrifuging cells and the like as will be described later. It has come to be.

The opening / closing door 22 is swingably attached to the opening 21a via a hinge 25 shown on the left side of the figure, and an operator can grip the glove G on the right side of the upper surface of the opening / closing door 22 in the figure. A small handle 26 is provided.
The outer diameter of the opening / closing door 22 is set to the same size as the opening 21a of the casing 21, and when the opening / closing door 22 is closed, the opening / closing door 22 is fitted into the opening 21a of the casing 21 to be sealed. Therefore, it is possible to work in the work chamber 2 while the centrifuge 23 is rotating.
The open / close door 22 of this embodiment is provided with a suction hole 27 and a discharge hole 28 for communicating the working chamber 2 and the centrifugal separation chamber 3 with each other.
More specifically, the suction hole 27 is formed in a rectangular region set at the approximate center of the open / close door 22 by a plurality of small through holes. More specifically, the region where the suction hole 27 is formed is set at a position facing the rotation center of the rotation shaft 23a of the centrifuge 23 when the open / close door 22 is closed.
On the other hand, the discharge hole 28 is formed by a plurality of small through holes in a rectangular region set on the left side of the opening / closing door 22 in the drawing. More specifically, the region where the discharge hole 28 is formed is set at a position separated from the suction hole 27 outward in the radial direction of the centrifuge 23.

A method of using the isolator 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, during normal operation in the isolator 1, the operator can use the centrifuge chamber 3 for separating cells and the like.
That is, the operator wearing the glove G can operate the handle 26 to open the open / close door 22 and hold the container containing cells or the like in the bucket 24 of the centrifuge 23.
When the operator closes the open / close door 22 and further instructs the operation of the centrifuge 23 via the control means 7, the control means 7 rotates the centrifuge 23 based on the number of rotations during the operation, and the bucket Centrifugation of the cells etc. accommodated in 24 is performed.
During centrifugation, the operator can perform other operations in the work chamber 2. That is, since the opening / closing door 22 is fitted in the opening 21 a formed at the same height as the bottom of the work chamber 2, the operator can work without being obstructed by the opening / closing door 22. It has become.

Next, the decontamination of the isolator 1 is performed at a required timing, for example, when work is performed on new cells or when all work is completed.
At this time, the open / close door of the connecting means 4a between the work chamber 2 and the incubator 4 and the pass box 5 is opened, and the work chamber 2 and these spaces are kept in communication.
On the other hand, the opening / closing door 22 of the centrifugal separation chamber 3 is closed, and the bucket 24 is removed from the centrifuge 23 in advance, and the bucket 24 is placed at a required position in the working chamber 2.
In this state, the decontamination gas supply means 6 is operated to open the electromagnetic on-off valve V1 provided in the decontamination gas passage 12 and to operate the pump P1.
As a result, the decontamination gas is supplied from the gas generation source 11 to the work chamber 2 via the decontamination gas passage 12, and the decontamination gas adheres to the exposed portion of the internal space of the work chamber 2. Decontamination is performed, and the bucket 24 placed in the working chamber 2 is also decontaminated.
On the other hand, since the decontamination gas also flows into the incubator 4 and the pass box 5 through the open / close door of the opened connection means 4a, these decontaminations can be performed simultaneously. .

Here, the decontamination gas that has flowed into the work chamber 2 flows by natural convection inside the work chamber 2 and cannot be circulated to all of the parts having a complicated shape. It may not be possible to dye.
In the centrifuge chamber 3 in particular, since the centrifuge 23 has a complicated shape, the open / close door 22 is opened as in the prior art, and the decontamination gas is distributed to the centrifuge chamber 3 only by natural convection. In some cases, it was not possible.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, at the time of decontamination, the opening / closing door 22 is closed, and the centrifuge 23 is operated simultaneously with the supply of the decontamination gas to the work chamber 2. Yes.
At this time, the control means 7 rotates the centrifuge 23 based on a preset rotation speed for decontamination. Specifically, the centrifuge 23 is rotated at a rotational speed lower than the rotational speed at the time of the above operation.
Then, the rotation of the centrifuge 23 generates an air flow from the center of the centrifuge chamber 3 toward the outside, thereby generating a differential pressure between the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of the centrifuge chamber 3.
Specifically, since the central portion of the centrifugal separation chamber 3 has a lower pressure, the decontamination gas in the work chamber 2 is sucked from the suction hole 27 formed at the position facing the rotary shaft 23.
The decontamination gas forcibly circulates inside the centrifugal separation chamber 3 by the air flow generated by the rotation of the centrifuge 23, and thereby circulates into a complicated shape portion such as the centrifuge 23, and adheres to these and decontaminates. Is done.
When the decontamination gas is moved to the outer peripheral side of the centrifugal separation chamber 3 by the rotation of the centrifuge 23, the decontamination gas is discharged into the working chamber 2 from the discharge hole 28 formed on the outer peripheral side of the opening / closing door 22. ing.

When the decontamination gas supply means 6 supplies the decontamination gas for a predetermined time, then the supply of the decontamination gas is stopped and the rotation of the centrifuge 23 is stopped to remove the decontamination gas inside the working chamber 2. I do.
Specifically, the electromagnetic on-off valves V2 and V3 of the intake passage 13 and the exhaust passage 14 in the decontamination gas supply means 6 are opened and simultaneously the pumps P2 and P3 are operated to maintain the operation state for a predetermined time.
Then, outside air is sucked into the intake passage 13, and the outside air is introduced into the working chamber 2 through the catalyst C 1 and the first HEPA filter F 1. At that time, since the outside air passes through the catalyst C1 and the first HEPA filter F1, various germs mixed in the outside air are removed.
On the other hand, the decontamination gas in the working chamber 2 is sucked into the exhaust passage 14, passes through the second HEPA filter F2, and the catalyst C2, and is released to the outside air. When the decontamination gas passes through the second HEPA filter F2 and the catalyst C2, hydrogen peroxide constituting the decontamination gas is removed, so that environmental pollution due to the released gas does not occur.

FIG. 4 shows an isolator 1 according to the second embodiment. Unlike the isolator 1 according to the first embodiment, the isolator 1 according to the present embodiment does not include the centrifugal separation chamber 3 at the bottom of the working chamber 2. In other words, in this embodiment, it is possible to use a general isolator 1 that does not have a centrifugal separation function.
Note that the isolator 1 of the second embodiment also includes the decontamination gas supply means 6 as well as the incubator 4 and the pass box 5 as well as the isolator 1 of the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted.
In the present embodiment, in the isolator 1 that does not include such a centrifuge 23, the centrifuge 31 according to the present invention is provided inside the work chamber 2 in order to centrifuge cells and the like inside the isolator 1. It has been installed.

The centrifuge 31 in this embodiment is formed in the casing 121 in which the centrifuge chamber 103 is formed, the centrifuge 123 that is rotatably provided in the centrifuge chamber 103, and the casing 121. An opening / closing door 122 that opens and closes the opening 121a is provided.
In the casing 121, a motor for driving the centrifuge 123, other control boards, and the like are provided separately from the centrifuge chamber 103, and the rotational speed of the centrifuge 123 is controlled from the outside of the isolator 1. It is possible.
The opening / closing door 122 of the centrifugal separator 31 in the present embodiment is formed with a suction hole and a discharge hole that allow the external space and the centrifugal separation chamber 103 to communicate with each other, like the opening / closing door 22 in the first embodiment. (Not shown, see FIG. 2).

According to the isolator 1 provided with the centrifuge 31, the cells and the like can be centrifuged using the centrifuge 31 in the work chamber 2 of the isolator 1 as in the first embodiment.
At the time of decontamination of the isolator 1, the bucket 24 is previously removed from the centrifuge 123 and placed in the work chamber 2, and the open / close door 122 is closed in this state.
Then, the centrifuge 123 of the centrifuge 31 can be decontaminated by rotating the centrifuge 123 with the open / close door 122 closed.
That is, the decontamination gas flowing into the working chamber 2 is sucked into the centrifuge chamber 103 through the suction hole of the closed door 122 when the centrifuge 123 rotates in the centrifuge chamber 103, and thereafter It is discharged from the discharge hole.
At this time, since the decontamination gas that has flowed into the centrifuge chamber 103 is distributed throughout the centrifuge chamber 103 by the rotation of the centrifuge 123, the centrifuge 123 having a complicated shape is also decontaminated.

In addition, in the said Example, although the discharge hole 28 of the opening-and-closing doors 22 and 122 is formed only in a part of the circumferential direction of the opening-and-closing doors 22 and 122, it is in several places in the circumferential direction of the opening-and-closing doors 22 and 122. It may be provided.
Further, as the shape of the discharge hole 28, only a part of the openings 21 a and 121 a of the casings 21 and 121 is bulged to the outer peripheral side with respect to the outer diameter of the opening and closing doors 22 and 122. A clearance may be formed between the periphery and the inner periphery of the openings 21a and 121a, and this may be used as the discharge hole 28.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, when decontamination is performed, the bucket 24 is removed from the centrifuge 23 and placed in the work chamber 2 of the isolator 1, but the bucket 24 is held by the centrifuge 23. Decontamination may be performed with the arm 23b attached.
And as an isolator concerning this invention, it is not limited to the isolator 1 which an operator like the above-mentioned Example mounts | wears with the glove | globe G, and works, Decontamination is performed by supplying decontamination gas. What is necessary is just to have a working room.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Isolator 2 Work chamber 3 Centrifugal separation chamber 6 Decontamination gas supply means 21 Casing 21a Opening part 22 Opening / closing door 23 Centrifuge 27 Suction hole 28 Exhaust hole

Claims (4)

A working chamber in which the inside is maintained in a sterile state, a centrifuge chamber formed adjacent to the working chamber, a centrifuge provided rotatably in the centrifuge chamber, and the working chamber and the centrifuge In an isolator comprising an open / close door that opens and closes an opening formed at a boundary with a chamber, and a decontamination gas supply means for supplying a decontamination gas to the working chamber and the centrifuge chamber,
The opening / closing door is formed with a suction hole and a discharge hole for communicating the working chamber and the centrifugal separation chamber in a closed state,
By rotating the centrifuge of the centrifuge chamber with the open / close door closed, the decontamination gas supply means supplies decontamination gas to the working chamber in that state,
An isolator wherein the decontamination gas is sucked from the working chamber to the centrifugal separation chamber through the suction hole of the open / close door, and further, the decontamination gas is discharged from the discharge hole to the working chamber. . In the closed state of the door, the suction hole is provided at a position facing the rotation center of the centrifuge in the door.
2. The isolator according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hole is provided at a position spaced apart from the suction hole radially outward of the centrifuge. A decontamination gas supply comprising a casing having a centrifuge chamber formed therein, a centrifuge rotatably provided inside the centrifuge chamber, and an open / close door that opens and closes an opening formed in the casing. In the centrifuge installed in the working room of the isolator that is decontaminated by the decontamination gas of the means and the inside is maintained in a sterile state,
The opening / closing door is formed with a suction hole and a discharge hole for communicating the working chamber and the centrifugal separation chamber in a closed state,
By rotating the centrifuge of the centrifuge chamber with the open / close door closed,
The decontamination gas supplied to the working chamber is sucked into the centrifuge chamber through the suction hole of the open / close door, and the decontamination gas is discharged from the discharge hole. . In the closed state of the door, the suction hole is provided at a position facing the rotation center of the centrifuge in the door.
The centrifuge according to claim 3, wherein the discharge hole is provided at a position spaced apart from the suction hole to the outside in the radial direction of the centrifuge.

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