JP2015228801A - Valve for medium, and medium supply system including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve for medium and a medium supply system including the valve which are capable of suppressing use of redundant medium.SOLUTION: A valve 2 is configured by laminating a flow channel member 21 and a switching member 24. The flow channel member 21 introduces medium to be supplied to a plurality of flow channels 213. The switching member 24 is detachable to the flow channel member 21, and switches the flow channels 213 of medium by selectively closing a plurality of flow channels 213. Thus, the number of pipings of medium from a medium supply part to the valve 2 can be reduced, so that use of redundant medium can be suppressed. Particularly, because the switching member 24 is detachable to the flow channel member 21, replacing with a flow channel member 21 including a necessary number of the flow channels 213 can prevent medium from being left in extra flow channels 213 of the flow channel member 21. Therefore, use of redundant medium can be suppressed more effectively.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium valve for switching a medium flow path and a medium supply system including the medium valve.

  A culture container such as a dish used for cell culture contains a medium therein, and cells are cultured in the medium. Since waste materials accumulate in the culture medium in the culture vessel over time, it is necessary to periodically change the culture medium. Usually, when exchanging the culture medium, the culture container is moved from the incubator to an aseptic environment, and after exchanging the medium in the aseptic environment, the culture container is returned to the incubator. On the other hand, when a cell culture device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is used, the medium is exchanged by introducing the medium from the medium supply unit to the cell culture device in the incubator via a pipe. be able to.

JP 2011-244713 A

  When a plurality of cell culture devices are installed in the incubator, it is necessary to provide a plurality of pipes for introducing a culture medium from the medium supply unit to each cell culture device. However, in this case, there is a problem that the medium is present in each pipe, and the medium is wasted. In addition, when each cell culture device is connected to or removed from the medium supply unit, it is necessary to attach and detach a pipe to each cell culture device, so that the recombination work becomes complicated. is there.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the culture medium valve | bulb which can suppress use of a useless culture medium, and a culture medium supply system provided with the same. Moreover, an object of this invention is to provide the culture medium valve | bulb which can perform a recombination work easily, and a culture medium supply system provided with the same.

  The culture medium valve according to the present invention is a culture medium valve for switching a culture medium flow path, and a flow path member and a switching member are laminated. The flow path member guides the supplied medium to a plurality of flow paths. The switching member is detachable from the flow path member, and switches the flow path of the culture medium by selectively closing the plurality of flow paths.

  According to such a configuration, the medium flow path can be switched by the medium valve, and the medium can be selectively guided to the plurality of flow paths. Thereby, since the piping of the culture medium from the culture medium supply part to the culture medium valve can be reduced, it is possible to suppress the use of a useless culture medium. In particular, since the switching member can be attached to and detached from the flow path member, it is possible to prevent the culture medium from remaining in the remaining flow path of the flow path member by replacing the flow path member with the required number of flow paths. can do. Therefore, use of a useless culture medium can be suppressed more effectively.

  Also, by simply attaching and detaching the culture medium valve to the pipe from the culture medium supply section, each member connected to the plurality of flow paths of the culture medium valve can be attached and detached at a time, making recombination easy. Can be done. Furthermore, since the culture medium valve can be configured by combining any flow path member and switching member, it can be easily reconfigured to the optimal culture medium valve.

  The switching member may have an air supply port to which compressed air is supplied, and may be elastically deformed by the compressed air supplied to the air supply port to selectively close the plurality of flow paths.

  According to such a structure, the flow path of a culture medium can be switched using the elastic deformation of the switching member by compressed air. Thereby, since the flow path of a culture medium can be switched by the switching member which consists of a comparatively cheap structure, the manufacturing cost of the valve for culture media can be held down. Further, if the switching member has a relatively inexpensive configuration, the switching member can be made disposable, so that the reassignment work can be performed more easily.

  The switching member may include a connection member and a base member. The connecting member includes a medium introduction port through which a medium is introduced, a medium outlet through which the medium is derived, the air supply port, and an elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformed by compressed air supplied to the air supply port. The base member is detachably provided between the connection member and the switching member, and communicates the medium introduction port and the medium outlet port to the flow path member.

  According to such a configuration, since the connecting member having the elastically deformable portion that can be elastically deformed when switching the flow path of the culture medium is configured by a member different from the base member, the elastically deformable portion is deteriorated by repeated use. Even in such a case, only the connection member can be exchanged. In addition, since the connection member and the base member can be formed of different materials, the performance or durability of the culture medium valve can be improved by selecting a material suitable for each member.

  The base member is preferably made of a material harder than the connection member.

  According to such a configuration, the connection member having the elastic deformation portion is formed of a relatively soft material, while the base member is formed of a material harder than the connection member. If the base member is made of a relatively hard material, it is possible to prevent adverse effects such as blockage of the medium flow path due to deformation, enabling stable flow path switching and improving the performance of the medium valve. To do. Further, if the connecting member is formed of a relatively soft material, the elastically deformed portion is hardly deteriorated by repeated use, and the durability of the culture medium valve is improved.

  It is preferable that at least a part of the flow path member and the switching member is formed of PDMS or silicon rubber.

  According to such a configuration, the culture medium valve is sterilized and repeatedly used by forming at least part of the flow path member and the switching member using PDMS or silicon rubber capable of autoclaving. Therefore, the running cost can be reduced. Further, by using relatively inexpensive PDMS or silicon rubber, the culture medium valve can be made disposable.

  The culture medium supply system according to the present invention includes the culture medium valve and a culture medium supply unit that supplies the culture medium to the culture medium valve.

  In this case, the culture medium valve may be provided in the incubator.

  According to such a configuration, by providing the culture medium valve in the incubator, the distance to each member connected to the plurality of flow paths of the culture medium valve is shortened, and the length of the culture medium pipe between them is reduced. Shorter. Thereby, use of a useless culture medium can be suppressed more effectively.

  The culture medium supply system may further include a valve fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the flow path member and the switching member.

  According to such a configuration, the flow path member and the switching member can be tightly fixed with a simple configuration in which the flow path member and the switching member are sandwiched by the valve fixing member to ensure the airtightness of the flow path of the culture medium. Can do.

  According to the present invention, since the medium piping from the medium supply unit to the medium valve can be reduced, use of a useless medium can be suppressed. Further, according to the present invention, each member connected to the plurality of flow paths of the culture medium valve can be attached and detached at a time only by attaching and detaching the culture medium valve to the pipe from the culture medium supply unit. The reassignment work can be easily performed.

It is the schematic which showed the structural example of the culture medium supply system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the structural example of the valve | bulb. It is a top view of a channel member. It is AA sectional drawing of the channel member in Drawing 3A. It is a top view of a connection member. It is BB sectional drawing of the connection member in FIG. 4A. It is a top view of a base member. It is CC sectional drawing of the base member in FIG. 5A. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of a valve | bulb. It is a top view which shows the state which fixed the valve | bulb with the valve fixing member. It is a side view which shows the state which fixed the valve | bulb with the valve fixing member. It is a top view of a pressing member. It is a side view of a pressing member. It is a top view of a fixed board. It is DD sectional drawing of the fixing plate in FIG. 9A. It is a top view of a culture part. It is a side view of a culture part. It is a top view of an adapter. It is EE sectional drawing of the adapter in FIG. 11A. It is a top view which shows the modification of an adapter. FIG. 12B is a side view of the adapter of FIG. 12A.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a culture medium supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This culture medium supply system is a system for supplying a culture medium from the culture medium supply unit 1 to the culture unit 3 via the valve 2. A plurality of culture units 3 are connected to the valve 2. The valve 2 and each culture unit 3 are provided, for example, in an incubator 4 whose interior is maintained at a constant temperature, and from a medium supply unit 1 provided outside the incubator 4 via a single pipe 11. A culture medium is supplied into the incubator 4.

  The culture medium supply unit 1 includes a culture medium storage unit 12 and a pump 13. The culture medium stored in the culture medium storage unit 12 is sucked up by a pump 13 constituted by, for example, a syringe pump, and supplied from the pump 13 to the valve 2 in the incubator 4 through the pipe 11.

  The valve 2 is a medium valve for switching the flow path of the medium supplied from the medium supply unit 1, and is connected to the plurality of culture units 3 through different pipes 20. In this example, eight culture units 3 are provided in the incubator 4, and the flow path of the culture medium from the culture medium supply unit 1 to each culture unit 3 can be switched by the valve 2. However, the number of culture units 3 is not limited to eight, and may be two or more.

  Each culture unit 3 accommodates a medium supplied from the medium supply unit 1 through the valve 2, and the cells are cultured in the medium. Each culture unit 3 is connected to the waste liquid storage unit 5 via a different pipe 31. The medium can be exchanged by discharging the medium in each culture unit 3 to the waste liquid storage unit 5 and supplying a new medium from the medium supply unit 1 into each culture unit 3. The medium exchange may be performed continuously by continuously supplying the medium from the medium supply unit 1 to each culture unit 3 or intermittently by supplying the medium every predetermined time. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the valve 2 is operated by compressed air supplied from the air supply unit 6 via the pipe 61. The air supply unit 6 and the pump 13 are electrically connected to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 controls the operation of the culture medium supply unit 1 (pump 13) and also controls the operation of the valve 2 via the air supply unit 6 to automatically switch the culture medium flow path. The control part 7 can be comprised by a personal computer or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) etc., for example.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the valve 2. In this example, the valve 2 is configured by laminating the flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23. The base member 23 is a rectangular member having an outer shape of 35 mm × 35 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, for example, and is provided between the flow path member 21 and the connection member 22. The flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23 can be attached to and detached from each other, and the valve 2 can be configured by combining any shapes.

  FIG. 3A is a plan view of the flow path member 21. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the flow path member 21 in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the connection member 22. 4B is a BB cross-sectional view of the connection member 22 in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the base member 23. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the base member 23 taken along the line CC in FIG. 5A.

  The channel member 21 is made of, for example, silicon rubber. Specifically, two sheets 211 and 212 each formed of silicon rubber are laminated, and a part of the sheet 211 on the base member 23 side is cut out to form a medium flow path 213. . The thickness of the sheet 211 is, for example, 0.5 mm. However, the two sheets 211 and 212 may be configured integrally, or may include other sheets.

  A plurality of flow paths 213 are formed in the flow path member 21, and the flow paths 213 communicate with each other by being connected by a common connection portion 214. In this example, a plurality of flow paths 213 extend radially from a connection portion 214 formed at the center of the flow path member 21. Thereby, the culture medium supplied to the connection part 214 can be guide | induced to the several flow path 213. FIG. The number of channels 213 is set to be the same as the number of culture units 3 connected to the valve 2 (eight in this example).

  The connecting member 22 is configured by laminating two sheets 222 and 223 made of silicon rubber, respectively, on a connecting portion 221 made of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), for example. The thickness of each sheet 222, 223 is, for example, 0.1 mm. The connection part 221 is formed with a medium introduction port 224 through which a medium is introduced, a medium outlet 225 through which the medium is derived, and an air supply port 226 through which compressed air is supplied. However, either of the connecting portion 221 and the two sheets 222 and 223 may be integrally configured, or may be configured to include other sheets.

  By connecting the pipe 11 to the medium introduction port 224, the medium is introduced from the medium supply unit 1 via the pipe 11. The culture medium introduction port 224 is formed at a position facing the connection portion 214 of the flow path member 21, and penetrates the entire connection member 22 in the thickness direction by passing through the two sheets 222 and 223. The inner diameter of the medium introduction port 224 is, for example, 1 mm.

  The number of medium outlets 225 is set to be the same as the number of the flow paths 213 of the flow path member 21 (eight in this example). The inner diameter of each medium outlet 225 is, for example, 1 mm. Each medium outlet 225 penetrates the entire connecting member 22 in the thickness direction by penetrating the two sheets 222 and 223. The sheet 223 on the base member 23 side is formed with a medium outlet path 227 that extends in the radial direction at the end of the medium outlet 225 by being partially cut out.

  The number of air supply ports 226 is set to be the same as the number of flow paths 213 of the flow path member 21 (eight in this example). The inner diameter of the air supply port 226 is 1.5 mm, for example. The end of each air supply port 226 is closed by a sheet 222, and an enlarged portion 228 is formed by expanding the space of the closed end to, for example, an inner diameter of 4 mm. Each air supply port 226 is formed at a position facing the end of the flow path member 21 opposite to the connection portion 214 side in each flow path 213. In addition, each air supply port 226 faces each medium outlet path 227 with the sheet 222 interposed therebetween.

  The base member 23 is made of, for example, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride). A through hole 231 is formed in the center portion of the base member 23 at a position facing the connection portion 214 of the flow path member 21. The culture medium introduction port 224 communicates with the connection part 214 of the flow path member 21 through the through hole 231 of the base member 23. Further, through holes 232 are formed in the base member 23 at positions facing the respective air supply ports 226 of the connection member 22. Each medium outlet 225 communicates with each flow path 213 of the flow path member 21 via the medium outlet path 227 and the through hole 232 of the base member 23. The inner diameters of the through holes 231 and 232 are, for example, 1 mm.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the valve 2. Compressed air is individually introduced into each air supply port 226 of the connection member 22 from the air supply unit 6 via different pipes 61. As shown in FIG. 6, when compressed air is introduced into the air supply port 226, the sheet 222 elastically deforms at a position facing the enlarged portion 228 of the air supply port 226 due to the pressure of the compressed air.

  As a result, the elastically deformed sheet 222 closes the through hole 232 of the base member 23 facing, and as a result, the flow path 213 communicating with the through hole 232 is closed. In this manner, by controlling the introduction of compressed air to each air supply port 226, the plurality of flow paths 213 can be selectively closed. When actually supplying the culture medium, the introduction of the compressed air to any one of the air supply ports 226 is stopped while all the flow paths 213 are closed by introducing the compressed air to each air supply port 226. As a result, the flow path 213 corresponding to the air supply port 226 is selectively opened, and the culture medium is led out from the flow path 213 through the culture medium outlet 225.

  In the present embodiment, the connection member 22 and the base member 23 constitute a switching member 24 that switches the medium flow path 213 by selectively closing the plurality of flow paths 213. As in the present embodiment, the medium channel 213 is switched by the valve 2 and the medium is selectively guided to the plurality of channels 213, thereby reducing the medium piping 11 from the medium supply unit 1 to the valve 2. Therefore, use of a useless culture medium can be suppressed.

  In particular, by providing the valve 2 in the incubator 4, the distance to each culture unit 3 connected to the plurality of flow paths 213 of the valve 2 is shortened, and the length of the culture medium pipe 20 therebetween is shortened. Furthermore, since the switching member 24 can be attached to and detached from the flow path member 21, by replacing the flow path member 21 with the required number of flow paths 213, the surplus flow path 213 of the flow path member 21 is accommodated. It is possible to prevent the medium from remaining. Therefore, use of a useless culture medium can be suppressed more effectively.

  Moreover, each member (each culture | cultivation part 3) connected to the several flow path 213 of the said valve | bulb 2 can be attached or detached at a time only by attaching / detaching the valve | bulb 2 with respect to the piping 11 from the culture medium supply part 1. FIG. Therefore, reclassification work can be easily performed. Furthermore, since the valve 2 can be configured by combining the arbitrary flow path member 21 and the switching member 24, the optimal valve 2 can be easily reassembled.

  In the present embodiment, the sheet 222 constitutes an elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformed by the compressed air supplied to the air supply port 226, and the sheet 222 functions as a diaphragm. Thus, in this embodiment, the culture medium flow path 213 can be switched by utilizing the elastic deformation of the switching member 24 by compressed air. Thereby, since the culture medium flow path 213 can be switched by the switching member 24 having a relatively inexpensive configuration, the manufacturing cost of the valve 2 can be suppressed. Further, if the switching member 24 has a relatively inexpensive configuration, the switching member 24 can be made disposable, so that the reassignment work can be performed more easily.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the connection member 22 having the elastically deformable portion (sheet 222) that can be elastically deformed when the medium flow path 213 is switched is configured by a member different from the base member 23, and therefore, repeated use. Even when the elastically deforming portion is deteriorated by the above, only the connecting member 22 can be exchanged. Further, since the connecting member 22 and the base member 23 can be formed of different materials, the performance or durability of the valve 2 can be improved by selecting a material suitable for each member.

  In the present embodiment, the connection member 22 is formed of PDMS and silicon rubber, and the base member 23 is formed of PVDF. That is, the base member 23 is formed of a material harder than the connection member 22. As described above, the connection member 22 having the elastically deformable portion (sheet 222) is formed of a relatively soft material, while the base member 23 is formed of a material harder than the connection member 22. If the base member 23 is formed of a relatively hard material, it is possible to prevent adverse effects such as blocking of the medium flow path 213 due to deformation, so that stable flow path switching is possible, and the performance of the valve 2 is improved. improves. Moreover, if the connection member 22 (connection part 221) is formed with a comparatively soft material, an elastic deformation part will not deteriorate easily by repeated use, and durability of the valve | bulb 2 will improve.

  In the present embodiment, the flow path member 21 is formed of silicon rubber, and the connection member 22 of the switching member 24 is formed of PDMS and silicon rubber. That is, at least a part of the flow path member 21 and the switching member 24 is formed of PDMS or silicon rubber. In this way, by forming at least part of the flow path member 21 and the switching member 24 using PDMS or silicon rubber capable of autoclaving, the valve 2 can be sterilized and used repeatedly. Therefore, the running cost can be suppressed. Moreover, the valve 2 can be made disposable by using relatively inexpensive PDMS or silicon rubber.

  However, the materials of the flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23 are not limited to the above materials. For example, the flow path member 21 is not limited to the configuration formed entirely of silicon rubber, but may be configured of the entirety formed of PDMS, or may be configured of only a portion formed of silicon rubber or PDMS. There may be. The connection member 22 is not limited to the configuration including the connection portion 221 formed of PDMS and the two sheets 222 and 223 formed of silicon rubber. For example, the connection member 221 has a configuration in which the connection portion 221 is formed of silicon rubber. May be. The base member 23 is not limited to PVDF, and may be formed of other materials, but is preferably formed of a relatively hard material. However, the base member 23 can be configured integrally with the connection member 22 or the base member 23 can be omitted.

  FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a state in which the valve 2 is fixed by the valve fixing member 8. FIG. 7B is a side view showing a state in which the valve 2 is fixed by the valve fixing member 8. The valve fixing member 8 is a jig for sandwiching and fixing the flow path member 21 and the switching member 24, and includes a pressing member 81 and a fixing plate 82 that can be attached to and detached from each other.

  FIG. 8A is a plan view of the pressing member 81. FIG. 8B is a side view of the pressing member 81. FIG. 9A is a plan view of the fixed plate 82. 9B is a DD cross-sectional view of the fixing plate 82 in FIG. 9A. The pressing member 81 and the fixing plate 82 are made of, for example, resin, and the valve 2 is fixed while being sandwiched between the pressing member 81 and the fixing plate 82.

  The pressing member 81 is configured by integrally forming a pressing portion 811 that presses the valve 2 and a plurality of mounting portions 812 that are attached to the fixed plate 82. The pressing portion 811 is formed of, for example, a disc, and is formed in an annular shape by forming an opening 813 at the center thereof.

  Each mounting portion 812 is a rod-shaped member that protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the pressing portion 811 from the outer peripheral edge of the pressing portion 811, and in this example, the four mounting portions 812 are equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the pressing portion 811. Is provided. A claw portion 814 for engaging with the fixing plate 82 protrudes from the distal end portion of each attachment portion 812 toward the radially outer side of the pressing member 81.

  The fixed plate 82 is a rectangular member, for example, and has a larger planar shape than the pressing member 81. The fixing plate 82 has the same number of through-holes 821 as the attachment portions 812 of the pressing member 81, and each attachment portion 812 is inserted into the through-hole 821 by approaching the pressing member 81 so as to face the fixing plate 82. It can be made to.

  Each through hole 821 is configured by a long hole extending in the circumferential direction with respect to the center of the fixed plate 82. One end portion of each through-hole 821 is formed with a width that allows each attachment portion 812 to be inserted without the claw portion 814 being caught. On the other hand, the other end portion of each through-hole 821 is formed with a small width so that the claw portion 814 of each attachment portion 812 can be locked.

  That is, after each attachment portion 812 of the pressing member 81 is inserted into one end portion of each through hole 821, the attachment portion 812 is rotated in the circumferential direction so that each attachment portion 812 is on the other end side of each through hole 821. And the claw portion 814 of each attachment portion 812 can be hooked and locked to the peripheral edge portion of each through hole 821 (see FIG. 7A). However, the mechanism for attaching the pressing member 81 to the fixed plate 82 is not limited to the rotary mechanism as described above, and other arbitrary configurations such as a configuration using an attachment that can be attached with one touch are employed. be able to.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, with the valve 2 sandwiched between the pressing portion 811 of the pressing member 81 and the fixing plate 82, the pressing member 81 is attached to the fixing plate 82 as described above, thereby The road member 21, the connecting member 22, and the base member 23 can be pressed and brought into close contact with each other. In this way, the flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23 are closely fixed with a simple configuration in which the flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23 are sandwiched between the valve fixing members 8. The airtightness of the flow path 213 can be ensured.

  The fixed plate 82 is provided with a plurality of pins 822 extending in a direction orthogonal to the fixed plate 82. In this example, two pins 822 are provided so as to protrude toward the pressing member 81 side. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A, the flow path member 21, the connection member 22, and the base member 23 have through-holes 215 through which pins 822 are inserted at positions facing each other when they are stacked. , 229, 233 are formed. The inner diameter of each through-hole 215, 229, 233 is, for example, 1 mm.

  The valve 2 is stacked on the fixed plate 82 by inserting pins 822 through the through holes 215, 233 and 229 in the order of the flow path member 21, the base member 23, and the connection member 22. Thereby, the valve 2 is sandwiched between the pressing member 81 and the fixed plate 82 in a state where the connecting member 22 faces the pressing portion 811 of the pressing member 81. The piping 11, 20, 61 connected to the valve 2 can be attached to the connection member 22 of the valve 2 through the opening 813 of the pressing portion 811.

  FIG. 10A is a plan view of the culture unit 3. FIG. 10B is a side view of the culture unit 3. In this embodiment, the culture part 3 is comprised by the culture container 32 and the adapter 33, and the culture container 32 and the adapter 33 are pinched | interposed and fixed by the adapter fixing member 9. The medium from the medium supply unit 1 is supplied into the culture container 32 via the adapter 33.

  When such an adapter 33 is used, cells are adhered by performing normal culture in the culture container 32 for a certain period (for example, one day), and then the adapter 33 is attached to the culture container 32 and the medium supply unit 1 It is also possible to supply a culture medium into the culture vessel 32. The culture vessel 32 is an existing one that is commercially available, and is a general dish in which an annular side surface 322 protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of a circular bottom surface 321. An upper end edge of the annular side surface 322 constitutes an opening 323 of the culture vessel 32. However, the culture container 32 is not limited to a dish, and other arbitrary shaped containers can be used.

  FIG. 11A is a plan view of the adapter 33. FIG. 11B is an EE cross-sectional view of the adapter 33 in FIG. 11A. The adapter 33 includes a main body 331 that closes the opening 323 of the culture vessel 32 by being attached to the culture vessel 32. The main body 331 has substantially the same planar shape as the opening 323 of the culture vessel 32 and is attached in a state of entering the opening 323. The main body 331 is formed in a disk shape having an outer diameter of 34 mm and a thickness of 4 mm, for example.

  An annular protrusion 332 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the main body 331. The height of the annular protrusion 332 is 2 mm, for example. In a state where the main body 331 enters the opening 323 of the culture container 32, the tip surface of the annular protrusion 332 contacts the bottom surface 321 of the culture container 32, so that the culture sealed between the culture container 32 and the adapter 33 is performed. A space 324 is formed (see FIG. 10B). The size of the culture space 324 can be arbitrarily set according to the height of the annular protrusion 332.

  The main body 331 is formed with a medium introduction port 333 for introducing a medium into the culture container 32 and a medium outlet 334 for deriving the medium in the culture container 32. A connecting tube 335 is inserted into the medium introduction port 333, and a connecting tube 336 is inserted into the medium outlet 334. The connecting pipes 335 and 336 have an outer diameter of 2.5 mm and an inner diameter of 1.5 mm, for example, and are formed of silicon rubber.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, a medium introduction tube 337 is inserted into the connection tube 335, and the medium can be introduced into the medium introduction port 333 via the medium introduction tube 337. A filter 338 is connected to the medium introduction tube 337. A pipe 20 communicating with the valve 2 is attached to the filter 338 via a connecting tool such as a luer lock connector. A pipe 31 communicating with the waste liquid storage unit 5 is inserted into the connection pipe 336.

  In the present embodiment, by attaching the main body 331 of the adapter 33 to the culture container 32, the medium is introduced into the culture container 32 from the medium introduction port 333 and the medium in the culture container 32 is led out from the medium outlet 334. Can do. That is, by simply attaching the main body 331 to the existing culture vessel 32, it is possible to perform culture while continuously introducing the culture medium into the culture vessel 32. Therefore, culture can be performed in a stable culture environment using the existing culture vessel 32.

  The main body 331 is formed by PDMS, for example. Since PDMS is a gas-permeable material, gas can be transmitted between the inside and outside of the culture vessel 32 even when the opening 323 of the culture vessel 32 is closed by the main body 331. Thereby, for example, since the environment such as the carbon gas concentration in the incubator 4 can be maintained in the culture vessel 32, the culture can be performed in the same culture environment as the conventional culture using the existing culture vessel 32. . Moreover, since it is necessary to ensure airtightness between the culture vessel 32 and the main body 331, by using a gas-permeable material such as PDMS, the medium is prevented from leaking, and only gas is supplied. Can be transmitted.

  However, the main body 331 is not limited to PDMS, and may be formed of another material having gas permeability such as silicon rubber. If the main body 331 is formed using PDMS or silicon rubber that can be sterilized by autoclave, the adapter 33 can be sterilized and used repeatedly, so that the running cost can be suppressed. Further, the adapter 33 can be made disposable by using relatively inexpensive PDMS or silicon rubber. The main body 331 is not limited to a configuration in which the entire body 331 is formed of a material having gas permeability, and at least a part of the body 331 may be formed of a material having gas permeability.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the filter 338 can prevent foreign matters such as mold and bacteria from entering the culture vessel 32 from the medium introduction tube 337 via the medium introduction port 333. For example, when the attachment work of the adapter 33 to the culture vessel 32 is performed outside the incubator 4, foreign matter may adhere to the culture medium introduction tube 337 until the culture vessel 32 is subsequently installed in the incubator 4. There is. Even in such a case, it is possible to perform culture in a stable culture environment by preventing foreign matter from entering the culture vessel 32 with the filter 338. However, the filter 338 may be provided not only on the medium introduction port 333 side but also on the medium outlet port 334 side.

  The adapter fixing member 9 includes a pressing member 91 and a fixing plate 92 that are detachable from each other. The configuration of the pressing member 91 and the fixing plate 92 of the adapter fixing member 9 is substantially the same as that of the pressing member 81 and the fixing plate 82 of the valve fixing member 8. Description is omitted.

  An abutting portion 815 that abuts against the adapter 33 is formed on the pressing portion 811 so as to protrude toward the fixed plate 92 side. In the state where the adapter 33 and the culture vessel 32 are sandwiched between the abutting portion 815 and the fixing plate 82, the pressing member 81 is attached to the fixing plate 82 in the same manner as the valve fixing member 8, thereby the adapter 33 and the culture vessel. 32 can be pressed and brought into close contact with each other. Thus, the adapter 33 and the culture vessel 32 can be tightly fixed with a simple configuration in which the adapter 33 and the culture vessel 32 are sandwiched between the adapter fixing members 9, and the airtightness in the culture vessel 32 can be secured.

  The height of the contact portion 815 can be arbitrarily set according to the shape of the adapter 33. The adapter 33 is not limited to a shape that completely enters the culture vessel 32, and may have a shape such that the upper portion protrudes from the opening 323 of the culture vessel 32. Therefore, depending on the shape of the adapter 33, the contact portion 815 can be omitted and the adapter 33 can be directly pressed by the pressing portion 811. In this case, since the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 can be configured by a common member, the types of members to be used can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 10A, a connecting portion 823 and a connecting hole 824 are formed in the fixing plate 82 of the valve fixing member 8 and the fixing plate 92 of the adapter fixing member 9, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9B, the connecting portion 823 protrudes toward the outside of the fixing plates 82 and 92, and the protruding portion 825 is configured by having a bent end portion. The protrusion 825 has a shape corresponding to the connection hole 824.

  In this example, the connecting portions 823 are formed on two sides of the four sides of the fixing plates 82 and 92, and the connecting holes 824 are formed on the remaining two sides. A hole 824 is provided. If the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 are adjacent to each other and the protrusion 825 of one connecting portion 823 is fitted into the other connecting hole 824, the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 can be connected to each other. it can.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 are connected to each other, so that the flow path member 21 and the switching member 24 fixed by the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 are fixed. Since the adapter 33 and the culture vessel 32 can be handled integrally, the recombination work can be performed more easily. It is also possible to connect a plurality of valve fixing members 8 or a plurality of adapter fixing members 9 adjacent to each other. However, the mechanism for connecting the valve fixing member 8 and the adapter fixing member 9 is not limited to the connecting portion 823 and the connecting hole 824 as described above, and any other configuration can be adopted.

  FIG. 12A is a plan view showing a modification of the adapter 33. FIG. 12B is a side view of the adapter 33 of FIG. 12A. In this example, the annular protrusions 332 are not formed on the outer peripheral edge of the main body 331 as in the above embodiment, but a plurality of protrusions 339 are formed along the outer peripheral edge of the main body 331.

  Each protrusion 339 has the same length and protrudes toward the culture container 32. When the main body 331 enters the opening 323 of the culture container 32, the front end surface of each protrusion 339 faces the bottom surface 321 of the culture container 32. Abut. At this time, it does not become a sealed state like the annular protrusion 332 of the above embodiment, but in this example, the tapered surface 340 is formed on the entire outer peripheral edge of the main body 331, so that the tapered surface 340 is formed in the culture vessel 32. It can be made to contact | abut to the opening part 323 of this, and can be set as a sealed state. Thus, any configuration can be adopted as a configuration for sealing between the culture vessel 32 and the adapter 33.

  In this example, the connection pipes 335 and 336 are not inserted into the medium introduction port 333 and the medium discharge port 334, respectively, but the pipes 20 and 31 are directly inserted into the medium introduction port 333 and the medium discharge port 334. It has become a structure. The medium introduction port 333 is formed with a constant inner diameter, whereas the medium outlet port 334 is formed with an enlarged portion 341 by expanding the inner diameter of the portion on the culture container 32 side.

  As indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 12B, the pipe 20 is inserted so that the tip thereof is located at the end of the culture medium inlet 333 on the culture container 32 side. On the other hand, the pipe 31 is inserted so that the tip thereof is positioned in the vicinity of the boundary with the enlarged portion 341 in the culture medium outlet 334. Thus, by providing the enlarged portion 341 on the medium outlet 334 side and guiding the culture medium to the pipe 31 via the enlarged portion 341, it is possible to make it difficult for air to accumulate in the culture vessel 32.

  In the above embodiment, the culture part 3 comprised by attaching the adapter 33 to the culture container 32 was demonstrated. However, the valve 2 according to the present invention is not limited to such a culture unit 3 but can be applied to a system that supplies a culture medium to the culture unit 3 configured by a cell culture device, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medium supply part 2 Valve 3 Culture part 4 Incubator 5 Waste liquid storage part 6 Air supply part 7 Control part 8 Valve fixing member 9 Adapter fixing member 11 Piping 12 Medium storage part 13 Pump 20 Piping 21 Flow path member 22 Connection member 23 Base member 24 switching member 31 piping 32 culture vessel 33 adapter 61 piping 81 pressing member 82 fixing plate 91 pressing member 92 fixing plate 213 flow path 224 medium introduction port 225 medium outlet port 226 air supply port 323 opening 331 main body 332 annular protrusion 333 medium Inlet port 334 Medium outlet port 338 Filter

Claims (8)

A medium valve for switching the medium flow path,
A channel member for guiding the supplied medium to a plurality of channels;
A culture medium valve, comprising: a switching member that is attachable to and detachable from the flow path member and switches a flow path of the culture medium by selectively closing the plurality of flow paths.   The switching member has an air supply port to which compressed air is supplied, and is elastically deformed by the compressed air supplied to the air supply port to selectively close the plurality of flow paths. 1. The culture medium valve according to 1. The switching member is
A connection member having a medium introduction port through which a medium is introduced, a medium discharge port through which the medium is derived, the air supply port, and an elastically deforming portion that is elastically deformed by compressed air supplied to the air supply port;
The base member according to claim 2, further comprising a base member that is detachably provided between the connection member and the switching member and communicates the culture medium introduction port and the culture medium outlet port with the flow path member. Medium valve.   The culture medium valve according to claim 3, wherein the base member is made of a material harder than the connection member.   The medium valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of the flow path member and the switching member is formed of PDMS or silicon rubber. The culture medium valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A culture medium supply system comprising: a culture medium supply unit that supplies a culture medium to the culture medium valve.   The culture medium supply system according to claim 6, wherein the culture medium valve is provided in an incubator.   The culture medium supply system according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a valve fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the flow path member and the switching member.

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