JP2016087542A - Filtration method for solution supplied to suction/discharge type ink jet dispenser and solution filtration mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filtration device suitably used for filtering a solution in a suction/discharge type ink jet dispenser, and a filtration method using the same.SOLUTION: The solution filtration device 2 includes a body part 200 and a filter 202. The body part 200 has an engaging port 204 into which the nozzle 102 of an ink jet dispenser 1 is inserted in a close contact state, a suction port 201 for sucking a solution, and a solution flow path 203 formed between the engaging port 204 and the suction port 201. The filter 202 is fixed to the solution path in the body part 200. The solution filtration device 2 is detachably fitted to the nozzle 102 of the ink jet dispenser 1, and sucks the solution from the suction port 201 in the fitted state to filter the solution.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a filtration method and a solution filtration mechanism for a solution supplied to a suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser.

  Inkjet dispensers are known as devices that discharge solutions in the nanoliter order or picoliter order. There are several reagent dispensing methods for inkjet dispensers, and a technique using a piezoelectric element, a technique using a solenoid valve, a technique using Bubble Jet (registered trademark), and the like are known. With either technique, it is possible to discharge a trace amount of reagent from the discharge head by changing the volume of the tank that holds the solution. Inkjet dispensers can discharge nanoliter-order and picoliter-order trace solutions, and have various advantages when used in biochemical experiments.

  Advantages include reducing the amount of expensive reagents consumed, thereby reducing the cost of analysis and reaction, and increasing the accuracy of the experiment because the solution can be discharged with high accuracy. Etc.

  Since the solution of nanoliter order or picoliter order is discharged, the discharge port of the discharge nozzle has a small diameter. Therefore, if there is a foreign substance in the solution, the foreign substance is clogged in the discharge port of the discharge nozzle and the solution cannot be discharged. Therefore, in order to stably discharge the solution using the ink jet dispenser, it is important to remove the foreign matters contained in the solution by filtering the solution to be discharged in advance.

  As a method for removing foreign substances, it is common to manually filter in advance using a filter. However, it takes time and effort to filter the solution supplied to the inkjet head and the discharge nozzle in advance using a filter. In addition, when the solution is filtered with a filter, the solution may be mistakenly contaminated.

  As a method for preventing such a risk, there is a method in which a filter for direct filtration is provided in a system for supplying a solution to an inkjet head and a discharge nozzle, and the solution is filtered simultaneously with the supply. If this method is used, it is not necessary to filter the solution in advance, and the time and labor required for filtration can be saved. In addition, since the number of steps is reduced, the possibility that the solution is contaminated can be reduced.

  When employing a method of providing a filter for filtration in the solution supply system, a technique for directly installing a filter in the solution supply path and a technique for preventing trapped foreign substances from entering the solution are important. As a prior art about such a filtration mechanism, the thing of patent document 1 is mentioned, for example.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ink supply path having an inlet and an outlet at both ends, a filter provided between the inlet and the outlet, and a foreign substance for holding the captured foreign substance. An ink filtration device having a reservoir is described. In the ink filtering device described in Patent Document 1, the inlet of the ink supply path is connected to the ink bottle via the supply tube, and the outlet of the ink supply path is connected to the print head via the supply tube. . In the configuration of filtering while sucking a solution as described in Patent Document 1, an excessive solution is required because a flow path such as a supply tube needs to be filled with the solution.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the use of excess solution, an inkjet that performs both suction and discharge of the solution from the tip of the nozzle, instead of supplying the solution to the head using a supply tube as in Patent Document 1. It is conceivable to use a dispenser (hereinafter referred to as “suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser”). In order to filter the solution with the suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser, it is necessary to attach a filter to the suction / discharge port of the nozzle.

JP 2006-062139 A

  However, in a suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser, if a filter is attached to the suction / discharge port of the nozzle, the solution may not be discharged. In addition, since foreign matter is captured on the outer surface side (solution suction side) of the filter after the solution is sucked, the foreign matter captured by the filter is aggregated and mixed into the discharged solution at the time of discharge. there is a possibility. Furthermore, if a filter is present in the discharge nozzle, the filter once used for filtering the solution cannot be completely cleaned, so that the used solution remains in the filter in the discharge nozzle. If another solution is sucked in this state, the solution remaining on the filter contaminates the other solution, so that the discharge nozzle cannot be handled with a plurality of reagents.

  Then, this invention aims at providing the filtration apparatus suitable for filtering a solution with a suction discharge type inkjet dispenser, and the filtration method using the same.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a solution filtering device used in an ink jet dispenser that sucks and discharges a solution from a discharge suction port at a tip of a nozzle, and the nozzle is in a close contact state. And a main body having an engaging port inserted in, a suction port for sucking a solution, and a solution flow path formed between the engaging port and the suction port, and fixed in a solution path in the main unit. And a filter. The solution filtering device is detachably attached to the nozzle.

  The filter is preferably made of a member having a plurality of holes, and the diameter of the hole of the filter is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the suction / discharge port of the nozzle.

  The present invention also relates to a solution filtration method using an ink jet dispenser that sucks and discharges a solution from a discharge suction port at the tip of a nozzle, and in the solution filtration method, the nozzle is inserted in a close contact state. A main body having an engagement port, a suction port for sucking the solution, a solution flow path formed between the engagement port and the suction port, and a filter fixed in the solution path in the main body A solution filtering apparatus comprising: is attached to the nozzle, and the solution is filtered by sucking the solution from the discharge suction port of the ink jet dispenser.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the filtration apparatus suitable for filtering a solution with a suction discharge type inkjet dispenser, and the filtration method using the same can be provided.

Diagram showing an example of a suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser Schematic sectional view of a solution filtration device according to an embodiment Process drawing explaining the solution filtration method using the solution filtration apparatus which concerns on embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a suction / discharge type inkjet dispenser.
The ink jet dispenser 1 includes an ink jet mechanism 103 having a nozzle 102, a backflow prevention tank 105, a pressure control device 107, a reagent holding tube 104 connecting the ink jet mechanism 103 and the backflow prevention tank, a backflow prevention tank 105, and a pressure. And a pressure tube 106 to which the control device 107 is connected. The ink jet dispenser 1 sucks the solution from the suction discharge port 101 at the tip of the nozzle 102 in accordance with the pressure reduction in the backflow prevention tank 105 by the pressure control device 107, and the sucked solution is the ink jet mechanism 103 and the reagent holding tube. 104. The retained solution is discharged from the fine droplets quantified and the suction discharge port 101 of the nozzle 102 by the discharge mechanism provided in the ink jet mechanism 103.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the solution filtering apparatus according to the embodiment.

  The solution filtering device 2 includes a main body portion 200 having a hollow cylindrical shape and a filter 202. An engagement port 204 for engaging the nozzle of the ink jet mechanism 103 is provided at one end of the main body 200, and a suction port for sucking the solution into the solution filtering device 2 at the other end of the main body 200. 201 is provided. A solution path 203 extending from the suction port 201 to the engagement port 204 is formed inside the solution filtration device 2. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the main body 200 includes a first member 207 having a hollow cylindrical shape and an annular second member 208. The first member 207 is provided with an opening serving as the engagement port 204 at one end, and the other end of the first member 207 is provided with a filter having an opening that constitutes a part of the suction port 201 described above. A convex portion 205 is provided. The second member 208 has a filter fixing recess 206 into which the filter fixing protrusion 205 is fitted, and an opening that constitutes a part of the suction port 201 described above. The first member 207 and the second member 208 are fixed by sandwiching the filter 202 between the filter fixing convex portion 205 and the filter fixing concave portion 206.

  The constituent material of the main body 200 is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the reactivity of the solution 301 to be aspirated, but may be a material that can ensure good visible light transparency such as polypropylene and acrylic. desirable. When the visible light transmissive material is used, it is easy to grasp the solution state in the solution filtering device 2. In addition to the resin, a metal material is also suitable as a constituent material of the main body 200. As the metal material, aluminum, copper, silver, nickel and the like are desirable, but not limited thereto.

  The filter 202 is provided in the solution path 203 of the main body 200 in order to capture foreign matter such as dust and dirt in the solution sucked from the suction port 201.

  The solution filtering apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the solution in the solution path 203 is supplied to the sucked solution in the process of feeding the solution from the suction port 201 to the nozzle 102 engaged with the engagement port 204 through the solution path 203. The foreign substances contained in the solution are captured by passing through 202. Therefore, the filter 202 is fixed to the main body 200 so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the solution path 203.

  The diameter of the filter 202 is desirably larger than the inner diameter of the suction / discharge port 101 of the nozzle 102 of the inkjet mechanism 103. When the diameter of the filter 202 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the suction / discharge port of the nozzle, there is a possibility that the filter 202 may be sucked into the nozzle 102 together with the solution when the filter 202 is dropped from the main body 201 for some reason. This is not preferable.

  The hole diameter (mesh opening size) of the filter 202 is made smaller than the inner diameter of the suction / discharge port 101 of the nozzle 102. When the hole diameter of the filter 202 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the suction / discharge port 101 of the nozzle 102, the filter 202 cannot capture the foreign matter 303, and the foreign matter 303 is mixed inside the nozzle 102, which may cause unstable discharge.

  The filter 202 is preferably parallel to the end face of the suction / discharge port of the nozzle. In this case, since the solution passes through the filter 202 evenly during the suction of the solution, the filter 202 can capture the foreign matter 303 evenly. When the filter 202 is not parallel to the suction discharge port 101, the solution concentrates on the side where the angle formed between the inner wall of the solution path and the suction port 201 side of the filter 202 is small, and foreign matter concentrates on one side of the filter 202 and is trapped. 202 may be clogged.

  The method for fixing the filter 202 is not particularly limited as long as the filter 202 can be fixed to the solution path 203, but the filter 202 is larger than the inner diameter of the solution path 203, for example, except for being sandwiched between the filter fixing convex part 205 and the filter fixing concave part 206 described above. The filter 202 may be fixed using a member that can be fitted into the solution path 203 such as an O-ring or a collar.

  The material of the filter 202 is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the reactivity of the solution to be sucked, but is more preferably hydrophilic. When the filter 202 is formed of a hydrophobic material, since a water-soluble solution does not easily pass through the filter 202, foreign matter in the solution may not be filtered. The filter 202 is a member having a plurality of fine holes, and is made of, for example, mesh cotton, nonwoven fabric, fired metal, or the like.

  Next, a solution filtration method using the solution filtration apparatus 2 according to the embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a process diagram illustrating a solution filtration method using the solution filtration apparatus according to the embodiment.

  The solution filtering apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is attached to the nozzle 102 of the suction / discharge-type ink jet dispenser 1, and filters the solution when the ink jet dispenser 1 sucks the solution. The solution is a solution containing biochemical materials such as DNA and protein.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the suction / discharge port 101 of the nozzle 102 is connected to the engagement port 204 of the solution filtering device 2 and fixed. The method for fixing the discharge nozzle 102 and the solution filtering device 2 is not particularly limited. For example, the nozzle 102 is inserted into the engagement port 204 and fitted, or the inner surface of the engagement port 204 and the outer surface of the nozzle 102 are provided. A method of screwing a screw, a method of providing an engagement member on each of the outer surface of the nozzle 102 and the vicinity of the engagement port 204, and the like can be used.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, with the solution filtering device 2 connected to the nozzle 102, the inkjet mechanism 103 and the solution filtering device 2 are moved together, and the suction port 201 of the solution filtering device 2 is moved to the solution container 302. Immerse in the solution 301

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the solution 301 is sucked from the suction port 201. In the present embodiment, the solution 301 is sucked by depressurizing the inside of the nozzle 102 with a pressure control device provided in the inkjet dispenser 1. However, the suction method is not particularly limited, and suction may be performed by a suction method using a syringe, a suction method using a pump, or the like according to the configuration of the ink jet dispenser. Since suction is performed through the filter 202, the force required for suction increases, so it is desirable to use an automatic suction mechanism instead of manual operation. The sucked filtered solution 304 is held inside the nozzle 102. The foreign matter 303 mixed in the solution container 302 is captured by the filter 202 during the suction process.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, the ink jet mechanism 103 and the solution filtering device 2 are moved together to take out the solution filtering device 2 from the solution container 302.

  Next, the solution filtering apparatus 2 is removed from the nozzle 102 as shown in FIG. 3E.

  Thereafter, a solution discharge target (not shown) is moved under the nozzle 102 and the solution 304 filtered by the ink jet mechanism 103 is discharged. The ink jet mechanism 103 accurately discharges a desired amount of the filtered solution 304 by discharging a predetermined amount of droplets (for example, several hundred to several thousand shots) in a nanoliter order or picoliter order. Can be dispensed.

  It should be noted that the detachment of the solution filtering device 2 to the nozzle 102 may be performed using a detachment mechanism (not shown) or manually. As the desorption mechanism, for example, the solution filtration apparatus 2 is fixed in a state where the engagement port 204 of the solution filtration apparatus 2 is positioned immediately below the nozzle 102, and the nozzle 102 is desorbed from the solution filtration apparatus 2 by the vertical movement of the nozzle 102. The mechanism is available.

  Further, when one nozzle 102 is shared while dispensing a plurality of solutions, the solution filtration device 2 is prepared for each type of solution, thereby preventing mixing with the solution and foreign matter adhering to the filter 202. it can.

  As described above, when the solution filtering device 2 according to the present embodiment is attached to the nozzle of the ink jet dispenser 1 to suck the solution, the filter 202 is moved when the solution moves from the suction port 201 to the engagement port 204. The foreign matter 303 contained in the solution 301 can be captured. Therefore, the solution filtration process conventionally performed before filling the inkjet dispenser 1 with the solution 301 can be omitted. Therefore, labor and time required for the solution filtration step can be reduced. Moreover, the risk of contamination of the solution can be reduced by omitting the prior solution filtration step.

  In addition, since the solution filtering apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is removed from the nozzle 102 after supplying the filtered solution 304 to the nozzle 102, when the filtered solution 304 is discharged from the nozzle 102, It is possible to prevent the trapped foreign matter 303 from being mixed again in the dispensing container or the like.

  Furthermore, since the solution filtering apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment can be removed from the nozzle 102, the inside of the discharge nozzle can be cleaned, and when the discharge nozzle is shared by a plurality of reagents, mixing of the reagents is prevented. Can do.

  Examples in which the present invention is specifically implemented will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  In order to verify the success rate of discharging a solution containing foreign substances without filtration, a suction / discharge type ink jet dispenser is used to suck a mixed solution containing DNA from a discharge nozzle having an inner diameter of 8 μm. , Discharged.

First, as a comparative example, when the trial of performing suction and discharge was repeated 10 times without using the solution filtering apparatus according to the present invention, the solution was not discharged in 7 trials, and the discharge success rate was 30%. Met. This is considered to be due to the fact that foreign matter contained in the solution to be sucked is sucked together with the solution and the foreign matter is clogged inside the nozzle.
Next, as an example, the case where the solution was suctioned by attaching the solution filtering device to the nozzle was verified. A solution filtration apparatus having a filter made of hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) having a film thickness of 125 μm, φ3 mm, and a pore diameter of 0.1 μm was prepared, and attached to a discharge nozzle having an inner diameter of a suction discharge port of 8 μm.

  When the solution was sucked with a nozzle equipped with a solution filtration device and the solution was discharged 10 times, the solution was successfully discharged in all 10 times. Since the discharge success rate when the solution is sucked without using the solution filtering device is 30%, foreign matters in the solution can be effectively removed by sucking the solution using the solution filtering device. As a result, it became clear that no problem was caused in the discharge of the solution.

  In addition, when an equivalent verification was tried with another solution, the solution before filtration, which was 50% when the solution filtration device was not used, was discharged when the solution before filtration was sucked with a nozzle equipped with the solution filtration device structure. Success rate recovered to 100%.

  In addition, after dispensing 3 μL of reagent A sucked with the solution filtration device into the reagent container, remove the solution filtration device from the nozzle, wash the discharge nozzle with ethanol solution, and attach another new solution filtration device to the nozzle. Then, 3 μL of the reagent B having a specific gravity different from that of the reagent A sucked in this manner was dispensed into another reagent container. When the mass of each reagent container was measured, it was confirmed that 3 μL each of reagents A and B was dispensed. In other words, it was found from this test that the accuracy of the discharge amount was maintained even when the nozzles were shared for the dispensing of the two types of reagents A and B while being shared. This is because when two filters A and B are aspirated, a separate solution filtration device is used, which causes a problem when one filter is shared. This is because it did not occur. It has been confirmed that the solution filtering device according to the present invention is useful when one nozzle is shared for dispensing a plurality of solutions by being detachable from the nozzle of the ink jet dispenser.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for filtering a solution to be sucked by an ink jet dispenser that sucks and discharges a solution from a discharge suction port at a tip portion of a nozzle.

1: Inkjet device 101: Suction / discharge port 102: Nozzle 103: Inkjet mechanism 104: Reagent holding tube 105: Backflow prevention tank 106: Pressure tube 107: Pressure control device 2: Solution filtration mechanism 200: Main unit 201: Suction port 202: Filter 203: Solution path 204: Engagement port 205: Filter fixing convex portion 206: Filter fixing concave portion 301: Solution 302: Solution container 303: Foreign matter 304: Filtered solution

Claims (3)

A solution filtering device for use in an ink jet dispenser that sucks and discharges a solution from a discharge suction port at the tip of a nozzle,
A main body having an engagement port into which the nozzle is inserted in close contact, a suction port for sucking a solution, and a solution flow channel formed between the engagement port and the suction port;
A filter fixed in the solution path in the main body,
A solution filtering device, which is detachably attached to the nozzle. The filter is made of a member having a plurality of holes,
2. The solution filtering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the hole of the filter is smaller than an inner diameter of the suction discharge port of the nozzle. A solution filtration method using an ink jet dispenser that sucks and discharges a solution from a discharge suction port at the tip of a nozzle,
A main body having an engagement port into which the nozzle is inserted in close contact, a suction port for sucking a solution, and a solution flow path formed between the engagement port and the suction port; A solution filtration device comprising a filter fixed in the solution path of
A solution filtration method of filtering the solution by sucking the solution from the discharge suction port of the ink jet dispenser.