JP2017143813A - Medical solution transfer apparatus and cell culture apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical solution transfer apparatus and a cell culture apparatus, which, even after contamination occurs, prevent molds and bacteria from entering an air tube to avoid the dispersion of contamination.SOLUTION: According to the present invention, there is provided a medical solution transfer apparatus that sucks or discharges a medicinal solution to a pipette tip 112. The apparatus comprises: a syringe part 110 for generating suction pressure or discharge pressure; an air tube part 111 having one end connected to the syringe part 110 and transmitting the suction pressure or discharge pressure to the pipette tip 112 connected to the other end side; a first filter 121 provided on the other end side of the air tube part 111; a detachable second filter 122 provided on the other end side of the air tube part 111, more closely to the distal end side thereof compared with the first filter 121; and a connection part 113 for detachably connecting the pipette tip 112, which is provided on the other end side of the air tube part 111, more closely to the distal end side thereof compared with the second filter 122.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a chemical solution transfer device and a cell culture device.

  The cell culture device is used in the field of regenerative medicine and drug discovery in order to produce a large number of cells and to stabilize the quality of cells to be cultured by automation. The quality of the cells is important for the cells to be cultured to be returned to the human body as regenerative medicine or used for testing the effects and side effects of drugs.

  As a material that greatly affects the quality of cultured cells, there is contamination in which mold and bacteria are mixed into a culture solution (hereinafter also referred to as “medical solution”). When contamination occurs, the cultured cells can no longer be used. Therefore, measures are taken so that contamination does not occur or does not expand even if it occurs.

  In the cell culture device, there is provided a chemical solution moving device that moves the chemical solution between the culture container and the chemical solution storage tank. For example, in such a chemical solution transfer device, when a chemical solution is sucked and discharged by driving a syringe, a pressure sensor for detecting the liquid level on the tip side of the air tube connected to the syringe and the actual culture solution The expansion of contamination is prevented by installing a filter that hardly allows fungi and bacteria to pass between the pipette tips that come into contact with (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a drug solution transfer device used in the conventional cell culture device disclosed in Patent Document 1. A conventional chemical solution moving device is a device that sucks and discharges liquid by driving a syringe 2 by a motor 8. An air tube 3 is provided at the tip of the syringe 2, a pressure sensor 6 is provided at the tip, and a filter 4 is provided at the tip. The configuration is such that the pipette tip 9 is mounted on the cutting edge. And in patent document 1, while detecting whether the pipette tip 9 contacted the chemical | medical solution 10 with the pressure sensor 6, the filter 4 can prevent a contamination.

JP 2006-194689 A

  In the prior art of Patent Document 1, since a filter is added between the pipette tip and the pressure sensor, there arises a problem that the responsiveness of the pressure sensor is lowered and the accuracy of liquid level detection is lowered. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to install a filter on the end side of the pressure sensor. However, since mold and bacteria are very small and colorless, it is difficult to detect the occurrence of contamination instantaneously, and in either case, contamination is difficult for a while. The chemical solution is sucked and discharged in a state where the above is generated. Therefore, when the filter is installed on the end side of the pipette tip with respect to the pressure sensor, the air tube to the pressure sensor and the filter is also contaminated.

  In addition, some molds and bacteria are sticky, but many are floating, and molds and bacteria may be floating in the cell culture apparatus. In such an environment, if a chemical solution is sucked and discharged by using a filter, the pipette tip can be used to prevent mold and bacteria from entering the air tube of the chemical solution transfer device. When replacing a pressure sensor, an air tube, a filter, etc., there is a high possibility that floating mold or bacteria may be mixed into the air tube and the syringe side. Once contamination occurs on the side of the air tube and syringe, it is difficult to kill bacteria mixed in the air tube having a diameter of about 2 mm with a normal decontamination method.

  In the present invention, in view of the above problems, even after contamination has occurred in a pipette tip or a pressure sensor, mold and bacteria are mixed in the syringe and the air tube connected to the syringe, and the contamination is diffused. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drug solution transfer device and a cell culture device that can prevent this.

  One aspect of the present disclosure is a chemical liquid movement apparatus that causes a pipette tip to suck or discharge a chemical liquid, and includes a syringe unit that generates a suction pressure or a discharge pressure, one end connected to the syringe unit, and the other end side. An air tube portion for transmitting the suction pressure or discharge pressure to the pipette tip, a first filter provided on the other end side of the air tube portion, and a first filter provided on the other end side of the air tube portion. A detachable second filter provided on the distal side of the filter, and the other end side of the air tube portion, provided on the distal side of the second filter, and detachably connected to the pipette tip. A chemical liquid moving device comprising:

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a chemical solution transfer device in which contamination hardly diffuses to the syringe part or the air tube part side even when contamination occurs in the pipette tip or the pressure sensor. it can.

Schematic diagram of the chemical solution transfer apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram of the inside of the cell culture device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the process regarding the coping method when the contamination concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention generate | occur | produces The figure explaining the structure of the chemical | medical solution moving apparatus of a prior document.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and description may be abbreviate | omitted. Further, the drawings schematically show each component as a main component for easy understanding.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a chemical solution transfer apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the cell culture device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the chemical liquid moving apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a syringe unit 110 that is driven to suck and discharge a chemical liquid, an air tube unit 111 connected to the syringe unit 110, and an air tube unit 111. Non-exchange filter 121 (corresponding to the first filter) provided at the tip, exchange filter 122 (corresponding to the second filter) provided further on the tip side of the non-exchange filter 121, and a pipette tip that contacts the chemical solution And a coupling portion 113 for connecting 112.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the chemical solution transfer device is provided in the cell culture device 100, sucks the chemical solution from the tube 131, the bottle 132, etc., and puts the chemical solution into the culture container 133 such as a dish or well plate. It shall be used to move.

  The syringe part 110 has a pusher 110a and a hollow part 110b sealed between the outer cylinder of the syringe part 110 and the pusher 110a. The syringe unit 110 moves the pusher 110a with respect to the outer cylinder by an actuator such as an electromagnetic motor, thereby changing the volume of the hollow portion 110b and generating a discharge pressure for discharging the chemical solution to the pipette tip 112. Further, it is possible to generate a suction pressure that causes the pipette tip 112 to suck the chemical solution.

  The air tube part 111 has one side (one end) connected to the syringe part 110 and the other side (the other end) connected to the coupling part 113. And the air tube part 111 moves air between the hollow part 110b of the syringe part 110 and the pipette tip 112 according to the drive of the syringe part 110, and the discharge pressure or suction pressure which generate | occur | produced in the syringe part 110 is pipette tip. 112.

  The coupling portion 113 is a connecting member that is provided on the other end side of the air tube portion 111 and connects the pipette tip 112. The coupling portion 113 is further provided on the distal end side (terminal side) of the exchange filter 122, and the exchange filter 122 is connected to one side and the pipette tip 112 is connected to the other side. And the coupling | bond part 113 has connected the pipette tip 112 so that attachment or detachment is possible, for example by the screwing system. The coupling portion 113 has a hollow tubular shape, and the air tube portion 111 and the pipette tip 112 are in communication with each other. The coupling portion 113 may be a connection component that is separate from the components of the replacement filter 122 or the like, or may be a connection structure formed on the replacement filter 122 (for example, a female screw portion provided on the tip side). Good.

  The non-exchange filter 121 and the exchange filter 122 are provided on the tip side of the air tube portion 111 so as to be interposed between the pipette tip 112 and mold and bacteria pass from the pipette tip 112 side to the syringe portion 110 side. To prevent that. The non-exchange filter 121 and the exchange filter 122 are, for example, HEPA filters, and sterilized filters having pores of 0.2 μm or less are used to make it difficult for mold and bacteria to pass through.

  When contamination occurs, the non-exchange filter 121 is held in a state of being attached to the air tube portion 111, while the exchange filter 122 is removed from the air tube portion 111 and replaced. Therefore, the exchange filter 122 is detachably attached to the non-exchange filter 121 fixed to the air tube unit 111 by, for example, a screwing method.

  The pipette tip 112 is a chemical solution suction member molded from a resin such as polypropylene. As described above, the pipette tip 112 is detachably connected to the coupling portion 113, and is discarded and replaced whenever the type of the chemical solution or cell that comes into contact changes. In addition, in order to make it difficult for fungi and bacteria to pass toward the air tube portion 111, a filter may be independently installed inside the pipette tip 112.

  When the position of the pusher 110a of the syringe part 110 is moved in the retracting direction while the tip of the pipette tip 112 is in contact with the chemical liquid, the chemical liquid moving device has a configuration as described above and is transmitted from the air tube part 111. The chemical solution is sucked into the pipette tip 112 by the sucked pressure. On the other hand, when the position of the pusher 110a of the syringe unit 110 is moved in the pushing direction, the drug solution is discharged from the pipette tip 112 by the discharge pressure transmitted from the air tube unit 111.

  When it is found that contamination has occurred in the chemical solution that has come into contact with the pipette tip 112, in many cases, the expansion of the contamination is often prevented by a filter installed inside the pipette tip 112. However, there is a possibility that bacteria and mold enter the coupling portion 113 together with the chemical solution beyond the filter. Even in such a case, by installing the exchange filter 122, the possibility of expansion of contamination can be reduced.

  In addition, even when bacteria and fungi were prevented from entering by the filter in the pipette tip 112 and the exchange filter 122, when the occurrence of contamination was detected, it was attached to the coupling portion 113 at that time. After discarding the pipette tip 112, decontamination work inside the cell culture device 100 is performed.

  FIG. 3 shows a process performed until normal use of the cell culture device 100 when contamination occurs in the cell culture device 100. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that a control device (CPU) that controls the cell culture device 100 performs program control.

  First, it is detected that contamination has occurred inside the cell culture apparatus 100 (step 01). Specifically, when bacteria or mold (contamination) is mixed in the chemical solution, the color or suspension degree of the chemical solution changes, so the image information of the image of the chemical solution is analyzed, or various sensors Is used to detect the occurrence of contamination.

  Thereafter, consumables such as pipette tips 112, tubes, culture vessels, etc. used when the occurrence of contamination has been detected are automatically discarded (step 02). At this time, consumables that may have been directly touched by mold or bacteria, the coupling part 113 and the exchange filter 122 are discarded, but by installing the non-exchange filter 121 on the end side of the air tube part 111, The mold and bacteria that may float and remain in the air inside the cell culture device 100 are prevented from entering the air tube portion 111.

  In this state, by decontaminating the inside of the cell culture device 100, the remaining bacteria and molds are killed (step 03). The decontamination work is performed, for example, by filling the cell culture device 100 with atomized hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid. At this time, if the non-replacement filter 121 is not installed and mold or bacteria has entered the air tube portion 111 or the syringe portion 110, the inner diameter of the air tube portion 111 is as thin as about 2 mm, and several m may be long and may not be fully decontaminated. In this regard, by providing the non-exchange filter 121 on the proximal end side (syringe part 110 side) of the exchange filter 122, it is possible to prevent mold and bacteria from entering the syringe part 110 inside the air tube part 111. Even after decontamination, it is possible to avoid a state in which bacteria and mold exist in the air tube portion 111.

  Through the above steps, the internal state of the cell culture device 100 becomes normal, and normal operation when culturing is started (step 04).

  As described above, according to the chemical solution transfer device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, even when contamination occurs, when the chemical solution is sucked or discharged, the exchange filter 122 removes mold or bacteria from the air tube unit. When the pipette tip 112 is replaced, the tip of the replacement filter 122 is replaced to prevent mold and bacteria floating from diffusing into the syringe unit 110 and the air tube unit 111. Can do.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, it is good also as what has various structures in the cell culture apparatus 100 other than said chemical | medical solution moving apparatus.

  For example, the robot unit 130 that can move in the space in the cell culture device 100 may be connected to the coupling unit 113. As a result, the pipette tip 112 can move the position where the chemical solution is sucked or discharged, and the chemical solution is sucked from the tube 131 or the bottle 132 in which the cell suspension or chemical solution is stored, and the dish or well plate. For example, the chemical solution sucked into the culture container 133 can be discharged. In addition, a chemical solution contained in the culture vessel 133 such as a dish or a well plate can be sucked and discarded in the waste liquid unit 134. In this way, for the culture container 133 stored in the incubator unit 135, the PC unit 136 is instructed to perform an operation to be performed with the chemical solution transfer device, and various types of culture tasks to be performed, occurrence of contamination, occurrence date and time, etc. Cell culture can be performed while the sensor log is managed by the data storage unit 137 such as a memory or a hard disk.

  A pressure sensor may be attached between the coupling portion 113 and the exchange filter 122 or between the coupling portion 113 and the pipette tip 112. By using the pressure sensor, it is possible to detect minute pressure fluctuations that occur when the tip of the pipette tip 112 comes into contact with the chemical solution. In particular, by providing a pressure sensor on the tip side of the exchange filter 122, it is possible to detect with high accuracy that the tip portion of the pipette tip 112 is in contact with the liquid surface of the chemical solution.

  As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was demonstrated in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

  The drug solution transfer device of the present invention is useful in areas where treatment and examination using cells such as regenerative medicine and drug discovery are required.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Cell culture apparatus 110 Syringe part 111 Air tube part 112 Pipette tip 113 Coupling part 121 Non-exchange filter 122 Exchange filter 130 Robot part

Claims (6)

A chemical liquid moving device for sucking or discharging chemical liquid to a pipette tip,
A syringe part for generating suction pressure or discharge pressure;
One end is connected to the syringe part, an air tube part that transmits the suction pressure or discharge pressure to the pipette tip connected to the other end side, and
A first filter provided on the other end side of the air tube portion;
On the other end side of the air tube portion, a detachable second filter provided on the end side of the first filter,
On the other end side of the air tube portion, provided on the end side of the second filter, a coupling portion for detachably connecting the pipette tip,
A chemical liquid transfer device comprising: The chemical solution transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising the pipette tip connected to the coupling portion. The chemical solution transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the pipette tip has a filter therein. A pressure sensor is further provided on the other end side of the air tube portion, further on the end side than the second filter, for detecting minute pressure fluctuations that occur when the tip of the pipette tip comes into contact with the chemical solution. The chemical liquid transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The chemical solution moving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a robot unit that moves a position where the pipette tip sucks or discharges the chemical solution. A cell culture device comprising the drug solution transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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