JP2021092584A - Electrophoretic device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electrophoretic device on which an electrode, a detector, and a capillary head are accurately positioned, and to which a capillary cartridge can be easily attached.SOLUTION: A capillary electrophoretic device includes: a capillary cartridge 1 that comprises capillaries 5, a capillary head 7, an electrode holder 9, a capillary array 2 having a detector 6 attached to the capillaries, and a support body 3 for supporting the capillary array; and a thermostatic chamber unit to which the capillary cartridge is attached, and which adjusts the temperature of the capillaries. The thermostatic chamber unit includes: fixing positions at which the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detector are respectively fixed to predetermined positions; and guides for guiding the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detector to their respective fixing positions. When the capillary cartridge is pressed to the thermostatic chamber unit, the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detector move along their respective guides separately from one another, and are guided to their respective fixing positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

The present invention relates to an electrophoresis device using a capillary cartridge.

In recent years, the scope of application of DNA analysis has rapidly expanded from research applications to clinical fields such as hospitals. As a means of DNA analysis, there is a method of separating DNA fragments by electrophoresis, which is used for criminal investigation, determination of blood relations, and disease diagnosis.

In Patent Document 1, a capillary, a plate-shaped support for supporting the capillary, a capillary head for bundling one end of the capillary, an electrode provided at the other end of the capillary, and a detection unit provided in a part of the capillary. , A capillary cartridge comprising a radiator provided between the capillary and the support is disclosed.

International Publication No. 2017/002239

Since the detection unit provided in the capillary is a place for detecting the fluorescence of the sample, it is necessary to position the device with the detection system with high accuracy in units of several μm.

At the time of DNA analysis, it is necessary to accurately position the electrodes, the detection unit, and the capillary head on the electrophoresis device. Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, these electrodes and the detection unit are fixed to the capillary cartridge, but the capillary head is not fixed to the capillary cartridge. Therefore, the capillary head had to be attached to the electrophoresis device separately from the procedure for attaching the capillary cartridge to the electrophoresis apparatus. Therefore, it was necessary to go through a two-step process of attaching the capillary cartridge to the electrophoresis device and attaching the capillary head to the electrophoresis device.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an electrophoresis apparatus capable of more easily attaching a capillary cartridge while accurately positioning an electrode, a detection unit, and a capillary head on the electrophoresis apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention holds a capillary, a capillary head for bundling the capillary, and an electrode provided on the capillary in the electrophoresis apparatus that performs electrophoresis of a sample in the capillary. A capillary cartridge provided with an electrode holder, a capillary array having a detection unit provided on the capillary, and a support for supporting the capillary array, and a constant temperature at which the capillary cartridge is installed to control the temperature of the capillary. The constant temperature bath unit has a tank unit, and the constant temperature bath unit has a fixing portion for fixing the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit at a predetermined position, and the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit. Each has a guide that guides the capillary cartridge to the fixed portion, and when the capillary cartridge is pressed against the constant temperature bath unit, the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit move independently along the guide, and the above-mentioned Guided to a fixed location. The capillary cartridge includes a capillary, a capillary head for bundling the capillaries, an electrode provided at the other end of the capillary, an electrode holder for holding the electrode, a capillary array having a detection unit provided on the capillary, and a capillary unit. A support is provided to support, and at least one between the support and the capillary head, between the support and the electrode holder, and between the support and the detection unit is fixed with a movable range.

In the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention, the capillary cartridge can be attached more easily while accurately positioning the electrodes, the detection unit, and the capillary head on the electrophoresis apparatus.

According to the present invention, the capillary cartridge can be attached to the device in one procedure, and usability is improved.

The schematic which shows one structure of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus. Top view of the capillary electrophoresis device. A cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus. The figure which shows one composition of the capillary cartridge seen from the capillary side. The figure which shows one composition of the capillary cartridge seen from the handle side. Exploded view of the capillary cartridge. The figure for demonstrating the installation of a capillary cartridge. A cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the clip. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a support and a sheet. Sectional drawing which shows the peripheral part of a capillary. The cross-sectional view which shows an example of a constant temperature bath door. A cross-sectional view of a fixed portion of the detection unit on the device in a YZ plane. A perspective view of a fixed portion of the capillary head on the device. The perspective view of the electrode holder fixing part on the apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus configuration diagram of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus of Example 1. This device can be roughly divided into two units, an irradiation detection / constant temperature bath unit 40 at the top of the device and an autosampler unit 20 at the bottom of the device.

In the autosampler unit 20 which is the injection mechanism described above, a Y-axis drive body 23 is mounted on the sampler base 21 and can be driven on the Y-axis. A Z-axis drive body 24 is mounted on the Y-axis drive body 23, and can drive the Z-axis. A sample tray 25 is mounted on the Z-axis drive body 24, and the user sets the migration medium container 28, the anode side buffer solution container 29, the cathode side buffer solution container 33, and the sample container 26 on the sample tray 25. .. The sample container 26 is set on the X-axis drive body 22 mounted on the sample tray 25, and only the sample container 26 can be driven on the X-axis on the sample tray 25. The liquid feeding mechanism 27 is also mounted on the Z-axis drive body 24. The liquid feeding mechanism 27 is arranged below the migration medium container 28.

The irradiation detection / constant temperature bath unit 40 includes the constant temperature bath unit 41 and the constant temperature bath door 43, which are the above-mentioned constant temperature tanks, and the inside can be kept at a constant temperature. An irradiation detection unit 42, which is an irradiation detection unit, is mounted behind the constant temperature bath unit 41 to perform detection during electrophoresis. The user sets the capillary cartridge 01, which will be described in detail later, in the constant temperature bath unit 41, performs electrophoresis while keeping the capillary at a constant temperature in the constant temperature bath unit 41, and detects by the irradiation detection unit 42. Further, the constant temperature bath unit 41 is also equipped with an electrode (anode) 44 for dropping to GND when a high voltage for electrophoresis is applied.

As described above, the capillary cartridge 01 is fixed to the constant temperature bath unit 41. The electrophoresis medium container 28, the anode side buffer solution container 29, the cathode side buffer solution container 33, and the sample container 26 can be driven in the YZ axis by the auto sampler unit 20, and only the sample container 26 is further driven in the X axis. Can be done. The electrophoresis medium container 28, the anode side buffer solution container 29, the cathode side buffer solution container 33, and the sample container 26 are automatically connected to the capillary of the fixed capillary cartridge 01 at an arbitrary position by the movement of the auto sampler unit 20. Can be done.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus shown in FIG. The anode-side buffer solution container 29 set on the sample tray 25 includes an anode-side cleaning tank 30, an anode-side electrophoresis buffer solution tank 31, and an anode-side sample introduction buffer solution tank 32. The cathode side buffer solution container 33 includes a waste liquid tank 34, a cathode side cleaning tank 35, and a cathode side electrophoresis buffer solution tank 36.

The electrophoresis medium container 28, the anode side buffer solution container 29, the cathode side buffer solution container 33, and the sample container 26 are arranged in a positional relationship as shown in the drawing. As a result, the positional relationship between the anode side and the cathode side when connected to the capillary 05 in the constant temperature bath unit 41 is as follows: "electrophoresis medium container 28-waste liquid tank 34", "anode side cleaning tank 30-cathode side cleaning tank 35". , "Anode-side electrophoresis buffer tank 31-cathode-side electrophoresis buffer tank 36", "Anode-side sample introduction buffer tank 32-sample container 26".

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The electrophoresis medium container 28 is set in the sample tray 25. Further, in the liquid feeding mechanism 27, the plunger built in the liquid feeding mechanism 27 is arranged so as to be below the electrophoresis medium container 28.

During electrophoresis, the right side of the capillary 05 in FIG. 3 is the cathode side, and the left side is the anode side. The sample tray 25 is moved so that the anode side and the cathode side of the capillary are in the positions of "anode side electrophoresis buffer tank 31-cathode side electrophoresis buffer tank 36", and a high voltage is applied to the cathode side capillary 05. Electrophoresis is performed by flowing the electrode (anode) 44 through the cathode side buffer liquid container 33 and the anode side buffer liquid container 29 to the GND. The position of the sample tray 25 may be fixed so that the irradiation detection / constant temperature bath unit 40 can be moved.

FIG. 4A shows a schematic view of one configuration of the capillary cartridge in this embodiment. The capillary cartridge 01 includes a capillary array 02 including a capillary 05, a detection unit 06, a capillary head 07, an electrode (cathode) 08, and an electrode holder 09, a separator 10, a support 03, a sheet 04, and a handle 11 (holding portion). (See FIG. 4B). Further, in the figure, the electrode holder 09 holds the electrode (cathode) 08, but the electrode (cathode) 08 may have a structure directly fixed to the support 03. In the figure, the capillary cartridge 01 is arranged in the order of the support 03 having the handle 11, the seat 04, and the capillary array 02 from the front side of FIG.

Each part will be described. The capillary 05 is a passageway coated with a coating for light shielding and maintaining strength, and is, for example, a quartz glass tube having an inner diameter of about 50 μm coated with polyimide. This tube is filled with an electrophoresis medium to serve as an electrophoresis path for electrophoretic separation of samples. The capillary head 07 is an end portion of the capillary 05, and is an injection end or an discharge end for bundling and holding the capillary 05 and filling the migration medium. The separator 10 is formed with the same number of holes as the number of the capillaries 05, the inner diameter of the holes is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the capillaries 05, and one capillary 05 penetrates each hole. In this way, the capillaries 05 are separated from each other, and the capillaries 05 are prevented from being entangled with each other and being densely bundled. Further, the separator 10 is a seal-like member having adhesiveness on one side, and has a role of localizing the capillary 05 along the sheet 04 by sticking the separator 10 on the sheet 04 in a state of penetrating the capillary 05. The material of the separator 10 is preferably thin and soft so as not to interfere with fixing the capillary cartridge to the constant temperature bath unit 41. For example, the material of the separator 10 includes silicon rubber, paper, a film, and the like. The number of separators may be increased or decreased according to the length of the capillary 02. The number of holes in the separator 10 may be larger than the number of capillaries, such as when the separator 10 is made into a common component in a high-throughput version having a large number of capillaries and a low-throughput version having a small number of capillaries.

Electrodes (cathodes) 08 exist corresponding to the number of capillaries 05, and by applying a voltage, a charged sample can be introduced into the capillaries 05 and electrophoretic separation can be performed for each molecular size. The electrode (cathode) 08 is, for example, a stainless steel pipe having an inner diameter of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm, and the capillary 05 is inserted therein. The detection unit 06 is located on the capillary 05, and the capillary 05 is arranged in a plane with a constant accuracy. The detection unit 06 is a position for detecting the fluorescence of the sample passing through the capillary 05, and it is necessary to align the position of the detection system of the apparatus with high accuracy.

The seat 04 is preferably soft and has a cushioning property. It is possible to prevent the capillary 05 from being damaged by using a cushioning material. Further, by using a heat insulating material or a heat radiating material for the sheet 04, heat insulating performance or heat radiating performance can be obtained. For example, heat insulating materials include foamed plastics such as polyurethane foam and polyethylene, and fiber-based materials such as glass wool, and heat radiating materials include rubber such as silicon, elastomers, and heat radiating gels.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the capillary cartridge 01 in the present embodiment shown in FIG. The assembly of the capillary cartridge 01 will be described with reference to this figure.

In this embodiment, the electrode holder 09, the detection unit 06, and the capillary head 07 are fixed to the support 03 while having a range of motion. With this configuration, the electrode 08, the detection unit 06, and the capillary head 07 can be accurately positioned on the electrophoresis apparatus, and the capillary cartridge 01 can be more easily attached to the electrophoresis apparatus. Hereinafter, a configuration for realizing this will be described.

The sheet 04 is attached to the support 03 due to the adhesiveness and tackiness of the sheet 04, chemical adhesion, a physical attachment mechanism, and the like. Since the capillary 05 is not arranged on a straight line, the capillary 05 is bent. The capillary array 02 has an integral structure by attaching the electrode holder 09 and the capillary head 07 to the support 03. The electrode holder 09 was fixed to the support 03 by fitting the electrode holder connecting portion 61 formed in the electrode holder 09 into the electrode holder connecting hole 62 of the support 03, and the capillary head 07 was formed in the capillary head 07. The capillary head connecting portion 63 is fixed to the support 03 by fitting it into the capillary head connecting hole 64 of the support 03.

Specifically, the tip of the electrode holder connecting portion 61 has a larger cross section than the electrode holder connecting hole 62 so that it cannot be pulled out after being fitted. Except for the tip of the electrode holder connecting portion 61, the cross section is smaller than that of the electrode holder connecting hole 62, and is longer than the depth of the electrode holder connecting hole 62. Therefore, although the electrode holder 09 is fixed to the support 03, it has a range of motion in the x, y, and z axis directions.

Further, the cross section of the tip of the capillary head connecting portion 63 is also large. The capillary head connecting hole 64 has a large hole and a small hole. The large portion of the capillary head connecting hole 64 is larger than the cross section of the tip of the capillary head connecting portion 63. The capillary head connecting portion 63 is passed through the large portion of the capillary head connecting hole 64. Due to the deflection of the capillary 05, the capillary head connecting portion 63 moves to a small portion of the capillary head connecting hole 64, so that the capillary head connecting portion 63 cannot be pulled out. Then, the capillary head connecting portion 63 stops at the side surface of the capillary connecting hole 64 and is fixed. At this time, since the capillary head 07 is fixed to the support 03 only on the side surface of the capillary head connecting hole 64, it has a range of motion in the x, y, and z axis directions.

Further, the capillary 05 between the fixed position of the capillary head 07 and the detection unit 06 is longer than the distance from the fixed position of the capillary head 07 to the detection unit 06. By suppressing the deflection of the capillary 05 caused by this with the detection unit holding 65, the detection unit 06 is positioned. The detection unit 06 also has a range of motion in the x, y, and z-axis directions because the detection unit is fixed to the support 03 only by suppressing the deflection with the detection unit retainer 65. Further, since the detection unit 06 is positioned only by the detection unit presser 65, highly accurate positioning can be performed without being affected by the dimensional error of the parts. Finally, the arrangement of the capillary 05 is adjusted by the separator 10 and fixed to the sheet 04.

As described above, the electrode holder 09, the capillary head 07, and the detection unit 06 are not completely fixed to the support 03, and have a range of motion in the x, y, and z directions. When completely fixed, high dimensional accuracy is required for all of the capillary cartridge 01 and the electrophoresis apparatus, but the electrode holder 09, the capillary head 07, and the fixed portion of the detection unit 06 have a range of motion. Therefore, individual differences in device dimensions can be tolerated even when the capillary cartridge 01 is attached. This enables a capillary cartridge 01 to which the electrode holder 09, the capillary head 07, and the detection unit 06 can be attached at the same time. In this embodiment, the electrode holder 09, the capillary head 07, and the detection unit 06 are all fixed with a range of motion, but even if there is only one fixing having a range of motion, the electrode holder 09 and the capillary head 07 are fixed. , The capillary cartridge 01 to which the detection unit 06 can be attached at one time can be realized. Further, since the fixed portion has a range of motion, the electrode holder 09, the capillary head 07, and the detection unit 06 can be fixed to the device by opening and closing the constant temperature bath door 43, shifting the support due to gravity, and supporting by heat. You will not be affected by body distortion.

Further, in this embodiment, an elastic body 66 is provided between the electrode holder 09 and the support 03. The elastic body 66 is attached to the support 03 or the electrode holder 09 by the adhesiveness and tackiness of the elastic body 66, chemical adhesion, a physical attachment mechanism, and the like. The elastic body 66 is slightly thicker than the connecting portion distance between the electrode holder 09 and the support 03. Further, as the elastic body 66, a body having an elastic force larger than the tension due to the deflection of the capillary 05 is used. As a result, the rotation of the electrode holder 09 due to the deflection of the capillary 05 is suppressed, thereby improving the attachability of the electrode holder 09. Further, the elastic body 66 also has a role of preventing the capillary 05 from being exposed at the connecting portion between the electrode holder 09 and the support 03. By preventing the capillary 05 from being exposed, it is less likely to be affected by the outside, and stable temperature control can be performed. Further, the heat insulating performance or the heat radiating performance can be improved by using a heat insulating material or a heat radiating material as in the sheet 04 for the elastic body 66. In this embodiment, the elastic body 66 is provided only at the connecting portion between the electrode holder 09 and the support 03, but the elastic body 66 is provided between the detection unit 06 and the support 03, and between the capillary head 07 and the support 03. You may.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a detailed view of mounting the capillary cartridge 01 of this embodiment. The protrusion, which is the insertion portion 56 formed in the support 03, is inserted into the opening which is the support insertion opening 55 on the device side. At the same time, the capillary cartridge 01 is placed by placing the support foot portion 53 formed on the support on the support scaffold 54 on the device side while inserting the electrode holder positioning hole 52 into the electrode holder positioning pin 51 on the device side. It is attached. By inserting the support 03, the capillary cartridge 01 is prevented from rising due to one-sided contact of the support 03 when the constant temperature bath door 43 is closed. Then, by closing the constant temperature bath door 43, the capillary cartridge 01 is pressed against the mounting surface 50 and fixed. At this time, the detection unit 06 is also fixed by being pushed into the clip 57 at the same time. Details of fixing the detection unit 06 with the clip 57 will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the clip 57. When the capillary cartridge 01 is brought closer to the mounting surface 50, the detection unit 06 hits the convex portion of the clip 57 to push the clip 57 once as shown in the upper part of the figure, and when it is further brought closer, it is shown in the middle part and the lower part of the figure. The detection unit 06 exceeds the convex portion of the clip 57, and the clip 57 presses the detection unit 06 by the reaction force of the spring 58 to temporarily fix the detection unit 06. At this time, at the same time as crossing the convex portion, the clip 57 is instantaneously moved by the reaction force to make a clicking sound, so that the user can confirm that the capillary cartridge 01 is temporarily fixed.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the support 03 and the sheet 04 of the capillary cartridge of this embodiment. If a soft member is used for the sheet 04, it will be crushed and deformed when a load is applied, the contact area with the capillary 05 will be small, and an air layer will be formed between the sheet 04 and the capillary 05. And the amount of deformation need to be controlled. Therefore, the support 03 of the capillary cartridge 01 of this embodiment has a box-shaped structure, and the sheet 04 is constant in the plane direction due to the protruding portion 03A provided on the outer peripheral portion of the support 03 and protruding toward the sheet 04. It is restricted so that it cannot be deformed beyond the size of. Further, a gap is provided between the end portion of the sheet 04 and the outer peripheral portion of the support 03, that is, the offset distance to the protruding portion 03A of the support 03 is designed based on the elastic modulus of the sheet 04. It is possible to prevent the 04 from protruding beyond the protrusion 03A and being deformed. Further, the height of the protruding portion 03A of the support 03 is lower than the thickness of the sheet 04, and the sheet 04 is not crushed beyond the height of the support 03 even when a load is applied. Therefore, the sheet 04 can be reliably brought into contact with the surface of the device on which the capillary cartridge 01 is attached.

Further, FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the peripheral portion of the capillary 05 of this embodiment. When the capillary cartridge 01 is brought into contact with the mounting surface 50 on the electrophoresis device side and a predetermined load is applied, the sheet 04 is deformed along the shape of the capillary 02, so that the contact area with the capillary 02 can be increased. it can. At this time, by uniformly applying a load to the entire surface of the seat 04 by the constant temperature bath door 43, it is difficult to form an air layer between the mounting surface 50 and the seat 04. Therefore, stable heat insulation performance and heat dissipation performance can be obtained. However, if the air layer is completely removed between the mounting surface 50 and the seat 04, the seat 04 may become like a suction cup and the capillary cartridge 01 may not be removable. In this embodiment, the structure is an integral structure with the capillary 05 sandwiched between them, and the capillary 05 is arranged to the outside of the sheet 04, so that the air layer is not completely eliminated. Therefore, it can be easily removed without sticking to the mounting surface 50.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the constant temperature bath door 43 in which a load can be uniformly applied to the entire surface of the sheet 04. The constant temperature bath door 43 has a two-stage structure in which an elastic body such as a spring is sandwiched. That is, the constant temperature bath door 43 has a two-stage structure in which the push plate 72 is attached to the door support 73 via one or more push plate springs 71, and has a cushioning property. Therefore, the entire capillary cartridge 01 can be pushed uniformly. Further, by adjusting the spring constant, it is possible to control the load applied to the capillary cartridge 01 when the constant temperature bath door 43 is closed. For example, if 12 springs having a spring constant of 3 N / mm are used, a load of 30 N can be applied when the constant temperature bath door 43 is closed.

[Example 2]
This embodiment is an example of a fixing mode of the detection unit 06 in attaching the capillary cartridge 01 to the device. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the detection unit fixed portion on the device in a YZ plane. Here, the Y-axis is the front-rear direction of the device, and the Z-axis is the vertical direction of the device. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 11, when the capillary cartridge 01 is attached to the device, how the detection unit 06 is finally fixed to the detection unit fixing position on the device with high accuracy will be described in detail below. To do.

As the first step, the support foot portion 53 of the capillary cartridge 01 is placed on the support scaffold 54 of the device while inserting the insertion portion 56 of the capillary cartridge 01 into the support insertion port 55 of the device. The capillary cartridge 01 may be configured by omitting the insertion portion 56, or a combination of the capillary cartridge 01 omitting the insertion portion 56 and the device omitting the support insertion port 55 may be used. During this first step, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 11, the detection unit 06 automatically contacts the tapered portion of the detection unit guide 80 on the device. This is because the detection unit 06 is fixed by the detection unit retainer 65 of the support 03, so that the detection unit 06 is positioned on the support. The detection unit 06 may be positioned on the support by a reference surface on which the detection unit 06 is abutted by the capillary tension at the opening, such as the detection unit retainer 65 described above, or the detection unit at the opening. Positioning may be performed based on a movable reference range.

Next, as a second step, the constant temperature bath door 43 (see FIG. 1) is closed. During this second step, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 11, the detection unit 06 is moved along the tapered portion of the detection unit guide 80 by the detection unit pushing component 83 provided in the constant temperature bath door 43. It is pushed toward the Y-axis reference surface 81 on the device. Finally, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 11, the detection unit is abutted against the Y-axis reference surface 81 and the Z-axis reference surface 82 on the device, and is automatically finally fixed at the detection unit fixing location.

This is because the detection unit has a range of motion and is connected to the support so that the detection unit is finally fixed independently of the support. The mechanism for finally fixing the detection unit may be pushed by a component on the constant temperature bath door as described above, or may be pushed by another component on the device. Further, in this second step, the installer may temporarily fix the detection unit to the detection unit fixing portion by pushing the detection unit with a finger, and then close the constant temperature bath door. Further, in this embodiment, the X-axis reference plane of the detection unit does not exist on the device, and the detection unit retainer 65 on the support becomes the X-axis reference surface of the detection unit finally fixed as it is, but it is detected on the device. There may be an X-axis reference plane that is finally fixed.

The example of the fixing method of the detection unit in the mounting of the capillary cartridge to the device has been described above, but the fixing point of the detection unit on the device is the same as the clip having the tapered portion or the tapered portion as shown in FIG. Of course, a clip 57 having a convex portion that functions in the above direction may be provided, and the detection portion may be abutted against the Z-axis reference surface 82 on the device by pushing the detection portion.

[Example 3]
This embodiment is an example of a fixing mode of the capillary head in mounting the capillary cartridge to the device. FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a fixed portion of the capillary head on the device. Here, the X-axis is the left-right direction of the device, the Y-axis is the front-back direction of the device, and the Z-axis is the up-down direction of the device. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 12, when the capillary cartridge is attached to the apparatus, how the capillary head is finally fixed to the capillary head fixing portion on the apparatus with high accuracy will be described in detail below.

As the first step, the support foot portion 53 of the capillary cartridge 01 is placed on the support scaffold 54 of the device while inserting the insertion portion 56 of the capillary cartridge 01 into the support insertion port 55 of the device. The capillary cartridge 01 may be configured by omitting the insertion portion 56, or a combination of the capillary cartridge 01 omitting the insertion portion 56 and the device omitting the support insertion port 55 may be used. During this first step, the capillary head 07 automatically contacts the tapered portion of the capillary head guide 90 on the device, as shown in the upper part of FIG. This is because the capillary head 07 is fixed in the capillary head connecting hole 64 of the support 03, so that the capillary head 07 is positioned on the support 03. The positioning of the capillary head 07 on the support may be performed by the reference surface of the inner circumference of the capillary head connecting hole 64 to which the capillary head connecting portion 63 is abutted by the capillary tension as described above, or the capillary head. The reference range in which the capillary head connecting portion 63 can move in the opening of the connecting hole 64 may be used.

Next, as a second step, the constant temperature bath door 43 (see FIG. 1) is closed. During this second step, a capillary head push-in component (not shown in FIG. 12) provided on the thermostatic chamber door 43 causes the capillary head to move along the taper portion of the capillary head guide 90 on the apparatus. It is pushed toward the Y-axis reference plane 92. Finally, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 12, the capillary head is abutted against the X-axis reference surface 91, the Y-axis reference surface 92, and the Z-axis reference surface 93 on the device, and automatically reaches the capillary head fixing position. Finally fixed. This is because the capillary head has a range of motion and is connected to the support so that the capillary head is finally fixed independently of the support. The mechanism for finally fixing the capillary head may be pushed by a part on the constant temperature bath door as described above, or may be pushed by another part on the device. Further, in this second step, the installer may temporarily fix the capillary head to the capillary head fixing portion by pushing the capillary head with a finger, and then close the constant temperature bath door.

[Example 4]
This embodiment is an example of a fixing mode of the electrode holder 09 in attaching the capillary cartridge 01 to the device. FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the electrode holder fixing portion on the device. Here, the X-axis is the left-right direction of the device, the Y-axis is the front-back direction of the device, and the Z-axis is the up-down direction of the device. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 13, how the electrode holder is finally fixed to the electrode holder fixing position on the device with high accuracy when the capillary cartridge is attached to the device will be described in detail.

As the first step, the support foot portion 53 of the capillary cartridge 01 is placed on the support scaffold 54 of the device while inserting the insertion portion 56 of the capillary cartridge 01 into the support insertion port 55 of the device. The capillary cartridge 01 may be configured by omitting the insertion portion 56, or a combination of the capillary cartridge 01 omitting the insertion portion 56 and the device omitting the support insertion port 55 may be used. During this first step, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 13, the electrode holder 09 automatically contacts the tapered portion of the electrode holder positioning pin 51 on the apparatus. This is because the electrode holder 09 is fixed in the electrode holder connecting hole 62 of the support 03, so that the electrode holder 09 is positioned on the support. The positioning of the electrode holder 09 on the support may be performed by the reference surface on the inner circumference of the electrode holder connecting hole 62 to which the electrode holder connecting portion 61 is abutted by the capillary tension as described above, or the electrode holder. The reference range in which the electrode holder connecting portion 61 can move in the opening of the connecting hole 62 may be used. Further, a reference surface of a portion different from the electrode holder connecting hole 62 to which the electrode holder 09 itself is abutted by the capillary tension may be provided on the support or the like. For example, the rotation of the electrode holder 09 due to the deflection of the capillary 05 may be performed. Positioning may be performed by applying it to the lower surface of the support and holding it down.

Next, as a second step, the constant temperature bath door 43 (see FIG. 1) is closed. During this second step, the electrode holder pushing component (not shown in FIG. 13) provided on the thermostatic chamber door 43 causes the electrode holder 09 to move along the taper portion of the positioning pin 51 on the device. It is pushed toward the Y-axis reference plane 102. Finally, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 13, the electrode holder 09 is abutted against the X-axis Z-axis reference surface 101 (inner circumference of the circular recess) and the Y-axis reference surface 102 on the device, and automatically. It is finally fixed at the electrode holder fixing point. This is because the electrode holder 09 has a range of motion and is connected to the support 03 so that the electrode holder 09 is finally fixed independently of the support 03. The mechanism for finally fixing the electrode holder 09 may be pushed by a component on the constant temperature bath door 43 as described above, or may be pushed by another component on the device. Further, in this second step, the installer may temporarily fix the electrode holder 09 to the electrode holder fixing portion by pushing the electrode holder 09 with a finger, and then close the constant temperature bath door 43.

01: Capillary cartridge, 02: Capillary array, 03: Support, 04: Sheet, 05: Capillary, 06: Detector, 07: Capillary head, 08: Electrode (cathode), 09: Electrode holder, 10: Separator, 11 : Handle, 20: Auto sampler unit, 21: Sampler base, 22: X-axis drive body, 23: Y-axis drive body, 24: Z-axis drive body, 25: Sample tray, 26: Sample container, 27: Liquid transfer mechanism , 28: Electrophoresis medium container, 29: Electrode side buffer container, 30: Electrode side washing tank, 31: Electrode side electrophoresis buffer tank, 32: Electrode side sample introduction buffer tank, 33: Electrode side buffer Container, 34: Waste liquid tank, 35: Electrode side washing tank, 36: Electrode side electrophoresis buffer tank, 40: Irradiation detection / constant temperature bath unit, 41: Constant temperature bath unit, 42: Irradiation detection unit, 43: Constant temperature bath Door, 44: Electrode (electrophoresis), 50: Mounting surface, 51: Electrode holder positioning pin, 52: Electrode holder positioning hole, 53: Support foot, 54: Support scaffold, 55: Support insertion port, 56 : Insertion part, 57: Clip, 58: Spring, 61: Electrode holder connecting part, 62: Electrode holder connecting hole, 63: Capillary head connecting part, 64: Capillary head connecting hole, 65: Detection part holding, 66: Elastic Body, 71: Spring for push plate, 72: Push plate, 73: Door support, 80: Detection part guide, 81: Y-axis reference plane (detection part) on the device, 82: Z-axis reference plane on the device ( Detection unit), 83: Detection unit push-in part, 90: Capillary head guide, 91: X-axis reference plane (capillary head) on the device, 92: Y-axis reference plane (capillary head) on the device, 93: On the device Z-axis reference plane (capillary head), 101: X-axis Z-axis reference plane on the device (electrode holder), 102: Y-axis reference plane on the device (electrode holder)

Claims (8)

In an electrophoresis device that electrophores samples in a capillary
A capillary array having a capillary, a capillary head for bundling the capillary, an electrode holder for holding an electrode provided on the capillary, a detection unit provided on the capillary, and a support supporting the capillary array. With a capillary cartridge
A constant temperature bath unit in which the capillary cartridge is installed and the temperature of the capillary is controlled, and
Have,
The constant temperature bath unit includes a fixing portion for fixing the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detecting portion at a predetermined position, and a guide for guiding the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detecting portion to the fixing portion, respectively. And have
When the capillary cartridge is pressed against the constant temperature bath unit, the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit move independently along the guide and are guided to the fixed portion. .. In claim 1,
The guide has a taper
The electrophoresis apparatus, wherein the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit are positioned by the support at a position where they can come into contact with the taper. In any one of claims 1 and 2,
The support has an insertion portion to be inserted into the constant temperature bath unit.
An electrophoresis apparatus characterized in that the constant temperature bath unit has an insertion port for inserting the insertion portion. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The constant temperature bath unit has a constant temperature bath door and has a constant temperature bath door.
The constant temperature bath door is an electrophoresis apparatus characterized in that the capillary cartridge is pushed into the fixed portion provided in the constant temperature bath unit. In claim 4,
The constant temperature bath door is an electrophoresis apparatus having a pushing component for pushing at least one of the capillary head, the detecting portion, or the electrode holder into the fixed portion. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electrophoresis apparatus, each of which has a plurality of reference planes for positioning the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit in at least two axial directions. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
The constant temperature bath unit has a support scaffold for placing the capillary cartridge in a predetermined position.
The support has a support foot portion that is in contact with the support scaffold.
When the support foot portion is brought into contact with the support scaffold and the capillary cartridge is placed in the constant temperature bath unit,
An electrophoresis apparatus in which the capillary head, the electrode holder, and the detection unit are in contact with the guide. In claim 1,
The constant temperature bath unit is an electrophoresis apparatus having a clip for pushing the detection unit into the fixed portion.

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