JP3384709B2 - Dispensing tip - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of chips that can be stacked in a chip rack and stored in a chip rack, and attached to a nozzle of a multiple pipetter or the like as it is. The present invention relates to a dispensing tip that can be used. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the fields of biochemistry, biotechnology, medicine, clinical examination, etc., it is necessary to quantitatively dispense a liquid sample such as a reagent at a level of several milliliters to 1 microliter. For this reason, a dispensing device such as a piston pipettor capable of dispensing quantitatively with high precision is used. [0003] A tip of such a dispensing apparatus is mounted with a chip for directly touching and sucking and discharging a liquid sample, and for a different liquid sample, mixing of the liquid sample is prevented by exchanging the tip. [0004] From the viewpoint of improvement of work efficiency, it is necessary to dispense a large number of the same liquid sample at the same time. For example, when dispensing a liquid sample to a 96-well microplate,
A multiple pipettor having a plurality of nozzles provided at intervals of the 96-well microplate is used. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the structure of such a multiple pipettor. For convenience of explanation, only the plate 6 is shown in a sectional view. A tip insertion portion 2 provided with a number of nozzles 3 is attached to the tip of the piston portion 1, and a tip 20 is attached to the nozzle 3. [0006] Then, the piston 5 is moved upward to suck the liquid sample into the tip 20, and then the multiple pipetter is moved onto the plate 6 to move the piston 5 downward. As a result, the liquid sample is discharged to the recess 7 of the plate 6 to perform the dispensing process. [0007] As shown in FIG.
It is set in the tip rack 8 in advance. Then, the dispensing device is moved in the direction of the tip 20 to move the nozzle 3 to the tip 2.
The chip 20 is attached to the nozzle 3 by inserting it into the nozzle 3. [0008] However, since a large number of chips are used in the dispensing process, it is necessary to store the chips in a plurality of chip racks and prepare them in advance. Since the processing is usually performed in a clean environment such as a clean bench, there is a problem that a work space is limited and it is difficult to secure a place for mounting the prepared chip rack. In such a case, it is conceivable to reduce the number of chip racks by stacking a plurality of chips and storing them in a chip rack, and sequentially using the chips in the top row. However, in this case, when the chip 20 is inserted into the nozzle 3, a predetermined force is applied to the inserted chip 20, so that there is a problem that the stacked chips 20 are fitted to each other. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of such a stacked chip 20. As shown in FIG. Chip 20 (20a, 20b)
Is composed of heads 22a and 22b inserted into the nozzle 3 and liquid parts 23a and 23b from which a liquid sample is sucked.
a, 22b, a fitting portion 21 fitted with the nozzle 3
a, 21b are formed. Therefore, when the nozzle 3 is inserted in a state where the chips 20 are stacked, the liquid 23a of the upper chip 20a is fitted to the fitting portion 21b of the chip 20b therebelow due to the insertion force. Inconvenience occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing tip in which tips are set in a stack on a tip rack and are not fitted to each other even when the tips are mounted on a nozzle. Aim. [0014] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a head which is inserted into a nozzle of a dispensing device,
A dispensing tip, which has a liquid part formed integrally with the corresponding part and for aspirating a liquid sample, wherein the head and the liquid part communicate with each other through an insertion hole, wherein a concave portion is formed on an upper surface of the head. And a convex portion is formed on the lower surface of the head so that the concave portion fits therein. When two chips are stacked one on top of the other, the liquid part of the upper chip fits into the through hole of the lower chip. to avoid engagement <br/>, it sets the outer diameter of the liquid portion smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole. For this reason , when a plurality of chips are stacked one on top of the other, the protrusions formed on the lower surface of the upper chip are fitted into the recesses of the lower chip, and the center lines of the upper and lower chips substantially coincide with each other. At the same time, each horizontal position is regulated, and the force when the nozzle is inserted into the upper chip, the liquid part and the side wall of the insertion hole are fitted, and the chips do not fit each other. Become like Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a dispensing tip according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view thereof. The tip 30 is made of polypropylene, polycarbonate or heat-resistant silicon rubber, and has a head 31 inserted into a nozzle and a liquid part 3 from which a liquid sample is sucked.
And 2. A concave portion 33 is formed inside the upper surface of the head portion 31, and a convex portion 34 formed by chamfering the periphery of the lower surface of the head portion 31 is formed. On the other hand, a sample hole 36 through which a liquid sample enters and exits is formed at the tip of the liquid part 32, and the sample hole 36 communicates with an insertion hole 35 formed inside the chip 30. The insertion hole 35 formed in the chip 30 is designed to prevent the liquid portion 32 of the upper chip 30 from contacting the side wall of the lower insertion hole 35 when the chips 30 are stacked one on another.
It is formed larger than the liquid part 32 , that is, as shown in FIG.
Inner diameter of the insertion hole 35 (of the side walls of the heads 31a and 31b)
Diameter) is formed larger than the outer diameter of the liquid portions 32a and 32b.
In addition, upper and lower fitting portions 37 and 38 for fitting with the nozzle are formed. The concave surface 39 of the concave portion 33 and the lower surface 40 on which the convex portion 34 is formed are formed so as to be parallel, and the cross-sectional shapes of the concave portion 33 and the convex portion 34 are substantially the same. Is formed. Next, a mounting method for mounting the chip 30 having the above-described configuration to the nozzle will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view when chips 30 are stacked in two stages on a chip rack. However, the present invention is not limited to two stages, and it goes without saying that the number of stages can be stacked as needed. FIG. 3 shows a side view of a case where three layers are stacked by a method described later. For the sake of convenience in the following description, the description relating to the upper chip 30 will be distinguished by adding the suffix “a” to the reference sign, and the description relating to the lower chip will be distinguished by adding the suffix “b” to the reference sign. The description is omitted, and the suffix is omitted when it is not necessary to distinguish them. First, the chips 30b are stored in the chip rack 50. At this time, the lower surface 40b of the chip 30b is stored so as to be in contact with the chip rack 50. Then, the chips 30a are stacked. At the time of stacking, the chip 3 is inserted into the recess 33b of the chip 30b.
The lower surface 40a is fitted with the concave surface 39a.
b. As a result, the position and lateral movement of the chip 30a are restricted, and the chip 30a and the chip 30b
And the positions of the center lines substantially coincide with each other. Therefore, even if a plurality of chips 30 are stacked, as long as the center line of the lowermost chip 30b is set to be vertical, the respective center lines substantially coincide with each other, so that the chip 30 may fall or tilt. Can be prevented. The chip 30 thus set is set.
Is heat-treated, such as by autoclave sterilization, together with the chip rack 50, and is mounted on the nozzle 55 of the dispensing apparatus. For mounting, the nozzle 55 is moved downward in the direction of the chip 30 so that the nozzle 55 is inserted into the insertion hole 3 of the chip 30a.
5a. At this time, a predetermined force is applied so that the nozzle 55 is inserted into the upper and lower fitting portions 37a and 38a of the chip 30a. Accordingly, the chip 30a is urged in the direction of the chip 30b, but the liquid portion 32a of the chip 30a is formed so as not to contact the side surface of the insertion hole 35b of the chip 30b. Does not fit. Further, since the stacked chips 30 are always vertical, it is possible to prevent mounting errors such as mounting the chips 30 at an angle to the nozzle 55. As described above, when the chips are stacked, the center lines of the chips substantially coincide with each other so that the chips do not fall down, and since the liquid portion does not contact the insertion hole, the chips are stacked. Even when mounted on a nozzle, it is possible to prevent the chips from fitting each other. The configuration of the chip that achieves the above-described objects and effects is not limited to the above configuration, but may be, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a dispensing tip, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view thereof. The chip 41 shown in FIG. 4 is different from the above-described chip 30 in that a constricted portion 43 is formed in a liquid portion 42, and other configurations are substantially the same. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, the lower fitting portion 44 is formed in a constricted portion 43 located on the tip end side with respect to the lower surface 40 of the head 31. 43 is thinner than the head 31. Therefore, elastic deformation is easier than the lower fitting portion 38 of the chip 30 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and the insertion of the nozzle 55 can be performed with a small force, and the nozzle 55 can be securely fitted. Become. Therefore, the difference between the size of the liquid part 42 and the size of the side surface of the insertion hole 35b can be reduced. As described above, according to the present invention,
When a plurality of chips are stacked one on top of the other, the protrusion formed on the lower surface of the upper chip fits into the recess of the lower chip.
The center lines of the upper and lower chips substantially coincide with each other, and their horizontal positions are regulated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the chip from falling down when the chips are stacked one on top of the other, or to prevent the chip from being mounted at an angle when the chip is mounted on the nozzle. The outer diameter of the liquid part is smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole.
Since the nozzle is inserted into the upper chip, the liquid part and the side wall of the insertion hole are fitted by the force when the nozzle is inserted into the upper chip, so that the chips do not fit each other. Therefore, a plurality of chips can be stored in the chip rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a chip according to the present invention.
(A) is a perspective view, (b) is a sectional view. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the chips according to FIG. 1 are stacked in two stages and mounted on a nozzle. FIG. 3 is a side view when the chips according to FIG. 1 are stored in a chip rack in which three tiers are stacked. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing another configuration of the chip, wherein FIG. 4A is a perspective view and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a dispensing process applied to the description of the conventional technique. FIG. 6 is a side view when chips applied to the description of the conventional technique are stored in a chip rack. FIG. 7 is a diagram applied to the description of a problem. [Description of Symbols] 30, 41 Chip 31 Head 32, 42 Liquid part 33 Concave part 34 Convex part 35 Insertion hole 36 Sample hole 37, 38, 44 Fitting part 39 Concave part surface 40 Lower surface 43 Neck part 55 Nozzle

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] A head inserted into a nozzle of a dispensing device,
A dispensing tip having a liquid part formed integrally with the head and sucking a liquid sample, wherein the head and the liquid part communicate with each other through an insertion hole; Is formed, and a convex portion is formed on the lower surface of the head so as to fit the concave portion, and
The outer diameter of the liquid portion is set smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole so that the liquid portion of the upper chip does not fit into the insertion hole of the lower chip when two chips are stacked. A dispensing tip characterized by the following: