JP5702002B2 - Suction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a suction device capable of sucking and holding an object at a suction port of a tubular passage of a nozzle portion and irradiating irradiation light from behind the held object.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, suction pipettes for sucking and measuring a relatively small amount of liquid and the like in various fields have been used. In particular, in biochemical experiments, a push button type suction pipette that is used with a suction tip attached to the tip and a multi-channel type suction pipette that can be used with a plurality of suction tips attached at the same time are frequently used.

  The object to be sucked includes not only the liquid but also powder, particles, cells and the like contained in the liquid. These powders, particles, cells, and the like may be dried by contact with outside air to deteriorate their properties, or in the case of cells, the tissue may be destroyed and become dead cells. Therefore, it is preferable to handle these objects in a liquid quickly and without exposing them to air. Further, when the object is sucked and held in the suction port of the suction tip, an optical device such as a phase contrast microscope is used to check whether the object is held. Observation with an optical device is preferably performed in a brighter environment from the viewpoint of improving user convenience and work accuracy. In particular, when handling a minute and delicate object such as a cell, it is preferable to keep the user's field of view bright by illuminating the object from behind the object with the user's viewpoint as the front. Furthermore, when handling a cell etc. as a target object, it is preferable to make the structure around the suction port in contact with the target object as simple as possible from the viewpoint of preventing contamination.

  In view of such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a suction system having a plurality of nozzles provided with optical fibers in a suction path. The suction system of Patent Document 1 adsorbs beads at the tip of a nozzle and confirms the presence or absence of the beads with a camera device. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a suction device in which a cable including an optical fiber is adjacent to a pipette tip of a suction pipette. The suction device of Patent Document 2 illuminates the periphery of the suction port with light emitted from an optical fiber.

JP-T-2003-517581 JP 2005-527236 Gazette

  However, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that the optical fiber is attached to each of the suction paths such as the suction tip, which increases the cost and makes maintenance difficult. Further, there is a problem that the structure of wiring and the like is complicated around the suction port. Therefore, there is a problem that contamination is likely to occur when a minute cell or the like is handled as an object. In the suction device of Patent Document 2, since the optical fiber cable is adjacent to the pipette tip, the irradiation light cannot be emitted from behind the object held in the suction port of the pipette tip, and the observation is performed by the optical device. In this case, there is a problem that the irradiation light from the optical fiber cable becomes back light and accurate measurement cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, is low in cost, has a simple apparatus configuration, is easy to maintain, is unlikely to cause contamination, and is sucked and held in the suction port. An object of the present invention is to provide a suction device capable of irradiating irradiation light from behind a target object.

  A suction device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tubular passage serving as a suction path for sucking an object inside, and an opening at one end of the tubular passage sucks and holds the object. A light source side end formed on the other end of the tubular passage, and a light source that emits irradiation light; and the suction light from the light source side end through the tubular passage to the suction port Irradiation light transmitting means for transmitting to the light source.

  The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of sucking and observing an object using the suction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the suction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a configuration of another example of the suction device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of another example of the suction device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the suction device A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device A according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

<About suction device A>
The suction device A is a device that sucks and holds the object 1 from the set M of objects and irradiates the held object 1 with irradiation light from the light source 2. The main body 3 of the suction device A includes a communication space 4 having a predetermined volume inside, and is connected to a pump mechanism (not shown) provided outside the main body. The pump mechanism depressurizes the communication space 4 of the main body 3 and generates a suction force at the suction port 6 formed at one end of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 connected to the communication space 4. The suction port 6 sucks and holds the object 1. Further, the suction device A of the present embodiment includes a phase contrast microscope 7 (observation means). The user can select the object 1 by observing the shape of the held object 1 with the phase-contrast microscope 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suction device A of the present embodiment includes a nozzle portion 5, a light source 2, a main body portion 3, and a light reflection layer 8 (irradiation light transmission means). Each configuration will be described in detail later.

<About the set M of objects>
The set M of objects is a liquid containing the object 1 and is stored in a bottomed container C having an inner bottom. When the user observes the object 1 held in the suction port 6 formed at one end of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 from below the container C by the phase contrast microscope 7 described later, and sorts the object 1 The object 1 includes an object determined by the user to be selected (hereinafter referred to as a selection object 1a) and an object determined by the user not to be selected (hereinafter referred to as a non-object 1b). (See FIG. 2A).

  There are no particular limitations on the type of collection M of objects, and examples include a mixture of particles having various shapes and particle diameters, cell culture solutions containing various sizes of cells and contaminants, and cell treatment solutions. For example, when the set M of objects is a mixed slurry of particles having various shapes, the object 1 is particles included in the mixed slurry. Moreover, when the particle | grains of the shape which a user desires are contained in the said particle | grain, such a desired particle | grain corresponds to the selection target object 1a. Similarly, the set M of objects is a cell culture solution or the like containing cells or contaminants of various sizes, and when the cells are aspirated, the object 1 is included in the cell culture solution or the like. It is a cell. Moreover, when the cell of the shape which a user desires is contained in the said cell, such a desired cell corresponds to the selection target object 1a.

  The target object 1 to be sucked using the suction device A of the present embodiment is preferably a living cell, more preferably a living cell aggregate.

  When the target object 1 is a cell derived from a living body, the target object 1 has high transparency and is difficult to observe in a dark visual field. The suction device A of the present embodiment can transmit the irradiation light of the light source 2 to be described later to the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 that holds the object 1, and can illuminate the object 1 brightly from behind. . Therefore, the suction device A of this embodiment can keep a user's visual field bright, and can contribute to the efficiency of work in the fields of bio-related technology and medicine.

  In addition, a living cell aggregate (spheroid spheroid) is generally formed by aggregation of several to several hundred thousand individual cells, and a normal cell aggregate exhibits a substantially spherical shape. And the test result obtained using such a cell aggregate derived from a living body is a living body in which the interaction between each cell is taken into consideration inside the cell aggregate than the test result obtained using one cell. A similar environment has been reconstructed, and results that take into account the functions of individual cells can be obtained, and the experimental conditions can be more consistent with the environment in vivo. In particular, cell aggregates not only have a large variation in shape, but also when cell aggregates of similar shapes are compared, the density of cells may differ locally (there is unevenness in cell aggregation). Careful observation is necessary. As described above, if the suction device A of the present embodiment is used, the user can transmit irradiation light of the light source 2 to be described later to the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 holding the target 1. 1 can be brightly illuminated from behind. Therefore, the suction device A of the present embodiment has high transparency and can keep the user's visual field bright with respect to a cell aggregate derived from a living body that is an object that is difficult to observe in a dark visual field. Make it possible. In addition, the kind of irradiation light is not specifically limited, It determines suitably by the kind of observation means (phase contrast microscope etc. mentioned later) to be used. For example, when a phase contrast microscope is used, light (diffracted light) from a ring slit may be employed as irradiation light, and when a differential interference microscope is used, polarized light may be employed as irradiation light.

<About container C>
The container C stores a set M of objects. As shown in FIG. 1, the container C is formed of a bottomed cylindrical body having an inner bottom portion and having an upper end opened.

  The shape of the container C is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoints of operability and stability, it is preferable to adopt a flat shape that preferably has a flat inner bottom and a relatively low height compared to the width.

  The opening width and depth (height) of the container C only need to be large enough to immerse the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle unit 5 described later.

  In the container C, the user can observe the object 1 held in the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 immersed in the container C with the phase contrast microscope 7 from below the container C. Thus, at least a part is formed of a translucent material. Since a preferable translucent material is the same as the translucent material which comprises the main-body part 3, it mentions in full detail by the postscript.

  As the container C satisfying these requirements, for example, a circular glass petri dish having a height of several mm to several cm and a diameter of about 10 cm can be employed.

  The container C can store a liquid that does not deteriorate the properties of the objects 1 included in the set M of objects other than the set M of objects described above. That is, the user cannot perform sufficient observation when observing with the phase-contrast microscope 7 from below the container C when the set M of the objects is a cell culture solution having low transparency. Therefore, the user stores in the container C a liquid that has high transparency and does not deteriorate the properties of the cells that are the objects 1, and uses a suction device such as a suction pipette equipped with a suction tip to collect a small amount of the objects M. Into the liquid in container C. Accordingly, the user can move the object 1 from the set M of objects with low transparency into the liquid with high transparency without degrading the properties of the cells that are the objects 1. Therefore, the phase contrast microscope 7 can be fully observed.

Such a liquid is not particularly limited as long as it does not deteriorate the properties of the object 1, and can be appropriately selected depending on the type of the object 1. Typical liquids include, for example, basal medium, synthetic medium, eagle medium, RPMI medium, Fischer medium, ham medium, MCDB medium, serum, and other glycerol, cell bunker (Juji Field) to be added before frozen storage. And the like, cell frozen solution, formalin, reagent for fluorescent staining, antibody, purified water, physiological saline and the like. When the object 1 is a cell, a culture preservation solution suitable for the cell can be used. For example, when BxPC-3 (human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell), which is a living body cell, is used as the object 1, the liquid is RPMI-1640 medium and fetal bovine serum FBS (Fetal).
Bovine Serum) may be mixed with 10% and supplements such as antibiotics and sodium pyruvate as necessary.

<Regarding the nozzle part 5>
The nozzle unit 5 sucks and holds the objects 1 included in the set M of objects by a suction port 6 formed at one end of the tubular passage 9. Since the held object 1 has a fixed holding position, the shape can be easily observed with the phase contrast microscope 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle unit 5 includes therein a tubular passage 9 serving as a suction path for sucking the object 1. The opening at one end of the tubular passage 9 forms a suction port 6 for sucking and holding the object 1, and the opening at the other end (light source side end 10) is irradiated from the light source 2 described later. The irradiated light is transmitted.

  A tapered portion 11 is provided in the vicinity of the tip of the suction port 6. The taper part 11 is an inclination which reduces the opening area of the suction port 6 so that it may become the same area as the cross-sectional area of the tubular channel 9 in the connection part with the tubular channel 9 in the downstream direction of the suction direction. The object 1 sucked and held by the suction port 6 is held in contact with the tapered portion 11 of the suction port 6.

  The cross-sectional area of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 is not particularly limited. As described above, the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 needs to hold the object 1 in contact with the tapered portion 11 of the suction port 6. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the tubular passage 9 may be formed smaller than the diameter of the object 1.

  The length of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 is not particularly limited. When the light reflecting layer 8 described later is provided on the inner wall of the tubular passage 9, the length of the tubular passage 9 is, for example, a cell mass in order to sufficiently reflect the irradiation light and transmit the irradiation light to the suction port 6. It is preferable that the major axis length is twice to several tens of mm.

  In this embodiment, the nozzle part 5 has illustrated the aspect by which the several tubular channel | path 9 (In FIG. 1, four tubular channel | paths 9 are illustrated) was arranged in the horizontal line in one block. The light source side end portion 10 of each tubular passage 9 is connected to one communication space 4 of the main body portion 3. The number of the tubular passages 9 is not particularly limited, and for example, a total of 36 tubular passages 9 may be arranged in a matrix shape of 6 × 6 in length, or one.

  Thus, by arranging the plurality of tubular passages 9, the suction device A of the present embodiment can suck and hold the plurality of objects 1 at the same time. Therefore, the suction device A of the present embodiment can improve the user's work efficiency.

<About light source 2>
The light source 2 emits irradiation light. As shown in FIG. 1, the suction device A of the present embodiment is provided on the light source side end portion 10 side that is an opening at the other end of the tubular passage 9 and is provided outside the main body portion 3. The number of light sources 2 in this embodiment is one.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is transmitted into the main body 3 and reflected by the light reflection layer 8 described later. An arrow A1 indicates the irradiation light irradiated from the light source 2 and transmitted into the main body 3. The arrow A2 is reflected by the light reflection layer 8 and the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5. The irradiation light transmitted from the inside to the tubular passage 9 and reaching the suction port 6 is shown. Irradiation light reflected by the light reflection layer 8 is transmitted from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 into the tubular passage 9 and reaches the suction port 6. Therefore, the suction device A of the present embodiment does not need to provide an optical fiber or the like in the tubular passage 9 of each nozzle portion 5. As a result, the suction device A of the present embodiment can share one light source 2 with the nozzle unit 5 including the plurality of tubular passages 9, and can apply a plurality of irradiation lights emitted from one light source 2. Can be transmitted to the suction passages 6 of the respective tubular passages 9.

  Moreover, since the suction device A of this embodiment has the light source 2 provided outside, the design of the suction device A is facilitated and the maintenance of the light source 2 is facilitated. In addition, as will be described later, in the suction device A of the present embodiment, a part of the main body 3 is made of a light-transmitting material, so that the irradiation light from the light source 2 is easily transmitted into the main body 3. . Furthermore, in the suction device A of the present embodiment, even when the light source 2 generates heat, the heat of the light source 2 is not easily transmitted to the object 1 because the light source 2 is provided outside. As a result, even when observing the heat-sensitive object 1 such as a cell aggregate, the user can eliminate the influence of heat generation on the properties of the object 1.

  The type of the light source 2 is not particularly limited, and a halogen lamp such as a tungsten lamp, a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, a metal halide lamp, a heating bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a sodium lamp, a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, a laser beam, or the like is used. Can do. For example, when a cell aggregate is held as the object 1 in the suction port 6 and observed with the phase contrast microscope 7, a halogen lamp of 12V (volt) 100W (watt), 6V15W, 6V30W or the like can be employed.

  As described above, since the suction device A of the present embodiment includes the light reflection layer 8 described later, one light source 2 can be shared by a plurality of tubular passages 9, but the number of light sources 2 Is not particularly limited, and a plurality of light sources 2 may be provided.

<About main unit 3>
The main body 3 includes one communication space 4 inside. The communication space 4 opens downward. The light source side end portion 10 side of the nozzle portion 5 is attached to the main body portion 3 so as to face the opening of the communication space 4. Thereby, the communication space 4 and each tubular channel | path 9 are connected. Further, the communication space 4 of the main body 3 can temporarily store a liquid component contained in the set M of objects during suction. The stored liquid component is discharged together with the object 1 sucked and held in the suction port 6 at the time of discharge.

  Therefore, when the user operates the pump mechanism provided outside and sets the communication space 4 of the main body 3 to a negative pressure, the main body 3 provided with the communication space 4 is a suction port of each tubular passage 9. 6 can generate a suction force. Further, the main body 3 provided with the communication space 4 can temporarily store the liquid component contained in the set M of objects to be sucked from the suction port 6 in the initial stage of suction. Further, the communication space 4 can be provided with a light reflection layer 8 to be described later on the inner wall, and the light reflection layer 8 reflects the irradiation light transmitted into the main body 3, and the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9. To reach the suction port 6.

  The volume of the communication space 4 is not particularly limited. The suction device A of the present embodiment needs to continuously generate a suction force at the suction port 6 while sucking and holding the object 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when there is a tubular passage 9 provided with a suction port 6 that does not suck and hold the object 1 among the plurality of tubular passages 9, such a tubular passage 9. The liquid components of the set M of objects are continuously sucked into the communication space 4 via the. Therefore, the communication space 4 is such that the entire amount of the liquid component can be stored even if the suction device A of the present embodiment continues to suck the liquid component during the predetermined time during which the object 1 is sucked and held. In addition to having a volume, at the time of discharging the object 1 sucked and held in the suction port 6, it has a volume enough to store an amount of liquid component that can generate a liquid flow necessary for discharging the object 1. Is preferred. When a discharge mechanism that discharges the sucked liquid component is provided in the communication space 4 of the main body 3, the volume of the communication space 4 stores a necessary amount of liquid component when the object 1 is discharged. It can be as much as possible.

  It does not specifically limit as a material which comprises the main-body part 3. FIG. As a material which comprises the main-body part 3, metals, such as various resin, glass, aluminum, are employable, for example. As the resin, a translucent material described later can be used. These materials can be produced by a method such as melting and molding.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the light source 2 is provided outside. Therefore, at least a part of the main body 3 is formed of a translucent material in order to transmit the irradiation light from the light source 2 into the main body 3.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a translucent material, For example, it is preferable to employ | adopt a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a photocurable resin etc. More specifically, as the light-transmitting material, polyethylene resin; polyethylene naphthalate resin; polypropylene resin; polyimide resin; polyvinyl chloride resin; cycloolefin copolymer; norbornene resin-containing polyether sulfone resin; Aromatic polyamide resin; (Meth) acrylic resin such as poly (meth) methyl acrylate; Styrene resin such as polystyrene and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer; Polycarbonate resin; Polyester resin; Phenoxy resin; Butyral resin; Cellulose resins such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate; epoxy resins; phenol resins; silicone resins;

  Further, an inorganic material such as a metal alkoxide, a ceramic precursor polymer, a solution obtained by hydrolytic polymerization of a solution containing a metal alkoxide by a sol-gel method, or a combination thereof, such as an inorganic material such as a siloxane bond. It is preferable to use an inorganic material (such as polydimethylsiloxane) or glass.

  As the glass, soda glass, quartz, borosilicate glass, Pyrex (registered trademark) glass, low-melting glass, photosensitive glass, and other optical glasses having various refractive indexes and Abbe numbers can be widely used.

  A method of providing the light source 2 outside the main body 3 is not particularly limited, and a box-shaped housing (not shown) that can be incorporated into the main body 3 and the light source 2 of the present embodiment is prepared. In addition, a method of fixing the positions of the main body 3 and the light source 2 can be employed.

  In addition, since the suction device A of this embodiment has a light source outside, the user can provide a moving mechanism that moves the main body 3 and the nozzle 5 in the horizontal direction. By providing such a moving mechanism, the user can irradiate the nozzle unit 5 in a state in which the object 1 is sucked and held and the main body unit 3 to which the nozzle unit 5 is attached to the light source 2 provided outside. It is possible to assemble the suction device A having a mechanism for observing with the phase-contrast microscope 7 from below by moving to a position where light is irradiated. As a result, the user can greatly improve the efficiency of a series of operations of sucking and holding the object 1, irradiating the object 1 with irradiation light, and observing the object 1. In this case, as described above, since one light source 2 can be shared by the plurality of main body portions 3 and the nozzle portions 5, the user can reduce the manufacturing cost of the main body portion 3.

<About the light reflection layer 8>
The light reflection layer 8 (irradiation light transmission means) reflects the irradiation light irradiated from the light source 2 and transmits the reflected light from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 into the tubular passage 9. To reach. The light reflecting layer 8 is provided on the side wall of the communication space 4 of the main body 3 and the inner wall of the tubular passage 9. In the suction device A of the present embodiment, the light reflection layer 8 is connected to the communication space 4 in order to transmit the irradiation light from the light source 2 provided outside the main body 3 to the communication space 4 in the main body 3. It is not provided on the ceiling. Note that, as described above, since it is only necessary to transmit the irradiation light from the light source 2 into the main body 3, the suction device A of the present embodiment includes the light reflection layer 8 on a part of the ceiling surface of the communication space 4, You may produce the location in which the light reflection layer 8 is not provided with a translucent material. By configuring in this way, the suction device A of the present embodiment has the main body portion 3 from the portion of the main body portion 3 that is not provided with the light reflecting layer 8 and is made of a translucent material. Irradiation light from the external light source 2 can be transmitted into the communication space 4. In the suction device A of the present embodiment, the light reflecting layer 8 is not provided on the ceiling surface of the communication space 4 in order to transmit more irradiation light into the main body 3.

  The installation location of the light reflection layer 8 is not particularly limited. The light reflecting layer 8 only needs to be able to transmit the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 into the tubular passage 9 and finally reach the suction port 6. . Therefore, the light reflecting layer 8 may be provided only on the inner wall of the tubular passage 9 when the amount of irradiation light transmitted to the light source side end portion 10 is sufficient. On the other hand, when the irradiation direction of the transmitted irradiation light is substantially parallel to the tubular passage 9 when the irradiation light is transmitted to the light source side end portion 10, the light reflection layer 8 is only on the side wall of the communication space 4. It may be provided.

  The type of the light reflecting layer 8 is not particularly limited. For example, the light reflecting layer 8 may be formed by providing a metal film on which a metal is deposited on the side wall of the communication space 4 or the inner wall of the tubular passage 9. For example, the light reflecting layer 8 made of a metal film can be formed by evaporating a metal such as aluminum, gold, or silver. Further, the suction device A of the present embodiment improves the light reflectance by forming a protective layer with silicon monoxide (SiO) or various dielectric multilayer films on the surface of the light reflecting layer 8. Can do. The vapor deposition method of the light reflecting layer 8 is not particularly limited, and in the suction device A of the present embodiment, for example, a sputtering method or an electron beam melting method can be employed.

  The thickness of the light reflection layer 8 is not particularly limited, and for example, the light reflection layer 8 having a thickness of about 30 to 600 nm can be provided.

  In the suction device A of the present embodiment, the light reflecting layer 8 may not be provided directly on the side wall of the communication space 4 or the inner wall of the tubular passage 9. For example, the suction device A of the present embodiment may separately prepare a reflecting member provided with the light reflecting layer 8 and attach the reflecting member to the side wall of the communication space 4 or the inner wall or outer wall of the tubular passage 9. .

<About the phase-contrast microscope 7>
The phase contrast microscope 7 (observation means) observes the object 1 held in the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 from below the container C. In this way, by observing the object 1 using the phase-contrast microscope 7, even if the object 1 is, for example, a cell derived from a living body, the user can clearly recognize the shape of the object 1. And can accurately observe the shape.

  In this embodiment, the phase-contrast microscope 7 is adopted as the observation means, but the observation means is not particularly limited, and in addition to a general optical microscope, a fluorescence microscope, a polarization microscope, a stereomicroscope, a bright field microscope, a dark field microscope, A field microscope, a differential interference microscope, an ultrasonic microscope, a confocal microscope, a laser scanning microscope, an electron microscope, a scanning probe microscope, an X-ray microscope, a virtual microscope, a digital microscope, and the like can be used.

  When observing the highly transparent object 1 such as a cell, the user preferably uses a phase contrast microscope 7, a differential interference microscope, or a fluorescence microscope as observation means. When using a fluorescence microscope as an observation means, the target object 1 needs to have fluorescence. Therefore, when observing the object 1 that does not have fluorescence with a fluorescence microscope, the user stains the object 1 with a fluorescent dye in advance and then uses it for measurement. The staining method for the object 1 is not particularly limited, and the user may adopt a preferable staining method as appropriate. For example, the user can employ methods such as chemical fluorescent staining and antibody fluorescent staining. In addition, the user can adopt a method of introducing and observing a gene that induces a fluorescent protein such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) into a cell by genetic recombination.

  A monitor device (not shown) can be attached to the phase-contrast microscope 7. The monitor device includes an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the phase-contrast microscope 7 into an electrical image data signal, an image processing unit that performs image processing such as gamma correction and shading correction on the image data, and a post-image processing A display device for displaying image data. The user confirms the image displayed on the display device of the monitor device. Note that the processing performed by the user can be automatically performed by controlling the robot with software or the like whose processing contents are programmed in advance, and using the robot. The processing content is not particularly limited. For example, when a user or a robot observes the object 1 with the phase-contrast microscope 7 and finds an object having an abnormal shape, the nozzle unit that holds the object The processing of storing the location of 5 or stopping the suction of the object from the nozzle unit 5 and dropping the object according to the stored position information can be programmed.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for sucking and holding the object 1 using the suction device A of the present embodiment and observing with the phase-contrast microscope 7 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a container Ca divided into two chambers is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in the object capturing chamber C1, the suction device A operates a pump mechanism provided outside to apply a suction force to the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5. The object 1 is sucked from the set M of objects. An arrow A3 indicates the suction direction of the object 1 to be sucked, and an arrow A4 indicates the suction direction of the object 1 that is sucked and held in the suction port 6. The set M of objects includes a selection object 1a and an asymmetric object 1b. The user mainly observes the presence / absence of the object 1 held in the suction port 6 by the phase contrast microscope 7 provided below the container Ca to confirm the suction state. At this time, the non-object 1b is sucked into the suction port 6 in addition to the sorting object 1a. Therefore, the user moves the main body 3 to the adjacent object selection chamber C2 and further observes from the shape point.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, in the object selection chamber C <b> 2, irradiation light is irradiated from the light source 2 provided above the main body 3. Irradiation light is transmitted from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 into the tubular passage 9 and reaches the suction port 6. As a result, the object 1 is irradiated with irradiation light from behind. In a state where the object 1 is irradiated with irradiation light, the user observes the shape of the object 1 held in the suction port 6 with the phase contrast microscope 7 provided below the container Ca. In addition to the phase-contrast microscope 7, the above-described fluorescence microscope or the like can be employed as the observation means. The phase contrast microscope 7 is used by being appropriately moved from the position observed in the object capturing chamber C1, but the phase contrast microscope 7 may be prepared at a position corresponding to each chamber. Moreover, the position of the phase-contrast microscope 7 may be fixed and the container Ca may be moved.

  By adopting the phase-contrast microscope 7 as an observation means, even when observing a substantially transparent object 1 such as a cell aggregate, the shape of the object 1 can be clearly observed. Further, if the object 1 is stained with a fluorescent dye such as trypan blue, the object 1 can be observed using a fluorescence microscope instead of the phase contrast microscope.

  For example, when the object 1 is a cell aggregate, the user observes the object 1 held in the suction port 6 of the tubular passage 9 with the phase contrast microscope 7. As a result, the user has a case in which the object 1 has a diameter larger than a predetermined diameter, a shape more distorted than the predetermined shape, or a defective cell aggregate including dead cells. Can be determined as a non-object 1b as being defective.

  The non-object 1b determined to be defective can be removed by various methods. For example, the user operates a control mechanism (not shown) to which the main body 3 is connected to stop the suction from the suction port 6 sucking the non-object 1b, and removes the non-object 1b from the container Ca. Can be allowed to settle to the inner bottom of the tube. As a method of stopping the suction, for example, the user can employ a method of closing a valve mechanism (not shown) provided in the tubular passage 9. In addition, the user ejects a non-object 1b from the suction port 6 by ejecting a water flow or gas from an ejection nozzle (not shown) provided in the communication space 4 of the main body, or on the inner bottom of the container Ca. The non-object 1b may be sucked and pulled out from a provided suction nozzle (not shown). Furthermore, the user provides an external laser beam irradiation device and irradiates the non-object 1b with laser light to crush the non-object 1b, or when the non-object 1b is a cell aggregate, it is apoptotic. The non-object 1b can be removed by inducing (apoptosis) or necrosis. As a laser beam to be irradiated, for example, an ultraviolet laser having a wavelength of 350 nm or a green semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 532 nm can be employed.

  As described above, according to the suction device A of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide an optical fiber or the like in the vicinity of the tubular passage 9 or the suction port 6, so that the cost is reduced. In addition, the attracting device of the present embodiment has a simple device configuration as compared with the suction device A having a conventional light source, so that maintenance is easy. Further, since the suction device A of the present embodiment is not provided with wiring or the like in the vicinity of the suction port 6, contamination is unlikely to occur. In addition, since the suction device A of the present embodiment can irradiate irradiation light from behind the object 1 sucked and held in the suction port 6, it is easy to observe the shape when observing with the phase contrast microscope 7. The convenience of the user is improved and the accuracy of the work can be improved. Since a plurality of objects 1 can be sucked and held at the same time, work efficiency can be improved. Further, since the plurality of tubular passages 9 communicate with one communication space 4, the plurality of objects 1 can be simultaneously sucked and held from the suction ports 6 of the arranged tubular passages 9. Efficiency can be improved. Irradiation light from the light source 2 reaches the suction port 6 from the light source side end portion 10 of each tubular passage 9 by the light reflecting layer 8, so that one light source 2 can be shared by a plurality of tubular passages 9. it can.

  In addition, although the case where the suction port 6 was formed in the end of the tubular channel | path 9 of the nozzle part 5 was illustrated in this embodiment, the form of the nozzle part 5 and the suction port formed is not specifically limited. That is, in the suction device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle part (nozzle part 5a) is constituted by a chip part 5a1 and a block part 5a2 to which one end of the chip part 5a1 is connected. The form (nozzle part 5a) provided with the chip | tip part 5a1 as a part of nozzle part 5 can be included.

  One end of the tip portion 5a1 is fitted to the block portion 5a2, and a suction port 5a3 for sucking the object 1 is formed at the other end. The tip portion 5a1 has a tubular passage 5a4 therein. The tubular passage 5a4 is connected to a suction mechanism (not shown) provided outside via the block portion 5a2, and the inside of the tubular passage 5a4 is set to a negative pressure by driving the suction mechanism. The object 1 is sucked and held in the suction port 5a3 or sucked into the tubular passage 5a4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the suction port 5 a 3 has a circular shape whose opening is reduced in diameter compared to the cross section of the tubular passage. The shape of the suction port 5a3 is not particularly limited. Besides the circular shape, the shape of the horn (suction port 6) shown in FIG. The diameter of the suction port 5a3 is not particularly limited. When the object 1 is held by suction, the diameter may be smaller than the diameter of the object 1, and when the object 1 is sucked into the tubular passage 5a4. Need only be large enough to suck the object 1. That is, the size and shape of the diameter can be appropriately selected according to the properties (size, flexibility, etc.) of the object 1.

  The block portion 5a2 is connected to the tip portion 5a1 and has a tubular passage 5a5 therein. The tubular passage 5a5 of the block portion 5a2 and the tubular passage 5a4 of the tip portion 5a1 are in communication with each other. By driving the suction mechanism described above, the inside of both of the communicated tubular passages is set to a negative pressure.

  The object 1 sucked from the suction port is observed by a phase contrast microscope 7 provided below the container C as shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the case where the tip portion 5a1 is provided as a part of the nozzle portion 5a, the amount of liquid to be sucked (a collection M of objects) is equal to or less than the volume of the tubular passage 5a4 formed inside the tip portion 5a1. Then, the sucked liquid is not sent into the tubular passage 5a5 formed in the block part 5a2 or the communication space 4 of the main body part 3. Therefore, the tubular passage 5a5 formed inside the block portion 5a2 and the communication space 4 of the main body portion 3 can be kept clean without being contaminated with liquid. Further, the chip part 5a1 can be easily replaced by removing it from the block part 5a2. As a result, in the present embodiment, the chip part 5a1 that has been used once or the chip part 5a1 that has deteriorated due to use can be easily replaced, and the test can be performed in a clean environment.

  In FIG. 3, a plurality of tip portions 5a1 are connected to one block portion 5a2, and a suction force is simultaneously generated in each tubular passage 5a5 of the plurality of tip portions 5a1 to suck the object. Although demonstrated, the suction device of this embodiment is not limited to such a structure. For example, by providing a block portion 5a2 corresponding to each of the plurality of chip portions 5a1, or changing the shape of the fitting portion between the chip portion 5a1 and the block portion 5a2, each chip portion 5a1 (or the chip portion 5a1) Each block part 5a2) provided with the above may move independently and generate a suction force independently in the tubular passage 5a2 of each tip part 5a1. In this case, each tip portion 5a1 and block portion 5a2 can be controlled to generate a suction force in the tubular passage 5a5 of each tip portion 5a1 by a control mechanism (not shown) provided outside.

(Second Embodiment)
Below, suction device A1 of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail, referring to drawings. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the suction device A1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The suction device A1 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the light source 21 is provided inside the main body 31 and the shape of the inner wall of the main body 31 is formed in a dome shape. The same as device A. Therefore, description other than a difference is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the suction device A <b> 1 of the present embodiment, the light source 21 is provided inside the main body 31.

  The method of providing the light source 21 in the main body 31 is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 4, the base 21 a of the light source 21 is fixed to the inner wall of the main body 31, and the irradiation unit 21 b of the light source 21 is provided. A method of orienting in the direction of the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 5 or suspending the base portion 21a of the light source 21 in the communication space 4 of the main body portion 31 can be employed.

  As for suction device A1 of this embodiment, main-body part 31 is formed in the dome shape. A light reflection layer 81 is formed on the inner wall of the main body 31.

  Even if the suction device A1 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, even if a part of the irradiation light irradiated from the light source 21 is irradiated to the ceiling portion of the communication space 4 of the main body portion 31, Irradiation light does not leak from the ceiling part to the outside, and the irradiation light can be reflected by the light reflection layer 81 and transmitted to the light source side end 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle part 5.

  As a result, since the suction device A1 of the present embodiment can irradiate the entire amount of light emitted from the light source 21 into the communication space 4 of the main body 31, compared with the case where the light source 21 is provided outside, The amount of irradiation light can be reduced. In this case, since the suction device A1 of the present embodiment can suppress the heat generation of the light source 21 as a result of suppressing the amount of irradiation light from the light source 21, the life of the light source 21 is extended. Therefore, the user can reduce the cost for the light source 21 from the viewpoints of both the irradiation amount and the lifetime. Furthermore, by suppressing the heat generation of the light source 21, the user can eliminate the influence of the heat generation on the properties of the target object 1 even when observing the target object 1 that is vulnerable to heat.

(Third embodiment)
Below, suction device A2 of a 3rd embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail, referring to drawings. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device A2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the suction device A <b> 2 of the third embodiment, the light source 22 is provided outside the main body portion 32, and the lens member 12 is provided inside the communication space 4 of the main body portion 32. Further, no light reflecting layer is provided on the side wall of the communication space 4 or the inner wall of the tubular passage 9. About another structure, it is the same as that of the suction device A of 1st Embodiment. Therefore, description other than a difference is abbreviate | omitted.

<Lens member 12>
The lens member 12 (optical component) collects the irradiation light emitted from the light source 22, transmits the collected irradiation light from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 into the tubular passage 9, and reaches the suction port 6. . In the present embodiment, “condensing” includes converting the irradiation light from the light source 22 into parallel light in addition to focusing the irradiation light from the light source 22 at a certain focal point.

  The lens member 12 is embedded in the main body portion 32. The irradiation light collected by the lens member 12 is transmitted from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 51, passes through the tubular passage 9, and reaches the suction port 6. Arrow A <b> 5 indicates the irradiation light condensed by the lens member 12. The suction device A2 of the present embodiment can collect the irradiation light from the light source 22 using the lens member 12 in this way. Therefore, the user can obtain a bright visual field with a small amount of irradiation light.

  The optical component is not limited to the lens member 12. For example, a reflection mirror (not shown) is installed on the inner wall of the main body portion 32 to reflect the irradiation light emitted from the light source 22 and transmit it from the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 51 to form a tubular shape. The passage 9 may be passed to reach the suction port 6.

  Further, in the suction device A2 of the present embodiment, the irradiated light from the light source 22 is converted into a substantially linear light beam by the lens member 12, but on the side wall of the communication space 4 and the inner wall of the tubular passage 9, It is also possible to provide a light reflection layer in advance. In this case, even if there is irradiation light that has not been converted into a linear light beam by the lens member 12, the suction device A <b> 2 of the present embodiment transmits these non-straight irradiation light to the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 51. The light can be transmitted from the light source side end portion 10 and can pass through the tubular passage 9 to reach the suction port 6.

  The number of lens members 12 is not particularly limited, and can be installed in accordance with the number of tubular passages 9. Therefore, when a plurality of the tubular passages 9 are arranged in a matrix, the suction device A2 of the present embodiment has the same number at the upper position corresponding to the light source side end portion 10 of the tubular passage 9 of the nozzle portion 51. The lens member 12 can be employed. In addition, when using the lens member 12 having a large lens surface, the suction device A2 of the present embodiment can share one lens member 12 for the plurality of tubular passages 9. Is possible.

  The material of the lens member 12 is not particularly limited, and for example, the lens member 12 made of quartz glass, plastic, fluorite, or the like can be used.

  The thickness of the lens member 12 is not particularly limited, and for example, a lens member 12 having a thickness of about 0.5 to 10 mm can be employed.

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a suction device A3 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the suction device A3 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The suction device A3 of the fourth embodiment has a function of transmitting irradiation light and has a linear long nozzle portion 52 having a tubular passage 52a therein, and a part of the tubular passage 52a. The suction device 13 is the same as the suction device A of the first embodiment except that the suction passage 13 for generating a suction force is connected to the inside of the tubular passage 52a. Therefore, description other than a difference is abbreviate | omitted.

  The nozzle part 52 has a suction port 52b for sucking the object 1 at one end, and a light source side end part 52c at the other end. The light source side end 52c of the present embodiment is not opened so that the inside of the tubular passage 52a can be set to a negative pressure by a suction mechanism (not shown) connected to the suction passage 13 described later, The opening is closed. The nozzle part 52 is a light guide made of a light guide material. Therefore, the irradiation light irradiated from the light source 2 is transmitted to the suction port 52 b after being totally reflected or partially reflected in the nozzle portion 52. The irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is transmitted from the light source side end 52c into the tubular passage 52a, and is totally reflected or partially reflected on the inner wall of the tubular passage 52a and transmitted to the suction port 52b. An arrow A6 indicates the irradiation direction of the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2.

  The light guide material constituting the light guide is not particularly limited, and for example, a transparent resin such as polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA), polycarbonate resin (PC), and cycloolefin polymer resin (COP) can be used. .

  In the present embodiment, the case where the nozzle portion 52 is a light guide has been described as an example, but the material of the nozzle portion is not particularly limited. For example, when the nozzle portion 52 is not a light guide, a light reflecting layer (not shown) is provided on the inner wall of the tubular passage 52a so that the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is reflected by the inner wall of the tubular passage 52a. It may be configured to reach the suction port 52b.

  In addition, the distance between the upper surface Ba of the housing B and the light source side end portion 52c (so that the irradiated light emitted from the light source 2 is not attenuated as much as possible until it passes through the housing B and is transmitted into the tubular passage 52a. It is preferable that the thickness of the upper surface Ba in the vicinity of the light source side end portion 52c is short (thin). The distance between the upper surface Ba of the housing B and the light source side end 52c is preferably about 0.08 to 0.5 mm, for example. As shown in FIG. 6, the light source side end 52c and the suction port 52b are arranged in a straight line. Therefore, most of the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 arranged on the upper surface Ba side of the casing B directly reaches the suction port 52b. As a result, the user can confirm the shape of the object under a brighter field of view.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a suction passage 13 provided in a direction perpendicular to the tubular passage 52a is connected to a part of the tubular passage 52a. The suction passage 13 is connected to a suction mechanism (not shown) provided outside, and the inside of the tubular passage 52a is set to a negative pressure by driving the suction mechanism. Arrow A7 indicates the suction direction.

  The number and arrangement of the tubular passages 52a constituting the nozzle portion 52 are not particularly limited, and may be plural, and in the case of plural, may be arranged in a matrix. Further, the number and arrangement of the suction passages 13 are not particularly limited, and the same number of suction passages 13 as the tubular passages 52a may be disposed, and one suction passage 13 is connected to the plurality of tubular passages 52a in a manifold shape. May be. FIG. 6 illustrates a case where the suction passage 13 is connected to each tubular passage 52a. When a plurality of tubular passages 52a are controlled by one suction passage 13, a valve mechanism (not shown) controlled to be opened and closed by a separate control device (not shown) is connected to the tubular passage 52a. You may comprise so that a user can select the tubular channel | path 52a which is provided in a connection location with the suction channel | path 13 and generates a suction force.

  The suction device A3 of the present embodiment is disposed in the housing B as shown in FIG. The housing B is a housing for fixing and protecting the positions of the nozzle portion 52 and the suction passage 13. It does not specifically limit as a material which comprises the housing | casing B, The above translucent material is employable. The shape of the housing B is not particularly limited. In FIG. 6, the case where the housing | casing B is a rectangular parallelepiped is illustrated. Note that the housing B is not essential. That is, in the suction device A3 of this embodiment, when the nozzle portion 52 includes a plurality of tubular passages 52a or when the suction passages 13 are plural, the nozzle portion 52 and the suction passage 13 are disposed in the housing B. Even if these positions are not fixed, the positions can be fixed by fixing the tubular passages 52a and the suction passages 13 to each other.

  Thus, according to the suction device A3 of the present embodiment, the object is sucked even when the main body 3 and the communication space 4 (see FIG. 1) described in detail in the first embodiment are not provided. It can be sucked and held in the mouth 52b.

  In the present embodiment, the suction device A3 adopting the linear long nozzle portion 52 has been described as an example, but the shape of the nozzle portion 52 and the position of the light source 2 are not particularly limited.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, as another example of the suction device A3, the suction device A4 has an L-shaped tubular passage 53b in which a suction port 53a is formed at one end, and the other end of the tubular passage 53b. A configuration in which the opening (light source side end 53c) communicates with the main body 3a can be employed. Similar to the suction device A3 described above, the nozzle portion 53 (and the main body portion 3a) of the suction device A4 is a light guide made of a light guide material.

  In the suction device A4, the light source 2 irradiates irradiation light from the side surface direction of the housing B1. In the suction device A4, the surface of the main body 3a and the housing B1 on which the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is incident is made of a translucent material. The irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is totally reflected or partially reflected in the main body 3a and the nozzle 53 and is transmitted to the suction port 53a. The irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is totally reflected or partially reflected on the inner wall surface of the main body 3 a and transmitted to the light source side opening 53 c of the nozzle 53. The irradiation light transmitted to the light source side opening 53c is totally reflected or partially reflected on the inner wall of the tubular passage 53b and transmitted to the suction port 53a. An arrow A8 indicates the irradiation light irradiated from the light source 2, and an arrow A9 indicates the irradiation light reaching the suction port 53a.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the main body portion 3a and the nozzle portion 53 are light guides has been described as an example, but the material of the main body portion 3a and the nozzle portion 53 is not particularly limited. For example, when the main body portion 3a and the nozzle portion 53 are not light guides, the light source 2 emits light by providing a light reflecting layer (not shown) on the inner wall surface of the main body portion 3a and the inner wall surface of the tubular passage 53a. You may comprise so that irradiation light may be reflected in the inner wall of the tubular channel | path 53b, and may reach the suction opening 53a.

  A suction mechanism (not shown) is connected to the main body 3a. The suction mechanism generates a suction force at the suction port 53a by setting the communication space 3a1 of the main body 3a to a negative pressure.

  7 illustrates the case where the number of the tubular passages 53b is one, the number and arrangement of the tubular passages 53b are not particularly limited. There may be a plurality of tubular passages 53b. When a plurality of tubular passages 53b are arranged, they can be arranged in a matrix.

  In the suction device A4 of the present embodiment, since the light source 2 can be arranged in the side surface direction of the housing B1, the size (particularly the height) of the suction device A4 can be designed to be small. Moreover, since the light source 2 is arrange | positioned in the side surface direction of housing | casing B1, the suction device A4 of this embodiment was irradiated from the light source 2 when the user observes the target object attracted | sucked to the suction port 53a. Irradiation light is backlit and does not enter the user's field of view. As a result, the user can observe the object under an appropriate amount of light.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, as another example of the suction device A3, the suction device A5 includes a reflection mirror 3b1 inside the main body 3b, and reflects the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2. A configuration in which the light is transmitted to the light source side end 53c of the tubular passage 53b can be employed. Similar to the suction device A3 described above, the nozzle portion 53 of the suction device A5 is a light guide made of a light guide material.

  In the suction device A5, the surface of the main body 3b and the housing B2 on which the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is incident is made of a translucent material. Irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is reflected by the reflection mirror 3b1 disposed in the main body 3b and transmitted to the light source side opening 53c of the tubular passage 53b. The irradiation light is totally reflected or partially reflected in the nozzle portion 53 and transmitted to the suction port 53a. The irradiation light is totally reflected or partially reflected on the inner wall of the tubular passage 53b and transmitted to the suction port 53a. In the suction device A5, the number and position of the reflection mirror 3b1 are not particularly limited. For example, by arranging a plurality of reflection mirrors 3b1 and combining with a lens member (not shown), the irradiation light may be condensed and reach the light source side end portion 53c. Further, for example, only a light having a specific wavelength may reach the light source side end portion 53c by combining a dichroic mirror or the like.

  The main body 3b is provided with a suction mechanism (not shown). The suction mechanism generates a suction force at the suction port 53a of the tubular passage 53b by setting the communication space 3b2 of the main body 3b to a negative pressure.

  8 illustrates the case where the number of the tubular passages 53b is one, the number and arrangement of the tubular passages 53b are not particularly limited. There may be a plurality of tubular passages 53b. When a plurality of tubular passages 53b are arranged, they can be arranged in a matrix.

  Moreover, although the case where the nozzle part 53 was a light guide was demonstrated to the example in this embodiment, the material of the nozzle part 53 is not specifically limited. For example, when the nozzle portion 53 is not a light guide, a light reflecting layer (not shown) is provided on the inner wall of the tubular passage 53a so that the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 is reflected by the inner wall of the tubular passage 53b. It may be configured to reach the suction port 53a.

  In the suction device A5 of the present embodiment, the light source 2 is arranged in the upward direction of the housing B2. However, when the user observes the object sucked into the suction port 53a, the irradiation light emitted from the light source 2 does not enter the user's field of view as a backlight, so that the user has an appropriate amount of light. And the object can be observed.

  The specific embodiments described above mainly include inventions having the following configurations.

  A suction device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tubular passage serving as a suction path for sucking an object inside, and an opening at one end of the tubular passage sucks and holds the object. A light source side end formed on the other end of the tubular passage, and a light source that emits irradiation light; and the suction light from the light source side end through the tubular passage to the suction port Irradiation light transmitting means for transmitting to the light source.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention is inexpensive because it is not necessary to provide an optical fiber or the like in the vicinity of the tubular passage or the suction port. In addition, since the present invention has a simple device configuration as compared with a suction device having a conventional light source, maintenance is facilitated. Further, in the present invention, since no wiring or the like is provided in the vicinity of the suction port, contamination is unlikely to occur. Furthermore, since the present invention can irradiate irradiation light from behind the object sucked and held in the suction port, when observing with a phase-contrast microscope or the like, for example, a case where a liquid with low transmittance is filled. However, the shape can be easily observed, the convenience of the user is improved, and the accuracy of the work can be improved.

  The light source side end is connected and further includes a main body having a communication space communicating with the tubular passage, and the irradiation light transmitting means is provided on the communication space of the main body or the inner wall of the tubular passage, It is preferable that the irradiation light is transmitted from the light source side end portion to the suction port through the tubular passage.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention can temporarily hold the liquid component sucked into the communication space of the main body. As a result, the time during which the suction can be continued is long, and the object can be sufficiently sucked.

  The nozzle portion includes a tip portion and a block portion to which one end of the tip portion is connected, and the tubular passage is a passage formed inside each of the tip portion and the block portion. The suction port is preferably formed at the other end of the tip portion.

  The present invention adopts such a configuration, and if the amount of liquid to be sucked is equal to or less than the volume of the passage formed inside the tip portion, the passage and the body formed inside the block portion. It is not sent in the communication space of the department. Therefore, the passage formed in the block part and the communication space of the main body part can be kept clean without being contaminated with liquid. Further, the tip portion can be easily replaced by removing it from the block portion. As a result, the suction device of the present invention can easily replace a chip part once used or a chip part deteriorated by use, and can perform a test in a clean environment.

  It is preferable that a plurality of the tubular passages are provided, and a light source side end portion of each tubular passage is connected to the one communication space.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention can simultaneously suck and hold a plurality of objects, thereby improving work efficiency. Moreover, the irradiation light from a light source reaches | attains a suction opening from the light source side edge part of each tubular channel | path by irradiation light transmission means. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an optical fiber or the like in each tubular passage, and the light source can be shared by a plurality of nozzle portions.

  It is preferable that the tubular passages are arranged in a line.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention can simultaneously suck and hold a plurality of arranged objects, thereby improving work efficiency.

  The irradiation light transmitting means is preferably a light reflecting layer provided on at least one of an inner wall of the communication space of the main body and an inner wall of the tubular passage.

  By having such a configuration, the present invention can reflect the irradiation light from the light source and transmit it to the light source side end of the tubular passage. Since the light reflection layer can be formed thin, the communication space and the volume of each tubular passage are not reduced.

  It is preferable that the light source is provided outside the main body, and a part of the main body is made of a translucent material for transmitting irradiation light from the light source to the inside of the communication space.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the design of the apparatus is facilitated and the maintenance of the light source is facilitated. Moreover, since a part of main body part is produced with the translucent material, it is easy to transmit the irradiation light from a light source in a main body part. Further, the user can provide a moving mechanism that moves the main body portion and the nozzle portion in the horizontal direction. By providing such a moving mechanism, the user is irradiated with irradiation light from a light source provided outside the nozzle portion in a state where the object is sucked and held and the main body portion to which the nozzle portion is attached. It is possible to assemble a suction device having a mechanism that is moved to a position and observed from below by an observation means. As a result, the user can greatly improve the efficiency of a series of operations of sucking and holding the target, irradiating the target with irradiation light, and observing the target. In this case, since one light source can be shared by a plurality of main body portions and nozzle portions, the user can reduce the manufacturing cost of the main body portion. Furthermore, since the light source is provided outside the main body, even when the light source generates heat, the heat of the light source is not easily transmitted to the object. Therefore, even when observing an object that is weak against heat, the user can eliminate the influence of heat generation on the properties of the object.

  It is preferable that the light source is provided inside the communication space.

  By having such a configuration, the present invention can irradiate the communication space of the main body part with the entire amount of irradiation light from the light source. Therefore, compared with the case where a light source is provided outside, irradiation of irradiation light is possible. The amount can be reduced. In this case, the heat generation of the light source is suppressed, and the life of the light source is prolonged. Therefore, the user can reduce the cost of the light source from the viewpoints of both the irradiation amount and the lifetime. Furthermore, by suppressing the heat generation of the light source, the user can eliminate the influence of the heat generation on the properties of the target object even when observing an object that is vulnerable to heat.

  The light source is provided outside the main body, and the irradiation light transmitting means is an optical component provided inside the communication space of the main body, and the optical component collects irradiation light emitted from the light source. Then, it is preferable that the condensed irradiation light is transmitted from the light source side end portion into the tubular passage and reaches the suction port.

  By having such a configuration, the present invention can irradiate condensed irradiation light from behind the object. Therefore, the user can obtain a bright visual field with a small amount of irradiation light.

  It is preferable that the selection object is a living cell.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention is a device that can brighten the user's field of view with respect to cells derived from living bodies that are objects that are highly transparent and difficult to observe in a dark field of view. It can contribute to the efficiency of work in the fields of bio-related technology and medicine.

  It is preferable that the selection object is a cell aggregate derived from a living body.

  By adopting such a configuration, the present invention reconstructs a bio-similar environment in which the interaction between cells is taken into consideration inside the cell aggregate rather than the test result obtained using one cell. Highly reliable in the fields of bio-related technology and medicine, because results that take into account the functions of individual cells can be obtained, and the experimental conditions can be adjusted to conditions that more closely match the environment in vivo. It can be set as the apparatus which can obtain a result. In particular, cell aggregates not only have a large variation in shape, but also when cell aggregates of similar shapes are compared, the density of cells may differ locally (there is unevenness in cell aggregation). Careful observation is necessary. According to the present invention, the user's visual field can be kept bright, so that accurate observation can be performed.

  It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a container that stores a set of objects including the object, and an observation unit that observes the object held in the suction port from below the container.

By adopting such a configuration, the present invention sucks and holds a collection of objects stored in a container, and the operation of observing the held objects with observation means. Can be done.

Claims (10)

A tubular passage serving as a suction path for sucking an object contained in the liquid is provided therein, and an opening at one end of the tubular passage forms a suction port for sucking and holding the object, and the tubular A nozzle portion for holding the sucked liquid in the passage;
A light source that is disposed on the light source side end side formed at the other end of the tubular passage and emits irradiation light; and
And a light reflecting layer that is provided on an inner wall of the tubular passage and transmits the irradiation light from the light source side end portion to the suction port while passing through the liquid held in the tubular passage.   The suction device according to claim 1, further comprising a main body having a communication space connected to the light source side end and communicating with the tubular passage. The nozzle part is composed of a chip part and a block part to which one end of the chip part is connected,
The tubular passage is a passage formed inside each of the tip portion and the block portion and communicating with each other.
The suction device according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is formed at the other end of the tip portion. A plurality of the tubular passages are provided;
The suction device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a light source side end portion of each tubular passage is connected to one communication space.   The suction device according to claim 4, wherein the tubular passages are arranged in a line. The light source is provided outside the main body;
The suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a part of the main body portion is made of a translucent material for transmitting irradiation light from the light source to the inside of the communication space.   The suction device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is provided inside the communication space.   The suction device according to claim 1, wherein the object is a cell derived from a living body.   The suction device according to claim 10, wherein the object is a cell aggregate derived from a living body. A container for storing a collection of objects including the objects;
The suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11, further comprising observation means for observing the object held in the suction port from below the container.

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