JPH0511490Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention relates to an automatic sample filtration device, and is particularly useful when introducing a biological sample into an analytical device such as a liquid chromatograph. This invention relates to an automatic sample filtration device that can automatically filter out microscopic suspended matter and particles that may cause deterioration of column performance.

(b) Conventional technology When attempting to analyze biological samples such as blood or urine using liquid chromatography (LC), microscopic particles contained in the sample may clog when sent to the LC column. This can cause deterioration of column performance, so conventionally, before introducing the sample into the LC, a special cartridge-type filter element was attached to the tip of the syringe, and the sample was pushed out with a plunger for filtration. was the norm.

(c) Problems that the invention aims to solve However, although the sample filtration method described above is simple, it is not automated, so it requires considerable experience and skill, and it also has the disadvantage of being time-consuming.

(d) Means for solving the problems and their effects This device has a filter, which is cylindrical and is arranged approximately vertically, with the mounting part of the filter above, the plunger part below, and the sample injection into the side shell. a sample filtration cylinder each having a branch pipe section, a driving means for the plunger section, a sealed sample container, a sample supply pipe connected to the branch pipe section, and a pressurized gas supply pipe;
The filtered sample container, the filtered sample transport tube, the pressurized gas supply pipe and the sample supply pipe are all connected to the sealed sample container, and the filtered sample transport pipe is further connected to the sample container.
A device main body consisting of switching connection means for each conduit that switches and connects between the filter and the filtered sample container;
a robotic mechanism that can attach and detach a sealed sample container and a filtered sample container to predetermined positions in the housing; Therefore, the present invention is an automatic sample filtration device that is equipped with a control means capable of filtering a sample in a sealed sample container through a filter and guiding the obtained filtered sample to a filtered sample container.

That is, this invention uses a specific cylinder, and the installation and removal of the filter to this cylinder,
By employing a specific robot mechanism for loading and unloading sealed sample containers and filtered sample containers into predetermined positions, sample filtration operations can be automated with a simple configuration.

(e) Examples This invention will be described in detail based on the examples shown in the figures below. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

First, in Figures 1 and 2, the automatic sample filtration device 1
It mainly consists of a device main body 2, a robot mechanism 3, and a control circuit 4 consisting of a microcomputer that commands the operation of these components.

The apparatus main body 2 includes a micro cylinder 5 as a cylinder, a sample bottle 6, a cleaning liquid bottle 7,
A pressurized gas supply pipe 8, a sample/cleaning liquid supply pipe 9,
A filtered sample container (vial) 10, a waste liquid bottle 11, a filtered sample/waste liquid transport pipe 12, a filter (“Millipore”: registered trademark) 13, a discharge chip 14, and a housing 15 to which these are attached.
and switching connection means 20 for switching connection between each pipe line and each bottle.

The micro cylinder 5 is arranged vertically, has a mounting part 16 on the upper side on which the filter 13 can be mounted, a plunger part (syringe head) 18 on the lower part driven by an air cylinder 17, and a sample injection branch on the side body. Each has a tube portion 19 . The front discharge tip 14 is connected to the upper end of the filtered sample/waste liquid conveying pipe 12. Note that 21 is a pressure regulator for the pressurized gas supply pipe 8, 22 and 23 are electromagnetic on-off valves, and 24 is a pipe for adding a filtration unit.

On the other hand, the switching connection means 20 switches and connects the pressurized gas supply pipe 8 and the sample/cleaning liquid supply pipe 9 to either the sample bottle 6 or the washing liquid bottle 7, and further connects the filtered sample/waste liquid conveying pipe 12 to this pipe. The discharge tip 14 attached to the tip of the filter 13 is connected to the pipe 12.
The rear end can be selectively connected to the vial bottle 10 or the waste liquid bottle 11, respectively. Although not specifically illustrated, it is an arm that can rotate and move up and down.

Next, the robot mechanism 3 attaches the filter 13 to the mounting part 1.
At the same time, the sample bottle 6, washing bottle 7, vial bottle 10, and waste liquid bottle 11 can be set at predetermined positions on the stand 25 of the housing 15.

The tips of the pressurized gas supply pipe 8, the sample/cleaning liquid supply pipe 9, and the filtered sample transport pipe 12 are in the shape of injection needles, and can be easily attached to the lid of a square bottle.

Next, the control circuit 4 operates the pressurized gas supply pipe 8;
That is, the operation of the electromagnetic on-off valve 23 installed in the supply pipe, the operation of the plunger section 18 of the micro cylinder, that is, the operation of the air cylinder 17 connected to operate this plunger section, the operation of the robot mechanism 3, and the switching connection. The operation of the means 20 can be commanded respectively.

Next, the operation of the apparatus main body 2 and the robot mechanism 3 according to commands from the control circuit 4 will be briefly explained (see especially FIGS. 3a and 3b and FIG. 4).

[Filtration mode]

First, the robot mechanism 3 moves the sample bottle 6, vial bottle 10, and waste liquid bottle 11 into the housing 15.
Then, the filter 13 is set on the mounting portion 16 of the micro cylinder 5.

Next, the discharge tip 14 is connected to the filter 13 by actuation of the switching connection means 20, and further the pressurized gas supply pipe 8 and the sample/washing liquid supply pipe 9 are connected to the sample bottle 6. If the sample is to be filtered immediately, the filtered sample transport tube 12 is connected to the vial 10.

Subsequently, the electromagnetic on-off valve 23 of the pressurized gas supply pipe 8 is activated and the plunger, that is, the syringe head 18 is activated.
, the sample is filtered from the sample bottle 6 into the microsyringe 5 and through the filter 13 . The thus filtered sample is now introduced into the vial 10.

Here, if the operation of the syringe head 18 cannot be completed, the filter 13 is replaced by a filter with a larger pore diameter in the case of the first filtration, and with a filter with the same pore diameter in other cases, by the robot mechanism 3. .

When cleaning the flow path before performing the above-mentioned filtration, the filtered sample transport pipe 12 is connected to the waste liquid bottle 1.
1, a small amount of the sample passes through the flow path through which the sample passes during filtration by the operation of the syringe head 18, cleans the flow path, and reaches the waste liquid bottle 11.

When the filtration is completed, the discharge tip 14 is removed from the filter 13, and the robot mechanism 3
The filter 13 is removed from the microsyringe 5, and then the sample bottle 6 and vial bottle 1 are removed.
0 and waste liquid bottle 11 are removed.

[Washing mode]

The robot mechanism 3 cleans the cleaning liquid bottle 7 and the waste liquid bottle 1.
1 on the stand 25. Then, piping is connected to each bottle, and then the same operation as sample washing in the case of filtration mode is performed. however,
This cleaning is usually repeated multiple times.

Note that, unlike the above embodiments, an adsorbent column or the like is interposed in the middle of the filtered sample transport tube, and in the filtration mode, the dilute components in the sample are once removed, and then in the washing mode, the washing liquid is used to transport the sample into the waste liquid bottle. It can also be used as an automatic extraction device.

(f) Effects of the invention According to this invention, the sample filtration operation can be automated with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of its external appearance, FIGS. 3a and 3b are flowcharts of the filtration mode, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the cleaning mode. 1...Automatic sample filtration device, 2...Device main body, 3
...Robot mechanism, 4...Control circuit, 5...Microsyringe, 6...Sample bottle, 7...Washing liquid bottle, 8...Pressurized gas supply pipe, 9...Sample/washing liquid supply pipe, 10... Filtered sample container, 11...
...waste liquid bottle, 12...filtered sample/waste liquid transport pipe,
13...Filter, 16...Mounting part, 18...Plunger, 19...Sample injection branch pipe part, 20...
Switching connection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Sample filtration having a filter, a cylindrical shape, substantially vertically arranged, a mounting part for the filter above, a plunger part below, and a branch pipe part for sample injection in the side body. a cylinder for driving the plunger, a sealed sample container, a sample supply pipe connected to the branch pipe, a pressurized gas supply pipe, a filtered sample container, and a filtered sample transport pipe. and each pipe line which switches and connects the pressurized gas supply pipe and the sample supply pipe together to the sealed sample container, and further switches and connects the filtered sample transport pipe between the filter and the filtered sample container. A device main body consisting of a switching connection means, and the filter is mounted on a mounting portion of the cylinder.
a robotic mechanism that can attach and detach a sealed sample container and a filtered sample container to predetermined positions in the housing; Accordingly, an automatic sample filtration device is provided which includes a control means capable of filtering a sample in a sealed sample container through a filter and guiding the obtained filtered sample to a filtered sample container.