JPH06130034A - Electrophoretic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the title apparatus wherein it can gather a sample continuously, it can treat a waste liquid in an adjusting operation before an electrophoretic operation and in a cleaning operation after the electrophoretic operation, it can gather the sample in large quantities, it can treat the waste liquid, it can gather the sample without being scattered in a weightless state and it is lightweight. CONSTITUTION:An electrophoretic apparatus is provided with a separating chamber in which an electrode part is provided, with a sample injection pump which is connected to the upper part of the separating chamber and which injects a sample into the chamber, with a separating buffer-solution tank which is connected to the upper part of the separating chamber and which houses a buffer solution to be sent to the chamber and with a sample fractional gathering part which is connected to the lower part of the separating chamber via a peristaltic pump. In the electrophoretic apparatus, the sample fractional gathering part is provided with a rotary driving member 23 in which a plurality of sample gathering holes 24 fractionally gathering the sample after its separation are provided, with fractional gathering containers 25 which are fixed to the rotary driving member 23 so as to correspond to the sample fractional gathering holes 24 and with sample absorbing materials 26 which are set in the sample gathering holes 24 and the fractional gathering containers 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophoretic device used especially for space experiments.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an electrophoretic device is a device for separating cells, biological samples, etc. by utilizing a phenomenon in which a certain charged particle is subjected to a potential gradient and moves according to the type of the electric charge. This is used all over the world as a separation method that better reflects the functional characteristics of the sample as compared with the conventional centrifugal separator using physical parameters. FIG. 1 shows an explanatory view of a conventional electrophoretic device.

Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a separation chamber in which electrode portions 2a and 2b are arranged. A separation buffer solution tank 3 for sending a buffer solution into the chamber 1 and a sample injection pump 4 for sending a sample are connected to the upper part of the separation chamber 1. An optical system window 5 is provided below the separation chamber 1. A sample collection unit (collection container) 7 is connected to the lower portion of the separation chamber 1 via a multi-channel peristaltic pump 6. An electrode buffer pump 8 is connected to the electrode portions 2a and 2b to form a circulation system. In addition, 9 in the figure shows an electronically controlled cooling system.

In the electrophoretic device having such a structure, the sample descends into the flow of the buffer solution in the separation chamber 1 along the flow of the buffer solution injected by the sample injection pump 4. Further, when the electrode parts 2a and 2b are charged, the sample particles are charged and descend at respective angles with respect to the downward direction of the buffer solution. At the lower end of the separation chamber 1, the sample particles are distributed for each charged particle. To do. Therefore, the separated sample is collected by the peristaltic pump 6 into the sorting container 7 by the lower end of the separation chamber 1.

[0005]

By the way, it is said that the performance of the electrophoretic method is significantly improved under the slight weight of outer space because there is no thermal convection or buoyancy. And
The preparative separated sample is collected in the preparative container shown in FIG. 1. The preparative container needs to constitute the same system as the separation chamber 1.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for collecting preparative samples for operating an electrophoresis apparatus unmanned in an outer space environment. Cannot be collected automatically.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and it is possible to continuously collect separated samples, and to perform a waste liquid during a conditioning operation before electrophoresis and a washing operation after electrophoresis.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophoretic device capable of treating a large amount of samples and waste liquids, collecting separated samples in a weightless state without scattering, and further reducing the weight.

[0008]

The present invention is directed to a separation chamber having an electrode portion therein, a sample injection pump connected to an upper portion of the separation chamber for injecting a sample into the chamber, and the separation chamber. A separation buffer solution tank that is connected to the upper part of the chamber and contains a buffer solution to be sent into the chamber, and a sample collection section that is connected to the lower part of the separation chamber via a peristaltic pump,

The sample collecting section has a rotary driving member having a plurality of sample collecting holes for collecting the separated sample, and a collecting container fixed to the rotary driving member corresponding to the sample collecting holes. And a sample absorbent set in the sample collection hole and the sorting container.

In the present invention, when collecting a sample after electrophoresis in a weightless state, it is necessary to prevent the sample from scattering in order to accurately grasp the preparative component at a later date. for that reason,
A sample absorbent such as sponge is incorporated in the sample collection hole. In addition, a sample absorbent is also incorporated in the preparative container in order to prevent the sample from leaking out after collection.

In the present invention, in order to correspond to various operation modes of electrophoresis and washing, the sorting containers are prepared in various sizes and are preset at predetermined positions of the rotary drive member. Further, when the amount of waste liquid discharged is large during the adjustment operation and the cleaning operation, it is possible to deal with it by setting a large-capacity sorting container.

[0012]

In the above structure, the sample thus collected is taken into the absorbent material set in advance in the collecting container through the sample collection hole of the endless belt (or disc). After that, the reel (or the disc) is rotated and the endless belt or the sorting container is moved to set a new sorting container.
Since the amount of waste liquid is large during the preparation or cleaning operation, the problem was dealt with by preparing a sorting container corresponding to it.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the electrophoretic device of the present invention has a conventional structure (FIG. 1).
Since it is the same as that of the above apparatus except for the sample collecting section (collecting container) X, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. (Example 1)

Reference will be made to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C.
Here, FIG. 2 (A) is a detailed view of the sample collection unit X of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (B) is a detailed view of the Y portion of FIG. 2 (A), and FIG. 2 (C) is FIG. 2 (B). FIG.

Reference numerals 21 and 22 in the figure respectively denote reels. An endless belt 23 as a rotation driving member is mounted on the reels 21 and 22. The endless belt 23 is provided with a plurality of sampling holes 24 for collecting the separated sample. A sorting container 25 is provided below the endless belt 23 at a position corresponding to the sampling hole 24. The sample collection hole 24 and the sorting container 25 include an absorbent material such as sponge.
26 are built in. Here, the absorber 26 incorporated in the sample collection hole 24 is for consideration of prevention of scattering of the sample after collection and reliable collection during collection. In addition, the absorbent material 26 incorporated in the preparative container 25 has a structure in which the sample is collected after the sample is collected.
This is to prevent it from leaking out.

In the electrophoretic device having such a structure, the separated sample is taken into the absorbent material 26 preset in the collecting container 25 through the sample collection hole 24 of the endless belt 23. Then, the reels 21 and 22 are rotated and the endless belt 23 is moved to set a new sorting container. Since the amount of waste liquid is large during the preparation or cleaning operation, prepare a sorting container that corresponds to the amount of waste liquid.

According to the electrophoresis apparatus according to the first embodiment, the sample collecting section X has an endless belt 23 having a plurality of sample collecting holes 24 for collecting the separated sample, and the endless belt 23.
A collection container 25 fixed to the sample collection hole 24
And a sample absorbent 26 set in each of the sample collection hole 24 and the sorting container 25, the following advantages are provided. (1) It becomes possible to collect a separated sample with an electrophoresis device in unattended operation. (2) The collected sample can be retained for a long time. (3) Since it is a reel system, it is a relatively compact device.

In the first embodiment, it is possible to deal with it by setting the diameter of the reel, the length of the belt, the size of the sorting container, and the number of members according to the operation mode and the number of tests for each experiment. Further, when the sample is taken out after returning to the influence of gravity, it can be dealt with by arranging the test device so that the orientation of the sorting container after the migration is directed upwards from the sampling hole. (Embodiment 2) Reference will be made to FIGS. here,
FIG. 3 (A) is a detailed view of the sample collection unit X of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 (B)
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG.

Reference numeral 31 in the figure denotes a disc as a rotary drive member. The outer peripheral edge of the disc 31 is provided with a plurality of sample collection holes 32 for collecting the separated sample. The portion corresponding to the sampling hole 32 on the lower side of the disc 31 is provided with a preparative container.
33 are provided respectively. An absorbing material 34 such as a sponge is incorporated in each of the sample collecting hole 32 and the sorting container 33. Here, the absorber 34 incorporated in the sample collection hole 32 is for consideration of scattering prevention after the sample is collected and reliable collection at the time of collection. In addition, the absorber 34 installed in the sorting container 33
Is for preventing the sample from leaking from the sorting container 25 after the sample is collected.

In the electrophoretic device having such a structure, the collected sample is collected through the sample collecting hole 32 of the disc 31 into a collecting container.
It is taken into the absorbent 34 which is preset in 33. After that, the disc 31 is rotated and the sorting container 33 is moved to set a new sorting container. Since the amount of waste liquid is large during the preparation or cleaning operation, the problem was dealt with by preparing a sorting container corresponding to it.

According to the electrophoretic device of the second embodiment, the sample collecting section X has a disk 31 having a plurality of sample collecting holes 32 for collecting the separated sample, and the disk 31. Since it is configured to include a preparative collection container 33 fixed in correspondence with the sample collection hole 32, and a sample absorbent 34 set in the sample collection hole 32 and the preparative container 33, it will be described below. Have advantages. (1) It becomes possible to collect a separated sample with an electrophoresis device in unattended operation. (2) The collected sample can be retained for a long time. (3) Since it is a disc type, it has a simple mechanism and high reliability.

In the second embodiment, when the number of preparative samples is large, it can be dealt with by setting the preparative containers in double or triple layers. When the disc is doubled or tripled, the movement of the disc is a movement in the horizontal direction in addition to the rotation.

[0023]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
The separated samples can be collected continuously, the waste liquid can be treated during the pre-migration conditioning operation and the washing operation after the migration, and a large amount of the sample and waste liquid can be treated. It is possible to provide an electrophoretic device capable of collecting a different sample and further reducing the weight.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of a conventional electrophoresis device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the electrophoresis apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is a detailed view of the sample collecting section X of FIG.
2 (B) is a detailed view of the Y portion of FIG. 2 (A), and FIG. 2 (C) is a ZZ arrow view of FIG. 2 (B).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an electrophoresis apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 (A) is a detailed view of the sample collecting section X of FIG.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Separation chamber, 2a, 2b ... Electrode part, 3
... Tank, 4 ... Sample injection pump, 5 ... Optical system window, 6 ... Perister pump, 8 ... Electrode buffer tank, 21, 22 ... Reel, 23 ... Endless belt, 24, 32 ...
Sampling hole, 25, 33 ... Preparative container, 26, 34 ... Sample absorbent.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A separation chamber having an electrode part therein, a sample injection pump connected to an upper portion of the separation chamber for injecting a sample into the chamber, and an inside of the chamber connected to an upper portion of the separation chamber. A separation buffer solution tank containing a buffer solution to be sent to a sample, and a sample collection unit connected to the lower part of the separation chamber via a peristaltic pump, wherein the sample collection unit separates the separated sample. A rotation driving member having a plurality of sampling holes to be taken, a sorting container fixed to the rotation driving member corresponding to the sampling holes, and a sample absorption set in the sampling holes and the sorting container. An electrophoretic device comprising: a material.