JPS5916215B2 - How to transport a support piece for electrophoresis - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for conveying a piece of electrophoretic support, such as a filter paper or a cellulose acetate film, through a dyeing and decolorizing section.

Electrophoresis is a method that is widely used in the field of clinical testing as a method for separating and quantifying silkworm white components in body fluids such as serum.

The analysis process involves electrophoretically separating the serum applied to a piece of support such as filter paper or cellulose acetate film, then staining the separated components on the support piece, and then decolorizing the parts of the support piece other than the serum components. After that, the optical density of each component is quantitatively measured using a zero densitometer. The Electrophoretic Society has established standard operating methods for such analytical processes. Conventionally, all analyzes using electrophoresis have been performed manually.

That is, the support piece on which the serum has been electrophoretically separated is immersed in a staining solution for staining, and then immersed in a decolorizing solution to decolorize parts other than the separated components, which is manually performed. However, as electrophoresis has become widely used, the number of specimens has increased, and it has become necessary for laboratories and large hospitals in particular to quantitatively measure a large number of specimens. It's here. For this reason, it is necessary to secure personnel, and there is a possibility that human error may occur due to repeating a relatively simple operation many times. Therefore, an automatic staining i5 processing apparatus that automatically performs the above-mentioned analysis operations has become desirable. In developing such an automatic dyeing processing device, it became necessary to transport the support piece through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section, but since the support piece is made of, for example, cellulose acetate film, (20) If this is conveyed while being sandwiched between rollers, it may wind around the conveyance rollers, causing the support piece to break or become clogged in the middle of the conveyance path.

Also, when transporting the support piece, if the film comes into contact with the transport mechanism or other parts, the film may be scratched or
■5 There is a drawback that dirt may adhere. In order to prevent such problems from occurring, a very complicated and expensive transport mechanism is required. An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, to be able to transport a support piece stably and accurately through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section, to be able to use an arbitrary transport mechanism, and to prevent film transfer during transport. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for transporting a support piece in which the support piece is not damaged or soiled. In the present invention, when transporting a support piece whose components have been separated by an electrophoretic method through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section, the present invention provides cooperation with the frame of a support piece that has fewer film-like stripes and has a frame attached to the colateral edge. The present invention is characterized in that the support piece is conveyed through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section by means of a working conveyance mechanism. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that a frame is attached so as to sandwich at least a pair of mutually opposing side edges of the film-like strip into the groove, and this frame is made to cooperate with a conveying mechanism. Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the structure of an example of an automatic dyeing processing apparatus that uses the support piece of the present invention and transports it by the transport method of the present invention. In this example, the support piece 1 is a cellulose acetate film, which is currently most widely used in electrophoresis. As shown in FIG. 1, a supply rack 2 is provided which can house a large number of electrophoretically separated support pieces 1 and sequentially feed them out one by one. As shown in FIG.
The structure is such that c is attached. By providing the frames 1b and 1c on the side edges of the film-like strip 1a in this manner, the support pieces can be handled very easily, and can be accurately transported using a simple transport mechanism as will be described later. A continuously moving endless chain 3 is provided in the vicinity of the supply rack 2.

The successive support pieces 1 delivered from the supply rack 2 are loaded into each section of this chain 3, and the support piece frames 1b,
By the cooperation of 1c and chain 3, it is sequentially sent to the right on plate 4 as shown by the arrow. As shown in FIG. 3, this plate 4 has a shallow gutter shape with both side edges 4a and 4b slightly protruding. Therefore frames 1b, 1 of successive carrier pieces 1
c will be guided by riding on the projecting edges 4a, 4b of this plate 4. The plate 4 has a dyeing section S and a decolorizing section D.

FIG. 3 shows a staining section S of the plate 4, and in this section S, the plate 4 is formed with a staining solution injection hole S1 and a staining solution outflow hole S/.

In the decolorization section D, five pairs of injection holes and outflow holes having the same structure are arranged Dl,D/;D2,D2';...:D5,
A DJ (see Figure 1) will be provided. As shown in FIG. 1, these are arranged one after another in the direction of movement of the support piece 1. Furthermore, grooves 4c are formed on the surface of the plate 4 to communicate with the injection holes S1. When the support piece 1 comes to the position of the stain solution injection hole S1,
Close valve B1, open valve B2, operate pump P1, and dye bath C.

Aspirate a certain amount of the staining solution inside. Then close valve B2 and
, open the pump P1, inject a certain amount of the suctioned staining liquid from the staining liquid injection hole S1 of the plate 4, and fill the groove 4.
Fill in c. Since the distance between the support piece 1 and the plate 4 is small, the staining solution injected from the injection hole S1 spreads between the support piece 1 and the plate 4 due to capillary action, staining the entire surface of the support piece 1. The liquid will adhere to it. Due to its viscosity and surface tension, this staining solution is applied to the support piece 1.
While being held between the support piece 1 and the plate 4, it moves as the support piece 1 moves and reaches the position of the staining solution outflow hole S/.
The time it takes for support piece 1 to move from S1 to S/ is 1 minute 3
A suitable time between 0 seconds and 3 minutes is set, and the specified dyeing process is performed during this time.

When the staining liquid reaches the position of the outflow hole S/, it flows down through the outflow hole S/ and enters the staining liquid tank C. Go back inside. In this way, the dyeing solution is circulated and dyes successive pieces of support 1. In this way, the same staining liquid can be used for staining a large number of support pieces, so the amount of staining liquid used can be reduced, and the volume of the staining liquid bath CO can be reduced, and the processing time can be reduced. Costs can be lowered. As the staining solution, 0.4 to 0.8% of Honso 3R dissolved in a 6% trichloroacetic acid aqueous solution is used. In the decolorization section D of the plate 4, a decolorization operation is performed, and parts other than the serum components separated on the support piece are decolorized. In the apparatus of this example, five decolorizing liquid tanks C1 to C5 are provided, and the decolorizing liquid in these liquid tanks is sucked and discharged by one pump P2, and the decolorizing liquid is applied to the support pieces 1 at successive decolorizing positions. be able to be coated. That is, when focusing on a certain support piece 1, when it is at the position of the first decolorizing liquid injection hole D, the valve E2 is opened and the pump P2 is operated, and a certain amount is poured from the first decolorizing liquid tank C1. Aspirate the decolorizing solution. In this case) other valve El9f
19f29gl, G29hl, H2!11, i2 are all closed. Next, the valve e1 is opened, the valve E2 is closed, the pump P2 is driven, and the decolorizing liquid is injected from the decolorizing injection hole D1.
After injection, close valve e1. As in the staining section S described above, the decolorizing liquid fills between the support piece 1 and the plate 4 due to capillary action, and further moves together with the support piece 1 to the position of the decolorizing liquid outflow hole D/. , flows from here. This drained decolorizing solution is heavily contaminated with the staining solution and is therefore discarded. This support piece 1 is connected to the second decolorizing liquid injection hole D.
When reaching position 2, the valve F2 is opened, the pump P2 is driven again, and a certain amount of decolorizing liquid is sucked from the decolorizing liquid tank C2. Next, close the valve F2, open the valve f1, and transfer the suctioned decolorizing liquid to the second
The decolorizing liquid is injected between the support piece 1 and the plate 4 through the injection hole D2. After injection, close valve f1. Support piece 1 is the second
When reaching the position of the decolorizing liquid outflow hole D, the decolorizing liquid held between the support piece 1 and the plate 4 is caused to flow out through the outflow hole D2'. This decolorizing liquid is returned to the first decolorizing liquid tank C1. Hereinafter, the support piece 1 is connected to the third, fourth, and fifth decolorizing liquid injection holes D3.
, D4, and D5, the decolorizing liquid is injected from the third, fourth, and fifth decolorizing liquid tanks C3, C4, and C5, and the decolorizing liquid is injected into the third, fourth, and fifth outflow holes Df, D4'. , Flow out through Dl,
It is returned to the second, third, and fourth decolorizing liquid tanks C2, C3, and C4.
A new decolorizing liquid is supplied to the fifth decolorizing liquid tank C5. With this configuration, the sequential decolorizing liquid tanks C1 to C5 contain decolorizing liquid that is less likely to be contaminated with the staining liquid, so that an ideal decolorizing operation can be performed with an extremely small amount of decolorizing liquid. . A 1 to 3% acetic acid aqueous solution is used as the decolorizing solution.

Also, the support piece 1 is D1 to D/, D2 to DI...D
The time it takes to move from 5 to D is 1 to 2 minutes. Section K in FIG. 1 is a heating section, in which air heated by heater 5 is sent to support piece 1 to dry it.

In this way, the support piece 1 that has been dyed, bleached, and dried falls off the right end of the plate 4 and is stored in the storage rack 6. In Figure 1, staining solution tank C
. As the amount of the dyeing liquid stored in the container gradually decreases, the dyeing effect also decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to count the number of specimens using a counter, for example, and to replenish or replace the staining solution after processing a predetermined number of specimens. Also the fifth
Since the decolorizing liquid in the decolorizing liquid tank C5 also decreases as the processing progresses, it is necessary to replenish or replace the decolorizing liquid after processing a predetermined number of samples. In FIG. 1, a block designated by the reference numeral 7 has such a function. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the timing to avoid overlapping valve operations at the same time when the decolorizing liquid is injected by one pump P2.

The interval between successive transfers of the support pieces 1 is P, and the interval between the successive decolorizing liquid injection holes and outflow holes DlD/-D2D2'D3Df-
D4D4'-D5D♂-P, and the intervals between the sequential decolorizing liquid injection holes are D1D2-11, D2D3-. (!2, D3D4
-13, D4D5-14, it is possible to prevent the valves from opening at the same time by providing the following positional relationship. Here, M and n are positive numbers, m is selected to an appropriate value depending on design factors such as the moving speed of the support piece 1 and the dimensions of the device, and n is selected depending on the number of decolorizing liquid injection holes. determined. According to the standard operating method established by the Electrophoretic Society, it is recommended to change the decolorizing solution five times, so in that case, n-5 may be used. 1 and 4 are examples of n-5, in which the support piece group is transferred to the right, and after the decolorizing liquid is injected into the support piece 11, the support piece group is transferred to the - P) When moving 5 degrees to the right, the decolorizing liquid is injected into the support piece 1-2.

The decolorizing liquid is further moved by -P and is injected into the support piece 1-3.

Below, the support piece moves by -P 0ゝ
A decolorizing liquid is injected into the support pieces 1-3, 1-4, and 1-5 every 5 minutes.

When the support piece 1-1 moves further by -P, the decolorizing liquid is injected into the support piece 1-1 that comes to the position of the decolorizing liquid* injection hole D1, and thereafter, every time the support piece 1-2 moves by -P, the support piece 1-28, 1-38, 1 -48
, 1-58, the decolorizing solution is injected.

By shifting the injection timing of the decolorizing liquid in this manner, one relatively small pump can be used, and in this case, mixing between the decolorizing liquids does not occur. On the other hand, if all the decolorizing liquids were to be injected at the same time using one pump, a large pump would be required and there would be a risk of mixing of the decolorizing liquids. By attaching a frame to the side edge of the strip to form a support piece, its conveyance becomes very simple and accurate, and any conveyance mechanism such as a belt or chain can be used as the conveyance mechanism. In addition, when attaching the frame so that the side edges of the film-like strips are inserted into the grooves, even if the film-like strips have some slack, the film-like strips will not come into contact with the conveyance mechanism or other parts. Since there are no scratches or stains on the film-like strips, there is no possibility of scratches or stains on the film-like strips. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, but can be modified in many ways.

For example, although a chain 3 is used in the example described above, a belt or other suitable transport mechanism may also be used. Also, chains, belts, etc. do not necessarily need to be fed continuously.
It can also be sent intermittently. Further, in the above example, the dyed support piece 1 is dropped into the storage rack 6, but the dyed support piece 1 is successively fed directly into the densitometer to measure the optical density for quantitative determination. It can also be analyzed. In this case, an automatic measuring device is obtained that performs analytical quantification by electrophoresis. Further, in the above example, one pump is used to inject the decolorizing liquid five times, but for example, five pumps may be provided. In this case, these five pumps can be driven simultaneously. Furthermore, the dyeing liquid, decolorizing liquid pourer, and outflow mechanism are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and any other arbitrary injection and outflow mechanism may be used. Further, in the above-mentioned example, the film 1a for one specimen is stored in the support piece 1, but it is also possible to store the films for a plurality of specimens at the same time. Further, the film 1a does not need to have a structure in which only the opposite edges are held between the frames 1b and 1c as described above, but the front and rear edges can also be held between the frames, and the film 1a can also be stored in a plastic case.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an example of an automatic staining processing apparatus to which the support piece conveying method of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the plate of the automatic staining processing device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the decoloring operation in the automatic staining processing device shown in FIG. 1. It is. 1... Support piece, 1a... Film strip, 1b, 1c... Frame, 2... Supply rack, 3...・Endless chain, 4...
・Plate, 5...Heater 6...Storage rack, S...Dyeing section, D...Decolorizing section, K...Drying section , P1... Staining solution supply pump, P2. ．． ．． ．． ．． ．． decolorizing liquid supply pump,
CO...Staining solution tank, C1-C5...Decolorization solution tank.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. When transporting a support piece whose components have been separated by electrophoresis through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section, the above-mentioned support piece having fewer film-like stripes and a frame attached to the colateral edge is used. A method for transporting a support piece for electrophoresis, characterized in that the support piece is transported through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section by a transport mechanism that cooperates with a frame. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support pieces are sequentially sent out from a storage unit that stores a plurality of the support pieces, and are stored in the storage unit after being transported through a dyeing section and a decolorizing section. A method of transporting a support piece for electrophoresis. 3. A frame according to claim 1, characterized in that a frame is attached so that at least a pair of mutually opposing side edges of the film-like strip are sandwiched in the groove, and this frame is made to cooperate with a conveyance mechanism. A method of transporting a support piece for electrophoresis.