JPS62176548A - Tandem type pipet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately supply two kinds of liquids to a predetermined instrument, by a method wherein one of two side surfaces holding a pair of pipets therebetween is formed into a shape capable of being grasped in a direction closely contacted with a hand and the other side surface is formed into a shape unsuitable to grasp in the direction closely contacted with the hand. CONSTITUTION:After a reference liquid and a liquid specimen wave sucked in the dripping chips 6, 6 of both pipets 1, 3, a disc 50 is rotated to move both pipets 1, 3 to a close contact position. The interval between both piston rods 20, 40 at the close contact position is set so as to correspond to the interval between a pair of liquid spot-depositing holes 91, 93 of a slide type ionic activity measuring instrument 90. Therefore, the lower ends of the dripping chips 6, 6 mounted to the lower ends of both pipets 1, 3 are opposed to a pair of the liquid spot-depositing holes 91, 93 and, when both push rods 21, 41 are simultaneously pushed down, the reference liquid and the liquid specimen can be simultaneously spot-deposited and supplied to both of a liquid spot-depositing holes 91, 93.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a dual pipette device, that is, a dual pipette device capable of inhaling and discharging two types of liquids, and more specifically to a sliding type ion activated pipette device. The present invention relates to a dual pipette device suitable for dot-feeding a sample liquid and a reference liquid to a volume measuring instrument.

(Conventional technology) Aqueous liquid samples, e.g. alcoholic beverages, beverages, tap water.

Particularly special is an ion activity measurement device for quantitatively analyzing the activity (or concentration) of a specific ion contained therein by spot-supplying biological fluids (blood, urine, saliva, etc.). Kaisho 58-211648.

This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-30055, Japanese Patent Application No. 59-11744, etc.

In general, such an ion activity measurement device is provided with at least 1@1 ion-selective electrode pair having an ion-selective layer as the outermost layer that selectively responds to specific ions, and this ion-selective electrode pair is arranged in the upper part. It is supported between the frame and the lower support frame. A pair of liquid spot holes are provided in the upper frame so as to correspond to one set of the ion-selective electrode pair, and a sample liquid is spotted and supplied to one of the pair of liquid spot holes. A porous bridge (a preferred embodiment is a strand of fibers) is usually provided on this upper frame to achieve electrical continuity (liquid junction) with the reference liquid dispensed onto the other side. Further, when there are a plurality of pairs of ion-selective electrodes, a pair of porous liquid distribution members connecting these pairs of ion-selective electrodes and the pair of spotting holes are arranged in the upper frame or the lower frame. and the ion selection electrode pair.

In the ion activity measuring instrument configured in this way, for example, a pair of ion selective electrodes is provided with 3 vA, and each has NaΦ, Ke, C! Q, e, a reference solution with known activities of these ions is spotted on one of the pair of liquid spotting holes, and a sample solution with unknown activities of said ions is spotted. When spotted on the other side, both liquids permeate the respective porous liquid distribution members and reach the corresponding ion-selective electrodes.

On the other hand, the interfaces of both liquids come into contact (liquid junction) near the center of the porous bridge, establishing electrical continuity. As a result, a potential difference corresponding to the difference in the activity of each ion between the sample solution and the reference solution is generated between one pole of each ion-selective electrode pair, so if this potential difference is measured, the calibration curve ( The principle is based on Nernst's equation), Na■, Φ,
The activity of C-isolated θ ions can be measured simultaneously, sequentially, or at any time.

These ion activity measuring instruments can easily measure ion activity by simply spotting a small amount of the sample solution and reference solution once, so they are useful for the analysis of aqueous liquid samples, especially those collected from the human body such as blood. It is extremely useful in clinical analysis of samples.

When applying a sample liquid and a reference liquid to such an ion activity measuring instrument, it is preferable to apply both liquids substantially at the same time. In order to spot both solutions at the same time in this way, it is convenient to use a dual pipette device as the spotting supply means, which can inhale and discharge both the sample solution and the reference solution without mixing them. This double pipette device is formed, for example, by arranging a pair of pipettes in parallel to each other within a holding case. If you use a dual pipette device with such a structure, you can inhale the reference liquid and sample liquid into both pipettes, and drop both liquids while holding the holding case. This means that they can be applied at the same time. In other words, if a means for interlocking a pair of pipettes is provided, both liquids can be applied at the same time in a single dropping operation, and even if a pair of pipettes are independent of each other, it is possible to do so by grasping the holding case. Since both pipettes can be operated quickly, both liquids can be applied at the same time.

However, when a double pipette device such as the one described above is used, it is possible that the reference liquid and the sample liquid are erroneously placed in opposite liquid spot holes. The case of ion activity measurement has been explained above, but the above-mentioned erroneous operation can be caused by using a dual pipette device to separate two types of liquids into separate predetermined instruments,
This generally occurs when dripping into reagents, etc.

(Objective of the Invention) Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dual pipette device that can prevent the above-mentioned erroneous operations.

(Structure of the Invention) The dual pipette device of the present invention has an outer surface (
For example, the outer surface of a pipette holding case containing a pair of pipettes)
is characterized by having a shape that is suitable for being held in such a way that one of the two sides sandwiching the pair of pipettes is in close contact with the hand, and the other is not suitable for being held in such a way that the other side is in close contact with the hand. It is something to do.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective and cross-sectional views of a dual pipette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this double pipette device is constructed by disposing a pair of pipettes 1.3 extending vertically in parallel to each other within a holding case 5. These pipettes 1 and 3 are held in a holding case 5 so as to be movable laterally (in the direction of arrow B). pipette 1.3 housing 10.30
The piston member 20.40 is arranged to extend vertically within the piston member 20.40, and the cylinder 11.31 is installed below the piston member 20.40. At the lower end of this housing 10.30 each cylinder 11.3
A dripping tip mounting portion 12.32 is formed which has communication holes 11a, 31a communicating with the dripping tip 6.6 and into which a dripping tip 6.6 can be attached freely. Also this housing 1
A piston member 20.40 disposed within the cylinder 11.30 has bushing rods 21, 41 located at the upper end thereof and projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the housing 10.30, and bushing rods 21, 41 located at the lower end thereof extending upwardly and downwardly within the cylinder 11.31. a slidable piston rod 2343 and a connecting rod 22 connecting bushing rod 21.41 and piston rod 23.43;
42, each consisting of an upper coil spring 25.
45 and the lower coil spring 26, the housing 1
It is biased upward relative to 0.30. Note that this biasing force is applied to the step portions 21a and 41 of the bushing rod 21.41.
The receiver is stopped by the contact between a and the contact portion 13°33 of the housing 10.30.

Further, at the lower end of the housing 10.30, a tip ejector 14.34 is provided which can move up and down within the housing 1.30 so as to surround the dripping tip mounting portion 12.32. ,34
are respectively connected to ejector knobs 7 attached to the external side of the housing 10.30, and by operating the ejector knobs 7 downward, the tip ejectors 14, 345 are pushed down and the dripping tip mounting portion 12.
The dripping tip 6.6 attached to 32 can be removed. Thereby, after dropping the sample liquid or reference liquid, the dropping tip that is no longer needed can be removed from the pipette without touching it by hand.

Also, the first button? 1 has a locking groove 21 on the inner surface.
b is formed, and a locking member 8 is attached to the inner surface of the second bushing rod 41, so that the pair of pipettes 1 and 3 are in a position where their side surfaces are in close contact with each other, as shown in FIG. At certain times (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the close contact position)
In this case, the locking member 8 enters into the locking groove 2Ib, and both bushing rods 21.degree. 41 are locked with each other. For this reason,
In the close position, both bushing rods 21.41 move up and down only integrally. On the other hand, when the pipettes 1.3 are laterally moved away from each other and are in a separated state as shown in Figure 1 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the open position).
At this time, the locking member 8 and the locking groove 21b are disengaged, and the bushing rods 21 and 41 can move up and down independently.

This lateral movement of both pipettes 1.3 is achieved by rotating an operating circle 150 rotatably attached to the front surface of the holding case 5 about a center point 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating disk 50 has a pair of cam grooves 51., which spirally spread from near the center point 53 toward the outer periphery.
52, and within this cam groove 5152, the housing 10
．． Cam shafts 1a and 3a fixed to 30 are engaged with each other in a protruding manner. Therefore, when the actuating disk 50 is rotated around the central shaft 53, the cam shafts 1a and 3a fit into the cam grooves 51.52 and are moved from side to side, thereby moving the pipette 1.3 laterally (in the direction of arrow B). Note that when the holding case 5 is moved, a protrusion 5a that protrudes laterally is formed at the upper end of the holding case 5. Thereby, hold the holding case 5 with your hand and push the bushing rod 21. When pushing down Iil, the hand comes into contact with the protrusion 58 and receives a pushing down force, so that the pushing down operation of the push lock l-'' 21.41 is easily performed.

Also, the 5th line representing the planar cross-sectional shape along the ■-v line in Figure 2.
As shown in the figure, the operating disk 50 of the holding case 5 is provided with a flat side surface 50d facing the side surface 5d with both pipettes 1.3 sandwiched therebetween. The side surface 5e has a substantially cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a finger resting surface 5b is formed on this roughly cylindrical side surface 5e.

These finger support surfaces 5b must be formed in such a position and shape that they fit the four fingers from the index finger to the little finger of the right hand or left hand that grips the holding case 5. Note that the side surface 50 may have a substantially cylindrical shape by connecting several flat surfaces. Since the side surface 5e is shaped as described above, and the finger rest surface 5b is formed there,
As shown in FIG. 4, the holding case 5 is automatically held in such a direction that the side surface 5e is in close contact with the hand and the side surface 5d is open.

In other words, if the pipette operator holds the holding case 5 in the opposite direction to the above (with the side surface 5d in close contact with the hand), the pipette operator will be able to grasp the edge of the angular side surface 5d and the finger rest surface 5b that does not fit the fingers.
You will experience an unnatural feeling of discomfort. In addition, in the device of this embodiment, the above-mentioned protruding portion 5a is adapted to protrude from the upper part of the side surface 5e. Therefore, when holding the holding case 5 with the side surface 5d in close contact with the hand as described above, the protrusion 5a hits near the base of the thumb.
This point also makes it difficult to grasp. The above description applies to both cases where the holding case 5 is held with the right hand and when held with the left hand.

The operation and operation of the dual pipette device having the above configuration will be explained below. When using this dual pipette,
First, a dropping tip 6.6 for sucking and holding a sample liquid or a reference liquid is attached to each dropping tip mounting portion 12.32. Next, the disk 50 is rotated to move both pipettes 1.3 from the close position to the open position. When moved in this manner, both pipettes 1.3 are separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 1, and the distance between the dropping tips 6.6 attached to the lower ends of each pipette 1, 3 is also increased. Therefore, when inhaling a sample liquid or a reference liquid contained in a reagent bottle, for example, it becomes easy to immerse only one dripping tip 6 into the reagent bottle and inhale the sample liquid or reference liquid. Also, in the open position, each bushing rod 21
．． 41 can be operated independently, so after pushing down the bushing rod on the side to be inhaled, for example bushing rod 21 and lowering the piston rod 23, the dripping tip 6
Immerse the lower end of the Bushrod in the sample or reference solution in the reagent bottle, and then dip the Bushrod into the sample solution or reference solution in the reagent bottle. 1, the bushing rod 21 and piston rod 23 rise due to the biasing forces of the upper and lower coil springs 25, 26, and the sample liquid or reference liquid is sucked into the dripping tip 6. Similarly, a predetermined liquid is sucked into the dripping tip 6 to be used.

Here, as described above, whether the holding case 5 is held with the right hand or the left hand, the side surface 5e is always held in the direction in which it is in close contact with the hand. If placed in front of the operator, pipette 1 will always be on the left side of the pipette operator.
Pipette 3 will be located on the right side (see Figure 4)
,,,Therefore, in manuals for ion activity measurement, etc.,
Regardless of left-handed or right-handed operation, for example, if you make arrangements to aspirate the reference solution into the left pipette and the sample solution into the right pipette, you will be sure to use either the reference solution or the sample solution in pipette 1.
Then, the sample liquid is sucked into the pipette 3.

As explained above, the dropping tips 6 of both pipettes 1 and 3 are
．． After inhaling the reference liquid and sample liquid into the pipette 6, the disk 50 is rotated to move both pipettes 1.3 to the close contact position.

The distance between the two piston rods 20 and 40 in the close contact position is 1 of the sliding type ion activity measuring instrument 90 shown in FIG.
The distance between the pair of liquid spot holes 91 and 93 corresponds to the distance between them, so that the lower end of the dripping tip 6.6 attached to the lower end of each pipette 1, 3 is connected to the pair of liquid spot holes. 91.
If both bushing rods 21.41 are pressed down simultaneously while facing each of the bushing rods 93, the reference liquid and sample liquid can be simultaneously spotted and supplied to these liquid spotting holes 91.93, respectively.

Note that the bushing rods 21 and 41 are designed to move only as one unit by engaging the locking member 8 and the locking groove 21b, so if at least one of the bushing rods 21 and 41 is pushed, both bushing rods 21 and 41 will descend at the same time. , simultaneous arrival can be performed. Here, even when spotting the sample solution and reference solution as described above, the holding case 5 will always be oriented in the direction described above, so the arrangements described above must be followed. For example, the reference liquid is dropped from the pipette 1 on the left side of the pipette operator, and the sample liquid is dropped from the pipette 3 on the right side of the pipette operator. Therefore, the arrangement position of the analyzer 95 (see FIG. 4) that measures the ion activity using the slide type ion activity measurement device 90 is fixed in relation to the position where the pipette operator stands, and the above-mentioned arrangement is made. If you protect the ion activity measuring instrument 90
A predetermined reference liquid and sample liquid are always spotted in each of the pair of liquid spot holes 91 and 93, respectively.

Even with the above method, if the ion activity measurement device 90 is incorrectly set to the analyzer 95, both liquid spotting holes 9
1.93, the sample liquid and the reference liquid will be spotted by mistake. In order to prevent this, for example, as shown in FIG. It is also preferable to provide color marks 95A and 95B of the same color and positionally corresponding to the color marks 90A and 903, respectively. In addition, in order to ensure that the above-mentioned agreement is always followed, it is necessary to mark the same color as the reference liquid and sample liquid, for example, on both pipettes 1 and 3, or on the holding case 5 at the positions corresponding to these pipettes 1 and 3. It is a good idea to write down. In that case, if these color marks are made the same color as the color marks 90A and 903i of the measuring instrument 90 and the color marks 95A and 95B of the analyzer 95, the risk of mis-spotting is greatly reduced. Further, instead of the color mark provided on the pipette side, character displays 70A and 70B as shown in FIG. 4 may be provided.

In the above, a case has been described in which the sample liquid and the reference liquid are spotted simultaneously, but it is of course possible to spot both liquids separately by using the dual pipette in the open position. In addition, when spotting both solutions separately, for example, in an ion-selective type (*in an ion activity measuring instrument with multiple pairs), the viscosity of the sample solution is high and the diffusion speed in the distributing member is slow. Therefore, the sample solution may be spotted earlier.

Further, the mechanism for moving the pair of pipettes 1.3 in the lateral direction within the holding case 5 is not limited to the one provided in the above embodiment, and various other conventionally known mechanisms may be used. . In general, in order to enable the pair of pipettes 1.3 to interlock and operate independently, both pipettes 1.3 should be made transversely movable and these piston members 20 should be moved as in the embodiment described above. In addition to providing a locking member 8 and a locking groove 21b for releasably connecting the . A structure having upward and downward abutting portions may also be employed. In other words, in a double pipette device employing such a mechanism, if the piston member on the side having the downward contact portion is pushed down, the piston member to be used also descends in one direction, and the upward When the screw member on the side having the contact portion is pushed down, only this piston member is lowered. Note that the two cylinders 11.31 do not necessarily have to be provided in parallel.

Further, the dual pipette device of the present invention may be formed in such a manner that both pipettes are not interlocked as described above, and each pipette is operated completely independently. Even in the double pipette device 1~ formed in this way, the outer surface of the holding case that holds a pair of pipettes, or the holding case, especially δ) (if it cannot be pulled, both pipettes 1~ are dried in succession). If the outer surface 8 of the cover member, etc. is shaped as described above, the effect as described above will be obtained.

Roughly speaking, the dual pipette device of the present invention can be used not only for spotting a sample solution and a reference solution for ion activity measurement, but also for dropping two types of liquids into predetermined instruments, reagents, etc. In all cases, it can be effectively used to properly supply both liquids to their respective predetermined sides.

(Effect of the invention) As explained in detail above, the dual pipette 1 of this defense is
Due to the action of the finger support surface formed on the outside of the holding case, the grip is always held in the same direction both when aspirating liquid and when dripping the aspirated liquid, so this dual pipette device can be used. For example, it is possible to correctly supply two types of liquids to predetermined measuring instruments, reagents, etc. without paying special attention, and it is possible to greatly improve the workability of chemical analysis, measurement, etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a dual pipette 1 to device according to one embodiment of the invention; II sectional view, 3rd
The figure is a perspective view showing a part of the kidney (the double pipette device), FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the dual pipette device in use, and FIG. 5 is a ■It is a plan cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional shape of the part that has healed into a gland. 1.3... Pipette 5... Holding case 5
a...Protrusion part 5b of holding case...Finger rest 5d, 5e...Side surface of holding case 8...Locking member 10, 30. t, Uzing 11.31...
・Cylinder 20, 40... Piston member 21, 41... Bush rod 21b... Locking groove 23, 43... Piston rod 50... Operating disc first port l

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a dual pipette device in which a pair of pipettes are arranged side by side, the outer surface of the device is suitable for gripping in a direction in which one of the two sides sandwiching the pair of pipettes is in close contact with the hand; A double pipette device characterized in that the other pipette device is shaped unsuitably for being held tightly in the hand.