KR101908836B1 - Apparatus for capturing bacteria - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bactericidal collector, wherein a bacteria collector according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed into a hollow tube with a bottom opened and a food 2 and a buffer solution 4, in which bacteria 3 have been propagated, A porous infusion filter 20 disposed at the lower part of the infusion bath 10 for filtering the matrix of the food 2 and a porous hollow fiber filter 20 for filtering the matrix of the food 2, A bacterial collection tank 30 which is formed in a tubular shape and one end of which is detachably connected to the lower end of the injection tank 10 and accommodates the sample 1 which has passed through the injection filter 20 therein, And a porous bacterium which is attached to the other end of the tank 30 so as to be detachable so as to permeate the buffer solution 4 and filter the bacteria 3 when the sample 1 permeated through the injection filter 20 is pressed, And a collecting filter 40.

Description

{APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING BACTERIA}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a bacteria collector, and more particularly, to a bacteria collector that collects bacteria detectable in foods at a bacterial concentration exceeding a detection limit.

Recently, the incidence of food poisoning is increasing. Food poisoning is one of the food-borne diseases caused by ingesting food, and the most common cause of the disease is food-contaminated bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella. These food poisoning bacteria have been detected in various foods due to environmental changes such as diet pattern, global warming phenomenon, increase in the vulnerable population such as the elderly population, room temperature rise. Therefore, rapid detection of foodborne bacteria present in trace amounts in food is attracting attention. Traditionally, in order to detect foodborne pathogens, it is necessary to carry out coagulation culture, isolation culture, confirmation test and serum test. As a method for detecting foodborne bacteria more rapidly, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on biochemical method and DNA analysis of food poisoning bacteria, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method by isothermal amplification have been developed . Particularly, in the PCR method, there are real-time PCR for observing the increase of the PCR amplification product in real time in every cycle of the PCR, and digital PCR disclosed in the following prior art documents. Digital PCR is a more advanced technology. Digital PCR is a novel approach to detecting and quantifying nucleic acids that performs a single reaction in a sample, but the sample is split into multiple partitions, and the reactions are performed individually in each split.

In order to detect food poisoning bacteria by such a PCR method, bacterial concentration exceeding the inherent detection limit required for each detection technique is required. In order to accomplish this, the microorganism must be subjected to a microbial process. Since the microbial process is carried out over several hours to several days, there is a problem that a considerable time is required for detection even by the new method for detecting food poisoning bacteria.

Accordingly, a method for solving the problem of the conventional bacteria detection method is urgently required.

KR 10-2017-0003403 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the above problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for mixing a buffer solution with food in a solid state and passing the shaken sample through a plurality of filters having different pore sizes, And a bactericidal collector for collecting bacteria with a bacterial concentration equal to or higher than the detection limit.

The bacterial sorter according to the present invention is formed into a hollow tube having a bottom opened and includes a feed tank into which a sample in which the bacteria-grown food and the buffer solution are mixed and shaken is injected; A porous infusion filter disposed below the infusion tank for filtering a food matrix; A bacteria collecting tank which is formed in the shape of a hollow tube whose both ends are opened, one end of which is detachably connected to the lower end of the injection tank, and which receives the sample permeated through the injection filter; And a porous bacteria-collecting filter attached so as to be detachable to the other end of the bacteria collecting tank and permeating the buffer solution and filtering the bacteria when the sample permeated through the injection filter is pressurized.

Further, in the bactericidal collector according to the present invention, the bactericidal collection tank may include a bacteria collection tank inlet port formed so that external air flows into the outer surface thereof; And a bacteria-collecting tub exhaust vent formed to discharge the inner air to the outer surface.

Further, in the bacterial sorter according to the present invention, the apparatus further includes an inhaler connected to the bacteria collecting vat vent to discharge the inside air.

Further, in the bactericidal collector according to the present invention, the inhaler is formed in the shape of a hollow tube whose one end is opened, and the air inlet is protruded at the other end to suck the inside air; A rod-shaped rod inserted into one end of the outer cylinder and reciprocating in the forward and backward directions; And a piston which is fixed to the rod and closely contacts the inner surface of the outer cylinder, and sucks the inner air when the rod is moved backward.

In addition, in the bacterial sorter according to the present invention, the infusion tank and the bacterial collection tank are communicated with each other, and the food matrix remaining in the sample passing through the infusion tank filter is removed And a plurality

In addition, in the bacterial collector according to the present invention, it is preferable that the conduit portion includes a body formed in the shape of a hollow tube having open ends at both ends, a duct inlet port formed in the outer surface of the body so as to allow external air to flow therein, A conduit including a formed conduit vent; And a porous channel filter disposed on an inner lower portion of the main body to filter the food matrix remaining in the sample.

Further, in the bacterial sorter according to the present invention, the plurality of pipelines are connected to each other so that the main bodies communicate with each other, and at least one or more pipeline filters are disposed for each of the pipelines, The smaller the pore size becomes.

In the bacterial collector according to the present invention, the pore size of the bacteria-trapping filter is 0.45 mu m or less.

Further, the bactericidal collector according to the present invention further includes a plunger for pressurizing the sample in the separated bacteria collecting tank.

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

Prior to that, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in a conventional and dictionary sense, and the inventor may properly define the concept of the term in order to best explain its invention It should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a plurality of porous filters are sequentially arranged so that the pore size gradually becomes smaller, and the food matrix is removed by the filter by mixing the buffered solution with the food in which the bacteria to be trapped are mixed and shaking , The bacteria are concentrated in the final filter. Therefore, sensitivity can be improved when detecting bacteria in food, and bacteria can be detected promptly in place of the enriching process required in conventional bacteria detection methods.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a bacterial sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a bacterial sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a bacterial sorter according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bacteria collector according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. It should be noted that, in the present specification, the reference numerals are added to the constituent elements of the drawings, and the same constituent elements are assigned the same number as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. Also, the terms "first "," second ", and the like are used to distinguish one element from another element, and the element is not limited thereto. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bacteria collector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bacteria collector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the bacteria collector according to the embodiment of the present invention is formed in the shape of a hollow tube with the lower end opened, and the food 2 and the buffer solution 4 in which the bacteria 3 are grown, (10) in which the mixed shaken sample (1) is injected, a porous infusion filter (20) arranged at the lower part of the infusion tank (10) and filtering the matrix of the food (2) A bacteria collecting tank 30 which is formed in the shape of a hollow tube and one end of which is detachably connected to the lower end of the injection tank 10 and accommodates the sample 1 that has passed through the injection tank filter 20 therein, The porous membrane is attached to the other end of the bactericidal collection tank so as to be detachable so that the buffer solution is permeable to permeate the bacteria solution when the sample permeated through the infusion filter is pressurized, Of the bacteria-collecting filter 40.

As foodborne pathogens such as pathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella causing food poisoning were detected in various foods, PCR and LAMP methods for detecting foodborne bacteria were developed more rapidly. However, even with this method, bacterial concentration exceeding the inherent detection limit is required. Therefore, a bacterial process requiring several hours to several days must be performed, and it takes a considerable amount of time to detect the bacteria. As a method for rapidly concentrating bacteria, a bactericidal collector according to the present invention has been developed.

A bactericidal collector according to the present invention is a device for collecting bacteria 3 detected in a food 2 and includes an infusion tank 10, an infusion tank filter 20, a bacteria collection tank 30, and a bacteria collection filter 40 ).

The injection tank 10 is a container into which the sample 1 is injected, and is formed in the shape of a hollow tube whose lower end is opened, and has a receiving space therein. At this time, the sample (1) is a mixture of the mixture of the solid food (2) in which the bacteria (3) is grown and the buffer solution (4). Here, the bacterium (3) is generally a food poisoning bacterium, but not always limited thereto, and includes all bacteria which can be detected and grown in the food (2). On the other hand, when the solid food 2 is separated into lumps and floated on the water surface during the shaking process, the suspension may be removed and used as the sample 1. The sample 1 is composed of a food matrix, a buffer solution 4 and bacteria 3 constituting the food 2. Since the bacteria 3 are present at a very low concentration, (2) The matrix 2 and the buffer solution 4 can be removed to collect the bacteria 3 at a concentration higher than the detection limit, where the food (2) matrix is removed by the injection filter 20.

The infusion bath filter 20 is a porous filter and is disposed in the lower portion of the receiving space of the infusion bath 10. [ At this time, the injection filter 20 is disposed on the latching jaw protruding from the inner surface of the injection tank 10, and can be detachably fixed. Here, the pores of the injection filter 20 have such a size as to pass the small-sized bacteria 3 and the buffer solution 4 but not to pass the food 2 matrix. Therefore, the food (2) matrix in the sample (1) is filtered by the injection filter (20), and the remaining components pass through the injection filter (20) and exit the injection tank (10). At this time, in order to prevent clogging of the feed tank filter 20 by the food (2) matrix, a blade that is disposed in the feed tank 10 and rotates, or a blade provided in the feed tank 10, The sample 1 in the injection tank 10 may be agitated. On the other hand, the sample 1 having passed through the injection filter 20 moves to the bacteria collecting tank 30.

The bacteria collecting tank 30 is a container capable of accommodating the sample 1 and is formed in the shape of a hollow tube with both open ends and one end thereof is connected to the lower open end of the injection tank 10, The sample 1 having passed through the injection tank filter 20 in the inside thereof is accommodated therein. At this time, the bacteria collecting tank 30 may be directly coupled to the lower end of the injection tank 10, or may be indirectly coupled and connected through a pipeline 70 (see FIG. 4) described later.

Here, the bacteria collection tank 30 is detachably connected to the infusion tank 10. For example, a thread may be formed on the bactericidal collection tank 30 and may be detachably connected by screwing. However, the present invention is not limited to the case of screwing, but may include a known detaching means (not shown). The buffer solution 4 may be contained in the sample 1 flowing into the bactericidal collection tank 30 so that leakage may occur on the connection part of the bacterial collection tank 30. The packing may be packed It is possible to prevent water leakage.

On the other hand, the other open end of the bacteria collection tank 30 is closed by the bacteria collection filter 40.

The bacteria collection filter 40 is a porous filter. At this time, the air gap of the bacteria collection filter 40 must be smaller than the pore size of the injection filter 20, and the bacteria 3 of a fine size must not be permeable. Further, 10 so that the buffer solution 4 does not permeate unless the pressure is applied to the inside of the bacteria trapping tank 30 even if it is separated from the injection tank 10. Therefore, even if the other open end of the bacteria collecting tank 30 is closed by the porous bacteria collecting filter 40, the sample 1 is accommodated in the bacteria collecting tank 30 and the bacteria collecting tank 30 is separated, The buffer solution 4 is discharged through the bacteria trapping filter 40 and the bacteria 3 is concentrated on the bacteria trapping filter 40 at this time. The pore size of the bacteria-trapping filter 40 capable of implementing this function is preferably 0.45 mu m or less. However, the pore size is not necessarily limited to this, but may be determined in consideration of the pore of the injection tank 10, the pore filling filter 20, the size of the bacteria collecting tank 30, and the like.

On the other hand, the bacteria collection filter 40 is detachably attached to the other end of the bacteria collection tank 30. Specifically, the catching jaw protrudes from the lower inner surface of the other end of the bacteria collecting tank 30, and the bacteria collecting filter 40 is disposed on the catching jaw so as to be detachably attached. However, the bacteria collecting filter 40 is not necessarily disposed in the inside of the bacteria collecting tank 30 or by the catching jaws, but may be provided by any known fixing means detachably attached to the other end of the bacteria collecting tank 30 . When the bacteria 3 is concentrated on the bacteria-collecting filter 40, the bacteria-collecting filter 40 is removed from the bacteria-collecting tank 30, and the bacteria 3 can be separated and detected by vortexing, sonication, direct lysis or the like.

In general, according to the present invention, a plurality of porous filters are sequentially arranged so that the pore size gradually becomes smaller, and the food (2) in which the bacteria (3) to be collected are grown is mixed with the buffer solution (4) The bacteria (3) can be concentrated on the final filter at a concentration higher than the detection limit by injecting the bacteria (1). Further, since the concentration time at this time is very short compared with the time required in the enriching step required in the conventional bacteria (3) detection method, the bacteria (3) can be detected very quickly from the food (2).

The bacteria collecting tank 30 according to the present invention includes a bacteria collecting tank inlet port 31 and a bacteria collecting tub exhaust port 33 so that the sample 1 can be easily moved through the injection filter 20 .

The bacteria collection tank 31 is formed on the outer surface of the hollow tubular bacteria collection tank 30 and has an opening communicating with the hollow of the bacteria collection tank 30 so that outside air can be collected inside the bacteria collection tank 30 Lt; / RTI >

Similarly, the bacteria collecting tub air outlet 33 is formed on the outer surface of the bacteria collecting tank 30 and has an opening through which the inside air can be discharged to discharge the inside air of the bacteria collecting tank 30 to the outside .

When the sample 1 in a liquid state is filled in the infusion tank 10 closed by the infusion tank filter 20 having a very fine-sized pore, the inside of the bacteria trapping tank 30 is sealed, The sample 1 can not pass through the injection filter 20 due to the pressure. Therefore, the bacteria trapping air inlet port 31 and the bacteria trapping air exhaust port 33, through which air can flow into the bacteria trapping tank 30, are formed, so that the pressure inside the bacteria trapping tank 30 is maintained at atmospheric pressure , It is possible to induce a natural flow of the sample (1).

Further, the bactericidal collector according to the present invention may further include an inhaler 50 to effectively discharge the air inside the bacteria trapping tank 30. [

The inhaler (50) is connected to the bacteria collection air outlet (33) and is a device for sucking the air inside the bacteria collection tank (30). Specifically, the inhaler 50 may include a syringe structure including the outer cylinder 51, the rod 53, and the piston 55. [

Here, the outer cylinder 51 is formed in the shape of a hollow tube whose one end is opened, and the other end thereof is formed with a suction port protruding from which the inner air is sucked. A rod-shaped rod 53 is inserted into one opened end of the outer cylinder 51 to advance to the other end of the outer cylinder 51 and reciprocate so as to move away from the other end. The piston 55 is fixed to the rod 53. Since the outer surface of the piston 55 is in close contact with the inner surface of the outer cylinder 51 and the inner pressure of the outer cylinder 51 is lowered when the rod 53 is moved back, The inside air is sucked into the inhaler 50 through the collecting bath exhaust port 33, whereby the inside air of the bacteria collecting bath 30 is discharged.

Although the inhaler 50 having the syringe structure has been described above as an example, the inhaler 50 is not necessarily formed in such a structure, but may be constructed as an air pump or the like as long as the inside air of the bacteria trapping tank 30 can be removed. Or may be formed of a known inhaler structure.

3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a bacterial sorter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3, the bacteria collector according to the present invention may further include a plunger 60 to pressurize the sample 1 inside the bacteria collection tank 30, as described above.

The plunger 60 is inserted into one open end of the bacteria collecting tank 30 and is formed such that its outer surface is in close contact with the inner surface of the bacteria collecting tank 30. Therefore, by inserting the plunger 60 into the bacteria collection tank 30 separated from the injection tank 10 and pressurizing the internal sample 1, the buffer solution 4 passes through the bacteria collection filter 40 , And the bacteria (3) can be concentrated thereon. At this time, since the inside air of the bacteria collecting tank 30 may be discharged through the bacteria collecting air inlet port 31 and / or the bacteria collecting air outlet port 33, the air may not be pressurized. The inside of the tub 30 may be sealed. It should be noted that the bacterial collection tank 31 and / or the bacteria collecting tank 33 need not be closed by a member such as the cap 63 and the plunger 60 is pressed against the outer surface of the plunger 60 The bactericidal collection air inlet 31 and / or the bacteria collection air outlet 33 may naturally be closed.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bacteria collector according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bactericidal collector according to the present invention may further include a channel section 70 to increase the removal efficiency of the food (2) matrix.

Here, the channel portion 70 is disposed between the infusion bath 10 and the bacteria collecting bath 30 so as to be able to communicate the infusion bath 10 and the bacteria collecting bath 30, and the infusion filter 20 (2) matrix remaining in the sample (1) having passed through the sample (1). The food 2 matrix having a larger size than the pore size of the feed tank filter 20 is fed to the feed tank 2 because the food 1 having the food 2 and the buffer solution 4 has the food 2 matrix of various sizes, The food 2 matrix having a small size can be introduced into the bacteria collecting tank 30 through the injection filter 20 so that the infusion filter 20 ) (2) The matrix is separated.

Specifically, the conduit section 70 may include a conduit 71 and a conduit filter 79.

The conduit 71 is formed of a main body 73, a duct air inlet port 75 and a duct outlet port 77. The main body 73 is formed in the shape of a hollow tube having open ends at both ends, And is connected to the collection tank 30. At this time, the main body 73 is detachably attached to the infusion bath 10 and the bacteria collection tank 30 through screws or separate fastening means (not shown) Combination can be used. However, the channel portion 70 may be integrally coupled to the injection tank 10. Since the main body 73 connected to the injection tank 10 and the bacteria collecting tank 30 communicates the injection tank 10 and the bacteria collecting tank 30 through the hollow, 1 are moved along the main body 73 of the duct 71. [ Each of the duct intake port 75 and the duct exhaust port 77 is formed on the outer surface of the main body 73 and has an opening communicating with the inside of the main body 73, And the duct exhaust port 77 discharges the internal air to the outside. Such a duct intake port 75 and the duct exhaust port 77 are provided so as to maintain the pressure inside the main body 73 at atmospheric pressure in the same manner as the above-described bacteria collection tank 31 and bacteria collection tank exhaust port 33, So that it can easily pass through the injection filter 20. At this time, it is possible to easily remove the inner air from the duct exhaust port 77 by using the separate suction means 50a, 50b. At this time, the suction means 50a, 50b may be the suction device 50 described above.

The channel filter 79 is a porous filter which is disposed in the inner lower portion of the main body 73 to filter the food 2 matrix in the sample 1 passing through the main body 73. At this time, the channel filter 79 uses a filter having a relatively small air gap as compared with the air gap of the injection filter 20. Therefore, the food (2) matrix that has passed through the infusion filter 20 is filtered by the channel filter 79, and finally the bacteria (3) from which the food (2) matrix has been removed can be concentrated to a high concentration .

Furthermore, the number of the channel 71 and the channel filter 79 may be plural. Here, the plurality of channels 71a and 71b are combined so that the respective bodies 73 communicate with each other to form a longer length of the sample 1 conveyance passage. At this time, the main body 73 to be connected to each other is screwed or detachably attached by separate fastening means (not shown), and can be used selectively.

On the other hand, at least one of the channel filters 79a and 79b is disposed for each of the main bodies 73. Therefore, one or more of them may be disposed in the main body 73. At this time, the pores of the channel filters 79a and 79b are different from each other. In this case, the channel filter 79a having a large pore size is moved from the injection tank 10 toward the bacteria collection tank 30, (79b). Therefore, a food 2 matrix having a gradually smaller size is filtered from the injection filter 20 toward the duct filter 79b closest to the bacteria collecting tank 30, and eventually the food 1 mixed with the sample 1 2 are mostly removed and the sample 1 in the bacteria collecting tank 30 is composed of the buffer solution 4 and the bacteria 3.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. It is obvious that the modification or improvement is possible.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1: Sample 2: Food
3: Bacterium 4: buffer solution
10: Injection tank 20: Injection tank filter
30: Bacteria collection tank 31: Bacteria collection tank inlet
33: Bacteria collection tank exhaust port 40: Bacteria collection filter
50: inhaler 51: outer tube
53: rod 55: piston
60: plunger 70:
71: channel 73: main body
75: duct inlet 77: duct outlet
79: Channel filter

Claims (9)

An injection tank formed into a hollow tube shape having an open bottom and into which a sample in which the bacteria-grown food and the buffer solution are mixed and shaken is injected;
A porous infusion filter disposed below the infusion tank for filtering a food matrix;
A bacteria collecting tank which is formed in the shape of a hollow tube whose both ends are opened, one end of which is detachably connected to the lower end of the injection tank, and which receives the sample permeated through the injection filter; And
And a porous bacteria-collecting filter attached so as to be detachable to the other end of the bacteria collecting tank and permeating the buffer solution and filtering the bacteria when the sample permeated through the injection filter is pressurized,
The bacteria collection tank
A bacteria collecting air intake port formed on the outer surface so as to introduce external air; And
And a bacteria collecting exhaust port formed on the outer surface so as to discharge the inside air,
Further comprising: an inhaler connected to the bacteria collecting tub exhaust port and discharging the inside air, wherein the permeation of the tub is controlled by decompressing the inside of the bacteria trapping tank.
delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The inhaler
An outer tube having an open end formed in a hollow tube shape and having a suction port protruded at the other end to suck the inside air;
A rod-shaped rod inserted into one end of the outer cylinder and reciprocating in the forward and backward directions; And
A piston fixed to the rod and brought into close contact with an inner surface of the outer cylinder to suck the inner air when the rod is moved backward;
Lt; / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
A conduit portion disposed between the injection tank and the bacteria collection tank to communicate the injection tank and the bacteria collection tank and to remove the food matrix remaining in the sample passed through the injection tank filter;
Further comprising a bactericidal collector.
The method of claim 5,
The channel portion
A conduit exhaust port formed on an outer surface of the body so as to allow external air to flow therein, and a conduit exhaust port formed on an outer surface of the body to discharge internal air; And
A porous channel filter disposed at an inner lower portion of the main body to filter the food matrix remaining in the sample;
Lt; / RTI >
The method of claim 6,
Wherein the plurality of pipelines are connected to communicate with each other,
Wherein at least one of the channel filters is disposed for each of the channels, and the size of the gap decreases toward the bacteria collection tank.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pore size of said bacteria trapping filter is 0.45 mu m or less.
The method according to claim 1,
A plunger for pressurizing the sample in the separated bacteria collecting tank;
Further comprising a bactericidal collector.

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