WO2014050605A1

WO2014050605A1 - Centrifuging container

Info

Publication number: WO2014050605A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/074785
Authority: WO
Inventors: 朋宣西尾
Original assignee: 富士フイルム株式会社
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-09-13
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Also published as: JP2016000370A

Abstract

A centrifuging container caused to rotate about the central axis thereof, thereby centrifuging components of a sample in the container, wherein centrifugally extracted components are kept from adhering to the interior of a reservoir part without additional expenditure. A centrifuging container (1) provided with a reservoir part (11) for retaining a sample inside a container body (10) having a substantially cylindrical outer appearance, the upper surface of the container body (10) being provided with an opening (12) through which the sample is introduced into the reservoir part (11) wherein a three-dimensional structure (a channel (20)) including an angled part extending from the center axis (C) in the outer circumferential direction is formed at a position on the inner surface of the reservoir part along the interface between the sample (32), which is present on the outer circumferential side of the container, and the air that is present towards the center axis when the container rotates.

Description

Centrifuge container

The present invention relates to a centrifuge container for centrifuging a sample component in a container by being rotated about a central axis of the container.

Conventionally, devices as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known as centrifuges for centrifuging a sample component such as blood.

This centrifuge device stores a specimen such as blood inside a centrifuge container, and centrifuges the components of the specimen in the container by rotating the centrifuge container around the central axis as a rotation axis. .

The centrifuge container used in the above-described centrifuge includes a reservoir that stores the specimen inside the container body, and an opening for injecting the specimen into the reservoir is provided in the container body. It is inclined so as to become higher from the center toward the outer periphery, and has an annular trap portion having a volume for storing a centrifugally separated component having a high specific gravity.

In the trap part, a separation gel having an intermediate specific gravity between the components to be separated in the specimen is arranged, and when the container is rotated while the specimen is injected into the storage part, only the component having a higher specific gravity than the separation gel is provided. Moves to the outer peripheral side of the separation gel in the trap portion, and the component having a specific gravity lower than that of the separation gel remains inside the separation gel, whereby the components of the specimen can be separated.

US Pat. No. 7,947,186 International Publication No. 2008/140742

After centrifuge the sample inside by rotating the centrifuge container as described above, when the rotation of the centrifuge container is stopped, the specific gravity is usually lower than that of the separation gel and the inner side of the separation gel. The component staying at the bottom is stored near the lower surface center of the storage part, but in rare cases, it does not come down near the lower surface center of the storage part while sticking to the outer periphery of the storage part.

The amount of specimen processed at one time in the centrifuge container as described above is not so high as 600 to 800 μL, so if the components extracted by centrifugation remain stuck in the reservoir, the recoverable components will decrease. This causes the problem that the necessary amount cannot be recovered.

In order to solve such a problem, in Patent Document 1, the hydrophilic region and the hydrophobic region are arranged in an appropriate shape in the storage portion of the centrifuge container, and components extracted by centrifugation are stuck in the storage portion. It is devised not to leave.

However, it is difficult to separate the hydrophilic region and the hydrophobic region into appropriate shapes, which increases the cost of the centrifuge container.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and causes a cost increase in a centrifuge container for centrifuging a component of a specimen in a container by being rotated about the central axis of the container. The object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge container configured such that components extracted by centrifugation do not remain stuck in the reservoir.

The centrifuge container of the present invention includes a reservoir for storing a specimen inside the container, and the centrifuge container for centrifuging the components of the specimen in the reservoir by being rotated around the central axis of the container A three-dimensional structure including a corner portion extending in the outer peripheral direction from the central axis at the inner surface position of the reservoir that straddles the boundary surface between the specimen existing on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side when the container rotates. It is formed.

Here, `` a three-dimensional structure is formed at the inner surface position of the reservoir that straddles the boundary surface between the specimen existing on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side during rotation of the container '' This means that the three-dimensional structure is formed so that the whole three-dimensional structure is not covered by the stuck specimen.

Further, “extending in the outer circumferential direction from the central axis” means having a component extending in the radial direction around the central axis, and does not necessarily have to coincide with the radial direction. It may be inclined. In addition, it is not necessary to form a three-dimensional structure including corners such as grooves and ridges in the entire area from the central axis to the outer periphery, and the range in which the action of separating the specimen attached to the inner surface from the inner surface can be exhibited. Thus, a three-dimensional structure may be formed only in a partial region from the central axis to the outer periphery.

In the centrifuge container of the present invention, the container is provided with an opening for injecting the specimen into the reservoir, and a three-dimensional structure is formed on at least the surface (usually the upper surface) provided with the opening among the inner surfaces of the reservoir. It is preferable that

Further, a three-dimensional structure in which a plurality of grooves and / or protrusions are radially arranged from the central axis toward the outer peripheral direction may be formed on any inner surface of the storage unit.

According to the centrifuge container of the present invention, the container extends from the central axis in the outer peripheral direction to the inner surface position of the reservoir that straddles the boundary surface between the specimen existing on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side when the container rotates. Although a three-dimensional structure including corners is formed, such a three-dimensional structure is only necessary to adjust the shape of the mold when the container is formed by injection molding or the like. It is possible to prevent the extracted components from sticking in the reservoir.

In the centrifuge container of the present invention, the container is provided with an opening for injecting the specimen into the reservoir, and a three-dimensional structure is formed on at least the surface (usually the upper surface) provided with the opening among the inner surfaces of the reservoir. As a result, it is possible to eliminate sticking of the extracted component on the upper surface side, which is the main resistance when the component staying inside the separation gel descends to the vicinity of the center of the lower surface of the reservoir, so more reliably from the inner surface The specimen can be separated.

Further, if a three-dimensional structure in which a plurality of grooves and / or protrusions are radially arranged from the central axis toward the outer peripheral direction is formed on any inner surface of the storage portion, the plurality of grooves and / or Since air can be introduced between the inner surface of the reservoir and the specimen attached to the inner surface by the protrusions, the specimen can be more reliably separated from the inner surface.

The top view of the container for centrifugation of one embodiment of the present invention Sectional view of the above centrifuge container (sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1) The figure which looked at the inner side upper surface of the storage part of the above-mentioned centrifuge container from the lower part Sectional view of the upper member of the centrifuge container (sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3) Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the upper member of the container for centrifugation of this invention. Schematic configuration diagram of a centrifuge using the above centrifuge container The figure which shows the state at the time of the sample injection | throwing-in in the said container for centrifugation. The figure which shows the state at the time of centrifugation in the said container for centrifugation The figure which shows the state after centrifugation in the said container for centrifugation

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of a centrifuge container according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the centrifuge container (cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1), and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper member of the centrifuge container (IV-IV line cross-sectional view of FIG. 3), and FIG. 5 is a view of the centrifuge container of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of an upper member.

The centrifuge container 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 11 that stores a specimen inside a container body 10 that is substantially cylindrical in appearance, and injects the specimen into the storage unit 11 on the upper surface of the container body 10. The opening 12 is provided.

The container body 10 is formed by fitting and fixing the upper member 10a and the lower member 10b, and the lower surface of the storage portion 11 formed between the upper member 10a and the lower member 10b is the outer periphery from the center. An annular trap portion 13 having a volume for storing a high specific gravity component centrifuged from the specimen is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the storage portion 11. In the trap portion 13, a separation gel 14 having an intermediate specific gravity between components to be separated in the specimen is disposed. For example, when blood is used as a specimen and blood is separated into a blood cell component and a plasma component, a gel having a specific gravity intermediate between the blood cell component and the plasma component may be used as the separation gel 14.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the inner upper surface (upper member 10a) of the reservoir 11 has a boundary surface between the specimen 32 present on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side when the container rotates. A three-dimensional structure (groove 20) including corner portions extending in the outer peripheral direction from the central axis C is formed at the straddling inner surface position. More specifically, a three-dimensional structure is formed in which a plurality of grooves 20 are radially arranged from the central axis toward the outer peripheral direction. And each groove | channel 20 has comprised the cross-sectional shape which has a square-shaped corner | angular part as shown in FIG. 4 along the direction extended | stretched from the central axis C to an outer peripheral direction. Here, the corner portion is not limited to a right angle as long as the corner is not rounded, and may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

The groove 20 may be a three-dimensional structure having a width and a depth of about 0.1 mm or more and including a corner portion. By providing such a groove 20, the specimen in the groove itself can be provided as shown in FIG. The surface tension acts to move away from the corners, so that air enters the groove, and the air between the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 and the specimen (example of plasma component 32 described later) stuck on the inner upper surface. Since the air enters between the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 and the specimen (example of a plasma component 32 described later) attached to the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 after the passage portion 20a is formed, the specimen is separated from the inner upper surface. be able to.

Such a three-dimensional structure does not cause an increase in cost because it is only necessary to adjust the shape of the mold when the upper member 10a is formed by injection molding or the like.

In addition, since a three-dimensional structure is formed on the inner upper surface of the storage portion 11, the component staying on the inner side of the separation gel 14 on the upper surface side that becomes the main resistance when descending near the center of the lower surface of the storage portion 11 Can eliminate sticking of extracted components.

In addition, since the plurality of grooves 20 have a three-dimensional structure radially arranged from the central axis toward the outer peripheral direction, the plurality of grooves 20 are provided between the inner upper surface of the storage unit 11 and the specimen attached to the inner upper surface. Can put in air.

Thereby, the centrifuge container 1 according to the present embodiment more reliably separates the specimen from the inner upper surface of the storage unit 11 without causing an increase in cost, and the components extracted by the centrifugation are stored in the storage unit 11. You can keep it from sticking.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, it is good also as a protrusion 21 instead of a groove | channel. Even in this case, an air passage 21 a is formed between the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 and the specimen (example of a plasma component 32 described later) attached to the inner upper surface, and the inner upper surface and the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 are formed. Since air can be introduced between the attached specimen (the plasma component 32 described below is exemplified), the same effect as described above can be exhibited. In addition, about the width | variety and height of the protrusion 21, what is necessary is just about 0.1 mm or more like a groove | channel.

Moreover, about the arrangement | positioning aspect of a groove | channel or a protrusion, it arrange | positions so that not only the aspect which arrange | positions a some groove | channel or protrusion radially as mentioned above but a some groove | channel or protrusion mutually cross | intersects mesh shape. Alternatively, the grooves and protrusions may be combined.

Next, a centrifuge using the centrifuge container will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifuge using the centrifuge container.

The centrifuge 50 includes a housing 52 for housing the centrifuge container 1 inside the housing 51. The accommodating portion 52 is provided with a holding portion 53 for holding the centrifuge container 1, and this holding portion 53 is rotatably supported by a rotation mechanism (not shown), and the centrifuge held by the holding portion 53. The center axis C of the separation container 1 is configured to coincide with the rotation axis of the rotation mechanism.

Next, the operation and effect when the specimen in the centrifuge container is centrifuged in the centrifuge will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of the centrifuge container when the sample is charged, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a centrifuge state of the centrifuge container, and FIG. 9 is a centrifuge state of the centrifuge container. FIG. Here, a case where blood is used as a sample is shown as an example.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, blood 30 is injected into the reservoir 11 of the centrifuge container 1. Specifically, blood 30 is injected from the opening 12 provided on the upper surface of the container body 10 by a pipette, a syringe or the like.

Next, the centrifuge container 1 into which the blood 30 has been injected is accommodated in the accommodating part 52 of the centrifuge 50 and rotated about the central axis C of the centrifuge container 1 as a rotation axis. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, only the blood cell component 31 having a specific gravity higher than that of the separation gel 14 moves to the outer peripheral side of the separation gel 14 in the trap portion 13, and the plasma component having a specific gravity lower than that of the separation gel 14. 32 sticks to the inner peripheral side of the separation gel 14.

Then, when the rotation of the centrifuge container 1 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 9, the blood cell component 31 on the outer peripheral side of the separation gel 14 remains trapped in the trap portion 13 and is more internal than the separation gel 14. Only the plasma component 32 on the circumferential side descends and is stored near the center of the lower surface of the storage unit 11. At this time, since the centrifuge container 1 according to the present embodiment forms the above-described three-dimensional structure on the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11, the plasma component 32 extracted by centrifugation is stretched in the reservoir 11. You can keep it from sticking. Thereby, only the plasma component 32 can be extracted efficiently.

Here, the specific size of the centrifuge container 1 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer diameter of the trap portion 13 is 25 mm, the inner diameter is 20 mm, and the height is 1 mm. Further, the inclination angle θa of the inner upper surface (upper member 10a) and the inclination angle θb of the inner lower surface (lower member 10b) of the storage part 11 are both formed at 30 ° to 60 °. Moreover, the height from the lower end of the storage part 11 to an upper end is 15 mm. Further, the groove 20 is formed so as to extend from the inclined upper end of the upper member 10 a to the outer peripheral end of the trap portion 13. A 400 μL separation gel 14 is arranged in advance in the trap section 13, and 600 to 800 μL of sample is supplied into the storage section 11. Accordingly, a substance having a volume of 1000 to 1200 μL rotates in the storage unit 11 during centrifugation.

When the centrifuge container 1 is rotated at 26000 rpm, all the samples stick to the outer peripheral side as shown in FIG. 8, but the groove 20 is formed so as to extend from the inclined upper end of the upper member 10a to the outer peripheral end of the trap portion 13. Since the groove 20 straddles the boundary surface between the plasma component 32 existing on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side when the container is rotated, the plasma component 32 is formed on the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 after the rotation is stopped. Even when it is attached, air can enter between the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 and the plasma component 32 attached to the inner upper surface, and the specimen can be separated from the inner upper surface and lowered to the vicinity of the center of the lower surface of the reservoir. .

If the centrifuge is provided with a mechanism that applies a light impact to the centrifuge container 1 after centrifugation, the sample is more reliably separated from the inner upper surface of the reservoir 11 and extracted by centrifugation. It is possible to prevent the component that has been left from sticking in the reservoir 11. As such a mechanism, any mechanism such as striking the holding portion 53 with a light hammer or swinging the holding portion 53 using a cam may be used.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centrifugal container 10 Container main body 10a Upper member 10b Lower member 11 Reserving part 12 Opening 13 Trap part 14 Separation gel 20 Groove 21 Projection 30 Blood 31 Blood cell component 32 Plasma component 50 Centrifugal device 51 Housing 52 Housing part 53 Holding part

Claims

A centrifuge container for centrifuging the components of the specimen in the reservoir by being rotated about the central axis of the container as a rotation axis, and having a reservoir for storing the specimen inside the container,
A three-dimensional structure including a corner portion extending in the outer peripheral direction from the central axis at the inner surface position of the storage section straddling the boundary surface between the specimen existing on the outer peripheral side of the container and the air on the central axis side when the container rotates. A centrifuge container characterized in that is formed.
The container is provided with an opening for injecting the specimen into the reservoir,
The container for centrifugation according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional structure is formed on at least a surface of the storage portion where the opening is provided.
The three-dimensional structure in which a plurality of grooves and / or protrusions are radially arranged from the central axis toward the outer peripheral direction is formed on any inner surface of the storage portion. The container for centrifugation according to 2.