WO2015019595A1

WO2015019595A1 - Isolator

Info

Publication number: WO2015019595A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/004067
Authority: WO
Inventors: 寛直関根; 小林　晃一
Original assignee: パナソニックヘルスケアホールディングス株式会社
Priority date: 2013-08-07
Filing date: 2014-08-04
Publication date: 2015-02-12

Abstract

In the present invention, an isolator is provided with: a main case; a work chamber provided inside the main case; an outside air introduction path for introducing outside air into the work chamber; a gas exhaust path for discharging a gas inside the work chamber to the outside of the work chamber; a blower provided to the outside air introduction route or to the gas exhaust path; a sterilizing substance supplying means for supplying a sterilizing substance to the inside of the work chamber; a sterilizing substance reducing means provided to at least the gas exhaust path, and optionally to the outside air introduction route; and a controlling means to which the blower and the sterilizing substance supplying means are connected. The isolator is configured such that a diffusion fan for diffusing the gas inside the work chamber is connected to the controlling means, and the controlling means intermittently runs the blower and continuously runs the diffusion fan for a predetermined time after the sterilizing substance is supplied to the inside of the work chamber by the sterilizing substance supplying means.

Description

Isolator

The present disclosure relates to an isolator used for, for example, pharmaceutical development work or cell culture work.

This type of conventional isolator is a main body case, a working chamber provided in the main body case, an outside air introduction path for introducing external air into the working chamber, and exhausts the gas in the working chamber to the outside of the working chamber. At least gas exhaust among a gas exhaust path, a blower provided in the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path, a sterilizing substance supply means for supplying a sterilizing substance into the working chamber, and the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path The structure includes a sterilizing substance reducing means provided in the path, and a control means connected to the blower and the sterilizing substance supply means (as a prior art similar to this, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2010-46226 A

The isolator performs a sterilization operation by supplying a sterilizing material from the sterilizing material supply means into the work chamber before starting the work, and then discharges the sterilizing material in the work chamber to the outside of the work chamber through the gas exhaust path. I am doing so.

Further, since the sterilizing substance reducing means is provided in the gas exhaust path, the sterilizing substance discharged to the outside of the working chamber is rendered harmless by the sterilizing substance reducing means, and as a result, the environment outside the working room is deteriorated. There is nothing.

In this case, if an amount of sterilizing material exceeding the processing capacity of the sterilizing material reducing means is supplied from the working room to the sterilizing material reducing means, the environment outside the working room will be deteriorated.

Therefore, in the conventional example, when the sterilizing substance is exhausted from the working chamber, the concentration of the sterilizing substance in the gas exhaust path is detected. An amount of the sterilizing substance exceeding the processing capacity of the reducing means is prevented from being supplied from the working room to the sterilizing substance reducing means.

However, even if the capacity (number of rotations) of the blower is reduced, the sterilizing substance remaining in the local area of the working room can be effectively discharged in a short time when the blower is continuously operated. There wasn't.

That is, for example, there is a working tool in the working chamber, and when such a fan is continuously operated, when the blower is continuously operated, an air current is retained in the lee of the tool, and as a result, The sterilizing substance remaining here cannot be effectively discharged in a short time.

Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to effectively discharge the sterilizing substance remaining in the local area of the working room in a short time.

In order to achieve this object, the present disclosure provides a main body case, a working chamber provided in the main body case, an outside air introduction path for introducing external air into the working chamber, and a gas in the working chamber. A gas exhaust path for discharging to the outside, a blower provided in the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path, a sterilizing substance supply means for supplying a sterilizing substance into the work chamber, and the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path. A sterilizing substance reducing means provided at least in the gas exhaust path, and a control means connected to the blower and the sterilizing substance supplying means, and a diffusion fan for diffusing the gas in the working chamber is provided. The control means is connected to the control means. The control means intermittently operates the blower for a predetermined time after the supply of the sterilizing substance into the working chamber by the sterilizing substance supply means, and the diffusion. § emissions are those with a structure to be continuously operated, thereby achieving the intended purpose.

As described above, the present disclosure provides a main body case, a working chamber provided in the main body case, an outside air introduction path for introducing external air into the working chamber, and exhausts the gas in the working chamber to the outside of the working chamber. At least gas exhaust among a gas exhaust path, a blower provided in the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path, a sterilizing substance supply means for supplying a sterilizing substance into the working chamber, and the outside air introduction path or the gas exhaust path A sterilizing substance reducing means provided in the path; and a control means connected to the blower and the sterilizing substance supply means. A diffusion fan for diffusing the gas in the working chamber is provided, and the diffusion fan is connected to the control means. The control means performs intermittent operation of the blower for a predetermined time after the sterilizing substance is supplied into the working chamber by the sterilizing substance supply means, and the diffusion fan is continuously operated. Since the configuration and the that, the sterilizing agent remaining in the local working chamber can be effectively discharged in a short time.

That is, the present disclosure provides a diffusion fan for diffusing the gas in the working chamber, and the diffusion fan is connected to a control unit. The control unit is configured to supply the sterilizing substance after the sterilizing substance supply unit supplies the working chamber. For a predetermined time, the blower is intermittently operated and the diffusion fan is continuously operated.

For this reason, during the operation of the blower, the “airflow stagnant state” that occurs in the lee of what is present in the working chamber is mitigated to the suspension state of the blower (including the state of rotation only by inertia), and At this time, the diffusion flow by the diffusion fan acts on the “airflow retention state” portion, and as a result, the sterilizing substance remaining in the “airflow retention state” portion is effectively discharged in a short time. Will be able to.

The perspective view which removed a part of isolator concerning one embodiment of this indication The perspective view which further removed a part of isolator concerning one embodiment of this indication The figure which shows the air path and water channel of the isolator concerning one Embodiment of this indication Control block diagram of isolator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows an isolator in a state where an upper part of a main body case serving as an exterior is removed, and a work chamber 1 is provided in the main body case as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the isolator according to the present embodiment includes a work preparation box 2 on the right side and a storage box 3 called an incubator on the left side.

That is, in the work room 1, a hand is inserted through a work glove attached to the front opening 4, and in this work room 1, drug development work, cell culture work, and the like are performed.

In addition, the tools necessary for performing such work are in a state of being put in the work chamber 1 in advance, but a work preparation box 2 is provided to put a new tool in the work chamber 1. .

In this case, first, the lid 5 is opened and the instrument to be used is placed in the work preparation box 2, then the lid 5 is closed, and then the sterilization work with the sterilizing substance and the sterilization substance reduction work are performed in the work preparation box 2. Let it be done.

Next, a lid (not shown) of the work preparation box 2 fitted into an opening provided on the right side surface of the work room 1 is opened from the work room 1, and the tool to be used is placed in the work room 1 from the work preparation box 2. Then, the lid is closed again to maintain the environment of the working chamber 1.

The storage box 3 is used for culturing substances after work performed in the work chamber 1, for example, cells, and is stored in the opening provided on the left side surface of the work chamber 1 from within the work chamber 1. The lid (not shown) of the box 3 is opened, and then, for example, a container containing cells is transferred into the storage box 3, and then the lid of the storage box 3 is closed.

Thereafter, the storage box 3 is separated from the work room 1 and stored in a storage place, that is, cell culture is performed.

Since the configuration as described above is a known configuration, further description is omitted to avoid complication of the description, and the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described below.

In the present embodiment, an air supply fan 8 is disposed on the upper front side of the work chamber 1, and an exhaust fan 7 is disposed on the upper rear side of the work chamber 1. By driving the

blowers

7 and 8, external air is introduced into the work chamber 1, a sterilizing substance reduction operation after sterilization work is performed, or the gas in the work chamber 1 is exhausted to the outside.

That is, when the

blowers

7 and 8 are driven, external air outside the main body case is operated from the upper front side of the work chamber 1 through the valve 9, the sterilizing substance reducing means 10, the blower 8, and the dust filter 11 shown in FIG. It can be introduced into the chamber 1.

Further, while introducing such external air into the work chamber 1, the gas in the work chamber 1 is passed through the opening (not shown) on the exhaust side of the work chamber 1, and the dust filter 13, the sterilizing substance reducing means 14, It can be discharged out of the main body case via the valve 15.

That is, the valve 9, the sterilizing substance reducing means 10, the blower 8, and the dust filter 11 serve as an outside air introduction path 16 for introducing outside air into the work chamber 1, and the valve 9 draws outside air from above the main body case. I am trying to introduce it.

Further, the dust filter 13, the sterilizing substance reducing means 14, and the valve 15 serve as a gas exhaust path 17 for discharging the gas in the work chamber 1 to the outside of the work chamber 1, and the exhaust is on the upper rear side of the main body case. To be discharged.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a nozzle 18 (an example of a part of a sterilizing substance supply means) that supplies hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing substance in the working chamber 1 above the working chamber 1. ). The sterilizing substance supply means 34 includes

nozzles

18 and 20, an air compressor 35 connected to the

nozzles

18 and 20, a bottle 36 of hydrogen peroxide solution, and a pump 37. The sterilizing substance supply means 34 mists the hydrogen peroxide solution from the nozzle 18 and ejects it into the working chamber 1.

Further, a diffusion fan 19 is disposed above the work chamber 1 at a position where the sterilizing substance is not directly jetted from the nozzle 18.

The diffusion fan 19, the blower 8, the

valves

9 and 15, and the nozzle 18 (including the nozzle valve) are connected to the control means 32 as shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, as can be understood from FIG. 3, the work preparation box 2 is also provided with a blower 23 above the work preparation box 2, as in the work chamber 1. By driving, external air is introduced into the work preparation box 2 or sterilization substance reduction work after sterilization work is performed.

That is, when this blower is driven, external air outside the main body case is supplied from above the work preparation box 2 through the valve 21, the sterilizing substance reducing means 22, the blower 23, and the dust filter 24 shown in FIG. It can be introduced in box 2.

Further, when such external air is introduced into the work preparation box 2, the gas in the work preparation box 2 is discharged from the opening 25 on the back side of the work preparation box 2 shown in FIG. It can be discharged out of the main body case through the sterilizing substance reducing means 27 and the valve 28.

That is, the valve 21, the sterilizing substance reducing means 22, the blower 23, and the dust filter 24 form an outside air introduction path 29 for introducing outside air into the work preparation box 2, and the valve 21 is outside air from above the main body case. To introduce.

Further, the dust filter 26, the sterilizing substance reducing means 27, and the valve 28 form a gas exhaust path 30 for discharging the gas in the work preparation box 2 to the outside of the work preparation box 2. It is trying to discharge to the side.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle 20 in FIG. 3 for supplying a sterilizing substance (for example, hydrogen peroxide solution) into the work preparation box 2 above the work preparation box 2 (an example of a part of the sterilizing substance supply means). Is arranged. The sterilizing substance supply means 34 mists the hydrogen peroxide solution by this nozzle 20 and ejects it into the work preparation box 2.

Further, a diffusion fan 31 is disposed above the work preparation box 2 at a position where the sterilizing substance is not directly jetted from the nozzle 20.

Further, the diffusion fan 31, the blower 23, the

valves

21, 28, and the nozzle 20 (including the nozzle valve) are also connected to another control means (not shown) as in FIG.

In the above configuration, the sterilization work and the sterilization substance reduction work of the work chamber 1 and the work preparation box 2 are almost the same, so the sterilization work and the sterilization substance reduction work will be described by taking the work room 1 as an example. To do.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, this sterilization operation is performed by operating the nozzle 18 a plurality of times by the control means 32 with the lid 33 on the front surface of the work chamber 1 closed, and injecting a sterilizing substance into the work chamber 1. .

At this time, the diffusion fan 19 is also continuously operated by the control means 32, whereby the sterilizing material is diffused widely in the work chamber 1 and the sterilization work is performed. For example, after 30 minutes, the operation moves to a sterilization substance reduction operation.

At this time, the control means 32 opens the

valves

9 and 15 and drives the blowers 8 and 9 (of course, the nozzle 18 is stopped).

Then, external air outside the main body case can be introduced into the working chamber 1 from above the working chamber 1 through the valve 9, the sterilizing substance reducing means 10, the blower 8, and the dust filter 11 shown in FIG. 3. .

Further, at the same time when such external air is introduced into the working chamber 1, the gas in the working chamber 1 is removed from the gas exhaust path 17 of the working chamber 1 shown in FIG. 15 can be discharged out of the main body case.

That is, the work for reducing the sterilized substance in the work chamber 1 is performed.

A characteristic feature of this embodiment is that during the sterilizing substance reduction operation, the control means 32 causes the blower 8 to be turned on for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) after the sterilizing substance is supplied into the working chamber 1 by the nozzle 18. In addition to intermittent operation every 3 seconds, the diffusion fan 19 is operated continuously.

For this reason, during the operation of the blower 8, what is present in the work chamber 1, for example, the “stagnation state of the airflow” generated in the lee of the nozzle 18, the diffusion fan 19, and other appliances, In this case, the airflow generated by the diffusion fan 19 acts on the “airflow residence state” portion, and as a result, the “airflow residence” The sterilizing substance remaining in the “state” portion can be effectively discharged in a short time.

And after these 10 minutes passed, the air blower 8 decided to perform a continuous operation for 20 minutes.

In addition, although the above description was demonstrated in the work chamber 1, also in the work preparation box 2, after supply of the sterilizing substance into the work preparation box 2 by the nozzle 20 by the control means, a predetermined time (for example, 10) is used. Minutes), the blower 23 is intermittently operated every 3 seconds, and the diffusion fan 31 is continuously operated.

As described above, the present disclosure includes a diffusion fan for diffusing the gas in the working chamber, and the diffusion fan is connected to the control unit. The control unit supplies the sterilizing substance into the working chamber by the sterilizing substance supply unit. Thereafter, the fan is intermittently operated for a predetermined time, and the diffusion fan is continuously operated.

Therefore, it is expected to be used as an isolator used for pharmaceutical development work and cell culture work.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Work room 2 Work preparation box 3 Storage box 4 Front opening 5 Lid 7 Blower 8 Blower 8 Blower 9 Valve 10 Sterilization substance reduction means 11 Dust filter 13 Dust filter 14 Sterilization substance reduction means 15 Valve 16 Outside air introduction path 17 Gas exhaust path 18 Nozzle 19 Diffusion fan 20 Nozzle 21 Valve 22 Sterilization substance reduction means 23 Blower 24 Dust filter 25 Opening 26 Dust filter 27 Sterilization substance reduction means 28 Valve 29 Outside air introduction path 30 Gas exhaust path 31 Diffusion fan 32 Control means 33 Lid 34 Sterilization substance supply means 35 Air compressor 36 Bottle 37 Pump

Claims

A main body case, a working chamber provided in the main body case, an outside air introduction path for introducing external air into the working chamber, a gas exhaust path for discharging the gas in the working chamber to the outside of the working chamber, and the outside air introduction path Or at least among the blower provided in the gas exhaust path, the sterilizing substance supply means for supplying a sterilizing substance into the working chamber, the outside air introduction path, or the gas exhaust path, the sterilized substance reduction provided in at least the gas exhaust path And a control means to which the blower and the sterilizing substance supply means are connected, a diffusion fan for diffusing the gas in the working chamber is provided, the diffusion fan is connected to the control means, and the control means is The blower is intermittently operated for a predetermined time after the sterile substance is supplied into the working chamber by the sterile substance supply means, and the diffusion fan is continuously operated. Configuration and the isolator to.
The isolator according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing substance supply means includes a nozzle for spraying a liquid sterilizing substance into the working chamber.
The isolator according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle and the diffusion fan are provided in the work chamber.
The control unit is configured to intermittently operate the blower for a predetermined time, continuously operate the diffusion fan, and continuously operate the blower and the diffusion fan after the predetermined time has elapsed. 4. The isolator according to any one of 3.
The isolator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outside air introduction path is connected to an upper surface of the working chamber, and the sterilizing substance supply means and the diffusion fan are disposed above the working chamber.