WO2020184877A2

WO2020184877A2 - Gas circulation apparatus for inhalation test

Info

Publication number: WO2020184877A2
Application number: PCT/KR2020/002930
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김재영; 이주한; 정상훈; 송승준
Original assignee: 고려대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2019-03-14
Filing date: 2020-03-02
Publication date: 2020-09-17
Also published as: KR20200109741A; KR102201941B1; WO2020184877A3

Abstract

A gas circulation apparatus for an inhalation test according to an embodiment comprises: a chamber for accommodating a test subject; an introducing part for introducing a sample into the chamber; a circulation part for promoting the circulation of a gas inside the chamber; and a circulation pipe connected to the chamber and the circulation part so as to communicate with the chamber and the circulation part, wherein the chamber can rotate to induce a change in the environment inside the chamber and induce natural inhalation in a test animal.

Description

Gas circulation device for inhalation experiments

A gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment is disclosed, and more particularly, a gas circulation device in which gas in a chamber is continuously circulated during a toxic inhalation experiment is disclosed.

Today, the benefits and convenience of life are being provided through nanotechnology. However, since ultra-fine nanoparticles are inhaled and can move in the body without being filtered by organs of the human body, there is a risk of biotoxicity. In addition, through cases such as accumulation in the body and causing central nervous system disorders, the harmfulness of the human body to fine particles has been a lot of controversy. In order to evaluate the inhalation toxicity of these fine particles, the experimental animals to be tested and the experimental space of an appropriate size are required. Currently, it is necessary to construct an expensive large system, and accordingly, the operation cost is also considerably required. It can only be performed in an institution. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate environmentally hazardous substances using various fine particles.

As a related technology, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1017402, filed on March 17, 2009, discloses "an exposure chamber device for evaluating inhalation toxicity of nanoparticles".

An object according to an embodiment is to provide an apparatus for easily performing an inhalation experiment of fine particles.

An object according to an embodiment is to conduct a suction experiment of fine particles at a constant concentration by constantly circulating gas.

An object according to an embodiment is to uniformly distribute fine particles used as a sample in the experiment space.

An object according to an embodiment is to provide a low-cost, small inhalation experiment apparatus suitable for small animal experiments.

An object according to an embodiment is to prevent contamination of the experimenter and the laboratory by configuring a discharge line so that fine particles are not exposed from the experimental apparatus during an experiment.

An object according to an embodiment is to reduce the stress of the test subject by creating a living space suitable for the test subject in the test space.

An object according to an embodiment is to actively inhale fine particles through the subject's self-breathing.

An object according to an embodiment is to prevent consumption of a large amount of sample by inducing circulation of fine particles.

An object according to an embodiment is to provide a light and easy-to-clean experimental device.

An object according to an embodiment is to configure various flow rates and induce natural suction by controlling the flow of gas by means of an electrical signal.

The problems to be solved in the embodiments are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment for achieving the above object includes: a chamber in which the test object is accommodated; An input unit for introducing a sample into the chamber; A circulation part to promote circulation of the gas inside the chamber; And a circulation pipe connected to the chamber and the circulation unit so as to communicate with the chamber and the circulation unit, wherein the chamber is rotated to induce environmental changes in the chamber and to induce natural inhalation of the experimental animal.

According to one side, further comprising a rotation unit for rotating the chamber, the rotation unit frame for supporting the chamber; A driving member provided on one side of the frame to generate rotational force; And a rod extending from a rotational shaft of the driving member and transmitting a rotational force of the driving member to the chamber, and rotating the chamber with the rod as a rotational center by the rotational force of the driving member.

According to one side, the rotating part further includes a fixing ring surrounding the circumference of the chamber, the rod is connected perpendicularly to one surface of the fixing ring, and the fixing ring is disposed in the center of the chamber so that the fixing ring is The chamber can rotate as it rotates.

According to one side, the chamber is formed in a circular capsule shape so that the gas flowing into the chamber may be uniformly distributed.

According to one side, it further includes a control unit for controlling the air flow rate, the control unit may be connected to the circulation unit to control the flow of air in a pulse type.

According to one side, the circulation pipe includes a first pipe having both ends communicating with the other part of the chamber; A second pipe having one end connected to one side of the first pipe and the other end connected to the circulation part; And a third pipe having one end connected to the other side of the first pipe and the other end connected to the circulation part, and may continuously circulate the gas in the chamber through the first pipe.

According to one side, the circulation pipe further includes a fourth pipe whose one end is connected to one side of the first pipe, and the other end of the fourth pipe is connected to the inlet to deliver a sample into the chamber. I can.

According to the gas circulation device for the inhalation experiment according to an embodiment, there is an effect of providing a device for easily performing the inhalation experiment of fine particles.

According to the gas circulation device for the inhalation experiment according to an exemplary embodiment, there is an effect that the gas is constantly circulated to conduct the inhalation experiment of fine particles at a constant concentration.

According to the gas circulation device for a suction experiment according to an embodiment, there is an effect of uniformly distributing fine particles used as a sample in the experiment space.

According to the gas circulation device for inhalation experiments according to an embodiment, there is an effect of providing a low-cost small inhalation experiment device suitable for small animal experiments.

According to the gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment, there is an effect of preventing contamination of the experimenter and the laboratory by configuring an exhaust line so that fine particles are not exposed from the experiment device during the experiment.

According to the gas circulation device for the inhalation experiment according to an embodiment, there is an effect of reducing the stress of the specimen by creating a living space suitable for the specimen in the experiment space.

According to the gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment, there is an effect of actively inhaling fine particles through self-breathing of the test subject.

According to the gas circulation device for inhalation experiments according to an embodiment, there is an effect of preventing consumption of a large amount of samples by inducing circulation of fine particles.

According to the gas circulation device for inhalation experiments according to an embodiment, there is an effect of providing a light and easy-to-clean experimental device.

According to the gas circulation device for a suction experiment according to an embodiment, by controlling the flow of gas by an electric signal, there is an effect of configuring various flow rates and inducing natural suction.

The effects of the gas circulation device for the inhalation experiment according to an embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 is a perspective view of a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment.

2 shows a flow path of gas through a circulation pipe of a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment.

3 is a perspective view of a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an exemplary embodiment showing a chamber mounted on a rotating part.

4 shows a signal input from a controller of a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment.

The following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention, so the present invention is limited to the matters described in such drawings. It is limited and should not be interpreted.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, it should be noted that the same elements are assigned the same numerals as possible even if they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the embodiment, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiment, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the constituent elements of the embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, order, or order of the component is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, that component may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but another component between each component It should be understood that may be “connected”, “coupled” or “connected”.

Components included in one embodiment and components including common functions will be described using the same name in other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, descriptions in one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, and detailed descriptions in the overlapping range will be omitted.

1 is a perspective view of a gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an exemplary embodiment may include a chamber 100, an injection unit 200, a circulation unit 300, and a circulation pipe 400.

The chamber 100 may be configured to accommodate the test object (S) therein.

At this time, the test object (S) may include small animals for experiments such as, for example, mice, rats, hamsters, and the like.

The chamber 100 may also be formed in a circular capsule shape having a size sufficient to accommodate a small animal, and a hole is formed in the upper and lower portions to inject or discharge fine particles into the chamber by being connected to the circulation pipe 400. I can.

In the case of an experiment using a square-shaped chamber, a portion such as a corner becomes a blind spot, and the distribution of fine particles injected into the chamber may not be uniform. At this time, it may be difficult to see that the test object S moved to the corner portion is under the same experimental conditions as the other test object S. On the other hand, since the chamber 100 is configured in a circular shape, the injected fine particles and gas containing the same can be uniformly distributed inside the chamber 100. In addition, since it is configured in a size suitable for small animals, unlike a large chamber, it is light in weight, so it is easy to move and wash after an experiment.

The chamber 100 may be formed in a structure capable of opening and closing so that the test object S can be inserted and taken out. A plate on which the test object S can be placed may be placed inside the chamber 100, and a plurality of holes may be formed in the plate. The plurality of holes may be a passage through which gas passes when the gas inside the chamber 100 circulates, and may be a passage through which excrement of the specimen S is discharged.

The experimenter (S) can freely live in the chamber 100, and the internal environment of the chamber 100 can be maintained in the chamber 100 for a certain period of time. It can be configured in the same way as the environment. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the stress of the specimen S, and thus, it is possible to reduce an experimental error that may occur from the difference in the state of each of the specimens S.

The injection unit 200 may accommodate a sample to be injected into the chamber 100.

In addition, one side of the input unit 200 is connected to the circulation pipe 400 to deliver a sample to the chamber 100 through this.

Here, the sample may contain fine particles containing toxicity.

At this time, when the input unit 200 receives the toxic fine particles as a sample, the toxic substance is injected into the gas circulation device 10 to evaluate the inhalation toxicity of the fine particles.

The circulation unit 300 may induce continuous circulation of the gas inside the chamber 100.

In this case, the circulation unit 300 may be provided as a circulation pump to form a negative pressure inside the chamber 100.

In addition to the circulation pipe 400 shown in FIG. 1, the circulation unit 300 may further include additional pipes at both ends. If necessary, before or after the experiment is completed, the gas inside the gas circulation device 10 is discharged to the gas circulation device 10 or the outside of the laboratory, or the gas outside the laboratory or laboratory is inside the gas circulation device 10 It is to make it flow into.

In the case of experiments using toxic fine particles, exposure of the fine particles to the outside of the laboratory may adversely affect the health of the experimenter and laboratory animals inside the laboratory, and may contaminate all materials or tools in the laboratory. .

However, such as the circulation unit 300 of the gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment, the paths through which gas is introduced into or discharged from the inside of the gas circulation device 10 are separated respectively and passed directly to the outside. It is possible to prevent the above-described problems from occurring due to the gas circulation device 10 by providing a separate path.

The circulation pipes 400 may be respectively connected to holes provided in the upper and lower portions of the chamber 100 to communicate with the chamber 100. In addition, it may be connected to the chamber 100 and the circulation unit 300 so as to communicate the chamber 100 and the circulation unit 300.

2 shows a flow path of gas through the circulation pipe 400 of the gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment.

2, the circulation pipe 400 of the gas circulation device 10 for the inhalation experiment according to an embodiment includes a first pipe 410, a second pipe 420, a third pipe 430, and a third pipe. It may include 4 pipes 440.

Both ends of the first pipe 410 may communicate with different portions of the chamber 100. Specifically, both ends of the first pipe 410 may be connected to holes provided in the upper and lower portions of the chamber 100 for inflow or discharge of gas and samples.

One end of the second pipe 420 may be connected to one side of the first pipe 410 and the other end may be connected to the circulation unit 300. Specifically, the second pipe 420 may be a passage for communicating the circulation unit 300 with one end of the first pipe 410 connected to the upper portion of the chamber 100. Accordingly, the gas in the chamber 100 may flow along the arrow direction of the second pipe 420 by the pressure of the circulation unit 300, or an external gas such as air may be introduced to flow.

The third pipe 430 may have one end connected to the other side of the first pipe 410 and the other end connected to the circulation unit 300. Specifically, the third pipe 430 may be a passage for communicating the other end of the first pipe 410 connected to the lower portion of the chamber 100 and the circulation unit 300. Accordingly, the gas in the chamber 100 may flow along the arrow direction of the third pipe 430 due to the pressure of the circulation unit 300 or the gas inside the chamber 100 may be discharged to the outside.

One end of the fourth pipe 440 may be connected to one side of the first pipe 410 and the other end may be connected to the input unit 200. Specifically, the fourth pipe 440 may be a passage for communicating the input unit 200 with one end of the first pipe 410 connected to the upper portion of the chamber 100. In the interior of the chamber 100, a negative pressure is generated by the circulation unit 300, and accordingly, the sample accommodated in the input unit 200 is inside the chamber 100 through the fourth pipe 440 in the direction of the arrow. Can be supplied as

Referring to FIG. 2 again, gas and a sample flow into the chamber 100 through the second pipe 420 and the fourth pipe 440 and to the outside of the chamber 100 through the third pipe 430. It can flow.

The first pipe 410 is provided to connect the inlet hole and the outlet hole of the chamber 100 to induce a gas and a sample exiting the chamber to flow back into the chamber 100. Accordingly, since the gas in the chamber 100 can be continuously circulated, the sample is also not accumulated or concentrated in a specific portion, but continues to flow in the chamber 100 and can be distributed at a constant concentration in any portion. Therefore, the test object S accommodated in the chamber 100 can actively inhale samples and gases uniformly distributed through self-breathing. In addition, by inducing the circulation of the sample, it is possible to facilitate supply of a certain amount of sample and prevent consumption of a large amount of sample.

3 is a perspective view of a gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment showing a state in which the chamber 100 is mounted on the rotating part 500.

Referring to FIG. 3, the gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an exemplary embodiment may further include a rotating part 500.

The rotating unit 500 may rotate the chamber 100 to induce a change in the environment inside the chamber 100.

Specifically, the rotating part 500 may be composed of a frame 510, a driving member 520, a rod 530, and a fixing ring 540.

The frame 510 may support the chamber 100. The frame 510 may include a horizontal frame formed flat to contact the ground and a vertical frame vertically attached to the horizontal frame and extending in a longitudinal direction. The horizontal frame and the vertical frame may have a sufficient area and weight so that the chamber 100 does not shake even if motion such as rotation of the chamber 100 or the movement of the test object S inside the chamber 100 occurs.

The driving member 520 may generate rotational force. Specifically, the driving member 520 may be provided as a stepping motor and may be fixed to one side of the vertical frame. In this case, the driving member 520 may be provided to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vertical frame of the rotation axis of the driving member 520. In addition, the rotation range of the driving member 520 may be set to 180 degrees.

The rod 530 may be provided with one end rotatably fixed at one side of the vertical frame and connected to the rotation shaft of the driving member 520 to extend in the same direction as the axial direction of the rotation shaft. Accordingly, the rotational force generated by the driving member 520 may rotate the rod 530 connected thereto along the rotation axis. In addition, since the other end of the rod 530 is attached to the fixing ring 540, the fixing ring 540 may also be rotated according to the rotation of the rod 530.

The fixing ring 540 has a ring shape having a center penetrating it and extends slightly in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction to wrap around the circumference of the chamber 100.

The rod 530 may extend from the vertical frame and be vertically attached to one surface of the fixing ring 540. At this time, since the rod 530 is not rotatably connected to one surface of the fixing ring 540, the fixing ring 540 may rotate together with the rotation of the rod 530. In addition, since the fixed ring 540 is disposed in the center of the chamber 100 to fix the chamber 100, the rod 530 becomes a rotational center axis of the chamber 100, and as the fixing ring 540 rotates Chamber 100 can also rotate.

In conclusion, the chamber 100 fixed on the frame 510 by the fixing ring 540 may be rotated within a range of 180 degrees with the rod 530 as a rotational force by the rotational force of the driving member 520.

This structure enables the inhalation experiment of the test object S in various environments by injecting gas into the chamber 100 at various angles. In addition, it is easy to induce natural inhalation of the sample because it induces breathing of the specimen (S).

The gas circulation device 10 for an inhalation experiment according to an embodiment may further include a control unit (not shown).

The control unit may be connected to the circulation unit 300 and may control the flow rate of gas flowing into or out of the chamber 100.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller may control the gas inside the chamber 100 to pulse type flow by generating a constant repetitive load pattern to the circulation unit 300.

With the gas circulation at a constant rate, sediment may be generated in the chamber 100 and a factor that hinders the natural breathing of the test object S may occur.

However, the gas circulation device 10 for the inhalation experiment according to an exemplary embodiment changes the input signal for generating the repetitive load pattern from the control unit, such as the duty cycle showing different aspects in FIG. Since the gas can be configured with various flow rates such as wind speed, more natural inhalation experiments are possible. In addition, since the pulse-type gas flow can control the scattering of fine particles like a natural wind, it is easy to induce inhalation of fine particles through natural breathing for the specimen (S).

In conclusion, by using the gas circulation device 10 for the inhalation experiment according to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the uniform distribution of the sample and the continuous circulation of gas are possible, so the inhalation experiment for the specimen (S) Can increase the reliability of In addition, in evaluating the inhalation toxicity of fine particles, there is no need to build an expensive large-scale system and operation costs are not required, so it is possible to evaluate various environmentally hazardous substances even without a specialized large organization, and space and cost constraints Can be free from

As described above, in the embodiments of the present invention, specific matters such as specific components, etc., and limited embodiments and drawings have been described, but this is only provided to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is limited to the above embodiments. It is not, and a person of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention belongs can make various modifications and variations from this description. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order from the described method, and/or components such as the described structure, device, etc. are combined or combined in a form different from the described method, or in other components or equivalents. Even if substituted or substituted by, appropriate results can be achieved. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be defined, and all things that are equivalent or equivalent to the claims as well as the claims to be described later belong to the scope of the invention. .

Claims

A chamber in which the specimen is accommodated;

An input unit for introducing a sample into the chamber;

A circulation part to promote circulation of the gas inside the chamber; And

A circulation pipe connected to the chamber and the circulation unit to communicate with the chamber and the circulation unit;

Including,

The chamber is rotated to induce environmental changes in the chamber and to induce natural inhalation of the experimental animal.
The method of claim 1,

Further comprising a rotating part for rotating the chamber,

The rotating part

A frame supporting the chamber;

A driving member provided on one side of the frame to generate rotational force; And

A rod extending from a rotation shaft of the driving member and transmitting a rotational force of the driving member to the chamber;

Including,

A gas circulation device for a suction experiment for rotating the chamber with the rod as a rotation center by the rotational force of the driving member.
The method of claim 2,

The rotating part further includes a fixing ring surrounding the circumference of the chamber,

The rod is vertically connected to one surface of the fixing ring,

The fixing ring is disposed in the center of the chamber so that the chamber rotates as the fixing ring rotates.
The method of claim 1,

The chamber is formed in a circular capsule shape so that the gas flowing into the chamber is uniformly distributed, a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment.
The method of claim 1,

Further comprising a control unit for controlling the air flow rate,

The control unit is connected to the circulation unit to control the flow of air in a pulse type, a gas circulation device for an inhalation experiment.
The method of claim 1,

The circulation pipe is

A first pipe having both ends communicating with other portions of the chamber;

A second pipe having one end connected to one side of the first pipe and the other end connected to the circulation part; And

A third pipe having one end connected to the other side of the first pipe and the other end connected to the circulation part;

Including,

A gas circulation device for a suction experiment to continuously circulate the gas in the chamber through the first pipe.
The method of claim 6,

The circulation pipe further includes a fourth pipe whose one end is connected to one side of the first pipe,

The other end of the fourth pipe is connected to the inlet to deliver a sample into the chamber, a gas circulation device for a suction experiment.