Mobile phase infusion system and mobile phase infusion method

Abstract

The present application provides a mobile phase infusion system and a mobile phase infusion method. The mobile phase infusion system includes: a solvent container; an additional solvent container; an infusion pump; a flow path structure having a connection flow path and a suction flow path, the connection flow path having one end and the other end, the one end being inserted into the solvent container from above, the other end being inserted into the additional solvent container from above, the suction flow path being fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path; and a flow path opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the suction flow path of the flow path structure. When the one end and the other end of the connection flow path of the flow path structure are immersed in the solvent, and the connection flow path is in a state of being filled with the solvent, the solvent flows in the connection flow path due to the relationship between the liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container and the liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container, thereby supplying the solvent from the additional solvent container to the solvent container in response to the decrease of the solvent in the solvent container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a mobile phase infusion system and a mobile phase infusion method. BACKGROUND

[0002] A chromatographic analysis system for performing liquid chromatography analysis or supercritical fluid chromatography analysis is a system in which a sample is injected into a mobile phase flowing toward a separation column, the sample is guided to the separation column to separate a plurality of components in the sample in time, and each component eluted from the separation column in order is detected by a detector. In such a chromatographic analysis system, one or more solvents are extracted from each solvent container by an infusion pump and delivered as a mobile phase (see Patent Literature 1).

[0003] [Related Art Documents]

[0004] [Patent Literature]

[0005] [Patent Literature 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 183654 SUMMARY

[0006] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] In a case where a plurality of samples are continuously analyzed using a chromatographic analysis system, the mobile phase is required to be continuously flowed for a long time, and thus a large amount of solvent is required. On the other hand, the amount of solvent that can be continuously infused depends on the capacity of the solvent container that accommodates the solvent, and the solvent must be replenished into the solvent container when the solvent in the solvent container is depleted. The replenishment work of the solvent must be performed by the analyst by manual work, but the solvent container is also often provided at a high position, and there is a risk that the solvent will splash to the analyst when the solvent is replenished. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to easily replenish the solvent to the solvent container at an appropriate timing.

[0008] The present application has been made in view of the above-described problems, and aims to enable the replenishment of the solvent into the solvent container to be easily performed at an appropriate timing.

[0009] [Technical Means to Solve the Problems]

[0010] The mobile phase infusion system of the present application includes: a solvent container that internally houses a solvent that is a mobile phase; an additional solvent container that is provided independently of the solvent container and internally houses the solvent; a solvent supply flow path that is fluidly connected to the solvent container; an infusion pump for drawing and delivering the solvent from the solvent container through the solvent supply flow path; a flow path structure body that has a connection flow path and a suction flow path, the connection flow path has one end that is inserted into the solvent container from above and another end that is inserted into the additional solvent container from above, the suction flow path is fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path; and a flow path opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the suction flow path of the flow path structure body, the flow path structure body is configured to maintain a state in which the connection flow path is filled with the solvent by closing the suction flow path using the flow path opening and closing mechanism when the connection flow path is filled with the solvent, and is configured to supply the solvent from the additional solvent container to the solvent container in correspondence with a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container due to the solvent flowing in the connection flow path resulting from a relationship between a liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container and a liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container when the one end and the other end of the connection flow path of the flow path structure body are both immersed in the solvent and the connection flow path is filled with the solvent.

[0011] The mobile phase infusion method of the present invention extracts and delivers the solvent from a solvent container that internally houses the solvent by an infusion pump, and includes: a container preparation step of preparing an additional solvent container that houses the solvent independently of the solvent container; a flow path structure preparation step of preparing a flow path structure that has a connection flow path having one end and another end, and a suction flow path that is fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path; a flow path structure arrangement step of arranging the flow path structure with the one end of the connection flow path inserted into the solvent container from above and the other end of the connection flow path inserted into the additional solvent container from above; a solvent filling step of causing a fluid suction force to act on both the one end and the other end of the connection flow path by the suction flow path to simultaneously suction the solvent from the one end and the other end of the connection flow path, thereby setting the connection flow path to be filled with the solvent; a filled state fixing step of locking the suction flow path after the solvent filling step, thereby fixing the connection flow path to be filled with the solvent; and a mobile phase infusion step of delivering the solvent in the solvent container as a mobile phase by the infusion pump after the filled state fixing step, and during execution of the mobile phase infusion step, supplying the solvent from the additional solvent container to the solvent container through the connection flow path of the flow path structure in correspondence with a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container.

[0012] That is, in the mobile phase infusion system and the mobile phase infusion method of the present invention, the flow path structure that is configured to set the connection flow path connecting the solvent container and the additional solvent container to be filled with the solvent is used, and by the principle of a siphon, when the solvent in the solvent container decreases, the solvent of the additional solvent container is supplied to the solvent container through the connection flow path.

[0013] [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] In the mobile phase infusion system of the present invention, the flow path structure that is configured to set the connection flow path connecting the solvent container and the additional solvent container to be filled with the solvent is used, and by the principle of a siphon, when the solvent in the solvent container decreases, the solvent of the additional solvent container is supplied to the solvent container through the connection flow path, and thus replenishment of the solvent into the solvent container can be easily performed at an appropriate timing.

[0015] In the mobile phase infusion method of the present application, the flow path structure is configured so that the connecting flow path connecting the solvent container and the additional solvent container is filled with the solvent, and when the solvent in the solvent container decreases, the solvent in the additional solvent container is supplied to the solvent container through the connecting flow path by the principle of a siphon, so that the replenishment of the solvent into the solvent container can be easily performed at the appropriate timing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a mobile phase infusion system incorporated into a liquid chromatography analysis system.

[0017] Figure 2 is an example of a tee joint that can be used as the flow path structure of the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow path structure when the connecting flow path is filled with the solvent in the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow path structure when the solvent in the solvent container is transported.

[0020] Figure 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an infusion method using the mobile phase infusion system of the embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of the infusion system.

[0022] Figure 7 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the infusion system.

[0023] [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 2: Mobile phase infusion system

[0025] 4: Syringe

[0026] 6: Separation column

[0027] 8: Detector

[0028] 10: Infusion pump

[0029] 12: Solvent container

[0030] 14, 28: Additional solvent container

[0031] 16, 30: Flow path structure

[0032] 18, 32: Connecting flow path

[0033] 20, 34: suction flow path

[0034] 22, 24, 40: switching valve

[0035] 26: control section DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a mobile phase infusion system and a mobile phase infusion method of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] An embodiment of a mobile phase infusion system to be incorporated into a liquid chromatography analysis system is shown in Figure 1 .

[0038] The liquid chromatography analysis system includes a mobile phase infusion system 2, an injector 4, a separation column 6, and a detector 8. The mobile phase infusion system 2 is a system that delivers a mobile phase toward the separation column 6. The injector 4 injects a sample into the mobile phase flowing toward the separation column 6. The separation column 6 is used to separate a plurality of components contained in the sample injected into the mobile phase by the injector 4 in time from each other. The detector 8 is fluidly connected to an outlet of the separation column 6, and detects each component eluted from the separation column 6.

[0039] The mobile phase infusion system 2 includes an infusion pump 10, a solvent container 12, an additional solvent container 14, a flow path structure 16, a switching valve 22, and a control section 26. The infusion pump 10 is used to draw the solvent in the solvent container 12 through a solvent supply flow path 24, and deliver it as a mobile phase toward the separation column 6. The additional solvent container 14 contains the same solvent as the solvent container 12. In the present embodiment, the additional solvent container 14 is disposed at a higher position than the solvent container 12. This is a structure intended to conveniently supply all the solvent in the additional solvent container 14 to the solvent container 12 by the principle of a siphon.

[0040] The flow path structure 16 has a connection flow path 18 and a suction flow path 20. The connection flow path 18 has one end inserted from above into the solvent container 12 to be immersed in the solvent in the solvent container 12, and the other end inserted from above into the additional solvent container 14 to reach the bottom surface or the vicinity of the bottom surface in the additional solvent container 14. The one end of the connection flow path 18 is disposed at a lower height than the other end. The suction flow path 20 of the flow path structure 16 is fluidly connected to the connection flow path 18 at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path 18. The front end of the suction flow path 20 is connected to one port of the switching valve 22.

[0041] The switching valve 22 is configured to be switchable between a first state (a state Figure 1 ) and a second state (a state Figure 3The sample supply flow path 24 can be fluidly connected to the infusion pump 10 while the suction flow path 20 is closed. The second state is that the suction flow path 20 is fluidly connected to the infusion pump 10 while the fluid connection between the sample supply flow path 24 and the infusion pump 10 is blocked. The switching valve 22 functions as a flow path opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the suction flow path 20.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, the flow path structure 16 can be implemented by a three-way pipe consisting of three pipes 18a, 18b, and 20 extending in three directions, connected to each other at one point. In this case, the flow path 18 is connected by two pipes 18a and 18b. Furthermore, the flow path structure 16 is not limited to... Figure 2 The component shown can be any component as long as it connects the flow path 18 and the suction flow path 20.

[0043] The control unit 26 is incorporated as part of the mobile phase delivery system 2. It is a control device for managing the overall operation of the liquid chromatography analysis system, controlling not only the operation of the delivery pump 10 and the switching valve 22 of the mobile phase delivery system 2, but also the operation of the syringe 4. The control unit 26 is implemented by a computer device equipped with dedicated control software.

[0044] The mobile phase delivery system 2 has an automatic solvent replenishment function as described below: when the solvent in the solvent container 12 decreases due to the delivery of the mobile phase by the delivery pump 10, solvent from the additional solvent container 14 is automatically supplied to the solvent container 12 via a siphon. For the automatic solvent replenishment function to function, the connecting flow path 18 of the flow path structure 16 must be pre-filled with solvent before the delivery of the mobile phase by the delivery pump 10 begins.

[0045] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, switching valve 22 is switched to the second state, the suction flow path 20 is connected to the infusion pump 10 and the infusion pump 10 is driven. Thus, the fluid suction force acts simultaneously on one end and the other end of the connecting flow path 18 through the suction flow path 20, filling the connecting flow path 18 with solvent. At this time, the flow path structure of the syringe 4 is switched so that the flow path fluid on the outlet side of the infusion pump 10 is connected to the discharge tube, thereby enabling the solvent to fill the connecting flow path 18 in a short time. After the connecting flow path 18 is filled with solvent, switching valve 22 is switched to the first state (…). Figure 4 The state of the connection flow path 18 is closed, thereby maintaining the state in which the connection flow path 18 is filled with solvent.

[0046] When the connection flow path 18 becomes filled with solvent, the principle of a siphon is established between the solvent container 12 and the additional solvent container 14 that are fluidly connected by the connection flow path 18. By the principle of a siphon, solvent flows from the container in which the liquid level of the solvent is higher to the container in which the liquid level of the solvent is lower, due to the difference between the gravitational force of the solvent in the connection flow path 18 that tends to fall toward the liquid level in the solvent container 12 and the gravitational force of the solvent in the connection flow path 18 that tends to fall toward the liquid level in the additional solvent container 14, and the difference between the atmospheric pressure acting on the liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container 12 and the atmospheric pressure acting on the liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container 14. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the delivery of the mobile phase by the liquid delivery pump 10 is started in a state in which the connection flow path 18 is filled with solvent, when the solvent in the solvent container 12 decreases and the liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container 12 becomes lower than the liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container 14, solvent is supplied from the additional solvent container 14 to the solvent container 12 through the connection flow path 18. Figure 4

[0047] The control section 26 can be configured to switch the switching valve 22 to the second state and drive the liquid delivery pump 10 at a prescribed timing before the delivery of the mobile phase by the liquid delivery pump 10 is started, thereby filling the connection flow path 18 with solvent, and then switch the switching valve 22 to the first state and start the delivery of the mobile phase so that the automatic replenishment function becomes active automatically.

[0048] In addition, the structure of the embodiment is premised on the use of the liquid delivery pump 10 for delivering the mobile phase to fill the connection flow path 18 with solvent, but the present application is not limited to this. A fluid suction member such as a syringe pump can be provided independently of the liquid delivery pump 10, the fluid suction member can be fluidly connected to the suction flow path 20, and at a timing before the delivery of the mobile phase is started, the fluid suction member can be used to introduce solvent into the connection flow path 18. At this time, a plug (flow path opening and closing mechanism) for blocking the suction flow path 20 can be provided in the suction flow path 20. Furthermore, by not operating the fluid suction member in a state in which the connection flow path 18 is filled with solvent, the suction flow path 20 can be set to a substantially blocked state. At this time, the fluid suction member itself functions as the flow path opening and closing mechanism.

[0049] ​The relationship between the heights of the solvent container 12 and the additional solvent container 14, and the relationship between the heights of the one end and the other end of the connection flow path 18 of the flow path structure 16 in the embodiment described above are merely examples. As described above, the movement of the solvent that is achieved by the principle of the siphon is caused by the difference between the gravity of the solvent in the connection flow path 18 that is intended to fall toward the liquid surface in the solvent container 12 and the gravity of the solvent in the connection flow path 18 that is intended to fall toward the liquid surface in the additional solvent container 14, and the difference between the atmospheric pressure acting on the solvent liquid surface in the solvent container 12 and the atmospheric pressure acting on the solvent liquid surface in the additional solvent container 14, and thus the relationship between the heights of the solvent container 12 and the additional solvent container 14, and the relationship between the heights of the one end and the other end of the connection flow path 18 of the flow path structure 16 can be any relationship as long as the principle of the siphon functions.

[0050] with Figure 1 together Figure 5 The flow chart is used to explain an example of a mobile phase infusion method using the mobile phase infusion system 2.

[0051] First, the additional solvent container 14 that is independent of the solvent container 12 is prepared (step 101), and then the flow path structure 16 having the connection flow path 18 and the suction flow path 20 is prepared (step 102). Then, one end of the connection flow path 18 of the flow path structure 16 is inserted into the solvent container 12 from above, and the other end of the connection flow path 18 is inserted into the additional solvent container 14 from above, whereby the inside of the solvent container 12 and the inside of the additional solvent container 14 are fluidly connected by the connection flow path 18 (step 103).

[0052] Next, the fluid suction force is simultaneously applied to the one end and the other end of the connection flow path 18 from the suction flow path 20 side of the flow path structure 16, whereby the solvent is introduced into the connection flow path 18, and the connection flow path 18 is filled with the solvent (step 104). Subsequently, the suction flow path 20 is closed, and the delivery of the mobile phase by the infusion pump 10 is started (step 105). When the delivery of the mobile phase by the infusion pump 10 is started, the solvent in the solvent container 12 decreases, and the liquid surface height of the solvent in the solvent container 12 decreases (step 106). Each time the liquid surface height of the solvent in the solvent container 12 decreases, the solvent is supplied from the additional solvent container 14 to the solvent container 12 through the connection flow path 18 by the principle of the siphon due to the relationship between the liquid surface height of the solvent in the solvent container 12 and the liquid surface height of the solvent in the additional solvent container 14 (step 107).

[0053] Moreover, as Figure 6As shown, a further make-up solvent container 28 is provided for supplying solvent to the make-up solvent container 14. A structure equivalent to the flow path structure 16 can be used, i.e., a flow path structure 30 having a connection flow path 32 and a suction flow path 34 is used to automatically perform solvent supply from the make-up solvent container 28 toward the make-up solvent container 14 by the principle of a siphon. One end of the connection flow path 32 of the flow path structure 30 is inserted from above into the make-up solvent container 14, and the other end is inserted from above into the make-up solvent container 28.

[0054] Figure 6 In the embodiment, the infusion pump 10 is selectively connected to any one of the solvent supply flow path 24, the suction flow path 20, and the suction flow path 34 by the switching valve 22 and the switching valve 40, so that the suction flow path 20 and the suction flow path 34 can be filled with solvent by the infusion pump 10. In addition, as shown, the suction flow path 34 of the flow path structure 30 can be merged with the suction flow path 20, and the suction flow path 20 and the suction flow path 34 can be simultaneously fluidly connected to the infusion pump 10 via the switching valve 22. With this structure, solvent can be simultaneously introduced into the suction flow path 20 and the suction flow path 34 by the infusion pump 10. Figure 7

[0055] The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the implementation of the mobile phase infusion system and the mobile phase infusion method of the present application. The implementation of the mobile phase infusion system and the mobile phase infusion method of the present application is as follows.

[0056] ​In one embodiment of the mobile phase infusion system of the present application, there are provided: a solvent container that internally houses a solvent that is a mobile phase; an additional solvent container that is separate from the solvent container and internally houses the solvent; a solvent supply flow path that is fluidly connected to the solvent container; a pump for drawing the solvent from the solvent container through the solvent supply flow path and delivering the solvent; a flow path structure that has a connection flow path having one end that is inserted into the solvent container from above and another end that is inserted into the additional solvent container from above, and a suction flow path that is fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path; and a flow path opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the suction flow path of the flow path structure, the flow path structure being configured to maintain a state in which the connection flow path is filled with the solvent by closing the suction flow path using the flow path opening and closing mechanism when the connection flow path is filled with the solvent, and being configured to supply the solvent from the additional solvent container to the solvent container in response to a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container due to a flow of the solvent in the connection flow path resulting from a relationship between a liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container and a liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container when the one end and the other end of the connection flow path of the flow path structure are immersed in the solvent and the connection flow path is in a state in which it is filled with the solvent.

[0057] In a first aspect of the one embodiment of the mobile phase infusion system of the present application, the one end of the connection flow path is disposed at the same height as the other end or at a position lower than the other end.

[0058] In the first aspect, the additional solvent container can be disposed at the same height as the solvent container or at a position higher than the solvent container, and the other end of the connection flow path can reach a bottom surface of the additional solvent container. With this configuration, substantially all of the solvent in the additional solvent container can be supplied to the solvent container. In addition, the phrase "the other end of the connection flow path reaches the bottom surface of the additional solvent container" does not require that the other end of the connection flow path completely reach the bottom surface of the additional solvent container, but only that the other end of the connection flow path "substantially" reach the bottom surface of the additional solvent container so that substantially all of the solvent in the additional solvent container can be supplied to the solvent container. That is, "reaching the bottom surface" includes "reaching a vicinity of the bottom surface".

[0059] In the second aspect of the one embodiment of the mobile phase infusion system of the present application, the flow path opening / closing mechanism is configured to selectively switch between a first state in which the solvent supply flow path is fluidly connected to the infusion pump while the aspiration flow path is blocked, and a second state in which the aspiration flow path is fluidly connected to the infusion pump while fluid connection between the solvent supply flow path and the infusion pump is blocked, and is configured to set the flow path opening / closing mechanism to the second state and operate the infusion pump in a state in which the one end and the other end of the connection flow path are immersed in the solvent, whereby the connection flow path is filled with the solvent. According to this aspect, the connection flow path can be filled with the solvent by the infusion pump for delivering the mobile phase, and thus a dedicated pump mechanism for filling the connection flow path with the solvent is not required. The second aspect can be combined with the first aspect.

[0060] In the second aspect, the control unit that controls the operation of the flow path opening / closing mechanism and the infusion pump can be configured to set the flow path opening / closing mechanism to the second state and operate the infusion pump before starting infusion of the solvent in the solvent container, whereby the connection flow path is filled with the solvent, and then switch the flow path opening / closing mechanism to the first state and start infusion of the solvent in the solvent container. Thus, filling of the connection flow path with the solvent from the solvent and infusion of the mobile phase can be automated.

[0061] In the third aspect of the one embodiment of the mobile phase infusion system of the present application, the flow path structure is a three-way pipe in which pipes extending in three directions are connected at one site. The third aspect can be combined with the first aspect, the second aspect, and / or the third aspect.

[0062] An embodiment of the mobile phase infusion method of the present invention extracts and delivers a solvent from a solvent container that internally houses the solvent by an infusion pump, the mobile phase infusion method including: a container preparation step of preparing an additional solvent container that houses the solvent independently of the solvent container; a flow path structure preparation step of preparing a flow path structure having a connection flow path having one end and another end and a suction flow path fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the one end and the other end of the connection flow path; a flow path structure arrangement step of arranging the flow path structure with the one end of the connection flow path inserted into the solvent container from above and the other end of the connection flow path inserted into the additional solvent container from above; a solvent filling step of causing a fluid suction force to act on both the one end and the other end of the connection flow path by the suction flow path to simultaneously suction the solvent from the one end and the other end of the connection flow path, thereby setting the connection flow path to be filled with the solvent; a filled state fixing step of locking the suction flow path after the solvent filling step, thereby fixing the connection flow path to be filled with the solvent; and a mobile phase infusion step of delivering the solvent in the solvent container as a mobile phase by the infusion pump after the filled state fixing step, the solvent being supplied from the additional solvent container to the solvent container through the connection flow path of the flow path structure corresponding to a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container during execution of the mobile phase infusion step.

[0063] In a specific form of the embodiment of the mobile phase infusion method of the present invention, the one end of the connection flow path is arranged at the same height as the other end or at a position lower than the other end.

[0064] In the specific form, the additional solvent container can be arranged at the same height as the solvent container or at a position higher than the solvent container, with the other end of the connection flow path reaching a bottom surface in the additional solvent container. With this structure, substantially all of the solvent in the additional solvent container can be supplied to the solvent container.

Claims

1. A mobile phase infusion system, characterized by, including: a solvent container that internally houses a solvent as a mobile phase; an additional solvent container that is provided separately from the solvent container and internally houses the solvent; a solvent supply flow path that is fluidly connected to the solvent container; a syringe pump that draws and delivers the solvent from the solvent container through the solvent supply flow path; a flow path structure that has a connection flow path that is fluidly connected between the solvent container and the additional solvent container; and a flow path opening and closing mechanism that switches a state of fluid connection between the flow path structure and the syringe pump, the flow path structure includes a suction flow path that connects the connection flow path and the flow path opening and closing mechanism, the connection flow path has a first one end that is inserted into the solvent container from above and a first other end that is inserted into the additional solvent container from above, the suction flow path has a second one end that is fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the first one end and the first other end and a second other end that is connected to the flow path opening and closing mechanism, the flow path structure is configured to, when the connection flow path is filled with the solvent, block the suction flow path by the flow path opening and closing mechanism, thereby maintaining a state in which the connection flow path is filled with the solvent, and is configured so that, when the first one end and the first other end of the connection flow path of the flow path structure are both immersed in the solvent and the connection flow path is in a state of being filled with the solvent, the solvent flows in the connection flow path due to a relationship between a liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container and a liquid level of the solvent in the additional solvent container, thereby supplying the solvent from the additional solvent container to the solvent container in correspondence with a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container.

2. The mobile phase transfusion system according to claim 1, wherein the first one end of the connection flow path is disposed at the same height as or a lower position than the first other end.

3. The mobile phase transfusion system according to claim 2, wherein the additional solvent container is disposed at the same height as or a higher position than the solvent container, and the first other end of the connection flow path reaches a bottom surface in the additional solvent container.

4. The mobile phase transfusion system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flow path opening and closing mechanism is configured to selectively switch to a first state in which the suction flow path is blocked while the solvent supply flow path is fluidly connected to the syringe pump and a second state in which the suction flow path is fluidly connected to the syringe pump while fluid connection between the solvent supply flow path and the syringe pump is blocked, and is configured so that, in a state in which the first one end and the first other end of the connection flow path are both immersed in the solvent, the flow path opening and closing mechanism is set to the second state and the syringe pump is operated, whereby the connection flow path becomes a state in which it is filled with the solvent.

5. The mobile phase infusion system of claim 4, wherein, including: a control unit that controls operations of the flow path opening and closing mechanism and the infusion pump, the control unit is configured to, before starting infusion of the solvent in the solvent container by the infusion pump, set the flow path opening and closing mechanism to the second state to operate the infusion pump, thereby setting the connection flow path to a state filled with the solvent, and then switch the flow path opening and closing mechanism to the first state to start infusion of the solvent in the solvent container.

6. The mobile phase infusion system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flow path structure is a tee pipe in which pipes extending in three directions are joined at one site.

7. A mobile phase infusion method of extracting and delivering a solvent from a solvent container that internally contains the solvent by an infusion pump, characterized by, The mobile phase infusion method includes: a container preparation step of preparing an additional solvent container that contains the solvent independently of the solvent container; a flow path structure preparation step of preparing a flow path structure that has a connection flow path fluidly connecting the solvent container and the additional solvent container and a suction flow path connecting the connection flow path and a flow path opening and closing mechanism that switches a state of fluid connection between the flow path structure and the infusion pump, the connection flow path having a first one end and a first other end, and the suction flow path having a second one end and a second other end; a flow path structure arrangement step of arranging the flow path structure so that the first one end of the connection flow path is inserted into the solvent container from above, the first other end of the connection flow path is inserted into the additional solvent container from above, the second one end of the suction flow path is fluidly connected to the connection flow path at a position between the first one end and the first other end, and the second other end of the suction flow path is connected to the flow path opening and closing mechanism; a solvent filling step of causing a fluid suction force to act on both the first one end and the first other end of the connection flow path through the suction flow path to simultaneously suction the solvent from the first one end and the first other end of the connection flow path, thereby setting the connection flow path to a state filled with the solvent; a filled state fixing step of locking the suction flow path after the solvent filling step, thereby fixing the connection flow path to the state filled with the solvent; and a mobile phase infusion step of, after the filled state fixing step, infusing the solvent in the solvent container as a mobile phase by the infusion pump, during execution of the mobile phase infusion step, the solvent is supplied from the additional solvent container to the solvent container through the connection flow path of the flow path structure in correspondence with a decrease in the solvent in the solvent container.

8. The mobile phase infusion method according to claim 7, wherein the first one end of the connection flow path is arranged at the same height as or a lower position than the first other end.

9. The mobile phase delivery method according to claim 8, wherein the additional solvent container is arranged at the same height as the solvent container or at a position higher than the solvent container, with the first other end of the connection flow path reaching the bottom surface inside the additional solvent container.

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