Multi-specification magnetic auxiliary low-temperature rotary blending device and use method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to biomedical equipment, in particular to a multi-specification magnetic auxiliary low-temperature rotary uniform mixing device and a using method thereof.The multi-specification magnetic auxiliary low-temperature rotary uniform mixing device comprises a box body, a bin door is arranged on the front side of the box body, a refrigerating system is arranged in the box body, and a hollow shaft driven by a first driving mechanism to rotate is transversely arranged in the box body; a radial shaft driven by a second driving mechanism to rotate is arranged in the middle of the hollow shaft in a penetrating manner, modular test tube racks are detachably mounted at two ends of the radial shaft, and a magnetic auxiliary uniform mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is axially arranged in the hollow shaft. The device is helpful for solving the problems of inconvenient external connection of a power supply, inflexible specification adaptation and low mixing efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to biomedical equipment, and in particular to a multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotation mixing device and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In biomedical experiments, to achieve sufficient binding of proteins, antibodies, antigens, magnetic beads, or agarose beads, it is often necessary to gently rotate and mix the sample tubes at 4°C for a long time. Currently, most laboratories use a power-driven rotary mixer in conjunction with a refrigerator or cold room for this operation. However, the following problems exist: 1. External power cord problem: Traditional rotary mixers need to be connected to an external power source and cannot be placed directly in a closed refrigerator, which is inconvenient to use and poses a safety hazard; 2. Inflexible specification adaptation: Most rotators on the market only support one fixed test tube specification, making it difficult to meet the mixing needs of test tubes of multiple specifications; 3. Single mixing method: Most existing rotators only support one rotation direction, resulting in limited mixing effect; 4. Low mixing efficiency: Traditional mechanical rotation has low mixing efficiency for magnetic bead samples, and it takes a long time to achieve full combination.

[0003] Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a new mixing device that can adapt to test tubes of various sizes and ensure stable operation in low-temperature environments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device and a method of using the same, which helps to solve the problems of inconvenient external power supply, inflexible specification adaptation, and low mixing efficiency.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is: a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device, comprising a box with a door on the front side and a built-in refrigeration system, a hollow shaft driven to rotate by a first drive mechanism is horizontally arranged in the box, a radial shaft driven to rotate by a second drive mechanism is passed through the middle of the hollow shaft, modular test tube racks are detachably installed at both ends of the radial shaft, and a magnetically assisted mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is axially arranged in the hollow shaft.

[0006] Furthermore, the first driving mechanism includes a first motor installed on the outer wall of one side of the box body, the two ends of the hollow shaft respectively pass through the box body and are rotatably connected to the box body, and the output shaft of the first motor is connected to one end of the hollow shaft; the box body is provided with a sealing structure that cooperates with the hollow shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, the second driving mechanism includes a second motor axially installed in the middle of the inner cavity of the hollow shaft and eccentrically arranged, the output end of the second motor is installed with a driving bevel gear, the radial shaft radially passes through the hollow shaft and is rotatably connected to the hollow shaft, and the section of the radial shaft located in the hollow shaft is installed with a driven bevel gear that cooperates with the driving bevel gear.

[0008] Furthermore, the other end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body is provided with two first conductive rings and second conductive rings respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is equipped with first brushes and second brushes in contact with the first conductive rings and the second conductive rings.

[0009] Furthermore, the two ends of the radial shaft outside the hollow shaft are provided with connecting sleeves, the connecting sleeves are provided with internal threads, and the modular test tube rack is provided with screw connecting parts that match the connecting sleeves.

[0010] Furthermore, the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil, which is axially arranged in the hollow shaft and close to one side wall of the hollow shaft. The other end of the hollow rotating shaft passing through the box body is provided with a third conductive ring and a fourth conductive ring. One end of the spiral coil is connected to the third conductive ring, and the other end of the spiral coil is provided with a straight wire and connected to the fourth conductive ring. It is also provided with a third brush and a fourth brush in contact with the third conductive ring and the fourth conductive ring, and is also provided with a magnetic field controller.

[0011] Furthermore, an insulating material layer is provided on the end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body for separating the first conductive ring, the second conductive ring, the third conductive ring, the fourth conductive ring and the hollow shaft.

[0012] Furthermore, the modular test tube rack includes a flat rack having various specifications, one end of the flat rack is provided with a screw connection portion that cooperates with the radial axis, and the flat rack is evenly distributed with a plurality of fixing hole structures for installing test tubes; or the surface of the flat rack is provided with an anti-slip structural layer.

[0013] Furthermore, the fixing hole structure includes a through hole provided on the flat rack, and a rubber ring is provided on the inner circle of the through hole; or the fixing hole structure includes a through hole provided on the flat rack, and a C-shaped plastic buckle is provided in the through hole.

[0014] A method for using a multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device includes the following steps: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tube and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial axis; (2) Insert the test tube into the modular test tube rack and mix the sample: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve left-right mixing of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve upside-down mixing of the test tube; the first and second drive mechanisms are activated at the same time to achieve universal mixing of the test tube; or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism is activated, while the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are not activated; Or compound mixing mode: start the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism and the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism at the same time.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 1. This device helps solve the inconvenience of external power supply: the integrated design eliminates the need for external power cords inside the box, allowing test tubes to be placed directly into the box to form a closed environment for use.

[0016] 2. This device helps improve mixing efficiency: The magnetic-assisted mixing mechanism acts on the magnetic beads through an alternating magnetic field, and cooperates with mechanical rotation to achieve three-dimensional mixing, which improves mixing efficiency by 20-50% compared with traditional methods.

[0017] 3. The device is flexible in specifications: the modular test tube rack design allows for quick replacement of flat racks of different specifications to meet a variety of experimental needs.

[0018] 4. The device has various mixing modes: it supports left-right rotation, upside-down rotation, universal rotation, and magnetic field assistance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a front view of the mixing device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the box of the present invention (the magnetic field controller is hidden); Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the second driving mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the copper ring and the end of the hollow shaft of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the copper ring and the wire brush of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a modular test tube rack of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another modular test tube rack of the present invention; Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the test tube fixing holes in the modular test tube rack of the present invention Figure 1 ; Figure 10Schematic diagram of the test tube fixing holes in the modular test tube rack of the present invention Figure 2 ; Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a third modular test tube rack of the present invention; In the figure: 10 - box body 11 - compartment door 12 - hinge 13 - handle 14 - magnetic strip 20 - hollow shaft 21 - first conductive ring 22 - second conductive ring 23 - first brush 24 - second brush 25 - third conductive ring 26 - fourth conductive ring 27 - third brush 28 - fourth brush 29 - insulating material layer 30 - radial shaft 31 - connecting sleeve 32 - internal thread 40 - modular test tube rack 41 - flat rack 42 - screw connecting part 43 - through hole 44 - rubber ring 45 - through hole 46 - C-shaped plastic buckle 47 - anti-slip bump 51 - first motor 52 - second motor 53 - driving bevel gear 54 - driven bevel gear 60 - spiral coil 61 - straight wire 62 - magnetic field controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, embodiments are given below with reference to the accompanying drawings for detailed description, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0021] refer to Figures 1 to 11 A multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device comprises a housing 10 with a door 11 on the front and a built-in refrigeration system. A hollow shaft 20, driven for rotation by a first drive mechanism, is disposed transversely in the center of the housing's interior. A radial shaft 30, driven for rotation by a second drive mechanism, is vertically threaded through the hollow shaft's center. Modular test tube racks 40 are removably mounted at both ends of the radial shaft. A magnetically assisted mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is axially disposed within the hollow shaft. The first and second drive mechanisms thereby enable test tubes (centrifuge tubes) to rotate. The magnetically assisted mixing mechanism generates a magnetic field within the housing, which, in conjunction with the magnetic beads within the test tubes, achieves mixing.

[0022] In this embodiment, one side of the door is connected to the box body via a hinge 12, a handle 13 is provided on the other side of the door, a refrigerator door sealing strip is provided on the inner wall of the door, and a magnetic strip 14 that cooperates with the door is provided on the front edge of the box body.

[0023] In this embodiment, the refrigeration system has a temperature control device, which can be an existing semiconductor refrigeration system or an air cooling system, so as to maintain a constant temperature of 4°C inside the box.

[0024] In this embodiment, the first drive mechanism comprises a first motor 51 mounted on the outer wall of one side of the housing. The two ends of the hollow shaft extend through the housing and are rotatably connected to the housing. The housing is provided with a sealing structure that cooperates with the hollow shaft to prevent cold air leakage and moisture intrusion. The output shaft of the first motor is connected to one end of the hollow shaft via a coupling or other components to drive the hollow shaft's rotation, thereby achieving mixing by turning the test tubes upside down.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second drive mechanism includes a second motor 52 axially mounted in the center of the hollow shaft's inner cavity and eccentrically positioned (toward a sidewall of the hollow shaft). A driving bevel gear 53 is mounted on the output end of the second motor. A radial shaft radially passes through the hollow shaft and is rotationally connected to the hollow shaft. A driven bevel gear 54, which mates with the driving bevel gear, is mounted on the radial shaft's section within the hollow shaft. The second motor drives the radial shaft to rotate, thereby driving the modular test tube rack to mix the test tubes in the left-right direction. A sealing structure is also provided between the radial shaft and the hollow shaft to prevent cold air leakage and moisture intrusion.

[0026] In this embodiment, the other end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body is provided with two first conductive rings 21 and second conductive rings 22 respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is also provided with first brushes 23 and second brushes 24 in contact with the first conductive rings and the second conductive rings, thereby connecting to an external power supply through the first brushes and the second brushes.

[0027] In this embodiment, the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil 60, which is axially arranged within the hollow shaft, close to one side wall of the hollow shaft, and staggered above the installation position of the second motor. A third conductive ring 25 and a fourth conductive ring 26 are provided at the other end of the hollow shaft, where it extends beyond the housing. One end of the spiral coil is connected to the third conductive ring, and the other end of the spiral coil is provided with a straight wire 61, which is also connected to the fourth conductive ring. The spiral coil is also provided with a third brush 27 and a fourth brush 28, which contact the third and fourth conductive rings. The third and fourth brushes are connected to an external power source. The magnetically assisted mixing mechanism is equipped with a magnetic field controller 62, which controls the frequency and current intensity of the AC power supply, thereby controlling changes in the magnetic field and magnetic force.

[0028] In this embodiment, an insulating material layer 29 is provided on the end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body to separate the first conductive ring, the second conductive ring, the third conductive ring, the fourth conductive ring and the hollow shaft. The first to fourth conductive rings are all copper rings.

[0029] In this embodiment, the hollow shaft can be a hollow metal tube or an insulating material, such as a carbon fiber tube. The radial shaft can also be a plastic shaft. The first and second motors are 12V or 24V DC reduction motors, such as the Vantel 60GA775 or the Zhengke ZGB37RG.

[0030] In this embodiment, the modular test tube rack includes a flat rack 41, which is available in a variety of sizes. One end of the rack is provided with a screw connection portion 42, and the rack is evenly distributed with multiple fixing holes for mounting test tubes. Connecting sleeves 31 are provided at both ends of the radial shaft, located outside the hollow shaft. These connecting sleeves are provided with internal threads 32 that mate with the screw connection portions of the modular test tube rack.

[0031] In this embodiment, a spring washer or spring is mounted on the screw connection portion. After the modular test tube rack is screwed together with the connecting sleeve, the elastic force of the spring washer or spring prevents the modular test tube rack from becoming loose from the connecting sleeve during rotation. Alternatively, a locking nut may be screwed onto the screw connection portion so that the locking nut can be used to secure the screw connection portion to the connecting sleeve after connection.

[0032] In this embodiment, to better accommodate test tubes, the fixing hole structure includes a through hole 43 provided on the flat frame. A rubber ring 44 is provided within the through hole, and the elastic force of the rubber ring secures the test tube. Alternatively, the fixing hole structure includes a through hole 45 provided on the flat frame. A C-shaped plastic buckle 46 is provided within the through hole, and the test tube is secured by the C-shaped plastic buckle.

[0033] Since the rotation speed of the hollow shaft and the radial shaft in the laboratory is usually around 10 to 120 rpm, the centrifugal force during rotation is small, which helps to avoid separation between the modular test tube rack and the connecting sleeve, and separation of the test tube from the modular test tube rack during rotation.

[0034] In this embodiment, the pallet racks are available in various sizes: four fixing holes, nine fixing holes, 16 fixing holes, and so on. Each size of pallet rack has different through-holes or C-shaped plastic buckles to accommodate various centrifuge tube sizes (1.5ml, 15ml, 50ml, etc.). This allows users to replace pallets of different sizes based on actual needs, thereby increasing the flexibility of the device.

[0035] In this embodiment, see Figure 11The modular test tube rack structure can also include an anti-slip layer on the surface of the flat rack 41. This anti-slip layer can be a rubber layer with small suction cup-shaped anti-slip bumps 47 densely distributed on the surface. This allows the incubation box (containing reagents and samples) to be placed on the flat rack. The first motor drives the hollow shaft to oscillate back and forth at a low speed and a small amplitude, ensuring sufficient contact between the reagents and samples in the incubation box, allowing subsequent reactions to occur. For example, the oscillation speed is 10 times / minute, with an amplitude of 3-15 degrees. This small amplitude oscillation also prevents the incubation box from slipping off the flat rack.

[0036] In another embodiment, the spiral coil in the hollow shaft can be arranged as a straight section to reduce the impact of the magnetic field on the second motor. The other end of the hollow shaft can be open or evenly distributed with heat dissipation holes to facilitate heat dissipation of the second motor.

[0037] A method for using a multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device includes the following steps: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tube and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial axis; (2) Insert the test tube into the modular test tube rack and mix the sample: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve left-right mixing of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve upside-down mixing of the test tube; the first and second drive mechanisms are activated at the same time to achieve universal mixing of the test tube; Or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism is activated, while the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are not activated. The magnetic field controller adjusts the magnetic field strength and timing generated by the spiral coil, and uses the magnetic force to cooperate with the magnetic beads in the test tube to promote sample mixing; Or compound mixing mode: simultaneously starting the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism and the magnetic field change mechanism of the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism, which helps to achieve the best mixing effect.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, according to the teachings of the present invention, it does not require creative labor to design different forms and multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing devices and their use methods. Without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, all equal changes, modifications, substitutions and variations made within the scope of the patent application of the present invention should be covered by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device, comprising a box with a door on the front and a built-in refrigeration system, characterized in that: A hollow shaft driven to rotate by a first driving mechanism is laterally arranged in the box body, a radial shaft driven to rotate by a second driving mechanism is passed through the middle of the hollow shaft, modular test tube racks are detachably installed at both ends of the radial shaft, and a magnetic assisted mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is axially arranged in the hollow shaft.

2. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first driving mechanism includes a first motor installed on the outer wall of one side of the box body, the two ends of the hollow shaft respectively pass through the box body and are rotatably connected to the box body, and the output shaft of the first motor is connected to one end of the hollow shaft; the box body is provided with a sealing structure that cooperates with the hollow shaft.

3. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The second driving mechanism includes a second motor axially installed in the middle of the inner cavity of the hollow shaft and eccentrically arranged, and an active bevel gear is installed at the output end of the second motor. The radial shaft radially passes through the hollow shaft and is rotatably connected to the hollow shaft. The section of the radial shaft located inside the hollow shaft is installed with a driven bevel gear that cooperates with the active bevel gear.

4. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The other end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body is provided with two first conductive rings and second conductive rings respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is also equipped with first brushes and second brushes in contact with the first conductive rings and the second conductive rings.

5. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two ends of the radial shaft outside the hollow shaft are provided with connecting sleeves, the connecting sleeves are provided with internal threads, and the modular test tube rack is provided with screw connecting parts that match the connecting sleeves.

6. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The magnetic assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil, which is axially arranged in the hollow shaft and close to one side wall of the hollow shaft. The other end of the hollow rotating shaft passing through the box is provided with a third conductive ring and a fourth conductive ring. One end of the spiral coil is connected to the third conductive ring, and the other end of the spiral coil is provided with a straight wire and connected to the fourth conductive ring. It is also provided with a third brush and a fourth brush in contact with the third conductive ring and the fourth conductive ring, and is also provided with a magnetic field controller.

7. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: An insulating material layer is provided on the end of the hollow shaft passing through the box body, which is used to separate the first conductive ring, the second conductive ring, the third conductive ring, the fourth conductive ring and the hollow shaft.

8. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that: The modular test tube rack includes a flat rack with various specifications. One end of the flat rack is provided with a screw connection portion that cooperates with the radial axis. The flat rack is evenly distributed with multiple fixing hole structures for installing test tubes; or the surface of the flat rack is provided with an anti-slip structural layer.

9. A multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fixing hole structure includes a through hole provided on the flat frame, and a rubber ring is provided on the inner circle of the through hole; or the fixing hole structure includes a through hole provided on the flat frame, and a C-shaped plastic buckle is provided in the through hole.

10. A method for using the multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tube and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial axis; (2) Insert the test tube into the modular test tube rack and mix the sample: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve left-right mixing of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve upside-down mixing of the test tube; the first and second drive mechanisms are activated at the same time to achieve universal mixing of the test tube; or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism is activated, while the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are not activated; Or compound mixing mode: start the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism and the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism at the same time.

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