Multi-specification magnetic-assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device and use method thereof

Abstract

The application relates to a biomedical device, in particular to a multi-specification magnetic auxiliary low-temperature rotary mixing device and a use method thereof. The device comprises a box body with a built-in refrigeration system, a warehouse door is hinged to the front side of the box body, a magnetic attraction strip matched with the warehouse door and a refrigerator door sealing strip are arranged on the front end edge of the box body; a hollow shaft driven to rotate by a first driving mechanism is arranged in the box body in a transverse mode, a radial shaft is arranged in the middle part of the hollow shaft, the radial shaft is driven to rotate by a second driving mechanism with a magnetic isolation structure, the two ends of the radial shaft pass through the hollow shaft in a radial mode and are rotationally connected with the hollow shaft, and a modular test tube rack is detachably arranged on the two ends of the radial shaft; and a magnetic auxiliary mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is arranged in the hollow shaft in an axial mode. The device helps to solve the problems of inconvenient external power supply, inflexible specification adaptation and low mixing efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to biomedical devices, specifically to a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] In biomedical experiments, to achieve sufficient binding of proteins, antibodies, antigens, magnetic beads, or agarose beads, it is often necessary to gently invert and mix the sample-containing test tubes at 4°C for an extended period. Currently, most laboratories use electrically powered rotary mixers in conjunction with refrigerators or cold chambers. However, the following problems exist: 1. External power cord issue: Traditional rotary mixers require an external power supply and cannot be placed directly in a closed refrigerator, which is not conducive to maintaining a low-temperature environment, making them inconvenient to use and posing safety hazards; 2. Inflexible specification adaptation: Most rotary tubers on the market only support one fixed test tube size, which is difficult to meet the mixing needs of test tubes of various sizes; 3. Limited mixing method: Existing rotators mostly support only one direction of rotation, resulting in limited mixing effect; 4. Low mixing efficiency: Traditional mechanical rotation has low mixing efficiency for magnetic bead samples, requiring a long time to achieve full binding.

[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 this invention is to provide a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device and its usage method. This device 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 as follows: a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device, comprising a box body with a built-in refrigeration system, a door hinged to the front side of the box body, and a magnetic strip and a refrigerator door sealing strip that cooperate with the door at the front edge of the box body; a hollow shaft driven to rotate by a first driving mechanism is arranged horizontally inside the box body, a radial shaft is passed through the middle of the hollow shaft, the radial shaft is driven to rotate by a second driving mechanism with a magnetic shielding structure, the two ends of the radial shaft pass radially through the hollow shaft and are rotatably connected to the hollow shaft, and a modular test tube rack can be detachably installed at both ends of the radial shaft; a magnetically assisted mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is arranged axially inside the hollow shaft.

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

[0007] Furthermore, the second drive mechanism includes a second motor axially disposed in the middle of the hollow shaft cavity, the second motor being eccentrically mounted in the hollow shaft cavity, the second motor being covered by a magnetic shielding cover made of magnetic shielding material, the output end of the second motor being equipped with a drive bevel gear, and the magnetic shielding cover being provided with a heat dissipation structure; the section of the radial shaft located inside the hollow shaft is equipped with a driven bevel gear that cooperates with the drive bevel gear.

[0008] Furthermore, the other end of the hollow shaft extending out of the housing is provided with two first conductive rings and a second conductive ring, which are respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is equipped with a first brush and a second brush that are in contact with the first conductive ring and the second conductive ring.

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

[0010] Furthermore, the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil, which is axially disposed inside the hollow shaft and close to one side wall of the hollow shaft, offset from the installation position of the second motor. The other end of the hollow shaft extending out of the housing 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. A third brush and a fourth brush are configured to contact the third and fourth conductive rings, and a magnetic field controller is configured.

[0011] Furthermore, an insulating material layer is provided on the end of the hollow shaft that protrudes from the housing to separate 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 plate rack, which has various specifications. One end of the flat plate rack is provided with a screw connection part that mates with a radial shaft, and the flat plate rack is evenly distributed with multiple fixing holes for mounting test tubes.

[0013] Furthermore, the modular test tube rack includes a flat plate rack, one end of which is provided with a screw connection part that mates with a radial shaft, and the surface of the flat plate rack is provided with an anti-slip structural layer.

[0014] A method of using a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device includes the following steps: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tubes and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial shaft; (2) Insert the test tubes into the modular test tube rack and mix the samples: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the left-right direction of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the upside-down direction of the test tube; both the first and second drive mechanisms are activated simultaneously to achieve mixing in all directions of the test tube. Or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic-assisted mixing mechanism is activated, without activating the first and second driving mechanisms; Or a combined mixing mode: simultaneously activate the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, and the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism.

[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 an external power cord inside the chamber, allowing test tubes to be placed directly inside to create 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 achieves three-dimensional mixing in conjunction with mechanical rotation, which improves the mixing efficiency by 20-50% compared with traditional methods.

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

[0018] 4. The device offers a variety of mixing methods: it supports left and right rotation, up and down inversion, omnidirectional rotation, and magnetic field-assisted mixing. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a front view of the mixing device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the present invention (magnetic field controller is hidden). Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second driving mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the magnetic-assisted mixing mechanism of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the copper ring and the end of the hollow shaft according to 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 according to the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another modular test tube rack according to the present invention; Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the test tube fixing holes inside the modular test tube rack of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the test tube fixing holes inside the modular test tube rack of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the third modular test tube rack of the present invention; In the diagram: 10-Box body 11-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-Plate rack 42-Screw connection 43-Through hole 44-Rubber ring 45-Through hole 46-C-type plastic buckle 47-Anti-slip protrusion 51-First motor 52-Second motor 53-Driving bevel gear 54-Driven bevel gear 55-Magnetic shield 56-Shell structure 60-Helical coil 61-Straight wire 62-Magnetic field controller. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more readily understood, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, 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 includes a housing 10 with a front door 11 and a built-in refrigeration system. A hollow shaft 20, driven to rotate by a first driving mechanism, is horizontally positioned at the center of the housing's interior cavity. A radial shaft 30 is vertically inserted through the middle of the hollow shaft and is driven to rotate by a second driving mechanism with a magnetic shielding structure. Modular test tube racks 40 are detachably mounted at both ends of the radial shaft. A magnetically assisted mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is axially arranged inside the hollow shaft. Thus, the rotation of test tubes (centrifuge tubes) is achieved through the first and second driving mechanisms; the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism generates a magnetic field inside the housing, which, in conjunction with magnetic beads inside the test tubes, completes mixing. The second driving mechanism is protected from the influence of the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism by the magnetic shielding structure.

[0022] In this embodiment, one side of the door is connected to the cabinet via a hinge 12, and the other side of the door is provided with a handle 13. 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 cabinet. This door structure helps to reduce or prevent cold air leakage from the cabinet after the door is closed, thus improving the sealing performance.

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

[0024] In this embodiment, the first driving mechanism includes a first motor 51 mounted on the outer wall of one side of the housing. Both ends of the hollow shaft protrude from the housing and are rotatably connected to it. The housing is provided with a sealing structure that mates with the hollow shaft to prevent cold air leakage and moisture intrusion. The rotating parts of the hollow shaft that mate with the housing are provided with a lubricating medium (such as grease) to reduce wear. 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 to rotate, thereby achieving mixing in the inverted direction of the test tube.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second drive mechanism includes a second motor 52 axially mounted in the middle of the hollow shaft cavity and eccentrically positioned (biased towards one side wall of the hollow shaft). The second motor is covered by a magnetic shield 55 made of magnetic shielding material. A drive bevel gear 53 is mounted at the output end of the second motor. The radial shaft passes radially through the hollow shaft and is rotatably connected to it. A driven bevel gear 54, cooperating with the drive bevel gear, is mounted on the section of the radial shaft 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. The magnetic shield isolates the external magnetic field, preventing the second motor from being affected by the external magnetic field, thus avoiding torque fluctuations, unstable speed, or additional noise. It also prevents interference with the Hall sensor or control circuit inside the second motor, which could lead to control failure.

[0026] In this embodiment, the magnetic shield is fixed to the inner wall of the hollow shaft. The magnetic shield can be made of silicon steel sheet or permalloy and electrical pure iron, which helps to effectively reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the second motor. Simultaneously, heat dissipation structures such as heat sink fins can be provided on the magnetic shield to facilitate heat dissipation for the second motor. A sealing structure is also provided between the radial shaft and the hollow shaft to prevent cold air leakage and moisture intrusion; at the same time, a lubricating medium (such as grease) is provided at the rotating parts of the radial shaft and the hollow shaft to reduce wear. A lubricating medium (such as grease) is applied between the driving bevel gear and the driven bevel gear to reduce wear, and a cover structure 56 is provided to prevent the lubricating medium from overflowing. The output shaft of the second motor is rotatably connected to the cover structure, the radial shaft is rotatably connected to the cover structure, and the cover structure is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the hollow shaft.

[0027] In this embodiment, the other end of the hollow shaft that protrudes from the housing is provided with two first conductive rings 21 and second conductive rings 22, which are respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is equipped with a first brush 23 and a second brush 24 that are in contact with the first conductive ring and the second conductive ring, thereby connecting to an external power source through the first brush and the second brush.

[0028] In this embodiment, the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil 60. The spiral coil is axially positioned inside a hollow shaft, near one side wall of the hollow shaft and offset from 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 extending out of 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 connected to the fourth conductive ring. A third brush 27 and a fourth brush 28 are also provided, contacting the third and fourth conductive rings, and connected to an external power source through the third and fourth brushes. 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 the changes in the magnetic field and magnetic force.

[0029] In this embodiment, an insulating material layer 29 is provided on the end of the hollow shaft that protrudes from the housing 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.

[0030] In this embodiment, the hollow shaft can be made of a hollow metal tube; it can also be made of an insulating material, such as a carbon fiber tube. The radial shaft can also be made of a plastic shaft. The first motor and the second motor are 12V or 24V DC geared motors, for example, the model can be Vantel 60GA775, or Zhengke ZGB37RG, etc.

[0031] In this embodiment, the modular test tube rack includes a flat plate frame 41, which has various specifications. One end of the flat plate frame is provided with a screw connection part 42, and the flat plate frame is evenly distributed with multiple fixing holes for mounting test tubes. The radial shaft is provided with connecting sleeves 31 at both ends outside the hollow shaft, and the connecting sleeves are provided with internal threads 32 that mate with the screw connection part of the modular test tube rack.

[0032] In this embodiment, a spring washer or spring is fitted onto the screw connection part so that after the modular test tube rack is screwed to the connecting sleeve, the elasticity of the spring washer or spring prevents the modular test tube rack from loosening from the connecting sleeve during rotation. Alternatively, a locking nut can be screwed onto the screw connection part so that it can be locked in place after the screw connection part is connected to the connecting sleeve.

[0033] In this embodiment, to better mount the test tubes, the fixing hole structure includes a through hole 43 on the plate frame, with a rubber ring 44 on the inner circumference of the through hole, which clamps the test tubes using the elasticity of the rubber ring. Alternatively, the fixing hole structure includes a through hole 45 on the plate frame, with a C-shaped plastic buckle 46 inside the through hole, which clamps the test tubes.

[0034] Since the rotational speed of the hollow shaft and radial shaft is usually around 10~120 rpm during the experiment, the centrifugal force is small during rotation, which can avoid the modular test tube rack from separating from the connecting sleeve and the test tube from the modular test tube rack during rotation.

[0035] In this embodiment, the plate holder can have various specifications: the plate holder can have four fixing holes, nine fixing holes, 16 fixing holes, etc. Each specification of plate holder has different sizes of through holes or C-shaped plastic buckles to accommodate various sizes of centrifuge tubes (1.5ml, 15ml, and 50ml, etc.), allowing users to change to different specifications of plate holders according to their actual needs, thus improving the application flexibility of the equipment.

[0036] In this embodiment, see Figure 11 The modular test tube rack can also have an anti-slip structure layer on the surface of the flat rack 41. This anti-slip structure layer can be a rubber layer with numerous small suction cup-shaped anti-slip protrusions 47 on its surface. This allows the incubation box (containing reagents and samples) to be placed on the flat rack. A first motor drives a hollow rotating shaft to reciprocate at low speed and small amplitude, ensuring sufficient contact between the reagents and samples within the incubation box, thus facilitating subsequent reactions. For example, the rotation speed can be 10 times per minute, with a swing amplitude of 3-15°. This small swing also prevents the incubation box from slipping off the flat rack.

[0037] In this embodiment, the section of the helical coil within the hollow shaft where the second motor is located is designed as a straight section to further reduce the influence of the external magnetic field on the second motor. The other end of the hollow shaft may be left unsealed or have evenly distributed heat dissipation holes to facilitate heat dissipation for the second motor.

[0038] A method of using a multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device includes the following steps: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tubes and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial shaft; (2) Insert the test tubes into the modular test tube rack and mix the samples: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the left-right direction of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the upside-down direction of the test tube; both the first and second drive mechanisms are activated simultaneously to achieve mixing in all directions of the test tube. Or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic assisted mixing mechanism is activated, without activating the first and second driving mechanisms. The magnetic field strength and timing generated by the spiral coil are adjusted by the magnetic field controller, and the magnetic force is used in conjunction with the magnetic beads in the test tube to promote sample mixing. Or a combined mixing mode: simultaneously activating the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, and the magnetic field change mechanism utilizing the magnetic auxiliary mixing mechanism helps to achieve the best mixing effect.

[0039] For example, during the mixing process, the speed of the second motor can be controlled at 30 rpm and the speed of the first motor at 50 rpm, depending on the requirements.

[0040] In another embodiment, based on Embodiment 1, the second motor can be installed inside the hollow shaft at the end furthest from the first motor. The output shaft of the second motor is connected to the drive bevel gear via a shaft rotatably connected to the inner wall of the hollow shaft. This arrangement of the second motor also helps to further reduce / avoid the influence of the magnetic field generated by the helical coil on the second motor.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, designing different forms of multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing devices and their usage methods according to the teachings of the present invention does not require creative labor. All equivalent changes, modifications, substitutions and variations made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention shall be covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device, comprising a housing with a built-in refrigeration system, characterized in that, The front of the box is hinged with a door, and the front edge of the box is provided with a magnetic strip and a refrigerator door sealing strip that cooperate with the door. A hollow shaft driven to rotate by a first drive mechanism is arranged horizontally inside the box. A radial shaft passes through the middle of the hollow shaft. The radial shaft is driven to rotate by a second drive mechanism with a magnetic shielding structure. The two ends of the radial shaft pass radially through the hollow shaft and are rotatably connected to the hollow shaft. Modular test tube racks can be detachably installed at both ends of the radial shaft. A magnetic auxiliary mixing mechanism capable of generating a magnetic field is arranged axially inside the hollow shaft.

2. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first drive mechanism includes a first motor installed on the outer wall of one side of the housing, the two ends of the hollow shaft passing through the housing and rotatably connected to the housing, the output shaft of the first motor being connected to one end of the hollow shaft; the housing is provided with a sealing structure that cooperates with the hollow shaft.

3. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second drive mechanism includes a second motor axially disposed in the middle of the hollow shaft cavity. The second motor is eccentrically mounted in the hollow shaft cavity. The outer cover of the second motor is provided with a magnetic shielding cover made of magnetic shielding material. A drive bevel gear is installed at the output end of the second motor. A heat dissipation structure is provided on the magnetic shielding cover. A driven bevel gear that cooperates with the drive bevel gear is installed in the section of the radial shaft located inside the hollow shaft.

4. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The hollow shaft is provided with two conductive rings, a first conductive ring and a second conductive ring, which are respectively connected to the wires of the second motor, and is equipped with a first brush and a second brush that are in contact with the first conductive ring and the second conductive ring.

5. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The radial shaft is provided with connecting sleeves at both ends outside the hollow shaft. The connecting sleeves are provided with internal threads. The modular test tube rack is provided with a screw connection part that mates with the connecting sleeves.

6. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The magnetically assisted mixing mechanism includes a spiral coil, which is axially disposed inside a hollow shaft and close to one side wall of the hollow shaft, offset from the installation position of the second motor. The other end of the hollow shaft that extends out of the housing 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. A third brush and a fourth brush that are in contact with the third and fourth conductive rings are also provided, and a magnetic field controller is also provided.

7. The multi-specification magnetically 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 that protrudes from the housing to separate the first conductive ring, the second conductive ring, the third conductive ring, the fourth conductive ring, and the hollow shaft.

8. The multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modular test tube rack includes a flat plate rack, which comes in various sizes. One end of the flat plate rack is provided with a screw connection part that mates with a radial shaft. The flat plate rack is evenly distributed with multiple fixing holes for mounting test tubes.

9. A multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modular test tube rack includes a flat plate rack, one end of which is provided with a screw connection part that mates with a radial shaft, and the surface of the flat plate rack is provided with an anti-slip structural layer.

10. A method of using the multi-specification magnetically assisted low-temperature rotary mixing device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Select a modular test tube rack according to the specifications of the test tubes and connect the modular test tube rack to the radial shaft; (2) Insert the test tubes into the modular test tube rack and mix the samples: Mechanical rotation mode: only the second drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the left-right direction of the test tube; only the first drive mechanism is activated to achieve mixing in the upside-down direction of the test tube; both the first and second drive mechanisms are activated simultaneously to achieve mixing in all directions of the test tube. Or magnetic field change mode: only the magnetic-assisted mixing mechanism is activated, without activating the first and second driving mechanisms; Or a combined mixing mode: simultaneously activate the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, and the magnetically assisted mixing mechanism.

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