Automated loading device for microplates

Abstract

The automatic loading device for microplate includes a hundred-level laminar flow, a glass protective cover, a platform, a loading head, and a manipulator. The hundred-level laminar flow, the glass protective cover and the platform constitute a working area, the platform is provided with a tip head storage tray, a sample loading platform, a microplate loading platform, a tip head waste frame, and a manipulator, the loading head is installed at the end of the manipulator, the tip head storage tray is provided with a tip head, and the microplate loading platform is provided with a microplate. The present invention can realize automatic loading, reduce the labor of the experimental operator, and greatly improve the loading speed and loading accuracy compared with the prior art; add specific reagents to the target micropores, which is not easy to be confused; and the loading environment is highly controllable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of experimental instruments, and in particular to an automatic sample adding device for a microplate. Background Art

[0002] PCR sample addition is generally performed using a 96-well microplate or a 384-well microplate. During operation, since each microplate has many wells, the spacing between the wells is very small, and the wells in the middle of the well plate are difficult to distinguish, it is easy to mix up or miss samples when using a pipette, resulting in abnormal experimental results. At the same time, when using a pipette, manual operation may touch the measurement adjustment point, resulting in inconsistent sample addition amounts in different wells, increasing experimental errors.

[0003] In addition, for special samples such as RNA / DNA, it is necessary to add samples in a sterile, enzyme-free, and low-temperature environment to reduce sample degradation. However, the general sample addition environment is open, and the pipetting device and the surrounding environment cannot guarantee low-temperature sterility and enzyme-free. During the experiment, it is often necessary to add samples to multiple microplates, and each microplate has multiple indicators. Manual addition will greatly increase the workload of the experimenters, causing mental and physical fatigue, and increase the occurrence of sample addition errors. At the same time, manual addition does not exclude subjective factors, which reduces the authenticity of the results. Summary of the invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a device that can improve the operating experience of experimental operators, enhance experimental efficiency, improve the reliability of experimental results, and realize automatic sample addition of microplates.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is an automated sample loading device for a microplate, comprising a hundred-level laminar flow, a glass protective cover, a table, a sample loading head, and a manipulator. The hundred-level laminar flow, the glass protective cover and the table constitute a working area, the table is provided with a tip head storage tray, a sample loading platform, a microplate loading platform, a tip head waste frame, and a manipulator, the sample loading head is installed at the end of the manipulator, the tip head storage tray is provided with a tip head, and the microplate loading platform is provided with a microplate.

[0006] Furthermore, the glass protective cover includes movable glass doors in three directions and a fixed glass door in one direction, and the hundred-level laminar flow generates vertically downward laminar wind.

[0007] Furthermore, the tip head material storage tray includes a tip head material storage plate and a material storage turntable, the tip head material storage plate is installed with a tip head, the material storage turntable is installed on the table and driven by a servo motor, the material storage turntable is provided with a groove for installing the tip head material storage plate, the tip head material storage plate is fixed in the groove, the installation method of the tip head material storage plate 31 is press-in type, which is convenient for disassembly, the tip head material storage plate and the microporous plate have the same number of holes and hole spacing, and the tip head is manually pre-inserted into the material storage hole of the tip head material storage plate, and then placed in the turntable groove.

[0008] Furthermore, the material storage turntable is provided with four material storage plates respectively distributed in four quadrants.

[0009] Furthermore, the sample loading platform includes a plurality of reagent tube insertion holes, a cold water injection port I, and a cold water discharge port I, and the reagent tubes to be loaded are inserted into the reagent tube insertion holes.

[0010] Furthermore, a water storage structure is designed inside the sample loading platform.

[0011] Furthermore, the microplate carrier includes a microplate positioning trough, a cold water injection port II, and a cold water discharge port II.

[0012] Furthermore, the micro-well plate and the micro-well plate positioning grooves are slightly interference fit, the micro-well plate carrier is hollow inside, and the micro-well plate and the micro-well plate positioning grooves have the same number.

[0013] Furthermore, the sample adding head includes a mounting base plate, a micro gear pump, an electromagnet, a tip head ejection rod, a tip head needle nozzle seat, a compression spring, a needle nozzle seat mounting block, a tip head needle nozzle, and a tip head.

[0014] Furthermore, the micro gear pump is installed on one side of the mounting substrate and is connected to the needle nozzle seat mounting block through a hose or a hard tube. The electromagnet is installed on the other side of the mounting substrate to provide power for eliminating the used tip head. The needle nozzle seat mounting block is embedded in the mounting substrate. The tip head needle nozzle seat is installed on the needle nozzle seat mounting block. The tip head needle nozzle is installed in the tip head needle nozzle seat. The tip head needle nozzle can slide up and down in the tip head needle nozzle seat. The tip head needle nozzle is pushed to the lowest position by a compression spring. One end of the tip head ejection rod is fixed to the end of the electromagnet extended shaft, and the other end is sleeved on the tip head needle nozzle.

[0015] The present invention has the following positive effects: the present invention can realize automatic sample addition, reduce the labor of experimental operators, and greatly improve the sample addition speed and sample addition accuracy compared with the prior art; specific reagents are added to the target micropores, which is not easy to be confused; and the sample addition environment is highly controllable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a three-dimensional structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a two-dimensional structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the sample loading head;

[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 2 2D cross-sectional view of the sample head.

[0021] In the figure: 1-100-level laminar flow, 2-glass protective cover, 21-movable glass door, 22-fixed glass door, 3-tip head storage tray, 30-tip head, 31-tip head storage plate, 32-storage turntable, 4-table, 5-sample loading platform, 51-reagent tube jack, 52-cold water injection port I, 53-cold water discharge port I, 6-microplate loading platform, 61-microplate, 62-cold water injection port II, 63-cold water discharge port II, 64-microplate positioning sink, 7-tip head waste frame, 8-sample loading head, 81-mounting base plate, 82-micro gear pump, 83-electromagnet, 84-tip head material return rod, 85-tip head needle nozzle seat, 86-compression spring, 87-needle nozzle seat mounting block, 88-tip head needle nozzle, 9-manipulator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0023] The present embodiment comprises a hundred-level laminar flow 1, a glass protective cover 2, a table 4, a sample adding head 8, and a manipulator 9. The hundred-level laminar flow 1, the glass protective cover 2 and the table 4 constitute a sterile and enzyme-free clean experimental area, the table 4 is provided with a tip head storage tray 3, a sample loading platform 5, a microplate loading platform 6, a tip head waste frame 7, and a manipulator 9. The sample adding head 8 is installed at the end of the manipulator 9, the tip head storage tray 3 is provided with a tip head 30, and the microplate loading platform 6 is provided with a microplate 61. When performing sample loading, the manipulator 9 first automatically places a tip head 30 at the tip head storage tray 3, and then automatically places a tip head 30 at the tip head storage tray 3. A new tip is installed, and then the sample is moved to the sample loading platform 5 and sampled. The sampling is completed by the sample loading head 8. Then the sample is moved to the microplate loading platform 6 and the added sample is injected into the micropores of the designated microplate 61. Finally, the sample loading head 8 is transferred to the top of the tip head waste recovery frame 7. The tip head 30 ejection rod of the sample loading head 8 removes the used tip head 30, and the tip head 30 automatically falls into the tip head waste frame 7. At this point, a complete sample loading cycle is completed.

[0024] The glass protective cover 2 includes movable glass doors 21 in three directions and a fixed glass door 22 in one direction. The hundred-level laminar flow 1 generates vertically downward laminar wind. At the same time, clean wind flows out from a gap of a certain height reserved between the glass protective cover 2 and the table 4, so that the air pressure inside the glass protective cover 2 is higher than the external air pressure, so that the glass protective cover 2 is under the protection of a positive pressure and clean wind.

[0025] The tip head material storage tray 3 includes a tip head material storage plate 31 and a material storage turntable 32. A tip head 30 is installed on the tip head material storage plate 31. The material storage turntable 31 is installed on the table 4 and is driven by a servo motor. The material storage turntable 32 is provided with 4 grooves for installing the tip head material storage plate 31. The tip head material storage plate 31 is fixed in the grooves. The installation method of the tip head material storage plate 31 is press-in type, which is convenient for disassembly. The tip head material storage plate 31 has the same number of holes and hole spacing as the microporous plate 61, and the tip head 30 is manually inserted into the material storage hole of the tip head material storage plate 3 in advance, and then placed in the turntable groove. Four material storage plates can be pre-stored on the material storage turntable 32, and the robot 9 takes the tip head 30 in a fixed area each time, Figure 2 In the first quadrant of the middle material storage turntable 32 (i.e. the position of the tip head material storage plate indicated by the serial number 31), when all the tip heads 30 in the tip head material storage plate 31 are used up, the material storage turntable 32 rotates 90° clockwise or counterclockwise to move a full tip head material storage plate 31 to this area, and move the empty tip head material storage plate 31 out of this area. According to this cycle, the machine can be stopped for recharging after all four tip head material storage plates 31 are used up, or the empty tip head material storage plates transferred to the second or third quadrant can be replaced with full ones, so that the material storage turntable 32 is always in a state of having material, thereby avoiding unnecessary midway shutdowns.

[0026] The sample loading platform 5 includes a plurality of reagent tube jacks 51, a cold water injection port I52, and a cold water discharge port I53. The reagent tube to be loaded is inserted into the reagent tube jack 51. A water storage structure is designed inside the sample loading platform 5. When the reagent needs to be kept at a low temperature of about 4°C, the cold water circulation mode can be turned on. The chiller (not shown in the figure) is placed under the platform 4. Cold water is injected from the cold water injection port I52 and discharged from the cold water discharge port I53. The cold water circulates slowly to keep the reagent tube in a cold water bath constant temperature environment.

[0027] The microplate carrier 6 includes a microplate positioning trough 64, a cold water injection port II 62, and a cold water discharge port II 63. The microplate 61 is pressed into the microplate positioning trough 64 in an interference fit manner. The interior of the microplate carrier 6 is hollow. When the microplate 61 sample needs to be maintained at a low temperature environment of about 4°C, cold water can be injected from the cold water injection port II 62 and discharged from the cold water discharge port II 63, and circulated slowly, so that the bottom of the microplate 61 is immersed in cold water and is in a cold water bath state. The cold water is also supplied by a chiller (not shown in the figure). There are two microplate positioning troughs 64.

[0028] The sample adding head 8 includes a mounting base plate 81, a micro gear pump 82, an electromagnet 83, a tip head ejection rod 84, a tip head needle nozzle seat 85, a compression spring 86, a needle nozzle seat mounting block 87, a tip head needle nozzle 88, and a tip head 30.

[0029] The micro gear pump 82 is installed on one side of the mounting substrate 81 and is connected to the needle nozzle seat mounting block 87 through a hose or a hard tube.

[0030] The electromagnet 83 is installed on the other side of the mounting base plate 81, and is used to provide power for eliminating the used tip head 30. The needle nozzle seat mounting block 87 is embedded in the mounting base plate 81. The tip head needle nozzle seat 85 is installed on the needle nozzle seat mounting block 87. The tip head needle nozzle 88 is installed in the tip head needle nozzle seat 85. The tip head needle nozzle 88 can slide up and down in the tip head needle nozzle seat 85. A compression spring 86 is installed in the gap between the tip head needle nozzle 88 and the tip head needle nozzle seat 85. The tip head needle nozzle 88 is pushed to the lowest position by the compression spring 86. The tip head needle nozzle 88 is connected to the tip head 30 through an interference surface, and the contact surface is a section of mutually matching conical surface with a guide angle. One end of the tip head ejector rod 84 is fixed to the end of the extended shaft of the electromagnet 83, and the other end is sleeved on the tip head needle nozzle 88.

[0031] Working process: When installing the tip head 30, the manipulator 9 drives the tip head needle mouth 88 to align with a certain tip head 30 in the tip head storage plate 31, and then moves downward to insert the tip head needle mouth 88 into the tip head 30, and the contact surface between the tip head needle mouth 88 and the tip head 30 is a mutually matching conical surface with a guide angle. When the tip head needle mouth 88 is inserted into the tip head 30 at a certain speed, the expansion force generated by the wedging effect makes the two fit tightly together, thereby completing the installation of the tip head 30. In this process, the tip head needle mouth 88, under the action of the compression spring 86, moves upward a certain distance to buffer the impact, avoid rigid contact between moving parts, and protect the manipulator arm. When the tip head 30 needs to be removed after the sample is added, the electromagnet 83 is energized, and the extension shaft of the electromagnet 83 is extended, thereby driving the ring at one end of the tip head ejection rod 84 that is sleeved on the tip head needle mouth 88 to move downward, thereby pushing the tip head 30 out of the tip head needle mouth 88.

[0032] Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present invention. If these modifications and variations are within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalent technologies, these modifications and variations are still within the scope of protection of the patent of the present invention.

[0033] The contents not described in detail in the specification are prior art known to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An automated sample loading device for a microplate, characterized in that: It includes a hundred-level laminar flow, a glass protective cover, a platform, a sample loading head, and a manipulator. The hundred-level laminar flow, the glass protective cover and the platform constitute a working area, the platform is provided with a tip head storage tray, a sample loading platform, a microplate loading platform, a tip head waste frame, and a manipulator. The sample loading head is installed at the end of the manipulator, the tip head storage tray is provided with a tip head, and the microplate loading platform is provided with a microplate; The tip head material storage tray includes a tip head material storage plate and a material storage turntable, the tip head material storage plate is installed with a tip head, the material storage turntable is installed on the table and driven by a servo motor, the material storage turntable is provided with a groove for installing the tip head material storage plate, the tip head material storage plate is fixed in the groove, the tip head material storage plate is installed in a press-in manner, the tip head material storage plate has the same number of holes and hole spacing as the micro-porous plate, and the material storage turntable is provided with 4 material storage plates respectively distributed in four quadrants; The sample adding head includes a mounting base, a micro gear pump, an electromagnet, a tip head ejection rod, a tip head needle mouth seat, a compression spring, a needle mouth seat mounting block, a tip head needle mouth, and a tip head; the micro gear pump is mounted on one side of the mounting base, and is connected to the needle mouth seat mounting block through a hose or a hard tube; the electromagnet is mounted on the other side of the mounting base, and is used to provide power for eliminating the used tip head; the needle mouth seat mounting block is embedded in the mounting base, the tip head needle mouth seat is mounted on the needle mouth seat mounting block, the tip head needle mouth is mounted in the tip head needle mouth seat, the tip head needle mouth can slide up and down in the tip head needle mouth seat, the tip head needle mouth is pushed to the lowest position by the compression spring, one end of the tip head ejection rod is fixed to the end of the electromagnet extending shaft, and the other end is sleeved on the tip head needle mouth.

2. The automatic sample loading device for microplate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The glass protection cover comprises movable glass doors in three directions and a fixed glass door in one direction, and the hundred-level laminar flow generates vertically downward laminar wind.

3. The automatic sample loading device for microplate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sample loading platform comprises a plurality of reagent tube jacks, a cold water injection port I, and a cold water discharge port I. The reagent tubes to be loaded are inserted into the reagent tube jacks.

4. The automatic sample loading device for microplate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sample loading platform is designed with a water storage structure inside.

5. The automatic sample loading device for microplate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The micro-plate carrier comprises a micro-plate positioning trough, a cold water injection port II, and a cold water discharge port II.

6. The automatic sample loading device for microplate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The micro-well plate and the micro-well plate positioning grooves are slightly interference fit, the micro-well plate carrier is hollow inside, and the micro-well plate and the micro-well plate positioning grooves are the same in number.

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