Reagent container with binding member, and inspection device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reagent container with a binding member and an inspection device using the reagent container, the reagent container being capable of integrally manipulating a plurality of reagent containers and preventing reagent contamination without direct contact with the reagent containers. A reagent container (1) with a binding member is provided with: a plurality of reagent containers (11) arranged so as to be connected in series; and a detachable belt-shaped binding member (21) that integrally surrounds the plurality of reagent containers (11). The inspection device (101) is an inspection device capable of inputting a reagent container (1) with a binding member, and is provided with a storage rack (311) which has an input port (311a) for inputting the reagent container (1) with the binding member in the upper part, and can input the reagent container (1) with the binding member in a manner that a plurality of reagent containers (11) are stacked in the vertical direction. The storage rack (311) is provided with an opening (311b) in such a manner that the binding member (21) of the reagent container (1) with the binding member, which has been inserted, can be attached and detached from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reagent container with a binding component and an inspection device. Background Art

[0002] As an apparatus for examining a biological sample, for example, an apparatus for analyzing the biological sample using a reagent is known.

[0003] In such an inspection apparatus, for example, a plurality of reagent containers are collectively stored in advance so that a plurality of inspections can be performed efficiently.

[0004] As a device capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers as described above, for example, a biological sample analyzer has been proposed which includes a plate loading assembly capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers by individually placing a plurality of plate-shaped reagent containers on nests of a cart (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-523809 Summary of the invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] However, in the above-mentioned conventional biological sample analyzer, each plate is placed on the nest of the plate rack while being held one by one. This not only takes time to place the plates, but also there is a possibility that the reagents may be contaminated when the user handles the plates.

[0010] The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reagent container with a binding member and an inspection device using the reagent container, which can integrally handle a plurality of reagent containers and prevent reagent contamination without direct contact with the reagent containers.

[0011] Solutions to Solve Problems

[0012] One embodiment of the present disclosure is a reagent container, comprising:

[0013] A plurality of reagent containers are arranged in series and connected; and

[0014] The detachable belt-shaped binding member integrally surrounds the plurality of reagent containers.

[0015] Furthermore, one of other aspects of the present disclosure is an inspection device,

[0016] The present invention is an inspection device capable of inserting the reagent container with the binding member, comprising:

[0017] The storage rack has an inlet for inserting the reagent container with the binding member at the upper portion, and the reagent container with the binding member can be inserted in a manner that the plurality of reagent containers are stacked in the vertical direction.

[0018] The storage rack is provided with an opening so that the binding member of the reagent container with the binding member inserted can be attached and detached from the outside.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] The present invention can provide a reagent container with a binding member and an inspection device using the same, which can integrally handle a plurality of reagent containers and prevent reagent contamination without direct contact with the reagent containers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic side view showing the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 Yes means Figure 1 Schematic perspective view of a reagent container, showing a state in which a portion of the cover is cut away.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic block diagram showing the second embodiment.

[0024] Figure 4A Yes means Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional view of a reagent container storage unit.

[0025] Figure 4B Yes means Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional view of a reagent container storage unit.

[0026] Figure 4C Yes means Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional view of a reagent container storage unit.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic perspective view for explaining the use state of the second embodiment, and is a view showing a state in which a reagent container with a binding member is put into a storage rack.

[0028] Figure 6 It is a schematic perspective view for explaining the use state of the second embodiment, and is a view showing a state when the binding member is removed.

[0029] Figure 7 It is a schematic perspective view for explaining the use state of the second embodiment, and is a view showing a state in which a binding member is removed.

[0030] Figure 8 It is a schematic side view showing a modification of the first embodiment.

[0031] Fig. 9 It is a schematic perspective view showing a modification of the second embodiment, and is a view showing a reagent container storage section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In this specification, a reagent container for testing a biological sample is described as a reagent container with a binding member, and a gene testing device for testing a gene is described as a testing device.

[0033] For example, a gene testing device uses reagents to amplify trace amounts of nucleic acids such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) contained in a biological sample, and then irradiates a solution containing the amplified nucleic acids (hereinafter also referred to as a "nucleic acid-containing solution") with excitation light and analyzes the fluorescence emitted by the solution, thereby performing a gene test.

[0034] A genetic testing device, for example, can be composed of a reagent container storage unit for storing reagent containers, a biological sample storage unit for storing biological samples, a dispensing unit for dispensing reagents in the reagent containers and biological samples in the biological sample storage unit to generate a nucleic acid-containing solution, an amplification unit for amplifying the generated nucleic acid-containing solution, and an inspection unit for inspecting the amplified nucleic acid-containing solution.

[0035] The reagent container with a binding member of the present disclosure can be used as, for example, a reagent container stored in the above-mentioned reagent container storage portion. In addition, the inspection device of the present disclosure can be used as, for example, the above-mentioned gene inspection device.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of a reagent container with a binding member and an inspection device will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the drawings.

[0037] <Reagent container with binding component>

[0038] The reagent container with a binding member disclosed in the present invention comprises: a plurality of reagent containers arranged in series and connected to each other; and a detachable belt-shaped binding member that integrally surrounds the plurality of reagent containers. The reagent container with a binding member will be described in detail below.

[0039] (First Embodiment)

[0040] Figure 1 2 is a schematic side view showing the first embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the reagent container 1 with a binding member is roughly composed of a plurality of reagent containers 11 and a binding member 21 .

[0041] The plurality of reagent containers 11 are arranged in a manner that the reagent containers 11 are connected in series. Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, each reagent container 11 may be composed of, for example, a container body 111 , a reagent 121 , and a cover 131 .

[0042] The container body 111 contains the reagent 121. Specifically, for example, the container body 111 has a hole 111a for containing a single amount of the reagent 121. The hole 111a is composed of a concave container having an opening at the top.

[0043] The container body 111 is generally provided with a plurality of holes 111a so that a plurality of biological samples can be efficiently examined. The arrangement of the holes 111a in the container body 111 is not particularly limited. The plurality of holes 111a may be arranged in a matrix, for example.

[0044] The reagents 121 are contained in the wells 111a, respectively. The contained reagents 121 are not particularly limited. Examples of the reagents 121 include reagents for amplifying genes, reagents required for extracting nucleic acids, and reagents containing magnetic particles.

[0045] The cover 131 is a member that covers the opening of the hole 111a. The cover 131 is formed of, for example, a material having light-shielding properties and oxygen impermeability. The cover 131, for example, can be formed of a film-like member. The cover 131 is fixed to the container body 111 in a peelable and penetrable state. When dispensing the reagent, the cover 131 is peeled off or penetrated from the container body 111, thereby taking out the reagent 121 from the hole 111a. As the material forming the cover 131, for example, metal materials such as aluminum, multi-layer composite materials formed by pasting aluminum and polypropylene in thin layers, etc. can be cited.

[0046] The binding member 21 is a detachable band-shaped member that integrally surrounds the plurality of reagent containers 11. Specifically, the binding member 21 can be composed of, for example, a long band body having both ends (hereinafter also referred to as "binding band 21").

[0047] The binding band 21 is formed by, for example, binding a plurality of reagent containers 11 in a circumferential direction in which they overlap (see Figure 2 The binding band 21 is wound and bundled together along an imaginary line 21 of the binding band 21. A connecting portion 211a is provided at an appropriate position of the binding band 21 so that the reagent containers 11 are not separated from each other. The band-shaped components constituting the binding band 21 are connected by the connecting portion 211a, thereby surrounding the plurality of reagent containers 11 in an annular shape and fixing the reagent containers 11 together.

[0048] As the connection method in the connection part 211a, for example, there can be cited connection using an adhesive, a bonding agent, a connection by overlapping the binding bands 21 and fusing (heat sealing), a connection using a hook and loop fastener, etc. Among them, it is preferred to use a connection that does not require fusing (heat sealing) of other materials. Thus, contamination of the reagent 121 can be further reduced.

[0049] The binding member 21 of this embodiment has a gripping portion 211d that protrudes outward and can be gripped. Specifically, the gripping portion 211d may be provided by extending the end of the binding band 21 away from the reagent container 11 from the connecting portion 211a toward the outside, for example.

[0050] The bundling member 21 of this embodiment has a gripping portion 211d, so that, for example, by pulling one end of the bundling member 21 in the protruding gripping portion 211d, the bundling member 21 can be attached to (detached from) the plurality of reagent containers 11. In addition, even when a plurality of reagent containers 1 with bundling members are stacked on top of each other, since the gripping portion 211d protrudes outward, the desired bundling member 21 can be easily attached and detached by pulling the protruding gripping portion 211d (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 6 ).

[0051] Furthermore, a label such as a barcode may be provided on the bundle member 21 so that the type of reagent, the manufacturing lot number, etc. can be known.

[0052] The material constituting the bundling member 21 is not particularly limited as long as it can integrally surround the plurality of reagent containers 11. Examples of the material include resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). By using the material, the reagent containers 11 can be easily bundled (for example, by heat-sealing welding), and a desired detachable connection portion can be reliably formed.

[0053] The reagent container 1 with a binding member is operated by the user, for example, by holding the gripping portion 211d of the binding member 21. The reagent container 1 with a binding member integrally binds a plurality of reagent containers 11. Therefore, the user can handle the reagent container 11 (for example, carry the reagent container 11, etc.) without directly touching the reagent container 11 by holding only the gripping portion 211d.

[0054] In addition, the binding member 21 is formed to be detachable. Therefore, when the reagent container 11 is used, the binding member 21 can be removed from the reagent container with binding member 1 by releasing the connection of the binding member 21 in the connection portion 211a. In addition, a specific example of applying the reagent container with binding member 1 to the inspection device is described in detail in the section <Inspection device>.

[0055] As described above, since the reagent container 1 with a binding member has the above-mentioned structure, the plurality of reagent containers 11 can be handled integrally, and contamination of the reagent 121 can be prevented without direct contact with the reagent container 11 .

[0056] <Inspection equipment>

[0057] The inspection device disclosed in the present invention is an inspection device capable of inserting the reagent container with the above-mentioned binding member, and comprises: a storage rack having an insertion port for inserting the reagent container with the above-mentioned binding member at the upper part, and capable of inserting the reagent container with the above-mentioned binding member in a manner that the above-mentioned multiple reagent containers are stacked in the vertical direction. The above-mentioned storage rack is provided with an opening in a manner that the above-mentioned binding member of the reagent container with the above-mentioned binding member inserted can be removed from the outside. Hereinafter, a gene inspection device is exemplified and the inspection device is described in detail.

[0058] (Second Embodiment)

[0059] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the second embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the inspection apparatus 101 is roughly composed of a reagent container storage section 31 , a reagent container transfer section 41 , a biological sample storage section 51 , a dispensing section 61 , an amplification section 71 , and an inspection section 81 .

[0060] The reagent container storage section 31 is a portion where the reagent container 1 with the binding member of the above structure is put in the item <reagent container with binding member> and stores the reagent container 11. Specifically, Figure 4A As shown, the reagent container storage section 31 can be composed of, for example, a storage rack 311 and a reagent container lifting mechanism 312. Figure 1 The following describes an example of the reagent container 1 with a binding member having the gripping portion 211d shown.

[0061] The storage rack 311 has an inlet 311a at the top for inserting the reagent container 1 with the binding member, and is a portion where the reagent container 1 with the binding member can be inserted so that a plurality of reagent containers 11 are stacked in the vertical direction. The storage rack 311 is provided with an opening 311b so that the binding member 21 of the inserted reagent container 1 with the binding member can be removed from the outside.

[0062] The inlet 311a of the storage rack 311 is formed to have a size that matches the outer shape of the reagent container 11 when viewed from above. An internal space s is provided inside the storage rack 311 so that the reagent container 1 with the binding member inserted from the inlet 311a can pass vertically downward and the reagent container 1 with the binding member can be restricted from moving horizontally.

[0063] The shape of the storage rack 311 is not particularly limited as long as it can store the reagent container 1 with the binding member while moving it in the vertical direction and restrict the reagent container 1 with the binding member from moving in the horizontal direction. For example, the storage rack 311 may be a storage rack with three sides covered except for the side with the opening 311b (see Figure 4A), a storage rack having a substantially L-shaped support column 311c standing upright at four corners in the horizontal direction (see Figure 4B ), a storage rack having a shape in which support columns 311d are erected in the horizontal direction (see Figure 4C )wait.

[0064] Furthermore, in order to allow the inserted reagent container 1 with a binding member to move smoothly and reliably, the storage rack 31 may include a guide member that supports the movement of the reagent container 1 with a binding member (for example, a rail that guides the reagent container 1 with a binding member in the vertical direction).

[0065] This embodiment includes a storage rack 311 with three covered sides and an opening 311b (see Figure 4A ).

[0066] The shape of the opening 311b is not particularly limited as long as the binding member 21 can be attached or detached through the opening 311b. The shape of the opening 311b may be, for example, a slit-shaped opening having an open upper end and extending substantially vertically downward from the open upper end (see Figure 4A )wait.

[0067] In this embodiment, the Figure 4A The slit-shaped opening 311 b shown in the figure allows the binding member 21 to be held until the reagent container 11 reaches the storage location in the storage rack 311 , and the reagent container 11 can be stored securely.

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, the opening 311b is provided so that a part of the bundling member 21 can protrude to the outside of the storage rack 311 through the opening 311b. Specifically, for example, the gripping portion 211d of the bundling member 21 can protrude to the outside of the storage rack 311 through the opening 311b, and the user can grip the gripping portion 211d outside the storage rack 311. Thus, the bundling member 21 can be easily handled, and the bundling member 21 can be smoothly removed (detached) from the reagent container 1 with the bundling member.

[0069] The reagent container lifting mechanism 312 is a mechanism for lifting the reagent container 11 upward when the stored reagent container 11 is taken out from the insertion port 311a of the storage rack 311. As the reagent container lifting mechanism 312, for example, a cylinder-type lifter (see Figure 4A ), a crane-type lift (not shown) that can lift and suck only the reagent container 11 located at the top in the storage rack 311, etc.

[0070] In addition, in order to prevent the situation where the binding component 21 is forgotten to be removed from the reagent container 1 with the binding component after the reagent container 1 with the binding component is placed at a predetermined position in the internal space of the storage rack 311, the reagent container storage section 31 may also have a binding component detector (not shown) that can detect the presence or absence of the binding component 21 on the stored reagent container 11.

[0071] The reagent container transfer unit 41 transfers the uppermost reagent container 11 among the reagent containers 11 lifted by the reagent container lifting mechanism 312 to the dispensing unit 61. The reagent container transfer unit 41 can be constituted by a transfer unit such as a shuttle conveyor (not shown), for example.

[0072] The biological sample storage section 51 stores a sample container containing a biological sample solution containing nucleic acid for inspection. The dispensing section 61 separately dispenses the reagent 121 in the reagent container 11 transferred by the reagent container transfer section 41 and the biological sample solution in the sample container stored in the biological sample storage section 51, and injects them into the reaction container. In addition, the reagent 121 in the reagent container 11 can be dispensed after peeling off the cover 131, or can be dispensed after penetrating the cover 131. The amplification section 71 amplifies the nucleic acid contained in the biological sample solution in the reaction container by heating and cooling using a heater, a Peltier element, etc. The inspection section 81 inspects the nucleic acid in the reaction container after amplification. Inspection of the nucleic acid can be performed, for example, by analyzing the fluorescence emitted from the solution containing the nucleic acid due to irradiation with excitation light.

[0073] In addition, the reagent container transfer section 41 , the biological sample storage section 51 , the dispensing section 61 , the amplification section 71 , and the inspection section 81 may each employ known techniques.

[0074] Next, a method of using the reagent container 1 with a binding member in the inspection device 101 is described. Here, an example of using the reagent container 1 with a binding member having a binding member 21 with a gripping portion 211d and placing it in a storage rack 311 having a slit-shaped opening 311b that is open at the upper end and extends substantially vertically downward from the open upper end is described.

[0075] First, the reagent container 1 with a binding member containing the reagent 121 for inspection is placed in the reagent container storage section 31. Specifically, for example, the user holds the gripping portion 211d of the reagent container 1 with a binding member with one hand (for example, the thumb and index finger) and places the reagent container 1 with a binding member into the storage rack 311 from the insertion port 311a provided at the upper portion of the storage rack 311. Then, as shown in FIG. Figure 5As shown, while holding one end of the gripping portion 211d protruding from the opening 311b, the reagent container 1 with the binding member is lowered to a predetermined position in the storage rack 311. At this time, the gripping portion 211d is moved while being held along the opening 311b extending substantially vertically downward. In this way, a plurality of reagent containers 11 (in Figure 5 In the figure, three reagent containers 11 are illustrated.

[0076] Next, another reagent container 1 with a binding member is placed in the reagent container storage section 31. The user operates in the same manner as the reagent container 1 with a binding member described above, and places the other reagent container 1 with a binding member in the storage rack 311, and arranges the other reagent container 1 with a binding member in such a manner that the lower end of the other reagent container 1 with a binding member contacts the upper end of the reagent container 1 with a binding member that has been placed. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated until a predetermined number of reagent containers 11 are placed in the storage rack 311.

[0077] Next, the binding member 21 is removed from the reagent container 1 with the binding member. Figure 6 As shown, by holding the gripping portion 211d and pulling the binding band 21 toward the user (pulling the binding member 21 away from the plurality of reagent containers 11), the binding member 21 and the plurality of reagent containers 11 are separated (the binding member 21 is removed). By repeating this operation for each reagent container 1 with the binding member, the reagent containers 11 are connected to each other as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, the reagent containers 11 are independent of each other, so each reagent container 11 can be individually handled. When the reagent container transfer unit 41 transfers the reagent container 11, only the uppermost reagent container 11 lifted by the reagent container lifting mechanism 312 is transferred to the dispensing unit 61 by the transfer unit.

[0078] As described above, the inspection device 101 has the above-mentioned structure, so that a plurality of reagent containers 11 can be efficiently stored in the storage rack 311, and after the reagent container 1 with the binding member is put into the storage rack 311, the binding member 21 can be easily removed from the reagent container 1 with the binding member through the opening 311b. As a result, the reagent container 11 can be stored in the reagent rack 311 smoothly and efficiently.

[0079] In this way, the inspection device 101 can smoothly and efficiently store a plurality of reagent containers 11. Therefore, the inspection device 101 can be suitably applied to a gene inspection device that handles a plurality of reagent containers 11, such as an inspection of a biological sample containing nucleic acid.

[0080] In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment, and is shown by the scope of the technical solution, and is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the scope of the technical solution and all changes within the scope. A part of the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment can be deleted, or replaced with other structures, or other structures can be added to the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0081] For example, in the first embodiment described above, the reagent container 1 with a binding member in which the binding member 21 has the gripping portion 211d is described. However, a reagent container with a binding member having a binding member without a gripping portion protruding outward may also be used. As such a reagent container, Figure 8 As shown, for example, there can be mentioned a reagent container 2 with a bundling member which does not have a protruding gripping portion but has a connecting portion 221a for integrally winding and fixing a plurality of reagent containers 11 and connecting them so that predetermined portions of the bundling member 22 overlap with each other.

[0082] In the second embodiment described above, the inspection device 101 is described as having a storage rack 311 having an opening 311b that is open at the upper end and extends substantially vertically downward from the open upper end. However, any opening may be used as long as the binding member of the reagent container with the binding member can be attached and detached from the outside. Fig. 9 As shown, for example, there can be mentioned an inspection apparatus 102 including a storage rack 321 having openings 321b provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the positions of the reagent containers 1 with binding members to be introduced and provided with the binding members 21.

[0083] In the second embodiment described above, an example of the testing device 101 using the reagent container 1 with a binding member having the gripping portion 211d is described. However, the reagent container with a binding member used in the testing device may be any container disclosed herein. Figure 8 In the case of the reagent container 2 with the binding member as shown, the user can also insert his hand into the internal space of the storage rack through the opening of the storage rack to attach or detach the binding member 22 .

[0084] In the second embodiment described above, the gene testing device 101 is exemplified and described. However, the testing device of the present invention can be applied to any other testing device as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

[0085] Explanation of symbols

[0086] 1, 2—reagent container with binding member, 101, 102—inspection device, 11—reagent container, 21, 22—binding member (binding band), 211d—gripping portion, 311—storage rack, 311a—input port, 311b—opening portion.

Claims

1. A reagent container with a binding member, characterized in that: have: A plurality of reagent containers are arranged in series and connected; and The detachable belt-shaped binding member integrally surrounds the plurality of reagent containers.

2. The reagent container with a binding member according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bundling member has a gripping portion that protrudes outward and can be gripped.

3. An inspection device capable of being loaded with the reagent container with the binding member according to claim 1 or 2, the inspection device comprising: The storage rack has an inlet for inserting the reagent container with the binding member at the upper portion, and the reagent container with the binding member can be inserted in a manner that the plurality of reagent containers are stacked in the vertical direction. The storage rack is provided with an opening so that the binding member of the reagent container with the binding member inserted can be attached and detached from the outside.

4. The inspection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The opening portion is formed to have an open upper end and to extend substantially vertically downward from the open upper end.

5. The inspection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The opening is provided so that a part of the bundling member can protrude to the outside of the storage rack through the opening.

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