Uncapping device for row PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tubes

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of biomedical instruments, in particular to a row PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tube uncapping device. Comprising a placement box and a cap puller, a plurality of placement grooves are formed in the placement box, the shapes of the placement grooves correspond to the shapes of the bottoms of PCR tubes, negative pressure cavities are further formed between the placement grooves and the bottoms of the PCR tubes, air exhaust devices are arranged at the bottoms of the placement grooves, the air exhaust devices correspond to the negative pressure cavities in position, the cap puller is in a plate shape, and at least one cap pulling protrusion is arranged on one side of the cap puller. And the shape of the cap raising bulge corresponds to that of the pipe connecting cover. According to the utility model, through the air extractor, a negative pressure cavity is formed between the bottom and the placing groove, so that the PCR tube is firmly adsorbed in the placing groove in the process of being uncapped. Due to separate arrangement of functions, the device can be suitable for PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end sizes and tube connecting cover sizes, and can also be suitable for PCR tubes with different distances from the PCR tube extension ends to the tube connecting cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of biomedical equipment, in particular to a device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes. Background Art

[0002] PCR tubes are commonly used consumables in biological experiments. Their main function is to provide containers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is an important technique in molecular biology, used to quickly and efficiently amplify specific DNA fragments. Common PCR tubes consist of a tube body and a cover body, which are connected together, and there is a hollow cylindrical protrusion on the cover body.

[0003] During use, the PCR tube needs to be opened and closed repeatedly. The method of opening and closing is generally to manually grab the cover to open it. Some technicians have also developed a method for opening and closing PCR tubes with the help of mechanical structures. For example, the Chinese patent authorization announcement number: CN213446151U was announced on June 15, 2021 to authorize a cap-removing device for multiple PCR tubes. It includes a tube rack for placing PCR tubes and tube covers, and the tube rack is provided with two cap-removing components. The cap-removing component includes a stand fixed on the tube rack, a sleeve fixed on the stand, a push rod that is laterally slidably matched with the sleeve, a push plate fixed on one end of the push rod, a slide rail fixed on the other end of the push rod, a slider that is longitudinally slidably matched with the slide rail, and an opening piece fixed on the slider and used to push the tube cover upward; the slide rail is provided with a fastening bolt for tightening or loosening the slider. The disclosed technical solution can quickly push the tube cover out of the PCR tube by simultaneously squeezing the tube cover upwards with the opening pieces in the two groups of cap removal assemblies, thereby effectively realizing the PCR tube demoulding process. At the same time, the opening piece can press the PCR tube to improve the stability of the PCR tube in the tube rack.

[0004] However, this technical solution has the following problems:

[0005] 1. This device is only suitable for PCR tubes whose extension ends are larger than the tube caps. Otherwise, the inclined surface of the breaking piece will first contact the tube caps, causing the PCR tube to fall out of the tube rack as a whole.

[0006] 2. The breaking piece separates the extension end of the PCR tube from the tube cover through the inclined surface to open the tube. The squeezing separation principle is not suitable for PCR tubes with a large distance between the extension end of the PCR tube and the tube cover. Utility Model Content

[0007] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to:

[0008] 1. Provide a cap removal device for PCR tubes, so that it is suitable for PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end sizes and strip tube cap sizes.

[0009] Second, a cap removal device for PCR tubes is provided, which is suitable for PCR tubes with different distances from the extension end of the PCR tube to the strip tube cap.

[0010] 3. Provide a decapping device for linked PCR tubes, so that it can be used for 1-10 linked PCR tubes and decap them.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions: a device for removing caps from row PCR tubes, comprising a placement box and a cap remover, wherein the placement box is provided with a plurality of placement slots, the shapes of the placement slots correspond to the shapes of the bottoms of the PCR tubes, a negative pressure cavity is further provided between the placement slots and the bottoms of the PCR tubes, an exhaust device is provided at the bottoms of the placement slots, the positions of the exhaust device and the negative pressure cavity correspond, the cap remover is plate-shaped, and at least one cap removing protrusion is provided on one side of the cap remover, and the cap removing protrusion corresponds to the shape of the row tube covers.

[0012] The principle of this technical solution is to form a negative pressure cavity between the bottom and the placement groove through the air extraction device, so that the PCR tube is firmly adsorbed in the placement groove during the process of removing the cap. The placement box is responsible for positioning the PCR tube body, and then the cap remover with a capping protrusion is used to hook and open the tube cover to complete the cap removal process. Due to the separate arrangement of functions, it can be applied to PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end sizes and tube cover sizes, and can also be applied to PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end to tube cover distances.

[0013] Specifically, the placement slots can be designed to be compatible with common eight-row PCR tubes. Eight placement slots are designed on the placement box, and more placement slots can also be designed to accommodate a larger number of row PCR tubes.

[0014] Specifically, the air extraction device can be a common air extraction pump on the market combined with an opening at the bottom of the placement slot. Each placement slot has an opening at the bottom connected to the air extraction pump. Taking a placement box with eight placement slots as an example, after placing a single or less than eight row PCR tubes into the placement slots, it is necessary to cover and seal the placement slots without PCR tubes, and then start the air extraction pump to complete the adsorption.

[0015] Optionally, there are several placement slots.

[0016] Optionally, an annular sealing ring is provided in the placement groove.

[0017] After the PCR tube is placed in the placement groove, the annular sealing ring effectively seals the negative pressure cavity to achieve a better adsorption effect.

[0018] Optionally, at least two annular sealing rings are arranged in the placement groove.

[0019] Considering that the PCR tube body will produce slight deformation during negative pressure adsorption in actual use, while the PCR tube not in the negative pressure cavity will not produce pressure difference, the deformation difference between the two places may affect the sealing effect of the annular sealing ring, so a two-layer sealing structure is designed to ensure the sealing effect.

[0020] Optionally, the cap remover is in the shape of a long strip plate, one side of which is provided with the cap removing protrusion, and the cap removing protrusion is in the shape of a fork.

[0021] When in use, the capping protrusion hooks the tube cover from the side far from the connection between the PCR tube and the tube cover, and then presses down the other side of the capping tool to lift one side of the capping protrusion, so that the hooked tube cover is separated from the PCR tube to complete the capping process.

[0022] The capping tool in this technical solution is used to replace manual capping, and its function is similar to that of a beer bottle opener. Its main effect is to isolate the direct contact between human hands and PCR tubes, prevent foreign objects on the operator's hands from contaminating the PCR tubes, and also prevent the contents on the PCR tubes from contaminating the operator's hands. Secondly, it prevents the residual liquid at the bottom of the strip cap from splashing onto the operator's hands when the cap is removed.

[0023] Preferably, the middle part of the cap remover is rotatably connected to the placement box, one side of the cap remover serves as one end of the lever, and the other side of the cap remover serves as the other end of the lever. This design can effectively reduce the force required in the cap removal process, but requires additional space to arrange the extension end on the other side of the cap remover.

[0024] Preferably, a hinged hinge is provided in the middle of the cap remover, and when the cap remover is stored, the other side of the hinged hinge can be folded and placed above one side of the cap remover.

[0025] The beneficial technical effect of the utility model is that a negative pressure cavity is formed between the bottom and the placement groove through the air extraction device, so that the PCR tube is firmly adsorbed in the placement groove during the process of removing the cap. The placement box is responsible for positioning the PCR tube body, and then a cap remover with a capping protrusion is used to hook and open the tube cover to complete the cap removal process. Due to the separate arrangement of functions, it can be applied to PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end sizes and tube cover sizes, and can also be applied to PCR tubes with different PCR tube extension end to tube cover distances. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the PCR tubes in the utility model;

[0027] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the front cross-sectional structure of the PCR tube of the utility model after it is placed in the placement box;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the side cross-sectional structure of the PCR tube of the utility model after it is placed in the placement box;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the side cross-sectional structure of the PCR tube of the utility model after the cap is removed after being placed in the storage box;

[0030] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the placement box in the utility model.

[0031] Figure numerals: 1-placing box, 2-capping device, 3-PCR tube, 4-tube cover, 5-negative pressure chamber, 6-vacuum device, 7-capping protrusion, 8-annular sealing ring, 9-switch, 10-placing groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The same parts are represented by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the words "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" used in the following description refer to directions in the accompanying drawings, and the words "bottom surface" and "top surface", "inside" and "outside" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0033] Reference Figure 1-4 As shown, a device for removing caps from row PCR tubes 3 comprises a placement box 1 and a cap remover 2. The placement box 1 is provided with a plurality of placement slots 10, the shapes of which correspond to the shapes of the bottoms of the PCR tubes 3. A negative pressure cavity 5 is further provided between the placement slots 10 and the bottoms of the PCR tubes 3. An exhaust device 6 is provided at the bottoms of the placement slots 10, the positions of which correspond to the positions of the negative pressure cavity 5. The cap remover 2 is plate-shaped, and at least one cap removing protrusion 7 is provided on one side of the cap remover 2, and the cap removing protrusion 7 corresponds to the shape of the row tube cover 4.

[0034] The placement slots 10 can be designed to fit the common eight-linked PCR tubes 3. Eight placement slots 10 are designed on the placement box 1. More placement slots 10 can also be designed to accommodate a larger number of linked PCR tubes 3. Two annular sealing rings 8 are arranged in the placement slots 10.

[0035] The cap remover 2 is in the shape of an elongated plate, and has a cap removing protrusion 7 on one side thereof, and the cap removing protrusion 7 is in the shape of a fork.

[0036] The air extraction device 6 is realized by a common air extraction pump on the market combined with an opening at the bottom of the placement slot 10. Each placement slot 10 has an opening at the bottom connected to the air extraction pump. Taking the placement box 1 with eight placement slots 10 as an example, after placing a single or less than eight row PCR tubes 3 into the placement slots 10, it is necessary to cover and seal the placement slots 10 without PCR tubes 3, and then start the air extraction pump through the switch 9 on the placement box to complete the adsorption.

[0037] The principle of this technical solution is to form a negative pressure cavity 5 between the bottom and the placement groove 10 through the air extraction device 6, so that the PCR tube 3 is firmly adsorbed in the placement groove 10 during the process of removing the cap. The placement box 1 is responsible for positioning the PCR tube 3 body, and then the cap remover 2 with the capping protrusion 7 is used to hook and lift the tube cover 4 to complete the cap removal process. Due to the separate arrangement of functions, it can be applied to PCR tubes 3 with different PCR tube 3 extension end sizes and tube cover 4 sizes, and can also be applied to PCR tubes 3 with different distances from the PCR tube 3 extension end to the tube cover 4.

[0038] When in use, the capping protrusion 7 hooks the tube cover 4 from the side far from the connection between the PCR tube 3 and the tube cover 4, and then presses down the other side of the cap remover 2 to lift one side of the capping protrusion 7, so that the hooked tube cover 4 is separated from the PCR tube 3 to complete the capping process.

[0039] The capping tool 2 in this technical solution replaces the role of human hands in manual capping, and its function is similar to that of a beer bottle opener. Its main effect is to isolate the direct contact between the human hands and the PCR tube 3, to prevent foreign objects on the operator's hands from contaminating the PCR tube 3, and to prevent the contents on the PCR tube 3 from contaminating the operator's hands. Secondly, it prevents the residual liquid at the bottom of the tube cover 4 from splashing onto the operator's hands when the cap is removed.

[0040] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions under the concept of the present invention belong to the protection scope of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, some improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes, characterized in that: It includes a placement box and a cap remover. The placement box is provided with a plurality of placement slots. The shape of the placement slots corresponds to the shape of the bottom of the PCR tube. A negative pressure cavity is also provided between the placement slots and the bottom of the PCR tube. An exhaust device is provided at the bottom of the placement groove, and the exhaust device corresponds to the position of the negative pressure cavity. The cap remover is plate-shaped, and there is at least one cap lifting protrusion on one side of the cap remover, and the cap lifting protrusion corresponds to the shape of the connecting pipe cover.

2. A device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are several placement slots.

3. The device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: An annular sealing ring is arranged in the placement groove.

4. The device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least two annular sealing rings are arranged in the placement groove.

5. The device for removing caps from linked PCR tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cap remover is in the shape of a long strip plate, one side of which is provided with the cap removing protrusion, and the cap removing protrusion is in the shape of a fork.

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